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To Paint | Tuesday Mar 17, 2009

Over two years ago Skagit Valley Artist Bill Slater passed after a prolonged bout with pancreatic cancer. We had met at a party and exchanged phone numbers in agreement that I should visit his studio. Time passed and as opportunities often do ..it passed. Finally upon Bill's death I visited his studio sadly as a guest at his celebration of life party.

In rememberance I photographed the whole affair and captured a number of fine portraits that I'll be posting over the next number of days.

Included here is a link to a memorial slideshow I made . My 'signature' photo for the Cliffwalk which is the girl on the motorbike which consequently is on my business cards was taken at this event. The author Tom Robbins "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues' and Bill were close friends of over 40 years. Two southern gentleman that migrated to Washington State. The cabin where this studio is located is on 'Pull and be Damned' road near La Conner,Washington USA. Early on after their arrival in the early 70's Bill was living on this site in a very rustic cabin with no electricty

or heat save a woodstove. Bill's wife became pregnant and in true southern style Tom offered up his house in town so Bill's wife wouldn't be uncomfortable during the pregnancy. a good share of'Cowgirl' was written in this cabin.

Memorial Blog: http://rverspirit.wordpress.com/

Tags: artist atelier bill_slater eddie_mchugh fine_art_photography skagit_valley_washington_state_usa studio

Galleries: General

Comments:

This is absolutely fabulous!

Posted by Teresa on March 17, 2009 at 09:55 PM PDT #

Very creative glance on the process of formation of the works of the art. Bravo!

Posted by beanow on March 18, 2009 at 12:41 AM PDT #

I love seeing workspaces like this.

Posted by Laurie on March 18, 2009 at 08:06 AM PDT #

This is a wonderful photo... definitely one of my favorites of yours... and I enjoyed watching the slideshow you put together also.

Posted by Debbie Hartmann on March 18, 2009 at 06:16 PM PDT #

Great shot of a artist workspace...

Posted by Ivar on March 18, 2009 at 06:53 PM PDT #

It happens so often in life, Eddie. The frenetic pace, the things we have lined up and the things that somehow we put off for so many reasons. Not enough hours in the day sometimes.

I think the photograph and your rememberence are wonderful

Posted by EYES WIDE SHUT on March 19, 2009 at 09:43 AM PDT #

This is so beautiful that when it opened all I could say was "Whoa!" The colors, the design, the shapes, and both order and chaos at once...and the peace. Also the sense that the artist was no longer "there" anymore, but I don't know why. That leaves me feeling an immediate gut wrenching sadness so deep it felt like someone slugged me. Beautiful and evocative capture of some elusive energy that I can't quite put my finer on. Very moving.

Posted by Robin Easton on March 26, 2009 at 01:34 PM PDT #

Oh my word eddie, I sit here speechless with tears in my eyes. I just read what you wrote about this photo. And I had to come back and leave a second comment. I hadn't read that when I left my first comment. ---And NOW I just read who's studio this is and how he had died of cancer. I remember you sharing the photos of the Life Celebration, but I don't remember this one. No wonder I felt like he was no longer there. Phew! Wow! You sure too me on an amazing journey this afternoon. Thank you my friend, Robin

Posted by Robin Easton on March 26, 2009 at 01:43 PM PDT #

A fascinating photo. My father painted a bit (He'd trained as an Art and English teacher) but never really painted again for himself until after he retired and had a stroke. My mum still had some of his half used tubes of paints in her flat - I guess they really are quite personal things.

Posted by Mrs T on April 09, 2009 at 04:26 AM PDT #

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