SQUASH

SQUASH

Nancy Herman

oil on canvas board

6" x 8"

The sunny squash nestles sexily into its oh so round green bucket as a basket recedes into the background.  A lot of visual excitement in this outdoor market.

SOLD

CITY CORNERS

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

Back from my vacation and all set for a new focus for my paintings.  I want to move into small spaces and try and capture their power.  Around the corner, across the street, up in the air and into the crevices there are expressions of life in small glimpses.  Here is my first stab at this idea.  I like the way things line up even though they are all separate buildings.

$125.00

BROOKLYN VICTORIAN #2

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

Although most Victorian homes were painted in earth tones, because of the era's interest in nature, there are a group of homes in San Francisco that are painted in shades of pink and purple.  They are called "Painted Ladies".  In parts of Brooklyn this tradition is exuberantly embraced as in this Ditmas Park beauty.

$125.00

Brooklyn Victorian

Brooklyn Victorian

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

This lovely old Victorian house is only one of the many in Ditmus Park which is part of Flatbush in Brooklyn.  The Ditmas Park Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.  I am collecting paintings of Brooklyn for a show I will be part of there in September.

I love round rooms.  How nice to be almost surrounded by windows!

$125.00

         COLEUS AND PETUNIAS

Nancy Herman

6" x 8

oil on canvas board

Ordinary plants that one sees everyday lining the streets of suburbia or gracing the corporate corridors take on a new vitality when they are unexpectedly paired.  These very prolific dark purple petunias together with sun loving coleus are really perking up my garden this year.

$125.00

CLEOME AND LARKSPUR

Nancy Herman

oil on canvas board

9" x 12"

Today's painting is the one that had me bogged down for so long.  All the intricacies of the Cleome taught me several lessons that I should have learned by this time.  One is not to tackle such a complicated subject in such a small space.  Two, use a separate brush for each color - I am naturally rather parsimonious but the various shades of pink and purple in these petals had me constantly washing my brush and interrupted the flow.   I am off to purchase many brushes of my preferred size.  Three, mix a new batch of colors every day.  The difference between paint that is freshly mixed and a pile that sits for even one day is the difference between happy sailing in a light breeze and sitting in a row boat without an oar.
I was dimly aware of all these things for some time, but it was only after suffering through this painting that simply would not move along that I vowed to act on this awareness.  Nice to know that I am not too old to learn something, even if I am a very slow learner.
I like one of the nicknames for this flower, Grandfather's whiskers.  It could as easily be called Grandmother's whiskers I might add.  The many, many seed pods carried on its long "hairs" makes it a constant uninvited guest in all parts of the garden.

$300.00

I have been bogged down in one painting for the past week.  Don't know why but I couldn't get my brush around it happily.  I finally finished it today and will post when it is dry.  Meanwhile here is some news about a show I am in at the Graver's Lane Gallery.  Hope you can make it.
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs003/1104954455098/archive/1110445809200.html 

Here is a link to REAL ART AT REAL PRICES a wonderful blog from
Sheila Vaughan a painter in England.  I have admired her art work for quite a while.  She keeps trying new things and always has something interesting to say about what she is doing.  As a result we have an internet friendship, though we have never met in person.  In her latest project she is painting a portrait of "60 Women Who Know Something About Me".  You can check out the whole project from the link.  I have sent you the one that I am pretty sure is me.  How grand to be included in such an interesting project by such an accomplished artist who is so many miles away. The internet brings people together because of real interests and enthusiasms in a way that has never been possible before.

NORTH PHILADELPHIA STATION

Nancy Herman

oil on canvas board

8" x 6"

From the Amtrac train window North Philadelphia Station looks as if it is closed for good and I have never been on a train to New York that stopped there.  Upon checking the Amtrak schedule I see you can board twice a day, but there is only one coach seat available for all the dates I checked and that is at 5:57 in the morning.  Coming from New York you can get off there 3 times a day but again only one seat available.  Seems Amtrak doesn't want to stop there.  Checking further I see on Wikipedia that there are around  389 people a year who use the station so I can see why they don't want to stop as a routine, but the schedule would seem to make that inevitable.
Just one of the mysteries of train travel I suppose.
When I was in my early teens I went to New York on the train several times and since we lived in the country my parents picked me up at North Philadelphia Station since it was the closest to our farm.  I remember it as being a very scary place, especially at night, as it was pretty run down, there was hardly anyone who got off the train even then, and it was very poorly lit.  It was refurbished in 1999 and looks like so many places that have been fixed in time, if not fixed for living... like a ghost.  It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

"This just in -  someone was shot near North Philly Station just after noon today.  Maybe it is just as well there is limited access to this spot."

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120705_1_dead_in_shooting_near_North_Philly_train_station.html

$125.00

KITCHEN LIGHT

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

Every morning when I come into my kitchen I am greeted by the particular light pattern of the day.  I get a kick out of this display.  This particular day began with a very cheery arrangement of sun lighting up the cabinets and my sensibilities.

$125.00

Sold

MERION SPRING

Nancy Herman

6" x 8

oil on canvas board

This painting of a lovely property in Merion was created from a neighbor's photo in order to celebrate another neighbor who is moving.  I hope the new residents of this property care as much about gardening.  It is such a joy to see flowers blooming all summer long.  Without knowing who lives in the home where a beautiful garden is kept, you have a warm feeling about the inhabitants.  

SOLD

Riga, Latvia

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

This month the Virtual paintout went to Latvia.  I found this roof top in Riga that was appealing in all its redness.  I wanted to concentrate on the texture of the paint with an emphasis on using several colors in one area.  There were a lot of interesting town squares in Riga with little cafes in the center having outdoor seating.  I wonder how that is now days with all the smelly cars going by.  Our cars allow us to travel around anywhere we want to go with great speed and convenience and then ruin the places we want to visit.

$125.00

SOLD

RAILROAD SHADOWS

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

I am not a fan of traveling, preferring the comfort of home over the lure of exotic places.  I do, however, like a good train trip.  There is something about the whole experience that takes me on a ride that has nothing to do with where I am going.  It is so old fashioned and comforting. Getting into a well appointed seat next to a quiet stranger who minds his or her own business, sitting back and watching the scenery pass by suits me very well.
Trains are really safe too.  I once was on a train on the way to San Francisco that derailed.  I was asleep in my cozy berth and didn't even wake up until I heard the noise of the conductors outside my window and realized we were not moving.  In a few minutes we were off again into the night.
I especially like the look of the old factory buildings that are on the trip from Philadelphia to New York.  They always get my imagination stirred and I plan to paint as many as possible sooner or later.  Here are some shapes and shadows from the tracks near 30th Street Station.


$125.00

Yesterday I took the afternoon off from painting and visited the Graver's Lane Gallery in Chestnut Hill where my old friend Bruce Hoffman is the new Director.  Bruce is the former director of the Snyderman Works Gallery and is one of the people responsible for all the enthusiasm Philadelphia has for craft in Philadelphia.  He was the co-artistic director of Fiber Philadelphia and the curatorial consultant for Outside/Inside the Box, one of the wonderful shows that were a part of that festival of fiber events in the spring of this year.

The Graver's Lane Gallery is a sparkling jewel along this busy, interesting  area of Germantown Avenue and will soon be getting larger as they expand into the space next door.  They have beautiful art of all sorts.  You can see that Bruce's keen eye is at work there.  I brought some small paintings with a summer theme to add to the collection.  Do stop in and see what's going on.  It is worth the trip.

This area of the city is a fun place to visit with lots of great contemporary stores and restaurants.  It has the feel of a small upscale resort town for some reason with lots of busy shoppers and interesting looking stores...and you can pick up a healthy dinner right accross the street at the Weaver's Way Co op !

LARKSPUR 2012

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on cavas board

June is the time when summer really takes over with blooms everywhere and even some vegetables ready for harvest.  I have been eating lettuce from my garden for weeks and some tomatoes will be ready before the month is over.  These are the "salad" days of the year, when all is green and innocent.  Not a hint of the ravages that extreme heat and dryness can bring this year, with rain coming along just in time.  June is really  "bustin out all over".   For me the Larkspur sing nature's song of renewal every year.


$125.00

Peony 2012

Nancy Herman

oil on canvas board

9" x 12"

The Peony is a very complicated flower with a lot going on that at first doesn't make visual sense.  Only after several hours painting this one did I see the order in all the shades of white.
"The peony is named after Paeon (also spelled Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of his pupil; Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower."
Wikipedia
The Greeks seem to have had a lot of fun imagining what their Gods were doing and deciding what and why to name their favorite things.


The image of this painting is slightly cut off on the right side as it doesn't fit in my scanner perfectly.


$300.00

Runner on the River

Nancy Herman

16" x 20"

oil on stretched canvas

On the third day of the Art in the Open event I got there very early in the morning to be sure I would have enough time to finish a painting.  This time I made sure to position myself in the shade for the whole day as the day before, when painting 30th Street Station, I ended up in the sun at noon and had to leave before I wanted to.
This time I wanted to catch the simple joy of being outside along a great expanse of open space that the river provides. City dwellers come from the cavern of tall buildings into the glory of this sun filled open space.  Here is my version of that experience, as a runner and biker move through one of the large bridge supports onto the open path.

The opening for the show of work completed on these days will be next Thursday the 14th of June at the Independence Seaport Museum from 6:00 to 8:00.  Most of the artists will be there with their work. Come along and join the fun.

30th Street Station

Nancy Herman

16" x 20"

Oil on stretched canvas

A couple of weeks ago I was down by the river painting for the Art in the Open event for 3 days.  There were all kinds of wonderful creations made on the banks of the Schuylkill that weekend.  There will be an exhibit of some of the art created then at the Independence Seaport Museum starting on June 15th. This painting was created on the first two days.  It is of 30th Street Station as seen from the banks of the river.  It is larger than my usual painting for Postcards from Merion and it was nice to be able to use larger brushes and take more time to develop the painting.  People were very friendly and everyone seemed to be enjoying the art and the sunshine on these perfect May days.  If you are interested in purchasing this work email me or get in touch with Megan at the Seaport Museum.

JERUSALEM - OLD CITY

Nancy Herman

9" x 12"

oil on canvas board

This month the Virtual Paintout went to Jerusalem and I went along for the ride.  This is one of the most visually interesting places we have gone.  I could have painted dozens of places, but finally settled on this scene from the Old City.  After traveling for what seemed like miles in the dark tunnel created by the old buildings, with all kinds of colorful merchandise on display, I came upon this sunlight exit and the end of my journey.

$200.00

Alium and Butterfly

Nancy Herman

9" x 12"

oil on canvas

Still trying to get the hang of using more paint, I happened upon this smallish butterfly on one of my beautiful Allium and couldn't help but try to capture it on canvas.
My grandfather had a collection of butterflys carefully pinned to velvet and a net ready to catch others.  At the time I was both fascinated and repulsed by the beautiful display.   Now I wonder how that gentle man could have wanted to kill these lovely creatures.  It was all the fad in those days.  We are such a product of our time, whether we know it or not.  Not sure what kind this one is.  It might be a black swallow tail.  Anyone know?

$200.00

FOR-GET-ME-NOTS

Nancy Herman

9" x 12"

oil on canvas board

This spring the garden has been glorious.  Everything is blooming its heart out and the aromas are intoxicating.  For-Get-Me-Nots have, unbidden, taken over large parts of what was once my formal garden.  I don't mind a bit as they have been blooming for weeks and even as they fade have a certain elegance.

This from Wikipedia:


In a German legend, God named all the plants when a tiny unnamed one cried out, "Forget-me-not, O Lord!" God replied, "That shall be your name."

In 15th-century Germany, it was supposed that the wearers of the flower would not be forgotten by their lovers. Legend has it that in medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along the side of a river. He picked a posy of flowers, but because of the weight of his armour he fell into the river. As he was drowning he threw the posy to his loved one and shouted "Forget-me-not." It was often worn by ladies as a sign of faithfulness and enduring love.

$200.00

Today, tomorrow and Sunday I will be on the banks of the Skhuylkill painting all day.  I will be there with 21 other artists who are participating in Art in the Open.  They are creating all kinds of interesting work.  Come on down and celebrate this beautiful weather and watch as the art work imerges.  I would love to see some familiar faces.

POOL IN MAY

Nancy Herman

9" x 12"

oil on canvas board

When I went to see the Van Gogh exhibit I had been feeling for a while that  I was enjoying painting a bit less than I had when I began making these small works.  Brushes were getting too small and I was feeling cramped, so I was very receptive to the exhuberance of the paint and texture of Van Gogh's work.  As a consequence I have been  painting slightly larger ( 9" x 12" instead of 6" x 8") and trying to use lots more paint and move around the canvas freely without drawing anything before I start to paint.  Just diving in.  I am enjoying these paintings much more.  I am not using nearly as much paint as Van Gogh did but perhaps I will work up to that.  Let me know what you think.  Unfortunately the actual dimension of the paint doesn't really show in a reproduction.  That's why you have to go to Museums and art galleries to really see what paintings are all about.

If the video didn't work go here and then down to two versions of the PECO display.

It's Friday and I have not posted any paintings all week although I am back to work.  I am using lots more paint after seeing the Van Gogh show and it takes a long time for these paintings to dry, so I have not been able to scan them in.  Meanwhile I submitted a 30 second video for Peco's Crown Lights display which runs every Friday night.  Not sure if it made it into this Month's group of light shows and have not been able to catch any Friday this month and will not be able to see tonight's lights either, so if you are in Philly look up and see what's showing.  Let me know what you think about the whole thing.  I really love getting your comments.  Here is my entry.

If this video doesn't work go here and then to PECO May.  You will see two versions of the video.

I finally got to see the Van Gogh show at the Philadelphia Museum on Saturday.  Too late to recommend others see it, but not too late to share my impressions and hopefully get yours.

My first impression was that standing in line like cattle for close to 45 minutes is not only tiring but demeaning in a way.  Is that the best way to deal with these big shows?  Could we not be parading around the Museum in a line looking at art instead of being confined to a small space with nothing to do but stare at the back of somebody's head?

By the time I finally got into the gallery my legs were ready for a sit-down.  The space was crowded and my first thought was that I should leave.  What was the use of standing so far away that I could not see the art work?  I got a grip on myself and soldiered on, popping in front of people every now and then to get up close to the paintings which definitely demanded an intimate view.  Even the title of the show suggests that.  As usual there were more people standing in front of paintings that were described in the recorded information supplied by the earphones, so that left much of the art  minimally obscured.  I opted not to listen to the recording as I was there to see and did not want to be distracted.  It is always possible to read about the artist at another time but the physical presence of the art is what I was there for.

And what a presence it is!  How did Van Gogh do it?  Up close, the distance one would assume would be needed to actually paint the work, he could not possibly see the whole work and it is obvious that the whole work was constantly on his mind as the brushstrokes are all orchestrated to design patterns that make the whole composition sing.  Did he have extremely long brushes?  He obviously constantly moved back and forth from near to far as he worked, but still I was amazed at the way the paintings came together from a distance and were so unrecognizable, though fascinating, up close.

 It is no wonder he always needed money, as he must have used entire tubes of paint for each painting. The thickness of the paint and the constant motion the brush strokes display are almost like tapestry, albeit an impossible weave.  I have seen Van Gogh's work many times over the years and yet this show was still a revelation.  One of the haystack paintings brought me to tears.  There was something about the color that was simply sublime.

I only wish it would be possible to see these superb works in a less crowded setting.  I also wish the show did not end in the shop with all the shirts and ashtrays bearing reproductions of the artwork.  I understand the desire to own some part of the art, but it doesn't work.  It is the experience that matters not the cheap imitation you bring home which can only be a reminder of the inability to reproduce magic.

Grape Hyacynths

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

When I was growing up I lived on a farm.  In order to get to my friend's house I had to cross through cow grazing meadows.  This was somewhat hazardous as I had to watch out for cow "paddies" on the way and was never sure how friendly those great beasts were.  One day in early spring I was on my way for a visit when suddenly I saw at least an acre of Grape Hyacynths spreading before me.  The cow paddies had turned into a glorious show of indigo.  Like Wordsworth and his dafodils I will never forget that experience and often summon it up when "in vacant or in pensive mood" to bring joy to my spirit.

$125.00

WAITING

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas

On the one rainy day last week I painted this station in Gdansk, Poland for the virtual paintout for April using Google maps.  I am making some progress with weeding and should be back painting on a more regular schedule soon.

$125.00

Heart Throb

30" x 30"

gicle print

archival ink on archival paper

I have not been posting for the past week or so, as I have been busy weeding and planting my garden.  I am about half way through and unless it rains a lot, which would be a good thing for the garden, I won't be painting until I am finished.  While I rest in between battling with weeds, I have designed some new pieces in pure color.  This is the first, titled Heart Throb.  It was inspired by the way light comes through the newly opening leaves in the early evening in spring. Spring for me always brings out a restless desire to be a part of nature in some way.  I guess the closest I can get is to dig in the earth or find some order in a set of colors.

$400.00

Weepping cherry and Veronica

WEEPING CHERRY AND VERONICA

nancy Herman

8" x 6"

oil on canvas

This year's Weeping Cheery was especially beautiful.  It came out early and has remained because of the cold weather.  Now the petals are drifting gently down into the garden with every breeze.  The wild Veronica is gracing the lawn in all its glory as well.  There is one beautiful flower after another in the untreated lawn when it is allowed to grow to several inches in the spring.  

SOLD

DAFFODILS

DAFFODIL

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

Daffodils with all their pristine beauty say "spring".  

After reading Wordsworth's simple but elegant poem once again I realize how art and nature can intertwine and etch our psyche.  The poem reminds us of how nature can be a solice even when we are "on the couch in pensive mood" and it echoes in our mind when we see daffodils dancing o'er the hills reminding us of the power of poetry.

DAFFODILS
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
and twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line
along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
in such a jocund company:
I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
what wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Weeping Cherry (again)

for those of you who were not able to see the video I am trying again.  Let me know if it works.

Many years ago I planted a weeping cherry in the center of my garden that blooms around the time of my mother's birthday on April 15th.  I have painted this tree over and over again from different angles and at different times of the day.  I am always in a frenzy to capture the tree as the light changes and the weather does not cooperate and before the petals fall to the ground and I have to wait one more year to get another chance.  I am never satisfied with these paintings.  Here is a video of most of them.  They are not necessarily in the order painted but the last three were painted in the last two years in my studio.  These lack the spontaneous brush strokes of earlier years but begin to capture some of the magic of this time of year for me.

(Click on the small square at the far right of the video to view in full size and then the ESC key to exit.)

Weeping Cherry

Many years ago I planted a weeping cherry in the center of my garden that blooms around the time of my mother's birthday on April 15th.  I have painted this tree over and over again from different angles and at different times of the day.  I am always in a frenzy to capture the tree as the light changes and the weather does not cooperate and before the petals fall to the ground and I have to wait one more year to get another chance.  I am never satisfied with these paintings.  Here is a video of most of them.  They are not necessarily in the order painted but the last three were painted in the last two years in my studio.  These lack the spontaneous brush strokes of earlier years but begin to capture some of the magic of this time of year for me.

(Click on the small square at the far right of the video to view in full size and then the ESC key to exit.)

WORM'S EYE VIEW

WORM'S EYE VIEW

Nancy Herman

8" x 6"

oil on canvas board

Good morning.  I have not been posting lately as I have been getting started in my garden and trying to clean out my house from it's winter doldrums.  Since spring is rolling in faster than I would like, I hope to get outside and paint this week.  

I find spring is such a thrilling time of the year, I really don't know what to do first.  All the crocuses I planted sprang up suddenly one day last week, the forsythia is out and the trees are starting to get that rosy hue that lasts such a short time but is so very beautiful.  The weeds are also thriving and some must be removed before they go to seed and weeding becomes a battle as the seeds are projected into your eyes as you pull them out, and of course all over the garden. 

The view in this painting is where I will be for the next few days and weeks, down on the ground smelling nature come alive again and reveling in the renewal of life, with Bay somewhere near by and Jake pretending he doesn't care not far off.

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

Oil on canvas board

This month the virtual paintout traveled to Russia and the beautiful city of Saint Petersburg.  I really enjoyed scooting around there with Google maps.  The city has so many fabulous buildings and is a bustling metropolis.  Finally settled here on the Palace Embankment.  I'm not sure what building this is as, of course, most identifying words are in Cyrillic, so if you recognise this building let me know.

$125.00

Mill Creek Park

MILL CREEK PARK

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

The second area on the Lower Merion Conservancy Watch list is "streams and structures".  This painting is from the lovely West Mill Creek Park where you can take your dog and let it run freely while you sit by the water and watch  the quiet ripples of the stream.  It is a fine piece of nature maintained by our township for your enjoyment.

There is trouble in paradise however as storm run off from resident's homes is poluting the stream.  You can do something about this however and at the same time create a little oasis on your own property by planting a rain garden.

This is from the Nature Conservancy's web site:

So what are rain gardens exactly? These shallow depres- sions, shaped like wide-rimmed soup bowls, are filled with rich compost and planted with native plants that tolerate flooding during rain events. The property’s stormwater, instead of pouring down the driveway and into the street, collects in the basin and slowly seeps into groundwater after the rain is over. No standing water persists. Native plants are used because they are best suited to this region’s climate and their value to butterflies, pollinators and birds alike far exceeds that of non-native plants.

Installing a rain garden is hugely important method of addressing the stormwater issue on a very important piece of land: your property.

Proceeds from the sale of this painting will go to the conservancy:

$125.00

BALA AVENUE

BALA AVENUE

Nancy Herman

8" x 6"

oil on canvas board

This painting looks in the window of Pescatore, one of the restaurants opposite the Bala Theatre. Part of the decorations on the theatre are reflected in the window.  "The Bala Theatre, called the Egyptian Theatre when it was built in 1927 is the only surviving "exotic" themed movie palace in the area."

The Lower Merion Conservancy recently put out its 2012 Watch List for our area.  Number one on the list is Bala Avenue which does not have any historic preservation in place.  I am going to visit and paint on all the sites on the list eventually.  I will contribute the proceeds of any painting sales as a result of this project to the Conservancy.

$125.00