A thank you & a (mild) scolding

photo by Rodrica Tilley

Thank you to the hordes of happy art lovers who turned out for the Artists' Open House Weekend...I was too busy selling & wrapping originals & prints to actually take any photos of you all enjoying the fabulous autumn weather in my garden. It was a wonderful ending to my 14 years on this county-wide studio tour. I'm moving to Vermont in 2011 as most of you know. I so enjoyed seeing friends, fans & familiar faces.

The garden received many compliments. People were surprised that it was colourful! To my way of thinking a fall garden can be a little too subdued without DAHLIAS! Yes, they are a fair amount of work...you must dig, wash, label & store them after the frost...sort of like potatoes; you need a cool, frost-free storage spot...like the basement. But, that done you can forget about them until mid- to late April. Then drop the tubers in pots of gro-mix in the greenhouse or sunporch or living room window. When they sprout, water them and plant them out with 4' stakes in mid to late May. So those of you who go to the trouble of growing tomatoes & marigolds, may want to steal a corner for some real fall color. And in a lucky year that may begin in July and last until October. Your house will be full of bouquets.

Swan Island Dahlias is my favorite source...and their catalogue is great reading. I don't go for the dinner plate dahlias, but you may. Dahlias are a great investment...buy them once...plant & give away forever.

Four Nocturnes

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These are the four nocturnes that I mentioned in the previous post...well, actually they might more accurately be termed "almost-nocturnes". They are all on the edge of day...but leading towards night: two moons, two suns. They are hanging at my studio ready to greet visitors to the 14th Annual Artists Open House Weekend...October 9, 10 & 11. Hope to see you there.

Sometimes the Moon Just Blows Me Away

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A stormy night just after sunset at my place, is the source of this 9 x 12 pastel painting. It, and a few other small nocturnes will be for sale here at my studio during The 14th Annual Artists Open House Weekend ; studio tour in Susquehanna County PA coming up on Columbus Day Weekend.

I will be doing demonstrations on Monday, October 11th: watercolor at 11 am and pastel at 2pm.

Nasturtiums in Creamer

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Another watercolor...and more nasturtiums in Nan Burti's cream pitcher....I do love these two small clay pieces, but so far I've used them in several paintings and never put cream or sugar in them. They have nice necks for flowers and I love the glaze colors.

I used the roughest watercolor paper I had for this just to see what would happen. Besides, I did a similar pitcher full of nasturtiums last year at the Artists' Open House Weekend on a very smooth - hot press paper- so I wanted to mix it up a bit.

Night Watchman

This 9 x 12 sunset beach scene was done in the studio today recalling my lovely trip to Delaware in May. I thought it a fitting and reverent way to commemorate the 9/11 tragedy; by thinking and wishing for peace and tolerance among all people - religious or not. And by acknowledging those who now rest in peace. And by offering comfort to those who miss them with every waking breath. I titled it in hopes that our protectors are vigilant and watchful.

Watercolor Bouquets

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These orange nasturtiums in one of Zoë Tilley Poster's vases are one of several small paintings I'm doing this September. There are also roses and sweet peas, so far. I always do these from life...set-up on my drawing board under the skylights so the light is quite clear and somewhat flat giving a specific characteristic quality to the colors. These will be available at my studio during the Artists' Open House Weekend in October.

In the Footsteps of Georgia O'Keeffe

I spent last week in Northern New Mexico with eleven other women from the Montrose Area Adult School. (the title of the course is the title of this blog post)

We began in Taos at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House. I slept in her bed! A great place to stay when you are in Taos....the stories those walls could tell. The breakfasts were fabulous and the staff friendly & helpful. For those of you who love houses, this is the place...second floor bathroom windows painted by D.H. Lawrence! Two nights here gave us a chance to explore the Taos area as well as sample the margaritas, birdwatch, visit museums, shop, walk over the Rio Grand river gorge on America's most beautiful steel span bridge and get used to the dry air at almost 7000' above sea level. We visited the often painted and photographed Rancho de Taos Church.

Driving up to Abiquiu was breath-takingly beautiful for our planned-long-in-advance special tour of Georgia O'Keeffe's home & studio. We were guided by the Historic Properties Manager of the Georgia O'keeffe Museum, who worked with Ms. O'Keeffe for 10 years. Most of our group had studied the artist's life and work before arriving and speaking for myself it was a thrill to stand in her studio, kitchen, garden and see the scenes that inspired some of her paintings.

Then on to Ghost Ranch...home of the best sunsets in the west. I love staying there in spite of the "ranch food". We took a landscape tour and saw the exact spot where many of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings were done on location in the desert; Cedar Tree with Lavendar Hills and others.

At the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe we viewed Abstraction. We were able to see how the artist worked in series, starting with a "realistic" interpretation and changing her vision in subsequent paintings until an abstract image resulted. There were some very powerful painting that I had never seen before. It was an exciting exhibit....and showed that she contributed greatly to American Modernism. She was truly an innovative American painter. For months I've been hearing from some of you how much you enjoyed this exhibit when it was in New York and then Washington, DC. I couldn't agree more. I've seen many exhibits of her work and this one was particularly enlightening.

Still there were galleries, museums, shopping, mineral hot springs, pueblos, pots and more margaritas awaiting. I wish you were there, too.