Snow Scenes

Here are two aceos I painted, inspired by early snow falls here in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. We have large areas of wetlands that host beavers and all sorts of birds. And the bike/hike trail is used year round. A dusting of snow just makes the scenery all the more beautiful!

A Photo a Day

Imagine documenting your life, a photo every day. I was first introduced to this idea in the movie "Smoke" when the character played by Harvey Keitel sets up his camera and takes a photograph every day of the same street corner.

The idea is intriguing b ut I dont think I would actually carry it out for more than a week or two.

I came across a website that links to a project where the photographer did just that.... a photo a day for 18 years. The series of photos is compelling and does not have a happy ending.

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/15131

New ACEOs

Seascapes and landscapes - my two favorite subjects. Crashing waves are fun to paint- all that white foam and spray. High grass and trees full with colorful foliage. Water reflections and quaint buildings. Great subjects!

Winnie, Birds and Boots

It was a nice Saturday - relaxing and fun. The family all went to see a local production of Winner the Pooh - A Christmas Tail (reference Eeyore's tail). In this photo Pooh and Eyeore share a post-production chat. Its a small theater of professional actors - we're lucky to have it in our community.

I brought out the oil pastels this afternoon and did this piece. I forgott how much fun they can be to use.

In the meantime an Alberta Clipper came to town and it's cold.... in the low 20's and icy and snowy. We cancelled a trip to Cleveland and decided to stay in and stay warm! The backyard birds didnt have that luxury!

Final Glory Blazing Autumn Harrington Original ACEO - eBay (item 190271623877 end time Dec-11-08 09:39:09 PST)

Final Glory Blazing Autumn Harrington Original ACEO - eBay (item 190271623877 end time Dec-11-08 09:39:09 PST)

Basic Black

I painted this last night in a workshop with Sandy Dennison. The central idea was to use black - the forbidden color. Conventional wisdom is to never use black paint - its considered too harsh, too stark. Sandy's point is that it often enlivens a painting and makes the lighter values really pop. This is 11x14", for sale.
I think I will take the advice to heart. I like the effect you can get and I'm ready to break some rules!

Cabbage

Cabbage ACEO 2.5 x 3.5"

The lowly cabbage is really a beautiful thing to paint. All those lush greens and the delicate ribbing in each. I'm not a big vegetable person but this summer I fuond a great cole slaw receipe that uses sugar and vinegar and NO mayo. Its great for hot weather and goes really well with pork dishes. We don't eat much cole slaw in winter but I'm reminded of the super irish receipe Colcannon. Check here for all variations on colcannon: http://www.irelandnow.com/colcannon.html
I was surprised to see "Colcannon at Hallowe'en used to contain a plain gold ring, a sixpence, a thimble or button: finding the ring meant marriage within the year for the person who found it, the sixpence meant wealth, the thimble spinsterhood and the button bachelorhood."
My mother use to bake these trinkets into my birthday cake. is it just a coincidence that my birthday is the day before Halloween? Every child got a piece of cake with some token in it and she said it told our fortune. I have no idea where she found this set of metal trinkets or what happened to them.