Rosemaling, Erie, and family…

I am recovering from a bout of bronchitis and sinusitus.  I am grateful to good health care, and good home care.

While at home this week, I was able to finish my latest painting project, a study of Aust Agder Rosemaling.  It is a beautiful style of  painting that originated in Norway.  I am thrilled with the result!

Rosemaling Lefsa Board

 

A close up of the center elements.

Events leading up to my illness were fast and furious.  I am chairperson of a committee to re-elect one of our current school board members.  We are doing this through a write-in campaign, too boot!  The first picture is of Eric Rummel, and a brood of kids from the Central Cambria School District.  We are using this photo in our newspaper ad this week.

Eric and the brood!

We have been blessed in our lives to have the most wonderful family.  This past weekend, we travelled to Erie, PA to celebrate the 2nd birthday of Grace Alohi Pua Okalani Wakinekona.  The day was beautiful, and it was great to spend time with family!

Front Row: Wesley and Grace/Second Row: Kristina and Carrie/Back Row: Brynne, Sara and Kyrah

After the birthday party, we drove out on to Presque Isle….a favorite spot of Wendy’s and mine.  It was cold, but we got a few good photos!

My favorite girls at Lake Erie.

The sun was very deceiving...it was cold!

In addition, Central Cambria’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” has entered the staging process.  Kyrah has been cast as the Wicked Witch.  She is trying out her Miss Gultch face.

Kyrah staging in Act I

So as you can see, the life of the Nagy’s goes at full speed!  God is good in all that he provides.  Thank you so much for reading and have a great day!

Proof that there will be a cure…

The weekend started with the journey to Dubois, where we were joined by Roger and Loretta, at the home of Wendy’s sister Cora Lee and her husband, Ray.  Cora Lee made chow mein and all kinds of other good stuff!  We were also surprised to be joined by Rob, Kristina and Wesley!  We enjoyed each other’s company, and spent the rest of the evening chatting and solving the world’s greatest issues!  Roger and Loretta headed out for their hotel in Brookville.  We all headed to bed.

Kyrah, Wesley and Kristina

We got up at 5:00 am to make the trek to Cook Forest, for the MS bike ride.  It had been years since I had been there, and I forgot the beauty of the place.  We arrived to find Roger and Loretta already there.  They had given us Tshirts and we began posing for pictures.

Kyrah, Brynne and I sport our Tshirts!

 

Roger, Loretta and I before the event.

After the start of the event, we drove 16.5 miles down the most gorgeous drive I have ever been on!  Roads right along the Clarion River brought us to Belltown, where we were to meet up with Tom Phillips.  There we were to help man a refreshment/pit stop for the participants.  We all perfected our PB&J artistry, having made some 500+ sandwiches!  Working at the station, we made new friends, heard great stories of courage, and had a great time.

We all took turns making sandwiches and taking breaks.  Kyrah and I went for a short walk, and snapped some of the following shots.

A small stream prepares to enter the Clarion River.

 

God's glorious creation was around us, everywhere!

Brynne enjoying the scenery.

Kyrah and Wendy cooking up some mean PB&J!!

Brynne ,and new friend Alex, master the art of P,B & J!

Heavy rain was forecast to move in.  We felt an occasional drizzle, but for the most part, we remained dry.  After a while we had the bikers stopping on their return voyage, speaking of a killer hill that they had to climb.  My prayers were suddenly with Roger and Loretta as they hadn’t returned yet.  We waited with great anticipation to see them come down the road! 

The return after the hill....mile 43.5 into the race. I think they look great!

 After Roger and Loretta passed through our station the second time, we said our goodbyes to Tom and Jennifer at the station, and then returned back to the finish line to await their arrival.  They made great time on the last leg of their journey and completed the 60 mile trip in 5 hours and 40 minutes! 

 

Humbled…

I praise God today for the many blessings in my life.  My family attends the Ebensburg United Methodist Church, where we are led by our pastor, Roger Johnson and his wife, Loretta.  Roger was explaining one during a message that Loretta had just passed a milestone birthday.  He and Loretta always pick a “project” for their milestone birthday.  Roger informed us that Loretta and he would be participating in Cook’s Forest River Ride, a 60 mile bike ride with the purpose of raising money to find a cure for multiple sclerosis.  He said that Loretta chose to do this in my honor.

We hear people tell us to do things in service to others.  I am humbled to know that I am cared for in such a way.  God’s love for me has truly been shown through Roger and Loretta in so many ways in my life.  May God continue to bless them as they continue to bless others by serving God!

1 Corinthians 12:5
There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

Disney and Rosemaling?

As I stated in my last post, we have begun our fall classes at Seymour’s Creative Legact Art Studio.  We are studying Aust Agder Rosemaling.  I was thinking of how my painting journey began shortly before our family went to Disney in 2007.  Imagine my surprise when we went to Epcot and saw the exhibit for Norway.  The first thing we saw was a Stave church replica.  Paul was talking about these last week in class, and it dawned on me that I thought I had a picture of the one from Epcot. 

Stave church at Epcot

We walked into a shop, and what I saw just about blew my mind!  Check these out!

This was the door into the shop!

This was the front counter.

A cabinet in the back of the store.

Another store counter!

A cabinet behind the station where artists from Norway were Rosemaling! Notice the patterns, paints and blank surfaces!

Corner display unit (translation please?) Notice the ceiling!

The entire ceiling was done in Rosemaling!

Close up of the corner cabinet.

One last cabinet....

We were surprised to learn that everyone working in this Norwegian gift shop was actually from Norway!  The artists were trained in Norway, by Norwegian masters.  Disney hired the Norwegian Rosemaling masters to design and paint the shop!  Truly unbelievable!  So tonight, when I am in class, pulling my scrolls, I will fondly remember the Disney/Rosemaling connection.  Who knew?

Back at it!

Well, our new season of painting classes began last night at Paul and Cathy’s shop.  I had missed those people so much!  What made it even better was that Chris and Toni,  who had to take a break last Spring, were able to join us again!  Paul and broke out our French accents, and we were off and rolling.  Deanna brought in some pieces that she had designed and painted…..WOW!  It is amazing to see how far we have all come in our journey.

We are beginning the year by painting a Lufsa board with the Aust Agder style of Rosemaling designed by David Jansen.  What an absolutely stunning piece, using only eight colors!  We spent most of the evening doing prep work, and catching up with each other.  This is our fourth year as a class together, and our bond is quite strong!  Pulling those first scrolls was so energizing, and I can’t wait to finish this piece!!  Have a great day and thanks for reading!

Chippendale Table….finished!

Well, the table is done.  I have to admit that I am very pleased with the result!  Paul will have to critique to give final approval.  If someone had told me that I would be able to paint like this 3 years ago, I would have laughed in their face.  Many thanks to David Jansen who designed the table, and to Paul Seymour, my mentor and friend for teaching the seminar.

The finished table!

A close up of one of the corner elements.

Chippendale Painting (not dancing!)

This past weekend, I had the privelege of participating in a painting seminar at Seymour’s Creative Legacy Art Studio.  The design was a David Jansen masterpiece employing the Chippendale rose painting technique.  Everyone in the class had a great time, and painted such beautiful pieces.  The pictures I have are of the tables “in progress.”  I would like to introduce some of Paul’s students.

This is Betty Straw. She is Cathy's mom and my table partner during our regular weekly classes. She is a great lady, and knocked these roses out of the park.

 

This is Deanna! She is an excellent painter and usually pretty quiet.

Joanne has been painting for three years, and is such a dear sweet woman!

Debbie Gaston is in the yellow phase of Chippendale!

Karen has a great sense of humor and loves to paint and laugh (often at the same time.)

Gina Tusing has lived all over Europe, and has a true artist's eye. She is a talented musician as well!

Nancy is an inspiration to everyone she meets! She is a cancer survivor, and has raised two wonderful sons. Her painting always gives us something to aspire to.

Melodye altered the design, choosing to apply the technique to a door crown. Great design, great painting!!!!!

Now, that isn’t everyone in the class.  There was Estella, who loves Paul’s French accent, and my table partner Peggy, who made me laugh so hard the entire seminar!!  There was also Judy, Peggy’s mom, and Nadine, who tells me to “shut up” when I start my French accent.  There was also a second Debbie, who is a fellow teacher.

The seminar was so much more than about painting.  There was zucchini bread, laughing, coffee, brownies, coffee, more laughing, more coffee, and of course, wonderful French accents!  As you can see, Paul and Cathy fill a need in so many peoples’ lives.  We are blessed by them and this business called decorative painting!!!

Thanks, as always, for reading!

Outer Banks 2009!

Our favorite vacation spot is in Duck, NC.  It is the community just to the north of Kitty Hawk.  We stay in a community called Sanderling.  Our house sits on a beautiful lagoon about four lots back from the beach.  It is a sanctuary for people and wildlife.  We had a wonderful week of reading, swimming, tanning, eating and reconnecting as a family in one of God’s masterpiece locations on the planet.

Our arrival at the beach!

Mother daughter bonding time!

Me and my best girl.

This great blue heron keeps watch on the lagoon behind the house.

I caught this shot of the great blue heron in flight!

Currituck Lighthouse in Corolla, NC.

Brynne and Kyrah atop Currituck Beach Lighthouse.

We were on top of the lighthouse in perfect time to catch the shadow of the structure.

Brynne and I took on the surf.

Aren't my girls lovely?

Last night on the beach....

Sunset over Currituck Sound.

The Men of Decorative Painting!

Paul was in Elizabethtown, at Jansen Art Studio, sharpening his skills, and came the phone call for me to attend a world famous Jansen cookout.  So, Cathy, Gabe and I made the trek to Etown, from Eburg!  We were warmly greeted by painters from all over the US and Canada.  Arlene, Jean, Joanne, Penny, Jessica (David’s daughter), Carol and Karen, along with Paul and David greeted us warmly and then ushered us upstairs.  There, Martha was preparing any number of delightful foods!  She proceeded to tell us of humorous stories from the seminar, including Karen and Arlene’s mishap with cereal, now forever known as “The Great Cereal Incident”!  Martha, you have a way of making everyone feel at home in an instant (especially when I saw you abusing Paul  Martha then told me to get out my camera and “go nuts!”  Well, needless to say, I did!

David and Martha's bedroom

What you instantly start to understand as you walk around their house, is that David’s artistic talent is not human.  Just when you think you have seen the best piece, something else jumps up and bites you in the nose!  The other thing is that you know these are good people with a heart for sharing.  David and I shared several conversations where I witnessed firsthand the giving spirit that comes gushing out of him!  The interaction of he and Martha together is just as special as their individual personalities.  Enough of my incessant babbling…more pictures!

Guest bedroom: Inspired by artist Peter Ompir

Gorgeous faux-marquetry secretary...don't forget to look at all the little pieces beside, on top of, under, etc. the main pieces!

A veritable feast for the eye. The dark fire screen is a Peter Ompir Original.

As you can see, the Jansen house is a museum, but without the airs often found in traditional art museums!  I returned to the studio, and continued to watch David teach. They were painting nuthatches!  While they were painting, I got to look at Joanne’s Zhostovo paintings (beautiful), Penny’s portraits (WOW!) and more of David’s paintings.  The following picture is of the seminar piece that everyone was painting.  This is David’s completed version….it jumps right off the canvas.  It is so vibrant and beautiful, I can’t describe it!

How beautiful!

This pie safe was one of my favorite pieces.

And so, after teaching all day, David is the selected grill master as well!  He grilled, while Paul and I “supervised.”  Let me just tell you that David’s knife made Lorena Bobbitt’s knife look like plasticware!  Now, I knew that David had a thing or two up on Paul when it comes to painting, but to be bested in grilling, too?  Paul, you should be ashamed!

Soon it was time for food!  Steak, chicken, sausage, burgers, and grilled salmon.  Salads, fruit, side dishes, desserts!  Let me just say that I hurt!  After dinner, the discussion obviously turned toward the decorative painting industry.  We solved all of the industry’s problems in just a few short hours.  (Ha ha.)  But we all decided that if decorative painting is to flourish, and it will, we need to make sure that along with pulling one whale of a comma stroke, we need to have fun.  Paul, David and I decided that we will publish a 2011 “Men of Decorative Painting” calendar.  Let your mind travel where it will!!!  Here is the cover shot for the calendar.

David Jansen, Paul Seymour, and Tom Nagy

As always, thanks for reading, and have a great day!

Wedding!

My nephew, Jonathan married a wonderful girl this weekend.  We are pleased to welcome Jeanette into the Nagy clan!  The wedding was wonderful, and it was a great time to see friends and family from everywhere!

Jonathan and Jeanette exchange rings!

Tom, Rick, Susan, Don (father of the groom) and Bob Nagy.

Brynne and I relax between the wedding and the reception.

I don't get to post pictures of my whole family often, so here we are at the reception.

The happy newlyweds!

It was a great day, and we wish Jonathan and Jeanette the happiest of lives together!