Imagine This

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” - Pablo Picasso

Yesterday Dennis and I volunteered at the 20th Annual "Imagine This", an all-day program organized by the Estes Park Cultural Arts Center. The indoor event gave kids an appreciation for the art through hands-on activities like fiber arts, musical instruments stringed and percussion, face painting, the Secret Studio (a place for kids to make a work of art as a gift), and watercolor painting (which is what we provided). Jugglers and musicians performed, and  a local children's author Judy Archibald read her beautiful book The Mutt and the Mustang --  a wonderful true story about a little dog that learns to ride a mustang horse.

Our first student. This young man showed a lot of creativity.

Dennis helping a young girl get started on her painting.

This little girl was so adorable. Whenever she dipped her brush in the water and tapped it on the side of the container, she looked up at me with mischievous eyes and smiled. The water splashed my way and she thought that was pretty funny.

Kids of all ages painted. Dennis is working on a miniature.

This is Samuel with his finished painting. He did that all by himself. Daddy supervised, but Samuel did the actual painting. Isn't it beautiful?

Samuel was super cute. When I asked him to show me his painting so I could get a better shot, he hid behind it. Kinda shy. He melted my heart.

We worked with some great kids and enjoyed helping them create their own special painting.

Nancy

Thank you for visiting.  Today I'm joining :

A Word About the Visual Arts

"How important are the visual arts in our society? I feel strongly that the visual arts are of vast and incalculable importance. Of course I could be prejudiced. I am a visual art." 

-- Kermit the Frog

Dennis Reinke painting Quiet Place watercolor during Rockies Plein Air Quick Draw competition in Estes Park, CO August 27, 2011

As the wife of a painter, I admit I'm prejudiced when it comes to the importance of visual art in our society. I know that a painting can do more than bring pleasure to the viewer, it can also inform. A work of art can act as a historical document. Before cameras and videos, artists captured entire cultures with their painting. Think of cave art and hieroglyphics. 

Dennis has been painting the Rocky Mountain National Park for quite a few years. Some scenes he previously painted have changed dramatically, either through natural disasters or ecosystem restoration and management. A part of the Park's landscape history lives on in his paintings. Of course, Dennis will tell you that his art is first and foremost his spiritual connection. And that is of "vast and incalculable importance" to him.

This year's Plein Air Rockies event came to a close on Saturday. But not before the 90-minute Quick Draw competition in the morning at Riverside Plaza. About 30 artists painted  under the beautiful Estes Park sky. . .

Dennis was the first to finish with his watercolor Quiet Place.

His interpretation of this scene. . .

The artists framed and hung their "wet" paintings for the auction, which immediately followed the Quick Draw. . .

I helped our friend Jeff keep track of the auction sales. . .

The Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park sponsors the annual event, with the help of many contributors and volunteers. I'm glad I live in a community that supports the arts, but all the glory belongs to God the Creator. Without Him there would be no arts, visual or otherwise.

Praise the LORD! 

Praise the LORD from the heavens; 

Praise Him in the heights! 

Praise Him, all His angels; 

Praise Him, all His hosts! 

Praise Him, sun and moon; 

Praise Him, all stars of light! 

Praise Him, highest heavens, 

And the waters that are above the heavens! 

Let them praise the name of the LORD, 

For He commanded and they were created. 

He has also established them forever and ever; 

He has made a decree which will not pass away.

Psalm 148:1-6 

Nancy

Autumn Days in RMNP and The Farmette

There's a subtle change in the air and in the landscape. The days are shorter and mornings are cooler. Bull elk are beginning to bugle in preparation for rutting. From our apartment I hear their strange sounds in the distance. This morning in RMNP I photographed a bull on a mountainside.  The third one I've caught on camera in the past week. They're such magnificent animals. I may start a whole page just devoted to the elk. (The bush in the foreground of the photo is full of fall color.)

Our backyard has changed from green, pink and purple -- to tan, brown and gold. 

Yesterday Dennis participated in the Lyons Farmette Plein Air.  A benefit for the Boulder County Arts Alliance. The farmette is a delightful place and I enjoyed capturing the event with my camera. The artists' work hung on trees and fences.

Dennis enjoyed painting the irrigation canal. 

Betsy, the farmette owner and host (along with her husband Mike) dubbed the painting Redneck Riviera, which is what they call the canal.

It's always a pleasure to meet the other artists. Seeing them paint with chickens scratching around them brought a smile to my face.

The gardens of the farmette are beautiful. So many lovely flowers to paint.

 

After Dennis finished painting, we took advantage of the delicious catered food and the fantastic music.

I love the quaintness of the farmette.

The farmette animals seem to love it, too.

Even on the farmette, autumn has arrived.

Tomorrow we head off on a road trip to the Western slope. More joy!

Just Plein Fun

Here at the Reinke homestead we've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger. Here's the last two weeks in review.
Plein Air Rockies took place in Estes Park August 14 -  27. 

As a participating artist, Dennis spent most of the two weeks painting in RMNP and the Allenspark and Estes Park areas. On August 22 at daybreak we scoured the Rim Lake Trailhead for painting subjects.


The early morning light gave the clouds and landscape an ethereal glow.

 A field of cheerful wildflowers greeted us...

As did a young bunny.

I couldn't resist photographing this handsome artist...

Later in the morning we drove to a spot overlooking Horseshoe Park in RMNP where Dennis painted and I worked on my novel...

On one of my leg-stretching breaks I shot some photographs. This one taken over Dennis' shoulder is a favorite...

I saw this little guy peeking at me while eating his breakfast. Before he scurried away I managed to get this shot...

 Rockies Plein Air culminated with a Quick Draw and Auction on August 28.

Twenty-three artists gathered on the Riverwalk to paint everything from portraits

 and still lifes

 to landscapes. 

The artists were given 90 minutes to complete and frame their work, then it was judged and entered into the auction. Dennis won second place with his watercolor, which went on to sell at auction to a lovely couple. 

We had a great time with our artist friends and look forward to next year's event.

That same weekend my two grandchildren came to stay with us. On Sunday before we drove to Loveland to meet their parents, Emma and Oliver expended energy at the Riverwalk playground.

The Boulder County Arts Alliance is hosting a plein air this Saturday. Dennis has been out painting farms in Boulder County. I tagged along last Thursday and got this photo of an abandoned mine in the hillside.

While he's not painting, Dennis and I continue to look at real estate. This past Saturday we drove to Grand Lake 

and on to Georgetown to look around. On the drive back home I snapped this photo of Sleeping Indian Mountain. Can you see the profile of the Indian's face?

And that's the condensed version of the last two weeks. Still having fun.