I’ve been very busy in the garden, planting gleanings from my mother’s and sister’s gardens, bulbs, harvesting and savoring the last sunny days. Today’s rain is a perfect moment to stop, plan, run errands and hole up in the studio.

I had more good news this week: My painting “Truly, Madly, Deeply” was accepted for the Northwest Watercolor Society’s Waterworks Exhibition which opens October 12. Today I will be tracking down plexi-glass for framing the two exhibition paintings.

'Truly, Madly, Deeply' copyright Ruth Armitage 22x15"

I am preparing to judge the Southwest Washington Watercolor Association’s Exhibition next month, as well as preparing my seminars for the Watercolor Society of Oregon’s Convention coming up next weekend. I said goodbye to my son yesterday as he set off for his third year of college. How does that happen? One day they are getting on the bus to kindergarten, the next they are driving off to another part of the state! Blink of an eye.

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stain’d
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou may’st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

“The narrow bud opens her beauties to
The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and
Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,
Till clust’ring Summer breaks forth into singing,
And feather’d clouds strew flowers round her head.

“The spirits of the air live in the smells
Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.”
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat,
Then rose, girded himself, and o’er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

To Autumn

William Blake (from Poetical Sketches, 1783)

Don’t forget to plan a day to visit me October 8, 9 & 10 for Open Studios of Beavercreek!  And it is not to late to sign up for my Focus on Color workshop Remember my offers from this post.

     1. Open Studios of Beavercreek, October 8, 9, & 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I will be number 9 on the map. I hope you can join me, as I’m getting lots of fun things together…. New work, prints, cards, treats… I’m even getting the ceiling in the studio painting (by hook or by crook if I have to stay up til midnight to do it!) and track lights put up. (I hope!) I have to mail out & distribute cards, clean, and basically get it all together for this one. Check the website (link above)for a map to the studio.

     2. Watercolor Society of Oregon’s  Fall Transparent Exhibition, and our convention October 1, 2, & 3 in Salem. I will be presenting a “Mock Jury” for one session where participants look at artwork & act as jurors, then compare notes. Then 10 mins. after that session I will be moderating a panel discussion with a group of gallery representatives on “Choosing the Best Venue for your Art”.  It will be a jam-packed weekend… critiques, social hours, the awards banquet, and most of all, seeing friends from all over the state & their artwork.

     3. I’m really trying to stir up some enthusiasm for my “Focus on Color” six week class that will start Wednesday, October 13. For readers of the blog & their friends, I’m offering the first class free… just mention this post! I’m trying to be as flexible as possible with this, as I know everyone is busy. You can sign up for just one session, or the whole series. Just leave me a comment when you sign up here on my Teachstreet listing!

     4. I’m really working hard on getting a new website designed that will integrate with my blog & provide a more professional presentation. Many hours here at my desk are going into this. I’m hoping it won’t take all winter!

     5. I still have things to plant in the garden: perrenials, bulbs and groundcovers. Plus, this weekend is the Fall Plant Sale sponsored by the Hardy Plant Society. Do you think I might be able to find more plants that I can’t live without? Will I be able to afford it? Should I just wait until next year, and spend my time gleaning starts from my Mom & my excellent gardening neighbor? Tune in later for updates in the continuing saga.

Two important things… I probably shouldn’t have left them till last:

"Gathering" 22"x22" Watercolor on Yupo Copyright Ruth Armitage 2010

I WON an award! I just got notice Wednesday that my painting “Gathering” was awarded the Swede Johnson Memorial Award in the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition. Juror Judy Morris is someone that I respect and admire, which makes it even sweeter. The show runs through October 31, so if you are anywhere near Golden, CO… stop in!

And finally: I am preparing to do a blog post about different settings for my artwork. If you have a painting or a print of mine, you can help me out! Here is the deal: Send me a jpeg of my artwork hanging in your home, and I will send you a signed, limited edition print of the “Naughty Aunties”. Already have that one? You can choose one from my Etsy shop! By submitting your image, you agree to allow me to use it for blogging and marketing purposes. If I get lots of them, I may even choose a Grand Prize Winner!

I hope you have a great weekend!

"Red Dog, Blue Dog" Copyright Ruth Armitage, Watercolor on Yupo 20"x28"

I’ve also been doing a little jurying of my own. I was flattered to be chosen to jury the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Electronic Imaging Division Invitational. There were three jurors, and the works chosen will be displayed at the Florence Events Center during their convention September 24, 25 & 26. It was a very interesting process, trying to separate my personal preferences from my artistic assessments. Each juror was asked to rate each entry numerically, and the scores were then added together. Clubs from all over the Northwest were invited to join. It should be a wonderful exhibition… as many of the entries were stellar.

I’ve also just put together a fun treasury for fall on Etsy.com ‘Fresh Olives for Fall’ with one of my sister’s new paintings in it! I’ve been updating my shop with a few new originals too, so take a look

In October, I will also be jurying for the Southwest Washington Watercolor Society’s Fall Show which will be exhibited October 6-10 at the Westfield Vancouver Mall. I look forward to seeing some wonderful paintings

In other, more personal news, a large part of my time has been devoted lately to getting my daughter off to Rome for a term of study abroad. She has started a blog about her Experiences: Italian Do’s & Don’ts. So far, she is having a wonderful time and has signed up for all Art History classes! I’m missing her here at home, especially in caring for our orphaned kittens who are just about ready for their new homes. Anyone need a darling little friend?

Free Kittens!

I’ve also been devoting a lot of time to gardening now that the weather is cooler. I’ve visited some great gardens lately, including Laurel Hedge out in Estacada. They had a fabulous Art in the Garden event last month! Last chance to visit, though, as they close for the season on September 25. I’m off to the garden! Happy September!

The first is the California Watercolor Association’s 41st National Exhbition. The show will run July 14 through September 19 at Gallery Concord, 1765 Galindo Ave., Concord, CA 94520, phone (925) 691-6140 for hours. If you’re in the Bay Area, check it out!

Here is the press release for the second… The Rocky Mountain National Exhibition in Golden, CO.

"Gathering" 22"x22" Watercolor on Yupo Copyright Ruth Armitage 2010

Cottonwood Shimmer - Watercolor on Yupo, 20x28", Ruth Armitage 2010

When I was growing up, my parents ran their farm business from our kitchen table. It was not unusual to awaken to the sound of friends or strangers drinking coffee – gallons of coffee- and to have to pass them in the dining room on our way to the only bathroom in the house. It also wasn’t unusual for people to drop in, for coffee, a drink, to write or collect a check, to transact a sale, borrow equipment, fix equipment, buy or sell livestock, eat a meal, or just for the hell of it at any time of the day or night.

That’s kind of considered poor form in the suburbs, unless one is a very close friend. Also, the advent of cell phones seem to make it much easier to call first, even if you’re just in the neighborhood & want to stop in for a visit. This past weekend I hosted a ‘staycation’ retreat for our book group. I gave my family advance notice, and they all decided to clear out. It was a small sleepover, complete with crafts, games of Quiddler, pajama contests, long chats and watching the perseids meteor shower. We fed the kittens, collected eggs, rode the ‘ranger’ and walked on the golf course. But the highlights were the food & friendships. We had fresh Zucchini & Blueberry Muffins, and Emeril’s Nicoise Salad with fresh beans from the garden that was to die for!

Farm fresh & Fabulous.... Look at the color here!

Peach Mojito's and our unique hand crafted Drink Umbrellas!

Wild Women on the Farm

Reading my blog is one way you can drop in on me any time… I hope you enjoy seeing some of the things that have been keeping me away from the computer! If you’d like to schedule a visit to my studio, feel free to contact me! Leave me a comment, drop me an email or give me a call! I love to have visitors!

You can also mark your calendar for the weekend of October 8, 9, & 10, 2010. I’ll be holding an open  studio! My guest for Open Studios of Beavercreek will be Pat Wendt, who makes beautiful felted hats & scarves.  I hope you’ll come and visit us! If you don’t need a painting, maybe a hat or scarf will be just the gift you’re looking for to get a jump on your holiday shopping.

"Evening Bouquet" Watercolor & Gouache 25x35"

I’ve been working on new paintings for the Salem Art Fair and getting them framed this week. The painting above is larger than my usual work, which means it is more difficult to frame. I feel like I’ve made a breakthrough though, in that I finally figured out how to cut mat that is oversized on my mat cutter. Today I will pick up the glass, and then the whole thing can go together! This painting has taken longer than many, and gone through many versions. I took my time, though in the finishing & I’m very pleased with it. I love the creamy colors you can get with gouache!

I hope many of you will plan to come out for the art fair this weekend. Not only is it a great chance to see art & hear music in a beautiful setting, but it is a valuable fundraiser for the Salem Art Association. The art association brings such wonderful programs to the community. One way you can tell, is by the fantastic volunteers that show up each year. I’ve been doing the show for quite a few years, and made so many friendships in Salem! I’m looking forward to seeing some of you See the link above for complete information… hours, maps, etc.

I’ll leave you with a picture from yesterday morning… as I was talking to a friend on the phone, this sweet young thing pranced into the lower pasture. I barely caught it on film before it was gone

Another reason I’ve been waking early is the chickens, or more precisely, the rooster. It seems we have a rooster in the flock and my godson has named him Benny. He is becoming more proficient at crowing, and recently practices throughout the day, beginning at 5 a.m. He’s taking quite a liking to his ladies too, and I’m hoping that signifies that they are reaching the stage when they may start laying. Here is a collage of some of these lovely creatures They are really fun to watch.

I’ve still been making time to paint… Here are a couple of new images.

"New Vista" - Watercolor & Gouache 15x22

"Contented Solitude" Watercolor & Gouache, 11x15 copyright 2010

I’m deciding which new paintings will be framed, which will be entered in juried competitions, which will need more work. My next show will be the Salem Art Fair & Festival, July 16, 17 & 18, 2010. I hope to see many of you there! Mention my blog for a 10% discount My gift to you! Directions, hours and a listing of participating artists are available on their website: http://salemartfair.weebly.com/visit.html

I’m also so excited to be readying one of my paintings for shipping to the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition. The juror this year was Judy Morris, whom I respect & admire for her beautiful watercolors. The show runs from September 11 – October 31, 2010 at the Foothills Art Center in Golden, Colorado. If you find yourself in the area, stop in & see the show. It will showcase 80 of the top watercolor entries from across the United States & beyond.

Finally, I’ve been spending lots of time in the garden. The vegetables are up and need daily weeding, and we have finally finished the gate and fence surrounding the patch. I did lots of research online until I found a gate design that I liked, and my husband built a very close replica. Here is a link to the original idea which I found on the site of Kirsch-Korff.com. They have some beautiful gates! And here is the gate we made! We still need to install the arbor above…

Now we are hard at work on the hillside below the vegetable garden. This was originally lawn, but so steep I didn’t like to take the riding mower on it. A few months ago, we had the tractor guys, Bob & John DeNino, move some of the huge boulders from our pastures to the hillside. Last week they came back (now that it is dried out finally) to do some digging.

John & Bob, hard at work

Last night my husband & I took our little tractor and moved some more rocks, digging them in by hand to make steps and a path in the terraces. We have more to do, but here it is in progress:

Almost ready for planting!

It's hard to be patient till it is done!

I have been shopping for plants and have a good stash built up, but still need more This garden is keeping me fit!

Finally I’d like to thank all the new subscribers who have signed up for email updates. I’m sorry it has been so long since my last post! I guess I need to get up earlier!

"Wetland" Watercolor on Yupo at the Riversea Gallery

Recently at my opening at Riversea Gallery, I tried to make note of some of the questions and comments from the patrons in attendance. One question  I’ve heard before that came up was “What’s with the Birds?”  I guess this is as good a time as any to address that question.

I can’t remember a time when I was not attracted to birds. As a shy, introspective child I would sit apart on the school bus and stare out at the hedgerows and trees, searching for nests for the entire torturous duration of the ride. On visits to the garden center I hovered near the pet aisle, breathing in the happy chatter of the budgies and canaries and marveling at their brilliant color. They always seemed so exotic to me. I found peace and solitude walking  in the fields and forests, observing the redwing blackbird in the marshes, the raptors hunting over the grasslands, the goldfinches fluttering in bursts of brilliant energy on my grandmother’s dandelion studded lawn.

I’ve been a hobbyist birdwatcher, waiting each year for the return of the wild swans to the wetlands, marveling at the loud plumage of the Evening Grosbeaks, searching the cherry tree for the Cedar Waxwings dropping pits on the ground.  Each seasonal visit from the more unusual species kept me wondering where they came from, how far they traveled, what their winters or summers were like. My favorite perch as a child was a small bench in the crotch of the enormous cedar tree, away from the clatter and noise of our busy household.

When I began to develop as a painter, my initial focus was on still life. Many of my early paintings included bird imagery. Birds were a part of my daily life, watching them indoors and out… at various periods I kept a canary, a parakeet who learned a large vocabulary and a cockatiel. But I also loved the symbolism that birds offered, the allusions to literature or music offered by a blackbird vs. a canary. As I transitioned into a figure painter, birds showed up in even the earliest paintings.

Is it necessary for me to explain what the birds in my paintings mean to me, or is it enough that they hold significance and symbolism? In some cases, I don’t know. I only know that I feel compelled to include them. In general, I feel that when I include a bird in a figure painting, it allows the figure to be content with their solitude. The bird’s presence is voluntary, it is a gift given freely, though possibly fleeting. It reminds us of the beauty of nature, its power, its capricious nature.

The Swan

 

Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?

Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air -

An armful of white blossoms,

A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned

into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,

Biting the air with its black beak?

Did you hear it, fluting and whistling

A shrill dark music – like the rain pelting the trees – like a waterfall

Knifing down the black ledges?

And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds -

A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feet

Like black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?

And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?

And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?

And have you changed your life?

 

- Mary Oliver

 

This week I had some very good news! My painting “Garden Companions” has been accepted into the California Watercolor Association’s 41st National Exhbition. The show will run July 14 through September 19 at Gallery Concord, 1765 Galindo Ave., Concord, CA 94520, phone (925) 691-6140 for hours. If you’re in the Bay Area, check it out!

"Garden Companions" watercolor on paper 15x22"

If you like birds as much as I do, take a look at the new treasury I put together on Etsy last night… Happy BIRDday to me http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=125716

It all started with the orchids

It has been such a wet week here in Oregon! We had a good start on redoing our yard over the spring break holiday: large trees and stumps came out, we moved huge boulders from the pasture to the hillside for a future terrace, the greenhouse was delivered, we prepared the site, got dump-truck loads of gravel delivered… and then everything stopped.

Cherry blossoms at the bottom of the pasture

I am becoming well-attuned to the subtle variations of morning fog… one type of light promises clearing later in the day, but this week’s has portended steady gloom, wind and storms all day. My baby chicks are chilled in their coop in the barn, when last week they were out enjoying the sun.

Native Dogwood outside my kitchen window

I’ve felt the flush of excitement over our new accomplishments contrasted with the frustration of being cooped up and stalled by weather in wild swinging moods. I see why it’s called spring fever. I got out today to see my friend Sue’s baby goats… a few may come to live with us in a month or so!  Then I spent an hour or so at a friend’s nursery picking out plants, much to the detriment of my wallet. We’ve been watching eagerly for new fawns from our resident deer, but so far haven’t seen any.

I have a project to do inside, thankfully. I’m painting my daughter’s bedroom the most beautiful shade of robin’s egg blue! I custom mixed the color. I couldn’t find the right blue… one was too cool, the other too warm. So I mixed the two gallons together Voila! I’ll try to post pictures when the room is finished.

"Forest Song" Watercolor on Yupo

 This is the last week to view my solo show at the Riversea Gallery in Astoria. If you can’t get there this month, they always have my work up… it’s just nice to see them all spread out in a large room together! Thanks Jeanine and Terrie for making the show look so great

Also, if you’ve been thinking of signing up for one of my classes, check out my new listing on TeachStreet. You can sign up for the whole six weeks, or just a few.  The class will focus on color, and it runs May 20, 2010 – June 24, 2010
Weekly on Thursdays from 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM.  I’d love to know if you’re thinking of coming though… so drop me a line! Or, you can sign up & pay on the Teachstreet website… easy-peasy! I’m including one more image from my show at Riversea below… a nurturing one!

'Forest Whispers' Watercolor & Gouache 22"x15"

I’ve listed some originals on my etsy site that I unframed to make way for the new paintings going to Riversea this month. Buying unframed originals can be a great way to save money… buy the painting now, frame it later.  I have a couple more to list in the next week or so, so keep checking back! I’m also planning to list some note cards with my images soon.