Category Archives: country living

My friend Bill

Posted on January 18, 2014 | Comments Off

Bill Whorrall – Artist Parking Only

Recently, I went up to visit my friend Bill Whorrall. Up – to me – means north. He lives a few counties over up in Martin County, a place nearly as rural as mine. Hills, rivers, woods, rock outcroppings and a good variety of interesting people.I’ve been acquainted with Bill for several years but have only gotten to really know him the past few years. He and his lovely wife (or as he describes her “the long-suffering Karen) live on a nice little homestead farm snuggled back into the hills overlooking their large garden and orchards, where they have their studios (she works in clay). So I had a little extra time over the holidays and wanted to kick around a few ideas with Bill. It was one of the most interesting days I’ve had in a long long time.

Bill is well-known in the region but those who don’t know him well often think of him as an opinionated, outspoken crank and contrarian. He is. He is also one of the most innately creative people I know and is passionate about his work and many other things. He has a wonderful attraction for the ironic. Bill is a photographer, artist, sculptor, writer, poet, and one of the best art teachers in the country. That last is not an exaggeration. He was recently nominated for a nationally-known art teachers’ award although he would never tell you about it. He is very humble about his accomplishments. His students, both children and adults adore him. He is able to get his students to tap areas of creativity they didn’t even know they had.

After several hours talking about art and the state of the world, and a substantial lunch prepared by the lovely Karen, Bill voiced his frustration about updating his website. His web designer had disappeared. This is one of the few areas that Bill isn’t experienced in so I offered to come back and help him. I suggested that with his many creative talents that a blog would be a perfect venue for him. Currently, in addition to all his other work, he makes and prints his Billzines. These are wonderful handmade, hand-printed magazines that are only mailed to a few select recipients. I am happy to say that I am on that very short list now.

So I returned to Bill’s house the following week and help him set up a blog. It is called, of course, http://www.billzine.com He is now posting his own thoughts and rants, books, photography, ideas for art teachers, poetry and writing. Please take a few moments to visit his blog and website. www.billwhorrall.com I think you will be amazed at what he has accomplished in less than THREE WEEKS! Sheesh!

Another thing I should mention. Bill just turned 70 and will retire from teaching this year. Fortunately, he has agreed to teach for us at the arts center. Boy, are we lucky. Oh, yeah. One more thing. Bill is now legally blind. Please don’t feel sorry for him as he doesn’t feel sorry for himself. He can see somewhat and works at his computer with a big magnifying glass. He still paints and writes and photographs. As he said himself, even if he goes completely blind, he will still find some way to create. And he will.

Bill Whorrall in his studio

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Posted in books, country living

Tagged bill whorrall, billzine, blind artist, painting instruction, teaching

A birdseye view

Posted on September 19, 2013 | Comments Off

My apologies for not posting much recently. I’ve been traveling for three out of the past four weeks. But…have much material for painting so that is encouraging.

As I was flying home from Austin, TX last weekend, my plane happened to go over my own house! This is the first time that has happened. Living here in rural southern Indiana, it was a real treat to see the area from the air…and humbling. Lake Patoka looks so small…and it’s over 9,000 acres! I’ve circled our farm on here. We all look so small from that altitude. And it makes me think that our petty squabbles are small, too.

View of our farm from the air

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Posted in country living, opinion

Tagged country living, kit miracle, old house

Is it or isn’t it?

Posted on July 16, 2013 | Comments Off

Female bobcat early morning.

We moved the deer cam up into the woods. In addition to deer, squirrels, etc., we caught this photo. I think it’s a female bobcat which typically weigh between 15 and 22 pounds. Unfortunately, the photo was taken at dawn, around 7:45 on Sunday so it’s in a grey light, not either day or night. It’s about twice as big as a house cat (which don’t last too long in these woods with so many coyotes around). If you zoom in on the photo, you’ll see that the legs have bands and that the back legs are longer than the front giving the bobcat its characteristic cheetah-like walk. Anyway, stay tuned. There may be more pix to come.

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Posted in animals, country living

Tagged bobcat, country living, deer cam

Night visitors

Posted on July 5, 2013 | Comments Off

Living out in the near wilderness, we are often beset with furry critters set on eating our produce. Our 90 acres is more like a big park than a real farm. We don’t mind sharing but…there’s plenty for the animals to eat without invading the garden and orchards.

Recently we noticed that something was munching on the fallen apples. So we set up the deer cam in the orchard. My goodness, but there is a LOT of activity out there. Plenty of deer, lots of raccoons (and babies), and one slinky coyote. This isn’t counting all the rabbits and squirrels that set off the camera.

And for those of you who think raccoons are cute little masked bandits, think again. They are vicious creatures who just enjoy the pleasure of killing a whole flock of chickens in a single night.

Anyway, we’re really trying to capture a photo of a bobcat or mountain lion rumored to be living in these parts. We’ll move the deer cam into the woods soon and see what we will see.

Day visitors – a whole herd of deer munching on peaches 8:45 a.m.

Big buck 10:15 p.m.

Raccoon stealing bait from trap 5:08 a.m.

Wylie Coyote 1:43 p.m.

Evening muncher 6:45 p.m.

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Posted in animals, country living, Uncategorized

Tagged country living, coyote, deer, deer cam, kit miracle, old house, orchard, raccoons

Distractions

Posted on May 22, 2013 | Comments Off

As an artist, I have many distractions. Don’t we all? With a large yard and garden, this time of year finds me outdoors most evenings and weekends. Yes, I’d rather be painting but sometimes I have to do some other stuff. Work for one. Gardening.

Swifts in corner of my studio porch

But this spring, as the past three springs, a family of swifts have taken up residence on the porch of my summer-kitchen studio. I don’t know why they choose this particular corner as there are plenty of other good spots – woodshed, shop, eves, …yes, even birdhouses. So they get touchy as I go in and out of my studio which puts a bit of a damper on my painting activities, especially at night. I even covered the window with a black drape so I wouldn’t scare them. Sometimes I go into the studio by the side entrance although mostly I forget to unlock that door.

Also, I love to garden. Well, I love the results of gardening…not particularly the labor that goes into making it happen. But it beats my hours at a desk so who should complain? My husband plants a little spring garden – lettuces, kale, onions, asparagus, tomatoes, basil. And I plant the big garden, about a quarter of an acre. Tomatoes, peppers, beans (those durn rabbits), peas, squashes, corn, sweet potatoes, more basil…and loads of sunflowers. In the winter when I’m having a nice vegetable soup or some homemade salsa, I think of all the sunshine that has been captured in my vegetables. Maybe monetarily it isn’t worth the work, but it is to the spirit and soul.

View from the patio towards the big garden

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Posted in country living, garden, old house

Tagged country living, kit miracle, old house

Noise

Posted on May 22, 2013 | Comments Off

As this blog isn’t totally about being an artist, I thought I’d talk about country life today.

This evening I was sitting on my patio listening to the sounds of the day winding down. For those of you who live in the city, I know you think you live in a chaotic and noisy environment. But those of us who live in the country also have the noise and chaos…just a bit different.

This evening as I was sitting on my patio, I tried to identify all the sounds that I could.

Crickets in the garlic chives
Birds – chickadees, cardinals, goldfinches, titmouse, two kinds of woodpeckers, mourning doves, and even the stupid starlings in the gutters
Peepers (frogs) in the lowlands
Diesel engines of the train about a half mile away
Neighbor’s son revving up his truck’s engine then taking off
Far away highway sounds
Jet high overhead
Cat meowing in the shop telling me that it’s too early to be shut up for bedtime
Wind in the trees overhead
Bumblebees in the honeysuckle

Plenty of noise…just different. You just have to listen.

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Posted in country living, Uncategorized

Tagged country living, kit miracle

House in springtime, plein air

Posted on April 21, 2013 | Comments Off

House in spring, final, oil on canvas 18 x 24

Plein air painting in the spring sunshine is one of my favorite things to do. I love the fresh colors. Check out my step-by-step page for a how to demonstration. https://my90acres.com/artwork/plein-air-painting-in-spring-time/

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Posted in art, country living, oil painting, old house, plein air painting, Uncategorized

Tagged art, house portrait, kit miracle, oil painting, old house, painting instruction, plein air

Choosing a painting subject

Posted on April 21, 2013 | Comments Off

A simple spring subject. Oil on canvas, 11x14

A simple spring subject. Oil on canvas, 11×14

I’ve often been asked how I decide what to paint. To me, the answer is obvious. Just as writers are advised to “paint what you know,” so, too, should painters. What interests you? Do you have a passion or special message? For me, just walking out the door will often suggest a subject. In fact, I once had an exhibit which was solely painted from “my 90 acres,” i.e., everything and everyone was from the home place. That was a little challenging as I do get out and about, but it was a good exhibit.

This painting that I completed yesterday is a scene just out my studio door. The dog and some spring bushes. Pretty simple. However, if you look back at some of the famous painters of the past century, regional artists or French Impressionists, some of their best work was of ordinary daily scenes. I don’t live near the ocean or the Rocky Mountains, so my usual subjects are the soft hills here in southern Indiana, small villages, flower gardens, vegetables, my favorite people and places. Try taking a look around your own home town with new eyes. You’ll be surprised at subjects which suggest themselves. Good luck!

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Posted in 100 dollar paintings, animals, country living, painting instruction

Tagged art, country living, kit miracle, oil painting, painting instruction, plein air

Forcing flowers

Posted on February 23, 2013 | Comments Off

Are you tired of winter yet? Although February is the shortest month, it seems to drag on forever. One of my favorite things to do this time of year, barring a winter vacation on a warm beach somewhere, is to force some spring flowers indoors. This really boosts my spirits.

Force some forsythia branches for a winter boost

It’s really very easy. Just snip off some branches of your overgrown forsythia, put them in a vase of water. Wait a week, and voila! Instant spring! This works well with forsythia, flowering quince, crabapple or cherry blossoms. You don’t have to put them in the sunshine or add anything to the water, just wait. Try it for yourself and give yourself a winter boost.

Geraniums in winter

If you really plan ahead, pot some of your geraniums in the fall before the frost, put them in a south-facing window. You’ll have blooms all winter long. Just keep pinching off the dead blossoms.

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Posted in country living, garden

Tagged forcing flowers, forsythia, geranium

Hunting season

Posted on November 18, 2012 | Comments Off

Deer hunting season started here yesterday. This is with guns. Bow season is a lot longer. Lots of booms in the woods. I stay close to the house, in the studio. No biking for me for a few weeks.

When I lived in the city, I always felt sorry for poor Bambi being shot by the big mean hunters. Since I’ve lived here in the country for over 25 years, I’ve had a total reversal of attitude. The white tail deer was totally wiped out in this state and only reintroduced in the 1940s. Without predators, the population has exploded. No matter what your thoughts about hunting, something has to be done. (NO, I do NOT want wolves to be reintroduced!)

Deer ravish the understory forest growth, decimating native plant populations. They can jump any fence and are a huge concern for farmers’ crops. Overpopulation make them susceptible to many diseases, some harmful to humans. But worst of all are the significant road hazards they cause. Rarely does our daily paper not report at least one deer vs auto accident. Usually this time of year it’s two or three. Between my husband and two sons, they have hit a total of six deer, once two at a one time. Of course, that car was totaled but fortunately no one was hurt.

Venison is also a very lean meat. All of the local hunters I know actually eat what they kill, or even take the meat to the local food bank. I don’t know anyone around here who is a trophy hunter although there is plenty bragging when a big buck is bagged.

Our ninety acres is mostly a big park, not much of a farm other than the garden and some fields we rent out. However, we don’t like trespassers and only allowed limited hunting on the property. Most city folks have no idea whose property they are on or whether or not there is a house behind that copse of trees. We’d rather not take chances with armed (and often drunk) idiots.

Anyway, life in the country is not always bucolic or quiet. It’s more often man against nature…and nature is winning.