The Modern World of Sue Arnson

I am feeling extremely modern and contemporary today after spending the last few days in Los Angeles.  It is always fun to visit California and seems a world away from Garrett County Maryland.  We had a wonderful time with the Arnson family this past weekend. 
Just before we left, my work in the studio had been focused on doing more abstract paintings.   I find that the spring colors and the rolling hills of the area are not only beautiful but truly inspiring.

DCL abstract 

watercolor

16"x20"

$175

Purple Mountain Majesty

watercolor

11"x14"

$75

suealoft@aol.com

A Form of Art

One of the great things I have learned in the years that I have been involved in the arts community of Garrett County is that art takes many forms.   I was raised in a conservative community and had very little exposure to any art so I entered the world of art with  little background.   I have come around to expanding my views on the question "what is art?"
This winter  Brad Nesline, of Long and Foster Realty, has been transforming a road car into a race car.   This project involved more than motors, tires, clutches etc.   It became a major art project.   He learned to air brush, becoming quite skilled.  I consider this vehicle a true work of art.   Unfortunately Brad is insisting that the car is going to the races.   It is art.

Washington DC and Spring

                                                 World War II Memorial

It is remarkable.   Spring actually has arrived in Bittinger, Maryland.   The crocuses are up and  blooming, as well as the tete a tete daffodils.  We do still have some piles of snow here and there in shady places and on the North side of the hills. Today the temperature reached into the 70's and we ate dinner on the deck for the first time this year.
We spent last week in Washington, D.C. with grandchildren, showing them their nation's capital.  A grand time was had by all.   We were at the Smithsonian, the Lincoln Memorial, the zoo and other attractions.   We visited the World War II Memorial  for the first time.   My friend and mentor Jim McNeil had served in that war where he was captured and held as a POW.  I consider Jim the premier watercolor painter in Garrett County.  There are many watercolor artists in Western Maryland who have benefited from Jim's instruction.  Unfortunately Jim McNeil has not had the opportunity to visit that memorial.

We went to the Phillips Collection to see the Georgia O'Keefe abstract exhibit.  I had not seen most of the pieces in the show and loved it.   There were several that were watercolors on paper, which were really terrific.

And so I continue to play with abstract painting.

SKIING IN UTAH

Despite the great snow and skiing at the WISP in Garrett County, Alan and Sue Arnson ventured to the Wasatch mountains in Utah to ski this past week.   We had never skied Utah and have been wanting to ski in the west for the past couple of years.  The mountains are breathtakingly beautiful and the skiing was memorable.   One day we dropped 2,100 feet when we skied from top to bottom at Alta.    We stayed at The Cliff at Snowbird, which is a lovely resort.  Take a look at these mountains.

DANIEL HELSEL

The Garrett County Arts Council presents the Old Masters Style paintings by Daniel Helsel of Pennsylvania.  The show is in the Backroom of the Gallery Shop at 206 E Alder Street, Oakland, Maryland.  The show is titled "Simple Things Remembered".   There are 25 lovely paintings in the show.  
There will be a reception for Daniel Helsel on Saturday, March 27, 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.  

The public is invited to the wine and cheese reception and to meet the artist.

Daniel Helsel's show will be up until April 16,2010

GRAY and WHITE

 It has been snow white in Garrett County these past weeks.  Now the landscape is  gray, especially along the roads.  It is amazing to see the amount of  road grit on the snow.   So in the spirit of gray, I decided to play around painting gray buildings in a snow scene.    Gray is made by mixing complementary paints.   I used three primary colors and mixed them in various combinations to either blue the gray, red the gray etc.  This painting was done using a combination of ultramarine blue,  permanent rose and hansa yellow.     

WINTER

It may be the lst of March and only 2 weeks until Daylight Savings but it is winter in Garrett County.
The previous record snowfall was in 2002-2003 when we had 233" of snow.  The record was broken last week before the Friday snow event that dumped 22" on Garrett County.   The wind and snow were intense and everything closed including Wal Mart.   THAT is a first!!!!   Over the weekend we picked up 6-8 inches more of snow so that we are now approaching 275" of snow.  However, the roads are in good shape and we can move around the county fairly easily.

I used this weekend as an opportunity to retreat to my studio and paint.   I have not been a fan of painting on canvas with watercolor but a snowy weekend and idle time have changed my opinion on the canvas issue.  I had a great time out there creating and playing with paint. Plus sailboats made me feel like it was summer.