Leaves and Seeds

No denying it,
Autumn is here.
The leaves are down

red maple, sugar maple,
mulberry
and all their seeds.
Eighteen paper bags
stacked by the curb,
and when the wind ceases

 there'll be more to fill.

Another page in the watercolor sketchbook.

Slice of Apple Pie

From the artist's kitchen and studio,
a watercolor sketch of
a slice of homemade apple pie -
which lured me into a few hours of work
far better than the proverbial carrot on a stick,
especially with a strong cup of coffee.

Another page in the watercolor sketchbook.

West Hartford Reservoir

 The trails around West Hartford Reservoir
provide comfortable benches
with several lovely views.

This is another page in the artists watercolor sketchbook.

Gladiolus

 #16 of 16

Finally!
The last of sixteen drawings from 1997.

Watch the auctions
of all sixteen in this series 
on EBay.

Each drawing was done using Prismacolor pencils
on bright white, smooth paper stock,
with outer dimensions of 6.5 in. x 7.5 in.
the actual image is 4 in. x 4 in.

All drawings are protected
in clear archival 2mil polypropylene resealable sleeves
easy to ship
and ready to mat and frame.

African Violet

 #15 of 16

While cleaning out the studio
for needed electrical work and insulation,
I uncovered sixteen drawings from 1997.

Watch the auction
of the fifteenth original drawing
"African Violet" 
on EBay.

This is an extremely detailed drawing.
The hair-like texture of the violet's stems and leaves
was created by scratching away color to expose the substrate.

Rubber Tree

 #14 of 16

A variegated rubber tree
it's terminal bud a spearlike shaft
surrounded by oblong shields
of leathery leaves
reminds me of
the dignity and stateliness
of a warrior.

Check out the auction
of the original drawing "Rubber Tree" 
on EBay.

Wild Bean

 #13 of 16

Wild Bean!!!
but I prefer Groundnut.
So many names for a handy little edible
that grows without the need for cultivation.

You can watch the auction
of the original drawing of "Wild Bean" 
on EBay.

Foxglove

 #12 of 16

Foxglove or Digitalis
is used for the treatment of heart ailments,
and like so many other life-saving plants
is ironically toxic
and have interesting histories.

Watch the auction
of the original drawing "Foxglove" 
on EBay.

All sixteen drawings of the series were created
using Prismacolor pencils
on bright white, smooth paper stock,
outer dimensions of 6.5 in. x 7.5 in.
the image itself being 4 in. x 4 in.
all are protected in clear archival
2mil polypropylene resealable sleeves.

Yellow Asters

 #11 of 16

There are many flowers
that pass themselves off as yellow asters.

This drawing is of
Heliopsis helianthoides (Smooth Oxeye).

Watch the auction
of the original drawing "Yellow Asters" 
on EBay.

Created using Prismacolor pencils,
the 4 in. x 4 in. image
is offset
on bright white 6.5 in. x 7.5 in.
smooth paper stock.

This drawing is protected
in clear archival
2mil polypropylene resealable sleeves
easy to ship
and ready to mat and frame.

Stargazer

 #10 of 16

While cleaning out the studio
for needed electrical work and insulation,
I uncovered sixteen drawings from 1997.
"Stargazer" is a tender detail of a daylily,
it's colors as vibrant as the day it was first drawn.

Follow the auction
on EBay.

Trumpet Vine

 #9 of 16

Nineth in a series of sixteen drawings from 1997,
this detailed depiction of Firecracker Trumpet Vine
is as fresh as ever.

Follow the auction
of the original "Trumpet Vine" drawing 

on EBay.

Poppy and Pods

#8 of 16

I'd describe Poppy flowers as flamboyant
but find the seed pods as odd.
The hair-like texture is achieved here
by scratching away color
laid down by the colored pencil,
a technique also used in drawing #15.

View the auctions

on EBay.

Yellow Bearded Iris

#7 of 16

While cleaning out the studio
for needed electrical work and insulation,
I uncovered sixteen drawings from 1997.

Finally!

A good time to offer up my little gems.

Perhaps they might help to defray

some of the studio improvement expenses.

This is #7 drawing of the sixteeen.

Follow the auction
on EBay.

Tiny Cactus

 #6 of 16

A pot crammed with tiny cactus
seen from above
made for a curious view
one of abstract textures.

Please forgive the age damage
that this delicate drawing exhibits.
Because of its short-comings
the EBay listing will have a "best offer" option.

Sixth in this series of sixteen drawings from 1997.

Follow the auction
of the original "Tiny Cactus" drawing
and rest of the series 

here on EBay.

Skunk Cabbage

#5 of 16

 Symplocarpus foetidus
better known as Skunk Cabbage

appear in low ice-crusted wetlands,

the first leafy greens
to announce early spring in Connecticut.

Fifth in this series of sixteen drawings from 1997.

Follow the auction
of the original "Skunk Cabbage" drawing
and rest of the series 

here on EBay.

Lupine

#4 of 16

Fourth in a series of sixteen drawings from 1997,
this detailed depiction of lupine
is one of my favorites.

Follow the auction
of the original "Lupine" drawing 

here on EBay.

This 4 in. x 4 in. image
was drawn with Prismacolor pencils
on 6 1/2 in. x 7 1/2 in.
smooth paper stock
Now protected in a clear archival quality
polypropylene resealable sleeve,
ready to mat and frame.

 

Maidenhair Fern

 #3 of 16

May this delicate green gem
help move the studio toward being
a well-lit and comfortable working space
for myself and others.

Watch the auction
of the original drawing "Maidenhair Fern" 
here on EBay.

Created using Prismacolor pencils,
the 4 in. x 4 in. image
is offset
on bright white 6.5 in. x 7.5 in.
smooth paper stock.

This drawing is protected
in clear archival
2mil polypropylene resealable sleeves
easy to ship
and ready to mat and frame.

Stargazer Daylily

 #2 of 16

Offering up this little gem
to help to defray
some of the studio improvement expenses.

Watch the auction
of the original drawing "Stargazer Daylily" 
here on EBay.

Created with Prismacolor pencils
on bright white, smooth paper stock,
with outer dimensions of 6.5 in. x 7.5 in.
the actual image is 4 in. x 4 in.
Though now protected in clear archival
2mil polypropylene resealable sleeves,
there are small areas of the drawing
affected by previous storage
within non-archival framing.

Faded Daylily

#1 of 16

While cleaning out the studio
for needed electrical work and insulation,
I uncovered sixteen drawings from 1997.
Finally!
A good time to offer up my little gems.
Perhaps they might help to defray
some of the studio improvement expenses.

Watch the auction
of the original drawing "Faded Daylily" 
here on EBay.

Each drawing was done using Prismacolor pencils
on bright white, smooth paper stock,
with outer dimensions of 6.5 in. x 7.5 in.
the actual image is 4 in. x 4 in.
All drawings are protected
in clear archival 2mil polypropylene resealable sleeves
easy to ship
and ready to mat and frame.

Cobalt Vase

 Reflections in a cobalt vase
glass and lace
light

fragile
yet profound.

Another page in the artist's watercolor sketchbook.

Sketch in Progress

A sneak peek
of a complicated composition

slowly coming to fruition.

First the pencil sketch
then the ripening
as color is applied
in washes.

Three Apples

Not all apples
are the same,
but somehow they get along.

Another page in the artist's watercolor sketchbook.

Squash from the Garden

Evidence of a bountiful year in the garden.

Yet another page in the watercolor sketchbook.

Millefiore

Needing a break from rendering
the brush and pen
fall into repeated circles
free of thought

resulting in
barnacles of millefiore.

A pause for abstraction instead of the usual detailed rendering - another page of the watercolor sketchbook.

Monarchs

No froufrou butterflies
this lineage of regal Monarchs,
who suffered two apocalyptic winters
in the 1990's.

Completely absent from the garden
for twenty-nine years
until
sailing over the continent
they arrived again
to dominate the Buddleia. 

Nothing is fragile or helpless about these Monarchs. They soar - not so much as fly. Breeze nor gale is an obstacle to them as they make use of the movements of air to reach their destination.

Another watercolor sketch in the artist's notebook.

Angel's Trumpets and Blue Birdbath

Remembering those who never made it home
on September 11th
twenty years ago,

we miss you,
we miss you,
we miss you.

Let the Angel's Trumpets sound

while we rest our reflections in a still pool of blue.

Painted while listening to Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings played by the New York Philharmonic and lead by Leonard Bernstein. 

Homemade Cheese

 An olive wood platter 

loaded with cheeses made by the artist:

pepper coated Belper Knolle

and hard grating cheeses

made from kefir

finished with olive oil

or cabernet sauvignon.

This is yet another page in my watercolor sketchbook, celebrating a month of successful cheesemaking.

Volunteer Tomatoes

The garden is full of volunteer tomato plants, 
everything from deep red to bright yellow
beefsteak to cherry tomatoes,
sweet and full of flavor.
Practicing a little daily care,
the plants have defied disease and pests,
providing an extraordinary
surge of fruit this year.

This is watercolor number nine, another page in the new 5" x 7" sketchbook that was started this past June.

Windowsill Delphinium

 The blue of a Delphinium flower is ethereal.
Even as the petals dry and drop,
their hue maintains an otherworldly intensity.

With some luck, this aging human would like to hold onto my own colorful intensity right to the end.

Angel Wing Begonias

A simple watercolor painting

of a humble begonia scion,

an understated expression
of admiration and gratitude

for a resilient family
devoted to cultural achievement,
art and education.

Many thanks and much love to the Lee-Swanek family, of the Lee Piano Studio in New Milford, Connecticut.

When One Door Closes

The intrigue of open doorways and afternoon light inspired this detailed watercolor, an interior view of the artist's home.

Corbin Avenue

Home Sweet Home,
studio,
garden,
workshop,
and cheese cave.

As I post this, tropical storm Henri approaches like an old uncle humbled by his demotion from the category of hurricane. He's raining steadily and the landscape is welcoming his paced abundance into waiting streams. Wind which could have arrived as forceful blows from his invisible hand, are only gentle cuffs - so far. Let's hope our old Uncle Henri maintains his demeanor for the duration of his visit. At least another fourteen hours to go. . . 

This is another 5" x 7" watercolor sketch, a page from one of my notebooks.

RosesRosesRoses

 Overwhelmed by roses
each bloom an explosion
of tender petals

sensuous curves

soft recesses
deep with color.

Bloom upon bloom,
some shy
tinted shadow-blue
 hiding behind siblings,

while others bold and haughty
push forward
to wear sunlight like an accessory
gilding themselves
with gold sunsets
and morning lavender.

Overwhelmed by roses
without focal reference,
each detail
demanding top preference.
The eye wanders
the heart follows
and is lost in beauty.

Another 5" x 7" watercolor sketch from the rose garden in Elizabeth Park, West Hartford, Connecticut. These were roses from bed 475, according to the Helen S. Kaman Rose Garden bed map.  

Shade Garden

Cool refuge under the trees
a comfortable bench 
within a tapestry
of green foliage and blue shadow.

This 5" x 7" watercolor sketch was done at the Julian and Edith Eddy Rock Garden, better known as the Shade Garden, in Elizabeth Park, West Hartford, Connecticut. It's an absolutely refreshing place to rest between walks through the sun-loving rose beds in the month of June - when its blooming hot!

Gnarled Guardian

 Inside the Heritage Rose Garden
ancient lineages bloom

secure within stone walls

guarded by

a gnarled giant.

This is a 5" x 7" watercolor sketch of a tree just outside the Heritage Rose Garden in Elizabeth Park, West Hartford, Connecticut. Visit in mid-June to experience the full fragrance and pay respects to this guardian as you exit toward the main Helen S. Kaman Rose Garden with it's impressive beds, arches, and gazebo.

Playground / Secret Alliance

I've always been
the new kid
navigating a playground
of invisible alliances,
the new hire

reconnoitering a terrain
of secret agendas - 
sans org chart.

The artist

attempting to discern
cohesive relationships

that transform abstraction
into working universe.

 

This is a 10" x 15.5" acrylic and ink painting on Bainbridge mat board. The above text inscribed on the back and signed by the artist.

This work and others are available in the artist's Etsy shop.

Elizabeth Park Shade Garden

Todays offering. . . a sketch from the shade garden in Elizabeth Park, an artist's sanctuary on a sweltering June day.

Elizabeth Park is famous for the rose gardens where you can wander its paths savoring the views,  transported by the enchanting perfume of hundreds of roses.

Blue Body

 2am dream

underground stream flowing
through dark rooms

where

someone vaguely familiar

in a party of strangers

seems a safe eddy
becomes a dead end
is a trap.

Gotta go
find the exit
feel the current

push down

out
up, up, up.

Rising free
eyes open 

to total blackness.

6 1/4" x 14 1/2" acrylic paint and marker on matboard, text and signature of the artist appears on the back.

This work is available in the artist's Etsy store.

Work at Home

Back to the cave for a little painting.

 

In the Heart of Darkness

Flights of color

in the heart of darkness.

More expressions through watercolor and ink.

Primal Influence

Flowing within flowing,
constant transformation
of relationship between elements. 

 My view of
reality,
truth,
destiny.

Expressed with watercolors and ink.

Song of the Didgeridoo

Playful lyrics twisting unexpectedly,
nuanced strokes
of colorful turns of phrase,
do we ever say what we really mean?
Or is it always
poetry
that describes the fluid reality,
the depths and currents
of where we swim?

Back in the studio after another long hiatus,
using watercolors and my favorite flowing organic forms
inspired by the music of the Del Sol Quartet
with Stephen Kent,
 Sculthorpe Complete String Quartets
with Didgeridoo.

This is 14 1/4: x 11 1/2" watercolor painting
framed with teak, under glass.

For sale through Etsy