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

Keep Moving - or 31 paintings in 31 days

The last two months have gone by in high gear.  I found myself addicted to the movement. When Gail Sibley tossed out a challenge to paint 31 paintings in 31 days I thought, Why not? Best to stay engaged and moving. In fact, that is my cure for just about everything right now, "Keep Moving."

The challenge began October, hence the name 31 in 31 and it is now day four. The challenge is to do a piece - not big or tiny but what ever is working for the time frame available for that day.

"Escape" in the making

The Saturday, October 1 work came from the quick draw for the Seneca Lake Plein Air Festival on the last day of painting in the 5 day event. In two hours, "Escape" came together and was framed for the jurying at 12:30 pm the same day. Whew!

The Great Willow, Seneca Lake

Next day, still in Geneva, the set up was on the lake- The Great Willow. The sun had come out and had to be enjoyed after the mostly iffy and rainy weather for the previous 3 days. This one is not finished as there are wavelets in sunlight and other issues that should be worked out. Stay tuned.

Seneca Lake Park

Rainy Day Apple

October 3rd dawned another rainy day but at home in the studio, I was able to set up a quick study of the apple tree outside the window. Learned a couple of things about damp weather and my pastel ground and decided Great American Pastels just are not for me.


Today Day Four has been easy. It is rolling into peak color in the Adirondacks and there cannot be an easier time to find a glorious color composition. Saranac Lake along the river. was the go-to for today Sun ducked out for most of the time but the leaves radiated regardless.

Color on the Saranac River

So there ya have it. An effort to post every day for the month will be made, with successes and failures.

You can follow along. Sign up for updates and the blog will land in your mailbox.

Look No Further Than My Own Back Yard.

"There's no place like home."

In 2007-8, the meadow had my full attention. Working in every month of the year, paintings were made for "Meadow Front", an homage to seeing in the Adirondacks that did not include mountains and lakes.

This year I was making an effort to chase color in the elusive two weeks of high chroma that bursts through the foliage like a butterfly that then vanishes, leaving us in Stick Season. Walking with the dog out back, I saw it was time to go after that corner of the meadow that butts up against the ever encroaching woods of white pine and maple.

"Golden Meadow" 11x14 October Calendar Pic

Shadows are always moving fast and committing to their place in the work is the first challenge. Next, get the back light of the lowering sun through the gold coral leaves.

Observation: Shadow in the north in September is extraordinarily dark compared to the streaming light. Painters from other climes sometimes forget to see, say "o no it is too dark! It looks like a photo." But really, the sun is low in the horizon, the trees still thick with foliage and the ever dense white pines are all conspiring against sunlight's entrance on the north side of woods.

Though it was a good year to go after the color, I need to rededicate to catching more of it next year. 

"Golden Meadow" is available at my studio. The limited number 2014 calendars are at The Guild in Saranac Lake and I have a few in my studio.

Have Easel. Will Travel.

"First Color" 14x11 September Calendar Pic

Sagamore in the background, me in the fore working like crazy.

A painting opportunity arose for September, three days at Camp Sagamore, with a contingent of New York Plein Air Painters. Weather was a bit iffy for oil painter and pastel painter alike with low clouds, really low - touching the lake, and less than ideal temperatures. Wind pants and Patagonia gear, fingerless gloves, wool hat and yes even the easel umbrella came out. The stream moving out of the lake caught my attention with the scoured rocks strewn recklessly all the way down stream. This upstream view with the little maple tentatively announcing the change in the season, made me stay until I was too chilled to move.

There are a few pieces from this paint outing - one is still questioning me, another demanding time, another makes me laugh but I am not sure it will be seen anywhere but at the studio. It is of several boats and kayaks out on a dock, the yellow kayak looking very much like a big ole banana.

"First Color" is as yet unframed, hanging out in my studio. Come visit and see it up close. Better yet decide on a frame and bring it home.

Day Three: Sooo Cold

It was minus 17 Fahrenheit Saturday morning. But enough with the weather talk. It's the Adirondacks and it is what is. However… the March painting will allow me to think of warmer climes.

"Mexican Sky Dust" 9x12 March Calendar Pic

You have heard about this one: Mexican Sky Dust.  My husband and I have been fortunate enough to travel to Mexico during March, the notorious mud season at home. We escape to much warmer air, humidity, sunshine. All good things. This painting made plein air in the early hours of morning near the ocean is the fat luminous color that I love about pastel. So when you come across this one in a calendar of mostly northern paintings, remember it is a big world out there.

This painting is available unframed starting at $100. Contact me and it will go to the highest bidder. Good luck! Stay Warm.