Using Shades of Red in my February Paintings

Rio Chama

Soul Sky

Mr. Fox, Winter Traveler



Painting with Shades of Red in February
by Cindy Morawski

What's your favorite color?   I have always loved the color RED.  I remember pulling

 it from my Crayola crayon box in elementary school and using it over and over in my drawings and sketches.  It seemed to express excitement and adventure to me.  I still like to use it in my artwork.  In Rio Chama, a 16 x 20 landscape, the red soil and canyons of New Mexico depict a land of enchantment.  My 8 x 10 sunset entitled Soul Sky paints drama in the skyscape.  When you contrast it with complimentary colors such as blue or yellow, it pops and sizzles.  Mr. Fox, Winter Traveler, an 11 x 14 past work that I re-painted, puts the red fox in the spotlight against the cool winter landscape of light blues and mauve.  

Each painting is framed and ready to hang.  If you'd like more details, please see my website: www.CindyMorawski.com  or email me at  cski02@sbcglobal.net.  

I Love the Rodeo! Photo Essay by Cindy

Cowboy at the Exhibition Hall

Rodeo Parade

Champion  Black Angus

Working Horse

Cutting  Competition

Near the Coliseum

New Chick at the Petting Zoo

Find Me at the Petting Zoo

Swine Soccer

Sleepy Twins

Midway Food Vendor

Grooming for the Show!

Last Cowboy

 I Love the Rodeo!

Last Saturday, I went to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo to sell my artwork at the exhibition hall.  However, I had a chance to roam around during the day and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells.  It reminded me of my days of growing up on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania, participating in the Lawrence County Fair in 4-H, and falling in love with cowboys as a kid.  Roy Rogers was one of my heroes!

This-coming Saturday on February 18th, I'll return to the Rodeo as a vendor to sell my paintings and art cards again.  I plan on being there from 2 to 10 p.m.  Look for me in the exhibition hall across from the horse building.  I'll be in the middle aisle down from the bull riding photo booth.  I'm sharing a space with my friend and artist Irena Taylor, a wonderful portrait and landscape painter and art teacher at Coppini Academy in San Antonio.  

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Limerick from Robert

*Here's a limerick sent in from my past rodeo blog that included limericks.  I invited folks to write a limerick and send it to me.  This funny one is from Robert Smith, a teacher at DLI at Lackland AFB.  Thanks Robert!!

There once was a lady from Holland,

Who had a bad habit of fallin'

She got in her car

And drove to a bar

And now she's not fallin', she's crawlin'!

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Happy Valentine's Day!!!

~~With Appreciation, Love, and Friendship~~

~~Cindy~~

PS:  What's one of your loves?  Please write and tell me about it.  Send pics too.  Thanks.

Mockingbird Studio
www.CindyMorawski.com
cski02@sbcglobal.net

Greetings from Historic Gruene!

View from the Gristmill

Tall Tower of Gruene

Historic Gruene Antiques

Gruene Hall Rocks

Green in Gruene

Barn from the Past

Shaving Mugs on Display

Texas Country Rose

Soda Shop

Antique Sign outside the General Store

Cowboy Boots for Sale

Call from Childhood

Deer Memories

Cowboy with Shadows

Anna in Sepia

Vintage Photo

Old West Magazine Cover

Cypress Riverbank

Photo Essay

by Cindy Morawski

Last week I took a closer look at Historic Gruene, Texas.  Sometimes time travel can be nostalgic and magical.  Gruene seemed a combination of both to me.  My trip included an interaction with antiques, buildings, and landscapes that helped me connect with memories and view the world with a new and fanciful look at a small town in Texas. 

~~Happy Time Traveling!~~

~~Cindy

New Painting on the Horizon!





Cactus Sunrise


Pastel Painting by Cindy Morawski

Sunrise~~Sunset

Hey, Pardner! Time for Rodeo Limericks & Art Work

Frontier Freedom, the Life of the Cowboy

by Cindy Morawski



Leapin' Limericks on the Range
~~Cindy Morawski

There once was a man from St. Paul . . .  Oops!  No, I'm not going to share that limerick.  When's the last time you read or heard a limerick?  It might have been bawdy, silly, or just plain fun.  I remember reading Edward Lear's limericks in the past and laughing out-loud.  I liked his work for several reasons, but one was because he paired each one with a humorous illustration or painting.  Art and poetry can be an entertaining duo. 

Limericks were once named after the town of Limerick, Ireland.  They possess a strong rhyme and beat.  They can also be paired with music because of that.  The standard rhyme scheme is AABBA~~5 lines with the lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyming, and lines 3 and 4 rhyming.  Limericks popularity often stem from the fact that they can be witty, humorous, or full of nonsense.   

With the month of February comes the Annual San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.  (Feb. 9th - 26th)  http://www.sarodeo.com/  Keeping that theme in mind, I'd like to pair my rodeo-inspired painting from above with some limericks of my own.  A little fiddle music please . . . here we go!

Horse with a Question 

There once was a wild horse on the range

Who considered himself a bit strange.

Although he was shy,

He always asked, "Why--

Did I mix with the mare who had mange?"

Rodeo Joe

There once was a shy cowboy named Joe

Who found fame in a Rodeo Show.

An old horse did he ride

And both took it in stride,

Till the tired horse stopped short and said, "NO!"

Texas~~The Cowboy State

Freedom on the Frontier

There once was a boy with a rage.

He cried, "I need freedom~~no cage . . . "

He ran from his girl

Whose name was ol' Pearl.

"No marriage with you will I wage!"

 Cowboy with a Question


There once was a cowboy with a question.
He inquired, "Do I have indigestion?"
The cook with the stew
Said, "No guess," for he knew~~
More pork and beans would cure his affliction. 

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Last time I blogged, I included some haiku with my paintings.  I also asked you to send me some of your own.  Well, here's one from my friend and neighbor Betsy Kropp.  A trip to Paris inspired her so she sent me a photograph and a haiku.  Thanks, Betsy!

Photo & Haiku ~~ Paris Metro
by Betsy Kropp


Haiku

Opening its mouth
Hoping to snag tired tourists
"Yum," says the Metro.

If you want to send me limericks, I'll be glad to include them in my next blog.  We'll start a Poetry Revolution!  Please feel free to include a photo and/or artwork too.  Thanks!

Wishing you laughter and fun!

~~Cindy

www.cindymorawski.com

The End!

Art and Haiku for the New Year

New Artwork and Verse for the New Year

Images from the Natural and Spirtual World

by Cindy Morawski

Last Thursday, I attended a special art exhibit at the McNay called the Orient Expressed, Japan's Influence on Western Art, 1854 - 1918.  www.McNayArt.org   I noticed while I was walking around and taking in the show's artwork, which continues through January 15th, that they had invited the viewers to "Tweet"  a haiku for their favorite work of art.  There was an on-going competion for the Best Twittered Verse.  Besides the lovely woodcuts, watercolors, and oil paintings, some poems expressed well the subject- matter- at- hand in the drawing or painting.  It was double the pleasure.  Art and Poetry.  What a marriage!

After returning home, I felt inspired to do the same with my recent paintings.  I wrote a haiku to match each work of art.  However, before I rush into showing you the results, let me tell you a little something about what a haiku includes. 

          Haiku or Japanese verse come usually in lines of three.  They don't have

          to rhyme, but they should be in the following syllable count within the

          lines of the poem--  5,7,5.  Often they are about nature and include imagery

          and figurative language. 

Come Together

How does it feel to

Be distanced from everyone?

Red bird on a wire.

Grackle Cackle

I heard your cackle

No text, email, or twitter

One loud grackle's cry

Sunset Song on the Wires

Gathering in song

Sun's descent into crimson

A high flock of lullabies

Blessed Assurance


Blessed assurance

Seeking a spiritual home

Simple, sacred place

Return to Garner


Silhouetted trees

Cypress lines of gracefulness

'Gainst a brilliant shore

Have you ever written a haiku before?  If not, this might make for a happy discovery.  Write about a pet, your job, a movie, anything at all . . .   Please send it to me, and I'll post it on my next blog.  (with your permission, of course)  Also, it can be accompanied with a photo or artwork if you'd like.  I'll include that as well with your permission.    (Email:  cski02@sbcglobal.net)  

Wishing You New Beginnings!

Cindy

www.cindymorawski.com

 

Mockingbird Studio

San Antonio, Texas