Castoro Cellars Art Show in the Events Center Aug/Sept 2015

Castoro Cellars Art Show in the Events Center Aug/Sept 2015

Procrastination or manic creativity.

I had almost a year to prepare for my one man show in the events room for Sept 2015. I really didn't start painting a new group of paintings till after our 11 day vacation to Sedona , Grand Canyon , Bryce Canyon and Zion Canyon in May/June of 2015.  I sort of used the beautiful scenery to catapult my creativity in painting for this last paint session. I knew I wanted to paint in oils which is not my regular medium , watercolor is my forte and I needed to paint some big format paintings because the room is big and has lots of wall space. That was the plan and of course I had a deadline. I needed at least 15 paintings. Sure I had some paintings in waiting but I wanted to do something fresh and new and from local scenery of our beautiful Central Coast of California and in oil so local people would recognize the area. Along with having alot of material to choose from to paint, since I am a studio painter I take alot of photos of our surrounding area. Anytime I see a cute little cottage in town or a flower or landscape that I would love to paint I would get out of my VW with my Iphone and record it.

Jan from Castoro Cellars who is the manager and schedules the artists throughout the year called me the first week of August 2015 and said that their artist for August did not show up and I guess there was a misunderstanding in the booking date, and could I hang my paintings early. I was happy to say I had plenty of new work but had just ordered frames from San Diego Frame Co and they were not expected to arrive till closer to the 24th. I called the frame company and they expedited my order and I received them on the 13th of August and they were beautiful. I assembled the frames with the canvas's and wire and hung my show with my husband Gary's help. My granddaughter Ella came down with her mothers parents and Roy , Ella's grandfather helped hang the last four paintings and adjust some lighting. It looked beautiful but boy was I tired.

Thoughts went through my mind in regards to  my ability to paint well in such a short amount of time. I always did well under pressure in school but I am also a procrastinator. The thought of boy if I can do this is just less than 2 months what can I do if I was painting all the time. This of course was after the fact of producing 15 new rather large format paintings. How prolific would I be? However I also realized my yard and my house was a mess. Everything else went on hold during this time. Even having fun sometimes or spending time my grand kids because I felt under the gun. I wish there was more of a balance that could of been achieved , a creative artist work balance that is achievable that makes sense. How do prolific professional painters do it with a spouse and a family successfully is a real challenge. I commend them if they are able to do it all the time. I don't think they can but only in sections of time and with good organization of time and supplies and emotions.  I then promised myself to paint more but spread it out so that I always have a new body of work even though  the paintings might not sell and I have a backlog of work I just need to be more consistent in painting whether in the studio or outside.  My physical  body will like it more too as I have developed tendinitis in my elbow and forearm.

Here are the paintings that are in my show. Most of them are large to medium size and oil on linen. Two watercolors.  I sold the red bard and one of the cottages to my friend Nancy who loves my paintings but the rest are available to purchase. I actually think this is the best I have painted in oils ever. I think I am getting into this medium as I think oil is harder than watercolor for me at least.  

Summer of Restoration and Reflection.

  In June 2012 I had a major back surgery to stabilize and fuse my 5th lumbar disk slipping even more forward from my  sacrum. I was born without a small vertebrae  bone in  my back and  as I got older  my disk was slipping forward   by over 50% and causing alot  pain when standing and doing anything. So with alot of prayer and supplication I decided it was time to "fix" my physical problem that wasn't going to just go away but get worse with possible nerve damage if I didn't have surgery.
   I can honestly say the pain level after the surgery was way worse than natural childbirth x 2. The surgeon said I had quite alot of scar tissue without even having surgery before so he had to "mess with " it to get it fixed. I had four screws which are quite long (over an inch in length) and two rods inserted with a cadaver bone used as a spacer in between my disks. So needless to say I was taking some heavy duty pain meds right after surgery. I am  happy to say I am so thankful that that  month after surgery is behind me and I am fairly  active 4 months out  but not totally without pain yet. But I am confidant in my prognosis of having a some what pain free existence in the future.
  I had a great job at a winery working part time selling premium wines and helping with events and weddings at a beautiful winery. After a long recovery and being out at least 3-4 months I was ready to go back to work with trepidation because my job was very physical having to stand for long periods of time and lifting heavy object which is forbidden after fusion surgery for at least the first year for a perfect recovery. My doctor wrote up a job limitation form and I submitted it to my employer and after about a week I was called up and was told they could not have me come back to work because of the doctors limitations. At first I was devastated because I really did love my job (not all the time mind you) and hurt you know because I had worked there for over 6 years, almost 7 and had made alot of friends who were customers and coworkers of course. I felt rejected because they needed someone whole and I was not whole yet.
   Then I started to understand what my sister and daughter were saying to me even before I got my dreaded phone call. They were saying I should not go back to work doing this same physical stuff after such a life changing surgery and to let my body heal completely and not to worry about a job or money because God will take care of me no matter what. Of course they were telling me this because I have a husband who has a nice retirement and works part time. If I wasn't blessed with this I would be in dire straights financially. But I do have that and we still have to watch our penny's. I have also been getting a little state disability which  takes the sting of no income at all even if it is a small amount, it helps buy some  groceries.
    I am saying all this stuff because I have had to be dependent on my husband physically because I could hardly get out of bed after surgery and using a walker to total financial dependence. I even had to use a porta potty in the bedroom and stay in my bedroom for about a month without going upstairs because I shouldn't and couldn't. He even had to chart all my medications because I could not remember how much or when I took the pain medications. I was out of it for about a month.
   All these things are said because I am thankful for his help and being able to shoulder my recovery without complaining and to show how the body restores itself after such a invasive surgery. If you saw my xrays after surgery with all the screws and rods it would freak you out. I am so thankful  for my dogs who never left my side in recovery when I was stuck in bed in pain. My golden retriever slept with me after I came back from the hospital  right after surgery. (she was on top of the covers -not inside the sheets)  She was a great comfort to me and I think she knew I was in tremendous  pain and suffering. I love her and my big boy yellow lab. 
  Now I have to figure out how to generate some money since I don't have a paying job and am quite unemployable in the standard sense and disabled right now. My sister, daughter and husband have encouraged me to pursue my painting full force and put my creativity out front and center. Before my surgery in June I remodeled my art studio and made it more organized and beautiful for this day. Now I am making some jewelry with my images on pendants and will start gearing up for a small show October 13th. My dream is to have several outlets to sell my work and maybe even set up an  Etsy store in the future if possible. It has taken me about 3 months post surgery  to even get to the level of playing in my studio because the medications I was taking caused me to be foggy and I could not focus on anything, There was a medication for nerve pain that made me dizzy and forgetful. Boy I am glad those days are over.
   So this surgery did change my life or at least open up an new chapter in my life. My progress is slow but deliberate and restorative. I will hopefully look back at this time with heartfelt thankfulness to my family, my surgeon who was fantastic and to the Lord who is looking out for me. My job at the winery did not define me as a person. I have to get over that. My focus is my health and happiness and family and I will also focus my energy on creating paintings and jewelry.
Nancy

Beautiful Sunset in Paso Robles

I just came home from a beautiful sunset at work and wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!

Introduction

Hi

My name is Nancy Pharis and I am an artist who lives on the beautiful Central Coast of California. I work part time at a beautiful winery called Stillwaters Vineyards to get my dose of meeting new people and great benefits of discounts of great Paso Robles wine. I currently have an art show at Ortman Tasting Room in downtown Paso Robles on Park St for the month of November. I have two adult children , a son who is married and has two beautiful children and my daughter who is currently studying for her masters degree in sustainable engineering at Cambridge University in Cambridge England. I am very proud of both of them but most of all that they love the Lord and care about the world around them and actually act out what they believe in.