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When I wrote my last blog, I said I would return to my travels in Italy.
I have endeavoured to steer clear of this being a travel log and a ticking off of ‘bucket list’ sights. For me, this has been about finding a few locations where I could settle for a fortnight, unpack my bags and discover what I could absorb of the atmosphere, unknown spots and visually capture it. I would rather draw my day, than write a journal at night, but, that is just me.
Through conversations along the way these last months, a friend mentioned an unknown, at least to me, off the tourist beaten path, medieval town, 500 metres above sea level, up the hills of the Marche region, Ripatransone.
I had booked accommodation in a Carmelite convent for 11 days and at first, when I arrived, I thought, how am I going to spend that many days here? I can walk around this small town several times in less than an hour!
Before I fully unpacked my bag, I had already been captured by the view out of my window and had it sketched. Hills to the sea, vineyards and olive trees tumbling down the hills, old medieval walls and buildings clustered together were a sight to see. How could I not sketch it?
I have spent my days going up stairs, then more stairs but with the quaintest alleys to divert into and find some delightful door, window with potted colour, another old church, cobblestone streets....like Alice in Wonderland’s rabbit holes, but above ground. Every street is connected by multiple alleyways, up and down stairs. Occasionally, I would find an alleyway that took me to a long distance view where I would sit and listen to the tolling of the church bells.
I have sat on the stone steps, stood leaning on centuries-old balustrades and walls and even trees, sat on park benches, anywhere to catch the scene I wanted to sketch. I have enjoyed using my long, narrow sketchbooks to emphasise the alleys. Due to the awkwardness of some of the places, I have drawn on location, then painted in my room from my windowsill. I have now completed one sketchbook while here. Kept adding to my favourite leather one. Nearly covered the spare bed with my loose paintings. I have been prolific and my time here is not quite complete.
My self-encouragement has been to ‘stay calm and focused’ whether with travel arrangements, e.g. catching trains or discovering what a small town can offer for artistic efforts. This small, medieval town has not disappointed. I am going to run out of time to draw everything I would like...great problem!
Enjoy my Ripatransone view.
Art with Pat
One of the joys of this retirement-sketching journey of ‘visiting family and friends’ is to do art with various cute kids of the next generation...the children of my nieces and nephews I visited. Very special was to re-encourage a nephew who had enjoyed drawing when he was younger but ‘could not find time’ to do it now!
Time and ‘I wish I could draw’ are common challenges for all of us. Interestingly, not for kids, younger ones who have not been tainted yet with ‘getting it right’.
My brother and his wife, living in North Carolina, decided to take me on a road trip so I could see their daughters, spouses and grandkids (of course!) in Maryland and Chicago area. Flying to Idaho with my sister and her hubby to visit their son and family, gave me more little people time.
Art with Aunty Pat became the ‘thing’ while I visited with any little people. My travel paint kit is not so precious that I can’t share with kids. They thought it was pretty cool using my paint kit and not a cheap version. I am a bit more particular about my paper though...watercolour paper can be expensive...hahaha. But, I had plenty of other good paper. Many precious moments were spent painting together. Never once did a child say I cannot draw, they just got drawing. They had so much fun mixing colours and made a right mess of my palette alongside my mixtures! Often, our artwork was a joint effort!
My brother figured that the next time they went to visit the grandkids, they would be looking beyond them to see where Aunty Pat was to do more drawing!
I did get some sketching done while they were at school...
Next time, back to Italy!
Art with Pat
In my last Art with Pat article, ‘Backtracking to the back roads’, I finished by saying that I would share a fun story of why my retirement-sketching journey also included Mexico City.
My sister worked in Mexico City, married a Mexican and ended up living and working there for over 40 years. My father, always a man of ideas for life opportunities, encouraged my Mexican niece to ‘go and live with Aunt Pat and her family and do a semester of uni abroad’.
The funny part is that my sister sat her daughter down and said, “now, do NOT go and do what your Aunt Pat did when she went to Australia...fell in love with an Australian, married and stayed! It is too far away!”
She did fall in love with an Aussie from Winton studying at the university! They now live and work in Mexico City, not so far away...only a 3 hour flight from Nashville.
As part of my ‘visiting family and friends agenda’, I hopped on a flight and visited for a fortnight. They would head off for work and I would wander finding spots to sketch and markets to buy awesome silver jewellery! On the weekend, we ventured together to the colourful towns of San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. I painted various locations that were meaningful for them.
Everywhere I have gone on this journey, I would paint. If the people I stayed with, liked anything, I would give it to them...CREATE and SHARE! I would take a photo to have for my travel record and memories and I would leave a bit of me with family and friends!
Enjoy some sketches from Mexico!
Pat
PS. Soon I leave Florence and region and head East towards the Adriatic Sea.
Backtracking to the Back Roads
I actually started this retirement journey earlier this year, so, I’m going to ‘back track’ my sketching journey from the present in Italy to my wonderful tours of the UK in August and September with a small group on the back roads. I am not really a person to go searching for my ancestors, but during my family time with my sister in Nashville, we were clearing out papers of my father’s with old photos. We saw on a ‘family tree’ specific towns in Scotland we had not been aware of before. Knowing there was also English heritage, I signed up for tours to discover this part of the world.
It is an easy excuse to lay aside your sketchbook on the premise that a tour is on a schedule and you do not want to slow anyone down...all true. On the other hand, I decided to take the challenge and ‘sketch fast’! I would have one of my sketchbooks with me at all times. [I did leave my precious sketchbook at one place, but I did recover it, phew.] It was a small and friendly group tour and at each stop I would ask the guide how long we were going to be there. Sometimes, it was a 10 minute photo stop or a 20 minute coffee and comfort stop and other times, two hours for our own self discovery and find-your-own-lunch stop. Regardless, I sketched! On shorter times, I sketched super fast, on longer times, I ‘fasted’ lunch to have time for a longer time to draw. Obviously, results were varied.
Results were varied, but the goal was not for perfection (I can take a photo if I want perfect). The goal was to capture a memory and the essence of a place. When you draw you ‘see’ so much more. If I did not have time to add colour in plein aire, I would do it in my hotel room that evening. I would take a quick photo to remember colours.
I often get asked if I will paint later from photographs when I get home from my travels. The answer is NO!. This travel journey is about enjoying the moment with a visual sketch rather than a written journal.
Enjoy the sketches from England and Scotland! Next week...Mexico City when I went to visit my niece married to an Aussie...that’s a fun story!
Sketch while you travel, anywhere, even the local coffee stop,
Art with Pat
Art on the go!
With the freedom to move about again, it seems that a lot of Aussies hopped on planes and went to see the world or at least some part of it. How do I know? Because I’m one of them. Plus, my Facebook is full of photos of friends in various wonderful travel places...Egypt, Samoa, UK.
The plan was to visit family in the USA for a school term, then come back for another year of teaching. But they say, “when you know, you know”! I’m talking about retirement, already past due date. Without all the details of the machinations our minds can go through in making big decisions, I decided it was time for a new season of life. I retired and set off...
I was a responsible adult and parent. After sharing my ideas with my children...I said, “you’re all healthy and have jobs, I’m out of here!”
BUT, I wanted a journey with a difference! I wanted as little planning and scheduling as possible. I wanted to see what opportunities and serendipitous things could happen without everything fully organised. AND, I wanted to live the dream, MY dream of travelling wherever and sketching and painting my way around. Art on the go!
I should have started adding to my blog in March when I actually set off. I thought it would be good to share my art and travels overseas. Fortunately, unfortunately, I have been very faithful to sketch, sketch, sketch literally everywhere, but not so good at writing this blog.
Not sure where to start as I’ve already been quite a few places visiting family and friends in the USA, Canada and Mexico, a tour in England and Scotland and now, I’m in Italy. Buongiorno!
I think I’ll start with the present and do some back tracking in future posts.
My sketching kit is simple but adaptable depending on what time allows. I have learned to sketch FAST and not worry about mistakes because the goal is to catch moments, memories, the essence of a location. I am not keen on journaling but on visual, on the spot moments, anywhere.
Enjoy a few sketches of Pisa!
Art with Pat
Yes, I'm trying to be clever with the saying, a broad stroke....to go all out
South Burnett…what a great place to live in regional Queensland!
But, I do like heading down to the city, Brisbane, otherwise known as the Big Smoke, to visit my kids and grandkids.
When I go to Brisbane, I always check the Facebook page, Urban Sketchers Brisbane and see if there’s a sketching event I can join.
This got me thinking, why can’t we have a Rural Sketchers South Burnett?
Go and ‘Like’, the Facebook page, Rural Sketchers South Burnett! It has similar goals…join other sketchers at designated locations and times, usually 9-11am, bring your own sketching tools, be ‘en plein aire’ [that means outside], make new friends, discover new areas of our region…no cost…have a cuppa afterwards. Sketchers are welcome to share their sketches on the FB page, but it has to be done en plein aire.
Don’t want to sketch, but enjoy the great outdoors and want to see new spots, join us! So far, we have gone sketching at Yallakool/BP dam, Fick’s Crossing, Wondai, Wooroolin markets and Mt Wooroolin, Kingaroy. Go to FB Rural Sketchers South Burnett to keep updated for future destinations in our wonderful area. If you have ideas of where we could sketch, let us know.
Simple Sketching Kit Ideas:
-Sketch/visual art pad
· Pencils/Sharpies/fine point pens
· Watercolour kit/brushes
· Water brush/water container
· Hat
· Chair [I have a small tripod stool]
· Water bottle
My kit lives in my car…there’s always something to draw…
Sketching is a great way to capture special moment,
Art with Pat
ART TOP TIP: Set the timer on your smartphone for 5 minutes! Draw/sketch...you’ll be surprised how long 5 minutes is and don’t worry about mistakes.
We often make the excuse we don’t have the time to draw...recently I was driving home from Brisbane and stopped at the Blackbutt Bunyanut Cafe for a cuppa...I got out my sketch pad and pen that I always have in the car, set the timer and drew what I could see while I had my cup of tea and chicken nibbles! My sketch had mistakes but it wasn’t too bad. Hopped back in my car and kept driving another 2 hours to home!
Quick drawing like this is a great way to improve your observational skills and become more confident with your drawing skills...no excuses...set the timer...even 1 minute is longer than you realise.
Till next time, keep creating,
Pat
Over 60s...great achievement and a new season of life!
I remember when I passed the big 6-0, googling ‘artists over 60’. I was astounded and delighted to find so many people, all over the world taking up the Arts, either for the first time in their lives or finally, getting to resume what they had done when they were younger but then, Life got busy. So, I thought, right, let’s get going again I looked out for whatever was available on the ground or online. I chose within my budget and responsibilities. Initially, I was pretty disappointed in my skill level, it had been better at one stage of my life. But it’s true, “if you don’t use it... maybe not lose it, but definitely, your skills gets rusty.”
TOP ART TIP: Use whatever tricks work for you to be motivated you to start or not procrastinate. Here’s a few that work for me:
· SET THE TIMER! I talked about this in the last column...set a timer for 1 minute, 5, 10 or more and draw, play your instrument, dance...Four years ago, I took on a new responsibility in my teaching career, where I was to teach The Arts...that meant not just my strength of Visual Arts, but Music, Drama, Dance and Media Arts. Music was the scariest because I loved Music, but I didn’t play any instrument. I phoned up my friend who is a piano teacher and said, “Can you give me piano lessons as I already have a piano, leftover from the days of my children taking lessons?” She agreed and, at Over 60, I started learning to play the piano, loved it for myself personally but it gave me confidence to teach my classes. Many days, after a busy day of working, I SET THE TIMER to motivate myself to practice, even 10 minutes. It paid off.
· SET A TIMER! Same tip? Yes! It works a treat for lots of occasions. That’s how I used to get my own children doing chores, cleaning their room, helping with the washing up, etc. I’d set the timer and they’d go for it. I do the same with my students in class, especially if it is a long task or it helps keep the pace moving along...kids like the challenge. So, I do the same for getting my own chores done, SO, I can pursue my painting and my creative endevours.
· SET THE TIMER! Not the same tip again? Sure! You think getting to my studio or my creative space is easy? As much as I love doing my Art or practising the piano, I love procrastinating more...like reading a book or whatever. This is because doing my Art is hard work, brain work, planning, organising, setting out my pencils, getting my cup of coffee ready and I know getting the first marks down on a blank piece of paper or canvas can be daunting. I set myself a time and this helps.
Till our next artsy chat,
Pat
Over 60 and ready and motivated to try some new creative endeavours...or at least thinking about it?!
This is a continuation from my last Pat’s Canvas chat where I encouraged all the over 60s that it is not too late to get going on a new skill, especially in The Arts. My hot tip was to SET THE TIMER for a short time frame to motivate you to at least GET STARTED. A lady told me the other day, she read that and thought it was a great idea...she has not tried it yet though! LOL.
HOT TIP to get creating: PUT ON MUSIC! Choose your music for what you want to achieve...if I want to move quickly or dance along, I like Mexican or Caribbean music...feeling more reflective, then, for me, it’s classical or strong, inspiring solo voices. I still have CDs, the radio or Spotify work a treat. Personally, I like it pretty loud so it really saturates my space. But, listening to Music, in any form, can help keep you out of your mind and let the right side of your brain, the creative side, function.
Have a wonderful time discovering and enriching your life through The Arts!
Till our next artsy chat,
Pat
“Before a child talks, they sing. Before they write, they draw. As soon as they stand they dance. Art is fundamental to human expression.” Phylicia Rashad
This quote is so true. I love watching my own grandkids, as soon as they hear music, they start bouncing or twirling, making sounds, singing along, even the babies or maybe, I should say, especially the babies!
I know the value of children drawing, painting, making squiggles, circles, loops, zigzags…as they are definitely, the basics of writing, such as s, h, e, g, k…all the alphabet letters on based on those first attempts to make marks with lines. Playing with clay or play-do strengthens little fingers to hold brushes, then chunky crayons, then school pencils and scissors.
TOP ART TIP:
Try to buy the best quality art supplies you can within your budget. The results are worth it.
Keep arty,
pat
Gorgeous quote by Phylicia Rashad.
Hi and Welcome to my artsy chat,
I try to encourage people to engage or re-engage with being creative especially when life and responsibilities can crowd our time.
A few years ago, I discovered TED talks [Ideas worth spreading] on Youtube. These very short talks are not so much about ideas or solutions of how to get stains out or gardening tips or DIY, but how people view Art, Education, Science, etc.
I watch TED talks, when I remember, on my TED app to get a bigger picture of life. Recently, I came across one by Ethan Hawke, the actor on ‘giving yourself permission to be creative’.
Here’s a few points that I liked from what he said:
· The time of our life is short…are we spending it doing what we love? Most of us, not!
· Does human creativity matter?
· When we think we have to create something good…that’s the Enemy!
· Play the fool! Not quite sure what he is saying here, but I think it relates to not always having to create what we or someone else considers good…but, create because it causes you to thrive when you express yourself.
· What do you love?
· “There is no path till you walk it.”
My main take-away from Ethan Hawke’s TED talk = you don’t always have to create something good…because that will stop you from starting. A friend recently encouraged my frustrated efforts with ‘baby steps, start with baby steps’.
TOP ART TIP: Watch a TED talk on Art or any topic that interest you. There’s another one I liked, ‘Drawing can set you free’. Check that one out too!
Till our next artsy chat,
pat
I did this flower just with my fingers, no brushes...FUN!
Follow their creative lead!
During the school holidays, I’ve been enjoying visiting my grandkids. I was invited to go camping with one of my kids and his family at Gordon Country near Goomburra Valley...absolutely gorgeous spot! When I arrived, my eldest grandson, 7 year old Eddie straight away said, “Oma, can we do art?”
Out came my sketching kit, which is ALWAYS in my car. He had been given drawing supplies for Christmas so we sat together and drew the surrounding hills and trees, the fire pit, tents, cows or dad chopping wood. The fun bit came when we started drawing a picture together on the same page and adding imaginative items such as giants, mini people, huge bugs and we would ‘tell’ the story as we went.
As we headed to the creek to watch crazy dad swim in the cold water, my grandson said, “Oma, you forgot your sketchbook.” I did have a pen with me and as I sat on the creek bank, I drew fun images on the leaves. This fascinated him and as we went back to the campsite, we gathered more leaves.
Before we knew it, all the adults had joined us painting onto leaves and bark for over an hour...such a relaxed and totally unplanned time.
Next stop, a 3 year old granddaughter, Adelaide with a very short attention span! Again, I let the child ‘take the lead’ as her mum got out a box full of paper, glue, small boxes, stickers, sticky tape. She wanted to tape this here, glue that there and I helped and added my bits too. We created some very cool structures/creatures.
Art with kids can be very relaxed and chatty when an adult joins in with some simple supplies and lets the child take the lead! Just one piece of paper and two pencils taking turns to draw something...
Till next time....chat and draw with kids,
Art with Pat
Eddie's campsite.
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