Deux

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I’ve always had an affinity for the number two, not least of all because I was born in February, the second month.

So, yesterday, Key and I went to (yet another) NW3 trial (20th, but who is counting…) While I’m not normally one for “feelings”, I had a good feeling about this trial from the moment we got in. To hedge my bets, I decided to wear my “lucky” shirt (worn a couple weeks ago for the Vehicle 3 title). At this point, I think it’s fair to say that any sign of rationality has left the building. I just want to pass!

Key rocked it, and I stayed pretty relaxed. And guess what? We passed! Well, technically, we missed one hide, so we qualified. But I already had another “leg”, so at the end of the day we took home our second NW3 title, a second place in Exterior searches, and a second place overall!

If we can pull it together for a third time, we’ll get a NW3 Elite title and move up to Elite trials. We’ll never be able to get into the trials (demand far outpaces supply), but at least we’ll be able to work on points not perfection!

In other two-related news, last week I booked a trip to Paris this fall. That’s item #2 of my bucket list (own a dog, own a horse, and go to Paris.) Alright, it’s a stretch to related it to two, but how else will I tie this post together?

Suggestion

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As I have mentioned, recently I got a new computer. While I am still futzing around with all the various things, one thing that I have done is set up my desktop background so that a different photo folder is scrolled through each day. I’ve been trying to use the experience as a prompt to delete out-of-focus or otherwise poor photos. But I’ve also been finding inspiration from some fairly old photos.

For example, this photo was taken in 2013 at Emerald Downs.

When the photo initially came up, I didn’t really notice it. But as I was fooling around with folders, and various things got obscured, I started to notice more details.

I love the line of the neck and curve of the off fore.

I printed out a copy, and sat down Saturday afternoon to create a few “what ifs”.

Start

It was a difficult week on the work front, so much so that I took Friday off as a sick day. I honestly didn’t feel well; I hadn’t slept well, I had a headache, and my tummy hurt. After calling in, I went back to bed and didn’t emerge until after ten in the morning. I moped around the rest of the day, eventually getting groceries, but basically just sitting on the couch and watching YouTube videos.

Saturday I was determined to be more energetic, and I had just the project to get me going–a new tree. My neighbor decided she didn’t want a young little fruit tree in her yard and I carried it home. I think it might be a crabapple. Fingers crossed. Unfortunately, installing it meant digging up (and seperating) a HUGE sword fern. The whole project took me around two hours, and not all the ferns are replanted.

All this is to say that by the time I sat down at my easel, I was physically tired on top of mental fatigue from the week. I decided to start out with something simple, a charcoal sketch.

Charcoal

Middle

As you can see, I have trouble getting everything in proportion and on the page. But I liked the above, so I wetted it down and rubbed it onto a page of watercolor paper. The transfer wasn’t very good, but that was fine. I was trying to work with the suggestion of a horse, not the details.

I did get the feet on this painting, but now my camera skills are at fault. Sigh.

End?

I really like the leg and shape of the head in the painting above. But I feel like I wasn’t daring enough as far as adding only the essential parts and leaving the rest to the imagination.

I added color and some marks to the painting, more to see what might work in a future version than actual hope of rescuing the painting.

The piece I have in mind is called “Emerge.” This is not it; I’ll redo the painting at least one more time, trying to get more abstract (like I did with “Transition”, below.)

“Transition” (2020) – 11″ x 15″ watercolor on paper

Tomorrow will be my usual routine of nosework and food prep. I’m trying to keep it simple, because it promises to be another eventful week at work.

Again.

Repair

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This weekend I had a lengthy list of various tasks and repairs to finish. I think a lot of people start out their weekends like this. The hardware stores and plant nurseries are certainly busier! Unfortunately, between my “I-don’t-have-a-honey-so-I-do” list and an expectedly prolonged period of goofing off, I have no paintings to show this week. As I am assuming my home projects, no matter how impressive, won’t be very entertaining, I guess I’ll tell you about the Northern Pygmy-Owl adventure (does the name give the ending away?)

I do not have “traditional” television. In the evenings I watch a combination of YouTube videos, PBS streaming, and a few movies on Tubi. (Note: I used to have Netflix, but was fascinated to learn that the last time they raised the monthly cost, I was part of trend that ultimately has cost them millions of viewers. Who knew I was trendy?) The thing I enjoy about the YouTube videos is that the ones I find appealing are so often the ones I have no interest in doing. I’ve gone through phases of watch repair (Wristwatch Revivial is excellent, no matter what your intertest), car detailing (got tired of that one), furniture repair (almost always fun), cow hoof triming (love the Hoof GP), and marble racing (who doesn’t love Jelle’s Marble Runs?) My favorite, though, is Baumgartner Restoration (I have such a crush on him… his voice is magnificent! And that vocabulary!)

Lately, I’ve been enjoying the topics of beekeeping (no) and bonsai (didn’t intend on it…). I was attracted, originally, by the videos of “Bonsai Releaf” which are beautiful and relaxing. In the way of YouTube, this viewing brought other bonsai suggestions, and soon I was watching Peter Chan at Hersons Bonsai. His appreciation of the topic got me to check out a couple of his book from the library, and lead to me decided to go out and find a couple of volunteer pine trees to get started.

So, Saturday, I headed up to the Siuslaw National Forest to drive along the logging roads, seeing if I could find a small volunteer cedar, alder, or maple. I had found a couple of volunteer shore pines around the neighborhood, but I wanted to try another other species to get a feel for the project. As I had a few extra pots and some potting soil, I thought this would be a low impact way to see if I liked it. (Note: There is a whole series of videos on Herons Bonsai about using low cost or free materials.)

It was a beautiful, foggy, misty, gray morning (my favorite) and as I drove up the Siletz, I saw a heard of elk lounging along the road.

After stopping for a few minutes, I headed up the logging road. Soon I was looking at cedar forests, alder thickets, and enough blackberries to clog any self-respecting meadow. It took a while before I found what I was looking for; an area where logging had recently cleared an area and a few younger plants had been left along the edges to fight it out. The crews hadn’t come in yet to replant and a specimen or two wouldn’t be missed.

I was finishing up my digging (5 minutes in a tire rut) to liberate a small cedar and what I hope is an ash, when I spotted a little brown bird. Up in the forests, it is POSSIBLE to see Saw-whet owls, and I had been told they were very small. About 7 inches according to the books, which is about the same size as a small robin (8 inches). So, when I saw the little brown bird I stopped to take a look. And then VERY SLOWLY went for my camera.

Northern Pygmy-Owl

“OMG!” I thought. “It’s a Saw-whet owl!”. (Note: It’s not a Saw-whet it’s a Northern Pygmy-Owl, but I didn’t know that until later.) My new little friend was on a tree beside the road, looking out over the valley below (valley shown two images up; owl is in the little deciduous tree next to the large spruce). It was completely unperturbed by me, the dog, the shovel, the camera, and even the tri-pod when I got that out. Fifteen minutes of me snapping photos did not phase it, and when I finally took off to go home, friend was inspecting the area for mice.

One of the coolest things, I noticed, was that the owl had black patches on the back of its head that gave the appearance of eyes. In fact, it took me several minutes to figure out I was looking at its back instead of its front!

Giddy with happiness, I trundled home, where I announced my find on Facebook, texted friends, and generally expressed my excitement. Then, I had a retract everything when looked up my friend’s true identity!

I then spent a great deal of the afternoon, when I could have been painting, playing with the “bonsai-to-be”.

I wasn’t surprised that it was harder than the videos made it look, but I was surprised how much manipulating the trees really made me look at their structure. I have found myself examining roadside trees for their structure ever since. Trees are really quite intricate.

While I am sorry for not getting to painting, it has been enjoyable and productive weekend. The house and yard looks good, and I’m finding myself more able to face the week ahead. There may be something to this “relaxing” thing. Like, maybe, that’s human repair?

Settling in

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It’s been almost six months (six months on Feb. 1) since I’ve moved permanently down to the beach house, and so far, no regrets. I’m loving it. But there were a few things that I knew I wanted to change, but wanted to see how it all worked out first.

A few weeks ago, I had a series of technology mishaps that crashed both my computer and tablet. I purchased a new computer and haven’t decided about the tablet. Along with the new computer, I decided to add a new workstation to the house.

Meet my new painting area. After assembling the desk and chair, I spent the day admiring the birds out the front window and painting. Bliss.

I may decide to move either my personal or work laptop here some days, but for right now, I’m sticking with this as an art station. It’s on wheels so I can change my mind about placement when I have guests or otherwise when I need to.

I can hear your next question: “What did you paint?” I’m so glad you asked.

“Flicker” – mostly just fooling around and using up some paper

“Ghosts” – also just fooling around

“Pasture Promise” – $50 – 12″ x 8″ liquid charcoal on paper

I’m giving myself an easy weekend. It was a tough week at work, even though (or maybe because of) it being a short week. Key and I went to a nosework trial Monday and Tuesday. No title or legs on the first day (NW3, of course), but I didn’t have a panic attack which is a massive improvement. Then on Tuesday we did a level 3 Vehicle and nailed it. Title and 3rd place overall. Lots to think about in all that.

I hope you are having a great weekend. The coast is glorious this time of year, and King Tides are happening. Come on down and say hi!

Coddiwomple

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(v) to travel in a purposeful manner toward a vague destination.

As I mentioned last week, my tablet has gone belly up. Unfortunately, my main computer seems to be following in its footsteps. So, with these signs of a revolt, I decided to order a new computer. A laptop. I still haven’t decided about the long-term fate of a tablet, but I’m hoping a proper laptop might bridge the gap. I’ve decided on a new name for the computer as well: The Amok Response Ally (T.A.R.A.). A little narcissistic, but I think it’s funny.

With technology in a dangerous state, this week I have put out some watercolor cards and liquid charcoal to keep me occupied in the evenings.

In accordance with my new resolution to paint and post on Saturdays, I sat down and worked on a finishing a painting I started last week.

“Haul Out” – 15″ x 11″ liquid charcoal and watercolor crayon on 300lb arches – $100 unframed

I may have a few more tweaks, but I love the sandy texture. Just what I was going for. And those pops of ochre really enhance it for my money.

Then (or, more accurately, concurrently) I decided to start on a new painting. I flipped through some reference photos and decided to try this one. The head was cut off in the reference shot, and I can see here that the head is too small. It would be helpful to see that BEFORE I stopped adjusting the drawing, but there you go. I am pondering possible fixes.

“Pretty In Pink” – 16″ x 12″ liquid charcoal and watercolor on 140lb arches – $75

In a final bit of art-related news, Thursday I entered three shows.

  • WSO: State of the Nation & Measuring Infinity
  • NWWS (online/digital): Yellowstone Dancers, State of the Nation, Start
  • Western Fed: Wander, OSIFS, Yellowstone Dancers

A few of these are SQUEAKING in before the cutoff (painted within two years), but if you’re gonna enter, gotta go for it! And I’d really like to see Yellowstone Dancers get into a show!

Tomorrow will be “home” stuff, and then Monday and Tuesday will be a nose work trial. I am very anxious after our last outing, but I’ve put together a SMART goal to work on.

  • S – Specific: Between the time of the number flip and entry into the search, I will present my team as present, dress the dog, work the practice boxes, and listen to one mediation on my phone (1 minute).
  • M – Measurable: I will know I have successfully done this because I will have done these things and because I will take at least three deep breaths before the search.
  • A – Achievable: I am able to do this because, even though I need to manage the dog and everything else, I am in control of my breathing.
  • R – Realistic: I have successfully done this before.
  • T – Timely: This will happen six times during the trial, but the first try is the one I have the most trouble with. Even if I mess up the first, the other runs can be practice.

Key has agreed to be my partner and is totally supportive of breathing as long as there are cookies for him.

“Did someone say cheese?”

He’s such a support.

Amok at the Easel

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The other day I was driving somewhere, and my mind was drifting (as my mind is prone to do). I got to thinking about the state of my artistic practice. My focus wasn’t on painting more or techniques, it was about marketing. I’ve always just branded my art stuff with my name. It’s a good name. I like it. I’ve flirted with adding studio, but usually Tara Choate is good enough. The downside of this is creating marketing materials. Items such as a logo or graphic are built into many sites and emails; not having a set graphic means I don’t have anything to put in those spots.

So, as I was going down the road, I got to thinking about the marketing I am planning this year. Toward the end of 2022, I learned I was accepted into the 2023 Art on the Edge Studio Tour, happening June 16-18. This is a big deal, and I want to make the most of it. This first year, my goals would be less about selling paintings than making contacts. Thus, my focus on marketing and newsletters and other forms of communication.

Back to the road. I was pondering all of this and thinking about creating a real logo and the thought drifted in that a studio name might be fun. In case I ever did something like teach classes (unlikely) or lead painting trips (also unlikely) or… well, something. What would a studio name be?

One of my favorite words, for no good reason, is the word “amok”. At work, when I am explaining I’m going on vacation, I usually say I’m going to run amok. I like the way it sounds. I like the hard K at the end. I like that it covers a lot of ground, getting into trouble-wise.

Looking up the word amok in the dictionary, it has two meanings.

  1. Out of control, especially when armed and dangerous (adverb)
  2. Being mentally unstable (adjective)

Below this is an example of its usage in a sentence.

“Do staff members try to make up for the lack of rampaging aliens by occasionally running amok themselves?” This example is from Soused at the Southpole by Giles Humbert III.

Is this not the perfect word for me?

So, I sat down and sketched out a logo. A few versions later, I’m proud to introduce my new logo, compete with a matching URL www.amokattheeasel.com.

To complete the transformation, I plan on putting out a newsletter with the new logo this weekend. The newsletter will also point out that I have modified my website to feature the logo and that now you can find the site by either typing “tarachoate” or “amokattheeasel.”

 Actual Painting

Well, with all this emphasis on marketing, I’d better have something to market, right? It shouldn’t be a huge problem; my house is literally bursting with three years of painting and no events. But it’s always fun to have something new to show, and there are a few shows that I’d like to enter with deadlines coming up.

I’m still exploring liquid charcoal, but a touch of color is irresistible.

As I was telling a friend, the paper quality on this painting is terrible. The paint doesn’t want to stick to the paper, so you end up just dabbing paint around. While the background isn’t bad, the central figure’s stance is awkward.

Here I am playing with a reference photo I took this last summer. The vultures were lined up along the fence, but as I was working through them in my sketchbook, I decided they were more fun like this. Tentative titles: Garden Party, Ladies Who Lunch, or State of the Nation.

I like the way the background and medium suggest the muddiness of the reference photo. I think the blue gives it a watery quality, but I’m not sure it pops enough.

I have a few more paintings on the go, but I’m trying to only show off finished pieces this year. Not sure that’s going to work out!

2023 Goals

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2023. Is it me, or am I the only one who expects some sort of huge, technologically advanced “future” to be here? Like The Jetsons. Or Lost in Space? Back to the Future 2? (Note how far behind I was there. That was in 2015.) I don’t know why 2023 sounds so futuristic compared to 2022, but it does. After the last few years, I feel like we should brace for alien technology to descend. No. Let’s shake that image off.

I’m trying to keep things simple, and last year was pretty successful. While there are a few new things on the horizon, I’ve decided to incorporate them within the same format at last year. Looking over the list, there are a few things that I’d like to do, but I’m not ready to commit to, so I created an appendix area.

I hope you are enjoying this first day of 2023 and Happy New Year!

Area 1: Health and Fitness

  • Weight Watchers
    • Eat breakfast
    • Prep food
    • Track
  • Hit 10,000 daily

Area 2: Mental Health

  • Remember that alone time is an important part of my mental health.
  • Do NOT overextend yourself (be on boards, volunteer too much.)

Area 3: Painting

  • Convert to the “Amok at the Easel” marketing format (more about this later)
  • Art on the Edge Studio Tour (June 2023)
  • Enter these shows:
    • WSO Spring
    • WSO Fall
    • Enter the Equine Art Show (Emerald Downs)
    • AAEA
    • NWWS Spring
    • NWWS Fall
    • Western Fed
    • ISEA – International
    • ISEA – member
  • Blog: Write at least 52 posts
  • Newslettter: Put out 12 newsletters in 2023

Area 4: Everything Else

  • Stay employed
  • Reading: Goodreads 2023 Book Challenge – 75 books
  • Nosework with Key
    • Practice once a week, outside of class.
    • Work toward:
      • NW3
      • L2C
      • L3C
      • L3I
      • L3V
  • Participate in the 2023 NaNoWriMo; consider doing some editing on past projects

Appendix: Maybe goals? I can’t quite commit today.

  • Apply for Alaska AIR
  • Visit the #1 birding spot for each county in Oregon
  • Go to Paris

2022 Goals – Recap

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Each year I put out a list of goals. Some years I do pretty well, others (2020, for example…) are laughable. This wasn’t a bad year. Three of my four areas show improvement, and the remaining one was such a problem that I am taking steps to fix it now.

Area 1: Health and Fitness

I have lost 40 pounds this year. It’s not a huge number, but I feel SO much better than a year ago. For the specifics on this list, other than using the basics of WW and working toward increasing my steps, I haven’t hit the nail completely on the head.

  • Weight Watchers
    • Track
    • Eat breakfast
    • Prep food
  • Yoga
  • Hit 10,000 daily

Area 2: Mental Health

This year was a bloodbath as far as this goal is concerned. There was my medication switch this spring. I did not do well on boundaries and paid the price. I’m still recovering from all of it.

  • Remember that alone time is an important part of my mental health.
  • Do NOT overextend yourself (be on boards, volunteer too much.)

Area 3: Painting

  • Put out 12 newsletters in 2022 (3)
  • Keep my website current (didn’t do as well as I could have on this)
  • Write at least 52 posts (43)
  • Enter these shows:
    • WSO Spring (yes)
    • WSO Fall (yes)
    • Enter the Equine Art Show (Emerald Downs) (yes)
    • AAEA (yes)
    • NWWS Spring (yes)
    • NWWS Fall (yes)
    • Western Fed (yes)
    • Emerald Art Center (yes)
    • ISEA – International (yes)
    • ISEA – member (yes)
    • Salem Reads (yes)
  • June-July Keizer Showcase (yes)
  • Apply for Alaska AIR (yes)
  • Learn to appreciate my marks (yes, or at least strides)

Area 4: Everything Else

  • Stay employed (yes)
  • Visit the beach house 12 times (Well, I moved here. Does that count?)
  • Reading: Goodreads 2022 Book Challenge – 73 books (87)
  • Nosework with Key
    • Practice once a week, outside of class. (Terrible)
    • Work toward:
      • NW3 (got 1.5 legs)
      • L2C (no)
      • L3C (no)
      • L3I (no)
      • L3V (no)
  • Participate in the 2022 NaNoWriMo; consider doing some editing on past projects (I chose not to do this)
  • Visit the #1 birding spot for each county in Oregon (This is a good goal, but it didn’t happen this year.)

Area 5: The Blog – How’s the Blogging Going (2022 version)

A few people may spot something… Area 5 wasn’t in the 2022 Goals blog post. But each year I’ve ended the year with a post about the blog. This year, I decided to move that separate post into this “big” post.

Nine years, with a decade in view. In 2013, when I started the blog, blogs were all the rage. Facebook had gone big in 2009, and I had joined in 2011. Twitter was around, but not TikTok or Instagram or many of the other social media platforms. Honestly, I think 2013 may be the year, technologically speaking, that I peaked. Like a stereotypical father, I stopped buying new clothes and now me and my blog are terribly unfashionable.

I can live with that.

As with previous years, here is the geeky post about progress and numbers. I like it and it gives me perspective.

Posts and Other Numbers

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Posts 158 124 71 64 112 41 49 69 43
Sessions 2899 7081 2700 2277 3545 7388 6826 N/A 3946
Users 1262 5108 1691 1334 2795 6235 6114 N/A 5589

I’ve decided to incorporate the newsletter into this area. The two areas are related, and it seems like a good idea to review them together. In 2021 I lost a bunch of subscribers because I actually sent out newsletter regularly. This year, with poorer performance in that area, my numbers are back up. It seems (shockingly) that people will sign up for something and then not want it.

2020 2021 2022
Addresses 434 342 478
Newsletters 1 12 3

Most popular posts (by month)

This was a light blogging year. And though the analytics program I installed this year was an improvement, it still has limitations. Still, I enjoy looking back, so here is what I consider the best posts of the last year.

Conclusion

A few minutes ago, I posted my last blog post of the year. It was pretty reflective; and so, I will leave you to read that post if you need my thoughts on the year.

 

And so, she didn’t

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Last evening, I finally accepted what had been obvious for ages. My tablet had died. The cause of death was that the power plug-in area somehow was not doing its thing, and so no cord would charge it up anymore. It took me more than a week to come to this conclusion and accept it. And accept it, I have. But I don’t like it.

I spent couple hours today at Boiler Bay State Wayside helping with whale watching week. The whales were probably there, but so far out in a rough ocean that we couldn’t spot them.

It occurred to me as I was searching for replacement options (Would a new cord work? Or is a whole new tablet necessary?) that this little tale is a pretty good microcosm of the year 2022. We finally accepted things weren’t working, pouted about it, and began searching for a replacement. Or maybe that’s just my take on things.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has commented that the combined, emotional arch of the last three years bears a strong resemblance to the grief cycle.

  • Denial: March 2020 – What? Everything is cancelled? For two whole weeks? What?
  • Anger: Summer 2020 – Masks? Mask mandates? People not wearing masks? People taking horse wormer? The world is ending!
  • Bargaining: January 2021 – When we get this vaccine it will all be better.
  • Depression: Summer 2021 – It’s not better.
  • Acceptance: Summer 2022 – Whatever. I give up.

Obviously, it’s possible that this cycle was just me, but I’ve talked to a lot of folks who agree it’s been a tough few years. These same people talk about focusing on resting, reviving their mental state, and accepting the new… well, whatever we are now.

Lots of really great wave action.

For me, this year was marked by a series of solid walls that didn’t just ask me to stop, they gave me no choice. Health challenges. Changes at work. A major, clinical mental health issue in the spring. A decision to move. A significant personal betrayal that left me reeling. The death of a good friend.

Since moving to the coast, I’ve spent a lot of time resting. I have said “No, I don’t want to.” And then not done it. I’ve taken this time to NOT achieve my goals. Not finalize things. Not make everything perfect. It was a good decision that gave me the space to think about where I want to go. Of course, that doesn’t mean I actually have a direction. But I know places I don’t want to revisit.

After this post, I will post my goal results for 2022. It wasn’t a bad year; I hit a lot of my goals. But there were a few areas that could stand improvement. I’m okay with that. Tomorrow, I will post 2023 goals. I’m not promising big changes, but I am feeling more focused and confident than I have for a while. Something new is already on the horizon.

I decided to edit these photos with a filter, just for a little artistic flair.

Happy New Year, my friends. I’d love to know how you see the arc of your year.