Winter 2020

It's been a mild winter, thus far, in central Pennsylvania. Here is some of the beauty which we've enjoyed this year, although snow has been at a minimum! More rain than snow, but I'll post the snow photos to celebrate the winter as it fades softly into Spring...

This is to remind this Minnesota-born and bred lady what Winter is supposed to look like all the time!

Winter Has Arrived along with December!

Our December snowfall, before it melted away. As a Minnesota native, I LOVE the winter snows! Snow brightens all the dark days by laying a layer of white everywhere. Alas, here in central PA, the snow rarely lasts long, so it turns to slush and mud quickly. But while it is here, I'm always thrilled!

As you can see, it's not much, by Minnesota, Vermont, or Maine standards. But it sure is beautiful when it's new and fresh. Ever notice how quiet it is outside when it's snowing? All those snowflakes must also absorb sound, because it's always magically quiet in a soft snowfall. Now a windy, blustery, stormy snow - that's another animal altogether...

Meanwhile, I completed two autumnal collages for our Bellefonte Art Museum Annual Christmas Show & Sale.

The one on the left, entitled "The Lost Chord" from the sheet music in the background, has already sold. So it's been replace by the one on the right, entitled "Autumn in Pennsylvania." Had a lot of fun doing these. I've not done collages in the past, so it was a happy experiment that I enjoyed doing. I printed some of my photos on sheer organza prepared for inkjet printers. Then cut them apart and rearranged them with natural object, art, and papers. So much fun. A new medium to explore!!!

My other framed entry is a watercolor with graphite of one of the great-grands. I call this one "Stars & Stripes" - alternately, "Save the Children."

And I'm somehow revived during the cold, dark season....probably because I've just received my orders of another new medium: Pan Pastels!

Check out Pan Pastels on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pan+pastels+techniques

I'm participating in an upcoming exhibit honoring women in our community. Each woman is having her portrait done by one of our Bellefonte Art Museum member artists. I need to complete the portrait within the next month - for many reasons! Mostly so it can be framed for the special exhibit in March 2020 at the Museum. Also, because Frank will be having a total reverse shoulder replacement at the end of this month, so I'll be a tad busy after that!

So I'll be experimenting with pan pastels for the next week or so until I feel a tad confident that I can do a great portrait of a wonderful woman in our community, to be honored in March! Wish me luck!!!

January 2018

It's January in Pennsylvania - a beautiful time of year if you like snow! And I do. I'm originally from Minnesota, so snow is a big part of winter in my history.

Alas, the plowing in our development has not been very good. But it makes for some dramatic photos of icy sunsets!

Once out of the development, here are a few places nearby, covered with a few inches of new snow.

It's been a busy month for me as I prepare for a complete shoulder replacement next week. I won't be posting for awhile since it's my right shoulder and I'm right handed. Thus I'll be a bit more hampered than I was last January when the left shoulder was replaced. Last year the recovery was swift and quite successful, so I'm hoping for similar results this time around.

Osteoarthritis can be debilitating and painful. I am so thankful for living in this era where shoulder replacements are not only possible, but quite successful!

I hope to be back painting again in a few months - maybe in March. We will see what we will see. Meanwhile, enjoy the winter months for what they have to offer. Soon enough, spring will be here with bird songs, budding flowers and every shade of green imaginable!

Merry Christmas!

Enjoy a few festive photos as we celebrate this season of joy.