L. Gruger Whimsical Art and Travels Blog

September 8th, 2010

The Art of Gardening

I am just in love with our garden this year. It’s bringing us lots of veggies and satisfaction in knowing we’re growing our own food.

We’re planning on having an even bigger garden next year. We’re even talking about maybe building a greenhouse. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Here’s a few pics I took the other day.

Ever the artist, I decided to have fun arranging the carrots on the counter before I cut them into the salad. And then I made a delicious carrot soup too.

Green and white look so fresh together.

3 onions and 2 marching men on the cutting board.

I thought it was some nice synchronicity when I got an email announcing that Bend is having their first Backyard Farm Tour this weekend as a fundraiser for Neighborhood Impact. What a great idea for a community to do. Love it!

Celebrate the season! Yes!

September 4th, 2010

She Said Take Shelter Amongst The Trees Whimsical Painting

I really was hoping to capture a photo of the quail that are in our yard but they’ve been elusive. Everytime I’ve grabbed my camera to take a pic, they’ve taken shelter under the bushes or in the trees. They are quick little birds. The babies are oh, so cute! Their tiny legs running as fast as they can.

My painting titled “She Said Take Shelter Amongst The Trees” was painted in early summer when I was down in Baja. I know it came from thinking about my Mom who passed away in the Spring and watching the birds down there.

Why so many babies in the painting? Sometimes I analyze a piece after I’ve finished it. Like right now. I’m studying it and wondering about it’s symbolism. I rarely am thinking about the why’s and what ifs while painting. It’s only afterwards that my mind wanders there. Sometimes when I’m thinking of a title I think about what this painting means to me. Usually I don’t share to much about it with the viewer because I like the viewer to make up their own story about the art.

But I will tell you this. My Mom was one of 7 children. She had an older sister who died at 7 before my Mom was born. I think of my Mom as being one of six kids. I made six baby quail in my painting.. It just came out that way. Spontatneously. First there were no babies in the painting and then there were six!

I just recently scanned the painting and made a print of it which is listed in my Etsy Shop.

She Said Take Shelter Amongst The Trees
by L. Gruger

August 31st, 2010

Three Treasures from the Day

Flowers picked by Greg for me.

Finding an old life lessons list written… oooooohhh, maybe 15 years ago.

That would make me 36 when I wrote this.

The life lessons list reads:

Lesson #1
Your Life is a gift.

Lesson #2
Rememer nothing
is what it seems.

Lesson #3
We’ll make regrets.

Lesson #4
Be who you are,
not who they want you to be.

Lesson #5
Take your time.

Lesson #6
Remember how fragile
people’s emotions are.

Lesson #7
Create.

Lesson #8
Listen.

Lesson #9
Your answers lie within you.

Lesson #10
Learning lessons does not end.

And if you really love lists….go here> It’s Bruce Mau’s Incomplete Manifesto for Growth. I think you’ll like it. But be sure to come back here and leave a comment about the Treasures in your life.

My dog Belle is surely a treasure. This precious pup loves to hang out with me and give me soulful looks.

Little black spotted, tatooed nosed doggie. I love her.

What treasure have you taken notice of today?

August 26th, 2010

Art with Texture

I love texture in a painting. I thought you might like to see my work up close and see some of the texture I put into it. I’m often asked how I get the pattern in my paintings that you see in the background.

My process involves using wax paper that I paint and then scrap into with my fingernails, and then press onto the painting. I let it dry for a bit and then run it under the faucet to take some of the paint off with water.

It involves many layers of paint.

I use embroidery thread dipped in paint to get the swirls patterns like you see above. And I like putting the white dots in my work too. They show paths of swirling energy.

To see a video where I’m demonstrating my art process, see my youtube channel. Below is one of my art videos.

To see more of my art, visit my website.

August 26th, 2010

Seeing in all directions

I was up early this morning and went outside to take some pics.

The light was so pretty.

One Tree. So many views. I took some shots of this tree in our yard. From all sides. A 360 around this tree.

It was a reminder.

To remember

that one has many directions

to look at all sides

to remember there are many paths, ideas, views to explore

so go out and explore your views

remember to see in all directions

tree360-9

xxoo,
Lindy

August 18th, 2010

Artist Interview at Whopple.com

I love reading about other artists and learning about their process and what makes them create the things they do. What inspires an artist to create and why they choose their medium are some of the things I’m interested in.

I also like doing artist interviews when someone asks me for one.

Recently I was interviewed by Anne Marie at whopple.com

Anne Marie has devoted her website to featuring artist interviews. She says” Whopple is the place to highlight artists, their art, their inspiration, and their lives.” She is volunteering her time to help promote artists and I’m honored to be included on her website.

Click on the link below to go to the interview. I’m listed under the Whimsical Art Category.

whopplefeature2

Artist Interview with Lindy Gruger Hanson
Whopple.com – Artist Interviews >

And don’t forget to explore whopple.com and read the other interviews. There are many categories of art that you can choose from on the right side of the website.

Enjoy!

August 7th, 2010

“Meet Me at the Guardian Waters” Acrylic Painting

I know that snorkeling with the fish down in Baja inspired my new painting, “Meet Me at the Guardian Waters”.

I’ve been learning to snorkel for the past 2 years. We snorkeled in the Sea of Cortez when we camped for a few days down in Baja this year. Although I’ve only been snorkeling a few times, I love being in the water and seeing underwater sea life. We’ve seen the most beautiful fish. Colorful ones, in lots of different sizes – some big angel fish and sting ray!

My fish in this painting although colorful are not as fancy as what I saw snorkeling. My painted fish are a bit trout-like.

I wanted to paint a family of fish with my aspen trees, with guardian trees looking over them.

“Meet Me at the Guardian Waters”
24″ x 30″
Acrylic on Board, Unframed
$750

Detail.

Water is a big part of our life. We love being near it, in it or on it. Greg and I love taking the dogs down to the river and hanging out. Or taking the boat out to one of the gorgeous mountain lakes around Bend. We like hiking along the river or mt. biking on the river trail. I knew fish and water would make their way into one of my paintings soon and they did.

“Meet Me at the Guardian Waters” Print available in my Etsy Shop. Enjoy!

August 4th, 2010

Home and Love Travel Hand and Glove

There is a poem that is one of my favorites. It’s titled “Home and Love”. Sweet home. Sweet love. The two together are the best. See for yourself below. If you know the author’s name, let me know. (Thanks Kristen for his name)

Home and Love

Just Home and Love! the words are small

Four little letters unto each;

And yet you will not find in all

The wide and gracious range of speech

Two more so tenderly complete:

When angels talk in Heaven above,

I’m sure they have no words more sweet

Than Home and Love.

Just Home and Love! it’s hard to guess

Which of the two were best to gain;

Home without Love is bitterness;

Love without Home is often pain.

No! each alone will seldom do;

Somehow they travel hand and glove:

If you win one you must have two,

Both Home and Love.

And if you’ve both, well then I’m sure

You ought to sing the whole day long;

It doesn’t matter if you’re poor

With these to make divine your song.

And so I praisefully repeat,

When angels talk in Heaven above,

There are no words more simply sweet
Than Home and Love.

- Robert William Service

It inspired one of my newest paintings. I call it “Heart and Home.”

Heart and Home
Acrylic on Board
24″ x 30″, Unframed
$750

Heart and Home-detail detail

Print also available in my Etsy Shop.

Lindy Gruger Hanson

Inspiration