All those "experts" who say the act of creating art is a nice relaxing activity that causes you to go into a bit of a meditative trance are correct. I find it is most mysterious how I don't even need to have a "subject" I want to create... it just emerges if (or WHEN) I let it. Grabbing brushes, paints, paper, canvas or art journals, having some fun happy music you love in the background or that … [Read more...] about Just Dots!
Go Ahead and Sip Something Fun while you do ART
Last spring, I took the opportunity to attend a class in the Medford, Oregon area called “Sip and Paint.” A dear friend of mine, Mary, and I made our reservations in advance and dove head first into this cool class. All the painting supplies and a canvas are provided. You get to sit down, enjoy a nice glass of wine, listen to awesome music and the instructors tell you what and how to do … [Read more...] about Go Ahead and Sip Something Fun while you do ART
Happy New Year 2017
Today seems like a good day for reflection... We are nearing the completion this spring of 7 complete years of happy little Jefferson Backroads Publishing... April will officially start our exciting 8th year, promising to be full of fun new ideas and local Old School American treats... "Who knows where the time goes?" Yes, this is such a heart-wrenching and hauntingly beautiful song title from … [Read more...] about Happy New Year 2017
A Christmas Story – O.K. Joe and J.C.
Story by Hank Nelson of Wasilla, Alaska New Alaskan 1989 Reprinted with Permission From the beginning, O.K. Joe was born to be a logger. It is academic now but there was a time in Joe's youth when his fate might have been otherwise. Joseph Otteson Knutsen was born into a very wealthy Bostonian family. His mother, Elizabeth, was a pianist of some worth and her husband, Knute, was a first-rate … [Read more...] about A Christmas Story – O.K. Joe and J.C.
Greenview, California
Photo: A rare (and rough) photo of Greenview and Hayes Hotel at the end of "Main Street." Courtesy Betty Jane Young Collection. Greenview, California – located in the middle of Scott Valley – was first known as Hayes Corner. A large and stately hotel, the Hayes Hotel, was built "up on the hill" in the late 1850s or early 1860s (original date unknown), and it was a popular dance hall and … [Read more...] about Greenview, California
Artists in our Midst
Photo: by Michelle Fain. Fun, whimsical hand-crafted Frog Box created by Gerry and Marlene Ludlow of Mt. Shasta City, California. You know that feeling you get when you walk into a home and all the decor and neat items the people have displayed are so cool you just can’t get enough? Well it happened to me again last week. I was honored to have been invited to the home of Gerry and Marlene … [Read more...] about Artists in our Midst