Finally

Ok, I was pretty upset when my PC crashed and the conversion to Mac was rough.  Now, many printer manufacturers are getting around to producing drivers for Leopard so I am able to function pretty well.  One printer still can't do what it used to, but at least it appears this manufacturer will eventually deal with this issue.

All in all, I am happier with the conversion to Apple.  Unless PCs and Windows really change in the future, I will stay with my Mac system.  The display is awesome and Adobe products so work better with Mac.  

Did I say total convert to Mac?

Oh, boy...well I am because I now own a lot of stuff.  But the commercial showing a Mac and PC (people as a Mac and PC) making fun of Vista (PC operating system) should be making fun of the newest Mac OS! 

Leopard can't print.   I am kind of sick right now.  Waiting months for printer drivers to be available is NOT an option.  

Total convert to Apple

Ok, I got an IMAC, it was a super machine but since I REALLY push my computers very hard with graphics and huge scanned files, I found I needed a bigger bite of the APPLE.

Also, we found a program after a long involved series of posts to the external hard drive manufacturer's troubleshooting tree. The program worked. It saw this back up drive. I am in the process of restoring these files and am so relieved. We made many previous attempts to recover these files using other programs ad methods. Hate to say it but guys don't ask for directions even when doing things like file restoration. So I decided to try the manufacturers' troubleshooting site. Finally, after what seems like dozen of exchanges, I got an actual email with a link to a program. The program wasn't free, but the fee was reasonable and forensic restoration is very expensive!

Now, to get back to real life! AND most importantly to painting!

Also had a great experience with a company I decided to have pack my paintings for shipping to the gallery. Oh, did I mention gallery representation? This is another post.
The packing/shipping company is PakMail. The store manager is an artist also. He does graphic design. On bad days, experiences like I had with PakMail make things right.

PS, everyone I have spoken with at Apple has been wonderful, too. Most are young people with great professional attitudes and an abundance of knowledge.

Virtual Disaster

It has been a long time since I posted on my blogs.  This year has been good as far as emerging goes, but I am very distraught at this time.

My wonderful (formerly wonderful) custom built PC with a RAID and back up external drive crashed.  It has crashed in the past, however this crash killed it.  I thought I was fine because despite some important data file loss (my stupidity), all of my paintings were photographed or scanned and saved in a couple different formats on my external drive.  It was a shared drive on our network, in that my husband's computer could also access it.  

The bottom heartbreaking line is that now despite hours of restoration attempts using a forensic program my old PC seems to be totally dead.  The external hard drive is not visible to our other PC and my new system; a MAC, can copy the drive but cannot see the files.  Now it is possible to read the same files on a MAC but because the drive isn't formated for a MAC I can't access the drive.  

It is a nightmare.  No matter what media you use for back up.  Back up on OTHER media.  Back up your back ups and back them up some more.  

It is possible that some way we will recover the files, but it will take more time or energy than I saved by not being triply redundant (she said redundantly).  I am honestly ill.

Critics Picks

Eternal summer
For a plein air painter, there are few better spots than Naples, Florida. Chicago artist and Naples transplant Trudy Bentley Rech conjures Florida’s eternal summer — the climate, the light and the denizens of that world — in work that’s intensely colored, both impressionistic and representational, broadly rendered and detailed where it counts.
"Finding a unique perspective or moment in time is part of my drive," she writes. "My work is all about seizing time with pigment."
Bentley Rech’s work is on display in two exhibitions: "Trudy Bentley Rech, Oil Paintings," the United Arts Council at Marco Airport, through June 30; and "I’ll Take Romance," Falciglia Art Gallery, International College Naples Campus, through April 26.
— T.D. Mobley-Martinez

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/apr/13/critics_picks/

The painting which appeared above this article is an oil painting titled Dancing Oak

This is MY kind of Friday the 13th! LOL.

Music and transformation

I attended an amazing performance last night. Sir Neville Marriner and The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Jonathan Bliss was the featured soloist and his impassioned playing had me seeing colors galore. He autographed copies of his CDs during intermission and my husband and I both got one signed.
This experience will be the subject of a painting. I have trouble sitting still during a live performance of powerful classic music. The sounds move me. Some notes make me feel like the dog pictured cocking its head listening to the Victrola. Other notes must hit some synapse and colors flash or float. The experience is very intense and wonderful, but can be embarrassing as if I don't put my fingers on my lips, I sometimes hum or otherwise get so fully engaged that my body moves. Listening to a great live performance such as last night creates great dynamic tension within me and release as well. I came home exhausted and inspired.

I mentioned my synesthestic reaction to the very talented and sensitive Jonathan Bliss as he signed the CD. He was interested and asked if it was a blessing or curse. It is both but mostly a blessing.

The painting below has influences of urban sound surroundings. I cannot listen to some music, it literally hurts my ears and the pain goes beyond my head.

My husband likes Meatloaf (not the food). We once went to a concert. I had to put earplugs in to survive the experience. It was pure torture. I don't mind listening to rock type music on our custom sound system, but in person, it hurts. Contrast that experience with last night's most exquisite transformation and you have contrast like black and white. (Red or Green)

I just found a great website which explains synesthesia far better than I can:
http://web.mit.edu/synesthesia/www/


Bravo Sir Neville Marinner and your wonderful chamber orchestra! Bravo Jonathan Bliss! I know I will treasure the music you gave to the audience and put into my head. We purchased both of his CDs his home page: http://www.jonathanbiss.com/

Plein Air Experience

My plein air workshop group has done well. We have one more session coming up a little more than a week. We have been plagued by "cold" and windy weather for our area (less than 60 degrees)! So we took a week off. Because I am getting ready for 2 solo exhibitions, I am using this time to get ready for these shows.

As a result of the workshop, I have also been doing more work outside the studio.

This piece was done near the entry of the Naples Zoo. The sea grape is a native plant and the play of light and shadow this day was particularly fun to paint.

I am not used to painting with so many distractions, however. It wasn't the people, or the duck...but traffic noise! The smell of the diesel fueled buses, the sound of sirens, horns and even some construction sounds affected my vision. I sometimes see colors when I hear certain sounds. I had trouble tuning out the cacophony of these disquieting noises and smells.

People on the other hand didn't bother me at all. I can talk and paint without loss of focus. The Muscovy duck hung out with me despite the fact he did not receive any food. He was pretty pesty, but he seemed to enjoy the fact I would talk to him. Muscovy ducks aren't native to Florida and they often become pests. Check my nature blog later today for more on this critter.

http://trudybentleyrech-artist.blogspot.com/

Where DOES the time go?

It has been almost a month since I posted anything.
Well, I have been busy.
I do teach painting privately and via workshop type seminars.

Recently, a number of artists from Naples approached me asking for some guidance for their Plein air work. I have been delighted to oblige them.

Although unadvertised, this workshop has an ideal number of students (6).
I will post some of the pictures from the workshop soon. I need to reduce the size of the image files to make them uploadable.

The best thing about this workshop is the enthusiasm of the participants. They are a wonderful group of artists with a varied level of experience. I felt all have approached the "Painting Experience" with an open mind. We are combining the interest of painting outdoors with the wonderful natural environments still left in Collier County Florida.

1. Upland habitat (scrub, prairie and pine flatland) found at the Naples Preserve
2. Coastal habitat (natural beach with mangroves and other native flora)

3. Wetland habitat (ephemeral wetlands, "swamp" and a taste of the Everglades) found at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

How fun it is to combine the love of painting with the love of real Florida. Native plants and animals abound in these areas.