springtime apprentice

 Last year was my first foray into having a student work as my springtime apprentice.  That student is now finishing her freshman year at Columbia.  I love sharing works that inspire me of other artists and take great delight in what the students share with me.  I thought this would be a fun test.  Can you guess who painted the above work of art?

Here's a hint.  Surely you know Mr. Jeremy Fisher.

Can you guess who created this work of art?

Our local Ardsley high school has a marvelous program for students and our community.  My twins participated in this when they had the option for an internship or externship.  Now every student is required to do an externship.  You have a student work with you for 4 weeks and let me tell you, it is a win win.  I learn something new every Spring.

Have you ever thought of having a student as an intern?  I truly believe that it is up to us to share with these seniors and to teach them what we know.

to inspire

mask and "doodles" by Ulina

It's so incredibly wonderful to meet other artists along the way and meet with them in hopes of inspiring them to create and live a more artful life.  This week, I feel that I have inspired two women who have already started plans to dedicate themselves more to their art.

I feel so full of joy to share what's worked for me and how I have been able to be here for my family while creating an artful life.  Do you need a little push or some direction to get yourself living an artful life?  I would love to inspire you.  Feel free to connect with me.  All it takes is passion and a plan to get started.

monday motivation - about-face

I adore this work of art, by Gerhard Richter.

 What courage to paint a portrait in such a brave way.

Does this make you do an "about-face" too?  I want to gently tap her on the shoulder and call "Betty" to turn around and show us her face.  I can feel so much of her spirit with her modesty yet her boldness with the choice of brightly playful patterned jacket.

 One of my all time favorite paintings and artists, "Ella" by Gerhard Richter.  I always wanted to know if there was any relation since my Great Grandmother was a Richter too.  What I love the most about this work of art is how one readily is brought in to her tenderness, like the blossom of a flower.  It is less about the face and more about capturing the spirit of one's inner self.  I love the traditional feminine colors and the gentleness of her upturned lips.

Here is a self portrait Gerhard painted of himself.  I find it completely mysterious and alluring.   Although his face is blurred, I want to know more about him.  At 76 he is one of the world's greatest painters.  Did you know that when he began, none of his paintings sold and now his paintings are some of the most expensive in the Art world.  Motivation requires willingness to stick with something and to stay the course.

erase the ugly

"My eyes were made to erase all this is ugly."

quote from Raoul Dufy

I am a bit obsessed with the artist's studio along with the art of Raoul Dufy. He adored the color blue. I love that he used his eyes to erase all the ugly.

We should all try this each day, to just create beauty.

As you can see, his fondness for blue is evident in many paintings.

The above "Regates A Cowes" just says Summer to me, all that blue amongst those pretty sailboats. How gloriously happy they sail on a background wash of brilliant blue!

Look closely to see the gesture of the "world is round."

I admire his work not only for color but for the looseness, the lines give me just enough to make up the composition. They are playful, yet sophisticated.

His work has a sort of calligraphic quality in the flourishes.

Unfortunately, he did suffer terribly from arthritis, but kept on painting. I love his polka dot tie and chapeau! The white wicker and the white linen jacket seem as though they were made for one another.

Look closely and see that he is drawing with his left hand. Sporting a white shirt ready to get down to the business of erasing the ugly and creating brilliantly happy art.

images from LIFE

dog Ma

artwork of Maira Kalman (an inspiring artist to many!)

There is not a day that goes by, when either myself or a family member quips -I am coming back "as a dog Ma!" All our dog has to worry about are his next meal and walk! Fortunately, our dog does live a nice lifestyle, but I know some dogs are not as lucky to be idolized!

Tell me your opinion, would you like to come back as a dog? What sort of "dogma" or dog would you be and who would your faithful owner be? What do you think your day would be like?

* Winner of $25 gift card to Branch goes to Maureen at The Inglenook decor! Congratulations.

Maureen is hosting March giveaways, so please be sure to pop over for March madness!

second hand smoke

William Glackens Painting - 1870-1938

Our entire image of smoking has changed for the better, but I often admire images that I come across. They affect me like second hand smoke, swirling and circling around my head. I love this Grande dame sporting the chapeau cocked with savior faire. There is that color again, that ruddy, salmon color that I long for. The blue eye shadow looks like fun too. I guess all that second hand smoke is going straight to my head. Oh, and did I fail to mention those fabulously

grand gold hoops.

Does 2nd hand smoke of a painting have the same sort of affect on you? I think I need to go lie down, I feel light headed from all that smoke mixed with paint fumes.

I just located this wonderful gal who is all about "Capturing Italy" - for some odd reason, she does have a striking resemblance to the lady in the painting. Have a grande weekend!

The Shoppers

The Shoppers 1912, Artist, William Glackens

While I was away down south, we went to The Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale and there I met the most wonderful work of William Glackens. Why had I never heard of his work? I was drawn to the images of everyday life that he captured in illustrations and in paintings. I fell in love with his work, as well as these lovely shoppers. These fine ladies are all decked out in such wonderful winter layers, yet I imagine them looking at fine textiles and pondering the hope of the Spring season.

After having been able to shed a few layers of winter and enjoy a little warmth, my thoughts turn to spring, seeds, bulbs and textiles. When I was a young gal, I would ride my bike to the local fabric shoppe and select something to entice me as I would be so anxious for the coming season.

Quickly, I am jolted back to the Winter, the snow is covering the ground and the fire has been lit to take the chill out of the house. My thoughts turn to shopping which brings warmth to my world. Please leave a comment to enter the sunny giveaway that I posted on Tuesday.

satisfaction

yellow still life, Fairfield Porter

Jane and Elizabeth, Fairfield Porter

Under the elms, Fairfield Porter

Satisfaction comes in many forms. I think one of the most satisfying aspects of being an artist is to adequately fulfill your goal. One such artist who I have great admiration for is "Fairfield Porter" - the realist in him merely wanted to make beautiful things.

Porter once wrote: "The realist thinks he knows ahead of time what reality is, and the abstract artist what art is, but it is in its formality that realist art excels, and the best abstract art communicates an overwhelming sense of reality." Porter was Harvard educated although it was his "self-taught" nature that brought his paintings to reality.

As an artist, it is so important to me to satisfy each day by making things more beautiful, to look and to see what I see and then to get it all out and down on paper or canvas. Nothing beats the satisfaction of knowing when it is right.

October goes

Autumn is such a spectacular season, full of color, falling leaves, cooler temps and all the bounty of fresh apples, pumpkins, root vegetables and the clarity of the light, and then October goes and Novembers enters.

Always in season, are wonderful landscapes painted by my dear friend Geoffrey and beloved painting prof. asked if I would mind to post his work for him as he has a few paintings.

Can you tell that he really is passionate about landscape painting. When I began attending classes, there were a few and now there are many paintings. I think some of them need good homes. It never hurts to ask, so if you or anyone you know might be in the market for some original oils, landscapes that show the force of life, the sheer beauty of nature....let me know. I thought I might just ask.

What a wonderful gift these would make. The above canvas is a "large" new work, not yet finished, but to see the process, and to appreciate the gift he has for all seasons.

Take a look at Geoffrey Barbey's site here. You will be delighted with his work.

to wanderers and discoverers

"Pirate's Daughter" - Illustration is the work of Maia Chavez Larkin

Today, my post is in honor of wanderers and discoverers. I take great pleasure in introducing a wonderful Artist and Mother Maia Chavez Larkin whose art and love for life will surely delight you. Please wander back Tuesday for a wonderful interview with Maia, posted here.

Happy Columbus Day! Cheers to discoverers, wanderers and explorers!

The winner of the mini-diary goes to...envelope please...

"Kayce Hughes"

Congrats to Kayce! Your first comment here and I am so glad you stopped by, the "cherry" mini-diary will be sent to you for you to jot down life's daily celebrations!

unforgettable Penn

Mr. Penn, you shall always remain unforgettable. Here is one of Lisa Fonssagrives, his wife.

hens deliver

I am so in love with these floppy flowers, emersonmade.

Yes, it is true, roosters crow and hens deliver. I'll bet my hand on this pretty little hen and count my chickens to have my very own emersonmade flower to pin on a fall lapel. The photos are so sweet and speak to my inner farm girl. How about you? Would you pin a big flower on for fun while gathering eggs,

or walking down an aisle?

How about a blossom, by emersonmade?

rock, paper, scissors & glue

A collage of the artist, by the artist Megan Coyle

Megan Coyle is a gal who rocks the world with collage.  Give this gal some paper, scissors and glue and a composition is created to produce a painting of sorts.  In high school, there was an art project that I did very similar to this and I loved the challenge.  In a way, a collage is sort of like a puzzle.

A collage by Megan Coyle

Finding your craft and your passion can be found at any age.  I am happy for  that she seems to have found her passion for collage at a young age.  I always admire those that find it, recognize it and honor what they love.  I also admire late bloomers too.
I could not resist to post this "great pumpkin."  The vibrant color and dedication to creating depth of field, shape and shadow speaks to me.  How incredible to have found magic in paper and glue.  Megan has many works for sale along with note-cards.  Please give a round of applause to this dedicated artist.  As an artist, nothing gives me more pleasure than supporting them through buying a work or bartering.  Think about sending Megan some paper or glue or simply leave a comment here for her.  

Megan Coyle in the del-ray show with her collage.

Circle of Influence

PvE Design - hand painted youth chair , inspired by the Mandala

Each of us have a circle of influence that we are connected to symbolically.  

Carlton Ridge - Artist and Designer

In third grade, my teacher Carlton Ridge made a huge impression on me when she wore a Sari to class which she had purchased when she traveled to India.  

Carlton Ridge Design

Carlton Ridge also designed amazing pieces of jewelry for Sutton Hoo -that were inspired from nature.  If you sported one of her designs, well, immediately you were in the "circle of Carlton." 

 PvE Design - hand painted youth chair

Several years ago, a friend came to me with a special job to paint a chair for a teacher who was adopting a baby from India.  My friend was specific in her request that the chair should be painted with Jewel Tones and somehow have a design with an Indian influence.  At the time, I was not familiar with "Mandala" - a sanskrit word conveying to the wholeness of the universe.

Painting a design in a circle has a meditative quality which is therapeutic as well.  Often, I wonder how each of us are connected, standing in a circle, inspiring and influencing one another to see the Universe as a whole.  

I now think of this chair, and that child surely must be off to school and meeting new teachers and making friends and opening her life to a circle of influence reaching far and wide.   

lucky annechovie

Happy Birthday to Annechovie today!  This is her lucky day.

Let's all meet for a picnic on the beach.

I give Anne this birthday hat from here!

compact reads, "Her proudest achievement was staying blonde"

...and this compact to check out how gorgeous you look!

How about some arm candy to keep you colorfully on schedule!

Pop this fun favor!  After all, trinkets are fun at any age.

Maybe these little treasures would be inside.

after too much sun....

image from doucette duvall

...off for a few rides and some cotton candy!

Oh-  we have to win a goldfish!

Wish Anne a happy go lucky birthday!

Sunday Grace

It is Sunday and we could all use a little grace in our day.  

image of Grace

illustration by Grace for Brooklyn Film Festival

Grace is an illustrator, model, photographer.  What an amazing life she lives.

Here she is in Black and white, which is always elegant and timeless.

Here she is in full color, surrounded be these handsome young things.

I love the way her hair is styled.  Just goes to show that it is all about the hair.

Golden hi-lights and golden girls need a little gold.

Grace infuses an element of "heart" in her linear illustrations.  I heart them.

In these shots, Grace reminds me of the legendary model "Veruschka."  She had a penchant for leaping like a gazelle and her long mane of straight hair ,elongated her height.  I think most importantly, a loud and clear message is to make your life beautiful, meaningful and unique.

This seems to be a natural for this gal as she works as a model, an illustrator, a photographer and a unique individual.  See her here.

After all - Sunday is a day for giving Grace and for not working, right.  Let's hope and pray that Grace is resting today, Sunday.