The continuing adventures of life with Abby Cat and Tomboy!

It all started when Abby Cat, then an “only cat”, got a new toy…….she named him Rat. I detected a certain attitude in her selection of his name. Maybe there is something to the theory of the importance of a name, because Abby Cat didn’t care one hoot about Rat; she totally ignored him……until…..

 As you can see this was back when Rat still had a tail. I never knew what unfortunate accident happened that denied him one of his most important physical characteristics. Have you ever seen a rat without a tail? I haven’t. However, I will admit when I see a rat,  I rarely stay around long enough to observe the details.

When Tomboy joined our family, nothing changed. Apparently he saw nothing redeeming about “Rat”, either. He never played with Rat or in any way acknowledged his existence. Then I began to notice a pattern emerge in Rat’s life; yes, nothing had changed…..until……

It is always the same;at night I put Rat in a dignified position with his head up and the next morning he is standing on his head.

What is it about Rat? Only Abby Cat, Tomboy and Rat really know. I sure don’t!

It was inevitable. My blog has turned into a place to write whatever I want to write…..about art, or not about art; about trips, or not about trips; about the Houston Texans football team, or not about the Houston Texans football team; poems I’ve written, or not poems I’ve written; holidays and anniversaries, or not about holidays and anniversaries; Personalities or not about Personalities; it’s totally up to me. Yay and hooray! I’m free at last!

Now I can write about “Them”….a kind of Journal about our cats.

Meet ABBY CAT: One hot Houston day in the summer of 2009, Abby Cat came into our lives. David was looking at cars on the Honda car lot near our neighborhood when he spotted a tiny, black and white clump of a kitten under a car snuggled up against a tire. She looked up at him and immediately went into her “Ninja Cat” act…charging him on her back legs with her front paws outstretched..claws and all.  Was she trying to scare him away or trying to play?  Being only about 2 pounds of kitten, she wasn’t very scary. The salesmen at the dealership said they had been feeding her for about a week and he could have her if he could catch her. Eventually, with several people helping out, she was caught.  David was well-aware of our agreement to “Never get pets again, now that we are retired”…..he decided to call me first. Piece of cake! He brought her home in a box. Through this journal I’ll tell you how our life changed…for the better.

Meet TOMBOY: After three years as the only cat, Abby Cat was joined by a little eight month old brother….Tomboy. We suspected that he was the neighborhood “Don Juan”, living large roaming the neighborhood and getting food hand-outs from every homeowner on his route….including David. It wasn’t long before David became seriously concerned about the homeless cat’s well-being. It was the late fall of 2012 and would get colder. Finally in January 2013 David took him to the vet for all the necessary shots, operation, general check-up and two days later brought him into our house. Abby Cat was fascinated at first and followed him everywhere…all over the house.

 There was no turning back now. Resolutions or no resolutions, our lives had changed. Cats, like all God’s creatures, great or small, have their very own personalities. Tomboy and Abby Cat have opposite personalities. Like humans, cats personalities are easier to determine when they are full or almost full grown. Abby Cat has a peaceful and perfect personality; while Tomboy has a fun-loving, bossy, leader-type one. Let the fun begin!

They say one should write about what they know. However, I recently read that one should write about what they like. I prefer like. I know a lot of things not worth writing about, but  I like our cats; they are funny, messy, destructive, cuddly, annoying, demanding, under-foot, and all-around….wonderful.

One anecdote, then I’ll close. This morning I was turning the corner in our hallway and was confronted by Tomboy chasing Abby Cat down the hall toward me. When I appeared from around the corner, they did and unbelievably LOUD 180 degree turn, and ran like crazy back the other way. Abby Cat’s tail stayed frizzed for the next half-hour.

More to come! Stay happy!

(This is Orville, Emmie’s big brother. He is supposed to be mowing the lawn.)

Doldrums: n…a spell of listlessness, inactivity, or stagnation.

Yikes! That sounds awful….but actually it accurately describes me pretty well over the last week or two; at least when it applies to my artistic endeavors. During that time I have produced two paintings…….two! When I was a commercial illustrator, I would do two art projects before lunch. Of course, I had to answer to the art director at the end of the day.

But I have:

• cleaned my worktable,

• scrubbed my palette of all old dried paint,

• washed the brushes,

• dusted the tubes of paint,

• rearranged the book shelf,

• read blogs from my favorite artists,

• taken photos and filed them in my “Photos for Art” file,

• vacuumed out the cat hair underneath every surface in my studio, (I’m saving the cat hair and plan to make a really big comforter stuffed with it),

• read two books (Oops! Both unrelated to art),

• considered switching mediums, (Not now! Too expensive!)

•  taken extra naps due to all the activity listed above.

And, worst of all, I have no excuses, none, not one, period. I’m not otherwise employed, have my own air conditioned studio space ( I don’t paint plein air),  lots of time, and have enough art supplies and paraphernalia to start my own art supply store. But one thing I don’t have…..an art director requiring me to turn in my work sheet all filled out with what I produced that day and how long did it take. He had to bill the client, after all.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Please…NO! I’m not advertising for an art director, just trying to understand myself. I don’t like rules and regulations or tight schedules, but they do make me produce art. Strange, isn’t it?

Honestly, I do understand myself. I’m a Certified Personality Trainer and have taught the subject to women’s groups many times with much success for several years. Yes, I do understand my own Personality….both my strengths and  weaknesses. But discipline must be applied when mere knowledge fails. Okay, I get it. Practice what I teach!

Therefore, after confessing my lack of excuses and looking at my shiny clean studio and worktable, I’m heading to the easel. At times it helps to just admit shortcomings. But not everything!

Please visit my website. I have actually done a lot of paintings. There you will find a few. Click on “Paintings”

http://www.artbyadelebower.com

Florence Littauer and Adele Bower – April 2005

One day I was in my lonely workroom….drawing….when the mail arrived. It contained a brochure about a seminar being held at Houston’s First Baptist Church, led by Florence and Marita Littauer. The event was presented by C.L.A.S.S. (Christian Leaders, Authors, and Speakers Seminar).  The brochure read: “It (the seminar) provides an opportunity for individuals to improve their communication skills and their ability to express themselves clearly, whether in conversation or before groups.” I had no idea how I’d gotten on their mailing list, but I knew at once that the seminar was for me.

As long as I can remember I have loved to talk, perform, teach, speak, sing, make people laugh, draw….let’s see…what else?  I’ll think of more as I go along. I registered and sent in my check. The year was 2001. The following year I took the Personality workshop and became certified as a Personality Trainer. Because of the teaching and encouragement at these C.L.A.S.S. seminars, the following decade was busy for me as I began to fulfill most of my dreams:

• I spoke at numerous women’s events; banquets, retreats, parties, teas and MOPS groups.

• I  finished writing and illustrating my two children’s books. From C.L.A.S.S. I learned how to get published and I succeeded.  They are available on Amazon.com and local book stores.

• I wrote and taught four Bible studies for women, including “How to Make the Most of Your God-Given Personality”.
• For the following 13 years, I taught women’s Bible classes at our church and in my home.
• I learned about my own Personality, my strengths, and more than I ever wanted to know about my weaknesses. Now, I even understand my husband better. We have totally opposite Personalities.

While checking through my notes to write this blog, I came across part of a required statement I wrote for the last day of my Personality training seminar:

“Prior to my introduction to the study of the Personalities, I frequently wondered about my husband. Why is he so picky? Why does he have so many rules? Why do I always seem to break them? (Yes! He actually taught me how to eat grapes. No kidding? Florence isn’t the only one to receive such training.) How can such a darling sweetheart of a guy, think the way he does? Why is he so analytical? Why is it so hard for him to tell a joke so at least somebody present will laugh? How did he get to be so successful professionally, and be such an introvert? Why are we so happy? NOW I know. He’s a Perfect Melancholy, with a little Powerful Choleric thrown in, and I’m a Popular Sanguine/Powerful Choleric. What fun to know! How helpful to know!”

Yeah, okay…listing all my “accomplishments” sure sounds like I’m bragging and I guess I am. But I’m excited to tell you how much Florence Littauer has meant in my life. To celebrate her birthday this month, I’m re-reading a few of her books.

There have been many serious bumps along my way, terrible disappointments, and some confusion about what to do next, but Florence is  my best role model. We are close to the same age, which I think is wonderful. Along with all her success, she has suffered much and endured rejection, but always bounced back because she depended on the Lord and sought His help and guidance.

Thanks, Florence. I’ve learned so much from you….but I still don’t wear shoes to match my outfit.

The Story of the Pink Flower
By Adele Bower

I draw and paint a lot. I even doodle. My old, tattered Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary says: doodle n: an aimless scribble, design, or sketch. I’m not insulted. That definition does apply to some of my artwork. I like most mediums including charcoal, pen and ink, colored pencils, markers, oils, acrylics, watercolors, whatever suits me that day. My latest medium is the computer.

One day while doodling in my computer paint program, I sketched a little pink flower. I didn’t have a plan or purpose for this work of art, just having fun. Right away it became important to me. I wasn’t sure why I liked it so much, so I saved it into my artwork file. Occasionally I came across the pink flower sketch and again sensed a special attachment to it. It looked so small and insignificant. It was just a quick little sketch.

I love flowers and work to keep some in our flowerbeds and in pots on the patio. Often I find a tiny little flower growing wild in our flowerbed. Fully grown, it is no taller than one-half an inch, including the stem. The blossom is the size of a grain of rice and is a beautiful, delicate pink. I thank the Lord for His incredible creativity and attention to detail. I know there are better examples of teeny, tiny things the Lord has created, but I don’t usually see those during my day.

Days and months went by as the Lord taught me more about the kind of relationship He wants to share with me. A theme kept appearing: The Lord Jesus Christ is the great God and Creator of the universe and I’m just one insignificant person for whom He gave His life. Now that’s grace. He is ever-present, ever faithful, ever-loving, ever-everything I’ve ever needed or will ever need.

During this time, I recalled a poem from high school English literature class:

The Rhodora-On Being asked, Whence is the flower?
By Ralph Waldo Emerson

“In May, when sea-winds pierced our solitudes,
I found the fresh Rhodora in the woods,
Spreading its leafless blooms in a damp nook,
To please the desert and the sluggish brook.
The purple petals, fallen in the pool,
Made the black water with their beauty gay;
Here might the red-bird come his plumes to cool,
And court the flower that cheapens his array.
Rhodora! If the sages ask thee why
This charm is wasted on the earth and sky,
Tell them, dear, that if eyes were made for seeing,
Then beauty is its own excuse for being:
Why thou wert there, O rival of the rose!
I never thought to ask, I never knew:
But, in my simple ignorance, suppose
The self-same Power that brought me there brought you.”

There it was, the answer to my attachment to the pink flower sketch. God had created the little wild flower, so small, so seemingly insignificant, yet beautiful. Whether recognized and celebrated by anyone, the tiny flower is its own excuse for being. The self-same Power created me, saved me and daily blesses me with all spiritual blessings. I feel a kinship with the little pink flower. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians dispels all feelings of insignificance for the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.”_________Ephesians 2:10

Feel the kinship……you are prepared….create!

I’m sad to say that I heard jealously in the extreme at the art show I entered this weekend. That is so wrong! It has continued over the past few days right here in my little studio. Oh, no, not from other artists or friends….no, no, no….but from my three other paintings I entered in the show. You see, only one of my four paintings won a ribbon; the other three did not. The complaints of the three losers have been aggravated by the ongoing,  smug attitude of the painting that won a ribbon, “Southwestern Kitsch”.

First Honorable Mention, Professional Division (Acrylic or Oil Category)

 Sibling rivalry is never pretty and often unreasonable. I’ve tried to explain to the other three paintings that there will always be another show to enter; art is subjective; judges are only human; “Southwestern Kitsch” was smaller and thereby garnered sympathy; but no….the whining continues. I’m going to put the “winner” in my art closet, turn off the light, and shut the door. Maybe that will help. We’ll see. If the “losers” continue to whine they will go into the other art closet, lights out, door shut.

As for me, the artist, I appreciate the ribbon…..and don’t play favorites; I liked all my entries.  There was a lot of very beautiful art at the show and I’m grateful for the recognition. Now the painting qualifies to compete in the Lone Star Art Guild annual convention at the Woodlands Waterway Hotel and Convention Center in the summer in The Woodlands, Texas. PLEASE keep that quiet or the whining and bragging will start all over again.

On a happier note, before the art show started my husband, daughter and I enjoyed a picnic outside the venue, under the trees and next to the tennis courts there at Kingwood Country club . Tennis was my obsession for over twenty-five years at that club. ( I even have a tournament trophy!) Ladies were playing right on the other side of a very high fence. I had just commented to David and Karen, that “Good tennis players rarely hit a ball over the fence”, when a ball came flying over the fence and bounced off my head. No kidding! (Not to worry…it had bounced once….and didn’t hurt at all.) I had fun teasing the worried ladies.

Back to the art show and my oh-so-selfish paintings; If you would like to see the “losers” (they can’t hear me!) just go to my website. http://www.artbyadelebower.com and click on Paintings on the navigation bar at the top. They are titled “Boutique”, “Aloe Vera and Friends” and “Texas Colors”. I’ll tell them you loved them.

“Art is a jealous mistress”_____Ralph Waldo Emerson

(I’ve always wondered what that means!)

Back to work. Wish me peace and quiet. The closets are close-by.

Yes, I’ll  admit I’m a show-off. When it comes to my art (or our Grandchildren) I’m a hopeless, unrepentant show-off. But, think about it; do you know an artist anywhere who works hard at her craft then hides it in a closet? Okay, maybe you do know someone like that, but it’s not me.

I remember when my Father would complete a painting he would bring it into the living room, place it in a prominent place and summon all of us to come see and admire his latest masterpiece. He was proud of his work. Of course, he had a gallery or two that represented him, so the painting would soon be off to the gallery or sold before it got there.

My point is, I come by it naturally…being a show-off, I mean. I can only hope I’ve inherited a little of his enormous talent, but mostly, I want some of his self-discipline, focus and determination. I’m learning.

I’m excited to have two venues to show-off some of my artwork:

1. The Kingwood Branch of the Harris County Public Library

“Featured Artist” for the entire month of April 2014

I’m exhibiting 15 paintings, in the Library Foyer, right inside the front door.

AND

2. The Lake Houston Area Artists

 Spring Art Sale and Competition

Saturday, April 12, 2014 in the Pavilion of the Kingwood Country Club.

12 Noon until 4 PM…a come & go event!

There is no charge and it is open to the public.

I’m exhibiting 4 paintings in this show.

Back to work…after all I’ll need some new artwork to show-off at my next show!

Visit my website, http://www.artbyadelebower.com

In case you are one of the three other people in the universe who has not heard that I just completed my 30 in 30 challenge….here is the proof.

Mark Twain said:

“Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.”

Mark Twain was a funny man…and very wise.

The truth is, I SHOULD be capable of doing a painting every day. But I manage to piddle away the time doing other things. If a publisher or an art school instructor or a college professor was waiting…..I could do it. Why is that?

Now, for the next two days I must get ready for my exhibit at the Kingwood Library. Be it known….for me painting is easy compared to selecting, purchasing, and doing all the things needed to frame my work. Framing is not fun!

Stop by the Library if you are in the neighborhood. The exhibit will be up for the month of April.

..in my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge!

My adventure is almost complete and it has been instructional, to say the least. My compliments go out to the many, many artists who regularly paint a painting each and every day. They are called “daily painters”. I don’t plan to follow their lead even though there is  much benefit in their routine.

I’M EXCITED!  I have been asked to be the Featured Artist at our local library, the Kingwood Branch of the Harris County Library. The exhibit will begin on Wednesday, April 2 and will last for a full month. I will exhibit ten paintings. I’m honored.

Meanwhile, the Lake Houston Area Artists Spring Art Sale and Competition will be held on Saturday, April 12 in the Pavilion of the Kingwood Country Club in Kingwood, Texas. It is a come and go event, from 12 noon until 4 PM. I will exhibit a few paintings at the show.

I’m grateful to again have two of my paintings exhibited at the lovely Cafe DuBois here in Kingwood. Thanks, Cafe DuBois for your support of our art group by inviting us to exhibit there.

When I complete this self-imposed 30-30 challenge, David and I plan a short trip to the beautiful Texas hill country to see the Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrushes…and of course, have lunch at Royers Cafe in Round Top, Texas. By the way, reservations are required!

Back to the paints and brushes,

“For You make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.”

Psalm 92:4

I like to do many styles of art, and use many different mediums. This makes me “just an illustrator.” Go ahead and call me that….I LOVE the title. More about this in an upcoming blog.

In art school the number one priority for each assignment was to meet the deadline. If we were even minutes late turning it in, we received a 0….regardless of the quality of the work we had just done. If you met the deadline, your work was graded the usual way. They were training us for the real world of commercial illustration and design where the artist must produce on schedule; the client is waiting.

Doing this 30 in 30 challenge reminds me of my days working in the real world of commercial art, in a studio or freelancing where discipline and determination are required. Of course, the work I’m doing now is labeled fine art not commercial illustration. You may not realize there is an ongoing debate about what is “fine art” and what is “commercial illustration”. I’ve come up with my own opinion and definition:

Commercial illustration is any art contracted with a client to meet their requirements. The client tells you what to paint.

Fine art is any art the artist chooses to do then  hopes someone buys it.

Just so you’ll understand the intensity of the debate “fine art vs. illustration”, Norman Rockwell is considered by many to have been “Just an illustrator.” Yikes!

WEEK THREE of my 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

March 2014

These paintings (originals or fine art reproductions) are for sale on my website, http://www.artbyadelebower.com.

 “Use what talents you possess-the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there

except those that sang best.” _____Henry Van Dyke

Back to work,