Autumn comes with regal ease in Georgia, content to arrive with slow grace. It is the end of November, we still have 70+ degree days. My neighbor, Margaret, has a beautifully shaped Maple tree and this year its radiant splendor did not disappoint. The leaves have changed from green to an incredible display of vibrant colors – vermillion to ruby red.
In the stillness of 2020 nature became a comfort for many – I hope this doesn’t change. I relish the opportunities to do, seemingly, nothing. It is in these moments that you can stretch and exercise your imagination. And isn’t it wonderful that you don’t have to be good at everything, that gives others a chance to share their gifts and talents with us?
Colorado Mural Projects
Jan’s project consists of an array of differently shaped leaves cascading from the crown molding. The color pallet consists of several hues of green and is accented with subtle translucent ochre, blue, and purple. The design undulates throughout the foyer, a portion of an adjoining hall, and into the kitchen.
Tracie’s pot of flowers on her mantle was painted to suit her decor several years ago. After a remodel she wanted to freshen the look. White tulips tipped with warm burnt orange added that freshness. The clay pot
holding her flowers looks as though the design is embossed. The pot is over four feet long. The flowers reach nearly three feet tall.
Donni’s Master Bath was in need of repainting but she didn’t want to give up her flowers. I suggested painting the background within two inches of the blossoms and painting over the leaves and stems. It is much faster to repaint the leaves and stems than to paint around them.
Painting with Balance & Harmony
One of the toughest parts of painting is knowing when it’s finished. Many times it’s still hard for me to walk away. This quote attributed to Michael Angelo I find apropos to creatives, “I’m still learning.” As I tell my grandsons, “When you stop learning, you start dying.”
A few tips you may find helpful for your next painting:
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Look for colors (light, medium, and dark)
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Shapes (small, medium, and large)
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Create the all-important focal point which is seldom located in the center of a painting.
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As you’re working rotate your painting to all four sides, look for a balance.
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Place your artwork so you can stand back and study the reflection in a mirror. A different perspective helps you find balance whether that be symmetrical or asymmetrical balance.
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Creating that balance gives the viewer the opportunity to visually walk through your painting. The eye needs to be drawn into a painting, it needs to play while there, and it needs a way out. When your eye is comfortable with this you may be finished.
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Walk away for a few days or longer. When you return you may find you are quite satisfied with your painting.
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One thing to remember after all of that, rules can be broken and the art can still be great. How confusing is that?!?
View from the Cottage
As I walk through the yard, leaves seem to be magically twirling as if dancing to the ground. I love the artful way of their curling. With each step, I hear the crunch of fallen leaves under my feet. Another fleeting season will soon pass.
A relaxing find only 15 minutes from my home . . . The waters of the Factory Shoals River rush over and around a multitude of rock formations. The sound of the water cascading over the rocks is soothing. It’s sunrise I wait for the sun to touch the outer leaves on the shadowed trees along the east side of the river bank. Oh, how patient one has to be for the sun to accent those leaves. I could have slept in! But . . . I would have missed the wonders of waiting.
As I climb the path to the picnic area I notice someone must have had a magical spell of inspiration as they were leaving the park. The treasure was left on one of the picnic tables. How creative is this?
Here’s a little tidbit for you: Science explains why we feel more relaxed by looking at water on a biological level. Seeing or hearing the soothing sounds of moving water triggers a response in our brains that induces a flood of neurochemicals. These chemicals increase blood flow to the brain and heart, which induces relaxation. There, your day is not wasted – you learned something.
Mary A
Tue, Nov 30, 3:45 PM (1 day ago)
What a lovely newsletter Mickey!
And I love learning something new everyday. Going to trigger some neurochemicals for relaxation now.
…mary
Stay Safe! Stay Healthy!
Hi Mary,
You go girl, trigger those neurochamicals! Thanks for popping in.
Mickey
SUSAN Y
Tue, Nov 30, 5:22 PM (1 day ago)
Hello Mickey,
It is wonderful to hear from you!
Have a wonderful holiday season!
Do you ever paint horses running on the beach?
My e-mail address reflects the ponies on Chincoteague Island from coast of Virginia. This is where the book “Misty” was based upon.
Thank you for including me on your mailing list,
Susie
Hi Susie! So glad you enjoy my little newsletter. I have wondered why you chose your email address. Thanks for sharing! I haven’t painted horses but I certainly appreciate their beauty. I have ridden a horse on the beaches of Mazatlan. That was a thrill. Happy holidays to you, too!
Take care, Mickey
Cheryl L
Nov 30, 2021, 3:46 PM
Thank you Mickey! Always enjoy receiving one of your letters with pics and
also some of your past paintings included.
Have a wonderful Holiday Season!
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
I always like seeing your name pop up in my mailbox. So happy you still enjoy the newsletter. I am honored each time a client calls and invites me to Colorado for more painting. I certainly enjoyed doing your homes. Have a wonderful Chistmas!
Mickey
Elaine G
Tue, Nov 30, 9:06 PM
Beautiful, Mickey! The Foyer reminds me of homes here in Omaha in The Gifford Park Area. The homes date to the late teen 1900-20’up to 40’s & many have murals in dining rooms, studies & living rooms. They use to have “ Garden Walks & Home tours but maybe even before the pandemic, that May have ceased.
We will be viewing av traveling exhibit if the Vatican’s Sistine chapel Thursday! I haven”t done the Van Gogh – I did not believe I could physically tolerate- his twirls & rolls and waves.
Thank you for sending. Stay well, stay healthy & carry on w your beautiful art works. Merry Christmas early!
Elaine
Hi Elaine,
Gifford Park sounded quite nice in its day. I’m sure the tours were lovely. The traveling exhibit of the Vatican’s Sistine chapel sounds wonderful. I was fortunate to tour the Sistine Chapel a few years ago. Unbelievable architecture and paintings. Thank you so much for continuing to read my little newsletter. Happy holidays, Elaine. Thank you for keeping in touch.
Mickey
Kathleen H
Tue, Nov 30, 11:43 PM
SO incredibly beautiful and poignant, Mickey…
Be well – Be safe – Wishing you Blessings in abundance
~~~Kate
Hi Kate, I just love your lovely comments. They inspire me more than you know.
Happy holidays to you!
Mickey
Margaret W
Tue, Nov 30, 3:15 PM
Love that the tree and I made your newsletter! Truly been a beautiful Fall
Sent from Margaret’s iPhone
I appreciate you reading my little newsletter, Margaret. Always enjoy hearing from you after you read it. You are so right about the beautiful fall!
Thanks, Neighbor!
DeAnne Dingwall
Tue, Nov 30, 4:42 PM (1 day ago)
to me
Dear Mickey,
How wonderful to hear from you with another fabulous newsletter. I loved taking a walk through the Fall leaves with your eyes and ears and heart. Plus a revisit to some of your famous private work. Memories!
And to top it off, a personal art lesson. Yay, thanks!
Definitely a day well spent with you, Mickey.
We don’t have your Fall colors but we had a surprisingly long spell of color thanks to the right mix of rain/no rain and frost/no frost. The consequence has been a loooong Fall which is nice but I’m getting antsy for Winter. I cross my fingers to get to see you next trip.
I hope your life and work are keeping you happy and curious.
Wishing you all the best always,
Love,
De
I still love my work (playtime actually) I’m just as curious as always and hope to always be.
You make my day better. You say the loveliest things and I so appreciate you. And I miss you. Hope to see you after the snow stops falling. I really love to look at it from in front of a fireplace. 😉 Happy holidays!
Love ya, Mickey
Kimberly E
Thu, Dec 2, 6:30 AM
Mickey,
Thank you so much! It’s so nice to hear from you and I appreciate your email with such kind words. I received your newsletter the other day and I absolutely loved your murals! Also, great tips about how to know when you’re done painting. It looks like you are definitely keeping busy as well ❤️ Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
You are so welcome Kimberly. Your work is beautiful and your photography, amazing. I am so honored when other artists read my newsletter. Happy holidays you and your family! Here we come 2022!
Mickey
Claudette D
Thu, Dec 2, 8:49 AM
Loved seeing Margaret’s maple tree and the lovely murals in Colorado…beautiful!
Sent from Claudie’s iPad
Hi Claudie!
Thanks for reading my newsletter and commenting! Have a wonderful Holiday. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Mickey
Chuck G
Thu, Dec 2, 2:00 PM
Hi Mickey, your work is beautiful as always. So refreshing and lovely to see.
We are still maintaining ourselves in warm and beautiful Colorado, though we think about other warmer places to live.
Wishing you, your family and friends a joyous and heartfelt Christmas and New Year season.
Regards and Best Wishes,
Chuck G
Hi Chuck!
Thank you, it is always nice to hear from you. I understand the warmer climate thing. I miss the beauty of snow and the mountains, even more so the people and dance community. But I must say, I love growing pansies in the winter.
Happy Holidays to you and yours as well. Wishing you all the best in the New Year.
Mickey
Linda S
Thu, Dec 2, 2:54 PM
Hi Mickey!
Your total beauty is heartwarming.
The inspiration you share – your words, the camera’s lens, your paints and brushes, the twinkle in your eyes. You are a gifted blessing!
With love and hugs to you!
Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy 2022!❤️
Linda and family
Sent from my iPhone
Oh Linda, you are so kind, your words warm my heart and encourage me to be a better me. I hope you and everyone are well and happy. Your grandsons must be grown young men now. How time marches on.
Wishing you the happiest of Holidays and all the best in 2022. I’m not sure what happened to 2021?!?
Love you bunches, Mickey