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A Walk Down Main Street

October 28, 2015

 

wellsville ny illustration by tracy hetzel

This is my hometown, Wellsville, NY. Isn’t it cute. So cozy, so friendly, so Rockwellian. What a wonderful place to grow up. I had a great childhood in this small, sleepy, Western New York town where the closest city was a 2 hr. drive away. My parents never locked the doors and we could wander anywhere we desired, unsupervised. Everyone knew your name. It was safe, it was serene, it was something that nowadays is hard to come by.

As kids we would walk everywhere. To a friends house, down the street to the five and dime, to school and back, into town with the train tracks guiding us. To my dad’s car dealership after school, where he would always give us money so we could head across the tracks to the Elmhurst Dairy and get ice cream. (Of course we’d always remember to bring him back a chocolate shake). We’d also wander into the woods (basically, my backyard). Here our imaginations ran wild. We would play army and parachute from trees, pretend we were trapped in the wilderness, build forts and structures with sticks and in the winter we would try and survive sledding on “Devil’s Run”. My mother always said, “If you’re bored, go outside and play with a stick.” and we did. My summers were spent pool hopping, garden raiding, catching fireflies and playing “monsters” with the neighborhood kids til way after dark. It was a moment in my life where nothing mattered, there were no worries, and time seemed to stand still. We only knew we should head home when my mother would yell at the top of her lungs from the front porch. It was precious.

Then, my teenage years… Much time spent at the local pizza joint, Pizza King. Hangin’ with my friends, gossiping and deliberating on whether or not 30 was considered old. We’d head to “The Hill” or “The Pines” to party. Some nights it seemed like the whole town was there. Then there was Friday night football games, dances, pep rallies, cruising down main street, going to the movies, shaving cream fights on Halloween. Hanging with my friends “The Screamers” seemed like the best thing in the world. There were many a long night dreaming of the future and what it may bring…

My cute little town is considerably different today which makes me reflect on what is no more. My favorite bakery, which had the best donuts I’ve EVER had is no longer there. The five and dime where we’d stock up on candy cigarettes, the local newsstand in town and the department stores of the past are now long gone. My favorite was Newberry’s. My dad and I would have our father/daughter time there. We would sit at the lunch counter and split a banana split! Also gone is the Target of my day, The Ames ‘Big N’ where I bought my very first record, a 45 of Billy Joel’s It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me. Also no more is my father’s car dealership, Hetzel Motors. The memories of playing “store” in the parts room with the antique register and jumping on smelly tires in the attic are some of my favorites. When I was about 16 he wanted me to intern with one of the mechanics. Should have took him up on that one. He had his own gas pump and was brave enough to let me take a brand new Firebird to the prom. Even my dear childhood woods have been developed now with houses and apartments. My grade school and high school have been expanded, the middle school, where we all experienced our awkward years, knocked down.

When I find myself in Wellsville now I have to say, I love shopping at all the cool new boutiques in town (especially New Vogue and Trend Addictions) and grabbing a coffee, or beer (depending on my mood) at the cafe at the new Creative Arts Center. Heck it probably even has wifi. My adored Wellsville has become a victim and a champion of the changing times.

This portrait I have done of my hometown reflects the Wellsville of today, not the yesteryear of my youth. It has grown as I have grown. It has changed as I have changed. I now live almost 300 miles away, but Wellsville… will always be home.

 

Limited Edition Giclee prints are available of Main Street Wellsville in my shop www.longbluestraw.etsy.com

 

Wellsville, NY

Wellsville, NY

 

A Letter to My Daughter

March 6, 2014

being weird by Tracy HetzelI was given homework by my daughter’s English teacher. ME?!? Really? (Boo!), But it was a great assignment. She asked me (and the other Mom’s) to write a letter to my daughter based on the book “Walk Two Moons”, ah… which I also had to read. What kind of school is this? Well, ok… of course I did the homework (and I HAD to one-up all the other Mom’s by doing an illustration to go along with it) hee hee… The following is that letter:

My Dear Ella…

“As I walked home, I thought about the message. In the course of a lifetime, what does it matter? I said it over and over. I wondered about the mysterious messenger, and I wondered about all the things in the course of a lifetime that would not matter. I did not think cheerleading tryouts would matter, but I was not so sure about yelling at your mother. I was certain, however, that if your mother left, it would be something that mattered in the whole long course of your lifetime.” — Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

I view our mother/daughter relationship like this… Life is like a game of pinata at a birthday party. You walk through life blindfolded it spins and whirls you around till you’re all off balance. My job (me, Mom) is to steady you, point your dizzy self in the right direction, and route you on as you swing with all your might in hopes of breaking the pinata wide open and winning all the candy.

Ella, personally, I think everything matters. Every little thing we do impacts our life. Every good gesture… Every mean word. Every cuddly hug… Every painful boo boo. Every good friend and yes… Every enemy. Every awful mistake and every sincere apology. Life is a gathering of experiences, moments, people, love and hate. As the years go by you collect them, learn from them and grow from them. They are what shapes you into the woman you will become. Keep this in mind when you’re fighting with a friend, an enemy or your brother. When you go out of your way to help someone and of course when you have the opportunity to change something you did that you thought was wrong.

I wish for you to be honest, strong, brave and fearless. Go ahead, dance, sing and swim in the waves. Don’t let a single opportunity pass you by. Granted, you will make mistakes along the way and that is ok. It is from these mistakes that we learn. But keep in mind, you can’t make the same mistake twice. The second time you make it, it’s no longer a mistake, it’s a choice.

You may not be able to control all the things that happen to you, but you can decide not to be diminished by them. Please don’t complain. Instead, make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot change it, change the way you think about it. You might find a new solution. It’s true, laughter is by far the best medicine. So, stop, step back and take a minute to see the humor. Try to be the rainbow in someone else’s cloud. And when you find you don’t know what to do, just trust that feeling in your gut. It will never let you down.

I want you to know, you are most beautiful when you’re being kind. You are very talented and extremely bright. I love that you have the ability to surprise me with… your abilities. Please, continue to stand up for what you believe in and keep your mind open to new flavors and experiences. Never lose your “weirdness”. And above all… No Whining! (our number one rule) Remember Ella… just be yourself. If you try to be someone else, who’s going to be you?

Also my daughter, there are no free rides in life. Anything worth having requires commitment, sacrifice and perseverance. You are not entitled to anything you don’t work hard for. Show the world how truly amazing you can be. Work hard, practice and create something beautiful, own it, don’t be ashamed of it. Follow your arrow Ella, wherever it may point. You only live once but if you work it right – once is enough.

Some words from one of my favorite children’s books… (it’s my personal mantra), and from me to you, small wishes as you walk unsteadily through life… ‘Grow up and travel to faraway places. Then come home and live by the sea. But most of all you must do something to make the world more beautiful. But I do not know yet what that will be.’ — Barbara Cooney

So Ella, Try your best to leave the world a more beautiful place. Always remember, I’ve got your back. Wherever you go, I will follow. I am your person. You make me proud. I love you more than…

Yes it’s possible!… Like Popsicle.

Swing for the pinata!

– Mama

Lee Ann Womack

Brooklyn

May 2, 2013

fashion illustration red dress brooklyn

I’ve been experimenting with backgrounds. When I first dabbled into this whole world of watercolor I didn’t really focus on backgrounds, mainly just the figure/subject. But, I was hired to do a painting with a background in it. So, here I am, trying to get my background groove on. This one… the Brooklyn Bridge.

Mannequins

November 4, 2011

blue mannequins

mannequin head

headless mannequins with dove

I can’t figure out my obsession with mannequins. I don’t know what it is. I can’t decide if I like them or I’m scared of them.  There is just something about those strange sedentary creatures that draw me in. The top image is in watercolor and my most recent. The second one I did a while ago and is done in oils. The bottom one, also an oil painting, is about 5 feet long and hangs above my desk. It welcomes me to work every day. I love the morbid human-like mannequins  mixed with the image of the dove, who as a symbol of peace, can’t wait to get the hell out of there.

The Sunken Ship

August 12, 2011

The Sunken Ship Nantucket

I am finding it hard to sketch on vacation, feeling a bit out of my element. I am finding that I prefer the solace of my studio to the kitchen table in the Knoll. Go figure… Vacation is relaxing. I’m relaxed. My ultimate idea of relaxing is to create, paint, beach and paint some more. But… just not feeling it. However, I’m going to keep persevering. Thank God for my Hipstamatic app. Something to give this illustration of the “Sunken Ship” row boat in the harbor a little life.

This is 9” x 12” illustration is available for purchase. Just click on the button below and it will take you to my etsy shop.

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Next Week… Art Camp

July 14, 2011

cupcake illustrationHold your horses people! Next week is “Mommy Art Camp” week. My daughter, Ella wanted to attend art camp this summer. I figured, hey, I’m an artist, why go to art camp when we can have our very own art camp right here. Not only will it be fun (mommy/daughter time) but I can also save myself $300. Win, win! So, I have a week long list of activities and art projects to get through! Stay tuned! I’ll let you know how it goes.