ANYONE WOULD KNOW


NUMBER 004, watercolor by kayti sweetland rasmussen

Well, it’s apparent that we all see things differently.

Many of you readers know that I am a retired sculptor, art teacher, who also painted for most of my long life. I have never been a landscape painter, nor has the sight of a perfect hillside set my fingers a-twitter to paint it. On the other hand, the tilt of a head in the sunshine, or the eager excitement in a child’s eyes made me rush for a paint brush.

Now that the passing years have diminished my eyesight, I again have the urge, but no longer see things in the same way.

I find this challenge exciting because I am no longer constricted and can follow my own advice to former students: “Remember, a straight line doesn’t always have to be straight.” Unlike a portrait, perfection isn’t a valued commodity.

My husband, paragon of artistic expertise, is a great critic while peering over my shoulder in the studio. “What’s it supposed to be?”

Well, anyone can plainly see that it is a picture of clouds, rocks, and a tiny tree making its way up through the cracks, seeking the sun.

“But where are snow covered mountains?”

Well I might have taught YOU snow covered mountains, but I’m not ready for them yet. Meanwhile I’m going to continue making wiggly lines.

Author: kaytisweetlandrasmussen83

I am a retired fine arts teacher, sculptor/painter, writer, and a native Californian. I love my family,dogs, horses, movies, reading and music, probably in that order. I have been married forever to a very nice man who is nice to old ladies, dogs and children.

18 thoughts on “ANYONE WOULD KNOW”

  1. Very beautiful painting, Kayti.

    The best work gets done when one hardly knows what gets created next.
    I used to tell my adult students in Holland to just doodle a bit and see what comes out of it. They seemed relieved I did not want to teach them portraiture, or doing photographic landscapes.
    After forty years one of the students who is doing very well,still writes regularly.
    Ignore your husband’s advice, Kayti. Show him the vacuum cleaner. 😉

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  2. Looks like succulents to me or some mushrooms ready to go into a yummy dish. And, yes, I did have dinner. Keep creating, dear Kayti.

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  3. I didn’t see a tree, but I did see a plant, engaged in the same busy sun-seeking. The colors are so pleasing — and it’s the first time I’ve seen the sky in the clouds, rather than clouds in the sky. I love these images you’re creating. They’re lively and peaceful, all at the same time.

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      1. Oh, and don’t I have something for you! I think you’ll know what this is. When I was there, the museum in our little Danish town wasn’t open, but I’m planning to go back when they are. They keep rather short hours (1-4, three days a week) so it will take some doing to coordinate their schedule, my schedule, and the weather. I’m anxious to see what they have in the museum. There’s an old community center, too.

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    1. He had a lot going for him before the change. Did I mention going to the Palace of the Legion of Honor recently with friends to see the early monet? It was so interesting, and he signed his name with a small “m” for a period of time. Without knowing that, or why he did it, perhaps that is why I sign in small letters. Not yet good enough to use caps. An artist never achieves what he sets out for. A well-known artist in the past was once asked if he were an artist. His answer sticks in my mind: “Sometimes”.

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      1. I forget which artist carried his paintbrush with him when he visited friends who had his paintings so he could make further modifications. 🙂 –Curt

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  5. What a charming post this is as you make loving fun of your husband and discuss your philosophy of art and current endeavor. And I found your painting intriguing enough to spend some moments studying it. I liked its shapes, hues, and serenity.

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    1. Thanks so much Aunt Beulah. Gerard Oosterman, also an artist and former art teacher, had a unique way to stimulate his students imagination, asking them to doodle. I plan to try it too. In my teaching, I seem to have concentrated on color theory a lot. It would be fun to relive it all wouldn’t it?

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