Creative Process

Newsletter: If Winter comes…

12.19.2022 by Barbara Grant //

Season’s Greetings from Grantview Studio!

Last week we experienced the first blanket of snow in our neighborhood. The first is always enchanting as we look out the windows from our cozy home. But soon the novelty wears thin as driveways need to be plowed, walkways shoveled, and slick pavement can be treacherous!

I don’t mind the winter months. They allow me to hunker down and get more work accomplished in my studio. My husband is the opposite; Bob can’t wait for Winter Solstice to arrive, as the waning of daylight hours ends and days begin to grow longer again. He thrives on the warmth of sunlight.

In other writings I have mentioned that my mother suffered from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I remember visiting her one winter when she was quite gloomy. It was Bob who lifted her spirits by showing her the calendar. It was just a few days before December 21st. He reminded her that as soon as we pass that marker, there would be more light each day until Spring arrives. It was with this precious memory in mind that I created our Holiday Greeting card this year.

The phrase “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” had been running through my mind lately. I couldn’t remember where I’d read it, so I researched and found that it is the final line of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “Ode to the West Wind”. I use symbolism in my artwork, so I began to imagine a way to convey the hope and optimism of his poem.

After the leaves fall, berries remain to nourish the animals and birds who stay through the winter. There are lots of winter scenes depicting birds perched on snow-laced branches with berries, and I wanted to do my version of this.

Towards the end of a long winter, when I spot a robin, I sense the coming of Spring. In my research I was amused to read that robins can get tipsy on berries and crabapples that have fermented after a frost.

painting of robin on a branch with berries, blue sky and Chinese Lantern plants in the snow below

Also, Chinese Lanterns are an unusual addition for a winter holiday scene, but when I was walking Roxy & Ringo one day I admired these bright orange, bell-shaped husks growing near the edge of someone’s property. In fact, that lovely neighbor insisted I take some home to plant the seeds. I incorporated these decorative plants into the painting because the color of the robin’s breast combines the red berries and orange Lanterns. And the Lanterns represent a way to shine light.

The work on this holiday card began as a watercolor, but as I tried to make the robin’s breast just the right color of red/orange, I overworked the layers of paint. Watercolor is a tricky medium. And then there was the problem of adding white for snow – a BIG “no-no” in the world of purists. I am not a watercolor purist, but I have friends who are; they tell me white areas for them can only be the color of the paper. This means you really need to plan ahead, which I did not in this case.

To solve these problems I gathered my tubes of gauche “design colors”. What began as a delicate transparent rendering, became a formation of opaque layers. But I enjoyed this process so much that I’ve decided to try it on a study for “Children Climbing a Tree” – a painting still in the planning stages. Thankfully the patron who commissioned this piece is not in a rush and has left me free to decide on any medium I want. I’m excited to try this!

The novel Testimony by Paul Turelli has been recently published. I created the cover with the author’s guidance earlier this year. He had a specific look in mind for this book – super fun to do!

Paul has commissioned me for the cover of his next novel, The Magdalene House. I’ve begun reading the manuscript and am really looking forward to this project!

The Story of Straddle the Turtle by Barbara Grant as a zine

I did a little self-publishing of my own by illustrating and setting my “Straddle the Turtle” story in zine form, which is available on my shop site. I love making zines! The text and drawings are in the works for my next one entitled Deep Down in my soul #3: I Desire a Simple Life.

I also love making bookmarks. It’s a great way to use up scraps of expensive watercolor paper. Like my notecards, they are helpful as “warm-up exercises” to test color combinations, brush techniques and unique designs. I’m planning to add a variety of them to my shop soon.

hand-painted bookmarks with tied ribbons

One final story from me: I have a friend living near Seattle who I’ve known since we were teenagers. I can count on one hand how many times we’ve seen each other in person since she moved to Washington, but we stay connected via phone, text, birthday cards, etc. The first time I received a hand-painted postcard from her, I laughed with delight! Sent without the protection of an envelope, her charming watercolor was exposed to the possibility of being sullied by transport through snail mail all the way to Wisconsin.

original watercolor postcards, front & back

I loved the fact that her artistic expression was sent with such abandon, not deeming her artwork so precious that its loss or ruin would be the end of the world! I learned from this unassuming action of hers. It’s a lesson in being less anxious and more playful. I’ve been sending them to her now, too.

It’s kind of thrilling to wonder if it will make it or not…

News & photos from Bob:

My sailing on Lake Michigan ended mid-October but boating continued on a late-October visit to my son Bob’s new lake home on Lake Norman, North Carolina.

I’m hoping to get back to golfing again after successful hand surgery. First attempts began in November where my son, Scott, installed a big screen golf simulator system in his garage on Whitewater Lake, Wisconsin. Winter golfing in Wisconsin!

I still enjoy my contract photography work for a Regional Insurance Company. Included here are some early winter scenes that grabbed my attention during a work day.

cow laying in snow looking at camera man — You lookin’ at me?

photo of sheep huddled together near a fence — You lookin’ at me?

Let’s get past Winter Solstice and start the countdown to Summer Solstice!

A day in the lives of Roxy & Ringo

Roxy and Ringo love their groomer, Amy. She gives them lots of tasty treats so they will cooperate as she shampoos, shaves, clips, and otherwise makes them feel soft and fluffy again. But they’d really rather not “go there”. How they know when I am about to take them, I’m not sure. But they won’t budge no matter how cheerful I make this outing sound. However…

It’s amazing what treats can do.

two dogs waiting with master near pantry where treats are kept — Pantry where treats are kept

Ringo, Bob with treats, Roxy — Pantry where treats are kept

Thank you for your continued interest in our Grantview Studio family,

Barb, Bob, Roxy & Ringo

🙏

Happy Holidays! dogs with toys under the table

Annotation:

To read the full poem Ode to the West Wind: PoetryFoundation.org
S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder): MayoClinic.org
Winter Solstice: Wikipedia.org
The novel Testimony: Paul Turelli.com
My Etsy Shop & GrantviewStudio.com (same shop, two entrances)

The shape of a tree

11.14.2022 by Barbara Grant //

It has been a beautiful autumn in the Midwest. I didn’t want to miss out on any of it as we drove to spend a few days with family in North Carolina, but our timing was right; we travelled through hills and mountains of delightful color along the way.

photo of back of truck driving on highway in ‎⁨Pisgah National Forest⁩, ⁨Clyde⁩, ⁨Tennessee Valley⁩, ⁨United States⁩ — ‎⁨Pisgah National Forest⁩, ⁨Clyde⁩, ⁨Tennessee Valley⁩, ⁨United States⁩

Many of my friends say this is their favorite time of year. My mother loved the fall colors but what followed – the gray and brown shades of November – began her descent into an annual bout of Seasonal Affective Disorder. *

I feel fortunate that I don’t mind winter in Wisconsin. To me it is a productive time to hunker down in my studio without the distractions of pleasant weather and lots of fun things to do outside. You just have to put on more clothing! Since I’m outside to walk my dogs daily, I have an ample collection of coats, hats, gloves, scarves and boots. While Roxy & Ringo sniff and explore, I am able to observe the changes in our neighborhood.

This time of year what I really enjoy are the shapes of trees. The leaves have dropped to reveal the contours of their branches and crowns. It makes me want to photograph them! Draw them! Draw them with crows and vultures…or abandoned nests of twigs. They light up my imagination with ideas. Mostly I just admire them for their beauty.

photo of tall tree with no leaves — Elm tree at ‎⁨Lynden Sculpture Garden⁩, ⁨River Hills⁩, ⁨Wisconsin⁩

I remember standing in the middle of my childhood living room practicing the memorization of the poem I was to recite in front of my class the next day! Recently I reminded my sister of this and she was able to proudly spout the whole thing from memory:

Trees

by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

(Poetry Foundation.org)

photo of dogs looking out the back of the Subaru — Ringo & Roxy looking out the back of the Subaru

*(Seasonal Affective Disorder)

The Reverence of Poise

07.29.2022 by Barbara Grant //

This morning I played “poise” in a word game. Then I sat with my coffee to ponder this word’s loveliness. I looked it up to make sure I understood it’s true meaning:

graceful and elegant bearing in a person
composure and dignity of manner
balance
equilibrium

Yes, as perfect as I’d imagined.

On the way to the groomer Roxy and Ringo peered at the driver behind us as the light turned green. He HONKED immediately, because I’d waited a split second to smile at my pups in the rear view mirror gazing at a man in a hurry. I did not rush. I allowed him to speed around me, feeling no slight but wondering what has changed in me? Why no flood of rage and indignation that would normally ruin my day? Curious…

This happened another day recently while looking for a parking spot. The shop owner greeted me at the door. Boasting that it was I who had caused the barrage of honking and yelling in the street just prior, she sighed, “Happens all the time; people are angry.” I have to admit I felt a wee bit powerful, and it didn’t wreck my day. I was, in fact, giggling at those silly folks.

What’s the story? I’ve not always been like this. I can be as impatient as the next person if I’m tired, hungry or in pain. I remember one incident specifically when I was riding my bike, a vehicle almost ran me off the road. The driver cursed me for being in his way. I was livid and chased him down where he’d pulled over to refuel and let loose in such a rage I didn’t recognize myself. I’m ashamed now – did I need a protein shake? a nap? But perhaps he learned a little something about the rules of the road that day.

This new way of being patient with the rudeness of others is new for me. It’s not something I’m trying to do. It’s just happening. I can tell by my heart rate and blood pressure, which are just staying calm ~ ~ ~ I’m not sure where it is coming from.

Maturity? I do meditate regularly; maybe it really does help. Or am I’m getting accustomed to the anger that seems to be everywhere. But forgiveness and happiness are out there in abundance, too. It’s like going to the zoo; we’re exposed to all kinds when we open ourselves to the world. Some people are sweet and funny, some are impatient and mean.

My friend sent me a lovely card recently. Inside she wrote this quote by Thich Nhat Hanh:

“Drink your tea slowly without rushing to the future”

photo of handwritten quote — (her abridged version to get the point across to my hurried mind)

I put it near my place mat as a reminder. Then I researched* the full quote, which is:

“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.”

sketch of cup revolving around the axis of the earth

This is a hastily sketched diagram to help me visualize the tea in my cup reverently revolving with the axis of the earth.

I’ve been working on slowing down. In actuality, my aging body has been assisting in that endeavor. I would like to focus more on drinking my tea with reverence but am not sure what that means. My gut tells me I might begin by returning to my first paragraph to concentrate on the meaning of poise.

As a connected effort, I’ve begun seven small watercolors focusing on a ceramic mug made by a dear friend. I cannot look at this cup without imagining how her hands formed it. When these paintings are finished they will be available in my shop as blank greeting cards with envelopes.

photo of 3 watercolor paintings of cup of tea with cup next to them

*The full quote pulled up on online at https://ma.tt/2019/01/thich-nhat-hanh-on-tea/ was posted by Matt Mullenweg on 1/23/19 and links to Thich Nhat Hanh’s book The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation at Amazon.com

The shape of a tree

The Reverence of Poise

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