Yearning for Spring

We are in the midst of another snow storm here, and I am yearning for spring.  I found this image of a painting I did many years ago based on the e.e.cummings poem, in Just. I posted this on facebook and learned that there is a Greek word that means a work of art that is a reflection on another work of art: ekphrasis.

[in Just-]

in Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame balloonman

whistles far and wee
and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it's
spring
when the world is puddle-wonderful
the queer
old balloonman whistles
far and wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing
from hop-scotch and jump-rope and
it's
spring
and
the
goat-footed
balloonMan whistles
far
and
wee

I have always loved this poem, and I did not make any typos here, this is how he wrote it, and how he wrote his name in lower case.  To make this painting, I commandeered my niece and nephew to step in paint and walk across the canvas as if they were splashing in mud.  We had fun making this together.  Now if mud season would only arrive...

Home sweet home

Weddings

I have been busy with some signs, calligraphy, and styling for the upcoming wedding season.  These aren't the best photos but they are what I have for now. More to come.

Menus and signs

I made the menu board shown below for Mercantile Dining and Provisions before I left Denver, but never posted a photo of it so here it is now. And recently I made a similar sign to use for the upcoming wedding season. I am working with a florist whose studio is next door to mine making delightful props and stylish decor for all the upcoming Vermont summer weddings. It's a glorious time of year!

Old Mill Mercantile

As I mentioned in my last post, I have a new shop name, and shop opening soon, called "Old Mill Mercantile".  Here are some photos of hot pads and linen aprons I made as part of this new direction.

Updates

It has been a long while since I have posted.  I am in the process of creating a new website with new shop and blog, but for the moment I am posting some information and images here to serve as a temporary catalog.

As some of you might know, it has been a very eventful year for me as I moved to Vermont in August.  This is where I have wanted to live ever since I attended school at Bennington College over 20 years ago.  Happily things came together for me making a move possible and I am thrilled to be living in the country again.  I am working on a shop here (mail order to start) that encompasses all the things I enjoy making and creating, including textiles, calligraphy, and housewares.  The shop name is "Old Mill Mercantile" and will serve as a place where I can create a variety of products beyond just my fine art, and possibly things I will source out to other artisans.  In addition, I will continue my "signature lines" that are more actual art.  Anyway, it will be a mix of interesting handmade things.

 I have finally stopped making the copper framed version of my Affirmation plaques for a number of reasons, but they are still available for special order if anyone needs one to fit in a collection.  Now I have a wooden version that I just love.  There are two sizes available: 2.5" x 3.25" that have a small peg as an easel back or can hang on the wall.  The larger size is 5.5" x 7".  The large are a nice wall size, and the small are an adorable gift size, perfect for a desk, dresser, or anywhere.  The wood is poplar, and feels nice to touch (it is 3/4" wide and feels substantial.)  Also, I have a small black and white (or natural wood) version that has a chalkboard back.  Here are some images.

Medicine Cards

I can't believe a year has passed since my last post.  So much has happened.  For now, just a quick announcement about my newest project.  I have made my series of Affirmation images into a deck of cards.  I am so excited about these, as they capture the essence of what these images really have meant to me, perhaps more than the plaques because they come as a series, with a full narrative.  And the little bag and feel of the cards is so nice in the hand. I have decided it is finally time for me to "do the intellectual part of my work" as one painting teacher used to say of artist's statements and such.  So I shall start to tell the story of how these cards came to be, a journey that began over 20 years ago.  For now though, just some photos of the little gems.  The printer has done a fabulous job, and it all came together even better than I had envisioned.  Available at the shop via the link.