Time to See the Creator's Art

Creativity Comes from God

We are made in the image of God. That doesn't mean we look like him. It means we share his characteristics and desires. One of those desires is to create. Thus artists express their creativity using paint, charcoal, pencils, clay, marble, and even scrap materials and turn them into something new that they conceive in their minds.

So far as I know, though, none of them have been able to create anything like this sunset I captured from the Walmart parking lot last night. They can only use their art materials imitate or respond to what they see . So let's take a break in our series featuring the artists at Art after Dark and see the work of the Master Artist -- or at least my limited images of it.

Sky Views and Trees I've Seen This Week

After I left Studios on the Park Saturday night, I took a walk in the park to get more photos. Here are some shots I got of the sky and the trees.

Of course, the trees are also God's creation. Joyce Kilmer got that point across eloquently in his poem "Trees," which  has been put to music. I like this beautifully illustrated version sung by Paul Robeson.





The shot below focuses more on the oak tree than the sky. Although all trees are magnificent in their own way, it's hard to match strength and dignity of the oak.

My Posters and Canvas Prints at Zazzle Featuring Sunsets and Trees

Please click them to see a larger view. 

 Autumn Sky After Storm in Templeton, CA Canvas Print Poster: Sunset on Ventura Beach in December Poster Templeton Feed and Grain Store at Sunset Canvas Print Dark Storm Clouds Poster Sun Goes Down On Wine Country Poster Large oak at sunset declares its Maker's praise. Poster Large Inspirational Poster of Clouds at Dusk Poster: Trees in Autumn Colors Poster Huge Poster of Oaks in Setting Sun in Paso Robles Poster of Salinas River in Paso Robles

Some of My Favorite Photos that Feature Trees at Sunset

This photo was taken at Larry Moore Park in Paso Robles one evening in mid-January, 2015. That center tree really does look as though it's lifting its arms to pray, even though the branches are leafless. 

The oak below is one of my very favorites, since it lives across the street from me in Paso Robles and often helps frame a sunset.

Here's the other half of that oak tree with the palms across the cross street. It was taken in the middle of June, 2013.

The photos above are just samples of the hundreds I've taken of the sky and trees. Every time I see the scene above it's different. The Creator never makes two sunsets alike. He never makes two people alike, either. He made us all to praise his name -- trees, sky, and people.

Art after Dark: Steve Johnson Explains His Work in Progress

Meet Steve Johnson, New Resident Artist at Studios on the Park

I actually met Steve a week ago when it wasn't so crowded, and that gave us more time to get acquainted. He shares a studio with painter Judy Lyon and the works of the late resident artist, Harold Spencer. Steve's wall of paintings is behind him. The paintings hanging at the back of the room are the work of the Harold Spencer. I miss him every time I visit Studios on the Park.

Steve is very excited about his work and I love the enthusiasm with which he discusses it. Like most of the resident artists, he is happy to answer questions. When I saw how much Steve loved his work, I asked if he would let me video his explanation of the work in progress you see on his drawing board. It's obvious he considers his talent a gift from God and that he wants to honor God with his work. The current drawing has a Biblical theme related to the Christmas story of the visit of the Magi.

Let's Watch the Video Now

This video was completely spontaneous. I had never met Steve before this night. Neither he nor I had expected to make a video. But when Steve started to talk, I knew I wanted to preserve what he had to say. I hope you will be glad I did. 

Another Look at Steve's Shared Studio

The photo below was taken the night of Art after Dark.

Steve's work is to the left of the photo. Harold Spencer's work hangs on the back wall. Judy Lyons works on the right side of the studio as you look in. She paints lovely watercolors of local scenery. She is rarely around at night.

The shot below is candid and unposed. It was cut from the shot above to size for Pinterest. Steve isn't facing the camera because he's engaged in conversation with someone you can only see in the photo above.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it. 

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A Visit to the Paso Robles School District's Gallery During Art After Dark

Studios on the Park Is Very Active in Art Education in Paso Robles

Studios on the Park invites community members of all ages to enroll in workshops taught by local artists. The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District also maintains its own gallery there where art students and faculty create and display art on weekends. Currently, until the end of October, the PRJUSD Gallery is displaying the work of school staff and alumni. That is what I saw Saturday night.

I have seen some elaborate displays here. One special display I remember was a wall of Alice in Wonderland costumes that had been used in a student production. Another exhibit I really enjoyed was for Presidents Day:  Paso Robles Public School Students Show Off Their Art at Studios on the Park. It featured elementary school drawings of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Others drew what the USA meant to them.

An Amazing Chess Set

My husband loves to play chess. So when I saw this chess set sitting at the back of the studio surrounded by ceramic dishes, I headed straight for it. It had no label or price. It would not surprise me if it were not for sale or had already been sold. I could not find out who created it. It was the first time I'd been in the studio when no one was supervising the gallery. No one else I asked seemed to know.

Here's a closer look at the set and its pieces.

Below you see closer views of the chess pieces from the opposing sides.

Mechanical Birds

Above this table housing the chess set and the ceramics hung some mechanical  birds created by Joshua Gwiazda, a ceramics teacher at Paso Robles High School. I couldn't help but wonder if he also had something to do with making that chess set, especially since he seems to be involved with the Chess Club. If so, his talents are diverse.

Here's a close-up of one of the mechanical birds. Each was unique.

The PRJUSD Gallery Has New Exhibits Every Month

Keep track of the changing exhibits on the PRJUSD Gallery page on the Studios on the Park website. If you visit Studios on the Park, be sure to stop in at the gallery at the back on the left side. You will always see rising talent on display there.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it. The image below is just right for Pinterest.

Do you play chess? Do you know anyone who would like this chess set? If you were going to create a unique chess set, what would your chess pieces look like?

Do the K-12 students in your town have a place to display their work in a public gallery in the same building with professional artists? What advantages can you see for that?

Paso Robles Art Association Throws an Art Costume Party

The Paso Robles Art Association Hosts an Artist Reception Every Month

The party normally coincides with Art after Dark dates, but the artist receptions usually start at 5 pm, an hour earlier than Art after Dark. I usually go to Studios on the Park for the PRAA reception before five to get an early start. I go directly to their Showroom Gallery near the back of the building.

Each month has a new theme to inspire the artists, who then try to address it. This month's theme was appropriately "Costume." Some artists came in costume,  but some only put the theme in their works. By the time I took this photo, the party had become quite lively.

An Early View

Saturday I was later than I wanted to be because my Charter technician hadn't called to confirm our 6:00 appointment and I wanted to make sure my husband was home before I left. He never did call and he didn't show up, either, so I'm glad I didn't stay home. They must have fixed our connection remotely and not bothered to tell us.

I usually arrive to these art events early because the early birds usually find the best parking -- unless there are too many of them. I was really lucky Saturday night. Someone pulled out right in front of me, right across the street from Studios on the Park. Naturally I swooped right into the place. When I entered the building, it was almost empty with hardly an artist to be seen. I did run into artist Jordan Hockett as he ran between studios arranging things. I'll be featuring his art in a future post.

When I arrived in  the Showroom Gallery, they were still setting up. This is how it looked when I arrived as the party began.  There's still plenty of food, and the art is easier to see when there aren't so many people blocking the view.

Not All Art Hangs on the Wall

Although many painters and photographers participate in these art exhibits, not all the artists have works that can hang.  Here is one of my favorites from this show. Unfortunately the title of this acrylic painted bottle created by Deprise Brescia was only partly legible. It appears someone had left a cup on it and the title was smeared. I'm glad no one harmed this delicate but elegant artistic expression . I love the way the shadows dance on the wall behind it.

Deprise Brescia is also responsible for creating "Breath of Fire," an encaustic mixed media piece that does hang on the wall.  "Orange Magnum," which was created by a guest artist, sits below it. What a shame someone had to leave that drink behind. I wasn't sure whether to cut it cut or not, but that would have also cut off the design on the bottom of the decorated bottle.

I wish I'd managed to get a photo of my favorite painting, but somehow I didn't. It might have been too crowded when I found it. The painting was an exquisite tree in its "autumn costume."

Speaking of Costumes

Were I to give a prize to the best costumes on the peope I saw, it would go to this pair. I'm sorry I didn't get their names. They were so social I had to round them up to get this photo of them together, since they were both circulating with others, usually with their backs to the camera. I'm glad they agreed to pose for me.

So Much to See, So Little Time

This the second of my series on the October Art After Dark event at Studios on the Park. Here's yesterday's post, Welcome to Art After Dark at Studios on the Park , Part 1. I have often written about Art after Dark and Studios on the Park in the  years I've written this blog. To find the related articles, just use the handy search box in the right side bar. You will also see the future posts I'm about to write if you look in the Blog Archive near the bottom, in the right-hand column of the of the side bar. 

If you enjoyed this post, please share it. The image below was designed for Pinterest. 

Welcome to Art After Dark at Studios on the Park , Part 1

Welcome to Art after Dark at Studios on the Park

Studios on the Park in Paso Robles is just what its name implies. It's packed with artist studios and galleries. Most of the artists show up for events like the monthly Art after Dark. During these occasions you'll usually find at least one resident artist in each studio. I had the opportunity to meet some  new resident artists tonight. I hope to be featuring them in subsequent posts.

People Enjoying Art After Dark at Studios on the Park, © B. Radisavljevic

Since I saw enough tonight to fill several blog posts, this will be an overview of the entire event with few details. It will give you the pulse of the event with some of the sights and sounds. In other posts I'll take you into individual studios so you can see the work of many of the artists.

The Paso Robles Art Association Was Having a Party

Paso Robles Art Association Partying, © B. Radisavljevic

They have a gallery in this studio. The party was in full swing when I took this photo about an hour after it had started. As you can see, there aren't too many refreshments left. People are mingling, catching up with each other, and discussing the art. I'll do a post on this party later, and show you the art up close. This event started an hour before the main event.

The Main Event Begins with Music

By the time the event officially begins there is a musician or group ready to entertain those in attendance. Tonight that vocal artist was Swedish Sofia Talvik. I attempted to get a video, but decided not to use it. Instead, you'll hear Sofia live in the background when you see the video below of the Bound Scissors Project. Here's Sofia performing.

Sofia Talvik Performing at Studios on the Park October 7, 2017, © B. Radisavljevic

Sofia has many videos on YouTube that will give you an  idea of her diverse styles.  This is a bit different than what she sang tonight, but I loved the way she did it so I share it here. She is singing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." You can find the lyrics here if you have trouble understanding them.  Here's the video.

I also loved this audio version of "When It Rains on Chrismas Day." You can listen to it for free.

The Wine

Local wineries donate wine for Art after Dark so that Studios on the Park can sell it and raise money to keep up its work of art education in our community and to keep its art programs accessible for both children and adults. I wish I'd had these kinds of opportunities to experience art when I was young.

People Waiting for their Wine, © B. Radisavljevic

Alta Colina donated the wine for tonight's event. You can see that many art lovers are also wine lovers. There's a lot of pouring going on.

The Bound Scissors Project

The Bound Scissors Project, © B. Radisavljevic

When I saw this, my first reaction was "What in the world is this?" After all, the scissors are useless for cutting anything. Creator Suzanna Scott bound them all tight in fabric and thread.

 So what is this good for? It encourages people to be creative. As people walk by, a sign invites them to rearrange the scissors in some design and then to post the photo to Instagram with the tag #boundscissorsproject. Many people did stop to do some rearranging. Here are some subsequent photos.

Obviously it takes an artist to do this artistically, so I noticed Anne Laddon having a go at it. She's the one with the red sleeves in the video. You will hear Sofia Talvik's voice in the background and experience a bit of what the rest of us heard throughout the evening.

I hope you enjoyed this introduction to my series on tonight's Art after Dark. If you did, please share it. Use can use the image below on Pinterest.

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Paso Robles: A Train Runs through It

The Amtrak Train Stops in Paso Robles

Of course to get to the station, the train needs to pass through the city. While in the city it crosses some busy streets, often during rush hour. In the photo below, it's leaving town going south. I'm not sure why that boxcar is sitting there looking lonely. 

On this October afternoon I decided to chase it south on foot to try to get more of it in the photo. The background around the track isn't very pretty in that direction. Trains often do run through some ugly places. Actually, the view from the train is probably better than the view following the train under all the wires. Most of the wires in this town are above ground and it's really difficult not to get them into photos. This could have been a better picture if I'd been able to run fast enough to capture the train when it got past the wires. 

I'm spontaneous. I got to the parking lot by the station just as the train was leaving. If I'd thought to look at a schedule I might have planned to be in the right place in time to get the photo I really wanted. But, no. I hadn't even expected the train to come through while I was there. I'd come to document the way the street had been modified to accommodate the new parking area. 

Here's the station the train just left. I can't remember ever seeing the depot open, but maybe I just always happen to come after hours. 

Get it on a postcard from Zazzle. This is more of an overview and shows you a bit of Velta Circle on the right. The buses circle around it. This photo was taken on a winter day. 

Postcard: Paso Robles Train Station in Winter Postcard

The Train Is Arriving on Its Way North

This train is about to stop at the depot to drop off and pick up passengers.

Amtrak Train Headed Toward Train Station, © B. Radisavljevic

Take a peak inside while the door is open.

A Peak Inside the Train, © B. Radisavljevic

Here are the passengers about to get on.

Passengers Preparing to Board Train in Paso Robles, © B. Radisavljevic

The Train Crosses Busy Paso Robles Steets

Here's one crossing 10th Street now, headed south toward the station.

Cars Waiting for Train to Pass, © B. Radisavljevic

Finally, it got across. The drivers can resume their way across town. Well, they can as soon as that gate goes back up.

The Last Car Is Crossing at 10th Street, © B. Radisavljevic

Let's watch it head the two blocks toward the station.

The Train Is Almost to the Paso Robles Station, Getting Ready to Stop. © B. Radisavljevic

Now let's watch it leave the station on its way north.

The Train Is about to Head North from the Depot, © B. Radisavljevic

This photo used on these products was taken in autumn. Use one to tag your luggage when you pack for your train trip. Or get this deck of cards to play with while you wait for the train to arrive or when you travel through those ugly parts of town or after dark.

Paso Robles Train Station in Autumn Playing CardsPaso Robles Train Station in Autumn Luggage Tag

Here's a poster with a different orientation from a photo taken on a dreary winter day.

Poster: Train Leaving Paso Robles Station in Winte Poster

Now the train is gone, the gate is up, and you can proceed to whatever you need to do next.

If you enjoyed this, please consider pinning this photo on one of your Pinterest boards. 

Are you a train aficionado? Do you like to watch them? Do you ride them? Or do you consider them an annoyance when they stop traffic or wake you up at night as they pass through near your home?  Would you like to know more about trains and train travel? Here's some help from Amazon.

 All Aboard: The Complete North American Train Travel Guide Train: The Definitive Visual History (Dk Smithsonian) The Great Railroad Revolution: The History of Trains in America

Watch a Forklift Reacher Truck
Load a Lumber Truck.  

You might also enjoy a previous post I wrote after visiting the freight area where a train had left a lot of lumber. I stumbled onto the scene just as a forklift was loading the lumber trucks and I got a video and some photos. Watch a Forklift Reacher Truck Load a Lumber Truck.  This photo is not in that post. I created it for this link.

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Peace After a Stressful Day

"All's Well That Ends Well," as the Bard Said

My day began with stress but ended in peace. I find that when I'm stressed, nature soothes me. Sometimes just walking the two blocks to my mailbox at dusk will calm me down. Sometimes just looking at a sunset works. Or seeing a gorgeous sky framed by trees.

So what stressed me out today?

For the two days before today my cable connection that controls the television, the landline and the internet was faulty. My connection would drop while I was trying to send an email, comment on a post, or save a post in progress. You know how annoying that can be, especially during a blogging challenge when I need to get so much done online quickly. Although I don't watch much TV, for the little time I did the sound and picture became distorted every few seconds.

When I went to call Charter to report the problem, my phone (Charter powered, of course) wouldn't work properly.  The person that answered couldn't hear me. I had to pull out my rarely used cell phone to get through. That was Tuesday. The earliest a technician could come out was today between 1 and 2 pm. They said they would call to confirm and cancel if no one answered. So I kept my cell phone on and took it to my bedroom last night. I usually keep it in my purse, turned off.

Also last night before bed I discovered my primary website was offline. It's never been offline before.  I couldn't get it up and I couldn't get into my administrative panel. I didn't want to try calling tech support on my little mobile flip phone because I don't know how to put it on speaker phone -- a must for tech support calls. I couldn't rely on the landline to work. I hadn't been able to post my blog last night, either.

Even my little brother suffered phone frustration.
From family photo collection

Last night Charter called my cell phone and the landline simultaneously and I confirmed the appointment. Today at the proper time both phones rang at the same time again. I answered the cell and the person on the other end's voice was so distorted I couldn't understand a word and he couldn't seem to hear me. Then the line went dead. My husband answered the landline and talked to the human to confirm the appointment time. 2:00 came and went. At 2:30 I got really tense.

I called Charter again, but their call volume was too high and they weren't taking anymore calls for a while. The connection had appeared to be working better, so I went to their website and waited half an hour for a chat rep to come on line. He told me first that the appointment had been canceled because it hadn't been confirmed. Not true. Then he said he no longer detected a problem with the connection. I thought maybe they had resolved it since I hadn't had problems in the morning or afternoon. I was still quite unhappy that no one notified me of the cancellation or of the fact they thought the problem was resolved. I expressed my dissatisfaction in the handy survey I had to fill out after the chat session ended.

Resolving My Website Issue

Fortunately, I was able to get my website issue solved quickly. After bracing myself for a long tech support session and fortifying myself with pizza to quell my hunger pains, I call my wonderful web host at Siteground. They had my site back up in seconds. They told me the problem was a faulty update for the Heartbeat plug-in, they changed the file name, and the website came up immediately. I love their tech support people.

So What Now?

My website is back up, and that was the biggest issue for my business. After I began writing this post, though, I noticed my internet connection cutting in and out again. I tried to watch TV while I ate my pizza, and the people on the screen turned into monsters every few seconds and their voices sounded like they had a bad cell phone connection. Since my internet and phone had worked earlier, I thought maybe our ancient television was telling us to replace it. But then when the internet went haywire again, I knew maybe Charter hadn't solved my problem after all or I had a new problem. I'm not looking forward to getting back to them tomorrow. Meanwhile, I lost my connection several times while writing this post.

The trees in the photo above have seen their share of stress and though gravely wounded have so far survived. I'm thankful my three-day physical headache had vanished by the time I woke up this morning. It left me better able to face this  stressful day without breaking. Perhaps when I wake up tomorrow, my Charter headache will have disappeared. But I'm not counting on it. I'll take it one day at a time.

Has anything stressed you out lately?

This post is for Day 6 in the Ultimate Blog Challenge.