Keira's 1st birthday!

CONDOR OVER ZION

 
Sally asked me, Chuck, to write this blog.

The inspiration for this painting was the result of taking a hike last fall up to Angels Landing in Zion National Park. The summit is 800 feet above the valley floor, and the views are breathtaking. At about the 600 foot elevation, I took some pics of the Pipe Organ formation, which is named because of the vertical columns of stone at the end. At this time, we also saw California condors soaring along the vertical cliff walls below us. It was magnificant. Looking at the pics upon our return, I realized that I had the makings of a decent painting. Condor Over Zion is the result, which is 24x30 inches and painted in oil. I finished it just after Christmas 2008, but noodled with it and made a few modification for a couple of months thereafter. Finally, I showed the painting to a professional artist friend of mine who was impressed enough to suggest that I enter the painting in the national Art for the Parks competition. I entered in April and at the end of June got a phone call that I had placed in the Top 100 nationally and had received very high scores in that group. Several thousand paintings had been entered from around the country. What a surprise and honor.

I have to take the painting to Topeka, Kansas next week, where it will be shipped out to the Kolb Studio, South Rim Village, Grand Canyon National Park, along with the other 99 paintings from around the U.S. From there, it will go to St. Louis, and West Palm Beach, FL, and a few other cities over the next 14 months. Pretty neat! All of the Top 100 paintings will be published in a book titled Paint the Parks 2009.

I had to place a price on the painting that reflected the market value of my paintings. Since I have not sold a painting in over 35 years, my paintings are theoritically worth zero. Needless to say, I placed a goodly sum upon the painting. The First Place award is a $10,000.00 purchase. The Art for the Parks official who called me stated that Condor Over Zion would likely sell at the Grand Canyon, but would continue on with the show to the other cities.

Life is so full of surprises. Who would have guessed. Now, what did I do to create such a nice painting and can I do it again?

The Blackwatch Fleet in the heat

We survived an un airconditioned drive to OKC and back, plus spending most of our time in blistering temps reaching 104 degrees on Saturday. Dave, the organizer of the first ever BW gathering, agreed beforehand to help Chuck raise the mast on Boatnik, something I think he came to regret. It took the two of them three hours on Friday afternoon. I sat in the shade and sipped ice water and read a book, but it was still plenty hot!(waaa!) Friday evening was very enjoyable as we ate grilled chicken provided by the Oklahoma City Boat Club and chatted with our new friends, David and Harry (not the food people) Ours was a smaller gathering included in the bigger event, a charity regatta. I never did learn what the charity was.

Chuck had the big idea of sleeping on the boat. This idea sounded a lot better back home, but after sweating it out all day, I was ready for a shower and a cool bed. Fortunately for us, Chuck's brother Jeff, and his wife Jolene, took us in. Thank you!! As a bonus, Their daughter, Jenn, and her husband, David, were also there so we got to visit with them and meet their very cute doggie. We also met Jeff's son Jason and his bride to be, Kim.

Saturday, we sailed out into Lake Hefner, a lovely lake with plenty of wind. We did not take part in the official races but we had an unofficial one with David and Kent on Kent's BW. Harry took the helm of Boatnik and we smoked the competition handily. Harry is a very good sailor. Sadly, his boat never made it into the water due to technical difficulties. He loves to race! That afternoon, David and Chuck took the mast down on Boatnik in the unforgiving heat and then we headed back to Jeff's for a quick shower and change of clothes and then back for the evening banquet and rock concert.

David sent an article about the weekend to www.smallcraftadviser and then sent the link to us. It has some wonderful pictures with captions so just Click here to see that.

Boatnik lives!

 
 
We both wished we had taken a before picture with the primer gray hull. Boatnik looked pretty sad just two weeks ago, but Captain Chuck has been rendering tender ministrations through rain and blistering sun. The hard work is almost complete. Launch date is in two days. Captain and crew are ready to sail!

There were 81 Blackwatch sailboats made in Amarillo, Texas of all places. Boatnik is #40. Only six are scheduled to show up at the gathering on Lake Hefner in OKC. You can see why we have to made a good showing.

Re art exhibit

Chuck will not be displaying any paintings at the Center for the Arts this month. He learned he could only put up pictures painted during classes taken at the center. He is currently in his first ever class there so it would only be one painting, not worth staying here on Friday. That means we can spend more time at Lake Hefner, which is what Chuck wanted anyway. I will post some pictures of that event.

Cousins and June happenings

 
 

Chuck took these pics of our eldest grandchildren when they were here in May. They are so much fun, when they are having fun together. They occupied much time "cleaning" my patio door with flyswatters and soapy water. Hey, it kept them quiet and busy.

My big project this weekend is repainting the living room. That was rather easy after all the prep work and taking down the paper border because I used the same color. I also painted crown molding. Putting it up is Chuck's job and I hope he does it soon since it is taking up room on the floor. Chuck is working on houses on his development and trying to get his sailboat painted and spiffed up. He recently joined a group of Blackwatch owners and at the end of this month, we are going to Oklahoma City to a gathering. Only a limited number of Blackwatch boats were built so it is an exclusive club. Lah-ti-dah! Chuck is also displaying some of his paintings this month at the Center for the Arts, where he is taking classes. There will be a reception on June 26th. Please stop by!

Memorial weekend

 
 

One more iris. This one bloomed later than the others and was one of three that Iris gave to us last fall. This is the only one that bloomed but it is a beauty. She opened up last week before we left for Texas to visit our son and his family. On Saturday, we had a picnic in the park and then watched the kids play. Ari owned this slide and Chuck caught him in a great frame.