art and nature

A painting for Petrified

2013-05-08T14:12:00.001-04:00

70 days till I leave for the Grand Canyon and I finally finished my painting from last year's residency at the Petrified National Park. I didn't quite make the 1 year deadline but hopefully will be forgiven. I'm still working on Alaska paintings so haven't really gotten ramped up on the PEFO work, but when I do I'd like to work big, maybe a wall sized 5-panel panorama of "The Most Beautiful Place in the World"

Other than that, I'm still struggling with trying to do too many things with too little time. Maybe I should make a list and see what I can eliminate. . .

(ok, I started the list but it got too overwhelming, so I will eliminate making a list, that's one thing crossed off anyway)

Sometimes I think I should give up blogging (and if I have any readers they are justified in thinking "I thought she DID give up blogging") but I can't quite do it yet. So I will try to update more often, because otherwise what's the point? Which brings me to this post... an excuse to upload my latest painting and do a little whining.

Stay tuned for a raccoon in a gold mine.

Giving it my best 10%

2013-03-26T13:55:00.000-04:00

Sometimes what is supposed to be funny is what can really get under your skin. Which is why I had to laugh (so I wouldn't cry) over this story in the Newspaper of Record, The Onion. Find the thing you're most passionate about, then do it. Funny, isn't it. >sob<

Ironically, read it just after I had gotten home from work, turned on my studio stove, made a pot of coffee, got out my painting clothes, sat down for a few minutes, turned off the heat in my studio, poured the coffee down the drain and put my clothes away, too exhausted to paint.

As I look over my last few entries, I get the sense that this artist is floundering a bit. Not from any lack of ideas and ambition, but maybe from too many directions I want to explore.

Well, if I can't straighten out my life, at least I can straighten out my brushes. I have an embarrassment of riches in the brush department, but can't seem to retire many of them. Just wish I held them in my hand more often.

But, looking on the bright side, only 112 more days till I leave for the Grand Canyon. I've been hitting the gym religiously for the last few months to get in shape for hiking, since, unlike the mostly horizontal Petrified Forest, most of the GC hiking is up and down. It seems to be working, and in 112 days, I should be ready. I know I am mentally!

In my spare time, I've decided to start a blog that can be a meeting place for the many artists who have done residencies in the National Parks and Forests. I'm shielding the eyes of the Blogger logo as I type this, but I'm doing it on Wordpress, which is somewhat of a learning curve, but interesting. It's still in development, or as we geeks like to say, Beta. As soon as I work out the glitches I'll post the link, and if you have been an AIR, or are just interested in the program, I'd love to have you check it out!

Rest

2013-03-06T13:51:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to finish some paintings that have been on my easel way too long. The above is the latest to get signed, although I still find my brush hovering over it. It's probably because I'm not really sure what direction this kind of work is taking me to. I am hoping that somehow my displaced creatures, entomological, microscope and taxidermy studies, Alaska paintings and yet to be tackled Petrified Forest NP paintings, diorama paintings (and anticipated Grand Canyon paintings) will all come together in a way that will be a sort of breakthrough for me. I feel like I'm due.

The only way to get there is to paint my way through it.

And although I don't know what the heck I'm doing painting wise, I do know a little about the Artist in Residence Program in the US Parks and Forests. I'll be giving a talk and Q&A about the programs as part of the Art League of RI Associate Member's Exhibition. If you've ever thought you might like to apply for one of these incredible opportunities, I'll be happy to answer your questions and give advice on applying.

alaska birds

2013-02-18T22:14:00.002-05:00

Shrimp on ice

2013-02-14T16:49:00.000-05:00

My studio was encrusted in snow and ice last weekend, but after running my little propane stove for a few hours I did manage to get the temp up to 50, which is a fine temperature for painting. It was also warmer than my house was all day Saturday, after the blizzard wiped out our power. Fortunately the heroic linemen of National Grid brought the power was back by Sunday to give me enough light to finish my painting, The Shrimp Net.

While we tooled around Prince William Sound on the Dora Keen during my Alaska residency the rangers dipped a shrimp pot into the fiord. "Dipped" being about 500 feet. That's a lot of cerulean blue rope. But 10 minutes of hoisting it back onto the deck rewarded us with dozens of these lovely creatures. As fascinated as I was by their glowing orange bodies and endless legs, equally fascinating was their disembodied heads, eyes no longer waving on their stems, and turning from ruby to black. I was not able to watch the part in between. Barbara and Tim popped off their heads as quickly as respectfully as the doomed shrimps could hope for, and put them on ice for a delicious dinner. Here's to you, little shrimpies.

Oystercatchers and Ice

2013-02-07T13:57:00.000-05:00

I'm constantly conflicted, when I can steal some studio time, over whether to do studies for new paintings or to work on oils in progress. But the cold weather sometimes makes my decision easier, as the room I draw in is in my home, and my oil painting studio is in the cold garage. So even though I've divided the garage space in half with curtains to keep my little stove's meager heat from escaping, on really cold days I spare the propane and work on studies. These two are part of my developing series from my residency in Alaska. The top one is an Oystercatcher at Pakenham Point. I never got this close to them, but they would run ahead of me on the beach with a silly little giggle. Now I realize it was probably a nervous giggle, since they may have been trying to distract me from the eggs they may have had just sitting there in the rocks. Anyway, the Natural History Museum has a taxidermied eastern oystercatcher so I spent a few hours drawing him and he didn't move a muscle.

This one is an iceberg study, looking toward Surprise Glacier.

So studies are in the works, and I was very happy to have the chance to exhibit one of my few finished oils in the Newport Art Museum's Member's show (Up until May 19). And happy to win an honorable mention.

And even more happy in the placement of my piece, right smack as soon as you come in, under the color coordinated wall sign. Thank you, NAM!

Meet the beetle

2013-01-25T13:34:00.000-05:00

Click for larger

Here's the latest specimen from my entomological illustration class, a Japanese Beetle. Who knew they had little white furry patches on their sides? Not me, till I looked at them through a great little microscope very generously donated to me. It's a little shopworn but does the job of revealing a world that was not really meant to be seen by humans, what with our big clunky eyes and all. And now it seems the lowly Dung Beetle, greatly underestimated it seems, not only probably already checked out the pretty white fur on the Japanese Beetle, but also navigates by the Milky Way, which I usually can't see either! (ok, I'll blame light polution for that one). So, he eats dung—it's probably delicious. Shows how much we know!

Hope...

2013-01-19T08:10:00.001-05:00

... tempered by four years of reality. But still hope.

A new start

2013-01-09T13:54:00.000-05:00

As much as I respect Lucy, I really hope it's not so. I do feel rather hopeful somehow, not that anything out of my control is going to straighten out, but I'm thinking what is in my control (me) might. In order to do that, I need to simplify and focus. Cleaning my studio always helps, but I also need to get rid of the physical clutter around me. So one new year's resolution is to get rid of (at least) one object a day, so by the end of the year I will be down 365 objects I can live without. I'm still working on making my list of other resolutions, one of which won't be to stop procrastinating, but one will probably be to blog more consistently.

And once I wrap up my studio cleaning and organizing, I'll wrap my painting area in plastic to keep the heat in and put brush to canvas for a change!

Subjects I plan to pursue in 2013

MACRO: The most beautiful place in the contiguous United States

MICRO: An ancient fly in amber, a life cut tragically short

Racking my brains

2012-12-04T13:55:00.002-05:00

It's kind of weird how I haven't posted in so long. I just lost my blogging impulse, even wondering if I should drop the whole thing. Then life at my job...well, the less said about that the better. So I look for solace with my imaginary, (and some not so imaginary) friends in blogland.

And since I'm feeling rusty with posting, I'll just post yet another studio upheaval installment.

I was very disturbed recently to discover some of my oil painting adorned with little puffs of mildew, probably due to a very humid summer. This made me rethink my painting rack system. I had built a sturdy two tiered rack in the corner but my inventory had outgrown it.

Because I don't have time to organize a clearance sale, I have to expand my storage, and also build in some space around my work to keep air circulation going.

So I took everything out and came up with this ingenious system using wire shelving for the base and another piece on the wall, making nice slots to accommodate wood dividers. I also offset some wood rails to keep the work from butting right up against the walls.

I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out, the only problem is that I still have more work than will fit in the rack. So I will have to build more racks and probably install a dehumidifier.

I should also purge some of my old work and studies, but I'm not the kind of artist who builds a bonfire and throws their entire oeuvre on it in a fit of pique. Sounds awfully toxic anyway.

This of course is really cutting into my almost non-existent painting time, but with the holidays upon us it's a losing battle anyway. Looking forward to January!

Denial, Wax and Water...

2012-10-16T20:46:00.001-04:00

Toboggan Beach, Alaska oil/canvas 40x30in

That bridge I was going to cross if I was accepted for a residency at Denali? Well, I probably won't be crossing it this year. I heard the decision much sooner than I expected (which thankfully cuts short the suspense) but unfortunately I was not a finalist. I did, however, make 2nd runner up. The bronze medal, sort of. Which is actually quite flattering considering how few are chosen. And I was very appreciative of the personal note and nice words on my work. So, since I don't imagine two people will be crazy enough to turn down the residency, I will try again next year, with more Alaska paintings. And of course, I have the Grand Canyon residency to look forward to, which isn't too shabby!

But coming back down to earth, or as I like to call it, Rhode Island, I have nine paintings from my shoemaker series in a group show called Knowledge Is Power at the URI Extension campus downtown Providence. Thursday, Oct. 18 *!Gallery Night!* is the opening, from 5 to 9.

Which is probably it for the exhibits for awhile, but I'm glad to have gotten some studio time in recently, especially as it is still warm enough to work without preheating my studio for two hours. The insulation is going up little by little though, and I hope to make workable this winter, as I need to paint like a maniac for about a year for two planned exhibits in the fall of 2013.

I'm also going to heat up the griddle for experimentation in encaustic. I've long been interested in learning the archaic hot wax technique so finally broke down and took a class at RISD. My first piece was, how shall I say it, a total mess, failure—a piece so ugly that passing bees made a wide berth around it and denied any part in supplying the beeswax for the monstrosity. So I have high hopes for the medium. Especially as I am thinking of using it in a multimedia painting with my disappointing piece from a previous glass casting class. I rise to the challenge!

And even more inspiring, with my slick little yellow kayak, just purchased used 2 weeks ago, I can go anywhere and do anything! As long as I have at least 6 inches of water, and no small craft warning. I can even go back to kayaking the fiords of Alaska, if the next application I send out for another Voices of the Wilderness residency is accepted. Just try keeping me out of Alaska!

A Grand surprise!

2012-10-09T13:40:00.000-04:00

The letter began as all rejections do,

Dear Artist,
...A thank you for submitting...
....A bit about how many worthy applications were received and how difficult it was to pick just a few...
....An appreciation of the work that went into submitting an application...

"rejected" I muttered to my husband.

But then, in the next sentence, the letter took an unexpected twist. The word "congratulations" jumped out at me and I realized I was accepted as one of the 2013 artists in residence at Grand Canyon National Park!

I had visited the north rim on a tourist-vacation-loop, breezing by Bryce, Zion, North Rim, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley and Petrified Forest in two weeks, so as you might imagine didn't really have time to really explore any one of the parks, but this residency allows an artist to stay for 3 weeks in a little cabin 1/4 mile from the North Rim of the canyon.

PHOTO/NPS

Not content with my good fortune, I've also greedily sent out an application, once again, for Denali National Park. How I'll manage it if I get both...well, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Since I've been rejected many times from Denali, I certainly am not packing my Xtratufs yet, but if I apply EVERY year they may accept me just to stop the pestering.

Speaking of Xtratufs, I was thrilled that the wilderness rangers I hung out with in Alaska were in RI long enough for us to be able to get together for dinner. One of the Rangers who is also an accomplished clay artist, Barbara Lydon, surprised me with this super cool Xtratuf ceramic vase! It will take an honored place on my mantle to remind me of my good Alaskan friends and my kayaking adventure.

Back on the smaller corner of the planet, I'm in another group show at the URI Feinstein Gallery called Knowledge is Power. I went over the the Shepard Building at lunch to check it out and there is some really interesting work there, it is definitely worth a look

The Opening reception is on Gallery Night, October 18, from 5-9pm, and it's up until October 31.

Talking about AIR

2012-09-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

Photo by Matthew Hodge

A public speaker I am not—not by a long shot, but it's easier when I am talking about such a great program as the Artist in Residence program in our national parks and forests, and have such and engaged and interesting audience. It was a great opening reception, thanks to the folks at the Hale House, and especially the Director, Lori Urso. I had such a good time talking with everyone.

The show is up till Oct. 6, hours are Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday; 12 Noon to 4 pm.

The seal, oil/canvas, 20x24, 2012

In Hale - AIR

2012-09-05T08:26:00.001-04:00

The problem with being up half the night with a migraine is that when you go to hang your show the next day, you will be unable to do simple math. But thankfully the very patient Lori Urso, Director of the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society which has restored and oversees the historic Hale House, was cheerful about remeasuring and teaching us her special wire looping technique. So the show was hung yesterday and fit the space just as I had hoped.

The Badlands series

Kevin and Lori hanging out

The first of my Alaska series

The lighting is not as harsh as it appears in these photos, and if I must say so myself, the show looks very nice. The work in the show is a selection of paintings from my artist residencies in our National Parks and Forests. The Hale House was the summer home of Edward Everett Hale, writer, environmentalist, and who was instrumental in the successful passage of the Weeks Act, which made possible the designation of The White Mountain National Forest, which has just started its own Artist in Residence Program. So I hope, as E.E. Hale looks into the gallery from his portrait in the next room, he will approve.

The opening is Friday night, Sept. 7, from 6:30 to 8.

The beautiful big red Hale House is located on a hill above Route 1 South, about 10 miles after you pass the Tower (map below). Look for the sign with the library symbol and turn right immediately after, since you won't see the house till you're past it. If you do pass it, there is a turn around on the left right after.

The exhibit is up till October 6, and the Hale House is worth a visit in its own right, a beautiful and peaceful place.

Click for a pdf of the invitation

View Larger Map

September shows...

2012-08-17T14:00:00.003-04:00

Long time no post, I know, and I have no excuse, so won't give one. But I'm back with info on a couple of exhibits opening in September.

I was honored to be asked to show my National Park and Forest work in the wonderful new exhibit space in the historic Hale House in Matunuck (map).

The Hale House was the summer home of author and environmentalist Edward Everett Hale and his family of artists. EE Hale was one of the original surveyors of the White Mountains in New Hampshire and was instrumental in the passage of the Weeks Act), which enabled the creation of the White Mountain National Forest. (Which, coincidentally, just started their own AIR program)

Below is a photo of the gallery room. The other rooms in this large home high on a hill above Route 1 have been beautifully restored. The show pictured is Seeing the Sea, featuring the work of artists who have received URI's Visual Art Sea Grant. It's up till Aug. 20.

More details to come...

I've also been asked to participate in a group show, Architectural Treasures of Providence at the URI Feinstein Gallery (where Shepard's used to be). I will be showing some of my church paintings and drawings. The show runs from September 3-28, with an opening reception on Gallery Night, September 20.

Filling free time

2012-07-05T12:44:00.001-04:00

A.I.R. exhibit at Badlands NP Visitors Center. "The White Place", center

I picked up my truck last week after its rear fender surgery and it looks great. Body shops always do this psychological trick of shining the whole vehicle up real pretty. I imagine my truck was pretty nervous when they approached it with this strange substance called "wax", but I'm sure it soon relaxed and enjoyed the spa treatment. Now it's acting all frisky and a bit vain as it looks down it's hood at all the dusty cars on the road.

I also started my Physical Therapy to get me all shined up after my knee scope. So far so good. So mobility is slowly returning, not that I haven't enjoyed being housebound for a few weeks. And I've enjoyed reviving my biography reading habit, picking up two at the library today, Thomas Hart Benton and David Hockney.

Sometimes I try to imagine that this is really my life, and I won't have to go back to my day job. It would, of course, be fantastic, but I would have to really adhere to a schedule. Too much time is lost in aimlessness. Despite that I haven't lost that feeling that I'm not getting enough done, or that there isn't enough time to do everything. For example, this blog, and my residency journals. And, of course, painting.

The thing about painting is that it isn't something you can do and it's done. It demands time and more time as you dive deeper in. But that's ok, since for me it's the most important thing. I need to examine all the other things I think I NEED to do. Because even when I have All Day, they still don't all get done. The NY Times had a great column about "The Busy Trap" and I'm going to try to take it to heart. Not only can't I see the forest for the trees, I can't see the trees for the understory. So a little brush cleaning is in order. So I can load up those brushes in the studio.

Serpentine

2012-06-21T11:41:00.000-04:00

Another Alaska study, this one from a view of Serpentine Glacier across the fiord from Toboggan Beach. Gouache, about 3"x6".

View Point

2012-06-19T08:57:00.003-04:00

View Point, gouache on paper, 4"x6"

Painting at View Point

Sometimes this blog seems like a patchwork quilt, with lots of loose threads to tie up (ok, mixed metaphors, but knit together well, don't you think?). This is one of them, the finished version of a little study I started while perched on a rock at View Point, in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

Little dents and biodiversity

2012-06-16T14:52:00.000-04:00

Nothing like another torn menicus to give you some time to catch up. This minor knee surgery could well become an annual event, since I had the exact same thing in my right knee at this time last year. But as luck would have it, I only have two knees, so that nips that tradition in the bud.

Coincidentally, my truck also went into the shop this week for a left knee problem, thanks to someone (and you know who you are) pulling a nice parking lot hit and run on me. So I'm housebound on two levels, but it's a beautiful day, the windows and doors are open, and it sometimes seems I hardly ever get to be here, so Home, it's nice to meet you!

At any event, I'm on day two of post-op, sitting elevated leg on pillow, laptop on lap. Catching up, firstly, on planning the Bioblitz Art Exhibit.

That's right, another Bioblitz has come and gone, on beautiful farmland on the island of Jamestown. This year I partnered with Katy Dika from the RISD Nature Lab to head the Art Team. Next year, due to her planning, access to equipment, knowledge and enthusiasm making me look like a complete amateur in contrast, I happily entrust the future Bioblitz Art Team leadership to the competent hands of Katy and the RISD Nature Lab, which they have graciously accepted.

But I am still planning the art exhibit, which will be at the Warwick Museum of Art during the month of July and which will include work inspired by the bioblitz and work from artists who have been Artists in Residence in our National Parks and Forests. I'll have some work in the show, naturally, and will give a talk about the Artist in Residence Program on July 16.

I also have some shows upcoming...

September 2012 at the Hale House of my Artist-in-Residence work, including new paintings from The Chugach National Forest, Alaska, and the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert in Arizona.

A group show "The Architectural Treasures of Providence" September 4-28, at URI extension in downtown Providence. I'll be showing some church paintings.

And two shows in 2013, one in Newport at the Deblois Gallery, the other at Bert Gallery.

Until then, I'll take my ice pack and the book I'm reading, "The Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood", to the porch and enjoy my downtime!

Petrified pictures

2012-06-16T11:39:00.000-04:00

Thought I'd post my finished studies (isn't that a contradiction?) of my Petrified Forest residency, to give you some pretty pictures to look at while I work on my next blog post.

From the Blue Mesa Trail o/c


Drainage o/c

Flattop

Below the PDI

Painted Desert/Petrified Forest Video

2012-06-11T13:57:00.003-04:00

Lately I've been blitzed by the bio, (the 2012 Bioblitz Art Team), but I've packed up my tent and am back to camping in coffee shops, so promise to update this blog soon. In the meantime, John has published a great video of our Petrified Forest trip!

Painted Desert Trip from John DeVault on Vimeo.

They don't make them like they used to — the Blaisdell 623-T

2012-05-17T22:23:00.000-04:00

I have lots to blog about, upcoming shows, the 2012 Bioblitz, my Petrified Forest residency, etc., etc. But tonight I am just obsessed with this pencil. It was part of the "inheritance" I was lucky to receive from the estate of Louise Marianetti. The materials she used were not only cool in their vintage-ness, but of the highest quality. She respected and demanded a lot of her tools and her work was of a quality which made them shine.

Among the many pencils, pens and brushes I was given were two of these Blaisdell 623-T hard charcoal pencils. They put any other charcoal pencils you can buy to shame. Smooth, rich, even, hard without being scratchy — a pleasure to use, and now I'm spoiled. I want to use it, but I don't want to use it up! I need more. So I did what anyone with a quest does these days, I googled it. And all I came up with was someone's post from 2006 beginning "I would like to note that I am willing to pay outlandish prices for the aquisition of Blaisdell Charcoal Pencil Hard 634T model charcoal pencils."

So it was confirmed. This pencil is special. If anyone should happen to know where to get more, I'd be interested, though not sure how "outlandish" a price I could afford. And if anyone thinks they have a competitor, let me know, I'll give it a shot!

Week one, Petrified Forest Journal

2012-05-04T12:59:00.001-04:00

Week one of my Petrified Forest Journal is finally completed, read all about it!
http://hodge-petrifiedforestjournal.blogspot.com/

Week two, Petrifed Forest

2012-05-01T09:38:00.003-04:00

My home in the Petrified Forest NP, across from the Painted Desert Inn

Last week was one for exploring—long hikes and long drives. This week will be one for processing—short hikes, long days at the easel and chasing lizards out of the house. And catching up on my Petrified Forest Journal. Check the tab above for updates.

First Cup of Coffee - PEFO

2012-04-26T22:24:00.001-04:00

This is my first cup of coffee in the Petrified Forest National Park. In my hurry to buy groceries and make it to the park before the rangers retired to their housing units I grabbed a bag of Whole Bean Coffee. As much as I was hoping to find a coffee maker in the little adobe house the park has given me to live in, I could hardly have expected a coffee grinder. So I made like an Anasazi and found a good rock and smashed the hell out of the beans. Because no coffee was not an option. And I know, Anasazi didn't have ziplocs. But they would have loved them.

By the way, check out my Petrified Forest Journal in the tab above, I'm trying desperately to blog every day, but all this tromping over badlands and through deserts is exhausting!