Winter Scene for Nantucket Country

The Winter Solstice 

MOONLIGHT Over New Fallen Snow

It was a moonlit night and the air was cold and thin.   The evening was alive with the sounds of children playing in the new fallen snow.  Some of the kids were on the pond skating and laughing in the moonlight, as if they hadn't a care in the world...  The day was over before it even began or so it seemed, for it was the winter solstice.  The shortest day of the year!  It had come and now was quickly going as the moments ticked by and this painter quickly captured the moment.  If only I could paint the smell of the pine and the freshness that is felt in the air.  If only I could catch on paper the sounds of joy and innocence as the children played.  The air felt slightly damp but fresh,  it was almost as if the snow had cleaned the sky.  The night was as clear as I have ever remembered.  The air was so crisp with cold that this painter almost went inside.  These were the good years when people were entertained by what was free.  These are my memories but only much romanticized.

Blurry but sweet.

I really loved this painting.  One of my favorite childhood things to do beside playing dolls was playing outside in the snow.  I loved playing in the leaves, too (and the mud-lol).  I wish this picture was clearer but I broke one of my own rules, I shipped it to a customer without taking good pictures.

I suppose there is a scan somewhere at Spicher and Co., but who wants to wait for that?!!

I love the moon peaking thru the trees.  Painting moons is a new thing for me to do.  I don't know why, but all of the sudden I am interested in the moon.  I think I put a moon in about a half a dozen paintings this last year.  I am going to see if I can find them to show you.

Another BLURRY picture 

Part of what makes this painting sweet are the little people that are busy doing what they are doing.  We have the skaters, the snowman makers, and the worker.  There is always a worker.  I often include a laborer in each of my paintings, maybe because that is what we Spichers do best…work.

I hope you enjoy seeing a glimpse of this painting and hearing about what I was thinking as I painted it.  

This was just shipped to Nantucket Country, Nantucket MA.  I feel certain that she has it in her store and on her website if you are interested in buying it.  Just google NANTUCKET COUNTRY.   I have this painting featured in a 1880s deep walnut frame with a gold liner.  It is painted on paper and behind glass.  It is a one-of-a-kind original done with love!

ENJOY! 

http://www.nantucketcountryantiques.com/antiq/category_client.php?category_id=83

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Whale Ship Essex

What Should we do!!

November 20, 1820

Trust me!  If you were on this little whaler (small boat with sail), you would be asking the same question.  

This Painting will be shipped  Monday to Nantucket Country, Nantucket, MA. 

Recently, I read a little about the whale ship Essex.  I have never been able to get thru the book MOBY DICK, so I felt it was  high time to at least read a few lines about this famous ship to see what all the hype is and was about.  I found the little "reader's digest" version (actually Wikipedia)  to be very entertaining.

Here's what I found over the internet.  The whale that rammed the boat ESSEX, actually struck it two times, the second time being the fatal blow. This ship sunk so fast, that it made their eyes swim…literally.  There were some eye witness accounts  that said  the whale was actually about 85-feet long.  This is at least 20-feet longer than these guys were known to grow.  The sailor's reference point for this fact was the Essex Ship, itself.  Apparently, the whale after hitting it the first time, sort of parked itself directly beside the ship but under the water. He was quite obviously stunned from the blow.  Because it was so close to the surface, it was clearly seen.  It was said that the whale from head to toe was as long as the essex which was nearly 90-feet in length.  

The captain ordered the men NOT TO HARPOON it. Why would he do this?  Well, it was mainly due to the fact that he believed the whale to be too close to the ship's hull and that it would possibly hit the ship again in reaction to the harpooning.  Obviously, he made the wrong call.  

They were all in disbelief as the whale swam away only to return with a speed of 20-25 knots.  His blow proved to be more than this ship could handle.  Most of the men met a watery grave.  There were some survivors, though, witnesses that escaped in the whale boats that were onboard the ship.  

Here you can see that the whale is nearly as long as the ship. 

Special time was spent on the water.  I wanted the whale to have a a prominence without actually being  on top of the water, as I usually depict the whales.  This painting has a lot of blue in it.  Having said that, this painting is totally Nantucket.  Nantucket has all the warm pine floors and beams and nautical pieces that will compliment this painting and bring  in the warm tones that will totally balance it.  The houses on Nantucket with their shake cedar siding and roof tops are AMAZING! Thought went into the piece to compliment the tale long ago without presenting anything that was clearly incorrect.  I am sure that there will be that one person that will prove me wrong.  Go for it.  

Today, before I pass this painting off to the next person, I present to you this piece in its entirety.  While you are looking at Nantucket Country's website, check out all the other paintings of mine that she has in stock.  If you want my original work, this is a good place to find it because I do not do a lot of retail shows.  The show in Bedminster, PA (I blogged about it last week), is the only retail outlet I do.  Nantucket Country's gallery presents an avenue where collectors can do what they do…collect.  

Thanks for looking!  

Enjoy! 

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Nantucket Fourth of July Painting

The Mermaid's Nantucket Parade

It was an amazing time! 

This painting is for sale thru Nantucket Country, Nantucket, Massachusetts 

Cotuit is the narrow strip of land that runs along side of
the mainland at Nantucket Harbor 

It's been a few days since I have posted.   I decided to go on a vacation, whata ya know!  So this is a painting that I just finished as of June 2014.  It's current, as they say!  Because the subject matter is about the 4th, I knew that it had to look patriotic.  Mermaid's Toggery is a play on Murray's Toggery which is a store in downtown Nantucket.  The cobblestones still exist on this faraway island and are part of its quaint charm! 

I put a lot of thought into my paintings and love when you have to take a good 10 minutes to absorb all the funny details.  I really loved the Heaven Swing idea.  If you look carefully at the top of the swing, you will see some 'heavenly' arms holding the ropes along with his hat falling from the 'holy' clouds.

  

I also love the hollow whale ride (see below).  When I was a little girl, they used to make some amazing floats in our downtown Carlisle, Pa parades.  Maybe it was because I was young, and everything looked amazing back then. 

Fire bucket compliments of Cotuit! 

The hollow whale has an interesting looking sailor inside its mouth.  Check out his 'clown' foot! 

Mermaid Toggery sells Whatever Floats! 

I think wherever there are mermaids, you have to have a little water.  I love the sweet face of the mermaid with the bucket of water! 

The ticked off looking mermaid is holding a sparkler

Look at the sheen on the whale, the bumps are crackled like an old painting
the finish is Encaustic over Acrylic. 

I can paint more serious if I want to, but let's face it.  There are plenty of serious looking paintings out there, and  I feel my whimsical mermaids meet a niche in the market that is needed!  We all need to smile a little.   I am fairly certain that this painting is going to be in the main storefront window of Nantucket Country this July 4th weekend.  Nantucket Country will have this framed in an antique frame.  Sometimes its tiger maple or birds-eye maple, and other times its a cherry frame or a walnut with a gold leaf liner.  One thing is for sure, her frames are amazing and they are genuine antiques.  

Thanks for looking and happy holiday week!  We are blessed to live in the USA!!! 

Enjoy!

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A Mermaid's Adventure!

Free rides to Coatue ~ A mermaid's adventure aboard a sailor's boat on Nantucket! 

**Update-original available thru Nantucket Country ~ an upscale design source on Nantucket, MA

There are few places that hold the specialness in my heart that Nantucket does.  I was married 26 years ago and spent my honeymoon there.  Since then, I have had the privilege to paint for a gallery that is located in its heart, Centre Street, right down from Jared Coffin.  I have painted for Nantucket Country for nearly 20 years.  It's been a great ride, too!

Look at her little hand playing in the sand

When I paint, I try to think about the person I am illustrating.  What are they doing and thinking?  What would I be doing and thinking?  You guessed it, my hand would instinctively go down to run my fingers in the sand.  I might even have a little smirk while doing it, too!  I am one of 6 girls and was the baby (almost).  I had a lot of spankings.  haha.

Look at this guy, he looks nervous. 

 think the real problem is that he is the only one doing any of the work, "Geesh, these gals are heavier than they look!" 

Free Rides to Coatue

In case you didn't guess it, Coatue is located in Nantucket. It is an area that is made of sand and is long and thin.  It is right at the Nantucket Harbor and runs along the length of the island stopping at Wauwinet, where it becomes attached to the great island of Nantucket.   

This painting had the best patina on it.  It was full of cracks that don't always look this great.  I JUST LOVED THIS :0)  It's sold and long gone.  I just wanted to write about it today because I found some pictures. 

Have a blessed day! 

Kolene 

Ps, the print may be available thru Spicher and Co., if you are interested drop me a note.  It comes in various sizes and price ranges.  

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