Trickles

Trickles   oil/canvas   30 x 24x 1.5

My partner grew up in the East.  His childhood vacations were taken to the Jersey shore.  At the beginning of our marriage, we, too, vacationed in Jersey...it was all so exciting with the mix of ocean, sand, sun and the boardwalk with its carnival atmosphere, aimed at entertaining the little ones with shiny toys of all kinds.  As our family grew, our vacations moved to North Carolina where the sand was whiter, the ocean warmer and cleaner and the environment less populous.  The bottom line:  we were a beach family.  

This painting was referenced from a small square black and white photograph.  This is my mother-in-law, E, and my husband, also E.  I painted this for my partner's 75th birthday.  The work was done on top of a less successful highly textured painting  which provided just the right amount of challenge and chaos for me.  It happened easily and I am so very happy.

Trickles of the tide.  Trickles of water between rocks.  Trickles of memory.

Sandbox

Sandbox   oil/canvas   11 x 14

There is nothing quite like sitting in a hole dug out of sand at the beach...secure, yet grimy, as the small particles eek their way into suits, ears and hair.  A truly memorable childhood experience!  As we morph into adulthood, we choose more comfortable seating...beach chairs and towels to soften the experience.  This painting is indeed about sitting in that hole and, if we are lucky, doing so alongside a companion.  

And so, while I relished the painting of these children, I kept my eye on that unifying hole...a shadow that unifies both figures.  The challenge here, for me, was the use of strong and diverse values that do not really occur at the shore, as the light is so pervasive.  A glazing of transparent Indian Yellow over the dark shadows allows for the illusion of light entering into the sandy depths.  I am satisfied.  
 

Reunion...inspired by vintage photos

Reunion   oil on canvas   40 x 30 x .5

is my entry in The Akron Art Prize competition.  As artists, we are quite familiar with competitive exhibition, along with its inherent subjectivity.  While I love to have my work included in any exhibition, and certainly do enjoy receiving a nod from the juror, I am in complete agreement with Robert Genn when he says:

One's art needs to be personally elevated and seen as its own reward.

Competitiveness seems to be flourishing in our current culture with "VOTE FOR ME" television shows and best-of-lists that pepper every community from burgers to spas.  The last time I tried to fill one out, I had so little knowledge of most of the businesses that my vote was not eligible.  We prefer the simpler life of cooking and spa-ing(yeah, right) at home.  This voting rage appears to be a boon for all venues, however, as the participation of the public seems to multiply both enthusiasm and involvement.  "The Voice" has been an amplifier for the music industry.  OK.  Good.  Great.
My own problem stems from the "VOTE FOR ME"-thing that is so very foreign and repellent to my being.  My mother had to push me out of the door to sell Girl Scout Cookies.  And I guarantee that my parents didn't sell any in my support.  I have even received "VOTE FOR ME" emails from other artists who have neglected to check their e-mailing lists for other participating artists which seems a bit insensitive.  Quite frankly, I am a bit like Harry Chapin's Mr. Tanner.....who did not know how well he sang...it just made him whole.

So....vote for me...or not....as I have quite happy to be among the 135 entries in this exhibit!