Tuesday, March 08, 2011

thinking v doing

  
(8x12)
An imagined marsh: practice showing distance.
I want to do some paintings with skies that are not blue.

Ever since I found out I was accepted to Easels in Frederick, I have been thinking a lot about landscape painting, which is no substitute for doing landscape painting but which will be a good break from what I have been thinking about for the last month: decorating! I've been gathering paint swatches, flooring samples, and fabrics ... (Now I just have to teach myself how to sew ... and varnish floors and do mosaics ...)
But first, the requirements for Easels in Frederick: I have to write a short bio, which is something I really hate to do, or even contemplate, since I haven't done it. Do you think "Laura Starrett lives, works and paints in South Jersey" will do? Perhaps I can ask someone else to write it for me?

And I must submit a photo of myself, "preferably painting." These are my two choices: a photo my friend Shelby took of me painting at the Santuario del Chimayo three (I think) years ago or a painting Shelby did of me last fall when we attended the Charles Reid workshop together.
Posted by Picasa

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Although I don't know you, the photo of you looks quite relaxed and enjoying your day, doing a sketch. Congrats on "Frederick"!

Nancy L. Vance said...

I like the 'real' photo as it does show you at work.

I understand how you feel about creating a bio. I had one already done several years ago, but in the last few days, I have been struggling writing an Artist's Statement for a solo show in May. I've always thought those sounded pretentious and I find it difficult to write. At least I have some time to rewrite it a few hundred times before the show!!

I enjoyed your Imagined Marsh painting. Love the color choices and softness in the finished work.

Lakeland art said...

I think your photo looks great and good luck with the 'Frederick' sounds very exciting

Barbra Joan said...

Hi Laura, so glad to see you excited about this.. You look so good in the photo of you working.
And there you are !! Bios are hard to do .. but you need more than Laura from S.. Jersey !!!!
BJ

Barbra Joan said...

I also wanted to say, I can see why you've been selected, your submissions are excellent... You'll win ,, listen to the gypsy. !!! stay calm, and stay focused... you will do it.. !!
bj

Autumn Leaves said...

What a beautiful landscape this is, Laura! I also like the real photo (you are so cute!) of you.

Carol Blackburn said...

Laura, you've imagined that marsh beautifully and please use the real photo of yourself, it is lovely and shows your joy while painting. Congrats!

A Brush with Color said...

Beautiful atmospheric painting, Laura! Wow! I love that: you captured the filmy skies and the depth of field here. And the painting of you is lovely with that elegant hat, but I like the photo of you in the act, I think, for this. It's all good!

RH Carpenter said...

I like the photo - you're happy, smiling and doing what you love and the light is shining in your hair :) That photo says, "Come and paint with me!" Beautiful painting, too. Remember, thinking about doing is as good as doing - it's good to percolate things a while and then surprise yourself when you get them down on paper. Yeah, bios seem so self-aggrandizing but have to be done, I guess. Just give them the facts, ma'am :)

Sherry Pierce Thurner said...

Congratulations, Laura! The plein air event looks challenging and fun. I may try the Beloit event again this year - but it isn't juried. Painting outdoors is generally way outside my comfort zone. Anyway, I'm sure you'll be back in the swing of painting now that your other projects are done.

Pat said...

I love the first photo .. you look so happy and relaxed.. that says "love to paint" to me :)

Sheri said...

Lovely, lovely watercolors. I admire you talent.

JANE MINTER said...

laura the marsh is so beautiful..congratulations on being selected look foward to seeing some of your paintings ... goodluck with your biography.

Robin@TheNatureCoast said...

I'd choose the photo too Laura. Your joy in painting is palpable & in living too! What's in the water bottle ;)?