December 21, 2008

Todd Rundgren at the Birchmere
Arlington, Virigina
Photo by Sharon Lee

Having been an active supporter of Todd Rundgren's music for the past 31 years, the impact his work has had as important to my life as any friend or family member. There is not a time in the past 31 years that Todd's music was not playing in the background like some kind of theme music for my life.I had assumed that his fans would share my feelings about his body of work. But of course this is by no means true. Whenever I go to a live show or read a review or internet post I am over and over again hit with this reality. Thing is whether or not I like each and every bit of song that Todd creates, I still respect and appreciate the man as an artist. Some things work and some things don't but I always feel that what is made is a genuine reflection of his creativity. Even an album like "Deface the Music" which was an obligatory album made with attitude has many things of merit.

It's common for artists to be strongly criticized but good to remember that sometimes things that don't work at first morph into something amazing.

Peace Always

Sharon

December 14, 2008

Big Gulp
2008
acrylic on organic cotton and hemp
38" x 38"

From what I have learned (and please excuse me that the information comes to me slowly) Myspace is used for several purposes: youth, music and comedian networking. It's interesting to quote the pharmaceutical industry the "off label" uses that can be construe as technology progresses and expands. It took me the better part of the day to get a simple Myspace page up and running and I expect to be making many changes in the near future.

Peace

Always

November 22, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee

Officially or not, winter is here in central Pennsylvania. As an outdoors person much of my day is spent layering clothes, going outside to either manage wood or hike, coming back inside and warming up only to start the process again in a short while. Today the temperature stayed in the upper twenties with a few scattered snow showers. Embracing, pretty and cold at the same time.

Peace Always

Sharon

November 20, 2008

Photo by Sharon Lee

This morning I woke to a ground cover of snow. Not enough for snow play but it covered the mud and added color to the monochromatic trees.

Snow Flurries by Raymond A. Foss

There were snow flurries in the air today
early for my liking, snow flurries coming*
n small singular spirals, falling through the air
spun by their shapes, the tug of the wind
sitting in the office, watching them tumble
by my window, pause in the conversation with client
marvel for a moment at the ballet before me
forward scouts for their brethren to follow
later in the season when fall yields to winter
soon enough they will come, in legions

Peace Always

Sharon

November 19, 2008

Thought Bubbles
2008
acrylic on organic cotton canvas
38" x 38"

Each time I finish a painting I bring the piece to the local photo studio, have it photographed and recorded on both tiff file and slides. I use the slides for submission for juried shows and the tiff for any computer entered shows, website, blog, as well as the basis for any printed materials of this image.

The painting "Thought Bubbles" was a series of random events, dreams or silly thoughts that I had while I was painting it (August-September 2008). Behind the disks I tried to create layers of "fabric" patterns such as a quilt or Matisse painting.

Peace Always

Sharon

November 18, 2008

Vince Redhouse
Photo by Rick Brandt

As often as possible I bring my dog to my closest neighbor's house for a doggie play date, releasing some of the excess energy my Border Collie mix has in her system. These times remind me of play dates for my daughter when she was young and the play date's parent and I would gab about serious, or silly topics until the kids started to argue signifying the end of the "date".

Much the same with my dog Sophie and my neighbor's dog Bella.Today the dogs were having a good go at it and playing hard while Ben The neighbor) and I discussed Thanksgiving. I was stating that while I enjoyed the feast feeling of the holiday it seemed to be contrary in practice to the life I aspire to live. My friend reminded me that Thanksgiving was a traditional feast replicating the original Thanksgiving when Native Americans brought food to the immigrants and had a feast. I asked the question "What if it wasn't meant to be consumed at once?"

Maybe the food was to be prepared and preserved for the long winter, venison and birds to dry and salt, corn that would still be viable in February, Apples that lasts until March?

Just a thought.

Peace Always

Sharon Lee

November 13, 2008

As my body, including my eyes age I question the impact this has and will have in the further on my artwork. Claude Monet best known for his wonderful depictions of water lilies suffered from cataracts in his later years and as a result the colors of his work changed and his work became more and more abstract.

After struggling with vision for many months I purchased my first pair of bifocals bringing focus and details back. As the year has progressed my glasses have become scratched once again taking away the sharp focus I had when they were new. Soon I will be replacing the lenses and start anew with fresh sharp focus.

Peace Always

Sharon

November 10, 2008

I just finished and self framed the piece, "Nativity (Side View)". The frame was cut down and re-glued from a frame that was given to me years ago. The Nativity Show that this will be in is part of the Bellefonte Victorian Christmas Show and house tour.

Do you think it'll fit in???

Peace Always

Sharon Lee

November 8, 2008

Although I have been vegetarian for 28 years and vegan for two, I always have accommodated the meat eaters and served turkey for Thanksgiving. This year I've decided to make a stand and omit all animal products from this tradition annual feast. I'm a decent cook and have rarely heard comments of meal dissatisfaction, yet it is a scary transition to make.

I'm actually looking forward to this meatless Thanksgiving as I do not have to handle meat as well as smell dead turkey in my house for the few days that follow. For me this Thanksgiving will truly be a cause for celebration and a meal of fellowship with family and friends.

Peace Always


Sharon

November 7, 2008

Pardon Me Are You Bi-Polar?
acrylic on organic cotton canvas
38" x 38"
2008

One of the questions I get most often asked about my art work is: "What does it mean?" Usually I will give an answer but as time goes by the original meaning becomes less clear and a new meaning can be imposed on a painting. Generally I am uncomfortable in "explaining" a piece of art in that it takes a bit away from the viewer-painting relationship. My experiences are not like anyone else's and even well explained will lose a bit in the translation.

This current painting I will omit any discussion of meaning and stay focussed on how it was painted.

For those person(s) in the painting you know who you are and you know what this means.

Peace Always

Sharon

November 6, 2008

I belong to a photography group (Photo of the Month) on Flicker. Each month we are "assigned" a different subject. The interpretations are vastly different and I look forward to see how each subject is portrayed.***This month the subject is "blur". The irony of "blur" is that I often have a photo that is or has a blur in it. The problem is what makes the "blur" important to the photo and how is this not just a blurred photograph.

Today during my walk in the woods I tried a variety of things: throwing leaves, following my dog, Sophie and moving the camera quickly while snapping a photo. Nothing has worked yet-this subject is much more complicated than I initially thought.

Peace Always

Sharon

November 4, 2008

If you haven't already get out and VOTE!!!!!

Peace Always

Sharon

November 2, 2008

Yesterday a local artist called to ask if I would participate in her annual "Nativity" art show. She had ready answers to my questions, convinced me it would cost little and other well respected artists that I personally knew were also participating. She recommended I look to the dictionary for "nativity" in search of inspiration. I did so but kept coming back to the actual birth process.

Above is the sketch I made for this painting which will be relatively small (8" x 6"). I cut and assembled a mini stretcher, cut a piece of organic cotton/hemp canvas and tomorrow I will gesso and begin.

Peace Always

Sharon

November 1, 2008

Feathered Pipe Ranch, Helena, Montana
Photo by Sharon Lee

By chance yesterday I discovered that a brilliant yoga instructor, Mary Dunn had passed on. I had met Mary briefly during a yoga retreat in Helena, Montana. For years I had heard what a wonderful teacher she was. Honestly I have to say her reputation did not do her actual presence justice. Mary had a beautiful mellifluous voice that forced you inside the pose giving me the stretch to hold poses longer and further than I had before.

One morning of the retreat I got the opportunity to share grub with Mary and found her to be very down-to -earth and as lovely inside as she was outside. Yesterday with tears streaming down my cheeks I read her blog written until 4 days before she passed.

The world is a better place for having Mary here though way to brief.

Peacce 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 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

September 6, 2008

Yesterday was the opening reception for my participation in a two person show at the Fein Art Gallery in Pittsburgh, PA. The Fein Art Gallery is a beautiful space in an eclectic neighborhood in the North side of Pittsburgh. I shared the space with a well known Pittsburgh artist Kathleen Zimbicki. Kathleen and I share similar color palettes. Her work has a beautiful flow and I was honored to share space with her.

This was the first of several things for me including: a non-group show in Pittsburgh and seeing 25 pieces of mine spread out side by side in one space. My relationship with my art work is mostly from only 12" away. It is exhausting to be part of a show where more of you and more of your work is needed. The opening was four hours and for the majority of that time I was being introduced to people who had come out for the expressive purpose of seeing Kathleen and my pieces. There are many introductions made at these types of events. I struggle to retain the names but more often than not do not succeed.

The "Friendly Funk" show at the Fein Art Gallery continues until mid October 15, 2008.

For more information call the Fein Art Gallery at 412-321-6816.