Sunday, August 21, 2011

A miracle



I've been checking on the chrysalis pretty regularly. I went out on our screened porch about noon and instead of the chrysalis there was a beautiful swallowtail butterfly. I set the plant with him/her on it outside and it flew over to my Lantana. Wow. I noticed that the other chrysalis which was outside is empty now too.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Swallowtails



The beauty of the natural world is such an inspiration. We were sitting out on our deck last week and saw a Swallowtail arrive and check out every herb plant until she found our parsley. She then proceeded to lay tiny little dots of eggs around the plant... we've watched them closely and they grew into little then big caterpillars - buying more parsley and fennel to feed them. Then a couple disappeared... after looking really closely all around I found two on my sage plant - one had already turned into a crysalis and the other was starting. I took these photos with my cell phone - will try to post some better ones later... Awesome!

Friday, August 12, 2011

Interesting Request...


I received an interesting call last week from the folks at the Carolina Chamber Music Festival. They are doing an event in New Bern in conjunction with the Craven Arts Council called Debussy After Work Thursday, September 15. They will have three musicians (a harpist, a flutist and a viola player) playing the three movements of Debussy's Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp. They then invited three visual artists to each create a painting based on one of the movements. I was pleased to be asked to be one of the artists. I chose the final movement to inspire my piece. Here's a link to a YouTube video of it:

Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp


I've already gotten started on the painting and am having great fun with it, but won't share it here yet - I want it to be a surprise at the concert. If you want to come join us on the 15th, here's a link to more info at the Carolina Chamber Music Festival website.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Latest commission


Those of you who follow my blog know that I don't usually publish images of the commissions I do, out of respect for the privacy of the sitter. However with my latest I was granted permission to do so.

This was a fun commission. Its of a local teenager and both he and his mom liked my big bold colors. This is the result. After mom got it home, she sent me an email in which she said that she showed it to her son, "I was watching his face when he saw the painting the first time. He had a smile on his face, a soft one, and said “It’s me."