Foxes and The Tree

Foxes and the Tree

30" x 40"

Acrylics on Vellum

The moon was still up in the west while the sun was rising in the east as I drove to work on highway 6. On this particular morning, as I passed by "the tree", there seemed to be a family of foxes romping through the grass. Their brown backs and tails arched almost like waves as they ran across the field. The stump from the tree's "friend" was still visable. The red wooden gate that opened to the pasture was colorful and welcoming against the golden color of the fall grass.

Years ago, there were two trees left on this hill. We used to drive past on our way between Bryan and Hearne, after the new highway was completed. Prior to the new highway, the road passed a little to the east in front of an old fashioned filling station, then curved back to go across a creek bottom and under the railroad bridge. After some bad wrecks, the highway department decided to straighten out some curves in highway 6, which then took us closer to the tree on the hill.

We were surprised when we saw that one tree had been struck by lightning. The stump remained and the burned tree lay across it for years. Eventually, the burned tree disappeared and the stump shrunk into the grass. But that one tree remained.

"The Tree" became a landmark to watch as I drove back and forth to work, home, shopping. "Where are you?" My daughter would ask on the cell phone. "I'm just coming to the tree," I would answer.

The tree looked like it was stretching, or about to run or dance. Sometimes it seemed sad, there, all alone, without a friend. (If you ever watch Bob Ross or William Alexander paint, you will see that they add a tree, then give it a "friend".) Sometimes, it seemed weak and about to die in times of drought. There were times when it appeared to be fearful, when grass and forest fires threatened, especially from the railroad just across the highway, or from passing cars that threw out cigarettes.

I imagine that, once, this land was covered with trees, like the land below the hill before someone wanted more pasture land, or the railroad and highway came through. I wonder who decided which tree to leave and why. I'm sure that they never would have guessed that their decision to leave that tree would bring attention and pleasure to people in our time.

I passed by this tree so much that I made a little rhyme to pass the time and to help me to relax a bit.

"Good Morning, Tree!

Watch after me.

And be my friend.

I surely need a friend today!"

And going home,

"Goodnight, Tree!

I'm going home now.

Keep your roots deep

And your branches strong."

That's all there was time for as I whizzed past. But, it made me laugh, sometimes. I guess it was therapeutic.

We debated about what kind of tree it is. I always thought it was an oak tree. But a bus driver when we were on a field trip, told me that she thought it is a pecan tree. I never was close enough to it to look at the leaves.

Now, the red gate is gone, replaced by a metal one. A huge metal barn of a building by the railroad tracks has been built, spoiling the view across the highway from the tree. I just try to look toward the tree and not at that ugly building when we drive past. Some kind of company built it and bulldozed the land there. The old fillling station could still be seen, from the back, as it was at the fork of the old and new highway. An old house was behind the station, further up the hill. For years, trees and vines pushed the old house over, and sometimes covered it. I couldn't see them the last trip there and hope that they haven't been bulldozed, too. At least, I do have photos, and memories of them.

In the spring, the hill is covered with Bluebonnets, followed by Indian Paintbrushes, then Black Eyed Susans and tiny white and blue flowers that are common, but I don't know the names. Soon after the yellow flowers, the Highway Department and landowners mow before everything is too dry, in case of wildfires. This time of year, the grass is still green, cattle graze on the hill, while the 18 wheelers and other traffic race past on the curve. Sometimes loads in the trucks shift as trucks navigate the hill and the curve, and over the trucks go.

This size painting is a small one, to me. I really prefer to work large. To others, it would appear to be huge at 30" x 40".

I've done this tree several sizes, in different media from memory and from photos.

When you are rushing between Bryan and Hearne, take a little time to notice "The Tree". Smile and say "Hello" or "Goodnight". I'll bet that you will soon pay attention to more trees and landscape, and it will put you in a little better mood.

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Entries for the Brazos Valley Art League Fall Juried Show

are due at the P. David Romei Art Center tomorrow from 10-2.

Judging is Oct. 4 followed by the opening reception

See their website at

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First Friday in Downtown Bryan

Friday Oct. 3

Art, Music, Entertainment, A movie, Fun, Food

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Sign Up For

Plein Aire Painting Workshop in Calvert

with Virginia Vaughan

http://www.v-vaughan.com

http://www.vvaughan.blogspot.com

Saturday Oct. 18

Deposit due Oct. 11

Contact

Cecelia at grannyc_54@yahoo.com

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Plan to Participate in the

20th World Wide Sketch Crawl

Saturday October 25

http://www.sketchcrawl.com

*************

Enjoy

the Victorian Tea, Gala, and Street Fair

in Calvert

Saturday October 4.

Click on the link in my sidebar for pictures and information.

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Katrina Angels

Katrina Angels (top)
Katrina Angels -detail (bottom)
12" x 16"
watercolors
Today, there are observations going on for the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. More stories are being told, suffering goes on, as does rebuilding.
As the hurricane developed and was coming in to hit the Gulf Coast area, I, like others, sat in front of the television set, day and night, watching all the coverage possible. I've been in a couple of floods, and a few hurricanes, but nothing like this.
One of the first early reports of the horror that occured, was from a female reporter calling in to her tv station to tell that she had been out in a boat with her crew, as it got dark. They had to come back in as it was so dangerous. She seemed to break down as she told of seeing a dog wrapped in wires, being electrocuted; of hearing cries for help in the dark, but there was nothing they could do.
I didn't know that there was such a thing as rescue swimmers. I was fascinated as the orange helicopters of the Coast Guard swooped through the skies and hovered, and held my breath each time I saw the crew members beside open doors. I just knew that someone might fall out. But, amazingly, that didn't happen. Strong men in fitted suits and helmets with dark glasses, swung on ropes through the air to drop into polluted water or onto rooftops, to help stranded people get up into the helicopters and off to what they hoped would be a safe place.
The Coast Guard seemed to be the only ones who were able to do anything, until other services arrived with their own helicopters and rescue teams. As more and more helicopters and crews arrived, the sky seemed filled with them. They were like angels, swinging on ropes through the sky, bringing care and mercy to victims.
I am still in awe of their daring, their strength, their knowledge, and skill. As I have watched more tv programs featuring these helicopter crews, I am amazed at what they do. I can't imagine being near a door in a moving helicopter, much less jumping into the ocean with crashing waves and a sinking ship. Then having to go back into the helicopter and perform medical services on victims.
As I thought about the rescuers, I wanted to do some art work as a tribute to them. I sketched in some of the scenes I remembered during Katrina on watercolor paper. I just had to show the orange of the helicopters, so I knew that I had to add color. I put in a dog, wrapped in wire; a man trying to make his way through the water; holes chopped in the roof with an axe; people in groups on rooftops; stranded cars and people; sick people being lifted up and cared for; flooded homes; debris drifting by; a city in the background; a church steeple, rising from the water, as a symbol of hope; and the sky filled with helicopters and those "angels", everywhere.
While I worked on this painting, my grandson had a project to do for school. He wanted to enter an art competition that had a theme of American Heroes. I thought he might be inspired by my "Katrina Angels" and think of them as American Heroes, as they certainly were, in my opinion. However, he wanted to paint something with an atomic bomb explosion in it. He ended up sharing my watercolors with me, and painted his explosion, with a soldier in front of it, guarding us, and a helicopter crashing from the blast. It was nice to paint together.
I thought that it was very colorful and bold. His teacher picked it to go to the big show, and he was so excited. But, it didn't win, so that was disappointing. I explained to him about how judging works, and that the important thing is that he did the painting, and others got to see what he did. He was thrilled to get a certificate that said he participated. It was really difficult for a while, as he tried to decide what to do. That was the real struggle.
Trying to create from someone else's title is often hard. When I was teaching, and we had shows with themes to particpate in , I wanted to go to the planners and ask , "Just what is it that you mean by that? What do you want?" Trying to figure that out is the hardest part. Usually I can think of an idea for these sort of things- months after the show has ended! But, some of the students usually came up with good ideas, after struggling with it for a while.
"Katrina Angels" was painted on Strathmore 140 pound watercolor paper using Winsor Newton watercolors. I liked the effect of the greens and purples, including my favorite Cobalt Violet. My grandson commented that he liked the reflection of the helicopter in the water.
I took a photo of this one and put it on my computer, in order to get the whole picture. This is the top picture above. However, I also did scans of parts of the painting to get details, which are the two lower pictures. There are different effects with using the scanner and the camera. Sometimes, the art work gets washed out by flash or sunlight when using a camera. And, with the scanner, sometimes details, like texture of the paper, detract from the painting.
Be sure to look at the links to Artists and Authors and Interesting Sites on my page. And, I hope that you will share my blog with others who might be interested. I was so excited to add the counter to my page yesterday. It was fairly easy to do, too. Thanks to Nancy Standlee for putting that in her blog.

Vision-Eye Test

Eye Test 8" x 12 " watercolors

"Eye Test" was done on 140 # Strathmore watercolor paper using Winsor Newton watercolors.

A few days passed after the injection in my eye, and my eye looked some better. It still sagged and drooped, watered, and was a little pink looking. But, my birthday had passed and my drivers license had expired. My daughter took me to get the license renewed. I felt confident because two doctors had told me in the last two weeks that my vision was good enough to pass this eye exam.

What a disappointment it was. I took in my old license, the renewal notice, and my fee, ready to keep my license. I had braved all that the doctor's office had thrown at me, so I felt ready.

I was directed to look into what looked like a wooden box. All I could see was the edges of the box around my face, a wavey, black background with squiggley green lines on it. I tried closing one eye, I blinked, I squinted and it didn't change. The clerk took me to another machine and it was no better.

"Time to see an eye doctor," she advised.

"I've been to two eye doctors in the past two weeks, and I could read their charts", I told her. "I do have sinus trouble today from the wind, and I'm getting over a little eye infection."

She told me that I had two years, and to come back and try again when my eye was better.

I didn't want to tell her that my eye may not get any better, but only worse. Still, I should have been able to see something. I didn't know what was wrong.

"Just don't get caught driving with an expired license," she advised as we left.

I was dejected, to think that I couldn't drive anymore. I got my license when I was 12, and had started driving when I was 8, although that was a bit reluctantly. Daddy insisted that I try to drive the war surplus Jeep he had bought. Scared both of us silly when I drove up a little hill and into a neighbor's yard when I tried to carefully turn a corner! So, he made me drive the tractor out in the pasture, to learn how to drive better. As long as I could remember, I either sat in someone's lap while they drove, or stood on the seat beside them. I guess my driving career might be over. Good thing I liked to ride around in the back seat and talk to the grandsons , or look for pictures to draw, while someone else drives. Still, riding in a car is not that fun anymore, with all the distortion and strange things I see. I hadn't been driving since I didn't have to go to work anymore, and, even then, I preferred to have my daughter drop me off at work. And, when my knees started bothering me, I quit driving. Still, not having a license is not a good feeling-just in case I should need to drive and my eyes were better. Maybe, if the eyes and knees get worked on, I can drive again.

It was like one more thing had been taken away from me. One more stone in the path to the end of life. I tried to stay as cheerful as I could reminding myself that it was better to let someone else do the work while I enjoyed looking for pictures, taking photos, drawing, talking to the kids. Still, I knew that, if I just wanted to take myself for a ride, or I needed to go somewhere, I had to wait until other people could, or would, take me. Sometimes it's easier to just stay at home.

I hope that this one goes through. I've had trouble "publishing" or posting the last three posts. I finally got the first one to work. I gave up on the one I was going to send today, about Saturday nights, and will try that some other Saturday. I had to delete what I wrote about for this one, and I'm rewriting it shorter. I think the problem comes when my internet can't find the server, or something of that sort. Computers are a mystery to me. I did print and save the original story, so I have them to keep with my pictures.

The painting today looks like some sort of Egyptian design rather than an eye chart. But, that's how it appeared to me.

Today, I heard an interesting program on tv with an author who has a book out on a man who was blind since age 3. The blind man has had surgery which restored his vision somewhat. Colors and patterns were fascinating to him, but he didn't have the depth that he needed. So, he was having trouble with 3-dimensional things, like faces. I am putting a link to the author on my page in the Authors and Artists section.

Enjoy, and pass my address on to anyone who you think might be interested.