"Poe's Tell-Tale Heart", My Nibblefest Contest Entry for July's "SOMETHING HIDDEN" Theme

"Poe's Tell-Tale Heart"

"Poe's Tell-Tale Heart", my wee tribute to the master and his classic suspense story all about 'something hidden' indeed....

~Click for auction/entry link~

Nibblefest time, yet again.  

The Contest sneaked up on me this month, as it does EVERY month -- but even more quickly and more quietly than usual it seems.  I've been very much enjoying a busy summer on my end -- what with both my young adult children visiting here at home, plus extended stays of their significant others, and plenty of other stuff going on.  And so it was I found myself dragging my feet just a little upon getting an entry together for July's theme of "Something Hidden".  Thankfully I wasn't too stumped though.  I managed to conjure up a few reasonably passable literary concepts at first -- stories all about "hidden" subject matter, like "The Secret Garden", and "Treasure Island".  One good friend even suggested doing something with Nancy Drew, Girl Detective (I was a hugely rapid Nancy Drew fan in my youth, as was she), being as that Nancy D. was always on the hunt after some hidden something or n'other.  That would have been fun for sure (and is mentally filed for future reference!).  But it wasn't until dear Mr. Poe and his ultimate in 'hidden' literary 'things' (as in, body parts....?!?) came to mind that I felt I really had something I wanted to sink my teeth into (so to speak).  And so, yet another Poe tribute seemed to be in order (because I never need much arm twisting for THAT)....:

Painted on all sides of a an 8x8 square, found wooden plaque....

I thought a lot about how I wanted to approach this particular composition.  I can be attracted to the dark and the macabre in Life...., while at the same time often finding myself quite squeamish and sensitive.  I think I harbor a touch of superstition too -- as such I always try as a rule not to put too much "negative energy", or whatever you want to call it, out into the world, one that already seems to have more than enough of that as it is without any extra 'help' from me.  And yet I'm not exactly a Pollyanna either... -- thus, this was what I came up with, something that for me felt like a happy medium between the beautiful, and the grotesque (plus a little bit of kitsch.   Because please, as we know I'm all about the kitsch!)...

For fun I'm posting a pic of my initial sketch.  I know not all artists pre-sketch, but I nearly always start with one -- it just helps me formulate what I'm trying to visualize (plus because I'm always working with 2nd-hand or found painting supports, of all different shapes and sizes, it helps me work out spatial elements).   It needn't be a refined drawing for my purposes -- in fact, my sketches are typically extremely rough and 'sketchy' indeed, as seen here.  Just a general outline to see where I'm going is enough....:

 

A few details aside, not a whole lot of difference between my initial sketch and the end product...:

 The following is my auction description...:

...........

~"Poe's Tell-Tale Heart"~

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC),  the theme for July being 'SOMETHING HIDDEN', features a portrait painted in loving tribute to the much-beloved, classic author, Edgar Allan Poe, and his popular 1843 story of suspenseful macabre, "The Tell-Tale Heart".....

One of Edgar Allan Poe's best known short stories, "The Tell-Tale Heart", is ALL about 'something hidden' -- specifically, the murdered body of the narrator's neighbor, killed in revulsion for his icky "filmy eye", then dismembered and tucked away under the interior  floorboards.   Police come to check out the missing person report, proceeding to sit right above where the body parts are concealed.  The narrator manages to keep his cool..., that is until that pesky, dead, tattle-tale heart starts up -- beating ever more loudly in its clandestine hiding spot, filling the room with dreadful noise.... (I chose to symbolize this particular wee gory detail of Poe's vivid imagination, as him casually showing off one highly unique, ticking time-piece....).  

Here's hoping you enjoy my entry this month as much as I did creating it...! 

 .............

"Poe's Tell-Tale Heart"

To see all the fabulous "Something Hidden"-themed Nibblefest entries, click here....

......UPDATE-UPDATE.....

Happy to say my "Poe's Tell-Tale Heart" tied for First Place in July's NFAC -- 

here's many thanks to all my bidders....!

 

"Dali's 'Stache", My Nibblefest Contest Entry for June's "SURREALISM"

"Dali's 'Stache", My 5x7 June Nibblefest Art Contest Entry

CLICK FOR AUCTION LINK

It's June.  Summer is upon us!  And a lovely one so far it is too, which I have been very much enjoying.  Busy to be sure however (very!) -- so much so in fact, that I found myself skipping last month's Nibblefest Art Contest.  Ugh.  With everything else going on around here, I just wasn't quite able to get my act together enough to pull an entry out of my hat, despite May's interesting "Freak Show" theme.  I really dislike skipping the contest (because I know how that can be a dangerously slippery slope!), and so it served to make me especially determined to have something ready for THIS month's "Surrealism" theme.  Thus, we have my June entry:

Recognize this guy....????  (The Eyes Have It!!)

When considering the theme "Surrealism", what pops into your mind...?  For me, I myself couldn't help but think of one of the Surrealist movement's favorite sons (or not, depending with whom you talk), the late/great Salvador Dali.  Dali was probably (in)famously known as much for his side-show hijinks as for his art -- heck, even his mustache had it's very own book...!   

Well, as creative as Dali got with his 'stache, grooming it into ever more outlandish shapes (someone wrote and told me it took him 15 years to train his moustache to grow upwards) even he never took it quite this far (so I did it for him...!).

Painted on all sides of an old, found wood plaque

My auction description...:

~"Dali's 'Stache"~

 

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC),  the theme for June being 'SURREALISM', features a portrait painted in tribute to a certain late, well-known painter of the Surrealist genre.  Some may recall how Salvador Dali often liked to creatively groom his long, handlebar mustache into interesting silhouettes -- I just had fun imagining what it might have been like to take that particular personal predilection of his to the next level...... 

Painted upon a found, 5 x 7 wood plaque, this original, "Dali's 'Stache", is signed and ready to hang (with the back of the plaque having a small nail hole)......

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*To see all the fabulous 'SURREALISM'-themed Nibblefest entries, click here....*





UPDATE***UPDATE**UPDATE


Happy to say my entry tied for 2nd Place in the contest this month!  A big thanks to all my bidders....!

"Dali's 'Stache" ties for 2nd Place Award...!

"Cosmic Pool Party": My entry for NFAC theme, "SPACE/PLANETS/STARS"

It's Nibblefest week, 

once again....!

April's theme:  

"SPACE/PLANETS/STARS"

"Cosmic Pool Party":  9.5 x 7.5 acrylic on wrapped canvas

CLICK FOR AUCTION LINK

I confess.  

I came dangerously close to missing the Nibblefest Art Contest entirely this month.  Dangerously!  

It wasn't because I didn't care for the 'Space/Planets/Stars' theme -- I actually did like it, since I often find myself painting suns and moons and stars (typically anthropomorphic ones), and figured that could easily be my fall-back if nothing else came to mind.  But the days were flying by, and the 20th looming, yet I still just couldn't seem to quite get myself started.  I was chatting with an online artist friend who also participates in the contest, and she suggested Carl Sagan.  Hmmm, always a soft spot for Mr. Sagan and his "Billions and billions of stars" quote (which it turns out he never even actually said, despite being so famous for it!).  My wheels started turning, and yet....  still I found myself getting caught up in other things here at home, with time slipping away.  Then another online friend suggested a Spock tribute in light of Leonard Nimoy's recent passing.  That idea had me trying to put the two men together in one painting somehow.  Next thing I know, this whole concept popped into mind, on what was only like the day before the contest officially started.  A concept which actually turned out to be pretty darn complicated to execute indeed, oops -- so thank goodness for the 3-Day Nibblefest option...!   Though I generally try to avoid it, I have entered the contest late with a 5-Day auction in the past (as recently as last month even), but this is my first ever  3-Day.  At least there are alternatives for the time-management impaired amongst us....!

Side View, showing the painted edges:

I'm also very grateful to a few online art friends for encouraging me to paint an entry this month when I was so on the fence about it and finding myself very much tempted to simply blow it off altogether.   Thanks, guys...!

"Cosmic Pool Party" -- 'Too cool for you, fool...!' ;-)

*To see all the fabulous 'SPACE/PLANETS/STARS'-themed Nibblefest entries, click here....*




 --------------------

UPDATE....:


Happy to say my "Cosmic Pool Party" tied for 2nd Place in April's Contest -- thanks to all my bidders.....!

"Cosmic Pool Party" ties for 2nd Place....

. 

"Daisy Buchanan", My 'Great Gatsby' Tribute for March's NFAC (Theme: FLOWERS)

It's NIBBLEFEST time...!

March's NFAC Theme: 'FLOWERS'

"Daisy Buchanan", my entry for March's Nibblefest Art Contest 'FLOWERS' theme

My own interpretation of 'FLOWERS'...?

A featured portrait in tribute to everyone's favorite literary poor-little-rich-girl, the fictional (and famously high-maintenance) 'DAISY Buchanan, of "Great Gatsby" fame. 

CLICK FOR AUCTION LINK (STARTING AT JUST .99 CENTS)

"Daisy Buchanan", acrylics on a 7" wooden oval plaque....

I adore flowers.  I really do.  Especially right now, knowing that Spring is just about to be sprung.  Those early daffodils and tulips, when they finally do sprout, will be such a sight for sore eyes...!  And yet as much as I love 'em, I just wasn't interested in painting actual blossoms for this month's theme.  I know perfectly well how little else bores me faster than a very literal approach such as that.... 

 

"Daisy Buchanan", side view

 Instead, I put my thinking energy into famous, flower-named protagonists of popular literary history..., and then this is what sprang into mind.  

Once I had my concept, I figured it would be a fairly straight-forward project.  I mean please, we're taking a Portrait here -- isn't that, you know, kind of like my thing...?  But no indeed.  True to her flighty, temperamental self, Miss Daisy at first didn't want to play ball.   I had to gesso her over completely TWICE before I felt I was heading in the right direction.  Talk about fickle -- two, precious time wasting false starts later (thanks for that!), it finally felt as though she was going to stick around to stay.  After the 2nd false start, I admit I came dangerously close to just blowing the whole thing off -- too frustrating!  Just chalk it up to 'practice' and sit this one out.  And yet I know the hard way that that's a slippery slope best for me to avoid (one month, turning into two, turning into three, and right on down the slide).  Rather, I gave it my best Hail Mary shot, despite the fact it meant missing the official beginning of the contest, on the 20th, and going for a 5-Day auction instead.  Oh well!  Not the end of the world, and better late than never, right...?   Besides I'm actually rather pleased with the way she turned out, so it's all good.

 The following is my auction description:

~"Daisy Buchanan"~

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC),  the theme for March being 'Flowers', features a portrait painted in tribute to a protagonist of the 1925 vintage classic, "The Great Gatsby", by American novelist F. S. Fitzgerald.  Painted on all sides in acrylics upon a 7" wooden oval plaque, this original, entitled "Daisy Buchanan", is signed and ready to hang. 

As usual for Nibblefest, I thought long and hard about this month's 'Flowers' theme.  I knew painting actual blooms probably wasn't going to keep my interest for very long (too straightforward).  Instead, a women's name came into mind: "Daisy"..., as in Daisy Buchanan, everyone's favorite literary poor little rich girl.  Daisy was beautiful, charming and wealthy, so much so that when a destitute young officer from humble beginnings named Jay Gatsby happened to cross her path, he just couldn't get her off his mind (for like, years).  In fact, he went on to create a whole new identity, fortune and persona for himself, all with the soul intention of luring her high-maintenance self back.  The fact that she had impatiently gotten hitched to a powerful man within her own social circle, presented but small obstacle in his mind.  The jilted Gatsby went on to make his own way in life (never mind the legalities), and years later was able to purchase a ginormous mansion smack dab across the bay from his beloved Daisy's house (hmmm, stalker much???)  Every night he focuses upon a glowing green light that shines across the water -- it's the blinking bulb at the end of Daisy Buchanan's dock.  As it says in the book,"Gatsby believed in the Green Light....".  

Hope springs eternal, no...? 

(Included in my portrait is Daisy's green light, which features prominently in the story (plus for anyone thinking my interpretation may be too much of a stretch for 'Flowers', notice the wee roses I included in the lace overlay of her gown)...). 

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, "Gatsby believed in the green light...." (But just look where THAT got him.  No ifs, ands, nor buts about it -- she threw him under the bus, big time)....

*To see all the fabulous 'FLOWER'-themed Nibblefest entries, click here....*

My Entry for EBSQ's February 'What a Doll' Show: 'Beryl Moon'

Meet 

"Beryl Moon"

"Beryl Moon", a sculpted Art Doll created from re-purposed objects

Last month, EBSQ, the online art community I've long been a member of, hosted their monthly art exhibit, with the theme for February being, "What a Doll".  This was my entry: "Beryl Moon", an Art Doll sculpted using paper mache plus a whole host of all-recycled materials 

(click here to see my entry in the exhibit).....

"The Moon Was But a Chin of Gold", by Emily Dickinson

I painted and finished her as inspired by the following poem, by Emily Dickinson:

The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
A Night or two ago—
And now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below—

Her Forehead is of Amplest Blonde—
Her Cheek—a Beryl hewn—
Her Eye unto the Summer Dew
The likest I have known—

Her Lips of Amber never part—
But what must be the smile
Upon Her Friend she could confer
Were such Her Silver Will—

And what a privilege to be
But the remotest Star—
For Certainty She take Her Way
Beside Your Palace Door—

Her Bonnet is the Firmament—
The Universe—Her Shoe—
The Stars—the Trinkets at Her Belt—
Her Dimities—of Blue—

"Beryl Moon", a view from behind

She was actually a long time coming, my "Beryl Moon", because I initially began her many moons (ha-ha) ago, only to set her aside for some reason (ADHD mostly, I suppose), abandoned and unfinished.   Started as part of a project to rescue the dead, mangled barbies left behind after my daughter's childhood, it was my intention to breath new life into these hopelessly broken objects so as to keep them out of the waste stream, where they were surely destined.  And I did get a reasonably good and interesting start on a few of them, before I became distracted by something else and rudely shoved them all onto the back-burner (story of my life?)....

An in-progress project I call the "Dead Barbies Society" -- its mission being to turn useless broken junk into Art, people!  ART...!

However, this one in particular was the furthest along....: 

....thus she was the one I grabbed when I decided I needed something to enter into the EBSQ "Doll" show last month...:

And so I got her finished, finally....! 

The following is cut and pasted from my artist/entry statement (because I'm lazy like that):

Buried deep inside 'Beryl Moon', under Celluclay (a commercial paper clay product) and layers of paper mache, is a wee 'injured' action figure, but a few inches tall, and missing an arm. Spared from a landfill life, he now provides some inner armature for this Art Doll, though little of him is actually recognizable anymore, given that an entirely new being was sculpted over and around his original form, using re-purposed items (including but not limited to: a plastic cup, multiple plastic cup lids, and newspaper), for a complete and thorough transformation. A whole new, crescent-moon shaped head was sculpted from Celluclay and attached (the head of the original figure/doll ends somewhere deep within in the present neck/chest area), along with a newly sculpted arm, and new hands. In addition to gaining inches in height (now standing about a foot tall), "he' also became a 'she', complete with a newly sculpted bosom, as well as a big, bustled and flowing skirt of Stars -- using as my inspiration the poem, "The Moon Was But a Chin of Gold", by the wonderful and talented poet, Emily Dickinson....: 

"....now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below—...."

And so there you have it, my "What a Doll" show entry.  

Which..., I'm happy to be able to report tied for "Member's Mention" (2nd Place) in the show...!  Thanks so much, EBSQ...!

"Hitch", My Alfred Hitchcock/Birds Tribute for Feb's Nibbefest Art Contest

My February Nibblefest entry, 5x7, entitled "Hitch"..

CLICK FOR AUCTION LINK

The say there are no guarantees in life besides Death and Taxes.  This may be true, and yet I want to add one more thing to that short list:  The Nibblefest Art Contest.  For over a decade now, Nibblefest has transpired, on schedule, month in and month out, beginning as always on the 20th.  This month is no exception, with   February's NFAC theme is 'Black and White'  -- I'm participating, and this is my entry....

It didn't take long, when reflecting upon this month's 'Black and White' theme, for The Hitch to come to mind. Such a groundbreaking film-maker, having truly mastered the technique for filming in black-and-white, I've long been a fan.  Growing up, we had an old copy of his album, "Alfred Hitchcock Presents:  Ghost Stories for Young People", around the house.  Who knows where it came from -- I suspect my mom picked it up at some garage sale or other.  But I loved listening to it as a kid -- and must have done so a thousand times.  I can still remember the theme music -- da da da da dum di dah, da da da de dum di dah (I since learned it was called 'Funeral March for a Marionette', by Charles Gounod).  The stories were very tame indeed (in fact, I just listened to them online as inspiration while painting this piece -- lol, what a hoot....!), but my imagination was vivid enough back then to enhance the tales in my mind to set off a few chills. Plus I can recall studying the album cover art for long stretches of time.  It looked like this...:

Cover of the album I must have listened the groves off of in my youth

And so, when I decided to do for my entry a little wee homage to this Master Director, it was the above image in my head (though I switched it up a bit, as you can see):

"Hitch", painted in acrylics on a 5x7 then, found wooden plaque

Of course, I had to do my own ever-so-slightly irreverently cheeky twist on things (no offense, Hitch...!)....

The following is my auction description..:

~"Hitch"~

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC),  the theme for February being 'Black and White', features a portrait painted in tribute to the legendary British film director, Alfred Hitchcock.  Painted in acrylics upon a 5"x7" very lightweight, thin wooden plaque, this original, entitled "Hitch", is signed and ready to hang....

When reflecting upon this month's 'Black and White' theme, some of the first things to come to my mind were vintage movie classics by the esteemed British director, Alfred Hitchcock.  Though he did go on to make some of his finest films in brilliant Technicolor, he had fully mastered the art of black-and-white film making, with remarkably endearing cinematic treasures that continue to fascinate us to this day.  For my homage, I painted the master in classic black-and-white (along with a cheeky, wee nod to one of his most beloved movie classics of all time).....

  

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Personally, I love so many of his films: "Rear Window", "Rebecca", "Psycho", and of course, "The Birds".  But I think the one at the very tippy (heh, no pun intended) top of my list, is "Vertigo".  So ironic and haunting, both visually and emotionally, and so expertly filmed, that I have to go back to watch it again from time to time.   

So which is your favorite...?

To see all the fine Nibblefest Art Contest 'Black and White' entries this month, click here.....

My Entry for EBSQ's January 'Winter Landscapes' Exhibit, 'Dust of Snow' (Robert Frost)

"Dust of Snow"

 

The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued. 

~Robert Frost

'Dust of Snow', Acrylics on 6"x16" found wood....

Such reads the poem that helped inspire my EBSQ's January "Winter Landscapes" online art exhibit entry...(to view my entry on EBSQ, click here)

For their 2015 exhibit schedule, EBSQ, (the online community of self-represting artists I've long been a member of), has reduced their monthly themes from two or three options to choose from, to one theme per month.  I do understand why -- to streamline for one thing, while helping to keep entries up by funneling them into one monthly show as opposed to spreading entries across several shows.  I get it, though I must admit I did like having options.  Nevertheless, the way things are, is the way things are.  I can certainly work with a single theme if need be..., and so we have here my entry for EBSQ's only January theme, "Winter Landscapes"....:

My "Winter Landscape"-themed entry, entitled 'Dust of Snow (Robert Frost)'.....

Anyone familiar with my artwork must surely know my ongoing fascination with people.  I adore nature, things, animals and critters of all ilk, and I'll paint that too sometimes.  And yet, almost always, my most preferred subject matter of all typically filters down to People.   Famous people, strangers, family, friends -- doesn't matter really, when it comes to my subjects, I usually find myself  defaulting to that ever familiar map of the human face.  And so, upon contemplating my entry for a "Landscape" show, I knew it would HAVE to involve a person one way or another.....

There is a wee back-story behind the planning of this painting.  In a way, this entry came to be as actually a sort of collaboration between a couple of folks.....  

A number of months ago, a FB friend posted a new picture as her profile photo, one that I found myself really taken with.  An attractive lady (with amazing bone structure) to be sure -- and yet there was more to it than that.  I was quite struck by the photo overall...the angle of the shot, the tilt of the head, the striking countenance, the classic proportions, the expressive eyes.  As a visual person, I found it all particularly arresting.  I asked my friend if she might give me permission to paint her photo -- not knowing at the time exactly how or when, only that I simply wanted to.... someday. 

And then I have another friend with whom I correspond, who has an interest in the reading and writing of poetry.  We were discussing potential themes for February's Nibblefest Art Contest theme of 'Black and White', when she mentioned her research into info regarding crows for a poem she is in the process of writing.   She brought up the universal symbolism of crows, as well as the mythology involving the colors of Black and White as representing life and death .  She sent me the following passage that she had found somewhere...:

"....In Irish mythology, crows are associated with Morrigan, the goddess of war and death.

The god Bran the Blessed – whose name means "crow" or "raven" — is associated with corvids and death; tradition holds that Bran's severed head is buried under the Tower of London, facing France — a possible genesis for the practice of keeping ravens in the Tower, said to protect the fortunes of Britain. In Cornish folklore, crows — magpiesparticularly — are associated with death and the "otherworld", and proscribes respectful greeting. The origin of "counting crows" as augury is British; however, the British version rather is to "count magpies" — their black and white pied colouring alluding to the realms of the living and dead...."

Plenty of food for thought...!  Fascinating indeed, and so I was ruminating upon all this for Nibblfest..., when it was also time to begin thinking about my 'Winter Landscapes' entry.  After a few snow storms in my neck of the woods, the views outside my window are all about "winter landscapes' right now (with it snowing yet more as I type).  Plenty of white, plenty of snow, ice, and frost.  Well, 'snow' and 'frost' got me to thinking of 'Robert Frost'..., plus 'crows', and 'black and white'.  It wasn't long before I was struck with the recollection of a few winter verses by this most esteemed poet.  Sure enough, a quick search had me finding exactly what I was looking for..., the poem, 'Dust of Snow", by Robert Frost (and really could his name be more perfect for a subject of "Winter Landscapes", lol???), and I was set.  It was then that my friend's FB pic popped into mind, and that's when it all gelled -- I knew exaclty where I was going, with the piece practically painting itself (always lovely when that happens -- very zen!).  So here's a big thanks to my fellow 'collaborators', L. and V., for providing me with such great inspiration.....

Now, not to bore anyone to death, I do have just one last little tidbit of random aside here.  As stated, my painting support for this piece is found wood. I do enjoy working with unusual canvas sizes, which this certainly is, being as that it is approximately 6" by 16".  I like how weirdo proportions can challenge me to play with compositions, while forcing me to think outside the box.  As for this chunk of found wood, let me explain exactly how I came to 'find' it.  I'd been holding onto it for some time -- ever since dumpster diving it from a neighbor's home renovation project many moons ago (shocking, no?).  It sits directly behind our lot, an old house that's probably closing in on a 100 years (if not already).  A stately, large Craftsman, it had seen insult after injury and then some over the years, thanks to the fact I live in a university town, with a high student population and the many urban planning pressures that come with trying to house them all.  The home had been subdivided and re-subdivied into who knows how many individual apartments (I think it was something like 7 by the end, including roomers in the attic and basement).  Let's face it, students don't exactly have the reputation for being the most conscientious of renters.  Then add to that a few absentee landlords and you can imagine the state of the house after a few unfriendly decades.  Ugh, so derelict and run down (like, even more so that my own, and that's saying something)...!  Happily, another neighbor, with an eye to the interests of the neighborhood, and the resources to get things done, bought the house and completely rehabbed it, into what is today a lovely vintage, American Foursquare, single family showplace.  While this work was underway, I had quietly helped myself to a few of the chunks of wood I spied sticking out of the dumpster that was parked behind my house for months (hopefully no one would have minded!).  Perhaps it from the original construction of the house (?) -- if so it would be near a century old or more.  I like thinking of the long gone tree it potentially came from.   In any case, I may be practical to a fault at times, but I knew it could come in handy on day (plus it just goes to show how 'making something from nothing' never, NEVER fails to tickle me.  To no end!).....

To see ALL the EBSQ 'Winter Landscape' entries, click here.....