Fishing Spot-Gadsden, AL

Gadsden, AL Fishing Spot___16x20___available at the Gadsden, AL Museum of Art

Last year, I was in Gadsden, AL at the Southeastern Plein Air Festival. Watching this woman sit down to fish, I asked her permission to include her in my painting...she said OK... After spending a couple of hours “with” Michelle (….an artist becomes attached to their subject…) and all that time observing her, and painting her, I had determined that she was Hispanic, but, well, maybe she was African American! I just could not tell….she has the most lovely deep brown skin, made darker by her time in the sun, fishing… so, After a time, I went down to speak to her and supposed I would hear an accent…well, I sure did! She is a Southern Belle! With a thick southern accent as beautiful as can be!...still not sure what her ethnicity is, and I have decided that I like it that way!! It’s time we forget all that tribal stuff…it is good for NOTHING…well, except maybe in and amongst our own families..I am glad my dad was a proud Italian, because it “explains” my own tendencies…and I get to pass on all those great recipes! But I sure don’t expect everyone else to appreciate it like I do!
This week the Southeastern Plein Air Festival is going on without me. My friend, Becky, a Gadsdenite, called me yesterday. She was at this bridge, and remembered me painting there last year. so she called and said "I have a special person who wants to say, "hello"....The voice on the other end was MICHELLE, with her lovely southern accent!...and other artists were there painting her...fishing again!
Back to bluebonnets tomorrow!
:)