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The RED Umbrella, 5x7 painting, Cindy MorawskiRainy Days Don't Get Me Downby Cindy Morawski
After I moved to Texas from the rain capitol of the world--England, I was delighted with all that sunshine. The umbrella was not a necessary accessory when you left the house. The Lone Star State's average yearly rainfall compared to England was hardly on the Weather Channel's radar. I got accustomed to dry, sunny days quickly. It gave me more outdoor time to hike, bike, and garden. Driving was no big deal either. I'd even forget the location of my windshield wipers "on" switch in my car. Clear, dry streets were the equivalent of hitting the easy button for getting to and fro via my car. It all seemed good.
However, I've lived long enough in Texas now to have survived two big droughts. This past one over the last two years has cost the state big-time in terms of agriculture. Cattle and crops were part of the collateral damage. Homeowners everywhere have also turned to xeriscaping their yards. The cost of water and dealing with water rationing felt severe. Living in the suburbs with a large corner lot covered with trees and landscaping had been a personal challenge. I was reminded last year of our shortages every time I turned on the news and weather report. San Antonio's aquifer levels were dropping rapidly. The rationing of water required one to hand water those beloved green things or you'd lose them. Paul and I didn't want our yard to die. We chose to do our best and try to keep most of our yard alive. It seemed like a daily conflict. Man vs. Nature. Whew!
When the rain came down this month in May, I had to actually go outside to confirm it. I woke up to the sound of thunder and the flash of lightning in the middle of the night. I looked out the window. Yes, that looked like wet stuff on the deck. I then headed down the hall and out the front door. The water was running down our street like a river. I could hear it rushing through the rain gutters and off our home's rooftop. I stepped off the front stoop. I gazed upward and felt that cool rain splash on my face. This was some serious rain. We ended up with four inches. A rain cell stopped right over the Northwest part of San Antonio. Hurray! The next morning when I hopped out of bed, I peeked out the bedroom window. Our backyard trees were smiling in gratitude. I could hear them slurping up that extra water. The grass looked a zillion times greener. Not exactly Ireland, but a vast improvement. Three days later, it happened again. More rain. Not as much as the previous storm. But, it was a soaker. I have grown to LOVE rain. It's on my gratitude list. I won't ever look at the wet stuff the same again.
I created the painting, The RED Umbrella, to help celebrate May's rainfall. I also LOVE the way light reflects on wet pavement at night. I took a photo of my local Bandera Road while it was raining and then took some liberties when I took it to my painting studio. I relived the rainstorm while painting. RAINY days and Mondays don't get me down. Rainy days are just another reason to celebrate in San Antonio.
Hope you'll CELEBRATE with me this Saturday, May 18th. I'll be part of a Fine Art Show in the BoerneFest, located in downtown Boerne off the Main Plaza, from 10 to 5. Look for my white tent and Seasons ArtWork. Here's the link for more information. There's a whole weekend of fun activities, starting this Friday night, May 17th. www.bestofboernefest.com.
Studio: 210.522.0706
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Showing posts with label Cindy Morawski. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cindy Morawski. Show all posts
Friday, May 17, 2013
Rainy Days Don't Get Me Down, Celebrating with a Rain Painting
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
New Songs for Spring 2013, BIRD Paintings
New Spring Songs
by Cindy Morawski
Looking out my kitchen window, I notice the birds feeding. One particular squirrel sits atop our big red metal feeder like a prince
surveying his kingdom. A plague of doves float down to pick up the remains of the seeds. They flap and beat their wings in a noisy and bossy way. Soon, they cover the ground with their muted colors. One sounds the alarm, when suddenly a large bird shadow flies over. A hawk cries a warning. He's just as hungry. The doves fly up in a mass of feathers and panic.
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Baby in BlueSpring's energy almost takes my breath away. I feel like I've just awoken from a long sleep. The live oak trees have lost their leaves and now show a green fuzzy glow about the neighborhood. Birds seem to be everywhere I look. The mockingbird flits back and forth to the bush outside my kitchen window above the sink. When I'm doing the dishes, I hear a flutter and spot a quick movement. The mockingbird is building a nest for its young. I see other evidence of this happening in my yard. The wrens are darting in and out of the birdhouse that I hung in one of my backyard's trees. Their furtive patterns don't fool me for a second. I've seen this behavior before in the springtime. They will leave their feathered legacies. One egg at a time. One fledgling at a time. |
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San Antonio Song (with Frame)This spring I painted birds with color. Baby in Blue is a metaphor for new songs and a spring awakening. San Antonio Song shows the Southwest bird with a mission's stucco window. Is it looking in or looking out? It has a song in its heart, ready for a season bright with sunshine and bright flowers.If you'd like to see my paintings, I'll be in my tent with my new season's artwork in Maverick Plaza, space #124, at LaVillita in downtown San Antonio, the weekend after Easter, April 6, 7, at the Starving Artist Art Show. This will be the 51st year of the show. It started in 1963. It's also a Fund Raiser for the Less Fortunate and is sponsored by the Little Church of LaVillita. It opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. each day. There are no admission fees for the show. Hope to see you there!www.CindyMorawski.comMORAWSKI FINE ART & FRAMING |
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
SOLO ART SHOW this Fall at Candlelight San Antonio
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| Between Two Seasons New Painting by Cindy Morawski ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CANDLELIGHT SAN ANTONIO Wine Bar and Coffeehouse Cafe ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SEASONS A Solo Art Show of Recent Paintings by Cindy Morawski ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3011 N. St. Mary's Street San Antonio, TX 78212 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 |
Friday, July 27, 2012
Simply Summer~~A Photo Essay by Cindy Morawski
Lake Chautauqua, NY ~~ Peace by the Water . . .
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| Twilight at Lake Chautauqua |
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| Chautauqua Institute's Lakeside Bell Tower
Teddy Roosevelt once was quoted as saying, "Chautauqua is the most American thing in America." Chautauqua was an adult movement in the U.S. in the late 1800's and early 1900's. It brought entertainment, culture, and more for the community. The Chautauqua Institution is still providing those things on the shores of Lake Chautauqua in New York State during the summertime. Paul and I spent some time there last week. We enjoyed its quiet beauty. It seemed like a jewel from the Past.
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Chautauqua Belle, one of four steam-powered paddleboats in America  Sailing, Biking, and Fishing  Shade Tree by the Lake |
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Raining Possibilities~~ Painting Sunflowers and a Sunrise
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| Sunflower Field of New Beginnings by Cindy Morawski Spring Rains, Painting, and Storms
I've celebrated spring of 2012 with flower paintings. It's been ages since I painted sunflowers so I wanted this time to paint them with a sunrise and a colorful skyscape. I photographed and sketched this sunflower scene in Castroville outside San Antonio.
Today it rained almost all day where I live in San Antonio. What a great day! The crepe myrtles in our yard are blooming, and they have really perked up with the rain showers. We have white, purple, and red blooms on our various crepe myrtles. Last year, none of them bloomed because of the drought. The other night it stormed, and the thunder woke me up. Lightning flashed into the bedroom window and kept me awake. I heard the storm, but no rain. Later, the rain came too. What a relief. San Antonio recently moved into stage 2 of water restrictions. I hope the rainfall this week will not only help out the aquifer, but that it will benefit the entire community.
In my painting, Sunflower Field of New Beginnings, I'm pairing the cheerful sunflower with the freshness of the sunrise. To me, they are metaphors for better days and new starts. The optimism of both can lighten one's burden. I wish I could start all my mornings with a colorful horizon and a field of flowers saluting me with their friendly charm. Imagine that.
www.CindyMorawski.com
cski02@sbcglobal.net
Mockingbird Studio, 210.522.0706
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Thursday, November 10, 2011
Open House~~Holiday Wolfson House~~Nov. 14 - 19, 2011
HOLIDAY WELCOME!
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Holiday Invitation FREE Homemade Holiday Refreshments, Free Admission and Parking . . . HOLIDAY Arts & Crafts WOLFSON HOUSE 415 Broadway San Antonio, TX Tour one of San Antonio's historic homes, shop for the holidays, enjoy the holiday decorations and refreshments! November 14 through 18, Monday - Friday, 10 to 6, Saturday, November 19, 10 - 3 Please look for my art display by the fireplace upstairs. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! ~~Cindy~~ www.cindymorawski.com |
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
BUDA FINE ARTS FESTIVAL this weekend
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| Sunrise on the Pumpkin Patch by Cindy Morawski |
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| Reunion by Cindy Morawski ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You're invited to the BUDA FINE ARTS FESTIVAL |
October 22 - 23, 2011
10 AM - 6 PM Saturday
10 AM - 4 PM Sunday
On the Greenbelt in Historic Downtown Buda
Off I-35 south of Austin
Live Music, Silent Auction, Children's Art Area, Quilt Show
Over 50 Juried Artists
FREE Festival Admission!
Taste of Buda!
Local restaurants offer the best of their menu!
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Saturday, October 15, 2011
A Place with a View~~Ghost Ranch, N.M.
Fall Photography of New Mexico
Ghost Ranch
October 2 - 8, 2011
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| Over the Rainbow at Ghost Ranch |
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| Upward |
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| Early Dinosaur Skull from Dig at Ghost Ranch |
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| Modern Designs of New Mexico |
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| Weaving~~Face from the Loom |
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| Doll with Ornamental Weavings |
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| Meditation Garden at Ghost Ranch |
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| Waving Grasses by the Patio |
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| Anyone Home? |
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| Shelter from the Storm |
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| Inspiration for Artist Georgia O'Keefe |
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| Path to the Art Studio |
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| City Slickers, the movie's cabin |
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| Peace to all who enter |
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| View of Chimney Rock |
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| It took millions of years . . . |
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| Pathways of Ghost Ranch |
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| Sky Lights |
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| Sunset of Gold |
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| Light and Shadow |
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| Autumn's Peeking Through |
Looking UP
When I arrived at Ghost Ranch a week ago, I ended up with a sore neck. I kept looking up. Up at the skies, up at the cliff formations, up at distant mountains, up at the birds. My head was in the clouds. The wide-open spaces wrapped their arms around me and embraced my spirit. I couldn't get enough of the cool mountain air. No humidity. Boy, did that feel good after coming from San Antonio.
I took my camera everywhere with me. It became a part of my hand. Snap. Snap. I felt a sense of urgency. I needed to record the beauty all around me. Somehow it made it more believable. I breathed in deeply. The mountain elevation gave me a lightheaded sense of uncertainty. I knew though that I'd get adjusted to it in a day or so.
Presence. Yes, I guess one could name my sense of wanting to be in the moment. I didn't want to be anywhere but Ghost Ranch. My travels became not only a destination, but the place rooted out a space in my heart.
The photos represent a sampling of my experiences. It was not possible to capture it all in just a week's time. I'd recommend it as a place to visit. A place to take classes. A place to devour a wild slice of America's spicy Southwestern pie.
Happy Viewing!
~~Cindy~~
Monday, September 12, 2011
Birds of a Feather . . . Recent Paintings of Birds
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| Desert Cardinal |
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| Autumn Song Sparrow |
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| Red-Plumed Cardinal Birds of a Feather Flock Together ~~Paintings by Cindy Morawski~~ One of the best parts of my day happens to be in the morning. I like to watch the birds come to the bird feeder outside my kitchen window. While I'm waking up with a cozy cup of coffee, I view a whole cast of bird characters flitting from my front yard's white picket fence to the red bird feeder. I hung that offering to the local birds after Paul and I first moved into our home on Waldon Heights. With this severe drought in South Texas, the birds have had a hard time. I try to not only provide some seed nourishment, but I also offer them water in our bird bath and front fountain. They repay me daily. I enjoy their antics, songs, and liveliness. Painting birds encourages me take a good look at them. When I study them before and while I paint them, I notice details that I wouldn't ordinarily see. They make for colorful subjects. One of my all-time favorite birds, even since childhood, has been the cardinal. There are a variety of cardinals in the United States. Their song and crimson color help them get noticed and appreciated. Another bird favorite for me is the sparrow. Again, like the cardinal, there are many varieties. I decided to paint the song sparrow with an autumn background because my favorite season is in the Fall; I'd like to think that the sparrow's song announces this wonderful season in nature. Art Cards and Prints are available for all three paintings. The originals are also for sale. Please check out my website for more information. Thanks. Happy Bird Watching! ~~Cindy~~ www.cindymorawski.com |
Saturday, August 27, 2011
August is the Color of Red~~A Photo Essay
One thing you can count on in life is that Texas in August will be mind-numbing hot. I ought to know. I live in San Antonio, the home of record-breaking triple digits in the month of August. Sweat is my uncomfortable companion. Air-conditioning, in any form, is my friend.
When I think of August, I can't help but visualize the color RED. Like a live volcano, it spews heat. It pulses. It glows. It has a life of its own.
My photo essay is a collection of photographs that I have taken over the past two years. The settings range from small to large in places near and far. I've examined the color RED. What do you think of when you see red?
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THE COLOR ~~ RED !
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| Red is a festive mosaic on water. |
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| Red is a cosmic light dance. |
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| Red marks an emergency. |
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| Red is a gift on the back porch. |
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| Red is a stolen treat. |
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| Red is a high-flying circus act. |
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| Red is a naughty kiss in disguise. |
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| Red rolls out like a pulsing drum beat. |
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| Red is a wheel that goes round and round. |
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| Red ~~ a whirling and dizzying carousel. |
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| Red is nature's velvet and a perfumed promise. |
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| Red is a mysterious treasure. |
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| Red decorates with warmth and reassurance. |
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| Red tells a story. |
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| Red is sizzle and razzle-dazzle! Happy Labor Day and an end to our Hot Summer!! Think COOL! Think RAIN! ~~Cindy~~ |
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