Thursday, December 2, 2021
Monday, November 1, 2021
WHAT CAN MOTIVATE US
By SUSAN LEVENSON
For years the magnet on my refrigerator greeted me every time I opened the door with the inscription “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life” – Pablo Picasso.
While pondering for a subject to write about it hit me, this was what I had been looking for. Art therapists know that making art is a way to cope with tragedy and uncertainty. For me, it was a true experience for dealing with the insecurity of the Covid Pandemic.
My creative drive was at it’s lowest. Nothing got done.
Becoming “lost” in a painting was a thing of the past.
I give thanks that our gifted MRP leader, Dustan Knight, who began art classes expertly crafted on zoom, the new medium on media, for our group. These classes, held twice a week, were a ray of psychological sunshine.
I did not feel well. They offset my fear of a long cold
winter, the lockdown, the isolation… My daily calendar was empty, except for
the virtual doctor appointments.
Dusty offered support to all of us during these uncertain times. How inspiring and healing it was to feel the resources within ourselves come together stronger and then blossom. As a group, we all seemed to be reaching out to one another by sharing the inner drive within us. The work the group produced during this period was astounding.
Even though I was “under the weather”, I managed to eek out a few pieces which I am showcasing here.
How blessed I was to reestablished my lost creative spirit
by having had the opportunity to have had art wash the dust off the Pandemic.
Friday, October 1, 2021
A GREAT WORKSHOP
By MARILYN EIMON
She presented a process that Lewis Noble uses to create abstract paintings. We were quickly engaged.
On location we generated quick paintings reflecting our impression and experience of the location.
Using simple supplies – acrylics, pencils, etc., and
painting with our fingers on ordinary paper.
When back at the house, we tore our paintings to assemble
and create collages into “new paintings”, which we pasted in a notebook.
The last morning we chose parts of 3 of our “new paintings” that spoke to us to help generate a new painting. It was fun, engaging and expanded our artistic repertoire.
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Besides the Pandemic
By Claudette Gammon
Here we are entering another September. After the last year
and a half of the Pandemic, what more could happen?
That’s what I thought when January 2021 arrived, my thoughts
were, “what else could happen”. And it did.
In April I had a day surgery for a female issue.
Then May 1st came. Well, on May 1st I
had a stroke. Thankfully a mild one, but it included having a “Pacer” inserted
under the skin, near my heart, to see if the stroke was A-fib related.
I stopped painting
I recovered by at least 99 percent. But I still couldn’t
think about painting.
I was completely exhausted, had a hard time getting out of
bed. Seemed as though I couldn’t get out of my own way.
We were planning a river cruise in August, and I didn’t know
how I could make it.
Hubby decided we needed to go back to see my PCP. Perhaps there was something else going on.
We were able to see her a week and a half before leaving on
our river cruise. Thank goodness, she took me off the high dose of cholesteral
medication immediately. I started feeling better by the end of that week.
In the meantime, I was scheduled on the Friday before for a
shot in my left hip. One in which I had been having problems and opted to wait
till the week before our vacation to get a shot.
That morning I get a call at 7:45 am that the doctor that
was going to give me the shot called in sick. I was a wild woman, the
opportunity to be able to walk without pain on our trip was now not in my sights at all.
Wrote an email to the physician who recommended the other doctor
and wanted some drugs to get through the trip. Instead the physician got me in
to radiology to get the shot on Monday. I was very happy, waking up on Tuesday
morning with no pain.
The point of all this is I did start painting again on vacation. Just a couple but it felt good to be at it again.
I certainly hope that is it for doctor visits for a while.
More paintings to come I am hopeful.
Thursday, July 1, 2021
Monday, May 31, 2021
Fall Light 12 x 12 Watercolor |
“Managing Covid”By Annie Lynch
Fall Woods Walk 30 x 30 Acrylic |
It is so nice to see the sun and warmer weather after a long
and sometimes lonely winter.
There were restriction, limits and uncertainties but it was also a time to reflect, experiment and let go!
Rainy Day 24 x 24 Acrylic |
I spent a lot of time in the woods with views of trees,
streams, ponds, fields and mountains with amazing skies.
Red Trees 20 x 20 Acrylic |
I was on trails I never knew existed, which was very therapeutic, exhilarating and inspirational. Often I captured these experiences differently…with subtle watercolors or bolder, larger acrylics.
Spring Field 18 x 18 Acrylic |
Stream Walk 30 x 30 Acrylic |
These paintings reflect some of these experiences and
however they came out. I enjoyed the journey!
Tucker French Forest 20 x 16 Acrylic |
Saturday, May 1, 2021
IDEAS FOR MOTHER'S DAY
Welcome to our Blog Post for the month of May
It is designed to help find that perfect something for that special someone
Click on the painting for information
Direct your questions or interest to our general email address: merrimackriverpainters@gmail.com
THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY!
MARILYN EIMON
--------------------------------
DUSTAN KNIGHT
---------------------------
ANN LYNCH
-------------------------
ANN SAUNDERSON
Thursday, April 1, 2021
Reflections on a Year of Making Art During a Pandemic
By Janice Wittmer
How did we, the Merrimack River Painters, survive these many months of disruption, fear, loss, isolation and chaos?
We painted..at home alone and en plein air with others.
We learned to Zoom and discovered a new way to stay connected.
We shared our artwork, expressed our thoughts and feelings, explored new concepts and techniques…and when we couldn’t paint, were inspired by others.
In reflecting on a collection of our own artwork, that was produced in the same year, maybe we can discover some elements or characteristic that link the paintings in some way, giving us more insight into how and what we paint.
Below are some of the paintings I made during the last 12 months.