romantic reds

I'm just heading out to deliver some small pastels to the Powers Gallery! Hopefully there are some romantics out there who would like to surprise their special someone with a truly unique valentine :)

north / south artist retreats

I recently heard from a long time friend of my sister and her husband, Scott Stoll. Scott is an amazing sculptor. I find his work to be stunning: fluid and graceful. He even did a series in homage to the stiletto! You have to love that! He was writing primarily to tell me about his role in managing North / South Artist Retreats. In January, the retreat is held in Antigua, Guatemala. In September the retreat is held on Georgetown Island, near Bath, ME. Both locations have their own unique magic. In addition to working in a beautiful setting, interaction with other artists will further enhance one’s creative growth. Take a look at the website. Sounds pretty amazing!

two journeys

Tomorrow my niece and brother-in-law are heading out on two very different trips. My niece, a junior in college is departing on a semester at sea. She will be taking classes while experiencing the cultures of ten different countries. What an amazingly exciting and expansive experience. I am so happy for her ......and proud of her! (always)
My brother-in-law is heading to Haiti. He works with an organization called Konbit Sante at the Justinian Hospital in Cap Haitien. They will be setting up emergency response units for the countless earthquake victims. It’s impossible to imagine the situation he will be stepping into. I am in awe of his compassion and courage.
I’m sure both will have experiences that will forever stay with them. They are both very much in my heart.

interesting juxtaposition

I recently said to a friend that although I was enjoying the holidays, I was looking forward to getting back to work in the studio. I realize that just being able to make that statement makes me very lucky. I have been moving back and forth between twelve 6” x 6” paintings for the ETA7 show and two 48” x 48” canvases which are somewhat related to my recent pastel series. The larger canvases barely fit on my easel! And as acrylic dries fairly quickly, I need to really move the paint across the surface with a great deal of energy. (This could be a new workout!) Only then can I stand back and evaluate the whole. LOTS more layers to go, but I am enjoying the process and the feeling of expansiveness. After a few days of that, I went back to working on the little guys. These feel very intimate. I am right up against them, working with very fine brushes. It has been an interesting juxtaposition!

winter's gifts

Winter can pose some challenges. As someone who runs about 20 degrees behind the rest of the world, the onset of winter means for me, trying once again to figure out how many layers I can put on at one time….and still be able to move!! That said, winter in New England has its gifts. Winter skies are amazing. Is it because the colder molecules cast a cooler, clearer light? Is it because the earth is tilted further away from the sun? Is it because the lack of foliage allows an expanded view? I really have no idea. I just know that winter skies are unparalleled. They are gorgeous expansions of blue, purple and silver light. And then there is the snowfall. A fresh blanket of snow quiets the landscape visually, creating a sense of stillness. I have been developing a series which I hope evokes that feeling. I have completed several pastels which can be viewed here. Next I plan to work on some large canvases in acrylic with the goal of creating the experience of one’s stepping into that stillness. Stay tuned………..

genius

A friend recently stopped by my studio to purchase a painting for his new apartment. As he was looking around he said he thought he would like to buy a new painting for each season and then rotate them in the same space. What a fantastic idea! I'm pretty sure he is a genius :)

the thousandth layer

While visiting my family in FL last week, I was working on some small paintings on my Dad’s back porch. One in particular seemed quite problematic. I kept tweaking, revising, shifting the horizon line, etc………and still I could not make myself happy. Until finally, with one brushstroke, whatever is was, I smiled. Something good was emerging. And I thought, ”ah, on the thousandth layer.” Of course that is a bit of an exaggeration, but the point is that sometimes you have to stay with things for awhile before the good stuff surfaces. All of the layers underneath which were less than successful are an important part of the process add to the richness of the final painting. I will post some pictures as I finish series.