A Different Kind of Inspiration

I’m still here!

This seems to be the cry of quite a few artist bloggers lately ... I guess summer days are busy days for everyone! I just wanted to share a few glimpses into our beautiful new neighborhood.



We’ve been here a little over a week and so far I’ve:
• changed a flat tire
• buried a dead raccoon
• chased Trixie (who has no country sense) almost a mile down the center of the railroad tracks after she gave me the slip, and when I finally caught up with her it was because she had cut her feet on those rocks they use in between the ties and she could barely walk so I ended up carrying 45 pounds of panting dog almost all the way back to the house. I’d carry her until I was too tired, then she’d walk a little until her feet hurt too much to take another step, then I’d carry her again, and on like that until we finally made it. I felt like I was in an Incredible Journey movie or something.

Ahhh ... life in the country! This week we’re getting the plumbing worked on so we can have an indoor bathroom ... we’ve been doing without running water for a week (our neighbors are generously allowing us to use their faucet, we have a port-a-jon out back, and we’ve been showering at my parents and cooking with bottled water.)

One thing’s for sure ... I’ll never take hot water for granted again!

I think we should rent the flick Cross Creek tonight ...

Moving right along ...

Proverbs 3: 3-6 (from The Message)

Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.
Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.
Earn a reputation for living well
in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.

Napa Valley Farm Road © 2005 Karen Mathison Schmidt
acrylic on board • 10 x 10
Private Collection

I’m cheating again, and showing you all a picture I painted a couple of years ago of a scene from the wine country of northern California, where Paul and I were visiting his parents. It’s breathtakingly beautiful up there! As you can see, my style at that time definitely leaned toward colorism.

Whew! ... time has gone by really fast this weekend! We’ve been busy with the big move ... and still a lot to do ... haven’t had much painting time. We’re sort of camping out to begin with, living in just a couple of rooms while we’ll work on the rest of the house. I go back and forth between “I’m getting too old for this!” and “wow! this is fun!” Mostly I’m joyful and excited about everything, even though there’s still so much to do ... probably at least a couple of years’ worth of work!

I should be able to start back on a regular painting schedule by tomorrow ... thanks for hanging in!

Bit by bit, putting it together ...

I lifted today’s title from a song about making art in the musical Sunday in the Park with George.




In the midst of all the moving this week I managed to squeeze out a little painting time (pun unexpected!) and here’s my progress on the day lilies painting. The top picture is the completed underpainting, then I glazed different colors over large sections of the painting, blues and purples where the shadows will be deeper, reds and magentas where there will be more contrast in the brighter, sunlit areas. That’s the second picture. Now I’m getting to the fun part! I started at the top right section, putting in more detailed color. The third, larger picture is where I left off yesterday. I really didn’t want to quit, but my eyes were just getting too tired to continue.

Here’s a closer view:


And now I must sign off and get to work.

Later, taters!

Moving week!

Matthew 6: 33-34

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Fabol's Irises © 2007 Karen Mathison Schmidt
16 x 20 • acrylic on 3/4" cradled gessobord • sides painted dark brown
The cradled back allows for hanging flush against the wall
Gloss varnish for protection and ease of cleaning • sold unframed
CLICK HERE to bid!

I’ve shown this piece before - just wanted to let you all know I just listed it on eBay. Go to my May 1st post to read the touching story behind this beautiful flowers.

Paul and I are going to start moving into our house this week. There’s still a LOT of work to be done on the place, so we’ll kind of be roughing it at first, but we’re ready for the adventure (we think!)

We’ve spent the afternoon packing things we want to keep and hauling some things we’re ready to part with out to the curb. This will be our 3rd move since we married 3 years ago (the first two were across country - to California and then a year later back here to Louisiana!), and Paul says this is the absolute last time for him until we make the move into a retirement home. One thing so much moving has taught us is to keep things simple - don’t go accumulating a lot of stuff you don’t really need – you just might have to move it one day.

This move won’t be as stressful as some, because we’re taking the whole month of June to finish moving things out and doing a final cleaning of our apartment. I won’t have as much studio time as usual this week (or maybe even until the end of June!) but stay tuned for updates in the further adventures of the Schmidts.

Well, I’ve got a few more things to take care of before hitting the hay, so I’d better get smurfin’!

Good night, all!