Mulberry Fields

bBelow Mulberry Fields, available

Poised to fly after his hounds, alert to hound voices, he paused asking if the Field was far behind. They were hungry, I replied. For a moment he looked crestfallen but the hounds were running and I swear I heard: Food? Let them eat common .... We’ll dine with the gods! Or some such thing, I’m sure what he said was as flowery in its own way. He galloped off, following the cry.

Now our hounds ran an amazing fox, racing along the dark wooded shoreline. Crossing broad corn-stubble fields where cannonballs once flew, the fox took flight before the hounds. Slipping through culverts and ditches slowed the hounds some but never did they lose the line. Past Jubilee’s stark grapevines we rode, over muddy creeks and steep little ravines. A run over two hours that took us into territory not covered in years.

Fall cubbing

Sunset on Fall Fields, available

....exclamations of Whoa Dammit and similar endearments as the Huntsman’s horse crashed out from the corn up onto the roadway, its sides heaving. It is not easy to gallop pell-mell through a stand of ripened corn. The Huntsman was barely hanging on, covered in chaff, corn stalks sticking out from under his legs. Dammit, (this isn’t a common horse name near you?) evidently didn’t like cows. We both burst out laughing....

A Landscape Series

Below Mt Victoria, available

One of the things I loved about hunting was seeing so much of the countryside from my favorite transportation: the back of a horse. This summer Jack encouraged me to take up an idea that I've been batting about since we left Ohio, a series of paintings of some my favorite spots combined with excerpts of the email hunt reports and newsletter I used to do.

The emphasis on these will be the landscape, the hunt will be secondary. The idea is for the viewer to feel they are where I was, seeing my point, while whipping-in.

Also, it is interesting how the time between the conception of an idea and the execution can vary so widely. I think if the idea stays with you, the lapse of time can actually help.

Evening on the Marshes

Evening on the Marshes, available

Well, one thing that stays constant around here are the wonderful skies and I often catch myself grabbing a camera to take a few evening photos for references. Right now it is way too cold to consider trying to paint such scenes outside! Come spring I would like to try some late evening paintings, will have to be small and I'll have to paint quickly! Meanwhile, I continue to do these small studio paintings from memory and references. As of late my favorite support remains linen with an oil ground mounted on panel. Depending on how bucks up I am, New Traditions remains my favorite but both SourceTex and Art Box make panels I enjoy using. The truth is there is no way I could make panels comparable to any of these for the cost any of them asks. But this painting is on a homemade gesso panel, which for quite awhile was my first choice and may yet be again. 

Another in the White Horse series

White Horse Series 11, available

We have, over the years,often had one white horse in the paddocks. As studies in white and something to paint they have made good subjects. I usually visit the subject a few times a year, so the series of these white horse paintings is growing. This is Nevada, again, 8x10" oil on gessoed board. 

Another ladle

Pronged ladle, available

This was one of our combined efforts, that is: Jack or I have an idea, I do a drawing, Jack translates it into wood. This one is made of poplar wood and was from a block leftover from a different project. I was thinking of fingers or branches when sketching the idea, Jack had bone and stag horns in mind while carving, either way, we were both pleased with his results.

North End Recession Show

Summer Sunset, sold

I belong to a cooperative gallery in southern Maryland that is very active. With about 35 members, painters, potters, jewelers, photographers, etc, there is something new being offered in the front galleries just about every month. Some months showcase work by individuals, other times its special group shows. Awhile back a member suggested devoting Jan 09 to a a "recession" show which stirred up a bit of a buzz! This was last summer and some still agreed with the pundits that thought evoking the word "recession" premature and lowering prices somewhat distasteful. But quite a few thought the idea plausible and as with many group ideas the onus of making it work fell to the soul who first proposed the idea. "If it works, I'll be a hero", she remarked, "If not, I'll never hear the end of it". "You got that right!" I replied.

We set up just before New Years day and had lots of work dropped off, which made for a full gallery. First Friday was a few evenings later and the gallery had a great turnout, both of customers and of artists. To go along with the theme, many of the artists came in '30's garb, like young Mr. Ball, pictured here, whose folks are gallery members, pictured. Christina Allen, (feeling more heroic than tradgic) offered a soup line, not the typical gallery fare! Sales were brisk and have been good during the following week. Pieces not on sale, from the back galleries have also found new homes and the weekday traffic has been steady. All in all, it has turned out to be a very useful idea!

Spatulas

Available

Jack has been working on this collection of spatulas and will include a few in the Feb show. The first on from the left, is a mahogany slow twist, then the second & fourth are tiger maple/mahogany with a bevelled throat. (This is my favorite design of his). The middle one is made of New Zealand lace wood and the last one is simple mahogany. They all have his comfortable rounded grip handles. While spoons seem to have the greater following among woodcarvers, at least from what I've seen, I tend to use my spatulas more often then the spoons.

Lots of Sky

Sunset Skies, available

In warm weather one of the nicest things to do is to relax with Jack and a glass of wine on the deck and watch the sun go down. We have great sunsets here. In the cold weather, painting these is a good stand in.

Nevada or white horse, early morning

Nevada, SOLD

With these nippy mornings, the two girls like to doze in the early morning sun, catching all the warm rays they can. This raking light is pretty dramatic and fun to paint.