March Comes in Like a Lion---New ArtBirds, Flowers, and Landscape Paintings

March Comes in Like a Lion

New Spring ARTWORK !

A new season.  Spring.  It's roaring in my ears with sounds of Inspiration.   I've been in my studio and working this winter with spring images in mind.  I've had lots of inspiration from trips to the coast of California, Texas, and to Ireland.   I've also been inspired by little birds and my well-loved pets, my cats as kittens.  

  

Bend Not Break, 6x8, Juried Painting selected by judges for the Inspire Center's April Show

I heard earlier this month that two of my paintings were accepted into Inspire's 2016 Annual Juried Art Show.  Bend Not Break and Moving Toward Marfa.  The above painting Bend Not Break was inspired by the coastline of Monterey, California.  Paul and I traveled to California for a vacation and to visit friends in December 2015.  I discovered this landscape while driving the Seventeen Mile Highway along the Monterey Bay Coast.  

Sky Watching on U.S. Route 181, 8x10 Landscape Painting near Goliad, Texas

During this month of March, I was selected as the featured artist for the Yellow Rose Gallery in Rockport, Texas.  Barbara Newell, gallery owner, gave me a reception to kick-off my art show at the end of February.  Paul and I enjoyed more time in Rockport with sun and sea.  On our way home, we stopped at Goliad's Presidio La Bahia to pay our respects to the fallen heroes from the Texas Revolution.  While on U. S. Route 181, I was skywatching.  The clouds were gathering for a later rainstorm.  This resulted in a studio painting after my return home.  

Lullabies, 5x7 ArtBird Portrait Painting of a little Chickadee

Chickadee Series.  One of my favorite little birds.  Here's a new one with spring colors and entitled, Lullabies.  I like this bird's cheerful and lively presence in my yard.  It always lifts my spirits when I spot one on the feeder or on the oak tree outside the kitchen.  

Spring Morning with Mother Robin , 5x7 ArtBird Portrait Painting of my Favorite Spring Bird, the Robin

As a child growing up in Pennsylvania, I associated the robin with the coming of spring.  Tired of snow and mud by March, I was ready for Spring.  When I spotted my first robin who had migrated back north, I knew that Spring had finally arrived.  I remembered doing a report on this bird in elementary school because I loved what this bird represented.  I also liked the mother robin's blue nest eggs.  It's still one of my favorite colors of blue. 

Flying into the Sunset, 8x10 landscape painting of Rockport, Texas

One of the glories of water and sky for me is a colorful sunset.  And, of course, add a bird flying into the landscape, and it's complete.  I experienced this beautiful sunset in Rockport during my last visit at the end of February.  

Poppy Morning, 8x10 floral painting inspired by the poppies of Castroville, Texas

The poppies are starting to bloom again in Castroville, Texas.  Their red spring blooms liven up this charming and historic Alsatian town southwest of San Antonio.  This is my latest poppy painting from my Castroville Series.  I created it as a demo painting when I was in Rockport on February 26th.  I started with a sketch and watercolor underpainting and then layered on the soft pastels.  

Sailing along the Irish Coast, 8x10 landscape painting of Ireland

This week I celebrated St. Patrick's Day with demo paintings of Irish Landscapes.  I painted the above painting at BesArte in LaVillita which is one of my newest stores that display and sell my artwork in downtown San Antonio.  I had traveled to Belfast, Ireland with my American cousins awhile ago to meet my Irish cousins and to travel across the countryside.  This was one of our stops.  I enjoyed watching the colorful sailboats along the pretty coastline.  The fog was lifting and I could view the distant hills. It was a true Irish Blessing.  

Snuggles, 5x7 cat portrait painting

My cats are elderly now.  One is deaf and the other has been diagnosed with renal failure.  They have brought me great joy for the past 18 years.  This painting is a tribute to them in their younger years.  They would nap together in the guest room on a favorite blanket.  They looked so happy and content.  I remember their loud purring and happy little faces.  They reminded me of Little Buddhas.  

      HAPPY SPRING!

Cindy Morawski

www.CindyMorawski.com

Studio:  210.522.0706

Discoveries on my Journey West

Cotton Candy Sky
by Cindy Morawski

 

 

Looking up.   I did that a lot on my recent road trip to West Texas and New Mexico.  I studied the big open sky through our Honda's windshield and side windows as we whizzed down the highway.  I couldn't get enough of those beautiful cloud formations, bright colors, and moving compositions.  I felt enchanted by the western landscapes and wanted to keep them firmly in my mind and heart. 

 

 

Paul and I made several stops on our journey west.  We headed north and west to the Texas Panhandle.  One of our first stops allowed us to visit the wild and roaming buffalo herd at Caprock Canyons.  We also spotted some prairie dogs along the way.  They reminded me of  jack-in-the-box toys.  Up and down.  Pop!  Goes the prairie dog!   . . . or something like that.  Next, we embraced entertainment with the outdoor musical, TEXAS, a Musical Romance of Panhandle History, at Palo Duro Canyon State Park.  I thought that musical was as big as Texas.  Cowboys and Indians on horseback, pioneers dancing and singing, and spectacular fireworks all helped to dazzle the audience under the star-filled sky in the canyon. 

 

 

Moving along on I-40, we then drove the truck-heavy, super-commerce highway from Amarillo to Albuquerque--my art destination.  I attended the IAPS Convention, International Association of Pastel Societies.  I represented the Texas Pastel Society of San Antonio.  With a juried exhibition, paint-out, banquet, trade show, and lots of stimulating classes, workshops, and demos, I felt like I died and went to a pastel painter's heaven!

 

 

One of my personal highlights was doing some plein air painting at the top of the Sandia Crest.  Paul and I snaked slowly up the Sandia Mountain, outside of Albuquerque, at 15 to 20 mph.  Finally, we looked over the crest.  It was a windy day, but the view seemed spectacular.  We were two miles high.  I could see forever!  I pulled out my pastel box and supplies after finding a good spot to paint and got lost in the mountaintop landscape. 

 

 

After saying good-bye to New Mexico, we checked out some of the sights in West Texas we'd heard about from friends.  The McDonald Observatory allowed us to see UT Austin's big telescopes on Mt. Locke.  I actually was allowed to move the Harlan J. Smith Telescope from north to south with the use of a button on a box.  Members of our tour group also found out about the emergence of the Space Age and NASA's need  for a new telescope to help them with the Apollo Mission. 

 

 

Fort Davis in the Davis Mountains was our final destination.  We journeyed back to the 1800's at the National Historic Site of Fort Davis.  The fort is a modern-day instructional tool to gather insight and admiration for the brave folks who served in the past.  Paul and I toured the enlisted men's barracks, the commissary, officer's homes, and more.  I imagined how encouraging that fort must have been to weary travelers and pioneers on their way west.  It represented protection and a much needed place of rest.

 

 

My road trip vacation served me well.  I felt inspired and renewed when I returned home.  I am currently planning my next series of paintings---  a study of western landscapes and its wildlife. 

 

 

Hope you can join me this Thursday.  I have three paintings in downtown San Antonio's Historic Emily Morgan Hotel's Art Showcase Summer Show.  The TAG art group is hosting a reception on June 20, 2013, in the Library of the Emily Morgan, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.  You are welcome to join us.  The art show will run through August.  All the artwork is currently for sale.  Please support your local artists.  Thanks.

 

 

www.CindyMorawski.com