Life is a Bowl Full of Cherries Part 1

January Calendar. Life is a Bowl Full of Chrries Pastel 2017 atf 6x8 Sold

Maybe yes, maybe no. January 28, I crashed into my hip on my own ice rink drive way. If I coulda bargained for a different bone I would have.

Not dwelling on on it.

Time incapacitated is sometimes a gift. Sketch books, drawings, thumbnail sketches are the order of the day. Make it work. Look at art books. Read up on technique. Sharpen up conceptual ideas that have been in the back of my head.

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That was written sometime before I accepted I just wasn't gonna be in the studio or have independent mobility to anywhere - for a while.

Here's the rest of the story:

June 2018

I have wondered what has happened to current artists when I stop seeing their postings on the internet. Did they give up on social media? Was their work consuming them or was it family? Or was it the ever changing algorithm disguised as an enabler of communication redesigned by well meaning but greedy computer geeks?

I found out a couple of reasons this winter.

I was in a hurry to get to my studio to show a commissioned painting to its new owners. I failed to put on my Yax Trax. I slipped and crashed on the ice in my own driveway. I let out a yell - expletive deleted—and honest - four things immediately came to mind. Hospitals, old ladies, broken hips, pneumonia - a death knell.

Being full of p and vinegar is a trait I have yet to live down and after the immediate crash calmed a bit I managed to raise myself back up - on the ice - and painfully shuffle back into the house to inform Chris. I could move.
Chris said, "Maybe you have just bruised it.”
I said “I don’t know that.” I was really coming to grips that I did know - that it was broken.

Further proof of my p and vinegar - I proceeded to go to the studio - in the car - up five steps - arranged things for the meeting - went up 14 more steps to arrange the art in to be viewed in a larger space - went down the stairs and thought, “That is the last time I go up those stairs.” and called Chris to come and escort my patrons upstairs to the painting when they arrived.

Shortly after their departure we went to ER where ex rays revealed what I knew - a broken hip. I was knocked out of commission for two months to heal and work physical therapy.

That is how this painter receded from SM this winter.

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Stay tuned. There is more.

Artliveslong, D

Back to work…

Oh, The shoveling to do. March 14, 2017

( Truth: I wrote this entry several weeks ago. I had not let it go into the blogshere. In processing this idea further in the last month or so I have realized there is more than meets the eye in this slow recovery. The first thing out of my mouth Wednesday November 9, 2016 after my husband asked how was I doing that morning was, "Not good. I am not going to be good for a long time." I think I set myself up for a low grade depression, heading into winter because of the results that let the occupant in. Name it -  Tame it, they say. I will continue to make work of what I consider beautiful to remind myself that it is out there and we all need to look for beauty every day even when uglinessness seems so insistant. "Nevertheless, She persisted.) Onward.

It was a tough winter for me this year. I came down with the flu hard and graciously gave it to my husband. We were perfectly useless to each other for more than 2 weeks. Then it snowed 3 feet. Whew. Adirondack winters test one's mettle.

I had good intentions to spring back into action when we headed to Mexico to escape mud season. Bought pastels and paper. Painted the first day. I found I lacked the energy to give to the work no matter how small. I carried my supplies as penance for not following through.

During my recovery from flu I ran across a NYT story about Carmen Herrera. I had never heard of her. She is an abstract minimalist who began her career in the same era as Mondrian, Kelly and Stella. She has become my heroine of the year or longer.
Carmen Herrera is 102 and still painting every day. She has been discovered at a much later stage of her life than those bad boys of her youth. Most recently this winter Herrera had an exhibit of her work at the Whitney. Finding her was an inspiration. No, I will not be switching to her style. She is 102 and painting every day! I have a lot of work to do and years to get it done.

May Iris 8x6

It has only been this week (early May) that I am feeling up to my old feisty self. Maybe it was working in the garden, bu I finally kicked the lingering malaise of the flu out the door.

Since I have a pile of prepped 6x8 pastel paper ready, I am intending to warm up the brain and hand with a mini a day. Here is an iris from the garden. These are very early because they have very short stems only 12" high, but the color is luscious. I don't do it justice here, but it was great to get back into the work.

I will be posting the work on Facebook on two pages.  If you follow on one you will need to like the other to see it. The FB page with just my work on it will appear with only the work - no commentary on any desperate situations.

Stay tuned.
 Artliveslong, D

Still Snow Capped 12x18

Autumn Reflections

What attracts a painter to view?  Is it the challenge, reflections, or color - summer dormant reds and oranges jumping into my hand, or is it the subtle shapes just far away enough to escape real definition?

When I set up to paint near water it is almost always the water that taunts me. I feel lucky when I get reflections, because it allows me to work on seeing the stretched underside of the trees. Water reflections are a couple of shades more intense than what it is reflecting, a trait that the only tell is when picking up a piece that is not hanging - which side is up? If one is looking at reflections upside down there should be a faint sense of vertigo, falling into the "sky", that signals your viewpoint needs adjusting.

Finding that view is elusive in plein air. Elements can change quickly, the lovely branches with sky peeking through melding into tannic shoreline can vanish with a shift in sunlight and the jet stream dissolving those great reflection into ripples, leaving the painter guessing and frustrated.  But one could return the next day yes? Maybe, but not likely in the Adirondacks. That wind heralds other weather. The sun may not be available for an appearance. In the fall it can mean the last day for that particular set up for color.

Plein air is a slow motion way of capturing what the Iphone gets in a nano second. One can say "got it" and rush on. The plein air painter sets up to catch a long piece of time in a two dimensional format and hopes to place the elements that first attracted her before – the sun moves, the clouds gather, the wind picks up, the temperature drops.

Autumn Reflections is #5 in the 7 for 7 challenge to post. Painted at Camp Sagamore, it is ready to hang - right-side up - a window into fall to enjoy all year round.

Here is day 3. Day two and four will come later.

"Trajectory", the night of a super moon rising over the fields in Gabriels.

Stay tuned.

Artliveslong,
Diane

Yet another mini challege

Paul of Saratoga Pastel unfinished 14x11

I was nominated by Joann Quinlivan to post 7 paintings in 7 days on Saturday. I just posted my first painting, a piece - unfinished, a product of a one day workshop with another pastel and oil painter Corey Pitkin, which I participated in this January.

Having a model for a whole day is a delicious novelty and still - it is not enough time. Exploring deep shadows and strong bone structure with a little bit of a hazard- the paper was not as smooth as I usually work with - I was able to disappear into the work.

I need to dive in more consistently to my work. It is a healing strengthening process, quite necessary for the peace I need in my mind.

I won't pretend to change the world with my art, just record the beauty as a I see it. There is  plenty of beauty out there in spite of the fierce political wind. I will go after as best I can. It is what I do.

Artliveslong, D

Holiday Advice from the Red Queen

December is rushing by, no surprise. Days are the shortest and complicated with weather, holidays and obligations. I like this time of complications, like my favorite line from Alice in Wonderland:

“My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere you must run twice as fast as that.”― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

 

With the Red Queen in mind, here is a hot off the easel piece commissioned this past summer for Christmas: Somewhere in the Adirondacks.

SOLD! Somewhere in the Adirondacks 16x20 Commission

While I was there on location engrossed in the work, I felt someone watching me. I turned and there was a doe not 20 feet away calmly grazing behind me. She looked up at me for a minute, then continued munching the grasses, turned and headed back into the deeper woods. That will not happen in the studio.

SOLD! Catching Rays #7 -31 in 31, 5x7

This little piece from the 31 in 31 series almost got away from me. Several pieces from the series had been scooped up. This one was still hanging around so I framed it and bought it over to Lake Placid Center for the Arts for the Joy to the Children benefit auction.

A day later I got an email asking, "When can I pick up my painting?" Gulp! "What painting?" Catching Rays! O dear! I did a search through emails and found this little guy had been snatched up online during Studio Tour.

Once again: Where is that intern? Oh right. It's me.

Indian Pass #27, 31 in 31, 5x7, LPCA Benefit

A quick trip to Lake Placid rescued the runaway and was replaced by Indian Pass. All's well that ends well.

Holiday Gift Suggestion:
There are a number of little jewels on my studio wall looking for new niches to fill. Framed, they are priced for the holidays, from $100 to $250. I am in the studio in the afternoons during the week (Check my website for the days!) until 7pm for all you 9-5ers who are running as fast as you can, just to stay in one place.

The smaller pieces range from $100-$250. Stop in to get a good look.

Stay tuned.

Artliveslong, D

Super Moon Rising Tonight

The moon is rising in an entirely different place than in summer. It took me by surprise and I watch it faithfully. Northeast of the potato fields near where I live it rose last night, big and juicy. I was not prepared to paint it unfortunately, but I did capture last months Hunter's Moon, equally impressive.

October Crescent Moon

The moon reminds me of cycles. Seasons, children, friends, events. The moon still rises. Whether in its summer place rolling up the mountains or late fall over those fields, it returns regardless of other cycles.

It's no wonder it has been worshiped by so many cultures.

Stay Tuned.

Artliveslong, D

Three Quarter Moon October.

Oops one more! "Trajectory"

Day 31 Trick or Treat?

Day 31 Trick or Treat 7x5 NFS

Good things come to those who wait. I knew I wanted a Halloween face for the last one of the month but the day is only 24 hours long. Got the reference after the loot had been gathered then spread across the floor.

This is a tiny portrait for me 7x5. I feel like there is a ton of work to be done to finish it but in the spirit of the 31 in 31 challenge I will say that is it.

It never fails to amaze me when I start a portrait big or small my confidence falls straight to the floor. I pick up pieces of it and struggle to get past the beginning and then all of a sudden the face actually emerges. O! It's there, needs a little of that there and a little of this here. and the image appears.

Portraits are not like landscape to me. Portraits tell me, if it works, that I can see. The ah ha moment is almost physical, a surprise. An adventure with no guaranteed result. It is why I will keep at it.

Thanks to all who are reading. 31 in 31 will be shown during Artist at Work Studio Tour Nov. 11&12 10-4 at my studio – 815 SR 86 Gabriels. Most will be matted. some framed and some have already been sold. Stop in and check them out live.

I will continue to work at making a painting a day. Keeps the synapses snapping.

Stay tuned.

Artliveslong,