Snow Toast

Upon waking up to a soft, unexpected, snowfall

I raise my glass high-
bubbles gently rising to
snow gently falling

Old Year Snow Frog

                 It's the last day of the year!

Sons P and H made this snow frog and fly yesterday


the year's final day
the new year poised like a frog
to gulp the last fly

Close-up of the fly!

Evil Cookies!

BWAHAHAHA!

"Death to all diets!" scream the collected hordes of leftover Holiday Treats. They are led by this devious looking fellow...Sugarnut McButterfat. His motto "C'mon, just one won't kill you!"

Friend Friday (scroll down)

"Blues for Scrooge" puppet show/ musical

A Big Friend Friday!

It's Friend Friday time again, and there is quite a list this week!

Mike Miller, fourth from left or right, in front of his newly unveiled painting

First notice goes to my nephew Mike Miller, 14, whose collaborative art piece based on the work of painter Jackson Pollack was unveiled at the Greenwich, CT board of education building earlier this week where the painting will hang. I'm proud of you Mike! You can read the full story here. And a little back story: Mike really enjoyed working on this piece but has told his art teacher he really prefers Monet to Pollack. Those Miller representational art genes just keep coming on through!

Valerie Craig (far right) with friends at her recent opening reception

My friend Valerie Craig has a show of more than fifty of her lovely plein air paintings currently on display at Newman & Saunders Gallery in Wayne, PA. It's a wonderful show! Plus I kept thinking about how much great vitamin D Valerie soaked up all spring and summer while she was doing all this work...plein air painters don't need vitamin supplements, just bug spray! ;-)

November 23- December 24
Tuesdays- Saturdays 10:00- 4:30

Newman & Saunders Galleries
(One Block west of the center of Wayne)
120 Bloomingdale Avenue

Wayne, PA
610-293-1280
View the exhibition at newmansaundersgallery.com

This month's Funny Times is better than ever!

My friend Roz (Rosalind) Warren has a humor essay in the current issue of  The Funny Times! I had some cartoons published in this monthly humor magazine myself, many years ago, and although I have stopped making cartoons, the whole family still eagerly awaits the arrival of FT each month. What a thrill to find Roz (and her writing partner Janet Golden) have a piece in the current issue: Gone with the Wildebeest. Read it here, or go get yourself a copy of The Funny Times while supplies last. ;-) Who couldn't use a little more laughter in their lives?  Congrats Roz!

Tangerine Rose, oil on linen on board, 7 x 5 inches, 2010

Last but not least I should mention that I am in a small works show that opens today at Artists' House Gallery in Old City Philadelphia.  I have several small pieces in this show that includes many of Philadelphia's finest representational artists including Renee Foulks, Daniel Miller, Carolyn Pyfrom and Peter van Dyck. Both Artists' House receptions are always wonderful, but I prefer the Sunday opening (live classical guitar, coffee and cake) so that's the one I will be attending: if you are planning to come then be sure and let me know!

Small Works 2010
December 3 to December 24, 2010

Receptions:

First Friday December 3,  5 - 8:30pm
and
Sunday, December 5,  1 - 4pm

Artists' House 

57 North Second Street  

Philadelphia, PA 19106  (215) 923-8440    

Wed - Sun 12-5 PM or by appointment

THANKS GIVING

I can no other answer make but thanks,
And thanks, and ever thanks...

--Sebastian, Twelfth Night, Act 3, scene 3

William Shakespeare

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!

Last Night's Visitor

his steps sank softly
into the brown sugar mud,
hello and goodbye

Friend Friday!

Nancy Bea Miller, Sarah Barr, Lisa Mintzer at the
Philly Photo Day Exhibition

Regular readers of this blog probably realize that I do a lot of photography in addition to painting. I don't consider myself a professional photog, even though I have had several photographs bought for book-covers, magazines and websites, and I am occasionally commissioned to take product shots, art shots and head shots. I still think of it more as a hobby. I don't really know what I am doing, technically speaking. I'm just an eye with a lens. Photography simply satisfies my unflagging impulse for observation and appreciation of life and expression, quick and easy! I can't be painting 24/7 but I do have a camera to hand at all moments. You never know when something will reach out and grab your heart. When that happens I reach out and grab my camera. As Baudelaire put it:
To glorify the cult of images (my great, my only, my earliest passion)


Nonetheless, I have never exhibited my photography in a gallery setting until now. Pal Sarah Barr urged me to participate with her in the first annual Philly Photo Day. On October 28, photographers took their best shot within the Philadelphia city limits and send it in to the Philadelphia Photo Art Center. The work was compiled and printed out on huge banners and hung. There was a real opening reception too, with drinks and nibbles and a speech by the fascinating director of the PPAC, Sarah Stolfa. So, thanks to both Sarahs and the PPAC I finally have a piece of photography on view...a first for me.



"Leaf Blow on Clearfield Street"(click image to enlarge.) On Philly Photo Day I happened to be driving through the East Falls section of the city when a sudden gust of wind whipped the leaves into a hail of gold pieces. I checked behind me, saw there was nobody coming up and quickly shot the scene. Talk about driving while distracted (just kidding, I of course, stopped the car while shooting.) Steering wheels make good tripods! Rotopods? :-) Prints can be ordered through the PPAC: $10 for a 5 x 7, $20 for an 8.5 x 11. If you're interested in purchasing a copy of "Leaf Blow" contact the PPAC and tell them you want image number 168.
Philly Photo Day Exhibition
November 11 - 21
Philadelphia Photo Art Center
Grey Area, Crane Arts Building
1400 N. American Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
215.232.5678
267.324.3268 (fax)
info@philaphotoarts.org

And here is my friend Sarah Barr, with her own beautiful image:


It is truly an amazingly interesting show, giving a wildly varied portrait of a day. It should interest Philadelphia historians and sociologists as well as artists and anyone who just loves Philadelphia!

Vampire in the Kitchen!

Oh wait, it's just me in my "Deluxe Vampiress" outfit (fangs not included.) Okay then...



You know you're getting older when you and your husband dress up to go to a Halloween costume party and your kids roll their eyes and stay home. Well, whatever...HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Friend Friday

Racing to States
Today was the District cross-country meet held at Lehigh University and my son P qualified for the State Championship (along with another Harriton team mate) setting a personal best along the way. I kept hearing that it was a very fast course. Not exactly sure what that implies, but all the kids seemed to have sprouted wings on their feet. Congratulations to my wonderful P and the whole Harriton team! Two young men qualified but it was definitely a team effort.