Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Outdoors: Santa Monica Beach, National Parks - and in the garden

First Day (of 2010) 16 x 20" oil on linen
© 2010 Katherine Kean

I didn't mean to, but I spent the whole of Sunday gardening; which means pulling up the dreaded grass, trimming branches, and mulching. I had the kittens out for probably the longest they've been outdoors so far. Bear too, and he's a great kitten sitter, rounding them up whenever they looked like they might be getting to close to jumping over the fence. The rain has been so abundant this year that there are flowers all over. The scent of daffodils, hyacinths, and orange blossoms is overpowering. Just wait until the gardenia, jasmine, and roses kick in.

I happened to see this post from the Judson's Art Outfitters blog that mentions artist in residence programs in National Parks. I'm not usually interested in artist residencies. I know a lot of artists who love to go to artist residencies, but I just never got the point. It seems like an extraordinary bother to pack up art supplies, lock up the house, and board the animals just to go to a different studio somewhere else. However, a residency in a national park is another story and until now I had no idea that these existed. Some of these places are extraordinarily beautiful and it makes perfect sense to me that it is beneficial, even necesary to immerse oneself into that environment for a period of time to get the feel for the place and discover the features that make it unique.

Here is the list of National Park Residencies. I will be looking into some of them.

5 comments:

Meowart said...

Wonderful - this painting really evokes the best time of the year to be at the beach in southern California - before the hoardes of sun worshippers arrive and spoil the serenity!

Melissa said...

That painting is beautiful, are those people in there? That's something new fro you, isn't it?

The Artist in Residency programs around interesting, too.

That yard work can really suck you in, can't it.

Palmer said...

I'm getting really excited to come see your show next fall! I love this beach painting.

Kathryn Hansen said...

sounds like a fantastic opportunity!! and fun!

Katherine Kean said...

Meowart - thank you - you're exactly right about that!

Melissa, I don't often have people, but they are so ever present on this beach that they seem to be a feature of that landscape, as much as trees or rocks. Yes - I love yardwork, it's like getting to have the fruits of my labors and eat them too.

Thanks Palmer - I'm looking forward to that!

Thanks Kathryn! Does sound fun, doesn't it?

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