It's started - I'm way up on scaffolding... Foreman Dave said " No flip flops tomorrow" hmmmm.... it's just nice to dangle my legs off the edge with no shoes on while painting.......

Keep your eyes PEELED nepa!  Soon coming to a Wall Near You!!!   I start tomorrow working on this beautiful sunflower with butterflies to boot - It's going to be big and in a prime spot... but.....nooone will see it --- till it's all done - finito!

Visualization, vision boards, and writing your dreams down are powerful tools for manifestation.  A couple years ago I did a study for a mural never actualized which illustrates the nine wolf rules from Clarissa Pinkola Estes book 'Women who Run with Wolves".  The rules tell how to regain or maintain a sense of balance and are as follows:  Eat, Rest, Rove in Between, Render Loyalty, Love the Children, Cavil in Moonlight, Tend to the Bones, Make Love, and Howl Often. 
If all goes well there is  a chance the study may become a reality due to a good friend who now works in Santa Monica for a humanitarian agency wanting a mural to support their vision.  We'll see - it's in writing as to what I want ....  oh, and the Universe likes speed!

                         Karma bracelet by Mary-Beth Korutz-Killian.  Turquoise farthest right
My niece Gabby is heading back to school Saturday - she was able to fit me into her schedule for lunch giving me the opportunity to give her a Karma bracelet by Mary-Beth Korutz- Killian.  She loved it ----!

The theme for Ruby's eighth birthday was mermaids - so, with the help of Google Images I recreated a mermaid in a circular canvas to present to her on her celebration. Having six nieces is one of the my greatest joys... their walls are art-filled as I've given them artwork by me or fellow artists for their Christmas and birthday presents since they were born.

Last night was a great opportunity to meet some fellow Pa artisans from outside the area.  The Shulman Gallery is a beautiful space to exhibit and Kelly (on right in photo) does a wonderful job curating the shows. 

Tools surround me - I just have to pick them up and use them.... these books are tools which help me to pick up and use the tools of creation... I my case... brushes.  Thanks be to this day.

There's a great new show that opened at AFA in Scranton yesterday by Rebecca Zelinski - her work inspired me in many ways - the simplicity and texture.  The works are encaustic which is using wax with paint creating amazing textural effects.  I'm showing a work I purchased and am so excited to hang it amongst my other favorite artists!

August 10 - September 6, 2012 with an opening reception Friday August 10, 2012 , 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Artists:  Mark Chuck, Thomas Colbert, Paul Kicklighter, Earl Lehman, George Manns, Ben Manns, Susan Obaza, Leigh Pawling, Linda Schwartz, Bonnie Shanas, Ellen Silberlicht, Rachel Van Tassel, Jan Winemiller, Charles Gregory Wood

 

at LCCC 2nd floor Campus Center 1333 South Prospect Street, Nanitcoke, PA
Hours : 9am to 5pm Monday- Friday
Evenings and Weekends by Appointment 570 740-0727  1-800-377-5222

Going to the doctor or dentist is never at the top of ones list of favorite things to do -  however, when I do go, I take in the reception area - and artwork helps the visit immensely.  It amazes me the power of art - it truly can heal - in more ways than one..... hopefully this new mural in a local pediatric hospital will have such an impact.

 



Here's a comissioned  portrait of a man - she said "make the shirt blue'.   What a treat to get out my oils as I've been using acrylics mostly.  Opening my box brought back memories of New York - the smell of oils in my studio was wonderful. 

Here's a huge machine - that prints on plastic which is the underlying foundation for the artwork which will hang in the board room of I2M which stands for Innovation to Manufacturing.  The press from Italy is gigantic and seeing it at the Crestwood Industrial Park, helped me to understand the blueprints.  Certain areas in the work took on an abstract feeling - like a Diebenkorn with repetition of shape and color tying everything together.   Lisi at Marquis in Wilkes-Barre has come up with the perfect framing solution - simple.  I can't wait for the hanging!!

Mark Rothko is the centerpiece of my altar - his calming paintings blew me away when I saw them at his retrospective in DC years ago.   The scale of the works - the progression of his palette from light to dark as he progressed into his depression was hauntingly beautiful.   One of these days I really want to see the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas . 
The Rothko Chapel, founded by Houston philanthropists John and Dominique de Menil, was dedicated in 1971 as an intimate sanctuary available to people of every belief. A tranquil meditative environment inspired by the mural canvases of Russian born American painter Mark Rothko (1903-1970), the Chapel welcomes over 60,000 visitors each year, people of every faith and from all parts of the world.  On the plaza, Barnett Newman's majestic sculpture, Broken Obelisk, stands in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

She said " I need new energy in this room"  The view of an angle of her house - just the corner showing the bluest sky with white clouds rolling in.  A four foot by six foot acrylic on canvas breathing new life into a room - pretty neat.....

 
                                             detail from Elevating 9  acryic on panel 20" x 20"
He said "why don't you put a fragment of yourself amongst those cell?"  I said  "I did......"

                             "Get me out of here" acrylic collage on panel 15" x 7"

 

one's main task in life is to give birth to oneself.......Erich Fromm

         A great artist and friend of mine will be at Barnes and Noble on Saturday from 9-9 - make sure to go and have your spirit and soul elevated in more ways than one! 

                                          detail of 'One Day 42'
      Numbers appear in my work representing my age at significant events which happened in my life
      I feel there is an emotional / physical response when a number is heard which alters one on a certain level whether it be conscious or subconscious.
      Many of my works deal with time and the changes that occur in all life - the blooming and the decay - and the continuation of spirit.  After all, everything is temporary.

This show called for audience participation with writing a Haiku based on the poppy image seen or
inspired by the botanical impressions installation.    The wall is filling up - it's really neat to see!

What a night - well attended - good people, good food, good energy - and good response! 
Here are a shoots by photographer Mike Burnside :


      Curator Brian Bennedetti

                  Liv me and Rich

             Rebecca me and Burgy

            Betsy and Russ





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