Found Objects: Old & Discarded

Today I take down the show, Found Objects: Old & Discarded, at the Creamery Arts Center in Hotchkiss, Colorado.

The oil paintings in this show included objects old and discarded, found bones from the Delta County landscape, remains of a bird, a turtle shell, a nest from an old willow tree, from our farm in Minnesota, old cars, artifacts from my Dad, his fish spear and his tackle box & more. I can imagine my Dad using that fish spear, as he carried that heavy artifact and speared, Redhorse Suckers,  or carrying the green, metal tackle box with its lures, weights and hooks, near his childhood farm in Minnesota. He would be in his mid 90's today.  I love the stories behind the paintings.

I love the process of painting.  Searching for the next topic and venue. Living my days and being continuely inspired in the new subject and settling down to paint in my studio.  Painting, Painting, Painting. Then Stevie helps framing and setting up the next show, somewhere! Enjoying the opening and sharing of my new work.  Rest briefly and then take down the show. And then start all over again.

Bones & new paintings

I found my first skull in Eckert, Colorado. Stevie and I were scouting for Sand Hill Cranes this past year.  That first skull started my quest to look for more bones.  As Stevie fly fishes in Delta County, I arrive with my camera/phone for that perfect photo of a landscape or anything that catches my attention, a hat to protect myself from the hot sun, and a bag to hold a bone, a piece of wood, trash or stone.

Discovering new beauty in my environment, bones, lovely organic shapes.  Along with the bones, I discovered it spurred conversations with others and people I met loaned their found bones, skulls and stories for my new project, the painting series, Found Objects: Old and Discarded.