My London Adventure 9/19/22

Sep 19, 2022

It’s been two weeks since I landed in London and it’s been a whirlwind since. Becoming a student again is one challenge, learning the City, transportation, figuring out meals and the washing machine another. After the Queen’s funeral is today, I imagine the city will find a new sense of normal in the the coming days. Just increased the volume to be able to hear the funeral on tv, because of helicopters ruckus. I live within a close enough distance that I’m imagining press and security/military are circling. We walked a street yesterday, where we saw police dressed in many different uniforms from locations of my favorite Brit detective shows.

Sotheby’s is providing a great learning experience. They dedicate Tues and Wed to art business led by Jeffrey Boloton, and Thurs and Fri to art history led by Rachel Barnes. Both sections have specialists come in for lectures or tours, though Jeffery and Rachel are positively able to give all the lectures, I’m so impressed with both of them and their credentials. In the two weeks, we’ve been to 4 museums, one commercial gallery which was followed by a “reception” at the pub next door. Rachel led three of the museum tours. She obviously knows her audience. She stops in front of a painting or sculpture, speaks for no more than two minutes, and takes off like being chased by the group and goes to the next. After a couple stops, she gives the group time to look around at our own pace. 

Last Thursday, we were to meet at 10:30 am by the columns of the British Museum just after the security check. Rachel and one of the other instructors split the group. Luckily, with Rachel we saw objects in the Egyptian, Japanese and African exhibits, had a quick look around, grabbed a coffee and were back in the classroom at Sotheby’s by 11:45 for a lecture on how the pieces influenced Van Gogh and peers. 

On the art business side, we had the Head of Bidding from Sotheby’s Auction House, which the School of Art was spun from. She spoke and answered all kinds of questions about behind the scenes and strategies for bidding. Whoa, if I only had an extra million. In the next couple weeks, we will go to the auction house and watch an auction via video streaming- only bidders already vetted with the money to buy objects can be in the room. The visit to that specific gallery is still a mystery to me. I’m guessing the owner a friend to someone, or the proximity to the pub, because the art was not special, IMHO. It might have been because the gallery was targeting millennials, not my gen. 

The class is great. Really like the people. Very smart. Jeffery commented on the engagement of the group. I’ve made a couple friends. Took a sigh of relief when I was invited to hang on Saturday. Had to decline to get my first paper done before company from the States arrived, but knowing I’d be the oldest, (and am)  was a worry that’s gone.

Last Monday, on my day off, made it out to Kew Gardens. Wanted to see the exhibit of Marianne North’s botanical paintings. In the mid 1800s she traveled all over the world exploring and documenting new species. I was surprised by the quantity and quality of the paintings. 

Cheers!

Best Paleo Chicken Soup... So Far

The original recipe came from a magazine that’s long gone.  I start the recipe the same way each time with the olive oil, onion, garlic, rosemary, chicken and sweet potatoes. Those ingredients give the basic flavor palette. I add other vegetables based on who's coming for dinner, what's in the fridge, the quantity I want, how much time I want to put into prep, and if I have a taste for something. Basically, it’s rarely the same twice, and it’s always good.  I always add a dark green leafy vegetable like spinach just before serving company, not only for the nutrients, but for the color contrast as well. It just looks more appetizing with bright green against the orange and browns. If you want this vegetarian, omit the chicken and chicken stock, vegetable broth or water instead.)

 

Ingredients: 

2 T olive oil

1 Large or 2 med onions

4 -6 Garlic cloves

2 T Rosemary -  Minced - fresh is best

2 chicken breasts or 4 thighs cut into bite size pieces – no knives needed

3 stalks of celery chopped into half inch pieces

2 large or 5 small Parsnips – peeled and chopped into half inch pieces (they are the vegetables that look like albino carrots)

1 large or 2 small Turnips - peeled, chopped into half inch pieces (its a round white snowball with purple icing)

2 Sweet Potatoes - 1 of them peeled and chopped into  1/2" pieces. The second Sweet potato peeled, chopped into 1 1/2" pieces  

1 Can White beans - Northern (black beans are good too) 

2 C Mushrooms

1 Zuchini - chopped into 1/2" pieces or green beans 

2 C Broccoli chopped bite size

2 C Spinach chopped

Salt and Pepper

32 ounces chicken broth (Strengthens the flavor)

2 Cups water 

 

Instructions

 

·      Saute the onions in the olive oil, once they are translucent,

·      Add the garlic, and rosemary, then add and brown the chicken.

·      Pour in a bit of the chicken broth into the pan to make sure you get all the onion, garlic and chicken. This will be transferred to a pot.

·      Pour the remaining liquid into the soup pot and add the sweet potatoes, celery, parsnips, turnips, then add in the ingredients from the sauté pan. The ingredients call for a generous amount of liquid. Start with the chicken broth and add some of the water here.

·      When the large sweet potato chunks are soft, mash them with a fork or a wand, they will blend and thicken the broth. Mashing the sweet potatoes thickens almost creams the soup. Leave the little sweet potato chunks for texture.

·      Toss in the mushrooms and beans– which basically soak up the flavor and stretch the soup, not really add much flavor. Good for if you want to make a large batch. Add more of the water if it seems to thick. This is not a clear broth soup, so don’t add much, but it will cook down. Let it simmer about 20 minutes.

·      Ten minutes out from serving add the broccoli.

·      Taste it (no double dips with same spoon.) Add salt or pepper. It often doesn’t need it.

·      Call people to the table (Someone always has to “wash their hands.”

·      Toss in the spinach, have someone pour the wine and serve the bowls. The spinach should look bright green contrasting against the orange.

·      WINE: If it’s lunch or warm out, I like serving a Portuguese Vino Verde – it’s crisp and just this side of sparkling – a great contrast to the potatoes. Or I serve a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

·      SIDES: For texture and for contrast in flavors, I usually serve this with rustic bread, fruit bread or vegetable chips and sliced apples or small bunches of grapes.  I like that there is finger food along with using the spoon.

 

 

Guest Artists - Reminders of Painting What You See

Visitors while painting is part of the pleasure and annoyances of painting in public. When you're in the zone and someone whispers, "what are yodoing?' just over your shoulder is an annoyance, and has caused my heart to stop and my brush to paint an extra long limb. For the most part, I appreciate the visitors. It allows a random moment to step away from my work and look at it from their eyes. I always see something I need to fix. 

Having children as visitors is my favorite. I usually carry a hard cover sketchbook and a marker, and offer them an opportunity to make their own artwork on a page. The deal is, their parent can take a photo of the art, (usually they want the artist and my painting too) and I keep the book.

Some arrive with their own coloring implements, on their way to somewhere their time needs to be occupied. I'm amazed at how much elementary-age kids know about art and color. I don't think I got any of that from Captain Kangaroo or Mr. Green Jeans. They know what the primary colors are, and even more impressive, how to make green, purple and orange - the secondary colors.  

Parents have asked me for my painting schedule, which I don't provide, mainly because I don't have one. I've had parents return with their kids to watch the progress of my painting or to bring me a painting the child has made in the meantime. 

I've worked with children since I had a robust babysitting business, starting as a mother's helper for a neighbor when I was around 10. In high school, I brought flowers with a note, "thanks for the new business", to my favorite families with newborns. Though my credential from college was as a health educator, my first job was as a health coordinator for a poverty agency in Jackson, MI, connected to a family-related Head Start Program. THe focus of my work was to knock away any challenges that prevented preschool children from attending and getting their Head Start. 

Cumpulsory staff training happened every Friday. Employees received GEDs or credits toward bachelor or masters degrees with professors from Michigan State University and the local Community College. My on the job trainging allowed me to observe and interact with the kids intentionally. When I left that position, I was well on my way to a graduate degree and forever respectful and awed by preschoolers. Later jobs took my out the realm of kids, but their visits are always a joy, a reconnection to a much younger me, and a reminder to paint the way I see things... 

Art Collectors - Why They Do or Don't Collect Plein Air

For the last few months, in preparation for the Plein Air Painters Chicago fifth I Heart Plein Air Conference, I have interviewed seven individuals who represent, collect or acquire art. The inteviews have taught me that every person and organization that collects art, has a different reason and aesthetic, and that I, as an artist, can't paint for them. As artists we can paint for ourselves and find kindred spirits. I am honored to say that some of these collectors are my kindred spirits.

Here are links to those video interviews.  

Mary Longe overview of the interviews: https://youtu.be/17eHy45HZBQ

Michelle Strassburger https://youtu.be/TcLSTf9BD3E

Chicago designer Michelle Strassburger has been collecting since the mid-eighties and has amassed collections-of-collections of outsider art, musical instruments, dolls, furniture, crosses and figurative, still life and plein air paintings – 3000 pieces, at least. She sees the Palette & Chisel as the place to find emerging artists and has several pieces by PAPC artists represented. She describes what inspires her, her process for going through exhibits and choosing paintings, and what she plans for the future of her collection. Mary Longe interviews Michelle Strassburger in her Chicago home.

Samantha Michalski https://youtu.be/hHo9cHQ1-h4

A prize for winning best in show at the Cedarburg Plein Air Festival is to have your painting purchased by the Cedarburg Art Museum. The organization’s mission reflects its connection to the community and surrounding areas. Museum Director, Samantha Michalski reflects on the role of museums, and their connection to the community and to artists. She explains why the CAM and other regional museums are partial to plein air paintings. Mary Longe talks with Samantha Michalski via Zoom.

Rick Reinert https://youtu.be/1ScPAq3zpzw

Rick and Ann Reinert founded Reinert Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden, Charleston, SC, and they understand artists, and after years as a gallery owner they understand the people who purchase art. In this conversation, Rick helps us understand the role and the opportunity of a gallery for an artist. He explains what artists should do if they’d like to be represented, the opportunity for them, and the responsibilities in the relationship between artist and gallery. Reinert Fine Art Gallery represents locals, Errol Jacobson, Mary Qian, and William Schneider. Mary Longe talks with Rick Reinert via Zoom.

Barbara Van Driel https://youtu.be/cR_KO97w3i8

Barbara Van Driel’s three residences have different genres of art. What they share is her love for hanging multiple pieces from masters in the genres. In Chicago, her home has more than twenty paintings by PAPC Master Artist, Nancy King Mertz. Barbara tells us why she collects in that fashion, her relationship to the artists, and to the art. Mary Longe interviews Barbara Van Driel in her Chicago home.

Canice Prendergast https://youtu.be/JaYLZV3YWEw

Canice Prendergast manages acquisitions of art work for the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business along with a team of students, faculty and alums. Here he brings his experience with the global art market and his expertise as an economics professor to explain how and why the UC acquires items for its collection. You;ll be surprised by some responses. Mary Longe talks with Canice Prendergast via Zoom.

Jose Santillan https://youtu.be/0Ul0xgpi_lE

Jose Santillan has favorite types of art and favorite artists but likes to find new ones. He establishes an annual budget and sometimes buys a painting from a recognized artist or decides it’s the year for serendipitous buying. He tells us what moves him to make purchases. Mary Longe talks with Jose Santillan via Zoom.

Elizabeth Murphy https://youtu.be/3Iv1oaLymCk

Collecting Art: Buying Plein Air Online, A Conversation with Elizabeth Murphy, Chicago, IL Beth Murphy combs the internet for art and buys from all over the world. She wanders through craft and fine art fairs, and even renaissance festivals searching out emerging artists. She rarely pays more than $100 and has more paintings than she can frame or hang. She knows what she likes, what’s worth the money, and tells us why. Mary Longe talks with Beth Murphy via Zoom.

The Gangster, the Guest Artist and the Couple Who Cleaned Up

This is Jazzy. She used my sketchbook to draw a statue across the street in Humbolt Park. My deal with my "Guest Artists" is that I get to keep the picture and they may draw in my book while I paint. Parents are invited to take a photo of the Guest Artist with their art. None have refused. As the daughter and mother walked away, Jazzy decided she didn’t like the deal, turned back to me and wanted the book. I told her I needed it. She surprisingly didn’t negotiate and they went on their way.. 

She and her mom arrived just after Jose left. Jose stood and visited with me for more than two hours… that’s long for the usual plein air bystander. He seemed fascinated with the painting process, asked good questions, made comments about the composition and showed me his bullet wounds from a gang fight, that he apparently lost. Painter friends stopped by while he was there and he’d step back while we chatted and stepped closer when they left. Later, I learned that they thought he and I were friends. I suppose we were- for a few minutes. As I finished the painting, I offered it to him. He said, “No, I’m good.” A bit of a blow.

Just as I packed the last bit of equipment in my backpack, a couple stopped and asked to see the painting I'd done. Lucky me. They love art, said that they hadn’t bought anything local since moving to Chicago three years ago, and purchased my painting. 

It was a rich and interesting day to paint.