Sunset Seen From The Ark

An acrylic painting based on a photo by Laura Schonenberg, The Ark is a family residence on Isle Au Haut, Maine. Thanks for lending the image Laura. It's true, October sunsets on IAH are legendary.

Meditation in Process

This is the bottom half of "Meditation," a painting which is still in process. The view is a reflection on the surface of Ball Pond in New Fairfield Connecticut, as seen this fall. This reflected tree being one of the last to bear leaves, offered a window into the depths where newly fallen leaves lay submerged, still sporting color. - Nancy Boudreau

This section of "Meditation" is 24" x 24" acrylic on cotton canvas sealed with high gloss clear acrylic.

Ouija Completed

. . . and here is Oujia, as far as I'm going to take it, waiting for it's overcoat of clear matte acrylic to seal the surface. - Nancy Boudreau

Ouija in Process Third Look

Still refining "Ouija". . .

Second look at Ouija in Process

This morning, some body has been added to "Ouija". The last abstract, "Contemplation" was built with bright pure colors, layered and layered. This time "dirty color" is applied in soft, small brushstrokes. By "dirty" I mean three or more contrasting colors blended on the pallet, then daubed gently into the contours of the image. The intention at this stage is to build powerfully large forms, sensitively rendered. - Nancy Boudreau

First look at Ouija in Process

First look at "Ouija" as the painting begins. At this point, the painting is comprised of pastels with clear matte gel acrylic applied in an automatic writing style. The idea of a ouija board came to mind while working, gray lines, like writing, becoming the bones of the painting's structure, foretelling the outcome. - Nancy Boudreau

This painting is 34" x 50" on stretched cotton duck canvas.

Shadow on the Housatonic

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Standing by the Housatonic River on the Southbury side just below the Shepaug Dam, looking downriver. It's July, when wild roses bloom. Strong currents and clear water running over a stony bed, the shadows on the water caught my attention. - Nancy Boudreau

26"x 34" acrylic on stretched canvas, signed and dated 11/27/08.

Aaron Copland

Aaron Copland

He who wrote

Fanfare For The Common Man

should have been

carried out on the shoulders

of the multitude

when he left this world.

But he was not,

Because

only the ears of the uncommon man

could hear him.

-Nancy Boudreau, from "N" a book of poetry, 1998

Turned Bowl and Finger Sculpture

This is an ash bowl and white pine sculpture. The bowl is a product of my first experience on the lathe, a perfect pedestal for this small sculpture. The ash bowl is 5.25 inches in diameter and is finished with wax. The pine sculpture was hand-carved using wood rasps and finished with tung oil.

- Nancy Boudreau

If you are interested in this piece of art, of any of the other works displayed in the archives of my homepage, please feel free to contact me at: nb@nboudreau.com. Everything is original, created by myself and if not already sold, is available for purchase. A red dot next to the title signifies that the original has been sold, however Glicée prints of the original may be available.

Rock Nest

At Roxbury Falls, the water carves rounded depressions in the rock shelves. Pieces of stone are caught in these depressions and tumbled smooth, leaving what look like nests of stone eggs. - Nancy Boudreau

This is an original acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7" signed and dated with the above comments on the back of the artwork.

Contemplation

As suggested, a larger painting - 3' x 4'. It is acrylic, as are all the smaller paintings with some pastel and a glossy clear-coat to seal it. Brushes were used in a scrubbing motion to layer colors and develop shape. Because of the candy-coloring and the fact that this is the largest abstract done in a long time, I thought to leave the shapes a bit crude, not as lyrical or defined as usual.

A few details of the canvas. . .

Any questions, comments or suggestions are welcome. Feel free to email me at:

nb@nboudreau.com

-Nancy Boudreau

So Beat Me with a Stick Fred

So Beat Me With A Stick Fred

I see

unpalatable perfection

purple prose,

in the radiant face of my mother, nature.

And when I feel too much

of love and death,

when my demons need exorcising,

I go to the Devil's Den

and find my mother

who hears me cry

and answers my questions.

-Nancy Boudreau, from "N" book of poetry, 1998

Truth

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Yes, this is a painting of clouds, trees and sky, but to me this portrays the qualities of what I feel to be "truth" - beautiful, in an overwhelmingly large, dynamic, concrete way while still being absolutely ephemeral, existing only in fleetingly appropriate context. - Nancy Boudreau

This is an original acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7" signed and dated with the above comments on the back of the artwork.

Woodland Stream

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We've had a very mild summer, wet enough to keep streams running, grass green and all the trees well watered. Leaves were still up far into November when maples began showing off strong colors. This painting is of Ciaolo Park, New Fairfield, Connecticut in early autumn. - Nancy Boudreau

This is an original acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7" signed and dated with the above comments on the back of the artwork.

Red Maple

Autumn in Connecticut puts strange colors in strange places. When else can you see a fuchsia lawn?
- Nancy Boudreau

acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed, dated and comments on the back

And Left Me This

From "N" a book of poetry by Nancy Boudreau, 1998.

As with all other illustrations in this book, this one is 2" x 3", executed with Prismacolor® pencils.

Cat Hairs

Got cats?

Having fun with the Wacom® tablet this evening.

- Nancy Boudreau

Contemplation in Progress

It's been suggested that I work larger. In response, this 3' x 4' painting was started. Anticipating that it would take many long sittings to complete, time spent ruminating, working out what was inside, finding ways of laying it down in color and form,  I decided to call it "Contemplation."

So far, my ruminations have not been peaceful, my head full of conflicting conversations. This seems to be the way people communicate nowadays, through "dis-course." Someone makes a statement, then the next person does their best to discount the first’s point. The first person's statement, like the beauty of a single pure color, is hacked and overlaid by an opposing expression, trying to cancel out or out-shout the first.

And that’s why this painting, so far, is layer upon layer of opposing color in vigorous strokes. 

What will happen when the whole canvas is crammed and buzzing with a chaotic din? Where do we go then, as a whole, to achieve collective meaning?

-Nancy Boudreau

An Expressive Being

From "N" a book of poetry by Nancy Boudreau, 1998.

As with all other illustrations in this book, this one is 2" x 3", executed with Prismacolor® pencils.

Sensitivity Test

From "N" a book of poetry by Nancy Boudreau, 1998.

As with all other illustrations in this book, this one is 2" x 3", executed with Prismacolor® pencils.

Kayak on Still River

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The Still River winds under highways, around industrial parks, through wooded wasteland. It is like my art, a beautiful thing right there in front of you, but never seen. - Nancy Boudreau

This is an original acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7" signed and dated with the above comments on the back of the artwork.

Genetic Predetermination

From "N" a book of poetry by Nancy Boudreau, 1998.

As with all other illustrations in this book, this one is 2" x 3", executed with Prismacolor® pencils.

Seeing Our Way Through

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The world is full of visual analogies. To me, this image suggests that if we can just get through the woods, something better is waiting on the other side.
- Nancy Boudreau

acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed, dated and comments on the back

Reach

From "N" a book of poetry by Nancy Boudreau, 1998.

Beyond Reason

from "N" a book of poetry by Nancy Boudreau, 1998

As with all other illustrations in this book, this one is 2" x 3", executed with Prismacolor pencils.

Autumn Moving Into the Woods

An acrylic sketch of the woods across the driveway. Trying to capture the sunlight as it falls through the trees onto the forest floor.
- Nancy Boudreau

This is an acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed and dated with the above comments on the back.

Autumn Down the Driveway

An acrylic sketch of the woods across the driveway. A glimpse of russet-gold leaves carpeting the earth, bits of sunlight on the carpet and illuminated yellow leaves behind it all.

- Nancy Boudreau

This is an acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed and dated with the above comments on the back.

What I Really Wanted

What I Really Wanted to Write In Your Birthday Card

My apologies for rudely barging into your life
but I just wanted to express
how much I appreciate
such a unique and beautiful spirit
Thank you for the joy you've given me.

I wish you all the happiness and fulfillment
that could possibly come
to such a human being.

- Nancy Boudreau

from "N" a book of poetry, 1998

Water Lily Bud

Please be forgiving if the subject matter of my paintings seems overly sentimental. There are times when the beauty of the subject overwhelms me.
- Nancy Boudreau

This is an acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed and dated with the above comments on the back.

Beyond Good and Evil

Beyond Good and Evil

There are occurrences of such a

delicate nature that one does

well to cover them up with some

rudeness to conceal them;

there are actions of love and

extravagant generosity after which

nothing is more advisable

than to take a stick and give any

eyewitness a sound thrashing. . .

- Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil

Pink Water Lily

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How sweet it is to float among the water lilies on Ball Pond, here in New Fairfield, Connecticut. Some leaves lie flat on the water, like the Spatterdock, while the edges of some leaves cup upwards, as with these pink water lilies.
- Nancy Boudreau

This is an acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed and dated with the above comments on the back.

Illustrations from "N", a Book of Poetry

In 1997, I wrote and illustrated a short book of poetry, obtusely titled "N". Though I don't feel the poems are worthy of sharing here on blog, the illustrations are quite fine and suitable for show, each one being a delicately wrought miniature in color pencil, 2" x 3".

Today's image, was was drawn with ball point pen, highlighter and WhiteOut on a laminated 2" x 3" PostIt Note. Used as a bookmark in the original, hand bound copy of "N", it too has a poem, handwritten on the back.

Orange Paddle

The shocking contrast of my paddle against the saturated and harmonious hues of what it's dipping into, often make me stop and watch. To see the orange blade slip through verdant liquid, mercurial flashes of cerulean on the surface underlaid with glimpses of indigo depths, fascinate me. I wonder how it looks to the fish below, and what they think of it all.
- Nancy Boudreau

This is an acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed and dated with the above comments on the back.

Gray Stalker

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Small fish beware! The gray stalker is wading among the weeds looking for you. I once came upon a Great Blue Heron on the Housatonic River, which was doing it's best to swallow a foot-long fish. The determined bird tried over and over with no luck. Eventually my presence was too much for the bird, and it flew upriver a bit, still fixed on that fish and eyeing me as if I might take it away.
- Nancy Boudreau

This is an acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed and dated with the above comments on the back.

Spatterdock

Stolen Painting

While kayaking this weekend on Ball Pond in New Fairfield, I came across these intriguing knot-shaped yellow water lilies. Spatterdock, beautifully sculptural, rising above the flat plane of the water's surface on thick stems.
- Nancy Boudreau

This is an acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed and dated with the above comments on the back.

Dinner Party for Szusza

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This past August, my friend Nick threw a wonderful dinner party, a birthday celebration for our friend Susan. Out on the back deck, surrounded by lush summer gardens, many friends gathered to dine and raise a glass.
- Nancy Boudreau

This is an acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed and dated with the above comments on the back.

12th Study for Contemplation

12th Study for Contemplation is done on an 11" x 15" piece of gessoed canvas. Pastels were used to lay color on the white surface then blended with black acrylic using various shape brushes to build form. White and other acrylics were then used to detail and add depth.
- Nancy Boudreau

Sunday Morning on the Web

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Sunday morning, gray and damp, a window filled with a dewy web, spun by a lemon drop, a sunny little spider.
- Nancy Boudreau

This is an acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 4 3/4" x 4 3/4"
signed and dated with the above comments on the back.

Getting Lyrical

10th study for "Contemplation." Titanium white tinted with pastels, then overlaid with washes of color, the camel hair brush leaving the last wispy strokes for accent and emphasis. This is a happier and warmer painting than the last few, full of peace, comfort and music.
- Nancy Boudreau

This is an acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed and dated with the above comments on the back.

Everything is Green

9th Study for "Contemplation". . . I'd also call this "Making Me Some Sense." Using simple forms to try to contain, organize and make sense of a confusion of formless color. This painting was created using several thick layers of clear acrylic gel colored with pastels. The end result is a heavily textured surface shimmering with color. You might look at this and say "that circle isn't green" but look closer, and indeed the circle does have aspects of green.
- Nancy Boudreau

acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed, dated and comments on the back

Solar Energy

8th study for "Contemplation". . .
- Nancy Boudreau

acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed, dated and comments on the back

Flame

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7th study for the coming painting of "Contemplation." Using acrylic and watercolor pencils, letting the colors blend and meld until shape began to form. Selecting and refining while trying to avoid literal rendering. The end result reminds me of flame and sky, the way heat distorts color and form. Flame can represent anything from loss to rebirth, hope, life, love and undying faith. Man's "discovery" of fire. . .
- Nancy Boudreau

acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed, dated and comments on the back

New Day

click here to watch the auction

The darker lines on this painting are strokes of gold paint, the sheen of which is lost in the translation to digital photo and internet. This is composite play of opposing colors arranged in the familiar arrangement of horizon, sky and earth.
- Nancy Boudreau

acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed, dated and comments on the back
for sale directly from the artist
finished art will be shipped in a cream-colored 8" x 10" mat

You're welcome to visit the online gallery of paintings previously posted at:
http://www.nboudreau.com

Bidding starts Friday September 5th at 8pm EST
Bidding ends Friday September 12th at 8pm EST

Impatience

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The impatience that comes with happy anticipation.
- Nancy Boudreau

acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed, dated and comments on the back

Fast Ride

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Definitely not the fastest painting I've done. This is Study 4 for Contemplation, a speedy rush from the lower left to the upper right. Bright events, moving fast, exciting and a bit frightening.
- Nancy Boudreau

acrylic painting on gessoed mat board, approximately 5" x 7"
signed, dated and comments on the back