Create TV: List of Painting Shows on Public Television

Here's a list of just the painting shows as of December 5, 2012.  If anyone notices additional ones please let me know and I'll add them to this list.

• Beauty of Oil Painting
• Best of Simply Painting: Across Europe
• The Best of The Joy of Painting: Bob Ross
• Gary Spetz's Painting Wild Places! with Watercolors
• Gary Spetz's Watercolor Quest
• The Grand View
• Jerry Yarnell School of Fine Art
• Landscapes Through Time with David Dunlop
• One-Stroke Painting with Donna Dewberry
• Painting with Paulson
• Passport and Palette
• Scheewe Art Workshop
• Simply Painting
• Your Brush with Nature

Book Review Apples for Cheyenne

Rachel is a little girl with autism.  The story is about one of her weekly visits to the barn where Cheyenne lives.  He is one of the therapy horses.

This is a wonderful book for both able-bodied children and those with special needs.  It is a nice way to teach those who do not understand autism  about the way autistic children perceive the world.  Both the author and illustrator of this book are familiar with autism as one has a son with autism and the other has autism.

I got a free copy of this charming book from a friend of mine because he knows I love horses and that I work with/for therapy horses once a week at Freedom Ride.  It was written by Elizabeth King Gerlach and illustrated by Kim Miller.

If you would like to purchase a copy of this book I have provided links to it at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon for your convenience.  I am not associated in any way whatsoever with either company except as a fellow customer.  Happy reading!

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

General Colin Powell at Learning 2012

Due to a lack of internet access during his speech and chat with Elliott Maise, I am typing up this synopsis with lots of quotes.  I *would* have tweeted most of these if I'd been able.  Please also make sure to check out #lrn2012 on Twitter to see all the tweets from this and other sessions at Learning 2012.

On conferences like Learning 2012:  "It's important for humans to get together."

The military was the first to use technology for learning.  It was more efficient and saved money.

"Teams are what gets the work done."

General Colin Powell said that in all his 35 years in the military, (I hope I got that right!) he spent 6 of them in school.  Many companies do not recognize the importance of investing in "broadening the perspective of their leaders."

He then told a great story about motivation which included a rubber duck and a rubber chicken and how he used the chicken as a motivation tool in a training class one time.  lol

"It's all about motivating and inspiring people to learn."

He described how he handled the transition from being the Secretary of State one moment to not being the Secretary of State literally overnight.  The solution, if you are over 70, is to buy a Corvette.

He stated that he "was born analog."  Today, his grandchildren help him keep up-to-date on technology.  He said that technology "knocked down all the boundaries."

On technology he says, "The fun part of my life is seeing what's coming next."

"The world is moving from calendar to transactional thinking."

When training you must "change the software and then change the brainware."

Regarding education today, he said that it begins "in a mother's arms."  In the onstage chat with Elliott Maise he said that the "sense of expectation is not being passed down" anymore.  "They need to know they are not expected to fail."  He continued by saying that he has also noticed there is no longer a "sense of shame on the family" when a child does not live up to expectations.  Things were very different when he was growing up.

"It isn't where you start in life.  It's where you end up."

"Your past is not your future.  Your present is not your future."

In the military he was taught to do the following to be an effective leader:

• State a clear purpose that will make a better society.  This is different than a mission.
• "Take care of the troops.  Train them.  If you don't teach them you're a lousy leader."
• Recognize performance.  He writes (in pencil or pen) notes to people on small cards that cost 10 cents.  Simple things like this do not take a lot of time or money.  Yet they can mean so much to the recipient.

A sergeant at Ft. Benning once told him that "you know you're good if your troops will follow you out of curiosity."  Even if it's just to see how you take care of the situation.

On the 9/11 attacks he stated that "one thing no terrorist can do ... is change who we are."

"You've got to have a sense of optimism in our country and the world."  Optimism "is one of the most important traits of leadership."

On the topic of promoting leaders, he said that "performance alone is not a sufficient measurement.  It's a start, but "you have to look at potential."  What is that person learning and doing to improve him or herself?  Do they have "an agility of thinking?"  Do they have the "emotional and mental stability to proceed to the next level?"

On the topic of collaboration, he said that you must convince your team that collaboration is "in their best interest and yours."  It is important.  When speaking with others, he always had a round table in his office and did not wear his jacket "with all that stuff on it."  He just wore a simple black turtle neck sweater.  However, once he'd made a decision it became your decision, too.  "You have to decide what you are going to do and execute."

Also, it is important to have contingency "guys" and "always be in a do loop."  Never be a tyrannical leader.

Well, that's all I got.  I hope you enjoyed it and learned at least one new thing.

Thank you for reading!

Plein Air Painting at Langford Park Sat. Mar. 19

The azaleas are blooming! Dickson Azalea Park is directly across the street.  I'll probably be there between 9-10 am along with Sy Rosefelt painting en plein air.  Here's a map and more info if you would like to join us or would just like to enjoy a day in a beautiful park or two.

My Friend Sy

Here's a picture of Sy Rosefelt painting at the docks behind the Cornell Museum of Art on the campus of Rollins College in Orlando, Florida.  We were there with Rudy Drapiza and Paul Peters painting en plein air.  Rudy, Sy and I stayed until dark.  I got one evening painting done.  No pic of it yet so I thought I'd post this one in the meantime.  It was taken with the camera on my old phone.  It kinda looks like an old polaroid picture, doesn't it?

As darkness enfolded us Sy and Rudy told me a story about how one time when they were painting at a dock in Sanford, the wind blew Sy's palette with all his paint into the water!  He said that "it sank like a stone."  Rudy valiantly tried to rescue it but was smart enough to test the water first with a very long pole to see if he could walk out into the water to retrieve it.  The pole kept going down and down and down and they said it must have been at least 20 feet deep right off shore.  No rescue was possible.

Once a week I've also been doing some life drawing where artists paint or draw from a live model at the Crealde School of Fine Art in Winter Park, Florida.  I'll post some *discreet* pictures of those later as the models pose nude and I wouldn't want to offend anyone!

And I'm working on a couple of commissions of horse portraits for two people at Brookmore Farms.  I just have a sketch right now that I need to send to the client's for approval.  That's one great thing about the internet and art these days that I like.  Back "in the old days" one had to either schedule and meet in person or mail photos via snail mail *or* (gasp) complete the entire portrait, meet the client with the finished product and hold your breath as it was unveiled before them for the first time!  That was very nerve wracking!  Now it is less so as I know the pose, leg and head positions are already approved.

With my trusty old camera phone I hope to post more often to this blog which gets automatically posted to my FB fan page at www.tinyurl.com/karensfanpage.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Freedom Ride at 4H Show April 2010

Video of the Freedom Ride horses, riders and volunteers at a 4H show.

Cavallo at Freedom Ride March 2010

Short video - show got rained out.

Wekiva Invitational Plein Air Paint Out 2010

On the last day of the paint out I went to Wekiva Island to see some artists at work and look at all the paintings they did over the week-long event.

Ken Austin Workshop March 2010

I attended my first watercolor workshop held by the Central Florida Watercolor Society last week. Ken Austin is an awesome artist! This class re-awoke the things I learned in my design courses years ago in college!

Pet Portraits

I was contacted recently via email to do a portrait of three pets, a dog and two cats, all on one sheet. It was specified to do the portrait in watercolor so I got right down to work! Below are two pictures. One is of the work in progress about half-way done and the next one is completed!

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Hello, Lady! Wake up!

Hello, Lady! Wake up!

You'll understand the title a little later. This will be a slightly long blog entry. I, too, was surprised when I went on what I thought would be a fairly unvenventful but pleasant bike ride on the Cady Way Trail in Orlando, Florida, one afternoon after work.

I started out writing in a little book every 1/2 mile or so to make notes about possible painting sites and shade.  But as I rode along I discovered and experienced many interesting things. As I progressed and wrote more in my book I realized it might be nice to share my short ride in my blog with everyone. 

Now, come ride with me.

The late afternoon sun is warm but the humidity is low (for Florida). I am expecting a fairly cool ride so there is no need to change clothes. I wore the same clothes at work all day. They are comfortable and unconstricting. My purse is slung backpack style on my back.  Before taking off I make sure my camera and notebook are within easy reach.

The Cady Way trailhead is tucked behind a USPS (United States Post Office) behind the Fashion Square Mall. A quarter-mile in I stop to note that I am riding along the edge of Baldwin Park (homes) where I find a couple of guys fishing. Around the half-mile mark I cross Humphries Road. Now there are businesses along the trail.

Further on there are homes that are not a part of Baldwin Park. The streets are narrow and a little busy. You have to watch out for motorized vehicles at the intersections. But the drivers I encounter seem watchful and are courteous.

I have no idea where I am right now. I come to Beach Road and Old Cheney Highway. There's a 1 1/4-mile marker. I see a very shaded part of the trail now up ahead. It's very nice with lots of trees on both sides. I'd expect in full summer there are lots of mosquitos here. But today there are none to pester me.

I seem to be riding alongside Old Cheney. There are older homes on the right and newer ones (Baldwin Park again) on the left. Now I see the road on my right has ended and it is dirt leading to the back of an apartment complex. It reminds of my younger days.

An electric scooter shooshes by me. It says "Lithium Powered" on the side. Cool! There is another road up ahead. The scooter turns onto it and is gone.

I pass the 2 1/4-mile marker and arrive at the intersection myself. I have two choices in front of me. The trail splits. I can make a sharp right or go straight ahead.

I see a woman pushing a stroller cautiously crossing the intersection towards me. When she reaches my side I decide to ask her if she knows where the trail to the right goes. She says she doesn't know. But if I go straight it goes to the Cady Way Park and Showalter Field plus there is lots of shade that way.  I choose the shade!

After crossing I realize that on my right I can see a bit of the Winter Park Pines Golf Course. Then I come to more homes behind fences. On the right I can see down into some of the yards because the trail is elevated a few feet. Baldwin Park is still on my left.

There's a sharp turn up ahead. I stop at this one for awhile to write some more and take a short breather. (And to give my butt a rest from the bicycle seat!) This is one of the many places you can stop on this trail for water or to sit on a shaded bench. There is also an emergency call box.

It's actually warmer to stand still than keep moving so I get on my bike again. Ah, a nice cool breeze now.

At three miles I come to Winter Park High School.  Then Summerfield Road. I decide to turn around at Cady Way Park and head back to my car.

On this trail bikes and skaters are asked to stay on the 10-foot-wide trail away from the people walking or jogging on their own parallel trail. I obeyed this rule. But you have to watch out for the guys riding fast on their 10-speeds with the skinny tires. They are serious about their exercise.

At one point I was on the far right side of the bike trail looking around. I was enjoying my afternoon ride. It was so pleasant and quiet. I saw one of these fast cyclists approaching from the opposite direction.  He yells out, "Hello, Lady! Wake up!" I say back to him that, "I was just looking around!"

Later, a couple of other cyclists complimented my bike. My shirt was a bright flowery print. You couldn't miss me on that trail. I didn't look like everyone else!

On the way back I heard loud music coming up from behind. One of the fast cyclists was smart. He had a radio on full blast (or at least very loud) on his handlebars to alert people.

I heard lots of other things. Strangely enough, it seems there is an ice cream truck that plays Jamaican metal drum music. It was very pleasant and accompanied me as I rode past the Winter Park Pines area. 

A girl walking ahead of me with a cell phone to her ear and with fluffy house slippers on  her feet exclaimed "Ew!" as I rode by. I don't think she was talking about me!

And I can't forget the evil squirrel that tried to drop nuts or *something* on me. I was going to fast for him! Ha Haaaa!

Lookin Good!

What is the most significant thing I did since my last post? How about saving a little bird? I found him behind the building where I work near the loading dock. It was lunchtime and I was on my way to the library. I don't know what made me look down but I'm glad I did! There was this cute little bird staring straight up at me. He didn't try to get away or anything. He just kept looking at me. So I got a friend who is a birder to help me. He told me it was an Oven bird which is a type of Warbler. I went to find a small box. Then he found a local bird rescue lady and took him there on his way home from work. She told him the prognosis was good. At least now he is comfortable instead of trapped on a hot sidewalk with no shade, food or water. And he now has shelter from the afternoon storm

The painting is the second in a series of three 24x48 works. Actually, I painted this one simultaneously with the third which I will post later. While painting the first one (Hello, There!) I had worked out a lot of the colors (palette), methods and design issues. Then I went to one of Elin Pendleton's official "Color Bootcamp's" and learned more about using color in a painting. There are just some things you can't learn from reading a book or watching a video! You can subscribe to my new eNewsletter here or You can see my entire blog here or If you need to email me directly, please click here.