CAPTAIN LEO

It was no coincidence that the property our family moved to was lake frontage back in 1952.  [ I was about 6] Our house on Jefferson Ave was situated on Lake St Clair in St Clair Shores, MI. http://www.great-lakes.net/lakes/ref/stclfact.html 

My dad, Leo Mueller, was by instinct a boater in many degrees.. he sailed, motor boated, ice-boated, raced, even winning a couple trophy cups.  He made boats in his garage & at his job.  I remember him layering itchy fiberglass and potent-smelling resin on the bottoms of overturned boats to make them waterproof. 

Years after he died [at age 49 in 1961], I used this method to mend holes in our leaky rowboat.  Dad wore a nautical cap most of the time.  He had a white one and a navy one, as in this photo tinted by me during my photocolorist days. [mid 70's]  You will notice the resemblance in my ID photo.  

MOMENTOS of My Dad

 

  ~  pencil, pastels, acrylics on board  ~  Titled:  "Dad's Things"  1970. 
         [more about him in next post: "Captain" Leo]

Pictured are some belongings of my father  [Leo Mueller]  rendered by me some ten years after his death.  My collection of this memorabilia provided subject matter for a still-life which I set up right in the very room he finished in knotty pine, as seen in background.  An heirloom octagonal table seemed appropriate to hold most of the items. Handcrafted by him in wood was the chessboard and ship. the chess pieces [some broken by one of us 10 kids] were cast by him in resin. Above the Indian axehead is a siren from WW2. In front of his rifle is an old magnifying glass in leather slideout case. Behind curtain is antique Argus in leather case, and a trophy he won sailboat racing. Lastly, his boat whistle next to what was left of his telescope. [so many kids, you know..!]

California, Here I Come

That's where 3 of my paintings were sent to be digitally scanned for Giclee prints. The French word 'giclee' itself means 'sprayed ink.

This type of art reproduction results in a high quality image.

The proofs I received were amazing as far as accuracy of color & detail. These 3 works will soon be available in 18" by 24" signed prints

the NEW Artists on the Block

Saturday-at-Gramma's...grandaughter #1 brings her own art supplies and much to my surprise painted as long as I did at my easel...more than half of the day until 10:00 pm~! grandaughter #2 not quite as devoted, but still, a painter in her own right; she eventually broke away to read a favorite storybook.

Not sure if I may have started a trend; these homeschooled girlies prefer their own techniques, and I must say:

We actually inspire one another.

PAINTLADY'S ART LESSONS

While preparing for an auction, I stumbled upon my Art studies of 1965 in a box with Speedball inks. While still in high school, this correspondence course introduced me to the very basics of composition, drawing & painting.

From these pages I distinctly remember to this day the paint blending techniques, as shown here along with excellent instruction. If not for the severely mildewed condition of the 3 binders, I'd like to keep them; however, they have served their purpose.

Monday Nights at the GALLERY

1969. East Detroit & Grosse Point Woods [MI] area. I was 21 years young and met weekly to paint with a group of artists in an area known as "The Block". The others were all well older than myself and some of them art instructors.

Most of the time, there was a hired model, either male or female, sitting or reclining, dressed or not dressed. When there was no one to pose, we took turns being model for 1/2 hour each, however not in the nude!

The sketches shown range from charcoal to pastels are from those days.

More on this topic in my Sketchbook Memoirs post. Stay tuned for a future one: Halloween Night at the Gallery~!

OIL PAINTING MAKEOVER

 One of my very first paintings I gave to my sister(back in late 60's). Some years after on one of my visits,  I noticed it needed some work. Her  husband's heavy smoking gave the whole thing a yellowed pall, and something had dripped on it.   I took it home to give it a makeover.

After sealing with spray fixative, I went over the whole thing with fresh [Oil] paint; striving for better colors & composition.

I narrowed the river, rearranged pines, added a tree which looks dead, but I like the pattern of its naked branches.  The red-earth foreground with abrupt cliffs did not belong in this misty-moist scenario.  So they got covered over with grass & wildflowers.   

After complete drying time a thin coat of damar varnish to protect its colors & give a slight sheen. 

Even the frame got a fresh stain & varnish. 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

painted over 20 yrs ago, of my mom,[shortest one] and 3 of my aunts (all passed away now,[sniff!]) No makeup or jewelry, plainjanes in their homade dresses & aprons; all raised on farms. 
I used a primitive style to invoke old-timey feeling of Sundays back in the late 50's, when I was still a schoolgirl. The time is about 1:30 or 2 o'clock, well after the last Mass is over. Sunday dinner is in the making as these wonderful cooks create aromas of some of our favorite recipes. A couple of us (5-daughters) Mueller girls (and 5 brothers make 10 kids total) take part in the preparation, following up with cake batter & icing bowls for the little ones to lick clean.

Long Way From Home

An enhanced scan of an old faded snapshot of a Oil painting I did some 40 years ago [large, approx. 24" x 36"] Thus the reason for the incredibly grainy appearance.

This was one of those works that I grew disallusioned with (got sick of, in short: I hated it!) so, I gessoed it over, and did a totally different painting on top.

After bringing up some lost details with Iphoto, I am amazed at the thing; and glad to have a record of it!

title of this:  "Long Way From Home"

YE OLD DRAWING TABLE

1. Not remembering exactly what era of my life this was purchased,

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3.                    I gather it must have been during my art training.       This goes back to my high school days  (the sixties) during which I took a correspondance   course with  Art Instruction Schools.           Some of you may know of or remember their small black & white magazine ads boldly titled 'DRAW ME'.        I more than likely bought it to do my lesson-work with my babysitting savings [going rate of that day was .50 an hr.]        Nevertheless, it has a generous adjustable tilt level which I find desirous since I usually prop up what I am working on anyhow. Or, at times, my regular easel sits a bit too vertically.    One nice feature:  it can be set almost as level as a regular table.  This is good for applying varnish or a watery wash which you don't want dripping down.  
   

This drawing table ( along with my doll, Madeline :)! )  has survived many, many moves and situations.