Robert Flinkman

Robert Flinkman
Chama landscape
gouache, pastel and colored pencil on Crescent board
14" X 17"
2014
copyright 2014 Robert Flinkman

 

June 21st, 2014          Saturday

The day started out partly cloudy, with some sun. I headed out early to the site, and worked a short while on the piece.  I reworked the sky with more gouache, worked some pastel on areas in the foreground. Viewed the work at a distance, then up close, refining one or two more areas with pastel or colored pencil. Overall, the work looks good, it'a a dynamic piece, alot of movement, and it seems to blend well, be cohesive overall. I'll look at it again next Saturday morning, then get it matted and framed. 
After working on the landscape, I decided to do a little exploring. I drove further along the road, then spotted a vehicle track on the right hand side.  To the left was an opening as well that I decided to explore first, passing through groves of tall pines and what looked like innumerable oak bushes. I passed through several open areas and followed a gulley. I heard and spotted a deer. I turned around, and decided to follow that vehicle track. It slowly ascended up, at times deeply rutted and strewn with large stones. ....Ahead of me seemed to be a ridge of pine trees. I could hear the rumble of thunder as a storm - dark grey clouds-seem to approach me from behind. I wanted to continue on, to see what was beyond that ridge. Actually it opened up to a beautiful open field, to the upper left seemed to be a marsh, maybe a small lake gown thick with tall grasses. The field ascended up to a ridge with trees and bushes edging it....It's a nice walk, I enjoyed the wind, the thunder, the grasshoppers springing about. 
I came back and decided to have an early dinner in Chama itself. I headed over to Forster's at the hotel.....After that I walked around the town, past City Hall and the library, along Maple, Pine, Grove, around 4th, 5th and 6th. I could live very happily here, really. I would buy a home up here, and saw a few for sale, though - for the moment - couldn't afford it. It's nice up here, restful, and the Carson National Forest is so close to explore.

 

March 1st, 2014      Saturday

Sherri Burr invited an acquaintance of hers, Mike Bush from the Albuquerque Journal, to come to the Law School to do an article on the gallery shows we have in the Law School. He came over Thursday at 2PM. Cindy showed up as well, as did I. Mike Bush is a tall, African-American gentleman, with a baritone voice, very pensive, thoughtful in his demeanor. He was interested in the gallery and the artwork there. A photographer was there from the Albuquerque Journal as well. Mike Bush asked how we organize our shows, solicit the artists and the art. Cindy talked about her work, as I did about mine. He commented that the lino block print I did of Madrid reminded him of Albrecht Durer's work - I appreciated the compliment. Jon, one of the student members of the Art Committee, was there, and he spoke about how important art is for the space we live and work in, how it influences the ambiance. I'm interested to see this article, Mike said it would appear in the Higher Education Section of the Journal either on March 11th or the 18th.
The results of having these shows has really been so positive and more far reaching than I had thought. The media exposure had been great, thanks in great part to Sherri Burr and her connections. Sales have been made, the receptions well attended. The Dean himself has commented that friends and alumni have all commented how impressed they are with the Forum now, and how well attended the receptions are.The Dean has allocated now money to purchase more art, as the target now is to place work in many of the classrooms We've looked over work from earlier shows and the current one.