Whether you celebrate The Night of the Ancestors (Samhuin), Dias de la Muertos, Halloween, or all of them, Happy Mid-Autumn Celebrations! Along with peoples of many cultures, I celebrate the Night of the Ancestors by remembering my parents and grandparents. In the Celtic tradition we believe that by telling stories about them, placing their beloved objects out, offering some special treats and lighting candles to guide their way to us, we will not be tricked by forgetting them. This comforts me.
With this in mind, and because the lilacs my mother gave us 25 years ago are blooming now, instead of April, I completed “Lilac Enchantment”. It began in 2010 as a watercolor, with drawing and collage. It is one of several that I experimented using acrylic paint to correct what I didn’t like about the design.
“Lilac Enchantment”, detail
You can see this and other transformed pieces ~ “Garden Academy”, “Great Curve”, “2U” series ~ and several collections on wood panels about home, at the 16th Annual Autumn Open Studio.
details of acrylic paintings by Kathleen O’Brien
Other new and fun studio fabrications to see, Affirmation Pocket Books, 12 Little Quails, Folk Dancing Trio.
Pocket Books 1 -6 inside
“12 Little Quails”, acrylic on canvas by Kathleen O’Brien
Folk Dancing Trio, a toy, hand made beads, paper and glass beads
During the open studio, Greg will read from his recently published work about Daniel Boone’s connection to Sunwise Farm’s history. Speaking of Greg, he had a thrilling ride on the historic 1929 Ford Tri-Motor airplane. He’ll want to talk about that also!
Daily Art Practice 10.20
I’m excited to announce that I will be at the Shaker Village Christmas Market on November 16, 10-5. I have created a playful new line of hand painted wood beads. With four faces for each faceted bead, the number of different combinations is how many? The result is a necklace that is never the same twice. Maybe they could be called “Talisman for Mathematicians”.
Lighthearted – view 4, prototype of hand-painted wood beads
Shaker Village Christmas Market Flyer November 16
In case you missed my September blog project, here are a few recent journal entries. Called “Equinox ~ Equinox”, it was about Daily Art Practice from March 19 – September 22.
Daily Art Practice 9.22
Daily Art Practice 9.25
The Garden
It has been another a strange growing season. The only silver lining of hurricane Helene was that we finally received 4” of rain, the first in months, and none since then. It was a really big year for zinnias. I’m saving seed, especially the one I’m calling “Deep Rose Tall as Me”. We had very few tomatoes again, many pears that were eaten by the deer and our corgi, but finally figs. Greg is managing the greenhouse well, so we have a nice supply of greens. It’s always a guess if we will have a freeze before the open studio and then have to take down the morning glory wall on the porch. What was your season like?
“Zinnia Garden 2”, acrylic by Kathleen O’Brien
Greg with figs and Celosia, time traveler party-goer as a “Student for Kennedy”
For your inspiration on Spotify: Ave Maria, D. 839, Franz Schubert, Renée Fleming, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
As we enter the dark half of the year, I think of you with gratitude for the help and loving kindness you send to me. It means very much to me that you read and take what I write to heart. Thank you.
morning glory leaf, October