antrese.com

Antrese June 11, 2013

Bit by Bit

A few weeks ago, I had the brilliant idea to make a few changes to my website– while traveling. A few changes turned into an overhaul. I liked where it was going, but realized that I was setting myself up for a lot of work at a time when a) internet access is limited b) I’d rather be out painting.

Somehow, it all worked out. We had several weeks of icy rain, I found a nice café where the staff was super cool about letting me hang out as long as I needed to. Little by little, I got it up and running.
On clear days, I’d go out to paint. When the clouds were so thick, and the winds so strong painting outside was not just impractical but impossible, I worked on the site (and managed to finish up two freelance gigs- huzzah!).

Lots of things I want to change, but they require php programming (which for me, means uninterrupted focus and quiet, not something I can find in a café). When I’m in a better place to focus, the site will be seamlessly integrated with this one. One of the downsides to being the painter, webmaster, writer, photographer and videographer for this project. I have a huge stack (close to 100 or so?) paintings left to photograph/ scan and upload but that will come in time (give it another week or so). I have to pick my battles.

A side bonus from the overhaul, is that it made me realize just how far I’ve come since this project began and how much I’ve accomplished.

There are still holes to fill on the map, but I’m loving that the new site gives a sense of place and a little more context to the project. We are so close to finishing. The end is in sight!

Until then, the links on the right take you to paintings by location, or you can just go straight to all of them: argentina.antrese.com

Filed Under: A Portrait of Argentina Leave a Comment

Antrese May 30, 2013

Imperfection

Last month, I read Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about my own issues with perfectionism. I read a comment yesterday posted by someone named Goldbeard in response to an article on FastCoCreate. I thought it was beautiful and made me think about the paintings I’m reluctant to share:

“I can’t imagine what the artistic landscape would be like if artists, writers and musicians only shared what they deemed perfection.”

More than once (frankly more than I care to admit) I have resisted adding a painting in a show because I didn’t think it was good enough. I’ve agonized over how to fill the empty spaces on the gallery wall left by my ‘imperfection’. In a panic, I’d call a friend, who would come over, look at the pile of rejected paintings, roll her eyes and say “this one, this one, and this one…” pulling paintings from the stacks. Inevitably, not only would my “imperfections” sell, they would be among the first to go. It’s equal parts funny and annoying.

I still haven’t figured out what to make of it. On the one hand a lot can be said for letting go and just focusing only creation. On the other hand, I’d like to think I am a fairly decent judge of my own work.

I can’t decide for others what they like, I can only decide for myself. While I paint, I’m not thinking about anything other than that particular moment: where does the next stroke go, what does it say, how does the color on the brush interact with the other colors on the canvas. Am I conscious and aware? Am I present in this moment? There’s not enough room in my head for anything else.

It’s when I decide to publish it on my site or on my Facebook page that I begin to wonder and second-guess. It’s when I have to choose which paintings go into a show that the cold sweats break out. As for my friends being able to pick the paintings that sell (now the job falls on my husband), when I consider what they chose, I’d have to say that even if what was in my head never fully made it to canvas, I made an honest effort to get there. I think that honesty comes through.

I’m the only person that knows what I was trying to do. Sometimes I only see what is not there; what I think I did wrong. I don’t see what is actually there. That is the danger of letting the creator decide what is “perfect”.

Michelangelo ordered his apprentice to burn a large portion of his work because he didn’t want people to see how much he struggled. Fortunately for us, the apprentice disobeyed Michelangelo.

Filed Under: A Portrait of Argentina Tagged With: creativity, Imperfection 1 Comment

Antrese May 20, 2013

Refugio JJ Neumeyer, Bariloche

Refugio JJ Neumeyer is in the mountains above Bariloche. On one of the rare sunny days since we’ve been here, I took a drive up Ruta 40 to check out the fall colors. Apparently April is the time to go so I’m a little late, but I wasn’t disappointed.

Just outside of the southern city limits, I spotted the sign directing me down a dirt road towards the refugio. The road is open and wide for first 10 kilometers or so. I passed a few campos with hand painted signs saying “no trespassing”, as I got closer to the ranch, the tone of the signs changed: “NO stopping, NO TRESPASSING –What part of no, do you not understand?”. I decided not to stop for pictures and kept driving towards the refugio.

I crossed the open plains until I came to a more welcoming sign and entered the Challhuaco Valley inside Nahuel Huapi National Park:

JJN_welcome

The road narrowed and crossed over several rivers and streams. My tolerance for sketchy bridges has been increasing on this trip, but I did pause before crossing a few on this route. The bridges that were significantly longer than my car made me nervous. I passed a park ranger, he assured me that the roads were fine. I told him I wasn’t worried about the roads as much as the bridges. He laughed at me and waved me on. This one wasn’t so bad:

JJN_bridge

I preferred the bridges I could see before I crossed. They normally have two planks on either side, it seemed wise to choose the stronger looking plank without cracks in it. I’d aim my tires at the stronger, thicker looking plank and trust that my Corolla is not nearly as heavy as the ranger’s 4×4…. but this one, I didn’t like at all. Because of the incline, you can’t see the condition of the planks until you are already halfway over it. But look how pretty the trees are!!

JJN_road

After that last bridge, the road got even more narrow and switchbacked its way through a forrest up into the mountains. Once at the refugio, there is a wide opening with plenty of parking. I’d guess in the summer it’s packed, but in the middle of autumn (May on this side of the equator), I had the place to myself. There are hiking trails all over the place, and a little cafe at the rufugio. The trails range from about 1.5 – 6 hours.

JJN_path

I chose the shorter hike up to laguna verde, since it was already late in the afternoon. I made some sketches, but apparently didn’t take photos (it is a beautiful lagoon though).

At the top of the peak, the trees were bare. One leaf stubbornly clung to the tree:
JJN-Last-Leaf

Filed Under: A Portrait of Argentina, Places Tagged With: Bariloche Leave a Comment

Antrese May 4, 2013

Rain in Bariloche

Its been raining non-stop since we got here. That doesn’t stop me from painting, though (I can manage it from the car or hiding under big trees). It does provide a gorgeous soundtrack to my day, and a little extra time to put together another video: