Idiots Walk in Beauty Ep6 Beauty in the common & strangers

This is the off topic area. Stop by to play a game, tell us about your day, or just stop and chat. Politics, current events, or any related topic will be moved or removed.

Moderator: Chris_W

New Topic Post Reply
User avatar
jgh
Posts: 5135
Joined: Oct 14, 2001 8:00 pm
Location: Plymouth, Minnesota zone 4

Idiots Walk in Beauty Ep6 Beauty in the common & strangers

Post by jgh »

Idiots Walk in Beauty Ep 6 Finding Beauty in the commonplace… and strangers becoming friends

Idiot She is learning to paint with watercolors, so when they saw that the last demonstration on the last day of the festival was by Chinese watercolor artist Yidan Guo, they looked at examples of her work and found her skills and love of nature spoke to them. They decided to stay on yet again.

Some of Yidan Guo’s work…


Image




In mid-afternoon, Yidan set up her easel in front of the small barn Idiot He had photographed earlier. She saw more than He and his camera did.


Image




Yidan is a no frills artist. She uses good brushes, but she isn’t too concerned about brand names. Her paints are a mix of whatever she has available. She is all about practical. Some artists use a fancy adjustable tool to “frame” the scene they intend to paint. She uses her fingers!


Image




She starts with a light pencil sketch…


Image

Image



First… the blue Utah sky.


Image


Image




Though Yidan Guo paints fast, she probably spends at least as much time just LOOKING. The paper, the paints, the brushes… the skill… those are important. But the process isn’t really about recording Beauty – it’s about seeing Beauty and translating it. Yidan Guo has an artist’s hand, but most importantly she has an artist’s eye. She sees the painting evolving before her brush ever touches the paper.


Image


Image


Image




A painting begins to emerge…


Image


Image


Image


Image




Sometimes a watercolor artist needs to mist the painting to keep the surface moist to allow the paints to absorb and blend and form textures.


Image


Image




With the basic forms in place, the details begin to appear...


Image


Image


Image


Image


Image




Some observers came and went during the demonstration. The Idiots were part of a small group who seemed dedicated to watching the process from start to finish. About halfway through, the white-haired lady in the chair asked if she could buy the painting - beating the Idiots to the punch!


Image




The artist’s palette is so simple, yet it produces a beautiful vision…


Image


Image


Image


Image


Image


Image




The artist and her patron…


Image




During the demonstration, the Idiots struck up a conversation with a delightful young couple, Kathryn and Andy.


Image



It was clear in the first few minutes that these were kindred spirits. Too young, smart, and active to be Idiots – but they have great potential! Native West Virginians, in their later 20s, the two have been together for several years and married last year. These young professionals took leaves of absence from their jobs to make a grand camping tour of the American West. For two and a half months they traveled, hitting the major sights like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, but also making time for the roads less traveled – like Escalante, Utah.

“We decided we should do this while we’re young and when we have the chance…” They have a natural grasp of the fact that life is not a dress rehearsal.

The Idiots were particularly impressed that the couple asked about visiting Chaco Canyon. Chaco was the epicenter of the Ancient Puebloan culture. Many tourists visit Mesa Verde – and the cliff dwellings there are wonderful – but Chaco is the heart of that ancient culture. The huge stone structures – many with hundreds of rooms – are clustered in a canyon that can only be reached by poor, unpaved roads. The preservation has been helped by the fact that it is just so remote.

When the Idiots learned that Andy and Kathryn were planning not just to visit, but to camp in Chaco – they knew this duo were “keepers.” Already very lightly visited, Chaco at night is magical. The rustic campground gives wise travelers the chance to make contact with the spirits of the ancient ones. The stars are the same… the wind whispers the same poetry… Coyote the Trickster still wanders the canyon, greeting the moon with his call.

The Idiots hope they will have the opportunity to meet these youngsters again. In the meantime, they are keeping in touch via Facebook and email. Idiot readers might enjoy checking out the blog – West Virginia Seeker – to get a better sense of how these two young-but-wise folks are finding joy and adventure in life.

http://westvirginiaseeker.com/about-us/

Photo borrowed (stolen) from West Virginia Seeker - Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone

Image

User avatar
Tigger
Posts: 2727
Joined: Oct 14, 2001 8:00 pm
USDA Zone: 6b - 7a
Location: SE Penna Zone 6b (7a?), lat. 39°50'
Contact:

Re: Idiots Walk in Beauty Ep6 Beauty in the common & strange

Post by Tigger »

*like* (actually, *love*)
User avatar
jgh
Posts: 5135
Joined: Oct 14, 2001 8:00 pm
Location: Plymouth, Minnesota zone 4

Re: Idiots Walk in Beauty Ep6 Beauty in the common & strange

Post by jgh »

thanks... appreciate your appreciation!
Haricotsv2
Posts: 56
Joined: Feb 24, 2012 6:22 pm
USDA Zone: 4

Re: Idiots Walk in Beauty Ep6 Beauty in the common & strange

Post by Haricotsv2 »

It takes me awhile to catch up. Loved this!
New Topic Post Reply