If you have trouble seeing the full post in your inbox, please click "View entire message" at the bottom. Also, the windows in our home make it difficult to take a photo of my artwork without reflections and glare, but you undoubtedly will still be able to appreciate the beauty of each piece.
Considering my age-old love affair with artists takes me back to a different time and place, practicing the piano on a quiet street in San Bruno. A time of simplicity, we never wanted for much, but we also didn’t need much.
One might wonder where we acquire our passions. We can hypothesize that we were born with certain proclivities. But the tiny tendrils of art may take root in places we least expect, inviting us to explore and appreciate the beauty around us.
My childhood home , a modest middle-class track home, was a unique canvas for my budding appreciation for art. Its compact size, with a two-car garage on a small lot, fostered a close-knit community. The lively conversations of our next-door neighbors, often audible at our dinner table, added a vibrant touch to our otherwise quiet family of three.
Recently, I've reconsidered the care and effort my parents put into our humble home. The main kitchen wall had interesting wallpaper for the time, and the large living room window curtains were surprisingly ornate. In hindsight, my parents most certainly took pride in their home. It was a toss-up who spent more time cleaning and caring for our household, my mother or father.
It is perhaps no surprise that once I started designing and decorating my own homes, my surroundings became extremely important to me, and they continue to be to this day. When decorating any new dwelling, I have three must-haves.
1. Color
2. A view of trees
3. Artwork on the walls.
The color has been easy, a tarp, brushes, tape, and paint. And if I have to plant the tree to be able to view it, then so be it.
On the other hand, collecting artwork has been an effort spanning fifty years and a labor of love. My collection has grown and multiplied, each piece carrying a story and a connection. Most of my artwork has been gathered from people I have met or known, making the artwork all the more precious to me. The first year we experienced a fire evacuation, I forgot to gather any jewelry. Instead, every last bit of my art was in the back of my car, telling a story of personal connections and shared experiences. Journey back with me, will you?
For eighteen years, I lived next door to Leon Gilmour, an extremely accomplished wood engraver. His work was ultimately exhibited in both the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian. Leon was a kind and thoughtful neighbor, taking me under his wing in our connecting gardens and teaching me a great deal about horticulture.
Every year, his Christmas card to us contained an artist's proof of one of his engravings. Many years later, he invited the neighbors, us included, into his studio to take their pick of anything they liked. I have Leon’s work in most every room of our house. Leon passed many years ago, but he speaks to me through his art daily as I pass by the beauty he created during his lifetime. His grandson, Zach Gilmour, continues in his grandfather’s footprints at Hedgehog Press.
When my children were young, I met a painter, Sharon Kranhold, who created stunning watercolors. Her art was exhibited in Graeagle, California where we vacationed every year. When I approached her to purchase one of her sunflower paintings, she invited me to visit her home in the Sacramento area to select my favorite. She had created a number of them. I gathered the kids and headed up Highway 80, a 2-hour drive. Sharon had a beautiful home on a large piece of property. She was such a kind soul; she offered to let my kids swim in her pool, jump on her trampoline, and even fed us lunch. My kids thought they'd just enjoyed a day at a theme park, while I selected a gorgeous painting that has lifted my spirit more times than I can count. Over the years, I collected two additional paintings, one of an amaryllis below, and a fall display of pomegranates and flowers. Sharon was in the throes of cancer the day we visited, although I'd never have been able to tell given the exceptional hospitality she offered us. I only learned later. Her legacy lives on in our home.
Next, I collected two line drawings from Jordan's fourth-grade teacher, JoAnn Johnson. One lives in my kitchen, and the other in our living room. They are simply gorgeous and a welcome reminder of the years spent raising my kids.
When going through Rick's mother's belongings after her passing, we rescued several paintings from Rick’s Uncle Bud. We reframed them, bringing new life to the art. It is priceless artwork in terms of Rick's family history.
My son Jordan and his partner Brooke Kelley have become serious artists in their own right. I lose track of all the different offerings they create individually and together, but suffice it to say they are changing the face of small-town businesses in Kauai, leaving their beautiful mark on the island, as well as assisting many businesses with branding. Brooke's artwork adorns one of my sewing room walls, which are devoted to female artwork/artists.
And last year, when I was able to connect with my cousin Ruth Ann Anderson after fifty years, I was delighted to learn of her many accomplishments in the art world. You can learn more about her ongoing projects here, one is which is creating a 15’ tower for the City of Montclair Metro Gold Line Station composed of designed glass squares with graphics inspired by orange crate labels and community stories.
Another project of Ruth Ann’s in her words,
In 1986, I wanted to begin an art project that concerned itself with a cyclical aspect of life. This resulted in a drawing every full moon which continues today.
Ruth Ann sent us home with one of her beautiful moon paintings below which I cherish.
Rick's former boss, Mark's wife, Judy, is a fabulous botanical artist. Her blueberries are waiting for me to frame them.
Over the last few years, I've connected with new friends in the foothills whose artwork has and will become part of my collection: Lisa Goodner and Linda Miller, both watercolorists, Karen Noe who creates hand built and wheel thrown pottery along with her friend Nancy who I will address below, Glen Olson who fabricates exquisite woodwork, and Lisa Feldman Keith, a fine artist from the Bay Area.
And we've befriended a lovely couple Nancy Crandall Phillips and Jim Crandall, both distinguished artists. Nancy works in non-objective mixed media, and Jim is a contemporary realist oil painter. This last Christmas, after being patient for quite some time, I finally acquired one of Jim's paintings below.
This fellow is awaiting a frame. In the meantime, he sits in a special place in my dining room, introducing himself to the rest of my collection. You know, the newcomer has to be calm and nonthreatening as he makes his way into the family dynamic. Nancy's artwork will be on my bedroom wall within the year. Stay tuned.
My latest art piece arrived just a few weeks ago. Our friend Lalo Sanchez, whom I've written about many times, sent us home after our latest visit with a new mosaic, featured at the top of this post, which will adorn our outside wall next to my potting bench. We currently have a sunflower stepping stone in the yard, the flying pig on the front porch, and my yogini. Lalo's work continues to evolve, each piece lending further depth to the next.
To say I've been blessed with a lifetime of connecting with notable artists is a gross understatement. Each of them, with their unique talents and creations, has enriched my life in ways I can never fully express. I am deeply grateful for their contributions to the world of art and to my personal journey.
To all of my artist friends here and beyond,
A love of life and an understanding of what matters push gently into my psyche in the presence of your creations. You have and will continue to leave your mark on the world. Take a bow to the sacred within you that allows for such creativity and beauty, and then raise your arms high into the air in celebration of your God-given talents.
Thanks for reminiscing with me. I’ve tried to attach as many links as possible if you are interested in learning more about the artists. Wishing you a peaceful weekend.
Lovely Sue, a very enjoyable art tour. Now this post will give you a permanent record of the connections to each piece. Thank you for sharing this passion with us.
Beautiful artwork throughout this post! Loved seeing it all.