Art for the Soul

I have a blog called Art for the Soul and yet today I saw an awesome example of why the arts are more than dabs of oil, acrylic, watercolor on canvas, art paper, wood or any flat surface. The Plein Air Painters of Springfield/Eugene and a few other communities in the area came together to help draw and draw attention of a Creswell community project called "Save the Schoolhouse."

This is the schoolhouse some of us in Creswell are trying to save.

The schoolhouse is the oldest building in Creswell and was built in 1872. Across 2nd street is the newest business in Creswell and it's Heidi Tunnell Catering that opened as the painters were leaving for the day.


Both "The Creswell Chronicle" and Eugene's "Register Guard" came so I am hoping for a good story in both for the Schoolhouse project and especially for the artists that came for the paintout today. ~Update Rebecca Wollington of the Register Guard wrote a great story published today (Thursday October 8) about the paintout - Thanks Rebecca for your diligence in gathering the information, great story. [Click here for the link]


The painters are all really interesting, talented and extremely active. Perhaps the the most active today was Jacki Lukowski. After she had finished she walked around talking with and encouraging the other artists.


One of my all-time favorites is Sarkis Antikajian a good man who never hesitates to give his time teaching others.


The schoolhouse originally was two stories tall and after the fire that burned the second floor was repaired with only one floor.



The building was a library, school, meeting house and a church at one time or another.


I enjoyed watching all the artists work and the variety of styles .


Steve Cooley had a bold and bright style I really, really liked.


Ron Gillilian softer and beautifully stylized.


The artists are part of the Plein Air group that is defined by their painting on-site rather than in a studio. This is Ron in the foreground and Vern Wright closer to the building.


This is my friend Renee Manford who first introduced me to the Plein Air group.


On the porch in front of the door is a print of a Paul Bourgault who painted the building a few years ago and thay used as the logo for the civic group that used to meet here...


... and here is Paul painting again.


Steve Cooley is an award winning artist being interviewed by Helen Hollyer Owner and Editor of our great local weekly newspaper called "The Creswell Chronicle."


I was over on "D" street talking with Brooks Hickerson who scheduled the paintout in Creswell when a great old car drove by us. I quickly shot this picture with Paul and Jacki talking in front of the schoolhouse. I looked at this picture and realized the building is older that the age of the car by probably 50 to 60 years.


The paintings were all getting close to completion and Renee's was looking great.


My favorite picture today was this one of Victoria showing her painting and her great smile.


Then there is Bets Cole who, like Paul came all the way from Elmira for the paintout. Actually Bets came from Corvallis where she was painting there in the morning.


One of the painters, I think Shirley, came all the way from Creswell (that's a joke but it is the truth) had brought a basket of fresh veggies that looked so great I even photographed that.


Bets is what you call an independent woman who dances to the beat of a different drummer painting the schoolhouse from the rear of the building. I got a peek at the painting and it is very special.


Thanks for coming Bets,Victoria,

Steve, Ron, Shirley and Shirley,


Paul, Susan, Sarkis,

Vern , Renee, Jacki, anyone I may have missed (let me know and I'll correct my lack of reporting skills) ...

Picture courtesy of Hellen Hollyer "The Creswell Chronicle"

... especially Brooks Hickerson for the kindness and talents of the participants today. Oh! there will be a show of the art at the Creswell Library starting November 16 and staying on display until December 19.

Scrabble Score ~ Scrabble Queen 3 million and 2 - The Contender 104

Quote of the Day ~

"The effect of sincerity is to give one's work the character of a protest. The painter being concerned only with conveying his impression, simply seeks to be himself and no one else." ~ Claude Monet