Skip to main content

Celebrating my 35th Birthday with Donald Longcrier


No, I did not really spend my birthday with Donald Longcrier, rather I spent some time celebrating by viewing his work. Let me explain.
This weekend was the weekend after my thirty-fifth birthday. Although the birthday itself was not the best, the weekend more than made up for it. I went to the Farmer’s Market and got an orchid-my favorite flowers. You can see them above. They are even more mesmerizing in person.
Then I snuck into the City Arts Center for the pottery sell at and got a few pieces that I had to come home with me. The prices that they had made me feel that I was almost pirating them. They are great pieces for which find a home around my home and can be added to other items in a still life painting I plan to start this coming weekend.
While at City Arts, I walked through Donald Longcrier's exhibit. It made up for all the events that went wrong on my birthday (starting with my car not wanting to start). It was one of the most peaceful experiences I have had in a long time. He has a talent for placing items in such a way, that even when I thought about the elements of danger in some of the components, I still felt safe and comfortable. There are metal balls that hang from thick ropes; rags that speak of his trade, items that I assume have been near flammable studio chemicals hang gently on a solid black background; along with a metal spike and ropes as thick as my arms are weaved together to form cloths that must weigh tons appear to be floating in the air. Still, I felt guarded.

His works honor the touch of time on strong craftsmanship. Each work is also a celebration in which Longcrier pays homage to the power of simplicity. In the midst of the holiday rush, visit his exhibit to find a bit of peace. Lose yourself in meditation while taking in this wonderful exhibit. I would show you photos of his work, but I saw photos of it before I saw the exhibit. The photos nowhere near the same experience. You have to see it in person.
Speaking of the stress of holiday shopping, you will find jewels in Oklahoma art and jewelry galleries. Consider visiting any one of the galleries for gifts for your loved ones. You will find items that will trigger thought, enhance homes, and last lifetimes. What store offers that?
About the gems I found: I recently discovered that I love green pottery. I have always noticed that I really like celadon green, but not like this. It is becoming an obsession I found out. After I came home with my great finds from City Arts, I placed them next other pottery that I purchased along Paseo…
The bowl is from Cynthia Wolf's gallery the vase is from Paseo Pottery
Despite the obsession, I did stray from my Celadon green by picking up one with a chestnut colored glaze that I love. I just noticed that my colors on the photos do not look at all as nice as the real colors of the glazes. I do believe it is time for a new camera--Oh, Santa Dear. Wink, wink.

Comments

  1. very nice Miss Lovely. I'd like to see a painting of her before it's too late.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Labor of Love

Sunflowers in Cobalt Blue Vase,   Oil on 5 "x7"   Linen Panel SOLD  Private Collection in San Saba, TX First, I must say that everything I paint is because I absolutely love. I don't like to paint things that I don't find to be attractive to me for one reason or another. Sometimes it's sentimental reasons and other times it's as simple as beautiful colors or the texture. Either way, it's something that I want to capture and stare at for long periods of time. I want to study it and how it affects the environment around it, as in the case of Sunflowers in Cobalt Blue Vase does. In that respect, I feel ALL my paintings are a labor of love.  More often than not, I have to create a painting, wipe it all down, and start all over again if something is just not working. Some never get completed and I just end up painting something totally different on that panel. Then there are some, that I just have to paint, no matter how much trouble they are giving

A bit more Flow Blue (or Flo Blue)

Pink Roses in Flow Blue,   Oil on 6 "x6"   Linen Panel SOLD Private Collection in  Langhorne, PA  School is about to start again and it seems when it does the Holidays are close by and time goes faster. I decided this week I would "make" things go a little slower to get myself to relax. I get a lot of inspiration from so many other blogs, for my home and for my art. So, I went to several blogs that I've loved for so long, but really got to stay for a while. It was absolutely indulging--I wish I could do that more often.  There are times when I "have to" paint a certain item and I search and search as it nags at me until I find it. That was the case with the snap dragons below. I was thrilled to find them after most of June and July searching for them. I think they are perfect with the pink carnations. Although I am also working on a painting that is just the snap dragons. I did have to go a bit bigger than my usual paintings on this one in orde

Summer Paintings

Chanel Book with Roses, 6"x8" Oil on linen Panel S OLD Private Collection in  Pearland, TX Raspberries in Blue and White Bowl, 6"x6" Oil on linen Panel Click here to bid on available paintings.  Seashell with Blue Feather, 5"x7" Oil on linen Panel S OLD Private Collection in  College Station, TX