Carole Wick, Raw Sienna and Me

"Satsuma Orange and Bosc Pear", 5 x 7, oil on Ampersand Gessobord

For a group of artists in New Britain, PA, the annual Christmas party in the home of Carole Wick is highly anticipated each year.  In addition to beautifully decorating her home for the holidays, Carole even decorates her barn, the summer space where she occasionally hosts classes taught by master artist Kass Morin Freeman.  In her eighties, Carole is sugar free, walks five miles every day, paints, knits, gardens, cooks and arranges her living space with the most creative hand I’ve ever seen. 

One Christmas, Carole knitted and felted lovely purses for each member of the group.  My purse was a beautiful raw sienna color because, she informed me, raw sienna is my favorite color.  Whoa!  Have you ever heard something so completely true about yourself, that you were completely unaware of, that was an important piece of who you are, that you never would have figured out unless someone told you?  Ever since, raw sienna and I have been committed, confirmed BFF’s.

Since I’ve moved to the city I haven’t attended the New Britain Art Group Christmas parties but raw sienna and I are going strong as ever, especially during this season when beautiful Bosc pears are at their best. And of course I’m fondly thinking of Kass, Carole, Donna, Barbara, Kathie, Mary Pat, Jolynn and missing Barbara White. 

Happy New Year, ladies!  

Mini Pepper on Ball Jar

"Mini Pepper on Ball Jar", oil on Ampersand gessobord, 5 x 7"

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“Sit down and be still for a moment and see.”  -Agnes Martin

Hermine

"Hurricane Hermine", oil. 

“Stroking it’s blue shore/throughout the night, patient, patient,” 

– Denise Levertov, from ‘The sea’s repeated gesture.’

Monday in August

Monday in August, oil, 5 x 7"

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Naomi Shihab Nye defines the word “contemplation” as a long, loving look.  Lately I have been hearing a lot about ideas calling upon creatives to bring them into being.   An idea might arrive all of a piece, as Naomi’s poem “Kindness” did for her, but most require contemplation.  Meditation. Seeing.  A long, loving look. 

Naomi's poem, "Kindness"

Kelly Drive at Dusk

Kelly Drive at Dusk, oil, 5 x 7"

sold

“We are magic talking to itself, noisy and alone.”  –Ann Sexton, For You, Doctor Martin

Suzanne

Suzanne, 5 x 7, oil on Ampersand Gessobord

My daughter noticed her first.  Suzanne wearing a bright green sundress, holding tight to her shopping cart, standing alone on the Snyder Avenue median.  I introduced myself and asked if I could photograph her.  Suzanne told me her favorite color is green.  She loves the summer green of the trees along the avenue.  She was waiting on the northbound bus, which was running late, her ride to a Sunday visit with her son.