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!!

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!!