Celebrating Autumn, Exposition, Exhibition

"12x18", "Tournesol, Nature de Mort"

One of the best flowers to herald fall are sunflowers and Friday, October 29 is the opening of a "Sunflower Invitational". It is here in Denver at Aum Gallery which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.  Just a peek at some sunflowers which I will have on display.

8" X11", "Backyard Sunflowers"
These are teases as there are many more.  On both sides of the street galleries are celebrating 20 and 25 years of success. Fridays are good art nights in Denver.  5PM to 8 PM, at York and Colfax.

Pierre Bonnard

Felicitations to a Colorist!

Growing up drawing and looking at line was encouraged and important in my family life. I lived in the middle of the country surrounded by strong winds, extremes of temperature and closeted by familial love. Museums of great art were not in my landscape. Dreaming was encouraged, looking in books at pictures and actually creating ones own observations. The artist whose original art I saw was that of the Swedish artist Berger Sandzen. His painting and prints were hung in every local school of my home town. They were a part of the background through which I moved.

As you can see from this painting Sandzen was well identifed as a colorist. I absorbed these colors and didn't realize until much later how this work was to lay the groundwork for the love of color. When I was a college student I finally went to a major art musem the Nelson Museum in Kansas City. It was not until I went on an arty trip with fellow lovers of line and color to the Chicago Art Institute did I bump into a resounding colorist and fall hopelessly in amazement and admiration. We took the train up from KC to Chicago and went on a walking/awakening tour of the architecture of Chicago, we went to the print room of the Chicago Art Institue and looked closely at original drawings and prints. But it was not until I walked into an exhibit of Pierre Bonnard's work did I understand how much I valued emotional and expressive color.

"The Breakfast Room". (c.1930-31) Oil, 62 7/8 x 44 7/8 ". The Art Institute of Chicago, Clyde M. Carr Fund

Did you notice the  size, the color and yet the intimacy which draws you in to Bonnard's world?  Well this is the birthday month for Pierre Bonnard. I will during the course of this month bring you more opportunities to look at the beauty created by one of my favorite artists.

Autumn Found!

   Wandering around Westerly Creek in Stapleton I bumped into new evidences of Autumn and some new sculptures which I will share with you. These late sunflowers which I spied are those old wild Kansas sunflowers. They hang on some of them until after the first snow and can be found even in alleys growing between cracks.  They are tough and hardy.

                                                                              

I know, I know everyone else wants the autumns with changing leaves I am  drawn to grasses and vistas. Above is part of a series of concave terra cotta forms which have been arranged over 3 or 4 acres in groups of 5, 3 or more. Their color and rough exterior enhance the land, I will have to find out who the artist is that created them. To me they seem a good choice for this land which not only tolerates bipeds and their pets during the day but the wily coyote and the ungrateful prairie dog. So here is the beginning of Autumn for me and it seems I am not alone as I spied other autumn admirers looking at the land and the vista that day.

Searching for Autumn

I know it has been awhile since my last post. I have been searching for Autumn. Even though the light did become a little softer it is still very warm.  I visited my friend Bev and her husband to see the color and light play around their garden. They are two colorist's and are always thinking of new ways to engage the eye in their garden.

Do you think this blue bird has seen the colors of Autumn in his garden?

                                                                                                                                                                                       Here in nooks and crannies color has been tucked. So that as you walk you can spy red, teal, green in a myriad of shapes.

If you look up you can see the studio beckoning through the leaves.

Color is found painted on pots and on eyes that watch you as you walk through the garden.