It’s been a few months since the end of my residency, but part of me is still in Bermuda.

I read the Royal Gazette online. I love getting the emails from the Plein Air group, and wish that I could join you all every Sunday morning. Thanks to everyone who has kept in touch. I think of you often.

I finally updated my website, adding Bermuda paintings and some recent Maine paintings. (www.janamatusz.com). I can see that my Bermuda residency has had a profound influence on me. I’m looking forward to building on the progress I made there, to weaving into my life some of the threads from my Bermuda time, and, of course, to returning someday.

Thanks again to everyone. Hugs from Jana.

St. George's at Night (20 x 20")

Independence Day in the U.S.  Happy Fourth! I’m still unpacking and organizing and glowing from fond memories of my Bermuda residency. We put some of the paintings up around the house so we can enjoy them.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the residency possible and who helped make it such a positive experience.

Here is a Letter to the Editor I sent to the Royal Gazette. I’m not sure if they’ll publish it or not, but you can read it here in any case:

A sincere thank you from artist Jana Matusz

To the Editor,

I recently returned home to Boston after a three-month visit to Bermuda as the Masterworks Artist in Residence.

The opportunity to draw and paint is a tremendous gift to an artist, and the inspiration I found in Bermuda was truly remarkable. I’m very grateful to everyone at the Masterworks Foundation for making my residency possible.

Right from the start, I was particularly awed by the intense Bermuda light and color, and the unique architecture (especially in St. George’s) which is a delight to paint. The variety of subject matter, from Ag Show equestrians to Dockyard Glass artists, scuba divers, Bermuda Day parade participants, farm animals, Peppercorn Ceremony, etc. made every day a visual adventure. 

My residency ended up being about people as much as places. I would like to thank all the individual Bermudians who helped me make the most of my residency. In particular, Jill Raine, whose watercolors and prints grace the walls of everyone who loves Bermuda, was an incredibly generous and helpful ambassador. She and her circle of friends made me feel welcome and well cared for during what could otherwise have been a lonely time. The Bermuda Plein Air Painters, which met every Sunday, is a very talented, inspiring and dedicated group. I enjoyed their company, and admired their beautiful and diverse work. The International Women’s Club, especially the Art Group, provided fun outings, delightful company and connections which were very helpful. Many other individuals went out of their way to help me with contacts, rides, and meals. I’m especially grateful to Clifford at the Almeida Farm, who was a splendid model and friend.

I would also like to commend and thank all the Bermudians who, as a whole, serve as a shining example of hospitality, kindness, dignity and pride. In a place where it is expensive to paint and maintain housing and roofing, the Bermudians have, at great personal expense, created a beautiful environment of charm and color which delights every visitor. In situations which would try anyone’s patience, Bermuda’s bus drivers, guides, and citizens have provided directions, helpful advice, and kindness to the many visitors who sometimes overwhelm the island’s resources. I have seen more than “niceness” — I have seen real kindness from Bermudians who have missed their own bus, or delayed their own errands in order to help a confused tourist. It takes a whole country to make visitors feel welcome, and I think Bermudians are doing a splendid job.

You should feel very proud of your country and your fellow Bermudians. You have much to be proud of. I was very impressed, and look forward to visiting Bermuda again.

Sincerely,

Jana Matusz
Arlington, MA
Masterworks Artist in Residence, April-June 2011

A blog of Jana’s experiences during her residency is available online at

http://janamatusz.wordpress.com/

As always, if you’d like to be in touch, please feel free to email me at janamatusz@aol.com. Thanks again, everyone! Cheers!

Jana

Today went smoothly, but it was difficult to leave Bermuda.

I finished up all the final details, putting out garbage, unplugging things in the apartment, dealing with keys, etc. Jill took me to a fantastic breakfast at Mama Angie’s, and then to the airport. Thank you, Jill — you were an amazing friend and helper during this residency. I don’t know how I would have managed without you. Thank you for sharing your fantastic circle of friends with me. I feel so fortunate to have met so many wonderful people.

More to come later.

Meanwhile, the flight to Boston went smoothly and very soon I was back home enjoying fresh peaches, and happy to be back with Marta and kittens. The packed paintings made it here safely.

To my Bermuda friends, stay tuned for one more posting on this blog. And for my Boston friends, I’m back safely and I’ll see you soon!

The whole day was spent in packing, final details, a quick visit or two, and more packing. It was exhausting, and there were no pretty pictures. Hence, no photos today except for the reward of a delicious dinner at the home of Anne and Norman who were celebrating their 34th anniversary. (Congratulations! and thanks!)

Slept in and  recovered from the Jana teaching marathon. Jill and I intersected with Elyse and Tom who were at Frameworks ordering frames for my paintings! Then it was off to the Masterworks museum to take down the exhibit. The sales tallies include 14 paintings (plus 3 given to Masterworks), 10 framed drawings, and dozens of unframed drawings. I measure success in terms of the amount and quality of the work I was able to do here in Bermuda, not the sales, but it’s always nice when people like your work well enough to purchase it. I’m also very pleased to have my paintings and a book of my drawings in the collection of the Masterworks Museum.

While at the gallery, I saw Susan and Michael one more time, and they gave me yet another wonderful gift — a cd of tree frog noises! Now I’ll be able to sleep when I return to Boston! (Thank you!)

After Kate and Jamie and I got the work down and all packed up, I stopped in at the office to say goodbye to the Masterworks team. Jill helped once again to transport the remaining work back to St. George’s, but not without a detour to swim on the south shore (my first time).

I realized, when Diana, Jill and I went swimming at Horseshoe Bay, that this was what was missing from my exhibition. I needed happy swimmers and beach-goers enjoying the most beautiful beaches on the planet. Maybe I was working too hard, and I should have relaxed more and done some drawing and painting at the beach.

Hmmm. Guess I’ll have to come back, no?  :-)

Despite feeling under the weather, I rallied to teach three workshops at Masterworks. The Basic Drawing workshop met from 1:30-3:30, the Plein Air workshop met from 4:00 – 6:00, and the Water-soluble Media workshop met from 6:30-8:30. It was nice to teach in three different areas of Masterworks (in the members room, out in the rose garden, and in Homer’s Cafe), and it was WONDERFUL to have such eager, quick-learning, and appreciative students. I enjoyed sharing information and teaching again, and getting to know my students today! (Thanks for being part of the last workshop and for the very welcome ride home, Jill!)

Jill was my angel again today, and helped me out tremendously. We had breakfast at Mama Angie’s. Delicious! What wonderful pancakes and extraordinary homemade cakes. Wesley sure knows how to make a superb breakfast! Thanks!

We stopped in at Masterworks to update the exhibit since some paintings went to their new owners who were leaving the island. I ran into Susan and Michael who added “Bridge House” and some sketches to their wonderful collection of Bermuda art! Thank you both!

In the afternoon, Jill and I had a painting session where we did still lifes in acrylics. After a swim and a bite at Jill’s with Diana, the three of us did some painting at night. It really is challenging. I’m showing the painting I did the previous night right outside my apartment, and a snippet of the painting I did today of the White Horse at night. Perhaps I’ll crop that favorite bit out of an otherwise disaster painting.  :-)

 

At long last, I finally got to meet Michael and Susan! They had purchased one of my Bermuda paintings from my previous visit last March. It’s quite a story, as Michael’s brilliant letter to The Bermudian will attest. Click here to read it:

http://www.janamatusz.com/TheBermudianFall2010.html

How wonderful that our Bermuda visits coincided. Michael invited me to join him and Susan and Deanna at Grotto Bay for a fantastic afternoon of good food and wonderful conversation. It was a real treat. Thank you, Michael!

Note the Mirabella V in St. George’s harbor. She is the largest single masted yacht in the world. She makes all the other sailboats, some of which are quite large, seem like toys in comparison.

I learned recently that the tree right outside my door is a pomegranate tree. (Despite the drought here it seems happy, possibly thanks to the gray water from my dish washing and showers!)

Motorcycles from a motorcycle cruise (no kidding!) rumbled into town this morning. They looked like they were having a great time! It was a nice opportunity to do some sketching.

Had a swim in the harbor with Jill and Diana. What a nice evening. The view from Jill’s perch is marvelous, and constant entertainment (much better than TV). The sunset channel is especially nice to watch.

How quickly the time is passing now. I’m taking care of errands, final touches, making sure I touch base with some people who have been especially kind. I enjoyed the Friday art group for one last time. Later I stopped in at the farm to see Clifford and say goodbye to my goaty goat friends. In the evening I went with Jill, Scott and Margaret to an absolutely splendid dinner at Mary and Terry’s. Thank you, everyone!