This is the last in the series Summer Atlas. It’s only been four weeks since the Equinox when we said goodby to summer. Do you notice time accelerating at this time of year? Summer now lives on in these paintings. I intended to extend some summer spaciousness to you in this art. (more…)
Brandon Long, Program Director at Community Art Center the host for “Horizon: Contemporary Landscape”, invited me to talk about my piece in the exhibit, “Let us do our best, even if it gets us nowhere.” I always say yes because (more…)
In July I had a vivid dream about the frescoes we saw from Pompeii at the National Gallery of Art in 2008, especially Garden Scene, at the House of the Golden Bracelet. Just the fact that they were able to transport whole walls of the fragile ancient artwork was impressive. What stayed with my memory (more…)
Our summer was mild, not so humid and not so hot. That meant I could paint outside on the north porch more often. My knees were bothering me, so it was more comfortable to sit rather than stand as I usually do. I was out of ideas, so I began these three pieces by moving the brush in a continuous line until there was no more paint. Then like a child (more…)
On this last day of summer I write about the “Summer Atlas” series of 29 artworks, which began in early June with the purchase of a new brush. I decided to challenge myself to use only that one brush, and my Holbein “Irodori” Antique Watercolors (does anyone know why a Japanese company would use a Dutch name, Holbein?). First I made squares, like pixel marks. Then I swerved the brush moving it until no paint was left in the brush. While painting this outside I heard a Wood Thrush sing for the first time in our lower forest. (more…)
Summer is almost over, we’ll be celebrating the Equinox in a few days. I start this blog series of “Summer Atlas” with the last of the 29 artworks completed this summer, “Things That Fly, Like Summer”. This is the only collage of the series that is a Golden Rectangle, (more…)
“Lux Aeternum”, from Mozart Requiem for 9/11, collage by Kathleen O’Brien, 2002
In keeping with my original idea for Open Studios here at Sunwise Farm and Sanctuary, to share the four seasons literally and through indigenous teachings, the 5th version of the special edition card set was finished, just in time for Saturday’s event. (more…)
Abundance at Sunwise Farm and Sanctuary July 2016
Welcome to mid-season studio update with news since mid-spring; Sunwise Open Studios Celebrations, shows, art, mound hacking, good trades, sanctuary upgrades. This is another favorite time of year, when we take shade behind the Morning Glory wall, (more…)
Besides being an artist who creates with paint and paper, everything I do I approach as an art form. My calling is to integrate all facets of my life creatively. So I regard Sunwise Farm and Sanctuary as The Art Farm and practice the art of the farm. It is part tending and caring for the earth, the plants and critters who visit and part aesthetic. I should be saying “we”, because my husband does all of the heavy lifting. My joke is “I’ll make the lemonade”. Luckily, some of my ideas are taken into account. (more…)