Good morning!
How are you? I hope all is well with you!
Sometimes it's hard to know what to write to you about. I often think I need to have something really exciting to tell you.
But, actually, not only is my life not overly exciting, sometimes it's downright boring. Or so it seems to me when I think of it as something to write about!
Or another problem I've run into lately is that I can't seem to get going in any direction. That seems to have been the way the last few weeks have gone.
Everytime I planned to go out painting, something would come up that needed to be taken care of. Or I didn't get up early enough to get out at a decent time.
And, then, I couldn't find any place I felt interested in going to paint. I was lost as to what I might want to paint if I stayed home in the nice cool studio.
Just spinning my wheels in no particular direction.
Then, I went to Billings to spend a few days with my daughter and her family. We played tourist in Billings, camped in the backyard with the kids, went to the water park and drank Italian sodas sitting outside a downtown cafe. It was all a lot of fun and a good break.
Every time I go to Billings, I see the sign for the Brinton Museum. And every time I tell myself I should take a detour and find it. But I never did stop.
Until this time. I turned off and wound around the back roads out to Big Horn and then followed the signs to the Brinton.
I am SO GLAD I did!
There was a show by T.A. Lawson, one of my favorite artists. It was wonderful to wander around and soak in his work! I lingered as long as I could and picked up one of his books in the gift shop on my way out.
Then, as I rounded the corner on the dirt road, leaving the ranch, I glanced to my left and there, perfectly framed by cottonwoods and the Big Horn Mountains, was a gorgeous white barn in shadow. I took lots of photos!
I believe its the Brinton Barn. At least, that's what I'm calling it.
As I continued my way home, I was suddenly seeing "paintings" everywhere! That's one thing art does for me. It reframes what has become mundane into gorgeous beauty.
I kept noticing the beautiful light on the grassy hills. I was struck by the incredible beauty of dark fenceposts strung along those hills.
I was blown away by the stark contrast of an old falling down outbuilding juxtaposed against the sweeping sunlit prairie.
I was in love again! And inspired again. My mind is full of potential paintings!
And, the Lord willing, they will become the paintings for a show I'll be having at Casper College this fall.
I'm so stoked I can hardly stand it. I've managed to get one done. Maybe. I think it's done. Do you think it's done?
The Brinton Barn, 18x18 oil on gallery wrapped canvas
My idea for the fall show will be a mix of up close barns and wide open spaces with a touch of humanity having been active there at some time.
At least that's my vision at this point. I'm planning on sticking to it.
Until then, I hope you're having a really wonderful summer!
Ginny