A Mother's Love

During the Holiday Season, it's not uncommon to remember and cherish the memories of those longer with us.  I recently had a conversation with a fellow artist about losing a parent - who also guided and encouraged their artistic path.  The void of losing a parent seems amplified during this season and I want to take a few moments to remember my mother, Ursula, who taught me so much about art.

Looking back at my childhood, we lived in a simple farmhouse outside a very small community.  My mother immigrated here from Germany in her early 20s, married my father and they eventually settled here.

Our home farm

 

Little did I know it then, but my mother had some of her books shipped from Germany and decorated our farmhouse with pages from these publications.  Later, she purchased art prints of many great masters and soon the entire house was a mini museum.  We had prints of "Portrait of a Child" from Peter Paul Rubens.  See picture below.

About 1966?  My mother and grandmother and big brother. 

Rubens portrait to the right.

Van Gogh behind the Christmas Tree.

Some of her books from Germany she used for color plates and framed.

After a Scrabble game...Renior above the piano.

 

As the years went on, we had "The Milkmaid" print by Vermeer framed in our dining room, Renoir above the piano, Degas in the bathroom and Durer in my bedroom. 

 

As a child I had the opportunity to enjoy these prints all around our home and I had no idea the impact it would make in my life at the time.  As parents, our influence is great.  Expose your children to music and art, they need it now more than ever!  It is a great gift. 

 

In the past few weeks, I have started on new paintings - low and behold they are a mother/child theme!  It just dawned on me yesterday and this is why I'm taking the time to write.  God's whisper in my ear to paint what is in my heart.

Mother/child theme...works in progress in studio.

 

This is our family and our last group picture with our Mom before she passed away. 

In her Bible, she underlined a passage and wrote my name next to it.  It is now on my easel and a reminder for my daily living.  She knew my love of the sunsets. 

 

Psalms 19:  1-4...How clearly the sky reveals God's glory!  How plainly it shows what he has done!  Each day announces it to the following day; each night repeats it to the next.  No speech or words are used, no sound is heard; yet their message goes out to all the world and is heard to the ends of the earth.  God made a home in the sky for the sun.

 

Now I would be remiss if I didn't thank my Dad who has also made a big impact on my life by sharing his love of the land.  My heart sings when I can be out exploring, hiking and painting in that farm country and I'm forever grateful to being a simple farm kid. 

 

Thankful for the beauty you shared!

And as my mother so beautifully ended every correspondence....Love and Peace. 

 

 

 

Get outside and play!

You've heard this before from parents and teachers....get outside and play!  That's how winter plein air painters feel about the snow.  We are excited about the many creative opportunities with the winter landscape. 

All are invited to see more than 55 winter plein air paintings at the "Painting the Winter Muse" exhibit.  My painting buddy Lynn Rix and I have been tucking away winter paintings for five seasons to share our enthusiasm for Wisconsin's winter wonderland. 

From the Cedarburg Art Museum:  "Two Wisconsin artists embrace the coldest season of the year.  Enticed by the beauty of shapes, colors and atmosphere of the frozen landscape, Lynn Rix and Pamela Ruschman paint Wisconsin en plein air.  All of these paintings have been created outdoors with the artists' boots planted firmly in the snow." 

Please join us at the opening reception on Saturday, January 28th from 2-4 pm, Cedarburg Art Museum.

 

It was an honor to be featured in Outdoor Painter, a national online publication for the plein air enthusiast.  Read about our passion here:

http://www.outdoorpainter.com/winter-painting-is-fun-says-work-and-words/

 

As always, thank you for taking the time to browse my blog.  Happy Winter! 

2016 Cedarburg Plein Air event

It was such an honor to receive an award at this event.  150 artists from across the country come to our beautiful corner of the state to paint and explore.  My painting "Passages" received an Honorable Mention.

"Passages" 14 x 6, oil, 2016 Cedarburg Plein Air Honorable Mention

 

 

When I heard my name called at the awards reception, I suddenly felt a surge of emotion.  Not only happiness, but deep sadness that we lost our mother Ursula a month ago that evening.  To think it had only been exactly a month to the day was overwhelming.  My Mother had been such a huge influence in my creative world, always surrounding the farmhouse with beautiful, simple things and was always my biggest "collector."  Artwork from my middle school and high school years still hangs in the home.  "Passages" was painted for you Mom....that you have passed to be with our beloved God, into the arms of the ONE who loves us beyond our wildest imaginations.  No longer suffering, in complete and heavenly peace.

 

My Mother marked verses in her Bible during her last months and one that she really underlined was from Psalm 16:11.  "You will show me the path that leads to life.  Your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever."  For me, this painting "Passages" captures the new life that God promises. 

 

There were many other paintings created during this week long event that I will share here.  These events are always a week of discovery and affirmation about areas of focus as an artist.  And yes, I finally painted the beloved bluebird in my very own backyard. 

"Bluebird Café" 14 x 6, oil, sold

Painting in my backyard!  That was a treat.

 

"Gideon's Grand Day" 12 x 10, oil

Chickens....and event is not complete without them!

 

"Mequon Marsh" 14 x 6, oil

Painted predawn

Out of bed around 3:30 a.m., off to McDonalds for java.  Parked at the Mequon fire/police station and walked to my location.  I've been scouting this spot for years.  The patterns caught my eye.  The sunrise didn't happen directly over the marsh, but still provided the mood I was going for.  Bullfrogs and curious drivers on busy Port Washington Road kept me company.  This photo was taken around 5:30 a.m., had my lights set up at 4 to begin mixing colors.  Love this time of day!!!!

"Pasture Paradise" 14 x 6, oil

Painting more moving objects in plein air...and let me tell you these cattle really moved around grazing.  A very quick paint!

 

"Predawn Peace" 6 x 14, oil, sold

It wouldn't be an event if I didn't get up to my favorite, favorite spot in Port Washington.  Coal Dock Park.  Another drive through to McDonalds around 3:30 a.m. for coffee, then set up before 4:15 a.m. to begin painting.  The predawn light happens so fast, completed by 5:30.  Had fun watching this young man pull in a beautiful brown trout.  It's a great way to start the day.

Early morning action happening right in front of my easel.  What fun.

Painted at Spirit Lake in Mequon

Fun at Far Field Farm, what an amazing way to spend a Sunday afternoon with this wonderful family. 

 

More Chickens!  Thank you Patti and Randy for the hospitality.

It's a wrap!  Until next year....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter Plein Air in Mineral Point

A brave group of 19 artists made history in Wisconsin for the first ever Winter Plein Air event in Mineral Point.  Was it cold?  You bet.  But we all endured, had fun and explored the town and surrounding countryside to find so much artistic inspiration. 
My first day out began at Jailhouse Alley as a fresh coat of snow had fallen the night before and the muted landscape just called out to me. 

"Good Morning Mineral Point" set up

 

Then I quickly packed up to meet beef farmer Steve as he told me the cattle are fed around 10 a.m.  At this point in the morning, the winds really began whipping across the hilly fields and the conditions got pretty tough.  I managed to keep my easel upright and took a few breaks in my car to get out of the wind.  I really enjoyed watching Steve portion out the hay in a beautiful, artistic pattern across the hilltop.  Another studio painting is anxiously awaiting further exploration of this subject and their lovely farm.

"Angus Brunch Bunch" set up

Steve feeding the cattle

 

That afternoon I explored another building on Steve's homestead farm, an amazing old barn.  Once again, the snow was drifting with winds whipping, but I enjoyed painting this old structure.  This painting too will be used for a studio piece in the very near future. 

A big part of these events is the time spent with fellow artists.  A bunch of us stayed at the historic Walker House, a hotel built in 1836!!!  And unlike summer events where some artists paint throughout the night doing nocturnes, we actually had time to have dinner together after the sun went down around 5 p.m. 

The Walker House Hotel, built 1836

My mornings in Mineral Point began before sunrise enjoying a yummy breakfast at The Red Rooster.  I always enjoy the conversations and even had a local man purchase my breakfast one day!  What a treat, thanks Brad. 

The fun wallpaper at The Red Rooster

 

That morning I painted something that caught my eye the day before on Shake Rag Alley.  This crazy tree was still covered with snow and I was drawn to the complexity of the branches against the simplicity of the historic buildings of Pendarvis.  A world of contrasts.

 

Thank you to all the event organizers and the people of Mineral Point who always welcome the artists....see you in summer when it's about 80 degrees warmer!