19th Century Reproduction Whale in Gold Oval Ornate frame and Whaling Ceramics by Kolene Spicher Pennsylvania Artist

Happy Whale with Happy Tail and

Whaling Ceramics! 

I decided today that I would post my whaling art along with my ceramics that I made to compliment my latest whale painting.  The painting is a one of a kind original in an old yummy distressed antique frame.  

The artwork speaks for itself.  All is painted with love and is UNRUSHED.  I want to enjoy my work.  I want people to feel the love that goes into what I make :) 

I made this a square cup.  It was deliberate and on purpose and I bravely took two  books and smashed the four corners.  I don't even know if that is correct.  But it's KORRECT Kolene.  

I will always love silhouettes. 

You can't see it because this is unbisqued, but the ship sails will be white and in between grey/tan.  

The Whalers! 

I haven't done it yet, but I intend to clean up that handle.  See Handles are my nemesis.  I couldn't even spell this word.  I Had to look the spelling up, but the definition remains accurate.  I struggle with handles.  I will conqueror them.  They can't be harder than _____.  

Big fat handle you will fire perfect!!! You will appear thin and be strong.  LOL

Pottery is fun.  You have to be brave to do anything exceptional.  I am trying to be brave and think out of the box.  Give me time.  

K. Spicher 

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Let's Celebrate - a snow scene by Pennsylvania Artist Kolene Spicher

Let's Celebrate 

Over the River and Thru the woods 

I know its winter outside, but would someone please tell the weatherman to act right.  It's like 70 and its February.  I went ahead and painted a winter scene (I started it a few weeks ago), but

it's just plain balmy out.  It doesn't feel right. 

This was an order.  

If you are interested in owning a snow scene from me, just message me!  It's that easy. 

Look at that man warming his hands, I hope he doesn't fall into the fire! 

The frame is so very cool.  It came from the Amish.  Here this 80 year old man named Rufus seems to enjoy cutting barns down and recycling the wood.  He even signs some of his frames.  This frame came with a back that had a name written in ballpoint ink, maybe it's the barn this wood came from. 

Is this Grandma? 

I am trying to keep things light, happy, and bright.  This is a winter scene that is about celebrating.  Maybe I feel like being happy because I had some surgery in December and it went well and is all behind me.  I started this right after coming home from the hospital.  What fun. not. but I am thankful.

I don't know if that is grandma, but that is ME down there holding the pumpkin. 

This painting is sort of Grandma Moses like.  There's that word again...grandma. As you can see, I am into polka dots at the moment.  

This gives you an idea of the scale.  Do you like that Cabinet?  That was my dear sweet mother's! 

Thanks for looking today. 

Enjoy 

www.spicherandco.com

If you are interested in seeing more, go to this link! 

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Holiday Style Whaling Scene by Pennsylvania Folk Artist Kolene Spicher

The Visiting Whale 

The Visiting Whale

If Whales could speak, they would tell you how much they love watching and interacting with man.  Each day someone, somewhere goes out in his or her boat, and watches for that proverbial whale's tail flipping across the water.   I love a good whale watch and am delighted to catch even a partial site of one.  

I had a request for a painting with a whale, some mermaids, and a few skaters.  While I have painted this combination before, each time it turns out a little differently from the last.  

I decided to paint this with a feathered edge, it looks wonderfully vintage and the surface has some wrinkles and cracks.  

I love the guy with the striped shirt!  He's fun and carefree and has really big feet, lol. 

Then there's the fun red house, hey, you have to have that house in there, every time.  It makes my painting look 'lived' in!  

There she is!  In her entirety, you get the feeling of a cold night and you think HOLIDAYS.  

I have a few more to do and will be posting soon.  

Happy Thanksgiving! 

2017 

Enjoy! 

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Large Black Swan Painting by Pennsylvania Artist Kolene Spicher

Wait for me 

Wait for me is a painting about a family going for a ride on a black swan!  Total Whimsey! 

Having had 5 sisters, it wasn't uncommon on a Sunday morning or Friday night to hear, "Wait for me!" 

"I want to come, too!" 

That is what this is about.  I love the big fluffy clouds and bright white Ticket House! 

ME

I decided to paint ME in the picture...again.  It is becoming a new trend!  Maybe not. 

Mom started out as 'sister', but then I  quickly decided she looked more like 'mother'.  I think the little girl, named Sister, looks quite patriotic in her blue dress with red shoes and American flag.  Lots of flags always make me feel free and happy. 

Wait for me! 

You can never have too many ships, I think.  I might even add to this painting after a bit.  I am working on it for Wilton.

The frame you see pictured is an 1850s LEMON GOLD frame, New England. 

Here she is!  She's full of whimsy and fun.  If you live in New England around Wilton,  Connecticut, I am working on this piece and others for a show that is held at the Wilton Historical Society on Friday evening...   This is a fund raiser (the opening night) so the ticket price is a bit more than usual. However, you can come on Saturday and Sunday and it's much less.  Read about it here! 

http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/american-artisan-show/american-artisan-show-2016-artisans/http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/american-artisan-show/american-artisan-show-2016-artisans/

Enjoy! 

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Kolene Spicher Custom Teacup collection for Spicher and Co

Blue and White Teacups 

Spicher and Co 

High Point Market, 2017 

First of all, I apologize in advance for the poor photos you are about to look at.  Just imagine them not blurry, LOL. 

I wanted to post for all my wholesale customers with gift shops or for my designers that buy thru Spicher and Co. 

Each teacup is painted in shades of blue and white.  They are each different and vibrant and pretty in their own way.  

I feel that these could go in a lot of rooms, but think bedroom or maybe kitchen or living room.

I think the pictures speak for themselves.  I really enjoyed painting these and started them awhile ago.  I paint a little here and there till it's finished!  

I think a black frame would be lovely.  

Decorate your home with TEACUPS by Kolene Spicher. 

Available after October, 2017.  

Enjoy. Teacups for Spicher and Co

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Custom seascape by Pennsylvania Artist Kolene Spicher

My Heart's Always Home 

Day Dawns Beyond the Atlantic Sea! 

Sea Shells are gently applied  beneath glass.

Imagine this, you own the red house in the above picture!  Each morning you watch the tall ships go out somewhere unbeknown to you, what a sight!   Of course my artwork would be hanging in your house along the sea, too.  Stop and think about that!

The Large DioRama was created by an elderly gentleman captain from Maryland around 1880
THE PRIDE OF BALTIMORE 

I really enjoy creating reproductions that blend well with good antiques.  Today I present  Day Dawns Beyond the Atlantic. 

The Shells were collected by myself and found mostly along the Atlantic in New Jersey Specifically.  Finding the shells are 1/2 of the fun.  

I haven't decided if the frame needs any work, but I happen to think that it might be good just as it is! It will need modified, however, to receive the painting with the shells because the shells add a surface that is not entirely flat. The glass would be in the way.  

I spend some time over the summer at the Chesapeake bay and take a lot of photos.  I think this painting sort of reminds me of the bay area.  

I love it hanging with my mermaid seashell painting.  You can read about this at
http://kolenespicher.blogspot.com/2017/05/mermaid-seashell-creation.html

This painting and the others presented here are part of my collection that will be shown at the Wilton Historical Society's upcoming 2017 show held the first weekend of November 3-5, 2017  

Here's the link!

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

If you want a card to this show, PM me! 

ENJOY. Wilton Historical Show, The Original!

Kolene Spicher 

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What goes into a custom piece like a mermaid

The Black Pearl 

I am working on a custom piece for a couple.  This is the painting that they referenced.  I thought today's post could be about what is involved in making a "Custom" painting.  

The first step is to find a frame.  In this situation, the couple is looking for a 'beachy' frame.  What is a beachy frame?  It's a frame that would go well with beach decor!  They are usually white, black, or natural.  

We immediately thought of black.  We have  at  (Spicher and Co.) a simple black moulding that we often will frame nautical pieces in. I have framed original art in this moulding and it looks fab.    In the photo below, it is featuring a folk landscape but imagine a mermaid... 

We also could go white.  In this next picture, you will see a beautiful chipped up white frame that screams beach. 

The scale is wrong on this, but we could have it cut to fit. 

LOOK

This leads me to my next step, choosing a size.  

My suggestion  for mermaids would be to go with something that is 18x24, and this would be painted on paper.  The frame would add even more size to this piece.  The frame is a big part of the art! 

Here are the colors! 

Correct color pallet

The actual black pearl painting is below.  The room is dark that this was photographed in so the colors are sort of muted and dull in the reference piece.  

Colors not accurate

I love this ocean.  Oceans can really reflect many different colors.  We can go dark sea or light.  Check this out! 

Beginning stages of seascape with whales (top)

This is what we start with!  I go bright and each layer subdues and enriches the next.  Till I am done with this, the colors will be wonderfully muted like this mermaid! 

Really, that is the process.  Frame first, which determines the size, and then subject matter, and finally color.  

All you have to do is message me!  

Enjoy. 

Thanks for looking. 

Kolene E. Spicher 

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