First snow

Dad's army truck by the barn
acrylic on paper
5 x 7 inches, unframed
$91 plus shipping

the chickens in their winter palace

Oh a tree? Or not a tree?

Today I struggled with the big debate- a tree or not this year? With no kids at home, what is the point?
Perhaps the need stems because it's such an icon of the season. And, really, I do love the lights and the scent of a tree. Of course I always have a fake one because I can't stand the senseless mass extermination and disposal... I know! My sisters think I am a freak. I nip evergreen boughs to decorate the mantel from the woods for the scent. My children once begged to have a live (really a dying) tree, but I just can't do it. So the question is... do I lug down from the attic the 27 piece fake spruce?
Here is a painting of my mother's tree. She always has a giant one---brought in with a flatbed, and it is wrapped with her mother's satin embroidered sash that says: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All

Another Reason to go to Poughkeepsie

The Mill Street Loft @ 45Pershing Avenue is holding a reception for a Small Works Holiday Show this Sunday December 5th from 4-6pm. I will have several paintings there... among pieces by Carol Pepper-Cooper, Claudia Gorman, "the" Todd Poteet and others! Plan 9 Jazz Guitar Trio will be giving a performance during the reception. A portion of the sales will go to support the incredible work that the Mill Street Loft does. It's one mutually satisfying way of stepping in to help offset the inevitable legislative cuts in funding. The exhibit will remain up with works for sale until January 20, 2011.
Keep in mind- It's right (sort of) around the corner from the Twisted Soul where my other works are hanging through January 19th. I have replaced the sold paintings with others so you may need to get back there and check it out! ( And this is sponsored by the Mill Street Loft as well)

Obsession over the money

Last night at the Badavon the public was invited to speak up about the proposed budget...
it was a long long night.

Imagine no money for the arts

It's easier than you think. This evening the county legislators will hold a public hearing on their budget cuts. As of this moment there is no money allocated to the arts. No money for artists to work with school children, no money for 40% of the local theaters' operating budgets, no money for the hospital's healing arts programs, no money for the stadiums music concerts... As a board member of the county arts council and a working artist and teacher I have a passionate interest in things being resolved differently. It would cost each taxpayer 67 cents a year to keep the arts funding level to what it was this year (which was hugely cut from previous years). Imagine if people spoke up and said they thought they could afford to spend that 67 cents!
Lack of imagination may be a poverty of society, but soon we may have a whole generation lacking exposure to anything other than their TV and their cell phone.
Imagine what we would be missing. Is anyone interested in a show of paintings only half there, a concert of music only 1/3 played, a film without editing or ending...? (ndp)

Organizing the X files

I have barely started my lists and I KNOW some of you are almost done with your shopping! My day was spent at home filing, sorting, and narrowing paperwork while it rained a torrential storm outside. The power went out for a while. If it had been any colder it would have been an incredible blizzard- this IS the first day of December. It's been a mild winter so far. But not like New Orleans...
What a gift that was to be there last week. I got so much joy in simply being with my sons again. What would the right gift be for you? Here is one of my works from...2007? It's painted Mexican walnut-dyed paper, 5 x 7 inches ($91)