Escapes

I started this painting last week during the wind and rain of Hurricane Irene. Other than rattling windows, causing our pond to overflow and inconveniently knocking out power for 24 hrs we didn't have much to complain about. Yesterday we drove around northwestern Ulster County in the Catskills. In this mountainous terraine, Irene's torrential rainfall caused extensive flooding resulting in the loss of homes, businesses and roads. I finished this today with the theme of escape and gratitude on my mind....there was not any loss of life in our region as a result of Irene.

Yesterday we went to a benefit show to raise money to help maintain the arts in the Saugerties school district. Saugerties and Woodstock are sister towns and, as such, can lay claim to being the stomping ground of many fine - very fine - musicians. Besides other world class musicians Theresa Williams, Larry Campbell and Amy Helm performed an incredible set of their gospel inspired music. Larry Campbell (do a web search) is a 2 time Grammy winner who has toured and played with Bob Dylan among others. Amy is Levon's daughter and a founding member of Ollabelle whose gospel/roots music brought healing to the NYC's lower east side right after 9/11. Apparently Ollabelle's music reasonated with so many people seeking solace that every Sunday night the club they played at would be packed with a diverse crowd ranging from punk rockers to financial execs. Theresa's clear, strong and gutsy voice and her strong stage presence added a depth and dimension to the trio that made you sit up and listen.

I love Ulster County and, while there are many other beautiful places, I really can't imagine living anywhere else. This morning I was inspired to create a roots type of painting. Other than the music that comes out of these hills, what evokes Ulster County more than the Catskills and a red farm building?

Seeking Olana

There seems to be an insidious mentality that has invaded the working world environment. It is the "be thankful you have a job" culture mindset. Now, don't get me wrong. I do understand that in this economy, where 1 out of 10 people are out of work and some of the other 9 are working at jobs that pay them chump change, my day job affords me a decent salary and benefits. What is difficult to accept (and I try to always live in a either a state of acceptance, joy or enthusiasm) is the fact that many of us are working longer hours and trying to stay on top of work loads and living up to expectations that might be accomplished easier by 2 people. So....last night I was looking at an unfinished painting of my dearly beloved Catskills wishing I lived the quiet relaxed life I always envisioned for myself there...inspiration hit and I grabbed the oil paints and went to it. I am constantly searching for beauty, peace and serenity....Olana embodies all of those elements and if I can't literally live it, I can be there in my mind.

Catskill shack.

A glimpse of the past.

Pastel painting on sanded paper.

Added a bit of metallic pigment, hand stitiching, beads and dyed cheesecloth. Now I just need to figure out if I'm going to place this on top of a matboard or another piece of fabric...or leave it as is with the frayed edges.

Not quite finished but getting there. Need to drop in more leaves, grass and perhaps a flower or two. I love the sensuous layers and color depth you can get with pastels. Photographs don't show this really well. Next time you have the opportunity to study a pastel painting get up close and personal with it and look how the artist has laid color upon color. I promise it will put a smile on your face.

Old Farms & Ponds

I haven't blogged lately. I've been very busy with activities that don't involve artistic pursuits. We're made a decision to put our house on the market (yeah, in this economy). It's time to downsize to a more manageable space. Steve has lived in our house since he was in his 20's and has been the master of all its growth, including the impressive stonework walls, fireplace and that front porch that the realtor believes will seal the deal with the imagined NYC buyer looking for a unique country home.

Anyhow yesterday my daughter and her boyfriend were here. He has a couple of kids and they had fun fishing at our pond. In fact we had fillet of Aumick Pond Bass as part of our bar-b-que yesterday, compliments of Kyra and Emma's fishing skills. It was incredibly delicious!

I was also able to grab a bit of time and started a pastel painting of the picture in the upper left corner. A few years ago I shot some photographs while touring around the Catskills. I'm drawn to images of times gone by and so often shoot falling down, ramshackle places and things. Somehow capturing them feels as if I'm honoring their unknown past importance and meaning.

Farming

Barns, cows, vegetables, old tractors, farm implements....you name it...they call to me. We (well...really hubby) are going to plant a garden this year. We (well...really me) will spend time prepping the harvest for canning and freezing to enjoy throughout the winter. My sister-in-law grows the most scrumptious blueberries and right now I have the last frozen batch simmering on top of the stove. When finished they will make a wonderful syrup that we add to Greek yogurt (have you ever tried this stuff? The Best) and put over pancakes. There's something very connecting about growing, storing and eating your own food. Work for sure...but the best kind. Much better than vacuuming or that dusting stuff.

The pastel painting above is done from a photo of a local barn on the other side of the Shawangunk Ridge at the foot of the Catskills.

Productive Weekend

This might just be my first piece of whole art cloth. It was made by gelatin, thermofax & wood block printing. The photo doesn't show the underlying colors but they are there!

Last night this collage came together. The background is one of the gelatin printed papers I did a couple of weeks ago and the image is a photo I took of an old building in the Catskill mountains. It's secured onto a painted artist's canvas.

Now it's time to start the work week (sigh). Happy Monday to all!

Autumn Hearth

Yesterday was Steve's b'day and we traveled north into the Catskills (the photo is from a stock photo site but you get the idea) to see Los Lobos at the Bellayre Music Festival. It was a cool, fall evening with temperatures in the 50's! Yes, we had to do some dancing to stay warm - good thing Los Lobos provided quite the right amount of great music to keep the body moving.

Another piece that you've been seeing in my posts for the past month or so got completed. It's completely constructed of my own hand dyed fabrics and I really like the modern yet primitive feeling of this piece. I don't know how arty it could be considered but I do know people seem to like it very much.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Cragsmoor, New York

I live in the valley right below the Shawangunk Ridge here in NY. To get here you go due north up the Hudson from Manhattan for about 70 miles then hang a left when you get in the New Paltz area. The top photo was taken one late autumn day on top of the Ridge up in Cragsmoor. Cragsmoor is this wonderful old hamlet (no store but they do have a quaint library) that wears its reputation of being an old artist's community well. There are these gorgeous old mansions in various states of repair and disrepair. Anyhow, this archway is on the land of an old stone church. The portal is looking out over the valley between the Ridge and the Catskill Mountains (see them in the distance?). Now the Catskills are famous for all those great Hudson River painters that go by the name of Cole, Church, Durant, etc....there was also a painter by the name of David Johnson. We are fortunate enough to own a 'nature study' by him of this cow. My husband believes his grandfather purchased it at an estate auction ages ago. This is the same grandfather who operated the still so he could bribe the local road crew (and probably an official or two). The photo doesn't capture the iridescence in this painting at all. It is amazing in person. Even more amazing is the fact that I found it safely tucked away in an old desk in our basement.