Life Springs

Life Springs

oil on linen

12 x 9

private collection

Paintings tell stories. Some paintings tell us everything. Others make us guess. Still others lead us to come up with our own story. This painting was done last week during the Callaway Paintout and Sale at Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia. Only this particular painting wasn't done at Callaway at all. It was painted on an estate in LaGrange, Georgia. LaGrange is a few miles west of Pine Mountain. But this place was more than a few miles apart in character from Pine Mountain. It was an ocean apart.

The artists in the paintout were divided up into two per team and shuttled to nearby cities to paint in private gardens on Tuesday. I was partnered with Robin Roberts from Ohio. We were met by a gentleman who drove us out to his castle, estate, er home for the day. Now imagine the sites and landscape along the way. LaGrange is a pretty enough town. It has a nice college there and lots of churches in the downtown area. The surrounding landscape is humble houses, small farms, and a few mobile homes sprinkled now and then. We drove through a large stone gated drive and down a long narrow road. Then before us appeared this "mini" Biltmore house. At least 3 stories with a English tudor styling that rivaled anything you would see on the Hudson or Long Island. Vast green lawns stretched forever with stacked stone walls lining them.

I expected Giles or Jeeves to come out and take our humble backpacks crammed with our supplies. Instead, we were shown around by the owner and then set up to paint where we pleased. I love painting architecture. But believe me, I was way too intimated by this place to paint it. No way. So I found a humble smokehouse in the back of a small (comparatively) perennial garden to paint. It was one of the remains of the plantation that once occupied this land.

After lunch, I went up the hill to this spot in the painting: a foundation and chimney left by a former dwelling on the property. The new owner had cleared the area, there were wrought iron chairs and tables nearby and had planted this native azalea. What appealed to me was the way the ruins were so cared for and left as they were. Certainly the owner could have razed the stones and naturalized the area. But here they were: a nod to the inhabitants of years gone by. A slave quarters? Tenant farmers? Gardeners house? And before it, a brightly lit orange azalea that seemed to say life goes on. So when you think about it, we all just pass through this earth. We create dwellings, clear the land, and plant our gardens. Nature really owns it. I think that's why God gave us springtime to remind us.

Happy Earth Day on Friday and Happy Easter to you and yours,

Christ died and rose again. Life Springs Eternal.

Durinda

A Memorable Weekend

Frankie Willis, my newest collector with Golden Dreams

My setup at the
stone bridge on Sunday

PAG painters

Bambi, Phyllis, Durinda & Sandra

(We've been painting together for years)

The Reception at Pinky's Parlor

Sandra at the river

I don't know what possesses two reasonably sane people to drive to middle Georgia on Memorial Day weekend, setup to paint outdoors in 90 degree heat with pending thunderstorms, but all it took was a "ya'll come" from friend Phyllis and off Sandra and I went. The event was sponsored by Plein Air Georgia in Flovilla. Yes, Flovilla. I had no idea where it was. It is between Atlanta and Macon. We actually were in the Village of Indian Springs. There is a state park which contains the mineral springs that the Indians thought contained healing powers. The village was in its heyday during the late 1800s until 1920s. Without telling you too much history, it is now restored with a cafe, museum, shops and gallery, rental cottages, and gardens.

So what do you do at a paintout? First, you register and the canvases or paper you think you will use that day are marked or stamped on the back. That insures that you do something on the spot and haven't brought a painting you did earlier or in the studio from a photograph. Then you have a time limit to submit your paintings for judging and a display. Our deadline to have work framed and submitted was 3:00. Whew!

The three of us, Sandra, Phyllis and I painted in or near the botanical garden. I setup on the hillside near a small stream with purple iris lining it. I tried out the new MatteFinish Alkyd paints from Gamblin for my underpainting. Working with them on my linen boards went well. They do dry out quickly on your palette in the heat. After lunch at Pinky's Parlor, I again painted in the same area, this time an arbor with a wooden bridge.

Twelve painters from different areas of Georgia presented one or two works each for the reception. Pat Burns won First Place for her Mossy Tree and two other awards were given. Phyllis had made up the "I Survived" awards for the people who were first timers painting en plein air. I always say painting outdoors is not for sissies. Besides the sun, the wind, the bugs, the animals, the kids eating ice cream, you also deal with folks who just naturally are curious about painters. "Do you know Thomas Kincaid?" a sincere bystander asked Phyllis once. "No, do you?" Well, I am sure that sweet Phyllis had just the right thing to say back, but I would have been tempted to say that.

At the end of the reception, it was such an honor to have Frankie Willis purchase my two oil paintings as well as Sandra's and Phyllis'. Frankie is the one who has brought Indian Springs back to life. What a wonderful support for the local vendors and families. Her insight into recreating the village and establishing the gardens makes the area well worth the trip. You can stay in the state park, the Indian Springs resort, or rent one of the cottages in town. I guess a bonus of being a painter is getting to see interesting places and meeting other artists. It sure helps to have friends who enjoy the same things you do!

Now go make some memories!

Durinda

Surprise Guest at U.K. garden

I had just blocked in the painting of the cottage and garden when I looked up to see this lovely lady "floating" down the path towards me. She leaned over my shoulder to look at my painting and said, "How Love-r-ly!" I was thrilled. So I asked her very politely if she would just pause on the path so I could put her in the painting and she said," De-light-ed!" No sooner had I brushed the white paint for her dress then she had disappeared!
Can you guess who she is?

Ta-Ta!
Durinda

Artists in the Gardens- Great Fun!

Photos from the Artists in the Gardens weekend at Walt Disneyworld's International Garden and Flower Festival.

Top left: Barbara Perrotti (portrait demo)Top Center: Barbara, Durinda, and Dorothy Gardiner. Top right: Durinda painting in the U.K. before the park opened (photo by D.J. Gibson, Jr.) Left: Martin Figlinsky at his easel. Center: D.J. (cast member in charge of U.K. artists) and Durinda. Right: Durinda, Linda Blondheim, Barbara Perrotti, and L.Diane Johnson, seated (a few of the Southern Ladies Artists that enjoy painting together regionally).

I was assigned to the U.K. this year. It was absolutely beautiful with the cottage gardens. Other artists with me were Martin Figlinsky, Panama City, FL; Dorothy Gardiner, Clearwater, FL; and Alberto Ortego, Orlando, FL. The other countries with painters were Canada, France, and Italy. We stayed in the cottages of the Boardwalk Inn, enjoyed a banquet on Thursday night, and lunch together daily. And yes, we painted! It is so much fun to paint there and meet all the visitors with questions and thoughts about art. Linda Blondheim does a wonderful job getting everything and everybody together. The Horticultural staff along with the other department cast members really make us feel special. You don't have to be a "art lover" to enjoy this weekend, there are concerts, special seminars, and lots of other activities, but I did meet several guests who said they come just to see the artists paint in the countries each year. It is especially fun to talk to the children who are so interested in art. One small boy in a stroller was drawing little stick figures. I asked him if I could have one and he said, "No!" I told his mom to hold onto the drawings, they would be worth something some day! Another girl stayed with me while I painted a foxglove. When she came back through late in the day, I signed it and gave it to her as my "youngest collector". She was thrilled.

This week has been hectic, getting back to the "real" world! I still need to take my paintings out of the pizza boxes and shoot them. Will post them next week!

Enjoy Spring!!

Durinda

See you at Epcot's Festival of Flowers!

This weekend is the Artists

in the Gardens at Epcot. I will be part of a group of plein air artists who will be painting in the World Showcase countries of England, Canada, France, and Italy. I won't know my assignment until I check in Thursday. Last year I painted in Italy. It was beautifully decked out with potted plants and hanging baskets. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of meeting the guests, the other artists, and the cast members of Epcot. It is amazing how much goes on there!

Each spring the International Flower and Garden Festival is held in the World Showcase. Besides the beautiful scenery, there are seminars on gardening, and Flower Power concerts of music from the 60's.

I will be posting my paintings when I return. Hopefully some will find new homes while I enjoy painting in the park. If you are planning to be in Disneyworld during April 4 - 6, I would love to see you!

Durinda