US Cutter Returns to Home Port after Euporean Voyage.

Binoculars #163 - View from Avery Point.

US Cutter Eagle Returns to Home Port after European Voyage.

10" x 60". oil on mdo board. 2011-12. Copyright.

..........

       Let me take you back to

this past summer - mid August.

I was heading back to the studio

after having just delivered a number of

new pieces to the Cate Charles Gallery

when I decided to a pay visit to a

favourite Binocular location of mine.

Avery Point, Groton CT.

Avery Point always has something good to offer.

Unbeknownst to me

 awaited a rather sweet surprise.

There 

just off shore, 

anchored

on the New London side

was the 'Eagle'

the US Coast Guard Cutter.

Detail: Binoculars #163 - View from Avery Point.

Seeing her impressive silhouette
anchored there in the
bright sparkling water

being greeted with a fervour of
on-lookers, hellos, cheers,
and welcoming's home

filled my Spirit up with much
delight, excitement 

and inspiration.

Apparently, she had just returned 

from a 3 month European voyage.

Gallery Location to be Announced!

Shadows falling on Snow.

This 2011-12 Winter has been unusally

mild for the New England region,

compared to the past several winters

which have been bitterly cold 

and where it seemed to snow
almost everyday.

A few days ago, ol' man Winter and

 his favourite companion, Snow,

came for a long over due visit.

The Juncos, Cardinals, Sparrows,

Wrens, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers

and the like all hopped to it,

they were in a feeding frenzy

for they knew there was snow

and lots more of it on the way.

Much of yesterday was spent by keeping the trenches clear 

which was fueled by a number of cups filled

with steaming hot chocolate.

This morning we were greeted with

bright silvery Sunshine

and a fresh blanket of deep snow.

A deep blanket which will be

greatly appreciated by all

the sleeping beauties of the Spring

nestled deep in the ground,

Crocuses,

Daffodils,

Grape Hyacinths,

Lily of the Valley,

Snow Drops,

Irisis. 

The fresh snow also gave me a chance

to play with the new studio camera as well!

Cheers!!

The Artistic Wisdom of R.H. Ives Gammell

R.H. Ives Gammell, The Hound of Heaven, panels IX, X and XI.

Oil on canvas, 79 x 13. The Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, Washington. 

Great painting is the result of two factors. The first essential is that the painter should be expressing his own genuine emotional reactions in a form which is the appropriate vehicle for that expression. The second factor is that he should be a master of that form.

        
 ~ R.H. Ives Gammell

Update ...

Long stretches between blog posts

can only mean one of two things

1. I'm either busy in the studio.

or

2. I'm travelling and have no access to a computer.

I can only wish it was the latter,

for I'm finding myself day-dreaming of

far off places with warm beaches

and new vistas for the Binoculars Series.

Alas such is not the case.

In the meantime, I'm here in the studio

making do with the warmth from the woodstove

to tide me over until the Spring and Summer.  

And without further adieu onto the update 

1. The new studio camera arrived,

the smart and rather compact point and shoot

Canon Powershot SX40 HS 12.1 mp!

2. I'm currently working on a number of

new Binocular pieces for galleries.

3. The article on me in Grace Magazine
of The Day paper
comes out Feb 15th, 2012!

(Oh, I'm so excited to read it!!)

Photos to come!

So, please stay tuned!!

Cheers, ~ Polly ~

 

The Masters in Marine Art

 

That sailed into my Life!

I grew up in the city of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Far away from the blue horizon of the ocean.

Far away from tall ships and sailboats.

Far away from stories of the sea.

Far away from regular visits to the beach.

Far away from sand in my shoes.

Far away from the smell of sea breezes.

Though the allure of the ocean

and all of it's romance and glory

was never far away from my heart.

  

The romance of the sea

was celebrated and decorated

select walls, mantels and table tops,

in the house where I grew up. 

The Masters in Marine Art

that graced the walls, mantels and table tops,

of my childhood home,

and had their hand in

helping to launch

my artistic endeavours 

were as follows.

. . . . . . .

Alexander Dzigurski (1911-1995) 

'California Coast'

. . .

An original oil painting

by Alexander Dzigurski,

a Yugoslavian artist

graced the mantel our the dining room.

. . . . . . . .

‘Jack’ John Charles Robert Spurling (1873-1933)

'Titania'
. . .

A set of six coasters with small prints

by J. Spurling graced the dining room table.

. . . . . . .

Montague Dawson (1895-1973)

'The Thermapylae Leaving Foochow'
. . .

 A beautiful print by Montague Dawson

graced the mantel of the front parlour.

. . . . . . .

And last, but not least,

John Stobart (1929-)

'Decks Awash'
. . .

A few prints by John Stobart

were peppered around the house.

. . . . . . .

These four celebrated

Masters in Marine Art,

all had their own influence on

the direction of my own art

both subtly and greatly.

I feel lucky and honoured

to have had the chance

to study, learn and draw from

with these four

Masters in Marine Art.  

To this very day

 I still revere their

individual talents

and the impact

they have had on me,

even as a female marine artist.

An old friendship and a new year ...

Come together for a special sojourn

My dearest friend, Gavin,

from the Lyme Academy College days

came up from Maryland for a short sojourn
and to ring in the New Year!!

Wonderful

ideas and thoughts,

hopes and dreams 

about our art

were shared over

coffee and orange juice,

and a very delish breakfast

at an old favourite haunt

"The Paperback Cafe"

Exploring
new horizons

with the prospect
of triumph ahead
filled both our hearts

with anticipation
of what is to come!

And in the excitement
of knowing new horizons
await for the both of us
quiet details spoke volumes to us.

We journeyed
along the path 
of many before us
who celebrated
 

Love for Life

and

Love for Light.

.

.

.

Gavin's collection of loose leaf teas

was shared, sampled and greatly enjoyed.

And somewhere in between

each savoury sip

"The Majesty of Innocence"

was born.  

.

.

.

There was a day where

almost no photos were taken. 

Perhaps it was because 

the rainy sleepy day

that greeted us in the morning

did not invite the taking out of our cameras,

or because we so enjoyed the company

of another artist friends,

we simply forgot,

though 

the smiles and laughs

shared

between kindred Spirit's

will forever be etched

in our memories.

.

.

.

The ringing in 

of the New Year

2012

was celebrated

by stepping outside

creating a great

clattering and banging

of a pot and a wooden spoon

a tradition I grew up with.

.

.

.

We woke

the next morning

ready to start

2012

with moxie.

The Sunday morning

jazz session at the

"Paperback Cafe"

put rhythm in our

feet and minds

over another delish breakfast! 

.

.

.

.

Then

the bittersweet

time to say

Goodbye,

Farewell,

and of

Hugs and Kisses

came too soon 

was dutifully exchanged 

.

.

.

 

Until the next sojourn!!

New beginnings in a special New Year!!

Happy 2012!!

2012

the year

all of us

have been

waiting for!

A new year calls for new beginnings

and with every new beginning,

calls for valour, moxie

and a bit of faith.

Nothing breathes more Life into

one's Spirit than a fresh and clean start!

My New Year's

wish for everyone is ... 

May this year have a bounty 

of wonderful changes

embraced with open

arms, hearts and minds!

of new beginnings

which evolve into more

and greater new beginnings.

of old dreams come true,

the birth of new dreams.

of shedding old thoughts

and growing new thoughts.

of realizing true

peace and happiness,

are real and attainable.

And it all can be had

in

2012

Big Cheers!!