The Year of the Lake

Show is up at City Market in downtown Burlington. Through November.

click on image for clear version

One of several paintings done from my community garden site at Rockpoint this fall. The massive spruce and pine trees on the road toward the Bishops House have always been a strong presence. I decided to take a second garden out there, and when I found that my assigned plot would be just footsteps south of them, I was thrilled, to say the least! Overall, gardening out there went well in spite of the two straight months of rain and tomato/potato blight. At the end of the season I finally began to paint out there, producing 5 works that can be played with all winter in my studio.

“If one has no horse, one is one’s own horse…” — Van Gogh

From the Telegraph.co.uk

• Letter from Vincent van Gogh to his brother Theo, Nieuw-Amsterdam, 28 October 1883

Extract from the letter: “If something in you yourself says ‘you aren’t a painter’ — IT’S THEN THAT YOU SHOULD PAINT, old chap, and that voice will be silenced too, but precisely because of that. Anyone who goes to his friends and complains about his troubles when he feels like that loses something of his manliness, something of the best that’s in him. Your friends can only be those who fight against it themselves, rouse the active in you through their own example of action.

“One must take it up with assurance, with a conviction that one is doing something reasonable, like the peasant guiding his plough or like our friend in the scratch, who is doing his own harrowing. If one has no horse, one is one’s own horse — a lot of people do that here. You must regard it not as a change — as a deeper penetration.”

scary pumpkins, scary faces– what makes them so?

Jack-o-lanterns ought to be a good excuse to come up with the most horrifying faces possible, but this is easier said than done. Mine here are mostly just goofy, sad or confused looking. Instead of scaring, they look scared themselves.

Evil, or its embodiment as a sort of threateningness is not an emotion. If I had to characterize its appearance on a face, I think of the slant of eyebrow, gleem in eye, furled lip with teeth exposed, nostrils flaring? I better try another drawing.

But I also should say that I’ve never known a kid to be actually scared by a pumpkin.

if you want to create your own freaky-faced pumpkin, go to  http://www.cubpack81.com/images/carve_pumpkin.swf

Night Glories

I spotted this composition as I was clearing the remains of my Rockpoint Garden last evening.  Rain and darkness were threatening, but worse, the threat of our garden closing day today loomed even darker. Would I have another chance to photograph these beauties before everything has to be cleared out? Why are they only blooming now, in October, at the dead end of the season! Should I run home and get my camera, and risk not getting back until dark, or in the pouring rain? Well, I did, and captured enough to work from in studio this winter.

Click on image for better version

I’ve been painting quite a bit this season from the other end of the garden, looking up toward this pile of foliage, which arbor has also sported a decent crop of pole beans, with the Monster Pine and Spruce as backdrop. The horizontal-running small  branches of the spruce were of particular interest, for some reason. They provide an engaging net-like configuration I guess.

This morning we performed the final rites on garden closing, but agreed that I can leave this arbor up for a few more days, as it isn’t likely the rototilling contractor will be through for a few more days. AH! Reprieve!!! If the darn wind dies down I might even go paint there later. That would be such the diggity delight! Now, pass the kale please…

Sail Away

This time of year brings thoughts of far away lands, and at the same time, energy goes into making ready for the coming cold weather as if I might be here for another winter.

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Mixed media on paper, 12 x 18, archival mat and framed, $225

not today, but some other day

Emerald Green Frog

My new garden friend, I hope! (click on image for clear version)

He’s as big as my hand too! hope he likes slugs.

Two paintings from Champlain School site were still at the pretty horrible stage as dark was approaching, so the frog appearance was a relief. Beautiful he was! The color, other-worldly. Maybe another one of the photos shows the color better.

yes! this one taken without flash. color more accurate.

Stocking up on Art Supplies

Michaels 50% off coupons coming in very very handy. Feel like a squirrel gathering nuts for the winter. Not hoarding, just restocking. I’ve burned through a lot of paint the last few weeks. And, hope to do a bit of painting with my sisters this weekend in Maine

Here’s another iteration of Rockpoint painting from my garden looking up

Still Painting at Rockpoint

From my garden — almost there

I’m actually working on 4 small ones (16 x 20 ish)  and one med (24 x 36) where the focus seems to be those huge spruce and pine trees… pretty compelling subjects.

ART HOP FRIDAY!