Home on the Range

Home on the Range

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

Stocking up on my favorite aspects of home. Appreciating cows, California, Spring. Talking about art over breakfast. A last look at the Girl and her Pearl at the de Young. Men and women looking at Superman. And a last visit to SF MOMA yesterday with a friend and the most interesting assortment of museum goers ever. 

Grazing

Grazing

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

Friday afternoon I went searching for pastures full of cows. I get nostalgic seeing them meandering through the California landscape. My childhood featured weekend walks in Sonoma with my father. We often came across cows grazing on neighboring properties across which we trespassed. He thought nothing of climbing through barbed wire fences and we got lost more than once. That was the way he lived. Venturing beyond the known and risking getting lost, managing to emerge unscathed and enlivened by the experience. I just tagged along for the ride. 

Man and Martin at MOMA

Man and Martin at MOMA

Oil on Wood

10"X10"

 This man is mulling over Agnes Martin's "Falling Blue" at SF MOMA. I am going to have to go spend some time soaking it all in next week before the museum closes for renovation June 2. They say humans like change. I must not be human because I like things just the way they are.  Maybe I am a dog. 

The Things We Save - Grannie's Crystal Cake Platter

The Things We Save - Grannie's Crystal Cake Platter

Oil on Masonite

8"X10"

This is the large crystal platter, the mere sight of which makes my mouth water for the rich, sweet, creamy crunch of the Porcupine Cakes it has housed.  Even in the dark, it sparkles with the light of many birthday candles and even more celebrations of Life.

As promised to many of you who asked, here is the Porcupine Cake recipe I learned to make standing by Grannie's side.

Buy soft Lady Fingers. Maybe 4 packages, depending on size cake you want to make.

Make some strong coffee.

Break out the rum.

Make French Coffee Icing (Recipe to follow)

Build the cake:

Layer of Lady fingers, opened up. 

Spoon on a little coffee and rum onto each lady. 

Put another layer of ladys (opened up).

Thin layer of icing

Put another layer of ladys (opened up).

Spoon on a little coffee and rum onto each lady. 

Two or three more layers.

Then frost all around.

Then stick almond slices all over the cake, leaving one end for a face. Use raisins or whatever strikes your fancy for eyes

and mouth.

French Coffee Icing:

Sift 1 2/3 cups confectioner's sugar

Beat until soft 1/2 cup butter

Add these ingredients gradually. Blend until they are creamy.

Add: 1/8 teaspoon salt

3 Tablespoons strong HOT coffee

Beat for 2 minutes.

When icing is cool, add 

1 teaspoon rum.

Beat well.

Spread.

It is very rich. All that butter and sugar. Small slices suffice.

Time Out from Grazing

Time Out from Grazing

Oil on Wood

10"X22"

It's always a good idea to pay attention who's in your pasture. 

The Things We Save - Grannie's Crystal Cup and Saucer

The Things We Save - Grannie's Crystal Cup 

and Saucer

Oil on Masonite

10"X8"

If Grannie only knew how often I think of her. How her crystal sparks memories. Special recipes recreated in the New World, served in her small kitchen. The unspoken sadness of what was lost mingled with the comfort of a family gathering. 

If she only knew I still make her porcupine cake and serve it on her crystal platter. Life goes on. And with it all the seemingly insignificant past that gets played again for the next generation. Nothing is lost.

Meeting House

Meeting House 

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

In the wake of Mother's Day I am feeling deeply grateful and at the very same time, full of longing. Missing my mother and missing mothering my children. Missing having family all around. Memories surface like reflections on a window.  There and not there. Gone, but forever the best part of who I am.
Madeline Levine's Opinion piece in Sunday's New York Times, "After the Children Have Grown" says it all. Beautifully.

Catching a Glimpse of Superman

Catching a Glimpse of Superman

Oil on Masonite

10"X8"

I took myself to the DeYoung Museum this afternoon for a little people-watching-Superman-watching. That would be Mel Ramos', Superman. Never fails to lift my spirits. 

I've done it before and I will do it again. 

See prior Superman watcher paintings here.

Never gets old.

Crowd Sourcing

Crowd Sourcing

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

The Things We Save - Grannie's Crystal Platter

The Things We Save - Grannie's Crystal Platter

Oil on Masonite

8"X10"

"The Things We Save" series continues, along with thoughts of my grandparents, parents, and all the others who have vanished from view. Memory of them is sparked by an inner thought, a certain phrase, or a fleeting moment that we might have shared. It's as if they are right in my midst. Buried deep inside my soul, alive and part of all that I am. People worry about being forgotten. Don't they know that the ones you love will carry you with them to the end of their days?

Summer is on the horizon, and I have been turning my attention to Maine. 

I am very pleased to report that Gleason Fine Art, in Maine, will now be exhibiting my work. My paintings will be included in their wonderful collection of coastal art in their Boothbay Harbor gallery. A selection of my paintings will also be shown this summer at Islesford Dock Gallery, on Little Cranberry Island, Maine.

And I am delighted that I have been chosen for another national juried exhibition sponsored by Still Point Art Gallery. This one is called "Still Point V." 30 Artists were selected. The exhibition is online and one of my paintings will be published in the Summer Issue of the "Still Point Arts Quarterly", available June 1. I highly recommend subscribing to the Quarterly. It is a treasure trove of beautiful art and writing.