Discovering A Beautiful Public Garden

This past Saturday, Mrs. Pom called me and said, 'Let's go to Wave Hill and do some plein aire."  "OK!" was my reply, afterall, I had a couple of hours with nothing to do (never mind all the graduation parties that were scheduled for the weekend).  Well, I did not know how beautiful Wave Hill is.  I have never been there and to this day cannot fathom why.  It is gorgeous!  Flowers, trees, birds, bugs, beautiful vistas of the Hudson...How is it I never knew this gem was here?  Well, I did more photography than painting...enjoy!

 this is a tree believe it or not.  i couldn't find the name, but so cool

lace bark tree

This tree was immense in size.  In hindsight, I should've had Loretta stand over there

so many specimens

my favorite, something about this relaxes me.   I don't know if it is the shape or the hues of greens AND it has been turning up in my intuitive painting...hmmmm....

there is a wonderful water garden complete with carp (although i failed to photo one)

pods!

don't you love the twisty viny wisteria?

love love love

nice little bench to rest

just as we came out of one garden and looked up...ahhhh!

clematis

I want to do all these dish gardens

poppies, poppies, poppies

and poppies

and poppy pods!

I just love this whole setting, from the pot in the center to the little bench including the ppl sitting...

how cool is this?

stunning

oh right, the reason we went there in the first place!

succulents in the gift store

I guess this little guy seeds himself...right in the sidewalk!

and Mrs. Pom with her beautiful journal
(I should've  photographed the finished product, it came out gorgeous)

I have about 90 photos in total.  from herbs to perrenials this place is amazing!  It is truly inspirational and the perfect place to go when I have artist block.  The array of texture, composition, shapes and color!  oh and now of course, I want to replant all my flowers!  

I know you want to come to NASHVILLE!

Art-Is-You Art Retreats is coming to Nashville! 

 I am so excited to be one of the faculty teaching at this event.  My good friend and art sister, loretta benedetto marvel is co-teaching a very special class with me.  Together, we make The Poet and The Painter Sisters and our class is called the Art of Food. 

 Join us in making a mixed media book of food memories.  

It can be a cookbook with recipes, a memoir of your childhood favorites or simply a food journal.  You are only limited to your imagination!!  We will play with painting backgrounds, collaging, learn how to do an image transfer, make hidden pocket pull-outs and even learn how to create a double sliding mechanism which will all be bound with a super simple binding technique. 

 Oh, and don't forget about playing with words, washi tape and all kinds of embellishments!  And as a bonus, there will definitely be chocolate!! So start gathering up your recipes, memories and photos....it's going to be a foot-stompin' kicking up our heels kinda fun (and i'll wear my new cowboy boots)!!! Registration is open..sign up now...ART IS...NASHVILLE 

art trips with mrs pom

i am so fortunate to have found a friend, an art friend, who lives close by.  loretta aka mrs pom is that friend for me.  when neither of us is bogged down with work or family or school, we grab the chance to go on little art excursions.  in the past 2 weeks we have had 2 outings!  

first was our labor day trip into the city.  destination: the bowery.  we left early in the morning so we could go to a special coffee shop.  to our disappointment, it was closed! on labor day! imagine? so we settled for this:

the neighborhood around bond street is lovely.  you see this

and the most amazing building - the george frankel theatre.

 outstanding gardens with birds

and lovely piles of rock!

and much to our chagrin, john derian was closed! not because of labor day, but it's closed on mondays!! i was so disappointed. guess i'll be making another trip to bond street.

but dick blick was open, so some damage was done there.  i was so busy shopping i didn't take any pics.  trust me, art supplies were purchased and have already been put to use.

next on the agenda was a class with mixed media artist, seth apter. i had never met seth before, and am so happy i finally did!  he is an amazing teacher and so nice to boot!  

 it was held at litttle bird creations studio owned and run by michele luxenberg whom has a lovely little walk up studio on the west side. 

my partner in crime, loretta

my gorgeous friend betti, who catered dinner for loretta and i (xo)

  the class was titled, text tiles, a play on words.  we created on small pieces on cradled wood.  it consisted of layer upon layer of acrylic paint, manipulating each layer to create amazing texture.  

step one - basecoat

a few steps in - layers upon layers of luscious color and texture

seth demonstrating with gesso how to emboss and deboss

about 7 or 8 layers in

text added to make a statement

and photo opps...michele and seth

BZ with her finished piece.

it was a fun friday night outing! just what this girl needed!  thanks all my art friends, i couldn't survive without you!!!