Cleo's Corner on painting, community and poetry (2.03.10)

By: Cleo Robertson

The Painting Experience
I spent the last three days in Winter Park, Florida at the San Pedro Retreat Center enjoying The Painting Experience with Stewart Cubley. I went on the advice of my friend, Sara Harned, who has gone many times and thought I would enjoy it. She was so right. Actually, at first I thought I had made a mistake in going. First of all, I’m not a painter (unless of houses, of course). Second, I’m not even close to a painter. But…acting on a whim, I signed up and must say I am glad I did. You can go to the website http://processarts.com/ or Google Stewart Cubley and see what this workshop is all about.

There were two main learning experiences for me at this workshop. The first was that it was not about painting, it was about expressing on paper with color the feelings that arise inside oneself as you hold the brush. Here’s an example: I painted the following painting in two stages: the first was very controlled and rigid, much like my Virgo soul; the second was loose and fun and full of energy. What changed my feelings? Stewart came around to me as I was looking sadly at the first rendition and he said, “So what doesn’t feel right about it?” I laughed and said, “It’s so RIGID. I want to loosen it up!” He said, “So find a way to do that.” And I did. I took a large brush, wet it lightly and started passing it back and forth over all my rigid lines and magic happened. It went from being a cold glob of color to a happy, colorful moving piece of energy.

The second part of my wonderful experience was the nature all around me in the San Pedro Retreat Center. I stayed in a cottage near a lake and the video you'll find below shows what diversity there was. I even saw an armadillo running around looking for food. At one point I was at the lake videoing a pair of large birds I didn’t recognize as they flew around the edge of the lake. Suddenly…well, watch the video and you will see what happened. The birds you will see are called Limpkins and they are very territorial and noisy.

Click the photo on the left to view a slideshow of photos from the Painting Experience.

What community looks like
Walking around St. Pete Beach is always fun for me. I see people I know, meet new ones I don’t, and notice all kinds of things that I didn’t see the day before! Here’s an example: I was walking on Gulf Way in Pass-a-Grille and happened to notice a note on the side of a house.

I couldn’t see it real well so I got out my camera and zoomed in and you can see what it said - "Love to you!" Waldo Jones happens to live in this house so I asked her what it was all about. Seems that her neighbor on the 5th floor of the condo across from her is having a lot of health problems and she just wanted them to know they were thought of. That’s community.

Here’s another example: I’m in line at the Paradise Grille and have just paid for my lunch. I walk over to get silverware and I hear the next person in line say, “Oh, wait, I don’t have enough money for that.” Immediately a male voice behind said, “No problem, got ya covered.” That’s community.

And one more: I just read a card that said the Shell Key Shuttle at Merry Pier in Pass-a-Grille is allowing us to take our dogs on a sunset cruise. Now that’s community. Reservations are required so call them at 727-360-1348 and make your reservations. Click the photo to the right to view the flyer.

Poems to please the soul
My friend, April, cleaned out her storage shed and left a box for me to go through. In it I found a very small book of poems by James L. Harter, Sr. I just looked it up on Amazon and it is available for under $5. This is a sad statement when you consider the quality of these poems. I have chosen one for you to enjoy:

        Faces

People young and people old,
   people timid, people bold,
   people weak, people strong,
   people right, people wrong;
      all do show upon their faces
      what they think in many places.

Painting by Enrique Bascone

One can see upon each face
   thoughts of fear, distress, disgrace,
   worry, hate, and even badness
   pleasure, hope and surely gladness.

 

But tho’ these verses seem quite floral,
   nevertheless here is the moral:

 

   You cannot hide away those thoughts
      that should not leave a single trace.
   Because no matter where you are
      they’ll always be there on your face.

Mr. Harter, I have never heard it said better. Thanks.

Stay warm, enjoy the nature that is all around us and remember to breathe, relax, spend some time alone…it is never too late to discover that it is in the silence where grace lives.

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