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| My artistic pursuits.... |
| One of my customers asked if I did any painting, and I thought I'd add this page of my other pursuits. Paul is the main pottery guy, and has been working full time in studio for over twenty years now. I have not been so single minded in my pursuits. I used to whine that I could not be the "artist" and spend all my time working in the studio. Then I realized a few years ago that I was an artist first and everything I did was art. I don't think now that I would be happy doing one thing all the time anyway. I decorated the pottery of Rockhard Stoneware for 14 years, and was able to make sculptures at my leisure. Here are some of my other pursuits. |
| Fiddlin' around....... |
I started violin in fourth grade, when we
moved to a school that offered
orchestra. I was no prodigy, and I
was a really bad practicer, unless I
liked the song I was learning. In
eighth grade I started as last chair
second violin. That year I got serious
and challenged my way up to last chair
first violin.
When we moved again, the new school
didn't have an orchestra, so the violin
sat Idle for a few years, until the
German teacher, Mr. Diffley introduced
me to Bluegrass music. I was hooked! I
pursued lessons on my own and in
college met all kinds of musicians that
helped and inspired me.
moved to a school that offered
orchestra. I was no prodigy, and I
was a really bad practicer, unless I
liked the song I was learning. In
eighth grade I started as last chair
second violin. That year I got serious
and challenged my way up to last chair
first violin.
When we moved again, the new school
didn't have an orchestra, so the violin
sat Idle for a few years, until the
German teacher, Mr. Diffley introduced
me to Bluegrass music. I was hooked! I
pursued lessons on my own and in
college met all kinds of musicians that
helped and inspired me.
When Paul and I moved up here to Ogilvie, it wasn't long before we met the music people
around here. Our first band was" Roadkill Willy and the stump jumpers."
Presently we jam at the coffee shop in Milaca every first Thursday.
We are in the MAD COW BAND and play for wedding dances and Barn dances. Paul
and I call ourselves NOBODY'S WEDDING I have six fiddle students at the Encore school
of music in Mora.
around here. Our first band was" Roadkill Willy and the stump jumpers."
Presently we jam at the coffee shop in Milaca every first Thursday.
We are in the MAD COW BAND and play for wedding dances and Barn dances. Paul
and I call ourselves NOBODY'S WEDDING I have six fiddle students at the Encore school
of music in Mora.
| Substitute Teacher(retired!) |
Subbing started in 1999 when the Mora school
district offered short-call substitute teacher licences
to people in the area with at least a Bachelor's
degree, which I had so I went back to school!
I was somehow able to take on any grade with no
problem, and I credit my animal training experience!
( I didn't take any education classes in college)
In art classes I have given mini workshops in
drawing and clay, As artist in residence at Fairview
Elementary in Mora 2003 I created a tile
installation with third graders.
I Milaca I was artist in residence for the art club
teaching clay, in 2004 and 2005.
As of 2006 I have retired from subbing. I needed a
break from this job, and haven't regretted it since. I
feel my years in education were very educational
for me, but it was time to move on.
district offered short-call substitute teacher licences
to people in the area with at least a Bachelor's
degree, which I had so I went back to school!
I was somehow able to take on any grade with no
problem, and I credit my animal training experience!
( I didn't take any education classes in college)
In art classes I have given mini workshops in
drawing and clay, As artist in residence at Fairview
Elementary in Mora 2003 I created a tile
installation with third graders.
I Milaca I was artist in residence for the art club
teaching clay, in 2004 and 2005.
As of 2006 I have retired from subbing. I needed a
break from this job, and haven't regretted it since. I
feel my years in education were very educational
for me, but it was time to move on.
Above is the day I brought a bunny to
school and we drew her.
school and we drew her.
| Painting........ |
Most of my oils are unfinished. There are some things I want to do to this one too
before I consider it done. In this painting I was trying to capture that rich golden
light of late summer early fall.
before I consider it done. In this painting I was trying to capture that rich golden
light of late summer early fall.
The first time my drawings were
called "Oriental" in style, I was
surprised, I hadn't yet studied
any Asian art and considered
my style all my own.
I guess because I like the
expressiveness of line the most
in my own drawing it did
resemble the simplicity of the
Eastern influence.
In 1999 I finally took a Sumi-e
painting class with Lok Tok at
the Owatonna Art Center. At
left is one of my projects from
that class.
called "Oriental" in style, I was
surprised, I hadn't yet studied
any Asian art and considered
my style all my own.
I guess because I like the
expressiveness of line the most
in my own drawing it did
resemble the simplicity of the
Eastern influence.
In 1999 I finally took a Sumi-e
painting class with Lok Tok at
the Owatonna Art Center. At
left is one of my projects from
that class.
I was never able to duplicate the process I
learned at the Lok Tok workshop. The
Chinese use very special papers that are
meticulously aged to mount the finished
painting rice paste is used to bond another
sheet of paper to the paining.
I did however use my ink and brush on regular
papers. And of course this influenced my slip
trailing on the pottery. At right is a piece from
our life drawing co-op which meets second and
last Thursday evenings at Kathy Hovland's
studio. This is an ongoing thing, you local
artists and it's a great way to stay in practice
and improve your drawing skills.
learned at the Lok Tok workshop. The
Chinese use very special papers that are
meticulously aged to mount the finished
painting rice paste is used to bond another
sheet of paper to the paining.
I did however use my ink and brush on regular
papers. And of course this influenced my slip
trailing on the pottery. At right is a piece from
our life drawing co-op which meets second and
last Thursday evenings at Kathy Hovland's
studio. This is an ongoing thing, you local
artists and it's a great way to stay in practice
and improve your drawing skills.
Gardening is a job that Paul and I
share. We have grown our own
vegetables since we got here, and
have nurtured the soil into a rich
organic mix that grows great stuff
despite the heavy clay consistency of
most of the soil in our area.
I love the garden and the way it
morphs from year to year, and the way
it provides healthy food and that it's so
satisfying to sit and weed a nice
section of carrots. I save seeds and
"paint" my front yard with flowers every
summer. We have more than a
hundred plants indoors this winter,
they keep me going in the winter
months.
share. We have grown our own
vegetables since we got here, and
have nurtured the soil into a rich
organic mix that grows great stuff
despite the heavy clay consistency of
most of the soil in our area.
I love the garden and the way it
morphs from year to year, and the way
it provides healthy food and that it's so
satisfying to sit and weed a nice
section of carrots. I save seeds and
"paint" my front yard with flowers every
summer. We have more than a
hundred plants indoors this winter,
they keep me going in the winter
months.
Many years ago I just decided to have some
kind of flower blooming at all times of the year.
It really gets me through the long MInnesota
winter to see pretty flowers every day. Here are
my stars this week!
Well it looks like I've run out of space and didn't
get to the animals but they will eventually get
their own page!!!
kind of flower blooming at all times of the year.
It really gets me through the long MInnesota
winter to see pretty flowers every day. Here are
my stars this week!
Well it looks like I've run out of space and didn't
get to the animals but they will eventually get
their own page!!!
Copyright 2005 2006 DSMorris
This month's jam at Pochon's Espresso in Milaca. First
Thursday of every month starts around 6 pm
Thursday of every month starts around 6 pm