It is a New Year and a New Beginning, but can we go forward without having to take a glance backward to see where we came from? So, I am going to write about someone special in my life. I have been working on my family tree and came across an article about “Finding Your Artist Ancestors”.
Author Annie O’Brien Gonzales has written a book called: “Bold, Expressive Painting “and she asks: “Who inspires you? “ “Who are your Influencers?” We all have something or someone that has fueled the passion for our craft. That person was my Mother, Joanne(Josie) Reitzel, 92, who died December 20, 2018. She and her two sisters: Emmy Krick and Lennie Richardson were all very artistic women who gave me an appreciation for fine art. Mom loved painting with watercolor and drawing with pen and ink. When I was a kid, Mom and her sister Emmy would write letters to each other using pen and ink illustrations. She could sit down with a pen and draw a complete picture without having to draw it first in pencil. She loved to travel and always carried a small sketch pad wherever she went. She would send me postcards with pictures of where she had visited. She encouraged me to paint and draw and is my “Artist Ancestor”. I have used her name in a number of my paintings. This month I am going to include two of her pictures with this newsletter. The “Amaryllis” is a sketch on a postcard, and the other is a watercolor with pen and ink of Progreso, Mexico. She will be missed.
Calendar Update: The Evy Okerstrom, 2019 Calendars are still available for sale at $15. Thank you to everyone that bought one. I appreciate it very much since there are a lot of other ones out there and a lot of people, me included, use my phone to keep track of events. (I always like to keep a paper one in case I forget something important!) I did not have a lot of these printed up so the people who bought one may have a collector’s item!?
First Saturday on Canal Street: Saturday, January 5th from 10 am to 12 pm…I am going to have a table set up at the Hub on Canal. I will have a few paintings and cards left from Christmas. I am working on some new projects, so stop by to see them.
Save the Date: My First Solo Exhibit: This is exciting, and will be up from January 5th to January 30, 2019 at the Nature in Beauty Spa, 426 Canal Street, NSB, 32168. There will be a Reception on First Saturday, January 5th, from 5 pm to 6:30 pm. You are invited to the event, and bring a friend. There will be refreshments…like wine and cheese.so plan on coming and enjoy the moment. I have had a good response. See you there.
Reminder: A Workshop with Evy Okerstrom: “Watercolor over Pen and Ink” will be held Monday February 18, 2019 at the Hub on Canal. Fee is $70 and a $30 supply fee if you need them. Register at the Hub in person or on line. See their website for more details. I already have several interested in the class and this is the last one until next fall.
Thank you again for your support. Here is my thought for today: “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” This is a quote from Walt Disney.
Evy
Don’t forget to pick up the 2019 Calendar! Only $15!
