Savoy

Savoy, South Dakota

View at Savoy

This morning, we woke to fog and drizzle, which gave us the much needed opportunity to roll over and go back to sleep for awhile!  Once we got up and going, some of us did go out to paint, and did watercolors of Rimrock Lodge, in Spearfish Canyon.

Rimrock Lodge Cabin

When it got too cold, we drove up the canyon to get something hot to drink, and magically, the fog lifted, and the sun shone.  Savoy has some outstanding rock cliffs, and is one of my favorite places in the canyon.  We had coffee at Latchstring Inn, which is right across from where we checked in for the Plein Aire event: Spearfish Canyon Lodge.  It is a beautiful place to stay if you are looking for a place in Spearfish Canyon!

Spearfish Canyon Lodge

Painting at The Adams House

The Adam's House, Deadwood, South Dakota

Painting by Bonnie Halsey-Dutton

Plein Aire Painting of the Adams House

Artist painting

Marietehe'Salort painting The Adams House

Our group went two different directions for awhile today, before meeting up in Deadwood for a wonderful meal at The Deadwood Social Club, above the famous Saloon Number 10.

Mariethe’ Salort and I painted in Deadwood, SD  today.  Mariethe was interested in painting an old house, and liked the idea of a row of houses, so I showed her the beautiful Victorian houses in Deadwood. Ah, Yes… Deadwood, South Dakota.  I am so pleased that Marietehe’ and her husband Yves, both said it did not disappoint.  They  said Deadwood could be felt… there was a special feel to the town.

We chose the historic Adams House Museum.  We painted outside for about three hours, and the exciting thing was at the conclusion, seeing the two different results from the same painting!  Although they are not finished yet in these photos, it is evident how they are similar, yet quite different.  That is the magic of art!

While we were painting, quite a few people stopped to visit with us.  Of them all, one was particularly memorable, as he asked Mariethe’  for directions, and she told him she didn’t know… she was French.  To her surprise, so was he!  He was a French visitor, on his first full day in the United States!  That was a fun coincidence!

Grave of Wild Bill Hickok

Grave of Wild Bill Hickok

Grave of Calamity Jane

Grave of Calamity Jane

After painting, we were consequently freezing, as a drizzle had moved in.  We took our lunch up the hill to the famous Mount Moriah Cemetery.  (Nothing but the cheeriest of picnic locations for my guests!)  This is where the good, the bad and the ugly of Deadwood fame are buried, including Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Potato Creek Johnny.  (The last was a famous miner in Deadwood… his shoe was a novelty at a local restaurant, so if you are lucky, I may post a photo of it tomorrow!!!)    The mist made my photos of this place particularly striking – and spooky!

We followed lunch with a tour of the Adams House, followed by a walk along the streets of old Deadwood.  Deadwood is an entire photo opportunity at every turn.  Truly a fun experience, no matter how many times I go!  My mother, Millie Halsey, particularly loves Deadwood, so having someone to share it with was very rewarding.

Plein Aire Painting

Here we all are: at the Plein Aire painting event, hosted by The Blue Dog Gallery.  We had an amazingly beautiful day:  the weather was perfect, and the spot we chose to paint was by a babbling brook, with shade trees… it was a very nice time.  There were visitors to the event, to watch us paint, and we had a blast with each other!  The trees in Spearfish Canyon are just beginning to change, so the timing for the event is excellent.  Kudos, John & Jan Humphrey… this is amazing!

This is Roughlock Falls, just a little up the road from where we were painting.  The site was recently refurbished, and it is a wonderful little visit.  Up the road just a little farther is a site where the ending footage of “Dances with Wolves” was filmed.  We ended the day with stopping to take a photo of this cute little cabin… intriguingly perched on the edge of a cliff!  This is a cabin at Rimrock Lodge.  It takes a lodger with guts to stay here, I believe!  The facility is currently not in business, but for me, has always been a landmark of Spearfish Canyon.

We will be doing a second day of Plein Aire painting tomorrow morning, followed by an afternoon and evening in Deadwood!

Our First Day Together in the Black Hills

Vore Buffalo Jump near Beulah WyomingWelcome to our travelers:  We have Jane Carter and Jane Clargo from England, and Marietehe’ and Yves Salort from France.  They are going to help us celebrate the treasure that is ours here in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  My husband, Dave and I are hosts, along with Judy and Bill Hobbs, and Millie Halsey.  Our group’s first outing was a short drive to the Vore Buffalo Jump.  This is a huge sink hole which was discovered when the Interstate highway was built.  Found deep in the hole, are over 300 years worth of buffalo bones.  This is an actual site which was used by Native American tribes in which the bison were stampeded over the cliff, into a deep circular ravine.  This was most likely a collapsed cave, and has very intriguing rock formations encircling it.  Once the buffalo had been driven into the hole, arrows were shot from above, to finish them off.  This created a much safer hunt for the hunters, and a more deadly hunt for the prey.  Pictured is a photo of the poster there, showing what the excavation of the site looks like. At present, the excavation was not accessible to us, but the amount of bones was impressive, none-the-less.  The passage of time is evident by the style and composition of the arrowheads found there, as well as by the dating of the bones.  Many of the skulls had been pounded open, giving access to the brain matter of the bison.  This was a vital material utilized in the tanning of the hide.  Know that everything was utilized of this life-giving animal… food, shelter and clothing … all from the bison.  Amazing to think that an animal that was thick upon the prairie was so nearly brought to extinction by the coming of the white man!

After we left the buffalo jump, we introduced the group to the pretty little town of Spearfish, South Dakota.  We went to the D. C. Booth Fish Hatchery, where fish have been raised and released since the early days of settlement in the Black Hills.  There are very large fish in the pond here: compare to the size of the ducks!

To complete the day, the group met along with some other creative friends for a wonderful meal at the Bay Leaf Restaurant.  Our host, Judy Hobbs arranged the meal, and we dined in style on Prime Rib and Creme Brule’.  Unfortunately, Judy and her friend, Penny, were both too sick to attend the party they had arranged… another lesson that “Life is what happens when you are making other plans”  Speedy return to health, Judy… thank you for the wonderful meal!  Artist Sandy Swallow Morgan and Wayne Morgan, Ruth Durst, and Anna and Stuart Huntington joined us for this delightful start of the Artist Exchange.

The Artist Exchange Begins

And so it begins.  My good friend (and excellent artist!) Janet Weight Reed and I have been friends for over 20 years.  We met while both living in West Chester, PA.  She is originally from England, and has since returned.  Over the years, I have visited her and she has visited me, and each time we are together, so much learning takes place – on my part, at least!  Regardless, much fun is had!

During these visits, we have been slowly developing the idea of doing an artist exchange between Europeans and Americans.  This is quite frequently done abroad:  a group of artists from one community will travel to and stay with artists from another area.  They enjoy the events and do “arty” things together, and then the other group reciprocates at a later date.   That is what this trip is about:  a cultural sharing, bringing guests from abroad to South Dakota.  Janet has brought some of her friends from abroad on board, and they have launched onto this adventure with us.  Unfortunately, after all this planning, Janet is unable to attend this year, as her mother is very ill.  She will be missed by us all… especially those who won’t be able to meet her this time around!  But, she is here in spirit, and is extending this blog to her vast blog community on her daily postings… you should check out her amazing cite: My Life as an Artist:  http://janetweightreed10.blog.co.uk

As always, travel is an adventure, and the two lovely ladies pictured here are from the London area.  Ironically, both are named Jane!  They arrived right on time to bright skies and a trip to Mount Rushmore.  My mother, Millie Halsey, is one of the local hosts, and she brought a second vehicle to take them on their first South Dakota adventure… to see the faces of Mount Rushmore!  My other two guests are from outside of Paris.  Their plane was delayed, and they missed their flight, not coming in to Rapid City until late in the evening, amidst a thunderstorm!  (Thus, no photos of them arriving!)

This exchange is not intended as an income producer, but as an idea generator.  An exchange between like-minded people who are on board with the excitement that something new brings into your life.  Join us via the blog for a virtual artist exchange, and perhaps you will be game for an artist exchange in the future!

In the dust

This is a detail of a painting I am just finishing up with:  it is depicting Sitting Bull’s vision of soldiers falling into camp, which preceded the Battle of the Greasy Grass… or Battle of the Little Big Horn… or Custer’s Last Stand… it goes by many names.

I am interested in combining images in my paintings: it adds layers of meaning to the piece.  The smoke and dust I am utilizing as a unifying element in this painting, helps to convey motion, chaos and helps to put the imagery into the past tense.

I am preparing to greet my visitors from France and England in a couple of days!  If you are interested in joining us “virtually”, I will be posting about what we are doing over the next busy weeks.

Tools of the trade

I am partial to my paintbrushes.   Actually, the more broken in the better.  I am loyal, in fact.  They need to become nearly bald before I give them up!!!  They feel right…. we have history.

There are many tools of the trade, and there can also be just a few… In painting, one can use every color in the rainbow, or merely incorporate different values of one color – monochromatic painting.  Some artists have even created masterpieces by painting a canvas a solid color – Minimalism!

Eagle feather

The eagle feather is a sacred object, and now can only be legally owned by a Native American who is enrolled in a nationally recognized tribe.  I love the texture and contrast an eagle feather added to my painting gives it.  In researching about the legal right to own an eagle feather, I discovered a raging controversy over the feather and it’s ownership that I hadn’t fully heard about.  I knew it was a huge fine to own one:  up to $25,000.00!  I didn’t know there was a movement to change the regulation.  You can read more, as I did at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_feather_law

Now, I know that Wikipedia isn’t the  most reliable of sources to cite, HOWEVER, there are additional links from there to delve into the legalese farther.  For me: I know they are beautiful, and I am proud to use them to symbolize the majesty which they represent to the American culture – yesterday as well as today.

Playing House

This is a painting of my house, rendered Surreal-style.  The roof is opened up to represent a doll house.  Thus the title, playing house.  When I am not quite sure how to proceed in life, it is sort of like that:  I  imagine what it should be like, then make it happen.

I am undertaking on a new adventure with friends from Europe:  it is called an artist exchange.  I am having to put myself into that imaginary realm, and visualize how it will be, in order to make it occur.   The people coming will be staying for two weeks.  They are coming over here from England and France, to enjoy cultural and artistic undertakings with me and my local friends who have agreed to participate.  The magic will me in the new friendship bonds formed, along with taking the time to enjoy what is right here in my own backyard:  the beauty of the Black Hills.  Through a visitor’s eyes, I will be able to experience these things anew, and share them.  I’ll be posting about our undertakings with the exchange, so if you are interested, come along on a virtual exchange!

Resource Materials

I have a studio full of resources:  books, music, files of images… a computer…

These tools are invaluable.  I prefer books:  looking through books differs from going on-line for information for my creative process.  Books provide the unexpected input of information, as when a book is leafed through, things cross my path that I didn’t consciously seek out.  That can have a very positive impact on the direction of my research and the imagery which results.  A computer is a fantastic resource for research: particularly if I have a specific thing I am searching for.  The information age… it is a wonderful thing!

On top of this bookcase is a stack of ornamental suitcases.  Inside these are sketchbooks, photographs, brochures and travel books to the many wonderful places I have traveled.  My world travel experiences are the most wonderful of resources:  having stepped outside of my backyard has impacted me forever.  And upon my return from a trip, these experiences have endeared me to what is right before my eyes right here, where I live.  Just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I need to keep discovering that “There is no place like home!”.