Straddle the Turtle

Learning to slow down, because life's too short ~ ~ ~

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Newsletter: If Winter comes…

12.19.2022 by Barbara Grant //

Season’s Greetings from Grantview Studio!

photo of snow in our neighborhood

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.

tubes of gauche paint and mixing tray

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!

Testimony, a novel by Paul Turelli
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
Keeping Warm
2 rusty bicycles near an old shed
Rust Never Rests
old rusty truck covered with snow
Driving to Spring

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…

dogs not budging from under the table

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
Ringo, Bob with treats, Roxy
dog in back seat riding home after grooming
Ride home after grooming
Roxy & Ringo posing in living room all groomed
Groomed, fluffy & clean

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)

Categories // Creative Process, Limelights on my friends, Newsletters, Poems, Reading Tags // art projects, depression, poetry, seasonal

Newsletter: Wrapping Up a Fun Summer

08.19.2022 by Barbara Grant //

I advertise that these newsletters are sent with the change of the seasons, but oops, we missed Spring! Along with a beautiful bouquet of 🌷🌷tulips🌷🌷 Bob gave me Covid for Mothers Day. He was back on his feet quicker than I thanks to a VA infusion, but all is well. I share this here in case anyone reading this wonders, like I did, about lingering symptoms. When I recently had my routine physical, my doctor assured me I was on track to getting back to normal; she told me that some bounce back in a couple weeks, but for others it can take up to six months. So if you’re one of those, hang in there ~ ~ ~ 

Though I’ve been slowed down, I have continued to be productive in between naps on the couch: 

I participated with The Oddball Artists in the Prairie Art Center exhibit in February. Since the pieces were quite small I was able to contribute 5 paintings and meet the deadline with a little help from my friends. One of the guys in our group is a framer; he gives us tiny frames he constructs from scraps that the frame shop can’t use. Bruce creates perfectly square miters. I love that he wants to save this splendid framing from the dumpster. I’m able to pass this recycled savings on to my collectors!  

artwork
Rusty Lasso at His Peak
back of painting
(back)

Above is one of my favorites included in the exhibit, entitled Rusty Lasso at His Peak. The inspiration came from a twisted piece of rusty wire found while on a walk with Roxy & Ringo. I’m showing the back side also, because it makes me smile. Thankfully a friend with a similar sense of humor noticed it for sale on my Etsy shop and scooped it up. It makes Karen laugh, and this brings me joy!

painting of sunrise at end of middle of road

In contrast, I finished a larger oil painting (30″ x 40″) for a friend referencing a photo she took alongside a country road. The weird thing is she didn’t realize till later that she’d caught some geese flying through the sky! Her boyfriend gave it the title, Last Resort Sunrise. Long story . . .

back spine and front cover of book Visions of Recurrence by Paul Turelli

I created my fourth book cover for Colorado author & artist Paul Turelli. Visions of Recurrence became available this spring. Fourth in the Series of Dreams: Danny and Jennifer are now in mid-life and the story shifts to their teenage twins, Julian and Stephanie. James, their dear friend, mentor, shaman and spiritual guide, brings the family to a new realization about destiny and choice. The following link provides more information if you are interested in exploring this series: Visions of Recurrence on Amazon.com

sketch of kids climbing tree

I’ve started some sketches for my next commission of “Kids Climbing a Tree.” Here’s one scribbled while waiting in the doctor’s office. It’s on my mind… Looking forward to this project! 🙃🍃🍎🍂😉🍁

Bell Jar Vintage shop in Geneva IL

What is left of my “Money Bags” collection is currently on display in my daughter’s awesome shop in Geneva, Illinois. Bell Jar Vintage is the perfect venue for these quilted artworks. Thank you, Dori! 🥰 

Display of Money Bags in antique shop
Bell Jar Vintage
313 W State St Geneva IL 60134

My previous blog is entitled: The Reverence of Poise. It’s about slowing down, not rushing, having composure. I’ve illustrated it with a watercolor painting entitled “Pondering Tea”. This little painting is part of a project I’ve been doing recently. I’ve been painting on watercolor card stock as warm-up exercises; a way to test various color combinations, designs and motifs. They have matching envelopes, so if they turn out nice, I send them to family and friends or add them to my Etsy shop.  I’ve been having lots of fun with these simple, functional creations.

Maybe that is the key – they are functional; they can be a vehicle of communication, a way to connect with people. Using a pen or pencil, loosening up stiff knuckles to write a little note, looking up a street address, purchasing a stamp, and hey! a chance to use those free address labels that come in the mail 🙂 And on the other end…somebody gets a surprise in their mailbox!!! Calming down now to ponder another cup of tea:

watercolor painting of teacup
“Pondering Tea”

Bob continues to enjoy his contract photography work for a rural Insurance Company. He’s  often surprised at what he’ll stumble upon, such as a traveling Farrier using her rasp file to trim this mare’s hooves, or a deer head in a basketball hoop. Think Milwaukee bucks slogan FEAR THE DEER!

deer head in basketball hoop

But equally interesting are these visitors that have graced our backyard this year. A neighborhood coyote. A deer apparently struck by a car. Right rear leg is broken. A friendly deer allowing Bob to approach within 4 feet of her.

coyote in snow
deer with broken leg
deer

A Blue Heron we’ve nicknamed Alex has visited our yard on multiple days recently. He has taken a  fancy to our lawn ornament, a blue heron that moves with breezes. Daring to come inside the fence, he may be getting frisky. Alex came back another day stalking for dinner. This is his “Catch-of-the-day.

heron
heron
heron
heron
“Catch-of-the-day”

two standard poodles

These creatures may appear to be lounging under the kitchen table, but let me assure you their senses are perked up and on the look-out for any wildlife lurking in the back yard!

Dang, they were both looking right at me but – you know… squirrel! 🙄

p.s. Can’t end a newsletter without adding the most meaningful book I’ve read recently. That would be a gift from my friend Toodie. We are both big fans of The OverStory by Richard Powers. His latest novel is Bewilderment. So good.

Categories // Limelights on my friends, Newsletters, Reading Tags // art community, creative energy, fun in the studio, novel

Looking back and moving forward…

12.31.2021 by Barbara Grant //

I hope you’re enjoying this festive time of year, which is also a time here in the midwest to stay cozy like Ringo & Roxy. 

I hope you’re enjoying this festive time of year. Here in Wisconsin it’s time to stay cozy and soak up sun rays wherever you can find them. Roxy & Ringo are experts at this.

As we say farewell to 2021, I’d like to share a brief wrap-up of my little sphere of the art world: 

Art gallery showings are still quite limited since Covid restrictions began, but Side Street Studio opened its doors for a fun exhibit in November.

Cabinet of Curious Characters Show
Side Street Studio Arts in Downtown Elgin

Wikipedia defines a Cabinet Card as a style of photograph which was widely used for photographic portraiture after 1870. It consisted of a thin photograph mounted on a card. You may have a box of these in your attic. My Oddball Artist friends in the Chicago area invited me to participate in this project. We call it Vintage inspiration!

Great Aunt Enna & Her Flock
Great Aunt Enna & Her Flock
Great Aunt Enna & Her Flock (backside)
Great Aunt Enna & Her Flock (backside)

I completed the cover for Dreaming Gaia, the third book in the “Series of Dreams” by Paul Turelli, and it was published in November. I will begin work on the cover for the fourth book in this series as we go into the new year! Paul has framed my original artwork for each of these covers so far; he says he’s running out of room in his office!

Book Cover (back - spine - front)
Book Cover (back – spine – front)
Paul Turelli's study
Paul Turelli’s study

At the beginning of this year I chose a spot along a path where I go for daily walks. Maybe it’s the lack of exhibit opportunities during the pandemic that moved me, but I started a project. I began designing my own “Collection Post” of trash found as I hike with my pups. This “art installation” was looking pretty good till a recent storm came though with 70 mph wind gusts! But parts are still standing, so I will begin again…

Roxy, Ringo & Collection Post
Roxy, Ringo & Collection Post

I learned this idea of adorning nature from my friend Dorothy who lived on wooded property in Kettle Moraine State Forest. She cleared hidden spaces and decorated them, creating lovely sitting areas, sections for prayer and meditation, and a fairy garden for her granddaughter. She posted signage to keep visitors from getting lost and leading to forest exits, entrances and toboggan hills. She designed (and had constructed by a canvas company) a tent that was a replica of a red barn, and she lived in it during the warm months. And once she ordered ice block forms and built an igloo at the base of the woods – big enough for several of us to crawl into for a small gathering!

Dorothy with Buddy on her shoulder
Dorothy with Buddy on her shoulder

Every one of my grandkids has hiked “Dorothy’s Woods” with me, which inspired a series of paintings I named after her. She passed away very recently, but I will never forget her strength, courage and inventiveness.

Dorothy's Woods
Dorothy’s Woods

Dorothy is not the only one who has left my earthly sphere. I’ve said goodbye to a number of people who’ve  influenced my life in this last year. Please indulge me as I pay tribute to some of them:

Dave's funeral

Via zoom, I witnessed the funeral of Dave Lammert, the father of my three children and one who bravely served in Viet Nam. Cancer was another battle he fought with all that he had, and losing him was too soon for my kids. He left us on Thanksgiving Day around dinner time. I am thankful that Tobi held him as he breathed his last. She told me it was lovely; it was soft…and this gives us comfort 🙏

Shortly after Dave’s passing, I lost my precious friend Char, who encouraged my work and allowed me to exhibit in her space, Charlene’s Gallery Ten in Door County. Our relationship was about so much more than business. She had a collection of funny stories about her own faux pas, but it was her way of telling them that always had me in stitches. We seemed to revert back to our childhoods when we were together. Allow me to share just one of many examples: During a day of working hard in her gallery, we took a much needed break and went for a walk along a country road. We came upon an open field of lovely soft grass. We couldn’t resist and ran to flop on our backs and gaze up at the blue sky of floating clouds. It was simply heaven, and we agreed we could stay there forever…until Char admitted in a wee tentative voice, “Barb, I have to pee.” Agh…CHAR!!!” We love that one! Loved, and I will carry it with me always.

Char & Barb
Char & Barb
Charlene Berg
Charlene Berg
Bill Hibbard

One of Char’s gallery visitors was Bill Hibbard. Some in this neck of the woods will remember him as the travel editor of the Milwaukee Journal for many years. I copied this quote from his obituary: “I try to capture the mood of the place I’m visiting and to present the facts about it without puffery and in as fresh and entertaining a manner as I can.” Bill was retired when we moved next door to his family; we just knew him and his wife Edie as really good neighbors. She and I have plans to walk and talk near the shores of Lake Michigan, and she will tell me stories I never knew about their travels… 

Marliss & Bob

Bob’s former secretary, Marliss, lost her battle with cancer shortly after her closest friend Mary died. We all knew each other as employees of P.A. Bergner in Peoria, but our friendship continued long after we moved north. This is some of what Bob wrote to her family: “…an outstanding worker…more importantly, she became a dear friend. It saddens me that Covid prevented us from visiting in person these past few years. But it was always a delight to speak with her on the phone. I will miss her dearly.”

Karen Gaudes

My sweet friend Karen Gaudes, passed away without my knowing until I stopped into the gallery in our neighborhood where she worked. The news stunned me. Karen was the best sales person I ever knew; her genuine love for humankind and her passion for art is what drew me to her. I bought my fare share of items at Atypic Gallery because of her enthusiasm and kindness. Some years ago I walked in the shop, saw her smile and asked if I could capture it with my phone camera. She was shy about my request but relented when I said, “Just wait till you see how awesome you look!” And do you know, she used this photo as her profile pic thereafter! 😌

Finally, we visited our granddog Beamer at Thanksgiving time and said our last goodbyes knowing he would not be with us much longer. But he lived a good long life. Here are Roxy & Ringo dressed up to pay their respects, a moment of silence for their buddy ❤️ And there is “Beamie” on the lookout at Whitewater Lake.

Ringo & Roxy looking fancy
Ringo & Roxy looking fancy
Charley's beloved Beamer
Charley’s beloved Beamer

It’s been an emotional 365 days. As we move forward into the New Year, I plan to process it all by working in my studio; this has always been my best therapy.

Bob says, “Smile in 2022!”🎈

Sending peace ~ ~ ~

🙏

Categories // Newsletters Tags // art community, art therapy, artist friends, plans for the new year, recent art projects, saying goodbye to those who passed on

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