Two Examples of My Summer Artwork.
Okay….yes, I know….the summer is not yet over. But I’ll still be doing this Project right up until Labor Day and I wanted you to know how busy (Ha Ha!) I’ve been. That’s when summer is officially over, isn’t it? I remember when we didn’t start back to school until the day after Labor Day. Long, long ago!
Back to What I Did Last Summer; For the past few years I’ve focused almost entirely on painting in acrylics and it’s accurate to say I’ve done more in acrylics than any other medium through the years. However, being the personality that I am, I get bored. I begin thinking how much fun oil painting is, how neat it is to paint with watercolors, how immediate and easy to paint with pastels or fine art markers, or even just draw….with pen and ink, or pencils. Conventional wisdom in the art world says the artist should select ONE medium and stick with it. Boring! I’ve never been accused of being conventional and I rationalize that the great masters of the past could create art in many mediums and with any tool at their disposal, even quick sketches on napkins at restaurants, every now and then. And sell that sketch for thousands of dollars right during dinner! Sigh!
All this deep art thinking led me to the inescapable truth that in every artistic discipline……one must practice. Dancers dance every day, instrumentalists practice constantly, pianists play scales over and over and over, singers exercise their voices on a regular basis. We visual artists are no different…or should not be different. The painter needs to practice the fundamentals just like any other artist. But wait! Can you sell that quick sketch? Aren’t I wasting valuable time sketching..which would be better spent on my next masterpiece? *I giggle here*.
I’ve had enough art classes, workshops, and even lectures in art school…to know the answer; visual artists MUST practice the basics and on a regular basis. Yikes! There it is. The truth.
Therefore, having dredged up great art truths from my past and facing them squarely, I committed myself to my “Summer 2014 Art Project”; sketch every day or as often as possible….in watercolor, ink, charcoal or regular drawing pencil. So far, I’ve done thirteen watercolor/ink sketches and numerous pencil sketches. And it has been great fun!
I bore my Facebook friends with sketch after sketch on my page and store them in my Facebook Albums, “My Watercolor/Ink Sketches” and “My Daily Sketchbook”. Take a look when you want to raise your cultural awareness level.
Since I paint or draw exclusively from three sources; life, photos I have taken, photos friends or family have taken and given me permission to use, or my imagination, the need for day trips with camera in hand occurs…which is not a bad way to spend a summer day in Texas.
I’ll carry on with this plan until the last day of August, because on September 1, I’ll leap right into my next “30 Paintings in 30 Day Challenge”………but I haven’t decided which medium…watercolor, acrylics?
“Civilizations, I believe, come to birth and proceed to grow by successfully
responding to successive challenges. They break down and go to pieces if and when
a challenge confronts them which they fail to meet”.____Arnold Toynbee
Wow! Now I’m smarter!
Letters From Adele 
It’s of downtown Houston the old Market Square
Hi Tanya, Thanks again for tracking me down. I’m curious how you realized Emil Bunjes is my father. Glad you did. Keep in touch.
I searched his name on Fbook and you and your neice’s posts came up, then knew I had the correct family. Love your work and your father was amazing I looked through all his work on galveston and rosenberg museum websites very cool!!
Tanya, Many, many thanks for telling me about this wonderful website. We have visited Rosenburg Library frequently, asking to see Daddy’s art they have. Apparently, we asked the wrong person.
It is such a blessing to see all this work. He was a prolific artist. I have sent the link to all our family to enjoy. THANKS, again!!
I sent you a message on Fbook re one of the drawings I have your daddy did
Hi Tanya, Thank you for contacting me. And thanks for subscribing to my blog. I see that you belong to the Lake Houston Area Artists, and so do I. I look forward to getting to know you. I appreciate your mentioning my Father’s drawing and sending it to me.
Ah, here’s to your next challenge! I’m looking forward to it!
GW
Hi Gloria, Thanks for the encouragement. I’m looking forward to it, also. But, seriously, I still haven’t decided which medium to use…..acrylics or watercolor. Hope all is well with you and your family.
That’s great. Keep up the good work and good luck with your upcoming September 30 day challenge. I love the pencil sketch, it reminds me of grandpa. I love you
Thank you, Karen. It’s quite a compliment to be compared to Daddy’s work.
Adele,I have never ever been bored seeing your work. You keep right on posting! Beautiful, always feel peaceful looking at your paintings & etchings.See you next month,LindaSent from XFINITY Connect Mobile App
Hi Linda, Thanks for reading my blog. I’m having a good time with my summer project. See you soon.
Bravissimo Adele! An adventurous spirit! Loved your blog! Thanks!
Yes, Melanie. I’ll admit to an adventurous spirit….but it sure has gotten me into some interesting situations. I tell David to stop me when I come up with a new idea, but sometimes he doesn’t or I just convince him this idea is a really good one.
Enjoyed reading this! I love your sense of adventure and always look forward to seeing your new work as your complete it! Nobody could ever accuse you of being boring! Have fun “working!” 😀
Gee, I’m glad to hear I’m not boring. Thanks, Becky, but you always say nice things.
You’re the most intelligent, most interesting, most gifted, most self-actualized, most godly, most adventurous, most fun loving artist, Bible teacher, cat lover, and all around awesome wife, mother, and grandmother I’ve ever met in my entire life!
Who are you talking about? Surely not me! If so… WOWEE, I may have this printed up, framed and hung in my workroom. aka art studio!
Thanks.
Of course I am. 🙂