Elderhostel

Years ago and for about twenty years, I was privileged to be a volunteer at Ghost Ranch in Northern New Mexico.  You may remember, from earlier articles, that I worked with Pomona Hallenbeck, the watercolorist-in-residence.   I went there so often taking her class that I became her “gopher.”

It was with Pomona that I learned ever so much about being a watercolor painter.  She taught about watercolor paints, their manufacturers, and all about the quality of the paint.  Student or professional grade.  DiVinci.  Van Gogh.  Rembrandt.  Schminke. 

I remember thinking, after watching a video of how those watercolors were created – how could we complain about paying around $10 for a color that takes six months to manufacture?  Personally, I never became a watercolor painter whose paintings were with subdued colors.  I always wanted “jump-off-the-wall” colors.  Finally, I “found” a paper called yupo (Pomona gave me a piece).  A plastic paper originally used for publication of slick magazines that allowed me to have those bright colors.  But, this is not an article about my painting.  This is a story about the painting of Pomona’s students in Elderhostel classes.

When I became involved with Elderhostel classes at the Ranch, the instructors of our classes were Pomona Hallenbeck and Arminta (Skip) Neal, who taught the drawing part of our classes.  I was actually scheduled to take a class in papermaking.  It was unfortunate that the instructor of that class was ill and could not teach the class.  Unfortunate for the students who wanted to learn papermaking; but, as I learned, fortunate for me.  By needing to select another class, I met Pomona and Skip.

After working with Skip for three hours, I was able to draw.  Anything.  As she explained, everything you see is comprised of nothing but the basic shapes – circles, squares, rectangles, trapezoids, etc.  I could go out and draw the ever-present Pedernal.  Pedernal, the mountain that Georgia O’Keeffe said, “ God told me if I painted it enough, I could have it.”  We note that, although she is gone, Pedernal is still there.

During the first two days of Pomona’s class, groans and moans were often heard from the students.  The first task for her students was always to create what she called swatches.  Swatches became individual strips of watercolor paper with the “Ghost Ranch palette” colors.  Alizarin crimson, cerulean blue, greens and browns, and always Payne’s grey.  These were the colors easily identifiable with the landscape of the Ranch.  And, the work was teejus!  The swatches were used to compare the landscape colors with a color on a swatch.  In the field, sketches were made and the matching color written on the sketch.   Back in the classroom, those sketches were turned into watercolor paintings.

When the swatches were finished by the students, I always laminated them to preserve them for the future.  And, as I told the students, “Nothing is free.”  I supplied each student with an envelope (addressed to me) containing a small piece of watercolor paper and asked that at some point, they paint an image on that piece of paper and send it to me.  Over the years, I received hundreds; they are now in binders and show what really great artists these elderly men and women were.  Senior citizens who came to the Ranch for an Elderhostel experience.

Many of these Elderhostel participants who wanted to learn to paint were nervous (dare I say, terrified) about trying to learn.  “I can’t paint,” was a common refrain.  Someone in their past had unfortunately told them “Don’t give up your day job.”  They just knew they would NEVER be able to paint.

And, at each Elderhostel class, I always had the pleasure of assuring them that: “EVERY ONE CAN PAINT.  YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE HANDS OF THE RIGHT TEACHER.”  And, Pomona Hallenbeck  was definitely that teacher!

Do you want to paint?  Have you been told not to give up your day job?  Remember what I’ve said – just put yourself in the hands of the right teacher.  You, too, can paint!

Be Safe and Be Well
The Cranky Crone
Thoughtful comments are appreciated.