Boneyard Art Festival 2017: "Medusa"

"You only have to look at the Medusa 

straight on to see her.  And she's not deadly.  

She's beautiful, and she's laughing..."

~Helen Cixous

"Medusa", for the Boneyard Art Festival, April/2017

Hello, little neglected blog.  Didn't mean to be absent quite so long!  Yet, as always happens, I will eventually find my way back in here.... 

 This time around it's been a few privately commissioned projects, including a particularly large one, that have been keeping me busy behind-the-scenes and away from my usual artistic pursuits.  Such as the Nibblefest Art Contest.  I'm missing it...!  Hoping to get back into the Nibblefest groove in the next couple of months. In the meantime I'm needing to update with a few past projects that for some reason (I guess because they were local...?) never made their way into my blog.  Since I do like to keep this little virtual space as documentation for my own reference, I'm updating now.

"Medusa", April 2017

And so here we have the Medusa. 

There's an annual art event in my locality, known as the Boneyard Arts Festival (named after a little creek that meanders through the town).  The fest runs over a weekend every April, with shows and events at multiple venues all over the city.  Last year (2017) I was invited to hang a painting with the Twin City Derby Girls, our local roller derby team, as they hosted a gallery venue at their practice space. This was my piece for their show....:

"Medusa"  7 x 9 shield-shaped plaque

I had had this old, shield-shaped wooden plaque in my stash for the longest time.   It was high time to use it, and what better subject to feature upon a shield, than Medusa...?   Not to mention what better subject to feature for a showing with the Roller Derby girls, than a Medusa on a shield....?  It all seemed entirely appropriate.

Thank you, Twin City Derby Girls...!

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"No Silent Springs" (Rachel Carson)"

“But man is a part of nature, 

and his war against nature 

is inevitably a war against himself....”

― Rachel Carson

My tribute to Rachel Carson and her book, 'Silent Spring'

"No Silent Springs

(Rachel Carson)"

I recently watched the PBS 'American Experience episode' regarding the author and naturalist, Rachel Carson, about her life's work.  While I knew a little about her background, the documentary went into great detail and was very educational.  I learned much from watching it, and also found myself highly moved. 

Oils on a 7x9 wood plaque

In an era when Nature was seen as a thing necessary for Mankind to dominate, exploit, intercept and control, Rachel Carson's message firmly challenged that prevailing Mid-Century notion.  While the attitudes of the time reflected a belief that humans were somehow separate and apart from the natural world, Carson argued instead that mankind is actually an integral part of the dynamism of Nature, and that our human activities potentially have more far-reaching repercussions and impacts than we might even be aware of.  Her book, 'Silent Spring', specifically questioned the widespread use of chemical pesticides, while calling attention to the negative impacts such wholesale application had upon the environment and animal life -- and ultimately, upon ourselves.   'Silent Spring' became a best seller and brought much public awareness to the concept of environmental conservation.  Her influential writings and moving testimonies helped awaken a global cause, and are generally credited with giving rise and advancement to our modern environmental movement.

I was able to use a small wooden plaque purchased 2nd-hand from our local I.D.E.A. Store

As such, when looking for a subject to paint for this month's EBSQ "Awakening" online exhibit, Rachel Carson came to mind immediately.  Her influence awakened an entire generation. The title of the book, 'Silent Spring', refers to the scenario of an absence of song birds, as they perish en mass from heavy pesticide exposure. Robins in particular are susceptible to the effects of industrial chemicals and pesticides building up in the food chain -- so a robin seemed a likely symbol.  There is also the matter of Rachel Carson having died relatively young (in her 50's) from aggressive breast cancer.  As a survivor of breast cancer myself, I hated to learn about how she likely suffered in her illness. Oncology treatments were rudimentary at best back then, harsh and commonly ineffective, and doctors often patronizing.   We'll never know if Rachel Carson's own cancer was in any way environmentally triggered.  But what if is was...?  Then somehow her message feels even all-the-more weighty to me. 

On my easel in progress....

And so, while I'm entering this piece into the March EBSQ "Awareness" online art exhibit, I was also able to hang it in a local, themed art show this month, entitled "Resist".  What comes to mind when you think of Resistance....?  Rachel Carson did go on to experience a lot of negative fall-out from her writings and opinions -- many folks, including those in the farming industry and other corporate interests, looked to discredit her work and smear her reputation.   They resisted her environmental message -- while she in turn intrepidly resisted their public pressure and attempts to keep her quiet.....

Here's a photo of my entry, "No Silent Springs (Rachel Carson)" hanging in the local "Resist" show....

My Rachel Carson tribute hanging in the Resist show at our local Independent Media Center

RIP, Rachel Carson.  

Here's to no silent springs.

My Kafka Tribute for EBSQ's January Exhibit Theme: 'Metamorphosis'

"I cannot make you understand.

I cannot make anyone understand what is happening inside me.

I cannot even explain it to myself..."

~Franz Kafka, "The Metamorphosis"

I entered the EBSQ "Metamorphosis" exhibit with this little tribute portrait of Franz Kafka -- because please, "Metamorphosis"...?
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What else could it possibly be but Kafka...?

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'Metamorphosis' In-Progress Photo

The following is my statement over at EBSQ:

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My entry for the "Metamorphosis" exhibit features a small portrait painted in tribute to Mr. Franz Kafka, author of the 1915 novella, "The Metamorphosis".  Mr. Kafka gazes steadily out to us, his head held protectively within the pinchers of an extraordinary fantasy insect. 

When contemplating a subject for this month's theme, but of course this classic tome was one of the first things to come to mind.  For many of us, myself included, "The Metamorphosis" was required reading in school -- a tale of woe about a young man who unwillingly and inexplicably metamorphosizes into a huge and fearsome-looking insect, and how this unusual and unfortunate circumstance negatively impacts his life, as well as the lives of his family, who go on to ultimately reject him in his given state.  Throughout his long and drawn-out ordeal, the young man/insect is stuck within his house, unable to leave the four walls of his room for fear of public reaction to his condition. Hence I felt this little segment of found, wooden picket fencing that I used for my painting support an especially good fit for this project, being as that it is rather "house shaped" at that.  And while I don't want to include any spoilers of the story here to those who haven't read it, suffice it to say the protagonist does not come to a good end by the last chapter of the book, hence we have as part of the insect's body a wee painted skull. 

So let this be a warning to all, shall we....?  Please try not to transform randomly while sleeping into big creepy insects, if you can at all avoid it.....

.......

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UPDATE ~UPDATE

Happy to say that my entry won "Member's Choice" (1st Place) in the 'Metamorphosis' show, yay!  This involves a cash prize -- thanks so much, EBSQ...!   (Plus I have plans to hang this locally, at a cafe here in town that has put out the call for original art).  

New E.A.Poe Tribute for Nov's NFAC Theme "SAME SUBJECT AS 1st ART SOLD ONLINE"

“Who has not, a hundred times,
found himself committing a vile or a silly action
for no other reason
than because he knows he should not...?”  

~Edgar Allan Poe, 'The Black Cat'

My NFAC entry: a tribute in oils to E.A. Poe, painted upon a 12x8 cat-shaped wood plaque

After all my recent talk of gardening and cooking, we're now back to our regularly scheduled programming of arting and painting, as  Nibblefest Art Contest Week swings its way back 'round, once again.

~Poe Tribute: Click for Auction Link~

November's Nibblefest theme is: "Same Subject as the First Art You Sold Online".  A bit of a different than the usual, no? After over a decade of monthly Nibblefest Art Contest themes, you can image how some of the more popular ones have made their trek around the block any number of repeated times. This one however is a first.   

Thus speaking of 'firsts', my first ever online art sale was for the November '08 NFAC theme, "Christmas Trees" (my very first NFAC entry) via Ebay.  But my first ever sale for the online marketplace *Etsy* was back in 2011, when I sold a wee, painted ACEO tribute portrait of the inimitable artist, Salvador Dali....: 

A 2.5 x 3.5 watercolor ACEO portrait of Salvador Dali, my 1st Etsy sale

 So I'm using this as my 'first'.  And indeed, I could certainly have painted another in a series of personal tribute portraits to Mr. Dali (as, for example, this one).  Instead, I chose to focus upon the fact that my first-ever (Etsy) sale was of a famous and historic, dead, white, artistic male.  Thus I'm entering Nibblefest this month with a tribute portrait of yet another famous and historic, dead, white, artistic male:  

Mr. Edgar Allen Poe.

"Poe's Black Cat"....

 I believe this is now something like my 5th or 6th in a series of Poe tributes (previous ones can be found here, here and here).  But he was actually painted a few months back....

On my easel, back in September

I'd been hoarding this particular thrifted, cat-shaped plaque (sort-of-similar-yet-very-different to this cat-shaped plaque from a few years back) for forever, waiting for another Nibblefest 'Cats' theme to come around again.  I was happy to finally have my chance this past September, for "Feline Nation".  Only unfortunately, I fished around so long for an actual concept to paint, during what was already a really busy month, that I ended up getting started so late in the game I couldn't quite finish in time to enter him properly (because One-Day Nibblefest auctions feel just too risky for me....!).  

Still, after posting him on social media, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a random invitation to display him for the month of October in a unique Halloween art show, called "Haunting at the Hive", at the Hive Gallery in Chester, New Jersey.  So that's where he ended up for the month of October.   Obviously I didn't make it to N.J. to see the exhibit myself, but oh, how I wished I could have -- if the photos and videos I saw of it were any indication, it looked really amazing. 

A link to the video of the amazing gallery show, chock-full of original, Haunting-inspired artwork (you can see my Poe piece around the 24:20 mark)....:

Haunting at the Hive, Chester NJ Oct 8 -  Nov 5 2016 from Chaotic Attractors (LK Pettine) on Vimeo.

Some stills of my Poe from the show:

Photo Credit: Vicky Knowles

Photo Credit: Vicky Knowles

In any case, I  felt most honored indeed to be included with all those amazing and visionary artists.  A big thank you to The Hive...!

So as you can see, Mr. Poe has already covered some mileage under his belt (and soon I assume to cover even more).....

My auction description:

"Poe's Black Cat"

Is there a Poe fan in your life...?

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC), the theme for  November being 'SAME SUBJECT as First Art Sold Online', features a portrait created in loving tribute to the esteemed 19th century American author, Edgar Allan Poe.  Painted in oils upon an old, found, 12" x 8" cat-shaped wooden plaque, this unique original is signed and ready to hang.   

“Who has not, a hundred times,
found himself committing a vile or a silly action
for no other reason
than because he knows he should not...?”

~Edgar Allan Poe, 'The Black Cat'


Years ago, my very first sale via the Etsy online art marketplace was a wee ACEO watercolor portrait in tribute to the artist, Salvador Dali (as seen in my photos).  As such I took this as my inspiration for this month's Nibblefest theme of "Same Subject as First Art Sold Online".  Only not literally another portrait of Mr. Dali himself, but rather the fact that the subject matter was of a famously known and revered, dead artistic white male.  This, my November Nibblefest entry, is of ANOTHER famously known and revered, dead artistic white male, the venerable Mr. Edgar Allan Poe. 

Mr. Poe wrote a well-known short story entitled, "The Black Cat" -- thus painting his portrait upon a cat-shaped plaque felt fitting indeed.  Here's hoping you enjoy my little tribute and Nibblefest entry as much as I enjoyed painting it...!

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......UPDATE~UPDATE~UPDATE....


Happy to say my "Poe's Black Cat" won the Big Chomp award in November's Nibblefest Art Contest -- a big shout out of thanks to all my lovely bidders...!

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"RedWood" for the 'Artists for a Cure' Community Art Show

Tonight marks the inaugural opening of a local art show, called 'Artists for a Cure', which its organizers are hoping to make an annual event.  Artists here in my locality were invited to contribute works of art, with all proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life of Champaign County".   As a cancer 'Survivor' myself (happily in remission and aiming to stay that way) I was glad to donate.   My offering for the show is entitled 'RedWood' -- a piece I painted back in late 2011 (click to read the background story behind this painting)....:

"RedWood" (8.5 x 10.5) painted on a support I created myself from an old frame

"RedWood", my contribution to the 'Artists for a Cure' local art show

Locals interested in seeing this piece in person make their way over to the Indi-Go Art Gallery, where the show will run through the weekend.   The opening is tonight -- come enjoy snacks and live music and support a great cause....!

"Sisters": My Entry for EBSQ's June Show, 'Butterflies and Moths'.....

"Sisters", a painting on a 6 x 8, reclaimed wooden plaque....

This painting, entitled 'Sisters' on a 6 x 8 reclaimed wooden plaque, is my entry for EBSQ's "Butterflies and Moths' exhibit.  It is also a donation I am making to a local silent auction to benefit the group, Young Survival Coalition (YSC), a national organization that serves to support and educate young women with breast cancer.  As a breast cancer survivor myself, I found our local affiliate of the YSC to be enormously helpful when I needed it, and even though my own treatment is well behind me, I've made many lasting friendships through the group so I am happy to lend my support for the cause.   Combining the idea of 'Sisters', as related to the YSC, and 'Moths', as related to the EBSQ show, this was the idea that came to mind....a beautiful Luna moth, and her namesake, Luna, the Moon.......  

Day 3 of '29 Faces' May Challenge: "Here Comes the Sun"

"Here Comes the Sun" (Acrylic on vellum mounted permanently to a 5 x 5 handcut wooden board)

My Face for Day 3 of the new '29 Faces' in May challenge.  26 more Faces to go....

Today's entry I admit finds me cheating ever so slightly.   It was a rushy-rush kind of day on my end (I know -- excuses, excuses), including teaching, multiple errands, a  soccer game, dinner out, and, last but not least, visiting with out-of-state relatives.  Since I do wish to sleep tonight (and desperately!)  I'm using as my Face of the Day a project I actually completed late LAST month, but hadn't managed to get around to blogging about.  Yet.

This little painting is currently hanging in a local gallery exhibit (along with its companion piece, which I will save blogging about for another mega-busy day).  The exhibit is called the "5 x 5  Show', with the theme of the show being 'What You Love" --  a very fun concept for an art exhibit.  For me, when I was preparing to paint my own two 5"x 5" show entries, and contemplating all the many and varied things that I love and might want to paint about, we were experiencing in these parts a particularly gorgeous warm and sunny spring day after a lengthy patch of gloomy chill.  I felt so grateful for the sun at that moment that I was more than happy to paint up a little ode to it.  In fact anthropomorphic celestial beings have always been long-time favourite subjects of mine -- smiling happy Suns, Moons and Stars just somehow never fail to cheer me up.....

'ACEO Theme Week' Contest, and '29 Faces' Challenge

'The White Witch of Narnia",
for ACEO Theme Week (click for auction link).

It's the 1st of February! Which is likely significant for any number of reasons (day before Groundhog's Day perhaps?), but at least two of them would be: (1.) it's the start of the monthly 'ACEO Theme Week' art contest, and (2.) it's the first day of the '29 Faces' art blog challenge. And because I wanted to participate in both events, being the practical sort, the logical thing for me was to combine the two. The contest theme this month is 'Winter Wonderland', therefore my entry features both 'Winter', and...a 'Face', choosing as I did to feature the "White Witch' of the chilly, wintry Narnia. In any case, this, my first Face of the challenge, was my project for the day.  The following is my auction description:

~"The White Witch of Narnia"~

My entry for this month's ACEO Theme Week (TW) Contest is doing 'double duty' for me. While I had an aceo to do for this contest, I also needed to create a 'face' for an art blog challenge I'm participating in, called '29 Faces' (a Face for every day in February. See my blog for more info). Overlapping these two goals, my entry features the evil and vain 'White Witch' of Narnia, who has cast a spell of perpetual Winter and eternal snow upon that magical land.....

The tale of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' is set during WWII, therefore my White Witch reflects the era, looking like a 1940's Glamour Girl. She sports an icicle tiara, and holds between her gloved fingers her preferred object of bribery, a piece of the sticky-sweet confection, Turkish Delight.....




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January Nibblefest Art Contest: 'Letters, Symbols, Numbers' Theme....

My NFAC ACEO entry, entitled "Ophelia: Rosemary, that's for Remembrance" (click for auction link. Note the image above looks so much better than the photo I had to use for my listing).

With the holidays behind us and things settling down a little around here, I was really motivated to enter this month's Nibblefest Art Contest. For December's I'd "cheated", so to speak, by entering an older piece that fit the theme with only a little stretching, and November's Nibblefest I'd missed entirely, nada. And so it was that I was anticipating getting something together this time around. While I wasn't necessarily mad about the theme, "Letters, Symbols, Numbers", it seemed likely enough. Still, as the 20th of the month quickly approached I found myself without any real direction of where I wanted to go with this -- just what was my take on "Letters, Symbols, Numbers" anyway? Usually something-or-other pops into my head pretty quickly, but here I was just drawing (pun intended) a total blank. A few false starts in the studio revealed nothing and wasted my time. The 20th came and went, and I was ready to just talk myself into letting it go this month (again). That is until two ideas finally came to mind that I actually liked and felt I could work with. Not to mention that it still wasn't too late to get in on a 5-day auction (never mind that I forgot to actually set my "5-day auctions" for 5-days, so they'll be running a little past the official end of the contest. Oops!)....

This first idea came to mind when I was pondering the concept of 'Symbols'. I was thinking of things around us that have symbolic natures to them, when flowers. with all their various meanings in olde folklore, came to mind. Which in turn lead me of course to 'Hamlet' (my favourite Shakespeare) and Ophelia and how in her highly confused and disturbed mental state she begins spouting off to anyone who will listen various flora and the concepts they represent. I thought about simply portraying Ophelia with all her pretty flowers and herbs -- but that seemed a little obtuse. In the end I chose to write her memorable "Rosemary, that's for Remembrance" line in script on the ACEO, and so we have 'Letters'...

Here is my auction description:

One of two ACEO original entries by me for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC) (--the theme for January being 'Letters, Symbols, Numbers') features a character from what must be my personal favourite Shakespearean tale, the story of "Hamlet". Here we see Ophelia, Hamlet's girlfriend, climbing a willow tree that overhangs a small brook, shortly after she has recited one of her most memorable lines in the play....

Ophelia is very much in love with Hamlet, but his recent disturbingly bizarre behaviour has upset everyone at Elsinore's court, and she's no exception. Then he went on to seemingly abandon her, and that after (kind of accidentally) murdering her own dear father. Sheesh, with so much heartbreak is it any wonder she's become unhinged? She's been wandering about singing, playing with her flowers and not making a whole lot of sense -- telling the king and queen, "there's Rosemary, that's for remembrance". And now sadly, it wont be long before the branch breaks in her little tree, and she herself will become but a Memory, much to Hamlet's despair.....

Art Chicago

Sculpture (in paper) by Kirstin Hassenfeld

Mixed Media on Cigar Boxes by Ed Masante

I'm a little late in reporting this, but last Sunday found me back again in Chicago for the day -- this time to take in the big annual international art fair hosted there, Art Chicago . It was my second time attending, and what a fabulous show -- it must be one of the most extensive and comprehensive gatherings featuring contemporary paintings and sculpture around. It seemed especially good this year to me -- such variety and diversity in the collections. I went with two friends, and we saw and learned so much. I took the above two photos during the show -- working with paper as I do myself, I was attracted to the paper sculpture of Kirsten Hassenfeld. And being recycling-minded as I am, I also appreciated the alternative canvas used by Ed Masante -- clever use of cigar boxes I thought (not to mention I love the bird paintings rendered upon them)...

In any case, attending the show was so much fun -- I'd recommend it to anyone. And here's looking very much forward to going again next year...