Renee Vaughan

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:10:00 +0000

Her Blacks Crackle and Drag

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:12:00 +0000

"The moon has nothing to be sad about,

Staring from her hood of bone.

She is used to this sort of thing

Her blacks crackle and drag."

--- Sylvia Plath, "Edge"

ARTIST NOTES:

Sylvia's hand rests on the curtain cord as she readies to pull it closed. Her back is turned from the kurbits, which represents God's loving protection. On the table she has laid out bread and milk for her children as they sleep peacefully in the next room.

The last poem Sylvia Plath wrote, (or at least the last one found on her desk,) before she took her life, was “Edge.” I first read it in 1998 when I was muddling my way through a postpartum depression. I understood the imagery as big black velvet curtains slowing drawing to a close, show over, end of story. This painting hangs above my fireplace to remind me that things can always be worse.

ABOUT THE PAINTING:
Casein and acrylic on canvas board. 24" high and 18” wide.
NFS

Ted Gathers No Moss

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:52:00 +0000

Poet Ted Hughes carries a traditional Swedish grave marker, which he plants in a bed of burial stones.

ARTIST NOTES:
Sylvia's husband, poet Ted Hughes was a "rolling stone," a notorious philanderer who caused great pain to many. His wife Sylvia Plath, (represented by the kurbits on the right,) killed herself in 1963. His mistress Assia, (the kurbits on the left,) killed herself, (also via gas oven,) along with their young daughter, Shura, (small sprout on left,) in 1969. The grave makers flag reads SAS for, Sylva, Assia,and Shura.

ABOUT THE PAINTING:
Casein and acrylic on canvas board. 24" high and 18” wide.
NFS

I Am a Wormy Hermit

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:39:00 +0000

"I Am a Wormy Hermit in a country of prize pigs so corn-happy they can't see the slaughterhouse at the end of the track."
--- Sylvia Plath, "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams."

ARTIST NOTES:
This was painted during another time of depression, personal and economic.

ABOUT THE PAINTING:
Casein and acrylic on canvas board. 24" high and 18” wide.
NFS

"Don't be no yes man, no get by."

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:38:00 +0000

Tiger Jack stands near his famous shack, bench and bible, waving to passerby's with his crooked finger, (from his boxing days?) His wife Nurceal is represented by the grave marker, and nine children are flowering up.

ARTIST NOTES:

My great aunt Mary lived on LaFond Avenue in St. Paul, and we'd drive past Tiger Jack on our way to visit her every weekend. He always smiled and waved his bony, crooked finger at me. One time Aunt Mary and I walked over to his shop and I bought Juicy Fruit Gum. Tiger smiled and asked me if I behaved myself at school. Here is a video of Tiger Jack made by sixth graders at Capitol Hill School.

ABOUT THE PAINTING:
Casein and acrylic on canvas board. 20" high and 16” wide.
NFS

Min

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:37:00 +0000

Min is Swedish for, "Mine"

ARTIST NOTES:
A copy of the first original canvas painting I ever sold. No story behind this one really, I just made it for pretty.

ABOUT THE PAINTING:
Casein and acrylic on canvas board. 20" high and 16” wide.
NFS

Til Erik

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:34:00 +0000

A kurbits painting made for an American-Swedish woman who lives in Florida.

ARTIST NOTES:

Her blonde son is reading a book near their red-with-ochre-trim house in Stockholm. The book cover has the Skara coat-of-arms on it, a town in southern Sweden where her grandfather lived. I popped a red cap on the boy as they are very common in Swedish folkdräkt, but also remind me of the Phrygian cap that is found on many symbols in the United States as well. The sun, (fun little play on words sun/son,) in the upper left corner represents her new life in Florida, and a small "mother" floral element protects and guards over him.

ABOUT THE PAINTING:
Casein and acrylic on canvas board. 20" high and 16” wide
NFS

Mary Greets Elizabeth, (after Kers Erik Jonsson)

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:30:00 +0000

"When Mary entered the house of Zechariah, and greeted Elizabeth, the baby leaped in Elizabeth's womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Luke 1:41-42).

ARTIST NOTES:
This is based on a traditional Swedish kurbits painting by Kers Erik Jonsson, 1812-1852, from the Leksand parish in central Sweden.

ABOUT THE PAINTING:
Casein and acrylic on canvas board. 20" high and 16” wide
NFS

Saint Lucia

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:25:00 +0000

Sankta Lucia, ljusklara hägring
Saint Lucia, bright illusion

ARTIST NOTES:

I was raised Irish Catholic and have always loved saints. When I was a young girl, I chose Dymphna, the daughter of a pagan Irish king and his Christian wife in the 7th century, to be my confirmation name. I love the irony that she's is the patron saint for the mentally ill.

Saint Lucia is a favored saint in Sweden. When my daughter was younger, I cajoled her on December 13th to wear her crown of (battery-powered) lights, and bring me coffee and sweet rolls in bed. She would walk in and whisper, "Lucia brings the light." Now that she is older, the only thing she brings me on December 13 is an amazing display of eye rolling.

ABOUT THE PAINTING:
Casein and acrylic on canvas board. 20" high and 16” wide
NFS

12 years after I earned my graduate degree, Haiku

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:13:00 +0000

On my knees I scrub
dried pee chunks off the toilet
I inhale the bleach.

Shoe Haiku

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:11:00 +0000

My boots took a walk.
Tonight, I feel like a heel,
who has lost her sole.

Flu Haiku

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:03:00 +0000

"Mom, I don't feel good."
Lucky Charms spewed to the floor
The dog thought, "A snack!"

Bra Haiku

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:57:00 +0000

New underwire bra
digs in my delicate flesh.
Vampire underwear

5-7-5 Handcuffs, Haiku

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:50:00 +0000

I'm through with Haiku.

It’s time for only the rhyme.
No restricting time.

Palin in Comparison, Haiku

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:38:00 +0000

Sarah Palin has
pulled back her beauty queen mask
It's Phyllis Schlafly!

The 44 pound Ringer, Haiku

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:34:00 +0000

Madeline “Socks” Vaughan
Smallest player on the team
Knocked the cover off

I do, but who are you? Haiku

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:05:00 +0000

My Quasimodo
resurfaced last Saturday.
Lest I forget him.

Two Blue Haiku

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:01:00 +0000

1.
The best part about
Clinical drespression is
He expects much less

2.
It’s a stunning trait
I will always let you down
Consistent, at best

Nordic Tune List for nyckelharpa (key-fiddle)

renee@reneevaughan.com (Renee Vaughan) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:36:00 +0000

Here are some tunes I play on key-fiddle and hope we can play together sometime soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Irish

The Kerry Polka (D)

Ina's Polka (D)

Planxty Irwin Waltz (D)

Fanny Power (G)

Mickey Chewing Bubble Gum Polka (A)

The Dawning of the Day March (D)

Timeless Waltz/Jig (D)

Marsch

Mungalåten (C)

Brännvinsmarschen (C)

Hellstedts Brudmarsch (G)

Gryttby Ganglåt (F)

Leipzigs Krigsmarsch (G)

Andakten (Am)

Karolnermarsch (Dm)

Kyrkmarsch (Gm)

Äppelbo Gånglåt (G)

Dalgången (G)

Flickorna Svensson (G)

Iste Kornbodsmarsch (G)

Karolinermarsch (Dm)

Päbel-Brittas Bufärdsmarsch (G)

Stenberg (G)

Brudmarsch från Valö (C)

Ridmarsch (C)

Festmarsch

Polkett

Ettan Masbo Polkett #1 (G)

Tvåan Masbo Polkett #2 (C/F)

Gås Anders Polket (G)

Lövstabruk #1 ((F)

Rönborg (G)

Talgoxen (F)

Uppland (G)

Edvard Pettersson (G)

Ingmar Björkman (G)

Hallnaspolketten (G/D)

Lövstabruk #2 (F)

Polska

Hårgalåten (Am)

Lump Janne (G)

Smultrongärds-Ida (C)

Vendelpolskan (G)

Tobogubben (F)

Tolfta polska (C)

Urpolska (G)

Sista Polska (G)

Boda Mattes (G)

Spel Villa (C)

Tierps Polskan (G)

Linus på Linjen (G)

Liten Karin

Karis Pers (D)

Västanmadspolskan (Gm)

Bästen (C)

Båtsman Däck (G)

Gås Anders Lillepolska (G)

Mårten Blank (G)

Maja

Örbyhuspolskan (G)

Prästpolska (D)

På en Höft

Erlandsson

Fan På Gräsö (C)

Gubbo Allen

Hambo på Logen (G)

Liten Karin

Schottis

Ähkerschottis (Gm)

Löken (C)

Lottis (D)

Luffarschottis (G)

Fyra Schilling (D)

Anna-Stinas Pojkar (C)

Böl Olle Bm/D

En Två Tre (G)

Styfbergs (G)

Hillebola Schottis (C)

Söndags Schottis (G)

Hannah Larssons Schottis

Johan På Snippen (A)

Griffenelt (A)

Gubblubb (G)

Höggerödsschottis (G)

Istukan (Gm)

Johan pa Snippan (G)

Sme Emils (G)

Slangpolska

Parisia Polka (G)

Overbyggnan (C)

Another Slangpolska (D)

Jag har sprunget som satan (G)

Byss Kalle Polska no 32 (G)

Edwards Glada (G)

1814 (G)

Waltz

Rapp-Kalles Vals (D)

Ingers Brudvals (D)

Gardinvalsen (F)

Masbovalsen (C)

Dödens Vals (C)

Bakvändavalsen (C)

Byss Kalle A-minor (Am)

Gubbarna i Tobo (C)

Bonden i Paradis (G)

Kärleksvals (G)

Spelmansglädje (Bb)

Spindelvalsen (Am)

Josefin's Dopvals (F)

Svensk Anna (D)

Emma (Am)

Hem til Dalen (G)

Vikstavalsen (G)

Harpan Min (C)

Skeppet (D dorian)

Springvals efter Ceylon Wallin (C)

Sjöankans Vals (F)

Leonbruden (D)