MAKING MY WAY AS AN ARTIST – in the 1970s

The creative process in all its many forms is the key to emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing….

After my successful solo exhibition at the Chester County Arts Association (1976),….I was invited to exhibit in several different galleries and ended up in some important collections. My animal paintings sold very well. For the most part they were watercolours, interspersed with large oil paintings.

I then exhibited at the Philadelphia Zoo and produced the above poster for fund raising purposes for a new ‘big cat enclosure’. (The only commercial printing on offer at that time was ‘offset lithography’ – expensive and often hard for artists to market) however because this poster was sponsored by the Philadelphia Zoo and International Cat Association, the signed edition of 1000 sold out very quickly. Today we have the luxury ond ability of printing to order….

My late Mother sitting in front of one of my large watercolour leopard paintings in the USA

As stated in my last post – This was a new beginning for me….and so I had yet to find my own style or indeed direction..….I can attest that this takes much time, focus and patience.

To begin with I used the animals as my ‘jumping off point’ – to learn all about watercolour.

Now fifty years hence, I am always pleased when someone says they recognise my work. My style has changed dramatically over the years – plus I had to make my living as an artist and so did not always have the luxury of painting what I wanted to paint. However every painting is part of the artist’s journey and through each and every painting we learn..

It’s important NOT to judge an artist on one painting or exhibition…. I believe that Intelligent judgement can only come when we see where the artist has come from – in other words what their journey as an artist has been..

Along with animals I started to sketch and paint portraits. In 1977 a beautiful young actress from Paris, France came to live with us in the States, Claudia Nottale.– She was seventeen when I painted this small oil on canvas. It was to be the first of many more portraits of Claudia over the years.

This picture was taken when Claudia visited me this past September….In my Hampton flat we continue to be very close.

A charcoal sketch of Claudia.

My children, Jarrod and Christie, were with me throughout….I often painted with Christie strapped to me in a papoose. Because there is almost nine years between the children…in those early days, Jarrod would be at school and Christie would be with me in the studio.

During this time I met people who would become life long friends although sadly many are now dead….

Dear Jack and Jane Lukas….although gone they will always be part of my life…and through them I became close to the Kearnsclan.…who I consider to be like a family.

and then of. course my dearest Uncle Sammy who died a year go…..

In my next post I will talk about dealing with galleries and the frustrations of marketing ones own work and how different the art world is today than when I started out fifty years ago.

I leave you with the following from my book THE APPLE EXERCISE….

‘It takes 28 days to form a habit……

Throughout my many years of painting and teaching, I have heard over and over again the frustration of those who would like to explore their creativity, but who always seem. to find that life gets in the way.

I came up with the ‘apple exercise’ 35 years ago because in principle it is very simple and effective. If followed, three positive changes will occur.

One, a new habit will be formed, which will bring consistency to work. Secondly, by practising a little every day, observational and technical skills will improve, and thirdly, participants will begin to ‘see’ the apple in many different ways.

Janet.

I

MAKING MY WAY AS AN ARTIST – in the 1970s

The creative process in all its many forms is the key to emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing….

After my successful solo exhibition at the Chester County Arts Association (1976),….I was invited to exhibit in several different galleries and ended up in some important collections. My animal paintings sold very well. For the most part they were watercolours, interspersed with large oil paintings.

I then exhibited at the Philadelphia Zoo and produced the above poster for fund raising purposes for a new ‘big cat enclosure’. (The only commercial printing on offer at that time was ‘offset lithography’ – expensive and often hard for artists to market) however because this poster was sponsored by the Philadelphia Zoo and International Cat Association, the signed edition of 1000 sold out very quickly. Today we have the luxury ond ability of printing to order….

My late Mother sitting in front of one of my large watercolour leopard paintings in the USA

As stated in my last post – This was a new beginning for me….and so I had yet to find my own style or indeed direction..….I can attest that this takes much time, focus and patience.

To begin with I used the animals as my ‘jumping off point’ – to learn all about watercolour.

Now fifty years hence, I am always pleased when someone says they recognise my work. My style has changed dramatically over the years – plus I had to make my living as an artist and so did not always have the luxury of painting what I wanted to paint. However every painting is part of the artist’s journey and through each and every painting we learn..

It’s important NOT to judge an artist on one painting or exhibition…. I believe that Intelligent judgement can only come when we see where the artist has come from – in other words what their journey as an artist has been..

Along with animals I started to sketch and paint portraits. In 1977 a beautiful young actress from Paris, France came to live with us in the States, Claudia Nottale.– She was seventeen when I painted this small oil on canvas. It was to be the first of many more portraits of Claudia over the years.

This picture was taken when Claudia visited me this past September….In my Hampton flat we continue to be very close.

A charcoal sketch of Claudia.

My children, Jarrod and Christie, were with me throughout….I often painted with Christie strapped to me in a papoose. Because there is almost nine years between the children…in those early days, Jarrod would be at school and Christie would be with me in the studio.

During this time I met people who would become life long friends although sadly many are now dead….

Dear Jack and Jane Lukas….although gone they will always be part of my life…and through them I became close to the Kearnsclan.…who I consider to be like a family.

and then of. course my dearest Uncle Sammy who died a year go…..

In my next post I will talk about dealing with galleries and the frustrations of marketing ones own work and how different the art world is today than when I started out fifty years ago.

I leave you with the following from my book THE APPLE EXERCISE….

‘It takes 28 days to form a habit……

Throughout my many years of painting and teaching, I have heard over and over again the frustration of those who would like to explore their creativity, but who always seem. to find that life gets in the way.

I came up with the ‘apple exercise’ 35 years ago because in principle it is very simple and effective. If followed, three positive changes will occur.

One, a new habit will be formed, which will bring consistency to work. Secondly, by practising a little every day, observational and technical skills will improve, and thirdly, participants will begin to ‘see’ the apple in many different ways.

Janet.

I

Beginning my career as an artist………1974

In 1974, I quickly realised that Chester County was the home of the Brandywine School of art...all very new to me.

Other than the Wyeth family who lived in Chadds Ford (seven miles away) I knew nothing about The Brandywine Tradition.

Andrew Wyeth (1917 – 2009} was one of America’s best known 20th century artists.

Smokehouse, Andrew Wyeth, watercolour.

I wrote on an earlier blog about sitting next to Andrew Wyeth’s famous painting, Christina’s World propped up against a wall at the Coe Kerr Gallery in New York! It was my first introduction to the Wyeths and the Brandywine School of Art.

On that occasion I met Nicholas Wyeth (son of Andrew) (Nicholas well known for his model airplanes displayed at the 21 Club in New York}. Little did I know that shortly after this occasion I would be married to Bill Reed and living in Chester County, smack bang in the middle of it all!

I had been invited to the opening at Coe Kerr Gallery because Freddie Woolworth (the owner) was a Wall Street client. As I write this, and search my memory…..I realise just how many sign posts there were and how important It is to observe and keep note of them.

There was another Wyeth incident which could very well have gone unnoticed.

Jarrod and I were staying with friends in Flat Rock North Carolina. This was when I was still working on Wall Street. My host, was the first person to introduce me to hummingbirds – and at the same time she gave me a beautiful book on the works of Andrew Wyeth! It wasn’t until much later that I realised that this incident was one of many that were sign posting me in a certain direction.

My first hummingbird sighting – Flat Rock, North Carolina.

Meeting Anne Buffington and her two daughters at the Westtown School Lake was also important. Anne’s daughter Kendle Buffington and my son Jarrod were only six at the time – eventually to become partners in life.

Anne Buffington introduced me to Chester County artist – Ray DiJohn.….who gave lessons from his studio….I signed up and attended… It was during this time that I fell in love with watercolour.

For those finding their way as artists it’s important to note that I had no interest in being one of the many Brandywine tradition copyists, however Ray taught me watercolour techniques which I still use to this day. Always keep an. open mind.

Anyone who has attended one of my courses will know that I never use black and that Prussian Blue/Burnt Sienna mix is very much part of my box of tricks – something that Ray passed onto me.

Another important person was Dee Stahl... a wonderful woman full of life and interested in everything. She knew someone on the Philadelphia Main Line who had a smart boutique occasionally showing new artists work. I jumped at it.. It gave me a focus.

Given that I had no particular direction at that time, rather just painting anything and everything that interested me…I had turned to one of my great loves…‘animals’ As I would say to students today….they were my ‘jumping off point’.

This leopard in tree…watercolour was typical of the work I was doing at that time.

Then, bingo….I was picked up by Newman Galleries in Philadelphia and invited to have a solo exhibition at The Chester County Arts Association…..where I had hoped to connect with other local artists…..

I will finish this post with a couple of personal photographs from that time.

Bill, Me, Jarrod and two of our dogs, Puppy and Biscuit……before Christie was born…

After Christie was born………….

The most important thing is to practise practise practise and PLAY PLAY PLAY……………..and try to work at the same time each day. Build good habits

and always keep an open mind……

Next post….so many big lessons to be learned…..

THE WEDDING….

During my panic last week when WordPress wasn’t working, I forgot to post The Wedding…!

In my post yesterday, I referred to The Beehive...where Bill and I lived for a while and where we were married on a Tuesday afternoon in August 1972…… Bill and I had both been married before and so it was a wonderfully informal affair.

Lots of family and friends attended and Jarrod was our best man…

The vicar/minister from Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church presided over the ceremony with cows joining in at the post and rail fence.:)

Jarrod as best man –

Everything made for a perfect day. Beautiful weather, wonderful company and a sense of real celebration.

I see today that people spend fortunes on weddings….for me simple is always the best…

My Father and Mother in the foreground with Bill’s parents

Now I can continue with how I began my art career in 1974………

The Next Chapter…living and working in Chester County.

It’s 1973 – Bill and I are now married and Jarrod is enrolled into Westtown School.

At this time we were still living at the Beehive on S. Concord Road….when the Arab oil embargo hit in retaliation for support of Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The embargo was lifted in March of 1974 – and around and around we go………..!

As lovely as the Beehive was – it was not a practical house for a young family and getting more and more expensive to heat and so we moved one mile down the road to Westtown where we bought a family home. Christie was yet to be born, but we anticipated at least one more child. For us life was good.

This was when I began to pick up my paint brushes again….

My first works were inspired by the beautiful flowers in the hedgerows where Bill and I walked every day – I particularly loved the thistles….

Rachel Carson’s book ‘Silent Spring’ was first published in 1962….with warnings that we should all have headed back then…. However, at that point to the untrained eye, everything seemed to. be fine……..but of course it wasn’t !

At the same time I got a job at the The Elwyn Institute in Media, working for Dr. Rosen who then headed a department for autistic children. I thoroughly enjoyed this short but rich experience.

In the spring of 1975 our daughter, Christie was born at The Chester County Hospital …..Here we are together in Maine.

Other than sketching, I hadn’t really painted much since leaving Rochester art college in 1964 – and so when I picked up the brushes again it felt both strange and exhilarating. Most of all it felt right….like coming home.

To begin with I didn’t have a formal studio…..however, I was fortunate enough to have a room where I could paint whilst looking after the children and our fast growing menagerie:)

Dear lovely Kate with her cousin Christie. Kate and Christie continue to be very close.

Me in the garden at Westtown….such happy memories.

I have to say that writing about my experiences from 1966 until 1972 when I met Bill has not been easy….It has brought up so many things that I had put to rest…..plus there is so much more to say…………..

It’s now time to begin writing about my life as an artist – which I hope will help many others who are making there way in the art world. That starts in the next post.

A very happy moment…Jarrod, Christie with Mary and Chris Liberace.

When I look at these pictures and read about this time, I realise how rapidly life passes us by…It is a huge reminder to make the most of every single day…and to love our families, friends and the natural world.

A little bit of tranqulity……

I have been having trouble with my wordpress account – I think I might have sorted it out….but not sure.

Anyway I am going to try posting to see what happens. Please bear with me. …..

A very large oil on canvas depicting for me peace and tranquility…something we can all do with. This is part of my Quilt Series.

As I was saying to someone the other day – it takes a lot to rattle me, but techie issues can and do!

Not one to use age as an excuse, I have to admit that at 78 things are a little slower….and on top of that I am dyslexic.

When I was growing up, no one had even heard of the word ‘dyslexic’ but there is no question that I am…which does explain an awful lot.

I am surrounding myself with magical hummingbirds….:)

watercolour/gouache.

EASTER VISITORS….AND THEN BACK TO MY BLOG….

I have had wonderful visitors from South Dakota….and we had a blast…..

With my dear friend the artist Bonnie Dutton from Spearfish South Dakota.

Bonnie and I have been friends for 35 years. On this visit she came with another friend Angie Anderson also of Spearfish South Dakota and an absolute delight.

They stayed in the Jolly Coopers Pub in Hampton – which now offers very lovely B & B accommodation. I highly recommend.

Bonnie and Angie in the courtyard at the Jolly Coopers…

Bonnie brought me a beautiful pendant from S. Dakota made from Black Hills Gold.…and Angie brought me some Bison Medallions.….hence the look of surprise on my face……..

We had a wonderful evening at the HUB. http://www.theinspiredhub.co.uk…Bonnie knows some people from previous visits to Hampton and others she had met at the school in Portugal….what a fun event. http://www.theinspiredhub.co.uk

Topped off with fantastic music from the Alter Eagles tribute band……at the HUB.

even the weather was pretty good. Very little rain and sunshine…wow.

And now onto Easter.

From a few years back….a group of friends who we used to get together with for fun occasions. Every year we had an Easter Bonnet party…..

On Fifth Avenue New York with the Easter Bunny, Cyma Horowitz and Jarrod Reed.

I hope everyone enjoys a lovely weekend….

I will be back after Easter to resume my history on this blog.

TRANSFERRING TO PHILADELPHIA OFFICE where I FELL IN LOVE !

Paul judge and I had much in common. We were both English and from similar backgrounds. .Back in those days there weren’t many Brits and Europeans in the States and so it was nice for me to be with a fellow Brit especially as my plans were still to return to the UK with Jarrod in time for him to start school. My parents were expecting us…..it was all arranged.

Jarrod when he was almost three years old.

Paul asked me to marry him after he graduated from Wharton Business School.

Time wise this fit in perfectly with our returning to the UK. Meanwhile we rented a flat on the University of Pennsylvania campus. From there it was a short bus commute to the White, Weld offices. Jarrod’s little nursery school was a short walk away. .

We would often stop at this little playground our way to his school.

The Philadelphia WW offices were smaller and the trading desk had a very different feel from New York – shall we say not quite so flamboyant!. I knew several of the people that worked there because they had visited the New York offices for training purposes.

Sitting next to me on the trading desk was a man called Bill Reed….It turned out that he was going through a very difficult divorce and so Paul and I would invite him to some of our weekend parties at the university. We all got on very well.

Living on campus was fun. Jim Poffley (who I’d met in the Poconos with Paul) became a very good friend and once again he and I have continued to stay good friends

There was the wonderful La Terrace – and Smokey Joes. There were films and much music….visits from the likes of Jane Fonda, Bob Dylan and because most of Paul’s friends were Thouron Scholars….lots of Europeans and other foreign nationals..

This was also the time of the terrible Vietnam war…. Paul and I were involved in protests as were many of our friends. Oh how I hate war…..

It was a very interesting time but I had no idea where it was taking me…..other than back to the UK. I had already been offered a job with White, Weld in London, and Jarrod’s school was waiting for him. Paul had been offered a position with Cadbury Schweppes….

Meanwhile, Bill Reed and I were getting to know one another. I liked him very much, and we quickly realised that we had the same sense of humour – which is very important:)

One Friday Bill and I were scheduled to meet a mutual client in a Philadelphia restaurant. Shortly before we were to meet the client cancelled!

Given that I had a babysitter lined up Bill suggested that we meet up for a drink anyway….

I remember so clearly that Bill had a couple of martinis and I had a couple of whiskey sours. ( in hindsight – Dutch Courage) …….and then Bill asked me if I was really going back to the UK……..

He then said, I don’t want you to go back. I want you to stay here and marry me.!

Once again the hummingbirds were working way overtime…….

I suppose it is true to say that there had been a strong connection between us from the moment we met. . I don’t think I had ever felt more comfortable with another man….but given that I was scheduled to return to the UK with Paul…I didn’t want to acknowledg this.

I had in fact met the love of my life….

My next posts will be about marrying Bill, with pictures of our wedding – along with an outline of our lives together

Bill adopted Jarrod and the birth of Christie came in 1975. Back then a husband and wife could not work for the same investment banking firm…which was fine by me, because it meant that I could get back to my painting and I did.

Next chapter -Moving to Chester County and marrying Bill…..

THE INTERVIEW…..

After leaving the Staten Island Ferry Terminal I made my way to the 8th floor of number 1 Wall Street to the offices of White, Weld & Co.

With paper ticker tape wizzing around the walls along with lots of shouting from noisy traders I had entered a world the likes of which I had not encountered before. It was 1968 and I was 22 years old.

I was ushered into a glass cubicle where I met for the first time Sandy Lewis…(Salim Bonner Lewis). (I painted this watercolour of Sandy many years later). it captures the intensity of his being. The interview was for the post of Gal Friday…..something I had never heard of before!

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“Can you make coffee” he asked along with a few other banal questions…and then he asked me “Did I know what a WASP was? My response was a flying insect…..and he said If you don’t know a WASP is a White Anglo Saxon Protestant….you are hired! He then went onto elaborate saying, his father was Jewish and his Mother a WASP – and he had a real hang up about it…….

That was my introduction to Sandy Lewis and Wall Street. The hummingbirds were working overtime…..:)

I.commuted back and forth to work via The Staten Island Ferry. I watched as the Twin Towers were being built….None of us having any idea that they would be blown up in a terrorist attack years later.

I met one of my life long friends on the ferry Carol Peterson….Jarrod and I would often spend laughter filled weekends with Carol and her family at the Jersey Shore…

sandy Lewis was the son of Cy Lewis of Bear Stearns. Like his father at Bear Stearns Sandy was to start a new ‘block stock trading department’ at White Weld.

When I arrived the trading desk had yet to be built and so I was at the beginning of something exciting and new.

I remember being asked if I could type…..and I said “NO”. I was already savvy enough to know that if I said yes I would most likely get pigeon holed as a secretary and I didn’t want that…

Because I was hired as Sandy’s Gal Friday and because the new trading desk had yet to be built, I was asked to do things that I would not otherwise have done…..i.e. talk to the brokers on the American and New York stock exchange floors…..Take and give quotes during market hours. It was exciting and I took to it like a fish to water.

There were twelve positions on the trading desk….This was mine….

During my first year I was asked if I would take the Registered Representative examination.…which in essence would allow me to place and take orders. I passed with flying colours…At that time I had a very young agile brain…..not clouded, I might add, by iPhones, and social media….

And so for the next four years I worked on the White, Weld block stock trading desk in New York. What an experience…one I am very glad I had and also one that taught me that I had no desire to be involved with business or work in an office – sentiments I still hold.

Sandy Lewis and his wife Barbara became good friends…. When I am visiting my daughter Christie in Boston we drive up to see them on their farm in Essex County New York… Always much fun and never a dull moment,.:). Anyone who has met Sandy will know that he is indeed a ‘one off’….an amazing individual. who I am very fond of. Sandy just celebrated his 85th and I my 78th….Barbara, another wonderful human being and superb photographer never ages and might be one of the most patient people I know…..

A lovely picture of Sandy and Barbara on the farm…..

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I made several good friends on Wall Street…one being Wilhamina Eaton (Willie Eaton). Quite often she would invite Jarrod and me to her home in the Pocono `mountains. I would take Jarrod to work on a Friday and then Willie would drive us to the Poconos for the weekend

On one snowy weekend the three of us were invited to a skating party.

It was here I met another life friend Jim Poffley and a young English man my age (something that didn’t happen very often). We had a fantastic weekend…skating, cross country skiing and making snow angels.

That young English man’s name was Paul Judge – He was on a Thouron Scholarship from Cambridge University studying at the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Which leads me to my next post Transferring to the White, Weld Philadelphia Office…

Watercolour of Paul judge….painted years late in London.

Once again….none of us is ever creative enough to know how things will actually work out……and once again I learn that everything in life is interconnected.

Here I am with Sandy and Barbara on the farm in Essex County New York…..

I post images on my Facebook page most days. Janet Weight Reed

NEXT STOP STATEN ISLAND NEW YORK……1967….

This photograph was taken in one of those photo booths, prevalent back then. I remember the moment very clearly on Las Old Boulevard, Ft. Lauderdale. . I was twenty and Jarrod a few months old.

When still living in Fort Lauderdale I would take Jarrod to the beach every day for an hour or two. I would chat with a group of ‘snow birds’ retirees who came to Florida during the winter months. One of them was a retired detective from Brooklyn (Mr. Shea). A lovely man who had grown children and grandchildren living on Staten Island.

Because there were very few babies in or around Ft. Lauderdale at that time, Jarrod became quite an attraction.

Mr. Shea said that as a young family we might be better off in the New York area…and suggested we try Staten Island where his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren lived.

Jarrod’s first passport photograph…..

We drove all the way to Staten Island, New York in a big old second hand Chevy Impala……..about 1,257 miles.

The poverty and segregation I witnessed in the south continued to shock me.

The Vietnam war was in full throttle…something I would learn much more about later.

One outstanding moment for me was crossing the Swanee River. In the UK at that time Paul Robeson who sang Way Down Upon the Swanee River in his beautiful bass baritone voice was much appreciated…and so I had all sorts of romantic notions about the place!

Other than stopping for food and water we drove straight through. You would have to be young, and stupid to do this especially with a young baby. My biggest concern of course was Jarrod who under the circumstances was wonderful, sleeping for much of the way.

It’s interesting how our memories work. I can see snippets of that journey in my mind’s eye. I remember a huge rain storm somewhere south of Washington DC… and that it was definitely getting colder.

I think the magical hummingbirds must have been watching over us way before I was really familiar with the little gems:). I always felt as if we were being looked after.

I remember very clearly arriving on Staten Island and finding the address that Mr. Shea has given us. Upon arrival his son and daughter-in-law welcomed us with open arms…and it was through them that many good things started to happen. One of many acts of kindness and generosity I was to encounter

They introduced us to a wonderful Italian woman and her family. Marie was available for babysitting and knew many people on the Island. Marie and her husband Bob had four children of their own. First things first she took me to meet Mimi Kolff who had a cottage for rent on her property….just a short walk away.

Mimii Kolff in her garden at Harbour View Place where we rented a cottage.

Having arrived on Staten Island January 1968 – this picture shows the three of us in front of Mimi’s house during the spring of 1968. It is the last picture I have of the three of us together.

In the rented cottage just down the hill from Mimi’s this picture shows us celebrating one of Jarrod’s birthdays. Marie is there with her three children……Such a memory.

Harbor View Place didn’t feel like New York. Surrounded by trees with a beautiful lily pond close by it felt more like the countryside. At the end of the road we looked out onto the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan. The perfect place to watch all the boats and harbour traffic.

Originally Harbour View Place had been developed by Mimi’s father Cornelius Kolff. One of the Staten Island Ferries is named after him.

An interesting side line and proving how small our world is. (much smaller back then)…Mimi’s niece Sylvia lived close to my parents in Kent, England and they knew one another….pure coincidence.

Through her connections Mimi got me an interview for a job at White Weld & co as a ‘Gal Friday’…… Here I am on the trading desk.

The equipment you see on this desk was state of the art at that time…..

This was way before the technology we have today……

White, Weld & Co. was the company I worked for…….

It was during this period that my husband disappeared.. He wasn’t seen again until Jarrod was 27 years old. !

My parents came to the States at this time to suggest that we return home to the UK, but Mimi assured them that I would be fine and so we made a compromise. I would return when Jarrod was ready to begin school in England. …

My parents hadn’t liked my first husband from day one and so were not surprised that it had come to this. I suppose the moral to this story is to listen to our parents……

My next post will be entitled THE INTERVIEW……. where I will talk about my job and how I ended up on a trading desk working for one of the more interesting people on Wall Street.

More magical hummingbirds…….

My blog is entitled ‘My Life As an Artist’ and so it’s important to emphasise that although I had to take time out (five years in total) to make money on Wall Street…I never stopped thinking about, or making art.

All will. be revealed………

Every day I post pictures on my Facebook page…Janet Weight Reed.