Going WILD in 2013!

San Antonio ~~Public Art~~Look for my paintings downtown!

Holiday Art Display, Originals and Reproductions, Art Gifts

I've had a busy 2012.  I'm grateful.  I've participated in lots of art shows and venues that have kept me inspired and productive.  With travels, art workshops, and solitary time in my studio, I have pursued my love of drawing, painting, and photography.  Currently, I have my work in several public areas in San Antonio.  I'd like to share some of my paintings and name the places too.  I appreciate all the folks that have given back to me this past year.  Whether it was a shared moment in a gallery or outdoor art show, an instructor's or art club leader's sage advice, a collector's purchase, or a family member's belief in me, I want to say thanks.  I am a sum of all of these things.   



Stopping by Reichert's Woods
Emily Morgan Hotel, 705 E. Houston St., San Antonio

Late Winter Afternoon
River Art Gallery, LaVillita on the RiverWalk, 418 Villita St., SA

Taos Gorge, a New Mexico Landscape
Arthritis Associates, 4511 Horizon Hill Blvd., Medical Area of SA

A San Antonio Sunset on E. Houston Street
Hotel Valencia, Citrus Restaurant & VBar, 150 E. Houston St., SA RiverWalk

King Leghorn of the Free Range
Candlelight Wine Bar and Coffeehouse Cafe,
3011 N. St. Mary's St., San Antonio

 

2013.  I can barely believe that it's time to begin another year.  Besides adjusting to a new calendar year, I am planning for more art adventures in 2013.  I hope to improve my website, take classes and teach classes, do some art demos, and keep on painting.  Also, I want to continue to be active in the memberships of my art organizations and galleries.  Thanks for taking the time to read my blogs.  I'm only an email or phone call away!  ~~Cindy

Holiday Greetings 2012!

Thanks for your support of my art!  ~~Cindy

HOLIDAY PET PORTRAIT PAINTINGS

Sunset Limited~~Travels by Train

SUNSET LIMITED

Traveling by Train

 

A Photo Essay

 by Cindy Morawski

 

 

Early Departure by Train from San Antonio


 

Paul and I left San Antonio last Sunday at 6:30 a.m. by train.  We were on the Sunset Limited which was heading to New Orleans.  

Amtrak's Sunset Limited

 



On Track  

Los Angeles to New Orleans

On the train they call the City of New Orleans, I'll be gone five-hundred miles when the day is through . . .



All Aboard to the Dining Car

 

 

Lounge Car with a View

 

Water and Sky Landscape

 

 

 

Wheels in Motion

 

 

 

 







Passenger Cars

 

 

Looking for adventure?  I'd recommend hopping a train.  Paul and I left from Sunset Station in downtown San Antonio and saw some beautiful sights along the way as we headed to Louisiana and New Orleans.  One of the highlights included coming into New Orleans on the Huey Long Bridge at night.  It was surreal.  Almost like gliding in by airplane.  The bridge is elevated above the city so with the darkness, the water, and the distant cityscape's lights twinkling, we felt as though we were flying! 

 

 

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Invitation to a Dessert Reception

 

You're invited to the Candlelight Coffeehouse Cafe

 

this Thursday, November 29, 2012

 

from 7 to 9 p.m.

 

Hosted by the SAVA Co-op Artists

 

3011 N. St. Mary's

San Antonio, TX  78212

 

Our ARTWORK will be on view and for sale for the remainder of November and throughout December.  BUY ART!  It would make a great Holiday Gift!

Sunset Limited to New Orleans

Early Departure from San Antonio

Los Angeles to New Orleans

Dining Car on the Train

Amtrak Lounge Car with a View

 Railroad Sites along the Way . . .

 

 

 

 

 

Season's Gift Ideas~~Holidays 2012

Gifts from the Heart this Holiday

The Three Amigos, a Recent Commissioned Pet Portrait

 

If you're looking for a uniquely personal gift, a commissioned pet portrait could be just the answer this Holiday Season.  I'm offering 20% off this month and next.  I will have it finished before Christmas for a HO!HO! HO! Santa Delivery!  Just give me a holiday email or phone call, and I'll get to my Christmas Workshop and start right on it!  Email:  cski02@sbcglobal.net . . .  Studio Phone:  210.522.0706

 

Taos Gorge, 9x12 Landscape of NM

Golden Morning, featured at the Hotel Valencia





 







The paintings on the left are recent ones in my American Landscape series.  Taos Gorge, New Mexico, a painting I completed this past October, is based upon an awesome scene I first witnessed outside Taos, New Mexico last Fall.  I sketched and photographed it from the gorge bridge that spanned this natural wonder. I especially loved the Southwest colors of pinks, lavendars, and sages, and I tried to capture them in my artwork.  Golden Morning, now on exhibit at the Hotel Valencia on the Riverwalk, is a landscape that I painted when I was traveling this past summer in Northern Pennsylvania.  The morning scene came from the farm where I stayed when visiting Wellsboro, PA. 

 

 

On the Road Again~~Painting and Traveling along Life's Highway



On the Road Again

by Cindy Morawski

Sunrise Commute, SA's Loop 410

Whether it's for work or pleasure, driving is a natural part of my lifestyle.  Traffic when I'm going to work.  Scenery when I'm going on vacation.  It's all a matter of time and perspective.   



Early Evening on River Road, Wimberley, Texas

I have never had to imagine a life without a car.  It's a part of me, like my arm or leg.  I learned to drive when I was a kid on my family's farm.  I had to help out by driving the tractor as soon as I could reach the pedal.  Before I had my official license in hand, I had already clocked a lot of miles on our farm's tractor and pick-up.  

                                                   
 

Last July, Paul and I visited my family in Pennsylvania, and then we headed by car onto one of the scenic backroads of the northern part of the state, Rte. 6.  It's known for its great landscapes, like the PA Grand Canyon in Wellsboro, and for its diners along the way.  We both enjoyed the Wellsboro Diner.  They had delicious blackberry pie and great coffee.   Wellsboro Diner, (Painting on right)                                             

 

 

 

One last painting for the road . . . this one offers my view of I-10 West on the way to Comfort, so naturally, I entitled it On the Road to Comfort.  I love the sights going West into the Texas Hill Country.  Comfort is one of those stops along the way that can be full of surprises.  Wonderful shops, like the Comfort Crockery, and dining treasures too.  One of my personal favorites is a place called the Front Street Tearoom.  It's a cozy converted house with bright green paint on the outside and a trip to the past on the inside.  You'll be greeted by friendly staff and a menu which features a wonderful variety of teas, along with soups and sandwiches that will leave your tastebuds happy.  The decor features antique furniture, and of course, a collection of teapots for every occasion.   

 

 

No matter where you're headed this Fall, I wish you safe travels and happy trails!  Hope all your roads lead to good things . . .



 



 



 

 

 

Fall Art Shows coming up!

 

**You're invited to the 2012 THCI!  I'll be a part of it this year, October 19--21st.  It's a juried art show in the Texas Hill Country~~Boerne, Texas.  You can also learn more about it at this link:  www.boerneprofessionalartists.com. 

 

 

**Another special art show for me this month is the Texas Pastel Society's 2nd Biennual National Juried Show.  The exhibit runs from October 19 through November 2nd, at Art Incorporated, 9401 San Pedro, San Antonio.  More information can be found at www.texaspastelsociety.blogspot.com. 

 

Both art shows offer a variety of original and beautiful artwork, and all of it is available for purchase.  Hope you'll check out my shows this month!

 

www.CindyMorawski.com

 Postcards to Autumn:

A Harvest of Color in Nature

 

by Cindy Morawski

 

 Every year I get a thrill of excitement.  It starts around mid-September and gets stronger as October begins.  What's the big deal? -- you might say.  For me, it begins with the First Day of Autumn.  And, it continues as the season rolls us into thoughts of cooler weather, colorful trees, pumpkin patches, and the welcome approach of the holidays

Still Life, Autumn Harvest, Pumpkins and Squash

 I have celebrated the Autumn Season this year with a series of paintings.  The first one is a still life of a pumpkin and its cousins, the squash.  I placed them on a colorful table with a dark background to help them stand out.  The pumpkin is symbolic of the harvest of food and fun.  I can't wait to eat some pumpkin pie and pick out a pumpkin for Halloween. 





Distant Fall Journey



Last Fall, I traveled to Utopia to paint.  One of the vistas of the Texas Hill Country that really caught my eye was the view of autumn colors in the foreground, beckoning distant hills, and dancing white clouds in the sky.  I enjoyed my day out surrounded by the beauty of nature.  I parked my car by the roadside and looked out over the valley.  It was a moment that I wanted to keep re-living, so I decided to paint it. 


I painted Return to Garner to help me celebrate the New Year of 2012.  Paul and I stopped at Garner last November around Thanksgiving and enjoyed the park on a gorgeous late Fall day.  The bald cypress trees stood so elegantly in silhouette.  The autumn foliage in the background embraced the warm colors of orange, gold, and red.  The Frio reflected the colors back to us.  It was a postcard of hope and beauty.  I won't ever forget that wonderful day.



 One last postcard to Autumn belongs to my painting entitled Rooted in Long Shadows.  I also discovered this landscape at popular Garner State Park in Uvalde County.  The bright colors of the trees first drew me in.  The shadows of the trees reached out along the ground to touch me.  I walked into the afternoon's dapple of sunlight and shadows.  Standing still, I fell into the spell of opposites.  A true land of enchantment. 

                                                    

Garner Revisited







Rooted in Long Shadows       
                                                      

 

 

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FALL Art Shows

October 2012

 

• Candlelight SA Cafe, Season's Solo Show, all month, 3011 N. St. Mary's St.
• Bijou Cinema Bistro, all month with SAVA Gallery Artists, 4522 Fredericksburg Rd. at Wonderland of the Americas Mall,
• River Art Group Members Fall Competition and Sale, Oct. 5--7, SA's LaVillita, 25% of sales go to Wounded Warriors
• Texas Pastel Society's National Juried Show, Oct. 19--Nov. 2, Art Inc Gallery on 9401 San Pedro 
• Texas Hill Country Invitational, Oct. 19--21, Cana Ballroom at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Boerne

 

www.CindyMorawski.com

 

Happy Autumn!





                 

SOLO ART SHOW this Fall at Candlelight San Antonio

Between Two Seasons
New Painting by Cindy Morawski


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CANDLELIGHT SAN ANTONIO
Wine Bar and Coffeehouse Cafe
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SEASONS

A Solo Art Show of Recent Paintings
 by Cindy Morawski

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3011 N. St. Mary's Street
San Antonio, TX  78212
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You're invited to my Art Show and

DESSERT RECEPTION~~Cake & Coffee or Iced Tea

Saturday, September 22, 2012

2:00 ~~ 5:00 p.m.

Come Celebrate with me on the First Day of Autumn!

RSVP:  cski02@sbcglobal.net  or   210.897.1306


 



San Antonio~~Past & Present in Recent ArtWork

 The Golden Age of Mission San Jose

 

 





Night on East Houston


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Celebrating my City with Two Paintings

by Cindy Morawski

 

When I first came to Texas, I noticed a sign in a downtown gift shop that said, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I came here as fast as I could."  I arrived in San Antonio in 1984.  I'm not a native, but I have a real love for this place.  You could say that it's an attachment that just won't go away. 

 

Giving the grand tour of San Antonio to my visiting relatives from other states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin, I always stop at the Alamo and the Missions.  Mission San Jose is my favorite.  Over the past few years, Paul and I have started at that mission and then bicycled along the trails to the other missions.  Biking along the San Antonio River is peaceful and lovely.  When I think of San Antonio's past, I can't help but wonder what life was like at the missions when they first were built.  I've read the history, but I would love to take a Time Tunnel Trip back and check it out myself. 

 

This past year, Paul and I have been fortunate to have made friends with a wonderful guy named Kevin Cartwright.  We first met him this past year at the SAVA Gallery Art Reception in downtown San Antonio.  He bought a couple of my landscape paintings that were at the gallery.  Paul and I liked him on the spot.  He was friendly, bright, and had a good sense of humor.  We all shared a love of traveling and art.  Later in the spring, Kevin invited us to his home above the Majestic Theater for an art reception to celebrate the artwork that he had collected from me and some other local artists.  I met his friends and liked them too.  Kevin also had us over for a 4th of July party.  I couldn't forget Kevin's birthday; he was born on the 4th! I also couldn't get over the incredible view from his apartment.  His huge living room windows allowed you to see everything on the street below and in the city's distance.  When the fireworks went off from the Tower at Hemisphere Park, it was an unforgettable show.  I kept revisiting the night sights of  East Houston Street in my mind.  The bright colors and energy made me feel like a part of my brain just woke up from a long winter's nap. 

 

I am a constant creature of the suburbs.  I love Braun Station West where I live in the Northwest area of the city, but I am fascinated with the urban landscape every time I go downtown to see friends, work at one of my art galleries, or dine out at a San Antonio restaurant.  Downtown seems to have its own pulse and rhythm.  When I meet the tourists who visit the galleries where I work, I am able to look at my city through fresh eyes.  They ask me what sights to see, where to eat, and what events are going on at the time.  I enjoy talking to them.  Sometimes, I feel like an ambassador from SA.  I try to share goodwill with my new acquaintances.  I guess, I hope that they'll love San Antonio, too. 

 

Recently, I have tried to celebrate San Antonio's Past and Present through a couple of paintings.  I want to do a whole series in the months ahead.  The first one features my favorite mission, San Jose.  I wanted to honor it by painting it with warm and regal tones of gold and red.  A Golden Age.  The second painting takes a closer look at the present.  Neon lights, tall and modern buildings, traffic, and noise.  I hope I captured some of that with my night scene of East Houston Street. 

 

One of my past art teachers once told me to paint what I love.  I have painted lots of subjects such as my beloved pets, landscapes of my favorite parks where I hike and bike, and places that I travel to on vacation.  Now, I've taken a good hard look at my city.  Thanks, San Antonio!  Your beauty and spirit will continue to inspire me.   

 

 

 

 

www.CindyMorawski.com

 

Morawski Fine Art & Framing

8603 Waldon Hts.

San Antonio, TX  78254

 

 

210.522.0706

 





BSW DayTrippers~~Local Discoveries Made

DayTrippers Tour of the Huebner Onion Homestead in Leon Valley

Shady Retreat at the Onion House near Bandera Road

 Carol Poss, Author and Tour Guide, and the Leon Valley Historical Society Presenters, Darby and Mike  

                  

Historical Artifacts Found on Homestead

Cemetery Marker   August DayTripping

Living in Braun Station, I make a lot of trips up and down Bandera Road throughout the week.  When driving through our Sister Town of Leon Valley, I sometimes check out the progress of the pioneer homestead known as the Onion House.  It's located right along Bandera Road so it's easy to spot.  I've watched over the past years as it has gone from near ruins to a National Register of Historic Places.  With leaders like Carol Poss, the Leon Valley Historical Society has made some big strides.  It's now open for touring and activities.  Today our DayTrippers travel club checked out our local history and made some "backyard" discoveries that were rather surprising.

Built in 1862 by Joseph Huebner, the Onion House was also once a stagecoach stop.  Travelers going from San Antonio in the 1800's, to the towns in the Hill Country, would stop there.  It was considered a hard drive from San Antonio.  The house is actually named after the Onion family.  The John F. Onions have been noted in Texas Law.  One was a member of the Texas Legislature, another a longtime district judge, and his twin brother an attorney. 

Local legend says that the Onion House is haunted.  Our tour guide related to us that a San Antonio paranormal group, aka "ghostbusters"  will be visiting next week to look for ghosts.  Our DayTrippers group hiked over to the cemetery via the Huebner Creekbed and natural area trails to pay our respects to the past.  A fenced-in cemetery grave and shrine marks the spot.

 



House Tour and Molasses Press

Huebner Creekbed sights near the Onion
Homested and Stagecoach Stop

                         

History and the Wild, Wild West will be our focus next month when the DayTrippers travel to Camp Verde in the Hill Country and find out about how camels were used by the U. S. Government's Army in the 1800's.  We'll also make a final stop in Kerrville to take a closer look at the art and history of our American West.  We'll be going on September 6th.  If you'd like to join us, please email me at cski02@sbcglobal.net.  I can also answer any questions you might have about our travel club.  This summer we are celebrating our 1st Anniversary!  We hope to have many more trips in the future.