CHERRY BLOSSOM SNOW

 As far back as I can remember, I can see a painting by my grandfather, called "Cherry Blossom Snow" that captured my imagination and wonder.  Snow?  Cherry tree snow?  As I grew up, I actually did experience the "snow" of those cherry blossoms on windy days.  Still, I was fascinated by that idea, and wondered if I would ever really be able to experience such a phenomenon AND possess the skill to depict my own interpretation.  It has become a holy grail for me...a rather elusive goal, something to strive for - over and over and over.  But one can hardly complain about sitting under huge old cherry trees on a warm sunny day, while being gently touched by falling cherry blossom leaves.  Since moving to Seattle, in 1984, I have been able to find those cherry trees, and yes, I have tried often, to sketch them.

This scene was painted in the Washington Park Arboretum.
And yes, I was over in the UW Quad this past Sunday, when it was 69 degrees!! trying yet another sketch.  And I wonder if I will be able to use that sketch in another watercolor.  Time will tell.

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

 You have probably heard of this phrase, the idea that we are all only separated by six degrees, (or less!)  Well, I'd like to share my experience with this truism.  It involves my grandfather, the artist Charles Burchfield, (whose painting is pictured to the left) and an immigrant who was Palestinian and born in Jerusalem.   So grab a cup of tea and let me tell you about it.

In 1990 I met my life partner, Juanita, and she was, at the time, a nurse who cared for medically-ill ICU patients in their homes.  Her best friend, Deb, was the mother of a young boy on dialysis, and so Deb also became my friend. She learned that I painted watercolors, and that I had a famous grandfather.   Deb's son died a year later, and after a two-year struggle, Deb divorced and moved her other two sons back to California, where she had grown up. She found a small home to rent that was owned by the parents of her good friend from Stanford.  Dr. Bisharat had immigrated from Jerusalem back in the late 1940's, and he studied Psychiatry in New York.  But he loved to paint watercolors, and greatly admired my grandfather.  Though a starving med-student, he was able to purchase a Burchfield watercolor by making monthly payments.

So Deb often visited Maurice and Mary Bisharat, and one day, as she walked about their home, she noticed the Burchfield painting on the wall.  Dr. B proudly told her how he had acquired it, and mentioned how highly he regarded Burchfield's work.  Do you know, Deb asked, that I am friends with his grand-daughter.  Well!   Maurice really wanted to meet me!  A year later Juanita and I visited Deb in California, so of course we went to meet Maurice and his wife.

Speaking of influence, this is a painting by my mother, Martha Richter, done in  1945, one of her earliest.

Their lovely home was full of Maurice's paintings, and I was struck by the Burchfield influence.  Maurice and I bonded almost immediately, talked art and music (he was a talented violin-maker as well!) and eventually we traded some paintings.  As we readied to leave, Maurice talked about how he had actually gone to visit my grandfather.  When was that, I asked.  He guessed it was around 1950-51.  I told Maurice I was around then,  since I lived only one mile away, and often spent time with my grandparents.  We chuckled and said our good-byes. And that was that - except when I returned to my Seattle home, I retrieved my copy of the 10,000 page transcript of my grandfather's journals.  I started reading the pages dated 1950-51 and I found an entry about Maurice!!  My grandfather wrote that a Mr. Bisharat had visited him and they spent the day in his studio.  At the end of the day they came into the house for some tea.  I WAS staying with my grandparents that day, because my grandfather then wrote:  "Peggy crawled up into Mr. B's lap and they became fast friends." !!!!!!  It was nearly 50 years later when we "reconnected!"

A painting by Maurice Bisharat

Who am I? what is my blog about?

Greetings,  Who am I to blog?  Throughout the years, many friends and acquaintances have enjoyed my artwork and urged me to sell it, or make cards, or hey! "Publish a book!"  That may never happen, but with this blog, perhaps I can share my art and what all goes into "making art."

First though, there are just a few things you need to know about me.  I grew up in the world of nature, classical music, and art.  I was deeply influenced by my grandfather, Charles Burchfield, who is one of America's foremost watercolor artists.  (Read about him at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center in Buffalo, N.Y. or the Kennedy Gallery in NYC)  My mother was also influenced by his art, since she also painted landscape watercolors plein air.  It was a very natural thing for me to sketch from real life, on-the-spot.  The only training I ever received was during my high school years.  Ed Swanekamp knew my family background, and taught me how to handle watercolors.  His advice: "Develop what is within you; don't ever let anyone tell you how to paint."

And so it evolved over the years, sometimes with great fervor, sometimes because I don't know why; it was what I did.  Often I went about painting and sketching with enthusiasm, imagining how a scene would turn out, only to see something entirely different, and not as good emerge.  It was a love-hate thing at times.  I was aware enough to realize early on that I did not want to try to make a living from my art; I wanted to be free to paint when I wanted, not because I needed a paycheck.

There were long periods when I set my art aside, as I worked on a career, and on raising 3 children.  But what's within you does not die...Many years later, when I became free to travel around the US in an RV, I started filling blank sketchbooks with my version of a botanical drawing.  These detailed renderings of unique weeds and wildflowers from all over the US also served as my journal - my memory -  of where I was, what was happening, and how I felt.  They were "decorated" with calligraphy, and borders, and each one was infinitely fascinating.



OKay, time out!  Let's take a break, and I will scan in some of those drawings so you can see what I'm talking about.  And we can continue the bio next time.  And,  thanks for your interest in my work.

PS.  I just uploaded some of the 500 botanical drawings I've done to this site  Stay tuned for more!