Mythographer's Keyhole

Keystone

2012-01-14T18:04:00.002-05:00

This is an 11x14 acrylic painting of Keystone Bridge in Salem, Ma. Painted from a photo it shows the cold rushing waters of a fall day. Trees and stone - I am always relaxed and drawn to both subjects, and really enjoyed painting this one.

Winter Fun

2011-11-06T14:34:00.004-05:00

Yes these are actual ice skates applied to my painting surface! Another 3D peice which is now in a lovely silver frame. This icey painting also sports several snowflakes I created with foam core. At 25x35 inches it is a dramatic statement in cool tones.

Gardening

2011-06-28T18:26:00.004-05:00

This 3D acrylic is 22x34, and has actual gardening tools attached to the board with a paper mache technique. I have fun creating sculpture like paintings, and like painting over the forms as if they were not there, creating interesting effects. This one is unframed, I am hoping one will be made soon.

Castles in the Hand

2011-03-13T13:43:00.001-05:00

Painting/sculpture
Playing with dimension a little in this one. Started it quite a long time ago and finished it a few weeks ago. The hand is lifesize, and the sand and shells are real. Doing some more in this style to share soon.

Christmas paintings

2011-01-29T20:59:00.011-05:00

My dad wanted some paintings to give as Christmas gifts, and here is what he got. Again the beautiful frames were made by my talented husband :) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The photography is not my best, but I was pressed for time and did not do a retake, sorry. Working on several new projects, lots of snow days = painting time!

Maybe I should paint a few spring landscapes, and mother nature might follow suit, one can dream...

All installed and looking great!

2010-08-20T08:23:00.003-05:00

Here is the the sneaker on site at the Springfield Symphony Hall. It's hard to beleive the project is over. What a great way to spend the summer, I am on the look out for other projects of this kind.

2010-08-02T15:54:00.006-05:00

After much input from my husband and son, I decided to place Springfield's seal on the sole. Like we are leaving our stamp on history. Not being able to find a large picture of the seal I called city hall, and the mayor's office came to the rescue and mailed out a nice large copy!

It was very hard to come up with a relevant item to place on the very top of the sneaker, it really cannot be seen too well (except by the very tall) So I did not want to put anything too detailed up there.

The idea was tossed around with hubby and two good friends, who were there watching me paint, and an antique colored flag won the place.

I am so glad I took part in this project, it was hard work but totally worth it! I will post soon with pictures of where it is mounted, now I am just waiting for it to be picked up for a clear coat and then placement some where downtown - watch the news and go see them all!

This is my favorite part of the whole shoe, the cross roads of 91 and 291 with the campanile above that with other sky line buildings.

IT'S FINISHED !!!

2010-08-02T15:32:00.007-05:00

ALL DONE !!!

I could not have done it without my hubby, he started by getting the idea to use my father's garage as a studio, de-spidered the garage, built a wheeled thing to move the giant shoe around, helped with research, took the photos of my progress, and finally encouraged me to keep going, or back off as needed.

painting, painting, PAINTING!

2010-07-29T20:25:00.005-05:00

Layer 5 is all blocked in and ready for details. I can see the end and while it is exciting, it has been so fun that I almost do not want it to end. I plan on being finished this Sunday, I think it is do-able. So here is the latest progress. The detail is amazing, at least that's what everyone is telling me, the funny thing is - I wanted to add more detail, but the sneakers were late so I had to scale down my plan! I'm pleased and happy with how it looks, I hope it is well recieved.

Painting Like Mad!

2010-07-28T20:08:00.005-05:00

Real progress going on now, The levels are shaping up. Blocked in and details are making it come together. Everyone who has seen it have been so pleased, it encourages me. I have had lots of visits from family while I am working. It's always nice to take a break and hear their words of support.

Work on the shoe begins

2010-07-25T15:35:00.004-05:00

After cleaning the bugs off, there were areas that needed to be repaired with some bonda. Nasty stuff! The primer applied by the manufacturer was dicey so major sanding was required.

Finally I was able to sketch out the first couple of levels. Pynchon's founding in 1636 was the starting point.

Each layer wraps around the shoe - 1600's 1700's 1800's 1900's and present day at the top.

I'M BACK !

2010-07-24T06:59:00.004-05:00

It has been a long time - but I have a very exciting project to kick off with!

My really BIG shoe!

Yes that's right a shoe - for those of you who have not seen it in the papers, or those who are not local, Springfield is having artists design 20 sneakers to display around the city - The designs will answer the question "What makes Springfield great?"

My proposal, which was accepted, is "Step into Springfield's History"

Here are shots of me washing the bugs off the shoe - it came on a flat bed truck from Nebraska!(a couple of weeks late!) I will post more shots of the work so come back and see!

ALL FINISHED

2009-07-26T21:04:00.000-05:00

So here it is, titled "Creation" and signed. I have been meaning to up date all summer, but have been busy. There are other paintings to post, but they will have to wait. If you are new to the blog this is a painting that I have covered step by step so you might want to scroll down and view it from it's conception. It's been fun - hope everyone enjoys it.

it's all in the details

2009-05-25T09:39:00.001-05:00

Light reflecting off the hand holding the 'painting' even some reflections on the staples and texture on the painted 'canvas edge' are added. Then the fence posts addressed, by begining to define them with shadows on the edges of the posts. rocks and other sand detail is painted in.
The potters hands are detailed and more texture is given to the surrounding sand. Each tine a layer of paint is added the depth is built up with the combination of tone and tint.
Now for the lighthouse and the hand holding it. While I wanted the hans doing the creating to look more ghostly, when comparing them to the one holding the painting, I wanted to add some warmth. The house itself needed to be defined by adding shadow under roof and porch. The tower gets darker edges blended in to create a round look.

adding details

2009-05-25T08:53:00.001-05:00

The rest of the painting is done! I know it took longer than thought, but I have been crazy busy and not feeling my best. So with out more excuses - These may look the same but now it's all in the details. The top shows some color added to the hands added depth by putting down some darker shadows. More details in the water and sand and overall touches of tone to create shadow.
In the bottom I detailed the boats, paintbrush and the lighthouse before placing highlights on the hands. I know what your thinking, I shadowed them only to lighten them up? - well, yes. This is what creates depth and interest.

Another long time out

2009-03-08T14:11:00.002-05:00

I have painted some more steps, but have had the winter blahs, so I haven't posted. Now that the hint of spring is in the air I am sure I will get back on track. So bear with me and I will post a couple of new shots soon!

next step

2008-12-28T20:05:00.001-05:00

Just a little holiday break in the action - and here is the next step in the 'back painting'. Now that all the canvas is covered in paint I will begin the real painting. I know that most people would say I had already, and I do put more detail in the under painting than I advise my students to. This is when I consider depth, form, and lighting.

more under painting

2008-11-18T16:12:00.001-05:00

I tried to remember to take photos after each painting session. There is very little bare canvas left at this point, so I have begun some of the over painting as I fill in the under painting.

under painting

2008-11-18T15:59:00.001-05:00

Now it's time for the under painting. This is to lay down blocks of color which will create depth when the actual painting is done. When I teach beginners to paint the under painting is usually just one tone at a time, but I generally put in some of the detail in the under tone as well. When the whole painting is complete none of the underpainting will be left without a coat of paint applied on top. Even though acrylic is opaque the under painting will effect the final result, unless of course you make an error, then you can add enough layers to over come the issue. - oh, by the way - this is a fair sized canvas, 18x24.

Sketch on canvas

2008-11-12T21:18:00.001-05:00

So after many sketches on paper, I usually use pencil to start and then black marker to finalize the lines, it's time to transfer these to the canvas. Using a lamp behind the canvas and placing the individual sketches on the underside of the canvas, so the lines show through to the top, helps get the correct position and size. Once I have the lightly sketched pencil lines just as I want them, I again use marker so I can see the lines through the first stages of painting.

Composing a painting

2008-11-11T09:32:00.001-05:00

So OK here it is :
Like I said I had some 'painter's block' and have not finished a painting all fall. Many of the concepts I had just did not pan out, so I have been thinking about the act of composing, rather than the actual composition. When I have a block I often look through magazines, books, old calenders, and my own photos in hopes they spark an inspiration.
Keeping in mind that I was thinking of composing in a very physical way, I decided to compose a painting about composing. A painting of creation - the photos show my inspiration pictures, hands creating and some sea landscapes. I liked the weather beaten fence in one and the color of the waves in the other, I will improvise a sky, not having found one I liked.
Next comes hours of sketching on paper to get things right. I needed to use my own hands for some poses. More pictures to come as I transfer the ideas to canvas :)

Mother

2008-08-21T20:38:00.000-05:00

This face was a quick inspiration. An idea that came to me after reading about an art contest. I took the envrionmental theme of mother earth quite literal. It is a 12x16 acrylic set temporarily in a mat. I had plans for a frame of planets, and made some out of clay, but they did not compliment the painting so were used else where.

I'm happy that people would like to see a work in progress, but sad there are so few who voted, if your new there is still time :)

Reflections of Dusk

2008-08-02T14:36:00.000-05:00

This 16x20 acrylic straight out of my imagination was compleated a few weeks ago. More faces in things I suppose, perhaps a tad more obvious than I intended at first. I like it and I hope you will too :)

Sea

2008-07-27T13:38:00.000-05:00

This 11x14 landscape was an instructional painting I did with a class. More often than not I don't finish or paint over what I have done with a class, having often over worked in areas where students needed further demonstration. I like this one fine, so it stands. Now that my summer teaching is over I hope to not only get a few things to share painted, but also take some photos of the things I have that I would like to share. Thanks for visiting!

update

2008-03-24T13:25:00.002-05:00

No new pictures for today - I'll work on having some soon. If you like supporting libraries and would like to own the little flowers in the Celtic knot, take a ride to the East Longmeadow library and check out their fund raiser, I donated it last week. Have a good day!

Flower Oval In Celticknot

2008-02-13T12:30:00.002-05:00

This little 8x10 framed acrylic was admitedly done more for the knot work than the flowers. Sometimes I just need to design a knot and the flowers were an after thought. If your creative you should try it sometime, it's much more challenging than it appears :) (sold)

Cabin With Poppies

2008-02-12T10:38:00.001-05:00

Framed 8x10 acrylic of a lovely little cabin inspired by a photo. I liked the play of shadow which detailed the timbers of the structure and with all the cold weather we have been having I just wanted to paint some flowers. (donated)

Ribbit Reflections / Squirrel's Eye View

2008-02-10T11:58:00.000-05:00

Two in one week end! I had a bit of a cold and decided to spend the week end in my toasty warm studio. Apparently my creativity did not suffer as a result of my not feeling well, because I was able to paint both of these. Of course they are both small, 8x11 each. These unframed acrylics were both inspired from a series of photos in some nature books.

Catalpa Tree In Kentucky

2008-02-03T12:37:00.000-05:00

My good friend Jane grew up in Kentucky, I painted this 16x20 acrylic from a photo her brother took. The play of light was great in the photo and I tried to capture that and the many textures. (sold)

Sunny Kitchen Window

2008-01-31T20:17:00.000-05:00

This 11x14 acrylic was inspired by a project I often give my students which I call 'out the window'. The only thing missing is floor space. I try to get them to draw rooms with floors and walls so that they can learn to add depth, including a window forces even more depth. Of course I chose a subject with loads of light and shadow! (sold)

Tree Shadows

2008-01-29T19:07:00.000-05:00

Another play of shadows! I can't resist a good shadow, this one was seen in a book, I think it was about redecorating. It's a 12x16 acrylic, unframed.

David's Brook

2008-01-29T18:59:00.000-05:00

This 16x20 unframed acrylic was painted from a photo taken by a friend. I was really taken by the rippling water and the way the light played on it. Hard to tell what season it is could be spring with promise of growth in those trees and scrubby grass, or maybe it's a warm autumn day and things are still and getting ready for winter's rest. (sold)

Brick Wall Garden Walk

2007-12-25T10:48:00.000-05:00

This little framed acrylic is one that I donated to a fund raiser. Another of my garden inspired compositions. Merry Christmas!

more paintings - as promised

2007-12-16T21:26:00.000-05:00

This one was inspired, not by myth :( again, but with a photo. Along with lighting, color contrast always catches my eye. It began with the brick building and it's unusually colored features and I added and changed as I went. Enjoy. (sold)

Flower Cart

2007-12-16T21:23:00.000-05:00

long overdue post

2007-12-15T22:59:00.000-05:00

It has been a long time, not for lack of painting, so I should have quite a few new posts in the future. These are a couple of inviting chairs with the view of the house from both inside and out. Composed from several refrence photos with attention to the play of light, I was drawn to the motion or stop action of the clothes on the line. That's all for tonight, more to come soon.

Chairs - Inside and Out

2007-12-15T22:53:00.000-05:00

Porch Seat

2007-05-20T13:36:00.000-05:00

This one took a bit of time, it is 22x28 acrylic on canvas board. Another of my 'chairs' - just waiting for someone to sit and reflect. The basic idea was from a photo, but I added some stuff on the porch and all of the foreground, after tweaking the perspective a bit.
It was finished a few weeks ago and although I had started several paintings right after it, I have yet to finish any. Suffering from a week or two of 'painter's block' I finally began painting again today. Hurray! So you may find new stuff soon, if I can keep it up:) (sold)

Friend's Gifts

2007-04-17T19:08:00.000-05:00

This is the still life I set up in my studio and photographed (the flowers would not have lasted till I was done) and then painted on an 11 x 14 canvas board with acrylic paints. Each item was a gift to me and I chose them to match the beautiful flowers, also a gift. I don't believe I have ever painted a true still life, so this is a first. The frame is really something, and I actually saved it from the trash! It had a mirror in it which broke (bad luck to the owner, good luck for me) I bought it for a couple of dollars, and when I thought of doing a still life this seemed a fitting frame.

Age & Time

2007-04-17T18:45:00.000-05:00

I hope you enjoy this one, it was straight out of my head. I had been thinking of creating a still life for some time and have photographed some set ups, but before I began painting the one that will follow this one; I did this.

Acrylic on canvas - 16 x 20 , Age & Time is a shadow box view of time passing:

From the castle on the hill through the village and towns to the city and the age of a man in the shadow box, with his toys, tools, and the old man himself looking back at you.

This was one of those paintings that took as much planning as it did painting time.

Purple Mountain

2007-04-09T20:50:00.000-05:00

Well I thought that my picasa blog this button was actually working, but alas after successfully uploading 'Change' the other day I have tried to put this painting up three times. So I have reverted to the long go through the blog method. Any way this 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas is a composition of several photos. The first to catch my eye was the mountains, and while they may look rather dream like, the painting reflects the true colors of the photo. The field of iris reminded me of somewhere VanGogh may have liked to paint, and finally the chair, which seems to be a frequent in my paintings now. I am working on another right now as a matter of fact. So do you think someone will come, or perhaps it is waiting for you?

Change

2007-04-06T21:45:00.000-05:00

This 9x12 acrylic on canvas board was inspired by the process of life. Things are ever changing, one passing on to make way for another. The simplicity of the subject, and the color pallet make a calm statement that was relaxing to paint.

David's Barn

2007-02-27T21:22:00.000-05:00

Here it is - The previously mentioned winter painting called David's Barn. Commissioned as a gift for someone named David, I know - not a terribly creative title. Even abandoned it looks peaceful rather than gloomy, or at least I think so. I especially like the dense forest area to the left of the barn, I'd like to hike up in there. (sold)

White Fence in Fall

2007-02-25T14:23:00.000-05:00

This little 8x10 acrylic on mat board was inspired by my love of autumn and the beautiful trees there in. I also needed something to do while I painted David's Barn - a 16x20 acrylic on canvas - an abandoned barn in winter. If you rush over the wet trees or barn with the white snow it all will of course, turn to tan and who wants tan snow? so each time I would switch from the snow to another color I would paint a few leaves or part of the fence and then move back to the barn painting.
Jumping between the warm fall colors and the cool winter scene also kept me from becoming board with either. (sold)

Fall Face

2007-02-23T14:34:00.001-05:00

This 12 inch square is a combination of sculpted clay on a wood board, both painted with acrylics. It has been a long time coming - as I started it months ago and put it aside unfinished. Now finally it is ready to be shown.

Inspired by many things, it makes me think of the tales of the green man, who is said to hide in the woods. Many myths include characters who live hidden in the wild, their inspiration is easy to understand if you have ever taken a walk in a lonely wood.

The traditional Celtic knot design is actually woven, after applying it to the painted board I sealed the edges to give it a unified look.

Cat on the Stairs

2007-02-14T21:49:00.000-05:00

Bad news and good news - the bad news is that the blog this button is still useless, the good news is that I remembered how to get the photo here the hard way, so I can share this 16x20 acrylic on canvas of a peaceful harmonious place. It began with my wanting to use some unusual colors, and the back painting looked bizarre even to me. It all started out with teal blue, salmon pick and black. It was enough to make you sick. Now it flows and is, I think, quite nice. (sold)

Wall Flower

2007-02-05T20:11:00.000-05:00

I painted this simple 11x14 acrylic on canvas board when I was wanting very much to paint, but could not think of any thing to paint. It is hard to see on this scale, but there is a fuzzy bumble bee on the top bloom. I enjoy painting rocks, I like the play of shadow along the texture. The flowers appear all the more fragile next to their solid permanence.

Garden Bench

2007-01-06T21:34:00.000-05:00

A sunny day in the garden, this 14x18 acrylic on canvas panel was inspired by a photo in a gardening book. I was drawn to the rough weathered paint and the play of shadow on the bench. Although it is nearly monochromatic the greens are both cool and warm giving it added depth, and causing the simple lavender flowers more importance. (sold)

Garden Fence

2007-01-06T00:40:00.000-05:00

A quicky combo of two photos I really liked. this 11x14 acrylic on canvas panel is another non-myth painting but a place that could perhaps inspire a new one. Its a quicky because i painted in in less than a week. (sold)

Garden Jar

2007-01-06T00:04:00.000-05:00

Nature inspired, from three photos in gardening books; I used parts of each to create a new space. This acrylic is 11x14 canvas board, a simple little thing but I wouldn't mind being there. Hopefully this will make the blog as I am using a different posting method, since picasa is still not working right.

If this works a special thanks to jenn-a for telling me how to do this. (sold)

Calling to the sunrise

2007-01-04T22:13:00.001-05:00

This 15x21 acrylic on chipboard was inspired by the old tales of women calling the dawn. I wrote a verse, such as it is, I do not really consider myself a poet, but I'm Irish so it's in the blood. Down along the bottom of the painting, flowing within the design it reads:
Dancing among the trunks of trees, she welcomes dawn's first light;
calling to the misty breeze, beckoning the birds to flight.
Her tresses auburn glimmering gold, voice both sweet and strong;
forever is her name untold, heard only on the morning bird's song.
The myths of calling the dawn are there for anyone who cares to seek them out. It is said that without a call the dawn may not come, so one can only assume that if this is true some where out there there are still callers of the sunrise, and if it is so, thank you to all of them.

Morning's Song

2007-01-04T22:12:00.001-05:00

New stuff

2007-01-03T20:54:00.000-05:00

Ok, finally my new posts are appearing! I've deleted all the cranky 'I can't see my posts entries', and the 'try it' posts and now I hope I'm back up and running. After changing to the new blogger I have had nothing but trouble with any posts, Photo downloads and even deleting old stuff - like the bad photos of 'Seasons and Silence'.
So here are two new photos of my first attempt at glass tiles, I removed the backing of a 9x12 frame and tiled glass shards directly to the glass of the frame. It catches the morning sun, as it is in this photo, and I enjoy the geometric design.
Also we have the 16x20 acrylic canvas I call Welcome, part landscape part still life, no myth but a place I would like to visit. (sold)

Welcome

2007-01-01T11:49:00.000-05:00

Glass tile #1

2006-12-31T13:04:00.000-05:00

View with an old tree & Silence

2006-12-10T15:08:00.000-05:00

Here is Silence again with improved photography (hopefully) and a new one I call View with an old tree. It is an 11x14 canvas board done in acrylics. The best photo was at an angle so it looks a bit strange. I love big old trees, having been around a long while seems to give them character.

One new and one old

2006-12-10T15:04:00.000-05:00

Improved photography ?

2006-12-10T14:52:00.000-05:00

Here are my Seasons again. I was told the photos were very blurry so I tried again. I think they are much improved and the fresh batteries and effort worth it. Enjoy.

Seasons

2006-12-10T14:44:00.000-05:00

Framed in a window

2006-11-26T15:56:00.000-05:00

These 9x12 canvas boards will some day rest in a frame styled to look like a 4 pained window. The inspiration for these was working with calendar photos with my students. Each is a combination of two or more photos and represented to me the feeling of the respective season. I intend to do another series of the seasons with a mythological flavor, but first I have several paintings in progress to finish (hopefully).

fun with faces

2006-10-12T19:17:00.000-05:00

This 16 x 20 unframed acrylic on canvas was inspired by the many tales of the jealous love affair between the sun and moon. In some myths the male sun simply chases the female moon across the sky endlessly spurned. In others the earth is also involved as the male the moon prefers and the jealous sun is trying to chase the moon away from the earth. Tales of this sort are found around the globe in many cultures and I think that is what I most like about them.

Romance in the Heavens

2006-10-12T19:08:00.001-05:00

about faces with things other than hair on their heads

2006-08-02T15:56:00.000-05:00

Around the same time I painted Lily, I drew and painted several faces with stuff around. As if these people had 'something on their minds' I guess. This pencil drawing is 11x14 and is the one I like best (of this style) I am not sure how many others I will share, some are rather silly.

Unicorns

2006-08-02T15:52:00.000-05:00

Ancient Profiles

2006-08-01T20:24:00.000-05:00

Seems like a very long time since I have posted anything. This has been a busy fun summer for me - taught a class at the Quadrangle, for those of you who are unfamiliar with Springfield, that is our museum group; but mostly I have been painting, not these but several large scale acrylic paintings for Better Life Whole Foods on Allen Street in Springfield, they will be installed by the end of August, so if your local stop by! - OK now back to these two 11x14 water colors which speak to the building of humanity as well as the structures those humans built. The brick red man could be looking down into a tomb, or the womb of the earth, while the alabaster woman is gazing down upon the oracle at Delphi. I don't know what made me block out their faces because they were not drawn that way at the start of the concept, but I think that is what makes the paintings.

Human Bricks (male and female)

2006-08-01T20:17:00.000-05:00

Not your ordinary knot

2006-06-27T14:52:00.000-05:00

Having used Celtic knots in so much of my work I decided to make the knot the work itself. I have designed knot designs that stand on their own, but more often I use them to accent other subjects. When I first began playing with this idea I intended to paint in the knot with a landscape. Which ended up looking like a knot painted shades of green, brown and blue, so I decided a more distinctive subject was needed. The human face is very distinctive indeed. Done in watercolors it is 12 inches square and still needs a frame. It is one of my favorites so I hope you enjoy it.

Knot

2006-06-27T14:50:00.001-05:00

King Arthur

2006-06-22T17:36:00.001-05:00

Although I feel as far as myths go, this one has been slightly overdone, I painted this 11x14 watercolor inspired mainly in a romantic way, by the passing of an ideal as much as a man.

The End

2006-06-22T17:34:00.000-05:00

Tropical Sunset

2006-06-21T09:03:00.000-05:00

More water color knots

2006-06-21T08:52:00.001-05:00

These two are landscapes surrounded by knotwork. Both are roughly 11x14 and while the tropical sunset is straight up water color, the sunrise is mixed media. I used some nice acrylic pigment ink both in the landscape and the knotwork on the latter, which gave the reflective glow that even shows up in the photo. The other thing they have in common is that neither place is real, other than in my imagination. These were done last year about this time and in pulling them out to have a look I think I may need to play with water color soon - as always thanks for visiting and a special thanks to those who have left such nice comments!

Stone Circle Sunrise

2006-06-21T08:49:00.000-05:00

Water Colors

2006-06-21T08:29:00.000-05:00

All of the paintings I have posted to date I believe, have been acrylic and I do work in other media. This 11x14 water color was painted a couple of years ago and is a simple study of a Celtic knot I designed.

Diamond Knotwork

2006-06-21T08:26:00.000-05:00

round and round

2006-06-10T08:14:00.000-05:00

I would like a better photograph of this one some day, perhaps if I took it out of the frame I wouldn't get all the glare. One of my earlier attempts at creating a 3-D ground, this 16 inch circle was first layered with a Celtic symbol and then painted in acrylic. The castle, stone circle and water are all imaginary along with the moon/woman who looks down upon them.

LUNA

2006-06-10T08:09:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's 3-D

2006-06-08T21:05:00.000-05:00

She was once a cheap plastic mask, but I gave her new life with several layers of papiermach`e. This rustic wood framed 16x22 acrylic painting features a complex self designed Celtic knot which surrounds the 3-D image that could be mother nature. Rather than paint her features I tried to ignore the texture and paint a pastoral landscape.

Meadow Maiden

2006-06-08T21:02:00.000-05:00

Autumn

2006-04-14T19:57:00.000-05:00

Next to shadow and highlight, and of course any type of path way, I love the colors of autumn. The cool skies and warm rich tones of the earth have a way of making even the ordinary appear brilliant and exciting. This 18 x 24 acrylic on canvas panel is a painting done for the love of painting and autumn. By the way, the kitty is sitting on the fence post nearest the barn; it is hard to see in a photo of this size. (sold)
Hope you enjoy it, and the rest. Remember check out the archives for more! :)

Red Barn With Kitty

2006-04-14T19:53:00.000-05:00

Yet another garden book inspiration

2006-04-13T13:51:00.000-05:00

So many flowers so little time... I guess it is only natural that an artist who also worked as a florist for a time would like to paint flowers. This acrylic on canvas measures 16 x 20 and is at present unframed. I enjoy any theme with a pathway, a very traditional mythological icon. While this was not completely inspired by myth; the lotus appears prominently in eastern mythology. Most beautiful are the tales of the Buddha floating on a lotus dreaming our reality, all around are other lotus with dreamers inside, closed for the unenlightened, opened for the lucky enlightened souls.

Lotus Bridge

2006-04-13T13:49:00.000-05:00

Gardens

2006-04-06T16:14:00.000-05:00

These two 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas board paintings were inspired by my thumbing through a couple of garden books. While I can't argue that I can grow a beautiful garden I sure can imagine and paint one. No need to water and they are always in bloom! No real reference to myth, but to me, flowers stir up the many folk tales I have read about their origins. One of my favorites
is about the lily of the valley; after a garden party the sprites, cleaning up the mess, hung their tiny white porcelain buckets on blades of grass to dry... And viola! The plant was born.
(both sold)

View From the Garden's Gate

2006-04-06T16:11:00.000-05:00

Pond Down the Garden Steps

2006-04-06T16:05:00.000-05:00

Man's Best Friend

2006-04-05T20:06:00.000-05:00

They have been in our myths and shared our lives for ages. Dogs, wolves, coyotes and any other local canines appear in myths from around the world. This 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas is my tribute to all those myths. Particularly those in which the beast nurtures man, much like our pets do today.
It is a very dark painting, which I tend to like, with rich tones and loads of shadows. The moon almost glows srounded by all this deep color, with the sky swirling around it. The man is fictional and started out as a mere doodle of a sketch during my "things around their face" phase, I painted 'Lily' which was posted earlier around this time as well.

Wolf Moon

2006-04-05T20:02:00.000-05:00

Simple play of light and shadow

2006-03-23T18:43:00.000-05:00

This 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas board was donated to a charity auction. Inspired by a photo of the same, I simply cleaned up some of the bits I didn't care for. (car in the drive and the like) That is the wonderful thing about being an artist, if there is something in view you don't want to look at... Well, you just paint it out! I hope the new owner likes it as much as I do.
The thing that really caught my eye was the wonderful lines created by the shadows, in contrast to the rays of sunlight. To all those new bloggers - remember to check my archives, there are more paintings than appear on the site :)

Sunlight and Shadow in Ct

2006-03-23T18:40:00.000-05:00

Poem inspired

2006-03-13T00:46:00.000-05:00

Well I have been a very busy blogger, and my camera has been cooperative; so here is an oldy but a goody. This combined effort by myself and my husband is roughly 20 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas board, with a wonderful custom frame. It was painted a few years ago and shown in a couple of exhibits.
The poem of the same name was written by Alfred Noyes (1880-1958) and also inspired Loreena McKennitt to write music with which to sing the poem. Oddly enough I was working on the painting when I first heard the song. (I believe it was released right after I began) The 11 stanzas are too long for me to want to type, I wrote it out once on the frame; that was enough! I have a link which will bring you to a site where you can read it if you like, once you are at the site it is poem #17.
The jest of the poem is a tragic love story, this time instead of families causing the poor lovers fate; it is the red coats. It really is worth it to read the tale, even if you do not care for poetry. It's full of action and even some old fashion blood and guts.
So in the painting we have the Highwayman on horse back, Bess the inn keeper's daughter, the 'ribbon' road, and the 'ghostly galleon' in the sky. The scene 'Tim' might have witnessed before he betrayed the lovers and caused their demise. Knowing the poem, and seeing the painting, it is little wonder that my talented husband thought of trees for the frame. As if your a voyeur looking on in secret through the trees, that also gave me the perfect place to write the poem in twisting waves.

The Highwayman

2006-03-13T00:19:00.000-05:00

WARNING - this is not pretty

2006-03-12T17:44:00.001-05:00

I spend so much time looking at or thinking of things that are pretty or at least interesting in a pleasant way, that sometimes I need to paint something from the darker side of life. Maybe that is why this old, so old in fact that nobody knows who wrote it, verse was written in the first place. Or perhaps it was a warning to those people who might live a life uninterested in how they make others feel. Folklore often has a 'boogie man' sort of warning to it.
When I first came across this it was sung, and the tune deceptively jolly. In fact it was some time before I realized just what the song was about. Later I found it in many forms and always I formed a visual, which I do for most things I hear or read.
So what follows is the verse, which I left in the misspelled Celtic to give you the flavor of having it read in such. I think most people will understand anyway. The painting that follows a 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas, containing a sky that my daughter filmed and the happy characters of the verse; who's fortune comes form another's tragic ending. But that is nature cruel and kind in turns. (Picture a conversation between the two birds.)

Twa Corbies
As I was walking all alane, I heard twa corbies mock and mane;
and to one the other did say, "whaur shall we gang and dine the day?"
"In behind the old failed dike, I know what lies on slain the night;
nobody kens that he lies there but his hawk and hound and his lady fair."
"His hawk is to the hunting gone, His hound to bring the wild fowl'en;
his wife has taken another mate, so we can mark our dinner sweet."
"Ye'll sit on his white breast bane, and I'll pick oot his bonny blue'en."
"Wi'ae lock o' his yellow hair we'll theek our nest when the wind grows bare."
For manys a one that mocks his name, nobody cares that he is gane;
an'through his white bones when they grow bare, the wind shall blow for evermare.

Twa Corbies (or Two Crows)

2006-03-12T17:41:00.001-05:00

Thanks

2006-03-12T16:11:00.000-05:00

I want to thank all the visitors who have left comments. One of the things I really wanted to do with this site was to share my work. I never expected such nice praise. Part of the love of creation is the love of witnessing reaction. Anyone who performs, writes, or creates visual work knows what I mean. Perhaps it is a desire to show off, but why hide a gift that you have, or selfishly keep from moving someone else with what you can do. Again a big thanks, I love to hear from visitors and if you have questions as well, I will try to answer without creating a novel in the process! :)

Ardoginna House

2006-03-12T15:42:00.000-05:00

Steeped in myth and folklore this ruin in County Waterford Ireland was painted last year and hangs in my son's room. The 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas depicts key sites on the property which actually cannot be seen altogether, or so the books say; as I have never visited Ireland. The statue in the front right was erected by a later owner and the inscription reads:

My life is like a broken stair, winding round a ruined tower and leading nowhere.

This is strange because by all accounts the life of the person responsible seemed to be uneventful. Past occupants were not as lucky. The glowing spot in the center of the painting is meant to bring notice to the spot some call "Crook an Heir Cliff". Where it is reported, the falsely accused descendant of the late owner of the castle was killed when pursued by a crowd bent on hanging him for a theft. His horse could not make the jump and when horse and rider fell, the heir was caught on branches or rocks and strangled. The ruin and it's history are responsible for numerous ghost stories, of course; but many families lived there long after this tragic event.

I painted it rather dark and some what surreal to enhance the tale which fascinated me. I couldn't resist putting all the features in the one setting making the painting more dramatic, in my opinion. The red knotwork in the corners is traditional, and my poor lighting makes the upper right one appear lighter, although it is not actually any lighter than the rest. I try, but again I am not a photographer.

Ardo

2006-03-12T15:40:00.000-05:00

Japanese Maple and Olive Oil Jar

2006-03-11T21:31:00.000-05:00

Able to photo again

2006-03-11T21:02:00.001-05:00

Took another stab at photographing my paintings and did ok. Sometimes I think it would be faster and easier to paint them again! The above is an 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas board of a little imaginary setting. I was looking through a gardening book and took inspiration from several pictures. Blended them all together. No myths involved. I guess I'm taken a break and enjoying painting for the sake of painting. Light and shadow were the main focus of this one and the next. This 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas board is painted from a photo. I took creative license with the outer buildings. Personally I think a light house should look a little lonely. (jar and lighthouse paintings are sold)

Portland Head Light - Portland, Maine

2006-03-11T20:55:00.000-05:00