Dobbin House

Dobbin House Tavern, 7x10" watercolor

Went on a Wayne Community College organized tour of Gettysburg last weekend with a fun group of Goldsboro people. I believe this was their eighth tour led by Goldsboro Civil War aficionado Randy Sauls. He knows the battles of the Civil War at Gettysburg like the back of his hand. The entire group had dinner at this 1776 home that has been converted to a tavern. What an amazing treat! The entrées were pricey, but oh so worth it. After the Saturday tour, one of my tour mates lent me his stocking hat, jacket, and fingerless gloves so I’d be comfortable painting this scene late in the day on Saturday after our battlefield tour. I had the world’s smallest stool with me, so I could sit close to the ground, giving me easy access to my brushes and water container.

Captain Phillips

Gone shrimpin’ 8x10" oil on panel

Last night I went to see the new action-packed movie Captain Phillips with a couple of my Goldsboro girlfriends. The movie kept us on the edges of our seats. Great acting coming from not only Tom Hanks, but from those who played the four Somali pirates. During the movie, I asked my friends, “Wonder where they dug up those Somali actors?” Turns out over 700 Somalis auditioned for the parts in Minneapolis, MN, my former home. There is buzz about that one of them will receive a best supporting actor nomination.

Came home and found in my files the two paintings I did of Capt. Phillips, a shrimp boat that docks in Swansboro, NC. I think I sold one of the paintings, but still have the one below. Just a couple of weeks ago, my painting buddy Robert Rigsby and I painted in Swansboro where Capt. Phillips is usually docked. The boat must have been out shrimping. I feel the space left by it made for an interesting composition in Gone shrimpin’.

Capt. Phillips 2, 6 x 9½ watercolor

Wedding in Jackson Hole

The artist’s room at the Inn, 7 x 9½ watercolor

Here is the room that welcomed me when I flew into Jackson Hole, WY last month to paint a wedding. The fireplace had gas logs and the only problem with using it continually was that it also put out heat; appreciated, I’m sure, by many skiers during winter months. Note my cowboy boots near the bed. I wore them to a party on top of a mountain that Friday night where guests were entertained by a group that call themselves One Ton Pig. Their music was dynamite; darn near blew the top of the mountain right off. Give a listen.

One Ton Pig at Couloir, 6x8" watercolor

Jack Ketner, artist/musician, Satirical Surrealist

The Chicken Dance (detail) by Jack Ketner, 34 x 54"

Chicken Line Dance, 6x8" watercolor

Multi-talented Jack Ketner and I were first introduced several years ago on a rainy day in Swansboro, NC. I had the opportunity that afternoon to visit his paintings. I see a lot of artwork in my travels, but I don’t see artwork like Jack’s. I’ve never asked “How much?” I’m sure, way beyond my reach. I feel privileged to have seen his collection of work and look forward someday to revisiting it in a deserving museum.

To give you an idea of how different our work is, here are each of our painting approaches to the “Chicken Dance.” Mine was painted on location at an anniversary party in Calabash, NC. Jack’s was painted in his studio wherever that might have been at the time. He so captures the character and spirit of the people he paints. See what I’m referring to by visiting his awesome web collection at jackketner.com.

R&B + 1

Get-together at the lake cabin, 7 x 9½ watercolor

I used to drink at parties; now I paint. Call me a paintin’ party-pooper. If I had not known I’d be gifting the painting to my hosts, I may have thought twice before withdrawing into my little painting here. I did stop to eat. Wouldn’t you know?

This year and last, hosts Ron and Rena invited my friend Rita and me to their lake cabin on Devil Track Lake. I’ve always thought it strange that people who live on America’s largest lake, have lake cabins inland to which they retreat. Perhaps it’s the privacy and the isolation they seek, the same solitude they were attracted to when they first settled the North Shore of Lake Superior. This year Ron, Rena, Rita, Bob, Bev, and me were joined by someone other than an R or B, Lee, a fellow plein air painter. We let him in though. He’s the one on the FAR LEFT [in the painting]. Lee Englund carries with him the fine distinction of placing third in a competition of 70 artists and over 200 entries in this year’s Grand Marais Plein Air.

I was one of the other 65 artists who didn’t place. I think I’ll drink now.

Another Judy room

Downstairs at Judy and Steve’s, 7x10" watercolor

I just counted the number of paintings I did on my trip out West. Fifty-five! This included six oil paintings and forty-nine watercolors. Forty-four of the watercolors and one of the oils I painted in Wyoming when I was on commission there to paint a wedding.

Here’s the downstairs at Judy and Steve’s in Minnesota. The guest room connects to this room. All together, the downstairs rooms might be called a guest apartment. White terry robes await guests in an armoire. Their house is filled with the coolest stuff—beautiful paintings, crafts, and a huge collection of Limoges boxes. I’m proud to say they have three of my paintings hanging on their walls. Art is fun!

Cherished in-laws

Judy and Steve’s, 9½ x7" watercolor

Highlights of this and last year’s trips to Minnesota were overnight visits with dear friends (and customers) Judy and her husband Steve. Judy is the sister of my late husband, Jerry Behr. Although my time with Jerry was cut tragically short, I consider him the love of my life. After a too-long separation, Judy and I reconnected a couple of years ago on Facebook.
Last year, these wonderful inlaws hosted a dinner in my honor, inviting not only their closest friends, but Judy’s brother Dickie, who I hadn’t seen in some thirty plus years. I was so honored. All this visiting left little time for painting. A few paintings like the Canada geese below is all I had time for last year.
I love spending time with these people, so it was a challenge this year retreating from conversation to go out in their yard to paint their lakeside house. How I wish we lived closer.

Six geese, three ducking, 3 x 8½" watercolor