WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS

This is a painting in watercolor and pastel of a column in a hall at the Cloisters in New York.
I was fascinated by the original photograph with the small window leading to the light.

HELP US IN THIS ADVENT SEASON TO ALLOW THAT LIGHT TO SHINE THROUGH US, SO THAT THE DARK AREAS OF OUR LIVES CAN BE PIERCED BY CHRIST'S LOVE.
From a service at the Cresskill Congrega-
tional Church,
Cresskill, N.J.
Sunday, Dec. 2nd.
http://www.cresskillucc.org/



WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS,
LIGHT

From the Poem of St. Francis

If there is darkness in your life at present, it is my holiday wish for you all....that light may shine through and make your way easier.


BLESSINGS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT A TOWER....

There is something about a tower of a building that brings me closer to God. I often choose to paint a tower, a steeple or a lighthouse, reaching up to the sky.
It seems to reach up to heaven. This is the tower of the Tenafly, NJ railroad station that has been turned into "Angelique's cafe." The food is great!
Last time I met a friend there for lunch, a train actually went by like in an old-time movie.
"What lovers of beauty seek in paintings, in sculpture, in dance, in music is just a reflection of the absolute beauty that is God."

From Words to Live by, Inspiration for Every Day, by Eknath Easwaran

I WENT TO THE WOODS

I went to the woods because I wished to live

deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. Henry David Thoreau

This is a watercolor/pastel painting of the Celery Farm pond in Allendale, NJ.

The shape of the two trees seemed "linked together". The pastel makes the painting more powerful when used over the watercolor. The water did remind me of Thoreau's Walden pond in Massachusetts. Spending time in nature helps me slow down, THINK, and just BE.

FOCUSING ON DRAWING A TREE!

I drew this tree in the Tenafly, NJ town park as our Artists' Circle group was working there in Sept. 2007.
There were many scenes to draw, but I decided to focus on a large beech tree. I drew the outline of the tree trunk and branches, but then never looked at the tree again.
I realized I couldn't focus on the tree and drawing the tree. So I concentrated on just looking at the paper as I worked. The pale beige pastel paper became the light areas of the tree. A single piece of dark brown pastel chalk was used for all the ridges of the bark. None of those ridges were actually on the real tree, but by focusing on the drawing, the tree was formed and actually looked like an oak tree. The pale blue was added to the center trunk, making it look a little further away.

"Your focus will emerge naturally out of your sense of who you are and why you are here, and it will most likely resonate with your God-given talents and interests." Thomas Kinkade

Balancing Act

This painting was done this August, 2007 from a photograph of the Catskill Creek in Freehold, N.Y.

When I saw the balancing rocks, I was amazed. How did they get that way? The rock emerging from the water had another rock perfectly placed on top of it! Perhaps the creek was higher at some time, causing this unusual arrangement.

I reflected on things happening in our lives: the death of a loved one, a change of a job, conflicts in relationships, etc., that cause us to be "out of balance."

The lesson of the rocks is to come back to our center, take deep breaths and regain our balancing point.

"To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out ot the nest." from Pema Chodron - When Things Fall Apart, Heart Advice for Difficult Times.

Meditate on these rocks when you may need them.

Fall is coming!

Hi to all my friends,

Fall is coming! The days are getting shorter. When I am up at 5:30 walking Alex, my dachshund, it's already dark here in Teaneck, NJ.

I hear from my son in Ithaca that it's already getting cold up there. And it's only mid-August.

For your viewing pleasure, here is one of my favorite paintings.

I did this last year after our church's "pumpkin festival". Soon the pumpkins will be out on the lawn again..for sale.

The painting will be hanging in the church lounge soon, after the renovations of the interior of our church are completed.

You can sit all day and look at pumpkins. The light hitting one side of them makes them look so beautiful!

Get out those sweaters!

Kathy

ARTISTS' CIRCLE GATHERING - Aug.11,2007

The Artists' Circle has been meeting one Saturday a month since Sept. 2006, sponsored by the Cresskill Congregational Church in NJ.
After I attended Judi Bett's art class last summer (also at the Hudson River Valley Art School) one of the artists suggested a book: Art and Fear by David Bayles. The author suggests the following in order to motivate yourself to keep working at your art: "Make friends with others who make art, and share your in-progress work with each other frequently!" Well it's worked. Here we are at our recent meeting at a member's lovely home and pool. We enjoyed a delicious barbecue prepared by Elaine and Bob. There's my partner,Darryl, and friends Lorraine, William, Zohra and Wendy busily sketching and painting by the side of the pool. There were a total of 20 artists there that day. As we looked at each other's work, it was amazing to see how each member keeps improving! There is a group energy happening that keeps everyone excited and eager to do a "next" painting.
At our art show at the church in June, we actually sold a few things! Please send me an email at kathylindner123@yahoo.com if you'd like some more information about joining our group.
"Uncertainty is the essential, inevitable and all-pervasive companion to your desire to make art. And tolerance for uncertainty is the prerequisite to succeeding!" David Bayles and Ted Orland, from Art and Fear.

Stanley Maltzman's art class - Drawing Nature

I worked with Stanley Maltzman at the Hudson River Valley Art School July 22-28, 2007. Here he is doing a demonstration of a pastel impression of the Catskill Creek.
What fun carrying all our art stuff down to the creek, sitting at the water's edge and working on a painting.
Stanley is in his late 80's and has more energy than most of us in the class.
He also teaches a winter class of drawing trees and snow...also at the Hudson River Valley Art School.
Soon I will show you the painting of the creek I am working on at home.

My Favorite Watercolor Painting

This painting was done after I attended Judi Bett's workshop in July, 2006 at the Hudson River Valley Art School in Greenville, N.Y.

Room no. 1 is the best room in the inn and has a lovely porch connected to it with these adirondack chairs to enjoy.

I would often sit in one of the chairs and meditate or think about my life.

It was one of the most peaceful spaces I've ever experienced.

You can enjoy art workshops at the school. Kim and Mark are wonderful hosts. The food is also wonderful! You can find information about the workshops at www.artworkshops.com

Kathy Lindner - Watercolor Memories

Welcome to my blog. I am in the midst of an artistic journey. I began drawing and painting many years ago. Now that I am retired from my librarian career I have more time to enjoy the meditative experience of painting.
These creative postings will show you some of my journey and encourage me to continue drawing and painting and showing you my progress. Kathy

Perhaps I will also encourage you to become more creative and artistic and enjoy the pleasure of painting and experiencing nature.