July 2022
We talked about going to Greece 30 years ago and finally made it. The benefits we could afford a better trip then when we would have been reent college graduates. So perfect timing I would say. We got on a sailboat (115 guests) and visited the islands and Turkey. What a trip! The highlight we ate dinner at Euphesus. In front of the library with an orchestra. I am not sure I will ever get over that experience.
National Gallery, London
Arizona, 2018
The helicopter trip over the Grand Canyon was even better than I expected. I thought it would be louder and bumpier but it was smooth even when we dropped a few thousand feet quickly. The noise cancelling headphones allowed us to chat and blocked out external noise. Very cool!
We stayed in Sedona and took a day trip to Grand Canyon. Sedona and the red rocks were super beautiful. We ate cactus fries, pickle fries, rattlesnake and prickly pear margaritas. It was my first opportunity to use my new camera, too. The scenery is so different from South Florida where I live which made it more interesting.
We took the opportunity to go horseback riding on some pretty tough trails. My horse’s name was Cowboy. I kept singing the Kid Rock tune to him. He liked to eat a lot of the dry awful looking grass. I had to stay in control and be the boss to keep him on track with the group. It was challenging for sure.
The other best excursion was the Ghost Town of Jerome which is an abandoned mining town. I must admit it seemed like aliens came down and wiped out the town. A little creepy. I liked it there though :)
Canada, 2018
My first artist retreat in Sudbury on Lake Charleston. We took a boat everyday to where we would paint all day. We came back for lunch to the cabins. Each morning I was awoken to the squirrels who were dropping acorns on the roof. It was very loud. I liked this way to wake up though. It was a reminder I was in a cabin in the woods. The cabin was well equipped so it was not a hardship.
I really enjoyed this adventure and it really set me on the painting journey I am pursuing today. We would return to the cabin and after dinner there was a very thorough critique of everyone’s paintings.
I learned of the Group of Seven painters that are famous to the area. The other painters and instructor were suggesting at one point I was channeling Carmichael, one of the seven. We were able to meet and speak to his grandson and visit the residence by boat while we were there.
The instructor post-impressionist painter, Keith Thirgood, shared with us the markers he uses and his color wheel. This has influenced my drawings and the color choices and paints in my work today.