Blog

I have not written in my Blog for several months...I apologize for this! I feel that each and every artist should be humble enough to share their thoughts and ideas on paper. When I wrote my biography for my website, I added an artist comment which stated how I wanted my children's children to be able to see, do, and share things which I have witnessed and done both as an adult...and a child.

  Today I made one of my usual trips down the creek which is located beside my studio, and found this guy which jumped off the bank and into the water..and just posed for me, unafraid of me taking his photo in the water. I made several photos of him, fascinated at his calmness. After his photo session, I wondered if he would allow me to reach down and catch him.

I was amazed! Slowly I reached down and with no problem..caught him gently in my hand. Suddenly, I felt like a 10 year old boy that had just done something amazing...catch a frog! I want my grand children to experience the same simple things as this before they become adults. I-phones, internet games, xbox..and other gadgets have taken children away from many of the simple things in life. Such things as catching a frog, wading in the creek on a hot summer day, and swimming in cool crystal clear spring water....creates memories for children that they can relate back to as adults.

As an artist, often times I cannot even walk down the road without seeing something that I want to paint. Trees become shapes, values show themselves in darks, mediums, and lights. On my way down to the creek, I walked past my mailbox which corners with my neighbor. Most of the time, I spray the fencerow there to prevent grass and weeds from overgrowing and "taking over" the fenceline. But this year I have been so busy with Conventions, classes, and galleries that I have not sprayed all of the fencelines.

This is the old gates which are on my neighbors property and border my property (that is part of my front yard and house in the background). There are now beautiful wildflowers in full bloom all down this fencerow, and it is simply beautiful with color! Funny how nature can produce such beauty in a matter of days. I guess I will not spray this area until the blooms are done..

I will be doing a 3 part video for "Where in the World is Plein Air" soon, and I may use part of this area for one painting. Several of my works are taken from within one mile of my studio. I am so blessed to have such serenity all around me, and every time I make a hike down Bearcreek....I learn more as to why I am an artist. It is my job to show the rest of the world just how simple, yet beautiful our world is, no matter where you live. During my 5,880 mile drive to the Plein Air Convention in Monterey, California I saw just how simple life for most folks is. I drove to California via Highway 50 part of my trip. There is a large sign as you enter this highway that says, "America's Loneliest Highway" and trust me...it is no exaggeration!! Several times, I drove over 100 miles on this 2 lane highway..and saw nothing. No houses, no cars, trucks...nothing but pavement. The highway goes thru the mountains in Utah as well as Nevada. I drove thru a sandstorm in the desert area, a snowstorm in the mountains, and almost drove thru the middle of an antelope herd entering Arizona!  Seeing all of these places made me realize just how much of a "country boy" I really am! I was already missing the green grasses, and big oak trees here in Tennessee. I have done a few paintings of my adventures, and perhaps I will do more later in life..but my heart belongs here at Bearcreek Studios. Art is everywhere. No matter where you live, there is something that creates memories as well as images for a beautiful painting. Think about how life will be here in another century. Preserve what you see on canvas for others to see. Take a child fishing, or wading in a creek or stream. Paint what you "feel". Feel what you paint. Keep your work fresh. Experiment with ideas. If you will apply just a few of these things to your everyday life, then you will grow as an artist.

Artistically Yours,

Frank Baggett