Preparing for the Wilton, CT show American Artisan Show

What I have been doing! 

I have so much going on in my life.  I wish that I could say it was all wonderful, but it's all about perspective, isn't it?  Sometimes what we look at as a challenge or a weight, may be used to make us stronger.  You can't push a good man or woman down, they just keep getting stronger!  That is what I tell myself as I endeavor to do what I love.  What the heck am I talking about, I am talking about the challenges of overcoming illness.  We can all relate to it, I am sure.  I have been traveling back and forth to California where I have been seeking treatment and I feel it's working.  Everyday is a test, am I going to trust God??  Yes.  I am.  So unto the painting and the making of art!  This paragraph is mainly to let you know that I have been busy, so busy, and that is why I haven't posted much.  I am learning to do pottery, as I mentioned in an earlier post, but I am continuing to do my painting, too.  I am going to be posting a boatload of pictures so hang tight! 

I am going to post backward, meaning I am going to write about things as I have done them from the present backward.  These things are not for sale until November 1, 2018.  They will ALL be at the Wilton Historical Society's American Artisan show.  

There are NEW SHOW days for this event, and they are starting on a Thursday evening this time.  (This is instead of their traditional Friday opening).  The event is held on their grounds 224 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut.  The preview party is Thursday Evening, the 1st.  It is $125 to attend, but it is a fabulous fundraiser for them.  It's all about meeting their year end needs in order to keep this wonderful place going.  Come on out and be the first to see all the wonderful stuff.  Painters, potters, furniture makers, carvers, weavers, floorcloths, cabinets, treen ware, you name it. 

I had my own card made up!  It's always fun choosing which painting that I want to highlight.  I picked one with warm browns!  I am into brown at the time.  And blue.  Well and green.  Whatever.  I love all color.  

Let me know if you want a card.  I have maybe a dozen left, if that.  Now unto all the art that has been in the making.  Even though I have been a bit distracted with it all, I have managed to get a lot done.  Right now I am working on the snow scene for Wilton.  Snow scenes are always a favorite and they generally sell.  I don't paint as many of them and they are truly one of a kind pieces down to the frame. 

I always have a red house.  I don't know why, I live in a white house, but red is just THE COLOR for the Holiday season! 

Ignore the wire.  

This is the barn!  I love the looks of the mountain and the naked tree.  All that snow!  Bring it on! 

It looks sort of mysterious.  Wait to there are children playing, though, and sleighs and horses!  It will all come together, I promise.  

The frame! 

Many of you know that I have started to learn pottery.  This is a one of a kind piece.  I have ONE.  I am going to bring it.  It is a nice size, too, and it turned out very well (with some help.). LOL 

I love these round guys.  This is a happy colorful piece! 

This may look a little bright, for me, but they aren't finished.  I am going to have a bunch of these fun updated fraktur type pen and ink pieces.  I know it doesn't look like my work, but it is, and they are cool. 

This photographed dark but it looks really nice in person. 

Thats better!  It shows all the color.  My house is either too bright or too dark.  Can anyone relate.  It's either too hot or too cold.  Now I am sounding rather goldilocks like. 

The birdseye frame on this is fabulous.  I hit the goldmine for maple recently.  I bet I have five right now! 

These are really fun, there are actually four of them. 

Although this is painted on board, it will be behind glass.  It's about washing your hair with fish water...yum. 

I had this last year, but I am bringing it again.  I don't mind if it doesn't sell.  I have plenty of walls. 

I love this one.  I have another idea for a large whale, but don't have it started yet.  It's in my head for right now! 

Jonah.  He's been swallowed. 

The only mermaid. (so far). 

There's a lot of interest in this bottom piece. 

These turned out well.  I love them.  I will be happy to keep them, too.  I have a place for both.  Nevertheless, they are coming. 

I haven't decided how I will frame this yet.  For now, it's in a black frame (not pictured) but I don't love it.  It will be reframed.

I have a lot of pottery (well a lot for me).  Having said that, there isn't a lot.  It's all one of a kind.  

Here are some lights that I have made. 

I have more pottery, but for now, this shot will have to do.    I haven't decided if I am going to outright sell them or take an order on the lamps.  I am waiting on shades to arrive and the lamp cap (which I turned) to be fired.  

That's it for now.  I will have more.  I hope that you can make it to my show! 

Thanks or looking. 

Kolene Spicher 

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A Ship Scene

The Star 

Today, I thought I'd talk a little about ships.  Over the years, I have painted many of them, too numerous to number!  

I really loved all the blue on this piece.  Blue is really a strong color right now, and I love to incorporate it into artwork.  This painting really shows off a number of the 'blues.' 

As I was painting this, I added some stars across the top of the sky,  It seemed like that time of the day when light and dark are parting, one will take over the other.  Is it almost night or is it nearly morning?  You can decide. 

In this above shot, you can see how I added some additional ships.  There can be only one STAR, though, and my big ship is that Star that shines in this piece. 

This would be a nice piece for over a sofa or mantle.  It is what I'd call a large painting.  The sailboat over the buffet is really huge.  I seldom paint that BIG unless I have a customer in mind. 

In this shot, you can see that we sometimes at Spicher and Co, print seascapes on our Vintage Vinyl.  They make a great doormat or dog mat!  Message me if you want to buy one.  Here's another... 

The ship at the top has not been scanned or printed yet.  It is not for sale yet, either.  There is still some work to be done on it and it is being painted for the Wilton Show which takes place in November, 2017, Wilton, CT.  Here's a link for that show.  Let me know if you want tickets! 

http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/american-artisan-show/

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Rufus Porter Styled Primitive Landscape by Kolene Spicher

Solitude 

This photographed a bit darker than original

I love to paint in this genre'.  To me, it is fun and whimsical and so unlike everything else that is out there.  I love the individual characteristics that this painting --not only with the surface but also with the colors and tones. It is acrylic paint on my "RETRIEVED WALLPAPER" surface.  You can check out my other posts.  I have many paintings on this surface that I invented to create that primitive antique look  (THAT I LOVE).

Solitude 

I have named this painting Solitude because there is only one person painted into the landscape.  Although, we are never alone, sometimes we discover things about life and beauty when we take the time to walk outside and enjoy creation.  There's nobody to talk to, leaving us to appreciate the beauty of nature.  

This is painted the exact same size as the train landscape that I just posted!  They will be framed the same, too!  

These and all others will be taken to my show in Wilton, Connecticut.  

http://www.wiltonhistorical.org/americanartisanshow.html

If you get the chance and happen to live in or near NEW YORK CITY, why not take your Saturday and head to Wilton for a day trip?  There are two shows going on simultaneously.  The other is in Ridgefield, CT and is fabulous, too! 

Enjoy and thanks for looking! 

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Step 2 of Winter Scape painting by Kolene Spicher

 Gathering for the Christmas Day Parade

Step 2 of "Winter Scene" for the Wilton Historical's American Artisan Show - November 6-8, 2015

Americanartisanshow.com

After i painted in the houses, I moved to the sleigh

Everyone likes a good parade!  This painting will pull you into the world of make-believe.  You can't help but wonder where the people came from, did they come from one of the houses?  I couldn't help but put the ladies in the back seat of the sleigh.  When we go out with another couple, I always find myself in the back seat with a good friend.  I prefer it.  We can talk and laugh and have the same things in common.  

I love the little girls dressed in blue and pink.  There's a good dad for you, too, taking them to the parade! 

I love the little sled beside the right tree.  

The medium on this piece is acrylic on my special hand-made canvas.  The crackles that are created by my 'process' create a unique one of a kind look.  

I  like this little tree in the forefront.  Why?  Well, it suggests that they care enough to plant trees.  If a tree passes, it is transformed (hopefully) into something useful.  It will need replaced.  To me it speaks of new beginnings. 

Gathering for the Christmas Day Parade 

I think the mermaids are a good addition.  Truthfully, I started off with just 'people' but then thought, NO, I need some fish.  How about the two best friends right center? 

Love the steeple 

All good landscapes need a church and a steeple.  Imagine the bells ringing.  I always though that Paintings are  like adult storybooks.  Think about it! 

This is a beautiful example of an antique victorian frame.  I really love the details on this frame.  It is in sturdy good condition, too, and comes complete with a wonderful piece of wavy glass!  I think I will need to mat this, as it is a tad small (the painting).  White or black mat? 

Thanks so much for looking 

Goodbye for now! 

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Step 1 of Winter Scape painting by Kolene Spicher

The Development of a Winter Scene Painting 

(If you live in the Wilton, Connecticut area, this painting is being developed for a show at the Wilton Historical Society on November 6-8, 2015 ~ read about it at www.americanartisanshow.com)

**There are two shows going on simultaneous to one another this November 6-8, 2015 weekend.  They are both in the same genre and share the same collector base.  I am at the show affiliated with the WILTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY on Danbury Road, Wilton CT.  This is their 30th year.  

I don't have any real direction for this painting as of yet.  It will end up falling into a category that might be in-between my mermaid scenes and that Rufus Porter look.  I cannot decide if I will include mermaids or just have it about people.  I don't have any clear cut direction as of yet!  I am just painting.  This is day 2.  

I painted in a few people in the background! 

The houses get larger as they come to the forefront.  I happen to really love the contrast of red houses with snowfall. 

I always paint from top to bottom and back to front! 

Today, I plan on sketching in and painting the sleigh.  I always have a sleigh.  Normally, I have ice skaters, too.  We shall see!  Tune back tomorrow to see the unfolding of this piece! 

Although you might not realize it, This is a larger painting.  I am not sure that this translates in the photographs.  LOTS MORE TO DO! 

ENJOY!

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Kolene Spicher Whimsical Landscape Original

Folk Stage

Dancing with the Stars! 

I am taking this to the American Artisan Show in Wilton Connecticut November 6-8, 2015.  You can read about it at wiltonhistorical.org

I have had this done for a little while but have kept forgetting to blog about it!  This is a really sweet original that has some considerable size to it!  I found this wonderful warm pine frame and thought that it would be fun to paint a  festive landscape inside of it.  This particular piece has the feel of some of my older work but it is fun and has a lightness to it that my previous landscapes (that were whimsical) did not have.  I don't know if that makes sense.  That's how I see it!

The stars and the characters dancing remind me of the show (tongue in cheek) DANCING WITH THE STARS.  The sky is dark and the moon shines, the stars peak thru the clouds!  These people are truly dancing with the stars.

THE folky writing is really fun and carefree 

I would have to say that the grass photographed a tad brighter than the original.  I love the guy with the harmonica.  The black tree against the green grass really stands out.  

The girl in the green dress is singing, too.  That is one reason that I have Folk Stage worked into the title of the piece.  

I really took my time with the house.  I wanted it to be a little more plumb and exact than some of my previous art!  My dad always likes to tease me that my buildings lean.  He is a retired builder!  It isn't about painting the same style over and over, it's about learning new styles and learning new techniques.  

This is a bit dark, but here it is over my kitchen mantle!  

It reads FOLK STAGE, DANCING WITH THE STARS! 

Here it is in its entirety!  This is behind glass and was painted with acrylic paint!  

Thanks for looking!  

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