Christmas Cheers!!

To: Those who celebrate and honour

the Christmas Holiday!

From: My Studio.

 

 

May your Christmas be filled with peace, joy,

love, happiness and merry cheering

with the ones you hold dear!

Cheers, ~ Polly ~

The Binoculars Series 2011 Retrospective!

 

A look back,

a posteriori collection,

a retrospect

of the

Binoculars Series

produced this year

of 2011.

Binoculars #139. View from East Beach, Watch Hill, RI.

8" x 48". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Available at the Cate Charles Gallery.

Binoculars #140. View from Giants Neck, Niantic, CT.

10" x 60". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Private Collection.

Binoculars #141. View from Avery Point, Groton, CT.

8" x 48". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Available at the Sylvan Gallery.

Binoculars #142. View from Avery Point, Groton, CT.

3" x 36". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Private Collection.

Binoculars #143. View from East Beach, Watch Hill, RI.

8" x 48". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Private Collection.

Binoculars #144. View from Avery Point, Groton, CT.

6" x 48". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Private Collection.

Binoculars #145. View from Avery Point, Groton, CT.

10" x 48". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Available at the Cate Charles Gallery.

Binoculars #147. View from Avery Point, Groton, CT.

6" x 48". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Private Collection.

Binoculars #148. View from Stonington Point, CT.

8" x 48". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Private Collection.

Binoculars #150. View from Eastern Point, Groton, CT.

8" x 60". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Available at the Sylvan Gallery.

Binoculars #151. View from Avery Point, Groton, CT.

3" x 36". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Private Collection.

Binoculars #152. View from Avery Point, Groton, CT.

2" x 12". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Available at the Cate Charles Gallery.

Binoculars #153. View from Avery Point, Groton, CT. 

3" x 36". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Available at the Cate Charles Gallery.

Binoculars #154. View from East Beach, Watch Hill, RI.

3" x 24". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Private Collection.

Binoculars #155. View from Eastern Point, Groton, CT.

3" x 30". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Private Collection.

Binoculars #160. View from Weekapaug Point, RI.

10" x 60". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Private Collection.

Binoculars #161. View from Eastern Point, Groton, CT.

7" x 60". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Private Collection.

For available pieces please contact the respective Galleries

Cate Charles Gallery

147 Water St.

Stonington, CT. 06378.

860.245.5213.

or

Sylvan Gallery.

121 West Main St.

Clinton, CT. 06413.

860.669.7278.

...

Well, by the looks of it, 

it certainly was a very productive

and succesful year for the Binoculars Series

which I am extremely grateful for!

For 2012,

my studio mission will be 

to garner a greater level of energy,

for a more productive 

and successful year!

Already I can't wait!!

Cheers!

"Why Beauty Matters"

Yesterday morning while I was reading through the newsfeed on Facebook,

I saw that my long time artist friend, Gavin Gardner, shared this incredible film.

Since yesterday morning, this hour long BBC film has been quickly making the rounds within the Artist community on Facebook and rightfully so, because it carries a profound statement about why beauty matters and what our modern day "cult of ugliness" says about the current Zeitgeist we live in.

Please take the time to watch this film and share it.
As I commented on Facebook, it needs to go viral,
because that's how paramount this message is!

Let the Age of Enlightenment and Beauty reign once again!!

Spinnakers racing by Race Rock Light.

During the lovely warm Summer months

Long Island Sound is a very busy water way 

from tankers to tug n' tows, 

from ferries to fishing boats,

from research vessels to day sailors,

from kayakers to wind surfers,

and from everything in between!

It doesn't seem to leave much room for daily sailing races to happen.

Though there were a few this past summer.

So,

purely by chance

on a bright sparkly day

with warm sea breezes in the air,

out in the misty distance

brilliant spinnakers sails

were all racing by Race Rock Light!

Perfect!

So, naturally I couldn't help myself with such a wonderful moment.

Binoculars #161. Spinnakers racing by Race Rock Light.

View from Eastern Point, Groton, CT.

6" x 60". oil on mdo board. 2011. © Copyright.

Currently at the Cate Charles Gallery

Detail of Binoculars #161.

Detail of Binoculars #161.

 

Detail of Binoculars #161

At the beginning there was Art!

Detail image from the film Cave of Forgotten Dreams,

(Chauvet Cave paintings.)

Last evening we watched a spellbinding documentry 

by celebrated film director Werner Herzog.

'Cave of Forgotten Dreams'

Imagine ...

some 32,000 years ago,

the first Human Beings 

took their hands and visions,

and created the first piece(s) of Art

in a cave now called Chauvet cave

in Southern France.

It is nearly impossible to fathom,

a time span of 32,000 years in Human history. 

Though at the same time it is easy to believe that 

while our Ancestors roamed the Planet staking their claim,

hunting and gathering, surviving and thriving,

they were indeed creating Art

both visual and musical.

Perhaps the most beautiful Art in the World was created then.

These first paintings
are an affirmation to the ever question,

'Why is Art important?'

The Answer ...

Art and the act of creating Art are important because

it continues to be our common thread,

our direct and Spiritual connection to our first Ancestors.

From the first modern day discoverer's of the cave, just a few mere decades ago,

to Werner Herzog's film crew and everyone in between 

who have had the honour of going into the cave and seeing the Art

collectively experienced a 'sense of being watched'.

The Film 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams'

Learn more on the 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' 

Painting adventures

Update from the studio.

There are new works in varying stages in the studio all the time,

which tend to make for some very fun and exciting adventures at the easel.

There are paintings in the process of being finished, halfway to completion,

just getting started and even being thought of at this very moment. 

So, please stay tuned for next studio adventures

from the brush, palette, panel and easel! 

Cheers! 



Celebrate the Holiday Spirit with Art!

'Winter Sunsets - On the way Home' numbers 1 - 14.

Winter Sunsets - 'On the way Home' #14.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011. Copyright.

Hand-Made Black Distressed Floating Frame.

Are now on display and available at the,

Cate Charles Gallery.

147. Water Street.

Stonington, CT. 06378.

860.245.5213

www.catecharlesgallery.com

Please contact the gallery for pricing/shipping details if you are interested.

Cheers and Thank you!!

Tis the Season - Winter Sunsets continued ...

Continuing on with the celebration of the

'Winter Sunsets - On the way Home' series.

This set of seven is a little different this time around.

A couple of the pieces offer distant cozy lights and the Moon. 

Very much like the 'icing on the cake',

having a Half or Full Moon make a cameo appearance

in a Sunset is always a special treat to behold!

Enjoy and Thank you! 

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #8.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #9.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #10.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #11.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #12.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #13.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #14.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

*Note: Gallery location to be announced later.

The Gift of Art

The Gift of Art

Preview Showing - Nov 25th, 2011.

Opening Night - Nov 26th, 2011, 5-8pm.

Cate Charles Gallery.

147. Water Street.

Stonington, CT. 06378.

If you are in the area, please come for a night

of celebration of art and warm Holiday Cheer! 

Winter Sunsets - On the way Home.

Give the Gift of Art this Holiday Season!

Winter Sunsets - On the way Home #7.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 'Winter Sunsets - On the way Home' series will be in the ...

~ Holiday Show ~

at

Cate Charles Gallery

147. Water Street.

Stonington, CT. 06378.

Preview showing on 'Black Friday' - Nov 25th, 2011.

Opening Night - Nov 26th, 2011. 5-8pm.

Please come for an evening of warm Holiday Cheer!

Tis the Season!

Tis the Season!

 For beautiful Winter Sunsets!

The Winter Season is only a few more short days away and it is starting to feel like Winter.

The days are shorter, the nights longer, the air is becoming crisp and cold with a hint of snow,

the woodstove is a constant source of warmth and cups of green or chai tea keep our hearts warm.

It is also that time of year when you find yourself at the start of on your way Home

after a long day's work, where you are greeted with some of the most beautiful and fleeting sunsets.

I am celebrating this coming Winter season with the birth of a new series 

'Winter Sunset - On the way Home'

For I remember well that excited and happy feeling of heading Home

to my nest, to a warm and awaiting studio. 

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #1.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #2.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #3.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #4.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #5.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #6.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

Winter Sunset - On the way Home #7.

6" x 6". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Copyright.

I would like to encourage you by supporting your local Arts

and Give the Gift of Art this Holiday Season!

Big Cheers and Thank you!

*Note: Gallery Location for the 'Winter Sunset' series to be announced later. 

Full Circle, Almost Full Moon

Full Circle, Almost Full Moon.

7 1/2" x 10". charcoal on paper.

2011. Copyright.

The Full Moon always lends itself for perfect subject matter for any artist.

Usually by the second week in November the weather takes its wintry turn,

though recently the last warm days of Autumn still have their stronghold,

which has created a lot more fog (my personal favourite weather effect),

an usual occurrence for November.

The almost Full Moon and the dancing fog called me out from the studio last evening

into a near pitch black yard with a sketch book and some charcoal in hand.

By the studio light beaming out into the yard I quickly skecthed

the almost full moon before it disappeared behind the fog.

With that

 I would like to share with you

Enigma - Almost Full Moon

Enjoy!

Sky and Water ...

Binoculars #160 - View from Weekapaug Point, RI

10" x 60". oil on mdo board. 2011.

Currently on display at the Cate Charles Gallery

As the very short sailing season here in New England comes to a near halt,

 the open waters tend to be rather vacant of boating activities and in some ways lonely,

leaving much room for the imagination of reflection and wonderment.

The Sky and the Water are the backdrops for the Binoculars Series. 

As the seasons change for the warmer Summer days to the cooler and colder months of Autumn and Winter, there are more vistas of cloud laden skies with bright sparkling waters. 

As long as I can remember, I have always had a natural affinity for the Sky and the Water.

I suppose my love for the Sky stems from having grown up in Pittsburgh, PA, where nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains the most beautiful skies would and do occur over head.  

My love for the Water goes back to when I was a kid of 4 or 5, when my family would vacation along the shores of Lake Erie, in Dundalk, New York. I fondly remember the Lake, building sand castles and swimming around in monstrous truck inner tubes that my Dad would collect for Summer use.  

The open Sky and the open Water offer themselves freely 

to think, to marvel, to wonder, to reflect, to explore, to appreciate,

to feel free, to feel open just as the Sky and Water.

It only seems natural to incorporate more

Sky and Water pieces within the Binoculars Series.

Thank you and Cheers!

The Palette ...

As a dear friend of mine said ... "By chance, yet planned."

The Palette is where it all happens!

This morning as I was just starting to gear up for a day in the studio and

happily looking at a freshly cleaned palette, a classic 'Ah-Ha!' moment struck my mind!!

A 'new' Studio blog header was staring right back at me in the face!!

So, after a few attempts of getting the writting just so and placement correct, and a few carefully arranged brushes, here we have the new Studio blog header!!

Well with the excitement of the 'Ah-Ha!' moment still fresh in the air, 

I'm off to the studio to paint!!

Cheers!!

Autumn backyard Light.

Plein-air - Autumn backyard Light.

8 1/4" x 17". oil on birch. 

 

 

A quick little sketch of the early evening light coming into the backyard.

I had not done a plein-air painting in a long while.
I was convincing myself I 'needed' a car in order to go plein-air painting.
This reason was becoming too much of a crutch.

Something I'd hope would never happen.
So, the crutch has been kicked out of my mind-set!

I have everything I need.

Paint.

Panels.

A beautiful yard.
Inspiration!
and
Determination!!

The daily (more-or-less) routine of plein-air paitning is something that I've missed dearly.
And want very much to get back into.

The days of when I had a car I was constantly creating new works,
going to new places, showing them and even selling.

Today, I made a promise to myself ...
I am an artist.
I should paint as often as I can no matter what!
I'll paint what is close to me.
The backyard will an outlet for plein-air painting.
Fruits and veggies will make for still-life(s).
The street lights will make for night scenes. 

The Light here is wondrous inside and outside anytime of day!

So, as I sit here and realise how rusty I am at plein-air painting.
I am willing to be kind to myself and enjoy the process of feeling like a beginner again.

The drought is over!

The rain has come!

I will grow again!

And I hope to show you all just how beautiful the Light is!

Binoculars Series goes 'Green'!

Some of you may or may not know that I have not a had a car of my own for a number of years.

Simple reasons; I have never been able to afford one. So, I have become dependent on the kindness

of others, mainly my sister and my boyfriend, to help me get around to my favourite Binocular locations so, the series can stay alive until the day when I can afford a car of my own. 

I have always had a passion for riding bicycles and as a kid often dreamed of becoming a Professional cyclist. This Trek 4100 MTB, though not a road bike (which I would like to have), was a very special gift to myself back in 2003 when the Binoculars Series had it's first taste of success!!

My bike has travelled the country roads and Hop River Bike Trail of CT, all between Watch Hill and Weekapaug Point RI, all around Block Island and the bestest bike trip to date on the

Great Allegheny Passage in Southwestern PA and Northwestern MD with friends and family.  

So, today, I finally entertained an idea that I've had for a long while ... 'ride my bike down to Avery Point on a beautiful Sunday (less traffic) and gather some material for the Binoculars Series'.

I'm happy it was a warm and sparkley Sunday.

I'm happy I rode myself down to a favourite spot.

I'm happy with the material I collected.

I'm happy I rode a total of 21 miles!

And I'm even happier to say that the Binoculars

that will result from this special bike trip

will have half the carbon footprint! 

Go Green!

An Unintentional Hiatus

It has been a little while since my post. I was hoping to follow up with an entertaining one full of Q&A's for you all, though seeing that the article did not garner any questions, that ambition will have to wait for another time ...

An intentional hiatus .... a lesson I learned from this past winter and early spring. Three months which consumed the most time away from the studio that I ever experienced. During those months of not being in the studio, let alone not touching a paint brush, I allowed myself to become consumed with resentment and self pity. I knew my attitude was not good, so, I did my very best to ditch that mind-set and said to myself 'An intentional hiatus can be a good thing!' and I was instantly at peace.

When I returned to the studio in June, the palette was caked with hard dry paint and had a decent layer of dust on it. The studio received ample attention of a good thorough cleaning. There was energy bursting in the studio, blank panels jumped on the easel for their turn and off the easel to make room for the next one. I was a happy painting fiend! The following 6 weeks procured 12 new finished/framed Binoculars paintings, all varying in sizes and delivered to galleries - some of the Binoculars now happily reside in their new homes!

In contrast, efforts in the studio this week have been sporadic though very productive ..... and the next coming weeks will mostly likely be in the same manner ... I have been called away from the studio again to help with a job, that will help in turn bring food to the table among other things.

Though this time around ... things will be very different, I will keep my palette dust free!

Studio Exposed!

The Studio is now exposed!!

It's not everyday one gets to have the opportunity

for a little press coverage, especially an entire article!

I'm so pleased to share with you all the article 

Carrie Jacobson, editor of the Montville Patch,

so kindly wrote about me, my art and the studio.

I would like to thank Carrie once more

for the wonderful opportunity of exposing

my art and studio to the World!

Please feel free to pepper me with any questions you may have
about me, my art, the studio and whatever else you're curious about, 

by posting in the comment section (you'll need to be a follower)
and I will collect and sort through your questions by
following up with a Q&A blog post with
your questions and commentary.

Thank you all for your wonderful patronage!!

Cheers, ~ Polly ~

Ideas, Plans, and What's To Come!!

After a couple of weeks of not painting consistently at the easel, partial thanks goes to Tropical Storm Irene and the mess it left behind, and to the non-exsistent supply of mdo (medium density overlay) board. I'm ready to get back in the studio again!!

Now that Irene's mess is all tidy-up and the mdo board supply has been replinshed and is on standby (in the studio right now!) anixously waiting to be used! The ideas for new works, new binoculars, are queuing up fast and already jockeying for position to be the first on the easel! There is a fervor of ideas building up and I love it!

The master plan is to be a painting fiend (well, not exactly - let's be realistic now) and create another 'batch' of Binoculars! Going back a bit to earlier this year, at the time of it's creation Binoculars #140 was the largest bino yet (bino for short) measuring up to 10" x 60". I had been itching to go larger with the binos and I pleased to hear during the course of this past Summer that it's size was well received by many. In this set of new panels there are 4 10" x 60" panels. These will be reserved for 'major' pieces.

Another news of interest on the horizon, which I'm very excited about - is back in the Summer, the Editor of the Montville Patch, Carrie Jacobson, offered to do an article on me after a brief courtship of emailings. And between all that while reading her stories on the Patch, I was pleasently surprised to discover that Carrie was an artist as well and that she would be tending to her own booth at the Mystic Outdoor Arts Festival this summer. So, I made the effort to meet Carrie at her booth and at once I could sense her zest for life and her artistic spirit which resonates through her new found passion of palette knife painting. She keeps a blog The Accidental Artist on her artistic Life and you can see her works for sale.

After our delightful first meeting in the flesh, we managed to coordinate a time (just days before Irene showed up) to have the interview at the studio, which was super fun and no spoilers from me, you'll just have to wait to read the article yourself! And speaking of which, I recently learned that Carrie plans on publishing the story next week on Sept 20th ... oh so exciting!

On that happy note ... please stay tuned for what's to come!!

Cheers, ~ Polly ~

Hello and Welcome and Thank you!

Hello and Welcome to my studio blog!!

It thrills me to my bones that you have taken the time out of your day to stop by and check out my little studio blog, it means the World to me! I do realise that there is not much here of interest or excitement at the moment, though there are exciting things on the horizon to be seen and discovered ... please see my (rather) lengthy list below of things waiting to be blogged, to be talked and discussed and to simply happen!

Here is where I hope to share with you the adventures from the studio and Life itself; plein-air painting trips, working in the studio, the binoculars series, shows, openings, galleries, thoughts and ideas about paintings, new paintings - old paintings, meeting other artists, sharing the work and lives of another artists, dead or alive (one of my favourite things to do), the Artist's Spirit Foundation, the evolution of the studio blog, books, random thoughts, beautiful places of interests, websites of interest, hot and exciting art happening, the importance of supporting your local art community, discuss the art community, what it's like to be an artist during this zeitgeist, and perhaps some reflections and offerings on Life itself.

So, as this Artistic Life happens and moves forward, I plan on making the most it by sharing it all with you as best as I can, so I hope you stick around for what's to come!

Once again, thank you all for visiting the studio blog and for your continued interest and patronage in my work!

And a special thanks goes to those who have become followers of my blog, thank you indeed!!!

Cheers and Best Regards,

~ Polly ~

Breakfast Organic Goodness!

You start with ...

Flax Seed

Wheat Germ

Garnola (of your choice)

Stonyfield French Vanilla Yogart!

Thrawed frozen organic Strawberries!

Mix and stir together for some yummy goodness!

Eat and Enjoy the splendor of Nature's Provisions!

.

.

.

And then the next thing you know ...

It's All gone in a flash!

.

.

.

.

For good reason!!

It's Breakfast Organic Goodness!

....................................................

Breakfast Organic Goodness!

1 Tbs Flax Seed.

1 Tbs Wheat Germ.

3 Tbs Garnola.

3 Tbs Yogart.

6 Frozen (thawed) Strawberries.

Mix, Eat and Enjoy!