Tuesday, January 24, 2012

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!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

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!!

Friday, January 20, 2012

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

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

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 ~
 

Friday, January 6, 2012

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.


Monday, January 2, 2012

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!!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

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!!