October 31, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee
Catwoman (movie version): Meagan Brandt

Happy Halloween

When I was a mother of a young theatrical daughter Halloween was probably one of the most important holidays of the year. Preparations were usually made well in advance and our Halloween festivities, mapped out (school costume, State College Halloween parade, haunted houses and trick-or-treating). Some years two costumes were needed as the school would decide a theme for the kids to wear or my daughter's costume was a bit too edgy for school.

These were days of great creativity for me and my daughter and every year as I worked the sewing machine I remembered my grandmother and mother making costumes for me. My grandmother was a great costume maker who designed an award winning Halloween costume every year. This year my daughter lives in her own apartment and has created her own costume with her roommates.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 30, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee
Model Meagan Brandt
Clothes by Angela Keslar

Artists are thought of as being the voice of the society they live in. Most of the art I create has a political bend yet stays away from specifics. One exception would be the painting I did in reaction to the government's failure in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. (sorry photo not available)

Last week I was listening to television coverage of the $150,000 wardrobe of Sarah Palin. There were a few things I took issue with as far as the way this was handled by Ms. Palin. The first was her statement that once this campaign was over she would go back to shopping at her favorite consignment shop in Anchorage.

I had a few questions about that but I needed to check on a few facts before I continued. As I suspected the vice president lives in Washington D.C. (the southeast corner of 34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue). Would that mean that Sarah would take Air Force One and fly to Alaska to shop there. Does she not think she will win and move to D.C.? She also stated that these were not her clothes. Are we to believe that these supposedly custom made clothes will not be hers?My own daughter is a fashionista of the serious sort. She does not have a fraction of a $150, 000 including designer shoes, purses, sweaters, dresses, etc. How exactly does one spend that much money on clothes that are needed for approximately the length of time of a long vacation?

Peace Always

Sharon

October 29, 2008

Still not feeling up to speed. Hopefully will be more able to post tomorrow

Peace Always

Sharon

October 28, 2008

Have a head cold. Will blog again when my mind is working. Until then it's knitting, television, phone, blowing nose and reading.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 27, 2008

"Pardon Me, Are you Bi-Polar?" (working title) by Sharon Lee

Most of this week has been spent between house chores (laundry, dishes, cleaning, stacking firewood) and painting. Yesterday after painting most of the day I got into the correct groove about 1/2 hour before I stopped for the day. Today was mostly a struggle. Nothing more to report.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 26, 2008

Way's Fruit Farm, Stormstown, Pennsylvania
photo by Sharon Lee

Sarah comes a Callin'

I've avoided getting political on this blog as everywhere you turn someone is praising or cursing one of the two presidential and vice presidential candidates but lo and behold Sarah Palin came to Way's Fruit Farm (a mere five minute walk from my home) to get a pumpkin with her daughter. It's unusual that she would visit such a remote area when most of the candidates and their supporters regularly stop in either State College or University Park only twenty minutes away.

I'm not sure how much a trip to Way's Fruit Farm cost Ms. Palin's supporters. I know that she was in Johnstown earlier in the day (1-1/2 hours southwest so perhaps she and daughter were passing through on their way to bigger and more populated places. Perhaps her campaign strategist thought a stop at "real America" would boost their support and perhaps it did. The day following the visit the Way's had a larger than life McCain-Palin sign.

Watching the election campaign has been interesting if nothing else. Barack Obama bowled in Altoona. Sarah Palin bought a pumpkin in Stormstown. Not sure what any of this has to do with running a troubled country.

Peace Always
Sharon

October 25, 2008

My Riff with Jack

I have never understood the Jack-o-Latern. Before I go on I must interject that I have for the past 19 years secured a pumpkin for my daughter, carved out the guts, an indication of eyes, nose and mouth and lit it from within with a stubby candle. The glamour of the pumpkin lasts at most an hour when the fruit is fresh and unblemished with rot.

Only in a culture of excess would it be acceptible to nuture a rotten piece of food on the counter for a week up to several. Although perfectly edible Jack-O-lanterns are traditional not used for food-their purpose is that strickly of decor. A few months ago my only child moved into her own place prompting an reassessment of my surroundings. This year the only pumpkins that will be brought into the house will be meant for pumpkin muffins, pie or pudding.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 24, 2008

Yesterday, accompanied by a friend who owns a pick-up truck we headed to Pittsburgh (2-1/2 hours southwest) to pick up my artwork from the Fein Art Gallery. Showing at this gallery was an expensive though useful experience and had the article in this issue's, Art Calendar about "vanity" galleries come out a month and a half sooner, I might have learned the same thing at a much reduced cost. Anyway onward.

As we were driving through the dark mountains away from the city to our rural community of darkness we imagined my art work in the bed of the truck, in particularly the menstruating puppet from the Menstruation Theatre, flying out of the bed and landing in a well lit (preferably) intersection (Super Sheetz, McDonalds, strip mall at a stop light). I recreated the scene in the road in front of my house to pass on the full illusion.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 22, 2008

Cuff design-Angela Keslar
Hand model-Meagan Brandt
Photography by Sharon Lee

Everybody raise your hands!

I've decided to vote this presidential election according to the candidates hands. My criteria includes: looks, grace and movement. Hands down (pun intended Barack Obama has a large lead over Sen. McCain.

Here are the reason's why:

Skin Color
Barack Obama has finger skin the color of a milk chocolate Hershey bar, a beautiful smooth mellow brown color.

John McCain has hands the color of Gluten-free rice bread-whitish grey with a hardness and chalky texture

Barack Obama uses his hands in a fluid and graceful way such as a dancer uses his or her body in a performance. It is magnetizing to watch.

John McCain pumps his tightened fist in a repetitive pound not unlike the pistons of a car engine. He also counts weird with his hands while he is making a multiple layed point.

Barack Obama looks as if he has smooth manicured nails. Most likely this is done in secret as the press would be all over him for such an indulgence. I imagine Michele pushing cuticles back with an orange stick and buffing his nails to a lovely sheen behind closed doors late at night.

John McCain looks like the kind of guy that gnaws off his nails then rubs them against a rock to smooth things out.

I'd like to include Sarah Palin's hands possibly giving John the nudge he needs to make the race closer than it is but I suspect there are dried pieces of wolf, polar bear and bull shit underneath her nails which would be smelly and unsightly making including her a bad idea.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 21, 2008

Internal Dialog
2004
acrylic on masonite
48" x 48"

A day full of fabulous dimentional clouds-grey and white with peaks of intense blue skies.

After a day of excilerating balloon soaring I decided to keep my feet closer to the ground. unfortunately that involved much vehicle driving running errands which left me just a short time for panting. I've started a new painting. No vision yet where it is to go. I just know what has to express through this painting for it to feel completed. (hope that makes a lick of sense).

For me painting stories on my canvases are much like writing fiction based on non-fictional characters and events. It is the best of both worlds where you can use stranger than fiction and make things work out in a manner that feels correct to the creator.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 20, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee


With a threat of snow (at least in the Northern regions of central Pennsylvania) and clear skies for a good part of the day, I decided to take out my hot air balloon for one more lift this season, cruise to Bethlehem, Pa and visit a wonderful vegan bakery, Vegan Treats. This bakery has nailed vegan baking in fact I would hold any of their baked goods, tiramisu, sticky buns, eclairs, cookies to any other bakery vegan and non vegan alike.

As I gassed up the ballon and headed home I bit into a delicious jelly donut, dripping sweet freshly made strawberry jam onto my jacket while looking at the most spectacular foliage against a blue-grey sky (perfect color for accenting the vivid reds, orange, yellows, browns, purples and greens). Life doesn't get any better than this.

Peace Always

Sharon

P.S. Just kidding I wanted to see if anyone was paying attention

October 19, 2008

Because my art is based on personal experiences, issues or observations with/from friends, family and acquaintances are usually part of a painting. At times, I suppose, this can be uncomfortable for some to be publicly exposed in such a manner. I try to keep this in mind while at the same time not compromise the vision I have and what it is I want to say.

Such is the case with my latest start. Several days of metamorphosing the person who is to be exposed into a bird, toad, then alien I was inspired by an old Mexican woodcarving that I had acquired many years ago. The figure is in a position which speaks to the experience I want to share. Tomorrow I will translate the woodcarving on to paper then transfer to the canvas where I can begin to paint.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 18, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee

One blog that I subscribe to is one by Alison Bechdel. Originally from central Pennsylvania I first became aware of her work "Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic" which is largely based in Beach Creek, Pennsylvania which is down the road and over a mountain from where I live. "Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic" is a graphic novel that she both wrote and illustrated about her family of origin in all their dysfunctional glory. I'd say that this book was a page turner except for the fact that the illustrations were wonderful and worth spending extra time viewing.

Alison now has a blog which is updated just short of once a week covering any and all topics that interests here.

Fun read.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 17, 2008

Blah, Blah, Blah
2007
acrylic on hemp and organic cotton
38" x 38"

Yesterday for no apparent reason I decided to write a somewhat scathing comment on another person's blog. This was unprovoked except that when I originally read the post something inside me felt it necessary to share my truth and "set things straight".

In 2007 I painted "Blah, Blah, Blah" which I felt encapsulated how I was relating to the world concerning recently switching over to a vegan lifestyle. Behind the protagonist there are two people-one reacting with their head exploding and the other not reacting (or listening) at all. This is usually the case when someone sermonizes and I expect that the blogger will received my comments in exactly that way.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 15, 2008

Zen Diner
1998
acrylic on metal and mirror
6" x 6"

Down the road a bit from me in front of the "estate" of a local successful contractor is a ginormous McCain and Palin sign. It makes me laugh every time I see it in that the sheer size of the sign in front of the home of an obviously well off family says it all.

Next time you go to an art show take notice of the sizes of art works. It takes space and the means for transportation to paint large. More than once I had to rent vehicles to tote my art work somewhere and it is minor in size compared to Monet's lilies or Rothko's color panels.

Size for painting storage and transportation has kept my pieces in the past few years under 48" x 48" framed. This is the largest I can fit a piece in my Volvo on the diagonal. I also have a roof platform for slightly larger pieces but it is hell driving with a large thing overhead and the flap flap flapping of a tarp to cover it.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 14, 2008

Pulled In All Directions
1999
Acrylic on Belgium linen
24" x 36"

In 1999 I painted "Pulled in All Directions" in response to feeling overwhelmed with day to day responsibilities. Most initial reactions to this painting are more literal thus leading to disgust. As usual with paintings of this time the background scene is based in the kitchen-the heart of the house and the common location of a house slave (wife).

Peace Always

Sharon

October 13, 2008

Photos by Sharon Lee

What can I say more leaf photos. There's a new canvas to be stretched, yoga props to make and a garden that need to be winterized but instead I feel compelled to be outside and stare at the foliage.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 12, 2008

Logo from KeithandtheGirl.com

Sorry no art talk today just wanted to pass on an audio observation.

As I have stated before one of my favorite Podcast is Keith and the Girl. A short while ago Keith and the Girl had a 74 hour continuous running podcast to raise money for themselves, Asperges and be listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Last week Keith and Chemda (the voices, producers & writers of Keith and the Girl) went on a trip to London and Israel and have been releasing parts of the 74 hour podcast while they travel.

Today I listened to episode 825 which contained a listener call who is in the military stationed in Bagdad. He is 21 years old and it was emotionally tough to listen to the "Gunner" talk what little he was able to say about life in Bagdad. He also mentioned that the troops were cut off from information and were not able to know what presidential candidates stood for or had plans to do if they were elected. In additional absentee ballots rarely arrive in time to be counted for the vote. This was a a surprise to me as I had assumed the military had some say in sending a message to their bosses.

Guess not.

Peace Always
Sharon

October 11, 2008

Photo from trip to Big Valley (Belleville Area)
central Pennsylvania. Will post more tomorrow-problems with posting photos all evening.

Peace Always
Sharon

October 10, 2008

Photos by Sharon Lee

Here is central Pennsylvania the leaf colors are FABULOUS!. My home is located in the Appalachian mountain chain which lends itself to a variety of landscapes and strange, sometimes unpredictable weather patterns. Nevertheless grey cloudy skies or the bright colorful blue sky all lends itself to enhance the beauty of the leaf color.

Tomorrow I hope to drive over the next mountain which is about 13 miles southeast of here. From the top of Pine Grove Mountain you can see much of the Big Valley, home to several Pennsylvania Amish communities. Will post the results.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 9, 2008

Meanwhile Back in the Congo
2005
acrylic on canvas
22" x 22"

Today was a perfect example of life imitating art or art imitating life. Unlike anything that I had written in today's "To Do" list I spent the majority of the day with my head in "grey" water trying to psyche out a plumbing problem. For me, plumbing will always be the battle I fight. I know water always wins but the human in me tries to get it at bay and under control none the less.

n 2005 I painted "Meanwhile Back in the Congo" which narratively tells the story of the pride I felt upon the completion of a plumbing fix-it that was quickly stifled when I thought about the suffering of the people of Dar fur and their suffering.

Peace Always
Sharon

October 8, 2008

As a vegan, the question most often asked, second to 'How do you get your protein?" is "What do you eat. When I was a lacto-ovo vegetarian it was very easy to grab something to eat even in a meat heavy eating environment such as central Pennsylvania. To stick to a vegan diet a bit of pre-planning and more home cooking is required.

Today, with the cooler weather I set out a pot of lentils, picked some kale and combined with onions, garlic, and a tomato made a fabulous international lunch.

Using my newest cookbook addition, The World in Your Kitchen, the lentils were transformed into "Yemesirkik (lentil stew-Ethiopia), and the kale was substituted for spinach and became "Saag"(India). With a cup of rice or some flatbread I've yet to create, I will have prepared food for the next 2-1/2-3 days.

Peace Always

Sharon

October 7, 2008

Photos by Sharon Lee

As everyone else is doing at this time, my thoughts are turned to the economy and guesses made for what that will do for the arts. On all accounts things look depressing and I would guess artists will have to rely more and more on "outside" jobs, galleries will fail and museums will run the risk of closing because insurance costs will drive them to sell off their art collections.

This is the pessimistic view. A more optimistic view would involve the resurrection of the WPA which encouraged the arts by paying artists for their time and creativity. Click here for the index to New Deal Artists listed by state.

Only time will tell.


Peace Always

Sharon

October 6, 2008

At some point of the day I do a quick summary of what I did during the day and if it translates to something that can be written in this blog. Nothing, it seemed to me at that moment had any bit of creative relevance, in fact I was shocked that a full day could go by without any creative impulses.

At first glance a day sans art:

Drove 2 hours to deliver a piece of camera equipment (free lance job)
Take-out at Thai Restaurant
Pick up painting at Frame Shop and drop off two photographs to be framed
Walk in Woods

That's it. That is the summary of today. However, during my last activity I thought more about my day.

Drove 2 hours
This is through the most beautiful part of Pennsylvania during leaf changing season. Past several Amish communities and lots of roadside veggie and fruit stands. Color Inspiration!

Take-out at Thai Restaurant
Nothing creative.

Pick up painting at Frame Shop and drop off two photographs to be framed
Actually I spent well over an hour trying to chose mats for two photographs I was to frame. Both of these photographs are of Todd Rundgren. Playing with textured and colored mats is fun and should be tried at least once by all.

Walk in woods
what can I say "Color Inspiration!!!"
and there was that bear....


Peace Always

Sharon

P.S. The Smokey the Zombie Bear series is now avaiable for sale on Ebay, Smokey the Zombie Bear I , Smokey the Zombie Bear II, Smokey the Zombie Bear III, Smokey the Zombie Bear IV

October 5, 2008

While I wait upon the delivery of some fresh organic cotton canvas, I have been busying myself with house remodeling. You may remember that several years ago I tore my house apart, reconfigured and piece by piece have been putting things back together again.

The area in my kitchen where the pots, lids, potatoes, onions, and take out containers reside was a disaster. Someday I will have an outside pantry to hide this mess but for now everything is out for all to see. This is an issue that needed to be addressed. I have been against putting up cabinets in my kitchen as the wall is a beautiful colored slate (Arizonian I believe) This past summer I broke down and got a small 1940s cabinet with top and bottom but still was left with a pile of important yet unorganized flotsam and jetsam.

Needed was an inexpensive metal rack, large crock for the potatoes, and a bunch of metal hooks. I had the right sized drill bit but it was not a masonry one and I blew the point out fairly quickly. The masonry drill bit I had was a hair too big. Looks like tomorrow will include a trip to the hardware store

Peace Always

Sharon

P.S. The Smokey the Zombie Bear series is now avaiable for sale on Ebay, Smokey the Zombie Bear I , Smokey the Zombie Bear II, Smokey the Zombie Bear III, Smokey the Zombie Bear IV

October 4, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee

"O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call; Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day; At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away."-

Robert Frost, October

Peace Always

Sharon

P.S. The Smokey the Zombie Bear series is now avaiable for sale on Ebay, Smokey the Zombie Bear I , Smokey the Zombie Bear II, Smokey the Zombie Bear III, Smokey the Zombie Bear IV

October 3, 2008

"My Backyard" photo by Sharon Lee

"Hermit of Halfmoon Valley"
2006
acrylic on canvas
18" x 24"

Day after day I write this blog with the purpose of "explaining myself" as an artist and hopefully drumming up some interest in my art work. My art site can be accessed by clicking here.

When I decided to do a blog I thought consistency would be important and decided to try to write almost every day. I find myself writing much about non art things as you can't really separate real life from creating life it all melds together into one. Something noticed in a woods with my dog-it's bound to end up a part of an artist project. My thoughts were that the best way to sleuth my art is by telling the back story.

It would help if I could get some comments from you readers. In addition I'd like to experiment a bit and see what happens if each person who reads this blog passes the address to two other people. They can be offended by my work or like it either way their input will be interesting. So sorry to give homework on a Friday but please write a comment and send to me as well as pass this blog address on to two other people. Hopefully they will be interested in carrying on this assignment and also comment and send blog link to two other people. Will keep track of this experiment and tell you what happens.

Peace Always

Sharon

P.S. The Smokey the Zombie Bear series is now avaiable for sale on Ebay, Smokey the Zombie Bear I, Smokey the Zombie Bear II, Smokey the Zombie Bear III,Smokey the Zombie Bear IV

October 2, 2008

Peace Begins with Breakfast
2005
acrylic on canvas
48" x 29"

The most depressing thing about being an artist, and I would think this would be the same in most of the arts, is the contrast between the day-to-day creating and exposing your work and yourself to the public.

If I felt there was no redeeming value of art outside of one's studio, I would simply paint those subjects that I feel inspired to paint and fill my house with canvases. Going to a show opening is stressful for an introvert like myself but I feel that I am obligated to show what I have done. I am an artist and it is an artist's job to create art to inspire whether in thought deed or action.

Peace Always

Sharon
P.S. The Smokey the Zombie Bear series is now avaiable for sale on Ebay, Smokey the Zombie Bear I, Smokey the Zombie Bear II, Smokey the Zombie Bear III,Smokey the Zombie Bear IV

October 1, 2008

In honor of three important celebrations:
Photo of Brianna by Sharon Lee
Photo of Sophie by Sharon Lee
A Silver Titter Stole My Baby
2008
acrylic on hemp and organic cotton

Today marks the celebration of three things that have much importance to me. Hopefully you will forgive me posting more personal less art today.

Happy Birthday to me niece Brianna who turns 16 today. Brianna and I share the talent for art. Her insight into her symbolism and such is remarkable and I love being able to share my love of creativity with her.

My dog, Sophie also celebrates her birthday today. Though the day was not spent as she would have planned, the doggie biscotti, peas from the garden and a long game of catch made it tolerable.*

Today is also World Vegetarian Day. I am what is considered a strict vegetarian (vegan) meaning my diet and lifestyle tries to minimize the use of animal products and their secretions. Because of the way our society is set up it is almost impossible too be a 100% vegan. Tires, medicines and most likely every bit of technology equipment use some animal product.

Peace Always

Sharon