ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Watercolor pencils give a different look to the sketchbook. They are studies for future paintings – the time of day – shadows/light/contrast/ motion/value/environment and much more. The pencil strokes exhibit motion and will be reproduced in a finished masterpiece. Paul would often do studies like this for teaching purposes. I learned so much just from listening to him talk about nature and his love for the outdoors. He was a Renaissance man in the true sense of the word.

A couple days ago, I viewed a video we made together during COVID. We did this project for the theatre I’m involved in, to reach out to the community for awareness that you can still have fun even when the world is closed for a while. It was a spin-off of a TV cooking show and totally unprofessional, but a great reminder of the humor we shared along with a lifetime of memories. Each day sparks a memory – an experience – a collaboration – things we did to make each other happy. I’m glad these times far overshadow the difficult memories. Day by day!

Summer memories fill my mind when snow is on the ground,

I think of hot and humid days, with masses all around,

They walk and jog and sometimes sit, and take the beauty in,

The lake displays boats great and small and people there to swim.

Skies filled with voluminous clouds, gathering for the storm,

Still people enjoy each other, it won’t affect their form,

Not prepared with an umbrella, a few drops start to fall,

The skies break open with thunder, lightening like fingers crawl.

They scatter like ants in distress, looking for some relief,

Plastic ponchos worn by a few, they hope the storm is brief,

Soon clouds pass by and sun returns, it really wasn’t bad,

In fact, it far outshines a week in winter wonderland.