Day 1344: A sweet little memory.

Dotted palm, photo, iPad digital

I was at lunch with Valerie ...

and I can't remember how it came up, 

but I mentioned the famous atist, Milford Zornes.

Valerie wasn't familiar with him but listened to my story.

I am lucky to be a member of Huntington Beach Art League

Ten times a year, we have outstanding artists demonstrate.

In June 2006, while ninety-eight years old, famous

Milford Zornes gave a master watercolor demonstration.

He was amazing & I took a photo from the side as he worked.

Later I finished the graphic & framed it. 

A few months later, I heard he was to be honored at the 

 

 

It was a big crowd and I didn't want to bother him.

So I left it for him with Mrs. Anderson.

Two days later I got a call.

A man's voice, asking for Jacki.

I responded with no idea who was calling.

"Jacki, this is Milford Zornes, how are you today?"

Near cardiac arrest, I said "Oh my gosh, really?"

He said he wanted to thank me for the gift, and was so kind.

He asked me if I was "working on my art today,"

and I said that "I was." He said "me too!"

A short conversation, but ...

it still thrills me all these years later.

James Milford Zornes 1908 -2008

Zornes' paintings are represented in the collections 
of the Metropolitan Museum of Art,  Corcoran Gallery of Art, 

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Smithsonian,

the White House, the Library of Congress Collection 

and in galleries & collections all over the world.

 See more here.

I went to two later shows.

Art lovers were buying his wonderful paintings.

At the Anderson Gallery they had notebooks of his sketches.

I found one small scrap, priced at the top of my limited budget ...

and I splurged.

I treasure it & that special short phone conversation.

. . .

Milford Zornes attended his 100th birthday party, 
a celebration of his lifelong artistic career, on January 26, 2008 
at the Pasadena Museum of Art. He died a month later on February 24.

70 degrees, Santa Ana, CA

After class six of us had Pho for lunch with Demura Sensei.

Mei baked a yummy lemon bundt cake for dessert!

Thank you Demura Sensei. Thank you Mei!

For FB Throwback Thursday ...

1980

A smile for Thursday ...

Day 1343: I do love windows!

"panes",  photo & i-pad digital

Home from Grandma duty ...

I had lunch with artist-friend Valerie, 

then came home, unpacked, 

a load of laundry ... you know all the normal stuff

as I try to get back in gear.

I often work on my i-pad when I am away from home,

so one more from my i-pad.

I do love windows!

Am I alone?

A smile for Wednesday ...

Day 1342: An update on the crazies!

Lumia, graphite drawing, collage & digital

Nearing the end of my Grandma duty ...

it's actually grand-dog and house-sitting 

while the "youngin's" play ...

so I thought I'd share their fun ...

2 families, 2 Moms, 2 Dads, 5 guys ... all crazy!

so many blessings & memories forever ...

and an Easter shot by WonderWoman.

Easter Bunny by WonderWoman

 

Meanwhile, back at the house ...

 Laker & I are, what my Dad would have called ...

"holdin' down the fort!"

Thanks for stopping by, and ...

I'd love to hear what you're doing at your fort?

A smile for Tuesday ...

Day 1341: 3 hours flies by when you are with cool people.

"kanji hana", collage, photo & digital

It's true! Time flies when you're having fun!

We had a sold out class Saturday ...

our Catalyst classroom was full.

Filled with 20 fun and adventurous artists!

I often say that Rebecca, my boss (isn't she a doll?)

checks people in the parking lot and ...

only lets the nice ones in.

. . .

I try to keep class lecture part short with a quick demo ...

learning the wonders of graphite.

Then we started sketching right away.

Warming up and ...

experimenting with graphite.

Carmen

Each with their own individual direction.

Artists had their choice of canvas or a wooden board ...

 working initially with graphite,

Mickey

then when they were ready ...

 

Susan

 adding acrylics and collage, as they chose.

What I love most is ...

Irene

the variety ...

Leslie

each one ... amazing,

Margaret

and different.

  

John

doesn't it look like fun?

   

I do apologize.

I don't have names for all of these amazing artists, and ...

that this is just some of the great class work.

I find it difficult to capture all the class work, names 

& retain by the time I do this little blog. 

My intentions are good & I do try. 

But, isn't amazing what can be done ...

 in three hours & have fun too?

Maybe come join us sometime.

A smile for Monday ...