The Backyard

 

 

The Backyard

Leaf Miners ~ 24 x 36

I have a solo exhibit opening this weekend titled, The Backyard. It is a collection of paintings created over the last two years all composed of subject matter found outside my house. I did not intend to put a show together based on this premise, it just sort of happened. When my kids are out playing, I am able to make drawings. When it is really cold outside I find interesting window views. Creating work based on my backyard is both convenient and inspiring.
 



From the Ground Up

 Here are some images from my most recent show, From the Ground Up, at Phillips Studio and Gallery. It featured 8 paintings I completed this summer as I raced to keep up with the fast and furious growing season.

 

 

Artist Statement

It feels like only yesterday I was speculating with my children as to when the little green buds would burst into leaves. Soaking in the first warm rays of springtime sun, summer stretched before us like a promise to look forward to. And then one day our world was green. Suddenly little horsetails started to appear. Soon other little bright green shoots started to show themselves. And grass, wonderful grass! It all started happening so fast. The world was green and we were in it, bugs were buzzing, birds were singing, and plants were growing all around us. Who could keep track of what came next? We were too busy being barefoot to notice. Those brand new leaves became food for leaf miners before they even know what hit them. And then thorny rosebushes began to invade our paths, how did they get so big? Suddenly pink roses dotted the woods. Before we could blink the petals fell, revealing firm green rose hips working overtime to become red and ripe. Tiny white flowers growing in clusters turned into pale green berries right before our eyes. Then dandilions, giant dandilions!  And fireweed, oh no, not fireweed, the hourglass had turned. More blooms, bigger leaves, giant caterpillars, larvae sacs, mushrooms, red berries, overripe, turning to seed, a yellow leaf. And here we are. Whew.

Summer in Fairbanks is a mad rush of growth and activity. It is as if the flora knows it must hurry, time is not to be wasted.

These paintings were all created this summer, and each attempts to capture a stage of the growing process or to recall the way the landscape felt at a particular time. It all happened so fast and this is my attempt to savor a few of the miraculous changes that took place in one short summer.

Lingonberry Love ~ oil on canvas ~ 24" x 30"

I love this painting. It is one of my most recent works. About a year ago I started it with a completely different outcome in mind. I had intended to paint a very simple image of lingonberries and leaves with a sparse background. You can see the original on the bottom right in the collection below. Well, it was really nothing special. I kept looking past it. Then one night this summer when I was out of of fresh canvas and my other paintings needed some drying time I pulled it out. I think it has come to life.



A collection



Lingonberries are my favorite berry to pick. They are so beautiful and firm, they do not squish like blueberries or raspberries. Sometimes they are in little clusters and so abundant. There are few things in life more magical than coming across a big patch of lingonberries.

 



Photo of lingonberries in my backyard

 

Autumn Birch Trees

 It is not quite autumn yet, but it is coming. The leaves are still green, yet patches of gold are starting to show. Soon every leaf will be bright yellow. Freshly fallen, a few still clinging on. This painting describes a perfect fall day in Fairbanks.

Fall Forest ~ 60" x 24" ~ Oil ~ sold



Fall Forest ~ detail



Goodbye Kitchen Corner Studio

Today I started moving into my new studio space. As a graduate student I have my own studio now. No more worries about toxic cadmiums getting on the refrigerator handle or meticulously saving solvents in tomato sauce jars. But I must say, my little space served me well this summer. With the windows open and the midnight sun pouring in, I spent most nights painting while the kids slept and my husband watched his shows. Such nice quiet evenings. I may never paint in this little corner again. We have plans of adding on to our house next summer and a studio is in the drawings. So goodbye little corner.

It is dark outside. It is 11 PM and while I would not call it pitch black, there is a night sky out there. This fabulous, light-filled, magical burst of green and insects and gardens and long blissfully warm days is winding down...fast. Tomorrow starts the last week of summer vacation. The back to school routine begins in 8 days. New school shoes and new winter coats are on my mind. The freezer is filling up with berries and I thought about making soup yesterday. My morning coffee on the deck requires a sweater now. Fall is most certainly right around the corner. With the dread and fear of loss comes excitement for the rhythm ahead. This will be a fall full of changes. My toothless daughter will start second grade, my little boy will start preschool and I will be starting my assistantship at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I will be taking and teaching classes with the ultimate goal of a M.F.A.

I painted this painting earlier this summer when the berries in the center were new and green.

Ground Dogwood

oil on canvas

16" x 20"

The ground dogwoods now have bright red berries, as you can see in the photograph below.

These crazy spiky balls house wasps that will emerge next May. They are adhered to the leaves of many of the wild rose bushes that populate the woods. The galls have darkened to a deep red and look as if they are drying out.

Rose Leaf Galls

oil on canvas

16" x 20"

The rose hips have changed as well. The first painting was done earlier this summer while the hips were new and green, right after the pink petals fell off.

New Rose Hip

oil on canvas

16" x 20"

Then they start to turn orange...

Rose Hips

oil on canvas

16" x 20"

...Now they are plump and red and ripe. Begging to be picked (and painted) and made into syrup or jelly.