Introducing the 'Harvest Kitchen'

I completed the painting yesterday at the farm. Overall I am pleased, though it was hard to stop; I kept wanting to continue adding in detail and tweaks throughout! But thankfully there was a deadline - the scaffolding had to come down by mid-day.

Custom frames underway....

I have designed 6 different frame profiles for my upcoming show ('the continuation and punctuation') at the Hudson Hospital in March. My talented father is able to take my ideas and put them into reality. I assisted him this past week in his wood shop. Now it's my turn to take the wheel and hand-finish each and every one to compliment the painting that will go inside.

Stay tuned - I plan on posting the process and progress over the course of this next month.....

Bugs, bugs and more bugs!

I was recently introduced to the artwork of Christopher Marley and am completely taken with his story and that he creates art using bugs.... though actually they are art in and of themselves with all of their shapes, colors, textures and patterns (but I'm guessing he already knows this as this is most likely what has drawn him to do what he does).

Personally, I've always liked bugs (my dad built me a 'bug house' when I was little - it was where I could put all of what I had found inside a miniature world that I had planted and cared for) and I am always excited by the possibilities of coming across some strange and unknown creepy crawly when I travel. I'm always the one looking for and even wanting to touch what I come across (though perhaps not always the safest thing to do as I found out on our recent trip to Costa Rica). Regardless, I am fascinated with them and appreciate the approach Christopher has taken. Check out his link: http://www.formandpheromone.com. "Center of Focus" and "Carnivorous Plants" (both found under 'Artwork') are my favorites....

My new-found inspiration

is the world of Henry Selick. Have you seen his latest film, Coraline? I just saw it and am completely enthralled with all of the details, imagery and the world within. I highly recommend seeing it! and his site is something to behold as well: www.coraline.com! You can even create your own flower (mine is to the right) in the garden (perfectly perfect to do on a cold winter day!).

Look what arrived!

Today was a busy day for Tilly (not to mention for the staff) as she gave birth to 13 healthy piglets at Gale Woods Farm. 'Stan the Man', did his job (the little black piglets have his coloring)! Though she gave birth a bit earlier than expected, all fell into place. It was quite exciting! And this is just the beginning  :)   More piglets, lambs and chicks, oh my! will be on their way as spring draws closer..... Stay tuned  :)

Acrylic painting at Work

This is just the beginning of what I am working on at the farm. I'm delighted I can share my passion for paint and color with the staff and the visitors. The completed piece will showcase a medley of vegetables over the doors to the 'Harvest Kitchen'. I've started with the warmer tones and will then move onto the greens, following with the stems to all and then the banner that is overhead.

It's been quite some time since I painted exclusively with acrylics. They are so different than oil; I notice it especially with the layering of the pigments and the drying time (how quickly it dries!). Overall, it has been an extremely satisfying project - I'm eager to continue.

P.S. I couldn't help but think of my previous post (January 2nd) as I painted the onion - quite timely, I'd say....

Time is like an onion....

and so it was stated in the New York Times. Okay, I admit, it wasn't actually exactly like that.... I was reading the Weekend Arts Section on New Years Day and found myself drawn to the title of an article, "Time, the Infinite Storyteller". As I am curious about 'time' and I thoroughly enjoy stories, I started reading. A couple of paragraphs into it I came across "....art is loaded and layered with different forms of time and complexly linked to the past and the present and even the future. The longer they exist the more onionlike and synaptic they become." What a perfectly appealing image I hold in my mind now! The linking of art and onion and time together as one! And curious (and so accurate!) is the idea of art depicting time in a myriad of ways....

On a similar side note: I have to say, my own paintings are made up of many layers, much like an onion and encapsulate stories from the past and the present......