This is a commission I just finished of three adorable children (friend of my son’s girlfriend). Also, below are a few of the paintings remaining from the show. Mark your calendars ! A show of new paintings of Tate on July 6th at the Cumming/Preston house.
One evening last summer, while sitting by a campfire by the dock at Tate next to Bill Falinski, I had the honor of a private hearing a Bill Falinski story. Besides being one of the most intelligent, kind, and humble Doctors I have known (in the same league as a Dr. Wilber), Bill was a brilliant story teller. Like some journalists, he used accurate facts that only enhanced the drama of the story.
The story was a personal account of a whitewater boating accident that involved two near drownings of himself in one long unintentional swim. (I think Alison was there and can confirm the story.) He missed his line (route) on a difficult river at high water, flipped and was pinned underwater in his canoe, facing certain drowning. He managed to free himself, then was swept down river and pinned underwater a second time under a tree. Using what he described as a high jumper’s roll move got a leg over the tree and freed himself. Alison also has her share of adventure rescues in caving and boating.
Now here are some live sketches (from my sketch book) of the adventure of puppy raising an 8 week old Alaskan malamute. Also, mark your calendars, a show of new paintings at the Cumming/Preston house on July 4th weekend (Saturday July 6th). Half the paintings from current show included (go to waltercumming.com, “current exhibit” to see what’s still available.)
My son Alston, his girlfriend and I drove 16 hours round trip yesterday to Blacksburg, Virginia. Our mission: pick up our 8-week old Malamute puppy. Despite having not slept much in the past 3 days. we are confident we have a the right pick for our companion in the next chapter of dogsledding, backpacking, and whitewater boating. These were sketched live on the return trip and minutes ago in our Kirkwood dogsled outpost. Stay tuned!
The first kiss.
This is a nightmare. I have run and finished ten Boston marathons from 1979 to 2007 (2:34:52 best time). Even among runners, I would qualify as a Boston fanatic. This is a tragedy beyond my imagination. My sacred Boston Marathon will never be the same. My heart goes out to the runners, spectators and families who are affected.
These sketches were drawn live in my sketch book from an internet live stream in my studio in Atlanta this morning. The top women and men finished around noon, about three hours before the bombs.
Saturday was great event. Many thanks to all who were there and , above all, those who bought paintings. Gallery owner Bob Burkhardt did a superb job of displaying the paintings. The show is up until May 17th and the gallery is open Fri, Sat, Sun, 12-5 so for those who couldn’t make the opening, stop by for a viewing.
Sorry for the technical problems with my web page (current exhibit is not current). Stay tuned for more live sketches of new projects and commissions.
I probably shouldn’t say this but I will. Unless we sell more of these beautiful, very reasonably priced original pastels, we may not be able to afford bringing home our new family member in 3 weeks. (the male malamute puppy on the right with a smile and a twinkle in his eye is the one waiting for us). Please help us if you can by buying a painting or pass on to art supporters who can. Thanks!
At sunset today, I paddled 30 minutes up the Chattahoochee from East Palisades up to my usual island, we call “Chinook Island”. These two Canada geese posed for me for about 10 minutes then, started boldly walking toward me unfazed even by my throwing sand at them and yelling in french “Va ton! Casse toi! Je dois fini mes esquisses”. Huh? They boldly came within paddle length. For over 20 years of canoeing this stretch, I’ve never seen Canada geese be this bold. Turns out in 20 years, Canada geese on the Chattahoochee have evolved from wilderness river travelers to city park, panhandlers. Either that, or they clearly don’t understand plain french.
HEY!!! Last reminder! Tomorrow 7:00-10:00 at the PB&J gallery, my art exhibit opening. Be there if you can. Should be fun. Lot’s of friends. A demain.
The paintings are hung (look great) and ready for the opening this Saturday 7:00-10:00. Don’t forget to contact me or the gallery if you’d like to reserve a painting before the show (waltercumming@me.com).
This has nothing to do with the show , but, if the show goes well, one of these malamute puppies will be our new family member next month (Alston and I like the one on the right). So let’s call the show a Malamute puppy fundraiser. Help us get our puppy!
