READING AT THE BEACH (BEGINNING)

I began this painting yesterday.  I like the way it looks right now as the woman seems to be working her way into the scene with her glasses and hat, while the boy is engrossed in his book.  I am looking forward to the texture of the sand and the texture of her bathing suit which has little dots, but for now the flatness really appeals to me.  I am going to make a coloring book for sure for my 2 year old granddaughter.  It may not be what the art world would deem a proper introduction to creating 'art', but I had so much fun with coloring books when I was growing up that I have to give her the same experience.

SELF REFLECTION

This is a rather strange painting, I admit.  I have been fascinated by this image for a couple of years.  It is one of me reflected in the window of an antique shop.  I am wearing my folding sun hat, which is rather odd, but handy, sun glasses, and I am peering so intently at....what, myself?  The crooked window frame and the odd shapes of the antiques (looks like an old coffee grinder to me) complete the scenario.  I feel there is a story here that I haven't figured out yet.

SELF REFLECTION

Nancy Herman

9' x 12"

oil on canvas board

$250.00

Love on the Beach

Going back to the seashore in my mind and my heart brings back all the memories of past years there.  The teen years were especially memorable with all that longing.  What was it all about?  At the time it seemed to be centered on the oposite sex but it was more than that I think.  A longing to be accepted, to be a part of something bigger than the family or maybe longing is simply built in to being a teenager.  We loose the unselfconscious joy-hood that childhood can be and don't have any skills to master the great chore of adulthood.  We want to have sex for sure but have no idea what the ramifications of sex will be and certainly don't want to be parents.  It is truly a period between a rock and a hard place.
Life guards are always a focus of a young girl's heart.  The beach is a hunting ground.  Bodies are exposed and on parade.

LIFEGUARD STAND

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

SOLD

WALKERS PASSING

6" x 8" 

oil on ccanvas board

SOLD

THE KISS

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

SOLD

TOMATOES

Back to the reality of life at home.  It has been a glorious summer in my garden.  Plenty of rain and, with the exception of a very persistent band of Japanese Beatles, no series bugs.  I have been adding fresh vegetables to my salad every day.  This is for me one of the joys of daily life in the summer.  Planting, harvesting and eating my own food.  It gives me a good reason to enjoy nature, watch things grow and feel that I am doing something good for myself every day.  The flowers encourage bees and butterflies, both in need of unpolluted nectar, and they are a joy every day to anyone who loves color as I do.  Tomatoes from the supermarket are a sad version of the real thing.  I had my first large tomato from the garden yesterday and it was fabulous.  The small golden ones have been flavoring my salads for weeks with their bursts of sugar.  Hooray for summer!

TOMATOES

Nancy Herman

9" x 12"

oil on canvas board

$250.00

Kids at the beach

Who hasn't thrilled at the prospect of a week or two at the beach when you were young?  At any age making sand castles is fun and a morning swim in the ocean is an ecstatic experience. i am revisiting paintings from the shore to get ready for my next visit.  Half the fun of a vacation is anticipation.

DIGGING

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

SOLD

MORNING SWIM

6" x 8"

oil on canvas

SOLD

BEACH IN THE MORNING

First thing in the morning it's onto the beach for a stroll.  As the sun comes up there is often noone there but you and the seagulls.  

RISING SUN

6' x 8"

oil on canvas board

sold

SEA GULL

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

sold

Ocean City Houses

One of the things I like about Ocean City is the sidewalks.  You can walk anywhere on a sidewalk, unlike many seaside places where there may be more spaces between homes but very often you end up walking along a highway to get anywhere.  Everything is very civilized in Ocean City - some would say too civilized as there is no alcohol allowed.  The housing stock says "seashore" to me and I love it.  Here are two paintings of those houses including one of Grace Kelly's home at the shore when she was young.

GRACE'S HOUSE

16" x 16"

oil on stretched canvas

WALL SHADOW

16" x 16'

oil on streched canvas