Milkweed

NOT AVAILABLE
Another take at the "weed" theme, this milkweed is buzzing with bees. Drove a couple hours today and used the time to visualize my next series. I want to work LARGE. This painting is just the first piece of it...

Weeds taking over the corn field

It was a beautiful cool day today- and I couldn't decide what to paint- The theme for the dailypainters.com post is "weeds", So I searched for an appropriate subject outside the studio- I thought of my sons, "growing like weeds", and thought of others, as well. I took the opportunity to fit echnacea and hollyhocks where the wild sawgrass grew, and planted impatience flowers among the moss, pulled morning glory vines from the lily stalks, and was on my way to the milkweed corner when I fell in love with the young rows of recently planted corn. Nearby my dad worked on patching the little house chimney and Gigi scoured and vacummed, so I felt a little like Nero, fiddling while Rome burned, at my easel in the field.

Turtle guest/gift

Back from a day at Moma,NYC, my two sons explore the gravel bank and bring me home a gift/guest.The beauty of this box turtle inspired us to paint him, and then released him.
A watercolor by Max and acrylic on paper by Tilly

Fireworks at night

This is wishful thinking. A neighbor of ours, a few weeks ago, set up a giant tent and had a fantastic display of fireworks that evening. The sky was completely lit and only the thunderstorm that followed afterwards could top it. Yesterday was Max's 12th birthday and we had a small party at the pond, with watermellon and Gigi's chocolate cake. I wish I could have provided fireworks for Max- he is such a sweet wonderful child. So I've painted this from memory and desire.

Morning light on haybales

Had to get this done early as it is my son's birthday and there is tons to do to get ready for the party! Soon the pond- just off the edge to the right of this scene will be resonating with screams of delight and splashes of young water acrobats...Must say I enjoyed the quiet moment working on this. I think I may try a larger version of this later- this is 4 x 4 x 2 inches.

Monday Sundae

It's finally acting like summer! We picked up the icecream at Fudgy's and raced home- with the top down- Max couldn't resist a small taste- and the rest is history. I wish you could have seen us- multi colored foam noodles (for the pond) waving madly against the restraints of the back seatbelts, the dog Bruizer, on his hind legs relishing the wind blowing his ears back, Max in the passenger seat holding the sundae like the grail, and me in goofy wide brimmed hat and sunglasses gripping the wheel.
I need another plan. Oil on canvas 4 x 4 x 2 in.

SUNDAY'S SUNDAE

Finally it has started to warm up. Here is another quick melting take on the Sunday sundae- 4 x 4 x 2 oil on canvas

haybales

SOLD- Amanda!
I am waiting for the 4:30 light to paint. I try to spend the morning keeping busy but not overdoing anything so I am not too exhausted when the light finally gets right. I made dinner in a slow cooker, weeded some flower beds, organized my painting racks. The farmers are busy and enjoying the dry cool June air. I was disappointed in my first choice of a painting location because farmer George had efficiently moved all the bales since early morning into an uninteresting line. But my son rescued me insisting he knew just where I needed to go. We followed farmer Eric's tractor and hit a visual motherload! Max skipped stones in the pond while I made this small painting. Tomorrow I will go back.

Millbrook full circle

SOLD
This is a spectacular scape from the side of the road, just over the hill from our farm. I had to look through a fence. My original point of view choice was habited by egg laying snapping turtles, so I had to retreat further along. I am glad for it!

Pond grass

I painted this afternoon at the pond's edge. My boys, and a slew of others, were splashing about in glee, and I was fascinated by the purple headed grasses and the seeds floating through the air. acrylic on paper and wood-4 x 4 x 1.5inches

rose blossoms

During the last world war the government encouraged all the farmers to plant multi-floral rosebushes as fence line so the soldiers could have the surplus fencing made into ammunition. Our grandpa planted these impenetrable bushes around the perimeters of the grazing fields. The problem today is that the roses have taken over the countryside and become a bane for my dad and his bigger and bigger brush hog. There is only one week in June when they flower and fill the air with sweet sensations.

free chicks

My chickens are growing faster than I can feed them- so I placed a sign down by the road. My students each wanted to take one home- and I did, wickedly, consider it- though I knew parents might create a scene. Fortunately a bus driver stopped by and took a batch and then someone else took a few- now I have six= 5 lovely hens and one rooster!
Last night I dragged myself to my women's artist group- and it was so invigorating. I am so glad i went. It is all about showing up. As Jo says, it's all about the practise, "put your pen down and start moving it".

Monday Sundae

Moody blues, I am feeling a little ragged at the edges. This is the second week of my kiddie workshops, and too many late afternoon scheduled meetings, events to coordinate. I feel as though I'm going to drop something off my list and collapse.
I feel like a dry-eyed wreck. An ice cream sundae might cheer me up.

Strawberry AND SUNDAY SUNDAE

Our favorite June fruit! (acrylic on paper on wood)
A sundae with Kent's tulip tree motif. Today he turns 16 and the tree planted when he was born has blossomed! (oil on canvas)

Two fresh hens

A daily painting painted from Life...is it a still life?
I have way too many chickens...they constantly need more feed, and at night I hear dogs(?) sniffing around them, rattling their cage. The painting is for sale but the chicks are free! Interested?

HEN AND EGG "antiqued"

We painted on canvas today with gel meduim for added texture. Once the paintings dried I challenged the kids to cover the surfaces completely with burnt umber, and then, with patience and care, wipe it off to reveal a transformed antiqued image. It'sall about taking a risk- letting go of your work- the girls did it. The boys chickened out!
In addition to risktaking daily in the studio I think that the muse is lurking for me at art openings. I really do not like going to openings because I feel shy and am often tired in the evening. But I am challenging myself to attend more art openings and to connect and hand my card to at least one person.
Yesterday evening I attended an art show in Catskill at the Marshall & Sterling Upstate offices. Three of my works were chosen by the curator Kathy Velis Turan to be in the show that pays homage to the creativity and short life of Kyle Berry. I drove forty minutes, put the cell phone on mute, walked in with my shoulders down, and met some really delightful people!
It felt really great.

Clementine coq

The kids are altering clementine boxes and this was my quick primitive take on the fowl. My son Max has made his box into a clock. The energy and imagination the kids have is just incredible- yet I run around until my legs fall off finding them tools.
Lots of fun...working with flaws and all...

Chicken Still Life

NOT AVAILABLE
Inspired by my studio full of playful young artists...this chicken is a quick study. The kids in my painting workshop are working at drawing my live chickens with a sharpie on boards and then painting over them with the anticipation of the sharpie ink bleeding through...some good work....

SUNDAY'S MANU SUNDAE

Truth is I can paint everyday- even when traveling- but I can't always photograph them and post them...This is a terrible photograph...I painted the sundae with a flower from Emannuelle's table arrangements.at her party. She has a summer job at a florist's shop.
Have to run....today my kid art workshops start...on Friday I am joining the other artists on Dailypainters.com in a challenge to paint and post daily a combined number of 2000 paintings in 4 weeks!

Avocado for beauty and brains

I should do a mango for Emmanuelle- the first of my sisters kids to be born, and to graduate from high school. She is a Haitian American princess, with brains too. So instead I picked a "tropical" fruit (or veggie?) that happened to be in the fridge and need to be eaten. In honor of her big day. We are jumping in the car to go celebrate with her----in about 10 minutes! Yikes- got to run, I have lost my list! But at least I got the daily painting done!!!!!
Congrats Manu!

Mushroom

6.25 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches painted acrylic on paper on wood
I am running around like mad with a million things to do and scattered scraps of lists, lists of lists, receipts, etc...Lots of potential for disaster. We are going out of town tomorrow for the weekend and I want to keep up my Sunday sundae series so I have to pack the oil paints... next to the dry cleaning. And if I forget the cat food, he will be eating WITH the chicks.
My dad has a passion for mushrooms and tries to cultivate them in logs with spores, deep in the woods under dark nets. When we were little he would scrape fungi off trees and turn the frying pans black, filling the kitchen with smoke. Finally my stepmother banished him to the woodstove in his clinic. His daughters would gather around for a taste of his rare cooking skills. My children won't eat mushrooms. I think it is something you acquire a taste for with age or in special circumstances- like I did.

Herbed Shrimp in Beer

Ingredients:
2 lbs peeled raw Shrimp
1 1/2 cup Beer
2 cloves Garlic, minced
2 Tbsp Chives, snipped
2 Tbsp Parsley, snipped
1 1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
shredded Lettuce
2 Green Onions, finely chopped


Directions:
Combine all ingredients except lettuce and green onions in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight; stir occasionally. Drain and reserve marinade. Broil shrimp 4 inches from heat until cooked and tender, about 2 minutes on each side, less for small shrimp. Do not overcook or shrimp will become tough. Brush occasionally with marinade. Serve shrimp on shredded lettuce and sprinkle with chopped green onion. Marinade may be heated and served for dipping. Makes 6 servings.

BIRTHDAY shrimps

It was my birthday yesterday and though I did a painting I didn't have the time to photograph, upload, and post it. My family treated me royally... from a my son's serenade & breakfast, to lunch at the Mountain Cow Cafe with my dad and stepmother, to a sushi dinner surrounded by my scrubbed and dressed up household men. In addition, if I can keep bragging, to my belly, my nose was romanced with flowers, soaps, sprays and candles. And did I say I got to paint as well? I was full and exhausted. Today is extra!

Heart of the thistle

Here is another artichoke. I had to nibble a couple leaves to make it look interesting...and before we knew it- there were no leaves left. Just the heart. It took immense willpower to put down the fork and pick up a brush. 3 1/2 x 6 x 2 inches acrylic on paper on wood.On another note: One way I know that my husband is a my prize is because he eats the leaves and hands his heart to me. SOLD

SUNDAY'S SUNDAE

For Louise Bourgeois, a Storm King spider straddles the sundae. I must have lost my mind- puttered all day, painting and organizing closets, and I completely forgot that I was supposed to be other places- including gallery sitting at the Maplebrook show! where is my head
oil on canvas 4x 4 inches

Glorious thistle

I've hardly the time to paint...ran early to Beacon and then spent the day (because of my sister Gwen) among artists at Storm King. Monumental sculpture and living sculptors, conversations with intriguing new friends: Michael, Peter, Aria, lunch including "rubber" chicken and a gifted Bourgeois book, incredible views, an evening of thunderstorms, fireflies and fireworks. Everyone is happy.
This is a second in a series of celebration foods. 6 x 5.5 x 2 inches

Celebrating with Artichokes

We celebrated a small official step to summer tonight. Burgers on the grill and our leafy prehistoric vegetable. Made mom's hollandaise sauce...the only reason for a blender. Nice to have both boys home. SOLD