Investigating Art and Finding People Connections

I've done some checking for introducing myself back into the world of painting with oils at The Wichita Center for the Arts!  Sad news is that I have to wait until Jan. 2012 before getting started. Good news is that it will give me time to get all my supplies rounded up again.  It is amazing all that is necessary to put something in oil on canvas!  There is quite a long list.  Thankfully, I do have some things from years gone by...however, oil is not something that lasts forever.  It will survive a long time...but, not the years I have let pass leaving this talent on the back burner.  It feels good actually to be thinking about it again.  To look back and think about all the time I used to spend on oil painting, tole painting, ceramics and crafty stuff.  My, I believe those were the good ole days! 

Now a days it is work, work, and more work.  Thank goodness for a great son, fab daughter in law and two beautiful, joyful and entertaining grandchildren to break away from the work.  Good thing I like what I do!  I love looking at houses...they are in fact a form of art from the architect!

Wichita Center of the Arts Courtyard

Helping people find their dreams and move on to other dreams is very gratifying.  I try very hard to relay that to each individual I work with in a transaction.  Each and everyone is important to me and ads so much to my live.  Each one ads a special joy and connection to my physic that is indescribable to anyone but me.  People are unique and each person gives something of themselves to me whether they realize it or not.  I think we all are meant to give something of ourselves to those we meet and in turn they give us something.  Much of it is entwined so that we do not realize it most of the time until later on down the road.  I've become aware in the past few years and try to look deeply into those interactions and make sure I somehow give as much as I know how to give.  Each time, hopefully I learn more of how I am suppose to do that.

Art in my Walk About Wichita

Artworks is not far from my office in Piccadilly Square on E. Central just West of Rock Road.  It is a wonderful gallery of some exquisite art and handmade frames for your favorite pieces you'd like to display. This Fri. starts the grand opening of Hanna Eastin's work, an artist who does beautiful stoneware clay sculpture.  I had the privilege of watching her prepare her pieces in display for the showing!  It is a must see. I'd suggest going and being ready to be awed...what a treat. Fri...starts at 6:30pm

Art Is a Soulful Thing

Stillife by Susann (Quigley) French1965

I've always had a love for art which I believed started from my Mom. I discovered years later when an adult that my Dad  also had a talent to draw, just never developed it.  I'm including here a picture of something I painted when I was in high school dated 1965.  I'll confess, I graduated in 1966 so I must have been a junior in high school when creating this picture.


This painting is is about the only thing I have left.  All my relatives wanted my paintings, so I have very few left.  I had given my son's grandmother 3 or 4 through the years.  Since she has passed, they must be stored away somewhere.  I hope he discovers them one day, because I feel it is part of myself that I will leave behind to him.  I remember two distinctly that I had given her.  One was of a bouquet of white roses and one of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon one I feel was the best I ever painted.  I do hope it is still around and not thrown away or ruined from neglect.  When you paint, it is like a part of you...a part of yourself inside that reaches out to the world.  A small piece of yourself that perhaps the world can see and understand a bit of who you are, what you appreciate and the love you have for beautiful things.


I have a love for oil painting. I belive to be a God given talent to me. I've not painted in  years and have a strong urge lately to begin again.  So, I've been asking around to discover where a good place to take some lessons to refresh my talents and learn new things.  I've been told Wichita Center of the Arts is a great place to learn.  In fact, my granddaughter went there when she was four years old for pre school!  There was a wonderful diplay of all the childrens work at the end of the year.  It was great.  I'm including one of her wonderful creations as well!  Needless to say, I will be paying Wichita Center of the Arts a visit to get myself back on the road of creating and adding that bit of peace back in my life!

Artwork by my granddaughter

Wichita Fountains & Arkansas River Call You

 

 We have such beauty here in Wichita, Ks that the word must get out!

Just take a look here and see if you recognize what you see. I took these pictures one beautiful Kansas day enjoying all it has to offer.  Listening to the rush of the waterfalls, the whosh of the fountains and the quiet calm of the river that runs through is.  I believe there is a movie called 'The River Runs Through It"! 

If you have not figured it out by now, the waterfalls and fountains are in-between Century ll and the River along the walkway. It is not far from the bridge where firework displays are enjoyed on the fourth of July and many other wonderful occassion's during the year.  I remember one year sitting in this area on the 4th of July listening to Wichita's Symphony Orchestra and watching the fireworks! What a spectacular experience it was for me.  Sometimes the chills went up my spine with the beauty of it all.  I'm a big fan of fireworks and it was the first time I heard our Symphony Orchestra.  Wow, what a treat.  We should all be so proud of what we have here in our city to enjoy and take advantage of for ourselves and our families. 

The picture of the river is along the park area .  I am so pleased when  people take advantage of what we have here in Wichita.  Gatherings with family and friends in these areas are seen most days that I've had the pleasure of driving by...sometimes taking a moment myself to just enjoy what I'm looking at...beauty in God's creation ... the beauty that individuals  who dreamed to share with us and built these fountains, these waterfalls these bridges and planted all the marvelous trees.  I am so impressed with the people of Wichita that have dreamed their dreams and made it reality.  So, for those of us that follow along behind them can enjoy their accomplishments! 

Wichita Dances To Its Dreams

What? A red fox in the city? Yes, I took this picture from my office window looking out over the Tallgrass golf course in Wichita, KS. Wildlife in the middle of the city...along with ducks, geese, rabbits and even skunks, seem to find their way where the grass is greener, taller and more plush.  I saw this guy several times until one day a lady was walking really close to him with a very small dog.  A phone call was then made to the Tallgrass golfing community so that people walking, walking dogs and golfing were aware of the beautiful, but wild creature amongst them.  It is a surprise everyday in this city, what you might encounter.  Let's share those things, so that all can get a true feeling for who we are here in the Heartland.  If you have a story and a picture.  Email it to me and I will share with the rest of the bloggers out there and spread the word across the country...maybe even the world.

                          Wichita Dances To Its Dreams

Wichita was a thought you see, in the time of 1870...

Along the Chisholm Trail for cattle drives and such...

They headed North towards us from destinations far and from the South..

But, here remained the dream to fulfill, a city in the wild...

born free in the land of the brave to dream..the Heartland we so love.

Wichita was a thought you see, in the time of 1870...

Some dreamed so far as to evolve and make us proud...

Full of culture of our Native Indian...

1920 massive expansion of aircraft  ...

and the American Farmer who goes before and beyond,

holding strong the ground for which we stand.

Wichita was a thought you see, in the time of 1870..

Tradition, dreams and foresite,

she grew with education and Universities,

entertainment arena's, Old Town to glory days

to a Paranormal Society that touches heavily 

our ancetoral past.

A thought you see, makes a reality..
    share our corner of the world....

             Wichita thriving...Wichita is dancing to its dreams.

Written by Susann French

Copyright 09/20/2011

Pictures of Bronze statues in downtown Wichita present day

 by Greg Fox/Broker-Owner Realty World Alliance-used with permission

Wichita, Ks is the Calm Amidst the Storm

 Wichita...the Heartland of these United States!  I've heard people groan when I've told them where I am from...why is this, I think to myself? Have we given the rest of the US that impression of us? Let us strive to change that focus to something much more pleasurable!  We have sunsets that can come up against any I've seen in CO, CA, ID, NM,OK, DC, and WA just to name a few. Hey, just take a look at the photo's I've attached that I've taken from time to time, season to season in our fare city! They were absolutely breath taking at the time. I could not click away fast enough.

AND, it seems the main focus in all cities is the housing market.  Well, breath the fresh air of Kansas dear hearts and gentle people... The housing market here in Wichita is moving while other states are crying and suffering in more ways than one.  Yes, we have our share of foreclosures and short sales...that is a given in this day and age with the banking problems and economy.  However, the good news is that houses "are" selling in all price ranges and "yes" some are on the market longer than others, but that is the name of the game and always has been the name of the game.  People must pry themselves away from the media who always give us the worst case scenario's all around the country.  People, I urge you to give yourselves the right to hear what others in the business have to say about our fare city Wichita, KS.

Do not be afraid! Wichita, KS ROCKS!