F a l l,  2005 

Welcome to HartNews, Volume 05, Issue 3!

So...What is HartNews? HartNews is my attempt to write about life and watercolor from where I see it. As a teacher, I enjoy passing on some of the things I think about or do in watercolor. As a fellow human, I wish to pass on some of the things that inspire me - or make me laugh!. I've included you in this issue - you who are painters, friends, former guests and/or family - some of you without your expressed permission. So…please reply and ask to be removed from this mailing list if you'd rather not get HartNews editions - or just delete me! Originally, I intended to make HartNews a monthly event. Now, more realistically, I see it as a quarterly or bi-annual publication. If you have something you'd like add or say, just email me! and please feel free to pass this on to your friends... If you'd like to see the back issues - just check the Archives above - more demos, etc. - and don't forget to Bookmark this issue!

In this Issue:

How about a visit to New Mexico - and enjoy one of my cabins?

The cabins are better than ever and seem to bring only the best folks ! Because they have the best location in northern New Mexico, you'll surely run out of things to do and see - from Santa Fe & Taos to Bandelier & Ghost Ranch - but I'll guarantee you'll have a wonderful time doing it! If you tell me that you heard about the cabins through HartNews, I'll give you the 2005 rates! Check them out here.

A Welcome Wild Friend at Jan's

You may not be able to see her clearly, but a few days ago I noticed something new in the upper corner of my bedroom window. Secure outside the glass behind a bamboo shade was the unmistakable shape of an upside down bat. Of course it was daytime. I pulled back the interior shade and found her looking at me. So far she leaves every night to hunt for flying insects and returns each morning. Immediately I welcomed her and named her "Baby Ruth". I'd hoped she'd stay the winter just outside my window but she recently migrated off with her pals. Now I just hope she returns.

What's Going On?...

or where we've been & where we're going.....

As we like to do on road trips, we took Sage & Winkie with us. They are so fascinated by workshops.

You know, I really don't want to dwell on any of this - but I feel that I owe an explanation - first to those students who I have disappointed because I've had to postpone Costa Rica, 2006 for a year. I should be fine for all the rest upcoming. Here it is in a nut shell...

• I sustained a serious staph infection in my spine in 1998 which resulted in 3 surgeries, a laminectomy & fusion - and I seemed to come out of it just fine!
• 2 years ago I began having occasional lower back pain (who doesn't?) & treated it with pain killers.
• I lost my medical coverage in the process of all of my medical issues.
• My sciatic pain & weakness increased this past year and a MRI showed further deterioration and cord damage. So.. given all the choices I and others could come up with, Since early October, I have been waiting to hear from a Neurosurgeon in NYC who deals with complex issues like mine on a regular basis. When it finally appeared that the Neurosurgeon was just too busy, I was referred to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque to an Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in the spine. As this newsletter goes out we are just about ready for an initial consultation and see what progresses after that. I'll keep you informed.
• I am committed to "monetarily mortgaging all my future to enable my present", which contains the passions that sustain me. I very much want to continue - teaching, writing, painting, creating- and eventually riding my horse!
• I'm blessed by my students & friends who send emails, still come to class to fill my studio with laughter and art and my animals who care for me moment by moment. A short story on that subject...

  Sage, my very wise and observant 3 year old African Gray parrot was helping me pay bills the other day. Since I'm mostly bed ridden, he was perched above me and I would hand him the empty envelope after I extracted the bill and invoice. He would tear up the envelope and drop it into the waste basket below while I wrote the check and inserted it and the invoice into the new envelope and licked it closed. After 4 transactions, Sage said, "Oh". I looked up and questioned, "What?" He replied, "That good?". I looked down to see that I had left the check out of the envelope. Needless to say, I thanked him.

   

Jan Hart, guest Demo Artist

December 16, 2005 9 a.m.

The Northern Arizona Watercolor Artists, Sedona, AZ

Postponed until a later date

Join Jan & Leslie for this "once in a lifetime" opportunity - to paint, to learn, to explore, to play in beautiful Costa Rica. Just like complementary colors, we will be immersing ourselves into the complementary locales of Costa Rica - the north Pacific coast and the south Pacific coast. The north offers the dry, warm trade winds from the Caribbean and Costa Rica's famous beaches - and we'll be staying at a special seaside hotel with our own, private beach and pool. The south offers the coastal rainforest and jungles teeming with wildlife - and more private beaches at Drake Bay and nearby Cano Island. And lots of painting and plenty of other things to do, too. Max. students - 12. Some of our 2006 folks are re-signing up, plus others - so if you are looking ahead, let us know.

Check out all the details plus the day to day itinerary

on Jan'sWebsite, http://www.janhart.com/http://www.janhart.com

And if you've ever wanted an intensive workshop on COLOR & Color relationships - this is it!

On the Trail of O'Keeffe in Northern New Mexico...with Jan & Carol

Jan & Carol are excited to announce their new co-project - four, seasonal 1-week long workshops for 2006, all focused on aspects of Georgia O'Keeffe' works and life. At Ranchito San Pedro we have very comfortable 4-room Cabins, B&B and studio located centrally in northern New Mexico where we can easily choose from our favorite destinations like Taos, Taos Pueblo, Ojo Caliente hot springs, Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, Los Alamos, Bandelier National Park, Baca Ranch, White Rock Overlook, Tent Rocks, Santa Fe, Madrid, Chimayo, Truchas, Nambe, Embudo Station, Española and more. Since Carol was born here and Jan has been here 12+ years - we definitely know and love the area. I will not be teaching week long workshops at Ghost Ranch any longer due partly to changes there and partly to my back's preference for my own bed. But -we can and will still visit! Each workshop is different so look them over below! $1225 plus tax includes all admissions to museums & the O'Keeffe House, all instruction, critiques, 24 hour use of studio, breakfasts, lunches and some dinners. Participants are responsible for vehicles to share and all liquor. We will provide easels, stools, directions, advice, laundry, and refrigerators stocked with water, breakfast and lunch items for all - plus Costa Rican coffee & teas. And we'll include the real landscapes where Georgia O'Keeffe painted!

Feel free to email me for more questions and to reserve a spot, send in your deposit of $200. For cancellation policies on all Jan Hart events, click here.

On the Trail of O'Keeffe,

Spring @ Ranchito San Pedro

$1225/person plus tax

Tentatively, May 19 - 26, 2006

On the Trail of O'Keeffe,

Summer @ Ranchito San Pedro

$1225/person plus tax

Tentatively, July, 21 - 28, 2006

Summer is a wonderful time to learn about light and shadows and sunsets and moonlight. Days are long and evenings are softly cool with fragrances of flowers . Summer is a perfect time to paint the houses and buildings made of warm adobe. We'll visit Taos pueblo and then paint St Francis de Assisi church and perhaps Dixon, Santa Fe, Chimayo and the houses just across the road from where we are! We'll also be learning how to paint one of my favorite subjects - ROCKS! After checking into your cabin or B&B room, our workshop will begin on the terrace at Gabriel's where our waiter will create our guacamole to our preferences right at our tables! Though we may specialize in learning to paint adobes, we'll learn also about all the other wonderful summer activities in New Mexico - hiking, swimming, traveling the high road to Taos and some may even want to raft the Rio Grande or go horseback riding! Of course we'll visit Bandelier, where we'll learn to paint the Anasazi cliff dwellings. In the studio, I'll be specializing in teaching about light and shadows and reflected light - and how to paint them - on adobes and rocks!! I'll be introducing some of Daniel Smith's new Primatek paints, made from pulverized pure minerals - and have some included for you! Max. 10 students on a first come basis. Workshop ends after breakfast on July 28.

SUBJECTS of STUDY include the study of Light, Shade, Shadows and Reflected Light, Rocks, Adobe structures

On the Trail of O'Keeffe,

Fall @ Ranchito San Pedro

$1225/person plus tax

Tentatively, October 6 - 13, 2006

Fall is one of the most spectacular seasons in New Mexico and a perfect time to paint landscapes filled with yellows, golds and oranges against the blues and purples of the mountains beyond. Days are comfortable and sunny with cool evenings. We'll visit Ghost Ranch and view the cottonwoods along the Rio Grande river as well as Taos and the Lawrence Ranch. We'll follow the arroyo at Plaza Blanca (The White Place) where spirits dwell and are available to those who are sensitive to them. Everywhere we'll smell the wonderful aroma of roasting chili and maybe stop to paint the ristras (clusters of chiles), pumpkins, squash and abundant sunflowers along the roads. After checking into your cabin or B&B room, our workshop will begin at El Paragua, one of the oldest and most established restaurants in Española with wonderful chiles rellanos and the best Margaritas around!
During the workshop I will teach you how to create a full, and glowing cottonwood tree and take you to visit my own personal favorite tree in Nambe! And, of course - we'll visit Santa Fe and perhaps the famous staircase at the Loretto Chapel. I'll be introducing some of Daniel Smith's quinacridone pigments for use in the glowing cottonwoods - and, as usual, I'll have some samples for you!,Max. 10 students on a first come basis. Workshop ends after breakfast on October 13.

SUBJECTS of STUDY include Watercolor pigments, Color and Color Relationships, Landscapes, Landscape Elements, etc.

Jan Hart's Exciting Architecture & Watercolor Painting workshop in PORTUGAL & NORTHERN SPAIN

September 15 - 29, 2006

with our favorite tour guide, Leslie Anderson

Watercolor & Architecture Adventure

To Northern Portugal & Spain

September 15 - 29, 2006, approximately $3200.00. Leslie is still investigating but the fee which will include most meals, instruction, guides and transportation while in Portugal & Spain. Email me here to add your name/email to my Portugal & Spain Interest List!

This is a reprint of a letter Leslie sent me about our trip. earlier this year she spent a month in northern Portugal and Spain setting up our trip, which I s going to be incredible. I wish I could give you more right now, but with my limited energy caused by my spinal injuries and Leslie currently in Colombia with her ailing mother helping her to more, we'll suffice to say that the details will emerge later but higher than your possible expectations. Here is Leslie's draft,

Our journey will begin when we all board together in the States on a British Airways flight or? airline to Porto, Portugal: We will be in Portugal during the famed Grape harvest Festival - Sept 22nd-October 22nd.

Porto or Oporto in Portuguese is an incredible city filled with antiquity and modernity. (Old buildings, cobbled stone streets, beautiful architecture, good food, wine and great pastries & good coffee!),  The old and improved buildings make it beautiful with their wrought iron balconies and flower beds with colorful laundry that adorn this old enchanting city. We will stay in Porto a couple days and the head east along the Douro River, up towards wine country. We will head up the mouth of the Douro River, with the Atlantic facing west. Then will experience the cultivated farmland and old architecture of centuries with farmers living & tending their farms of vineyards, cherries and other beautiful plants and animals. I discovered that exploring these old towns is the best way to experience ‘old Portugal’ and its great people.  As artists and architects this will be your chance to explore and indulge in and all these things of beauty of this old world.

This route towards Tras os Montes (beyond the mountains), and towards the Minho valley to towns like Guimaraes, Braga, Arcos de Valdeves, and to Ponte de Lima where we will stay at Paco* de Calheiros. I chose this place for its beautiful setting, surrounded by vineyards and small farms and home of the famous ‘Vino Verde’ of the Minho Valley that sets the perfect background picture with the Lima River flowing below. The Calheiros family has owned this estate for many centuries. The Count Francisco Calheiros is always present to tell us the history of this beautiful region and his family. And his wife is an architect so hopefully we can get her view and story as well. The grounds offer many beautiful locations to paint under the grape trees and gardens or you may venture into the forest behind the palace where there is a beautiful creek and some ponds. They have recently renovated a carriage house where we can have critiques and enjoy the day. Or we might choose to be by the pool where the view is more spectacular and work there maybe.The town of Paco is down about  a mile from the palace and its beautiful wing cobbled stone street and old little church with big trees are a wonderful setting to paint and relax . If time permits we can go stay in another very old palace at Paco de Gloria close to the town of Arcos de Valdevez before heading up to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Espana: Santiago and other towns.

Our drive into Spain from Northern Portugal unfolds from old farmlands into more modern towns like Valenca and Vigo which we might not be able to explore on this trip, perhaps on the way back to Porto, maybe.  We will stay in Santiago in the heart of the town at our beautiful old only a few steps from the cathedral. Remember Spanish schedule for functioning is to wake up late and go to bed very late. Our hotel is located in a small park with many flowers and cafes where people will be sitting all day and night chatting and eating and of course drinking good wine and refreshments and cafesinos (small, but strong coffee). I recommend anyone coming on this trip to relax brush up on history of this town. There is so much to see and absorb in architecture and art. Each should explore at your pace for a couple days or whatever Jan decides is best for you to do and then come back and share your experiences. Here everything will come together - lots to see, colorful people a lot of old architecture, religion, musical and art events and good food all the time; it is a place that doesn't’t sleep-well only sometimes. When we head south again back to Porto I wish to take the route through the border town of Tuy and finally back to Oporto.

I am deeply honored to have been selected to jury this show and provide a 5 day workshop in one of my favorite places - in Seattle, Washington

October 23 - 27, 2006

for more information, please contact the Northwest Watercolor Society