Sunday, December 28, 2008

Feast of the Holy Family


"St. Joseph and Jesus Devotional, Cathedrale Saint-Sauveur, 
Aix en Provence," 1  3/8" x 1  15/16"  egg tempera on vellum, 
(in progress)

Although I am not Catholic, I believe in certain Catholic traditions, such as the saints, and how they can help us.  I have been working on this miniature since before Christmas, and in Catholic tradition, today is the "Feast of the Holy Family," so it feels like the perfect time to post my progress on Joseph and Jesus.  As a Patron Saint, home and family are Joseph's realm.

The subject for this painting is a lovely devotional statue I photographed at historic Holy Saviour Cathedral in Aix en Provence during my stay in southern France.  I love the feeling of intimacy and the preciousness of the baby Jesus in this particular statue, and found it very inspiring to paint.  It was also special that someone had placed a real green branch upon the figures.  I plan to fine-tune this one further.


Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas

I am visiting with family and since I left with a painting in progress, I will post my second Holy Family painting of Joseph and Jesus later in the week. On Christmas Eve I am thankful for the blessings I have received from all of you who have enjoyed my blog art. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Thursday, December 11, 2008

I've Been Tagged!

My Grandma Conner, the other artist in my family

My studio

I've been tagged by a great artist, Edward Burton
Be sure to check out Ed's holiday sale.  I was impressed by a saw he painted, (his 10/5/08 post), and he paints murals too.

I'm sorry it took me a few days to follow through on this, but I've been looking forward to it.  This 'game' is a fun way to find and get to know great blogger friends in art.  The rules of this game are:

1. (List the rules) and put a link in your posting to the person who tagged you. 
2. List 7 unusual things or little known facts about yourself.
3. Tag 7 talented bloggers at the end of your post, linking their names in your post and commenting on their blogs to let them know.  (If you are tired of tag, no pressure of course.)

So here it goes:
1.  I paint tiny, but also huge.  I've done two ceiling murals in my Brooklyn apartment, and one is a mural of a Holy Spirit Dove directly above the area where I sit and paint (see my studio pictured above)
2.  I once managed to catch my lip in a suitcase lid (but hey, only once!)
3.  I like to do shellcraft.  See the photo of my Grandma above with a frame I shelled.
4.  In art school I purchased a used oak drawing table for $25 from a fellow student, and I have painted at this table ever since, (except when using an easel.)  
5.  I love mangoes, my favorite fruit.  I promise to paint them too.
6.  As a kid, after being exposed to lots of John Wayne movies thanks to my Dad, I refined an imitation of the 'John Wayne walk'.  How did it get seen by Nathan Lane is what I can't figure out!
7.  In my spare time I do hands-on healing.

I am tagging the following 7 people (the first 2 in 'tribute'):
1. E.V. "Peg" Conner, my Grandmother.  My most significant artist mentor, she worked very hard so I would have better chances in life, than she did, to pursue my artistic dreams.
2.  Robert Weaver, a great artist/mentor who was my inspiration for learning egg tempera.
There are so many great blog artists to tag, but just for starters, here are five people I highly respect and recommend a look at (comments not required, but I added a few notes):
great spontaneous watercolors
Paintings From the Point is so mysterious I want to know more
rich color and fine application of paint
Abbey loves the Jersey shore and so do I, plus what talent
diversity is her forte and I enjoy diversity in my creativity also

I list also the following people who inspired me to start my blog (see their links to the right):
Julian Merrow-Smith
Duane Keiser
Karin Jurick
Mick McGinty
Michael Naples



Saturday, December 6, 2008

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

"Inmost Love--The Expansion Votive"


(click on the art for a larger view)
"Inmost Love--the Expansion Votive," 6" x 8", small work oil painting
on gessoed board, framed under glass.  
SOLD

I painted this from photos I took inside the old chapel at San Juan Capistrano Mission of a red votive candle I lit during my visit.  The title comes from my feeling that when a candle is lighted for prayer, it's a two-way expansion:   it expands God's love for our prayers and mutually expands our inmost love--our love for God. I recommend a visit to San Juan Capistrano if you have the opportunity to visit southern California.  It is one of the most beautiful and interesting missions I have seen.  Stay tuned also for another daily painting I will be posting very shortly.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Update

I am so sorry for not posting over the past two weeks. Initially I took a few days off to rest from the three months of show preparation and to work on updating some of my bio material, however, last week I got sick while in PA for Thanksgiving, and it delayed my return. I plan to return home tonight, and hope have things in motion again over the next few days, so please stay tuned for some new daily paintings for sale!