Screech Owls, Wild Turkeys, and the Model T Ford in the Pond

Hiking out to my Uncle Hank's farm was a way for my mom to get a day off. For my sisters, Cathy and Patrica,  and brother Francis, it was an adventure out into the country. Mom packed us a lunch and we got to drink from a canteen. Didn't really like the taste of the water from the canteen, but still it was just part of the adventure and that I liked.  Seeing the different farms and different animals each had was exciting. Mrs O'Malley's goats and geese were always fun to tease - and they gave us a good chase along the way. My parents were friends with all the famers along the way. I think they were keeping their eyes on us as we passed each place.

Bird spotting was a challenge. Who could spot different birds first was the game. Catching the biggest grasshopper was another game. Getting bit by the Burger's horses and facing down their dog was all part of the adventure. Drinking cool pump water in the Burger's kitchen while eating slices of Mrs. Burger's sweet raisin bread... Sweet green apples and sour thorn apples, wild grapes and purple plums contributed to the belly aches ending in a visit to Uncle Hank's outhouse. New born calfs and stray cats were all part of visiting the farm. Little screech owls, wild turkeys and the Model T Ford in the pond, were all there, sparking our imaginations. I was fascinated by the Model T Ford in the pond.

The day ended with sleeping on Aunt Marie’s couch. Then, next morning after breakfast, the hike home. Didn't need video games in those days or even a TV.    

That Perfect Painting

Every morning I have two pieces of dry, hard toast and a mug of coffee while checking out Facebook. Art is what I look for strolling down my home page. I've made a point of requesting friendships, and accepting those of artists. Postings are not always to my liking. Somedays I have to stroll down my home page quite a bit before I come to a painting. I use the term “stroll” down instead of “scroll” because I feel I am strolling through my homepage looking for art like I do walking through the woods looking for that thing that will spark a feeling above the ordinary.

Each day I find a work of art that raises my awareness. The work of Stephen Magsig causes me to look closer at ordinary places around me. I love painting beautiful girls and the landscape around me, but seeing the works of Stephen, I take more time to look at the ordinary. One evening crossing the railroad tracks on my way home I paused to take a look at the scene and wondered what Stephen would do with the junk yard and train cars waiting to loaded? What would other artists do with such a subject? I have my young ladies and old barns while other artists have their subjects, longhorn cattle, or antiques.

We all put in the time to create beautiful works. I hold a deep respect for those artists who have put in the time and strive for that perfect painting. A perfection that seems to evade all artists, or so we think. We please others more than ourselves, so it seem. Never satisfied with our own work, we envy the works of others because we see perfection in their works, not realizing they too struggle and are eager to get onto the next painting that will be perfect. It's that desire to bring perfection to the next painting that feeds the need to continue our studying even after art school and workshops.

How we define that perfect painting is a question with a thousand answers. The other day several artist defined the perfect painting as being free of people. What a strange answer I thought. Another person said a painting, to be perfect, must carry a meaningful message. We all have our reasons for creating our art.