POSTCARDS FROM PHILLY

A Busy Week In Sketches.

2012-03-03T21:16:00.001-05:00

My journals are reminders of what I did, and when, throughout the week...and my life.

I began this week with breakfast at Manhattan Bagel.

And lingered over my ham egg and cheese on an "everything" long enough to draw this gentleman, a "regular."

A few days later I found myself at "Hymies," my favorite local Deli, for lunch.

On Friday I drove down to Jersey to take my Dad to have his eyes examined. Seems at the ripe age of ninety nine he has a hard time these days reading the small print in his racing form.

I left his house later than usual, so I decided to have a quiet dinner about two miles away, at "Ye Olde Centerton Inne," a local restaurant that was a stagecoach stop from Philly to the Jersey shore, in Colonial Times. Here are two "regulars" at the bar.

This place is filled with nostalgia from my childhood. As kids my brothers and I would join friends on Halloween and "Trick or Treat" in the small village of Centerton. Knocking on the door of the Inn took guts, 'cause everyone knew the place was surely haunted. But on this night it was just a great place to end my week.

The Brandywine Museum.

2012-02-27T15:38:00.000-05:00

It was the perfect day on Sunday to roam the galleries of the Brandywine River Museum.

Every once in awhile I need an immersion into the art of the Wyeth family; N.C., Andy, Jamie, and Andy's sisters Carolyn and Henriette.

Andy's father, N.C., was world famous for his colorful and usually action-packed illustrations of the classics. Here is one of my favorites, from "Last Of The Mohicans."

Not far from the museum N.C.'s studio sits on a hill in the woods. Here it is painted by Andy on a winter day.

At heart I'm a sucker for nostalgia, but I don't think it should have a dominate place in a painting.
One of the major reasons I love the works of Andrew Wyeth is because of his very abstract compositions.
Look at these wonderful shapes.

And although he eventually rejected his earlier more colorful watercolors for seeming too "facile," look how loose and immediate this painting is.

Andy's son Jamie gets a bit too "cute" for me at times, but when he's serious, he does stunning works.

Two of Andy's sisters were also painters. This is an almost surrealistic painting by Carolyn Wyeth.

And here, a lush still life by Henriette.

To go from the sublime to...well, my sketchbook, here is a drawing of a guard, while each of us was having lunch.

Almost exactly one year ago I did this oil, while standing on the banks of the Brandywine near the museum. It was a sunny, but very cold, day.

But the most fun I had yesterday was focusing on this nasty pirate, scaling a log barricade. It's from one of N.C.'s illustrations for "Treasure Island."

Starting Sketchbook Number Fifty Five!

2012-02-18T13:35:00.005-05:00

About two days ago I made the last entry into sketchbook number fifty-four.

On a recent trip to South Jersey, my van let me down again, so I got to ride back to Philly in the cab with another AAA guy. By the end of the trip, Joel Smith and I were friends.

Philadelphia's most famous chef, Georges Perrier, recently opened an up-scale bakery near me, called
"The Art Of Bread." A delicious place to linger over coffee, and draw.

I usually only go to Barnes and Noble to wander the book aisles, but couldn't resist all these very focused folks, just waiting to be captured by my pen.

Likewise patrons of my favorite Chinese take-out restaurant, "Shangri-La-Inn," making major decisions about dinner.

A painting of Audrey Hepburn (?) looks down on a neighbor at nearby "Town Hall Coffee."

And a week cannot go by without having breakfast at "Hymies Deli."

Much like my van, my Dad had to have some "fine-tuning" done on the little engine that keeps him going at 99, his pace-maker. But he's out of the hospital and looking forward to spring, like the rest of us.
And I've now broken in my new sketchbook.

My Date With Vincent And Myself.

2012-02-12T14:27:00.001-05:00

As a birthday gift to myself, on Saturday I went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see the incredible
exhibition "Van Gogh Up Close," the late works of my hero, Vincent van Gogh.

Like me, Vincent loved painting "en Plein Air," surrounded by nature, and the opportunity to respond not only to the visual, but the sounds, the smells, and the vagaries of weather.

Most of the paintings in this exhibition are ones I've never seen as originals. Vincent's art and dedication never cease to inspire me.

The curators, Joseph J. Rishel and Jennifer A. Thompson, gathered works that offer a comprehensive overview of Vincent's interests and influences at a tumultuous time in his short life. Of particular interest to me was the inclusion of Japanese woodblock prints, collected by Vincent; images that influenced his use of line and sense of composition.

As you can see in this incredible painting of a woodland interior. It's all about all those "verticals," including the figure, complimented by the larger, but secondary, horizontal composition. This is a big lush painting.

The galleries were packed with reverential viewers. I knew it would just be a matter of time before the guards saw there was an artist their midst, drawing. I explained I really was only drawing my fellow Vincent lovers, and not the art; to no avail.

I felt a bit rejected, like poor old Vincent, but at the risk of getting eee-jected, I went to another gallery, with different guards, and snuck this little rough sketch. Don't tell.

After a quick lunch, I went out into the main galleries, where it's OK to draw, and spent a few hours trying to capture the majesty of this beautiful, almost life-size image; "The Moorish Chief," by
Eduard Charlemont. When I was an art student at PCA back in the sixties, I discovered this magnificent image almost hidden behind a door, at the top of a stairwell. Happily some enlightened curator eventually moved it to its current place of prominence, for all to enjoy.
As I did on this Saturday, having a date with myself.

Paint-Out In Wyeth Country.

2012-02-06T14:33:00.000-05:00

Early this past Friday morning I joined twenty-nine other landscape painters at the Chadds Ford Historical Society for the fourth annual two day "Plein-Air Paintout."

Before going out to paint each of our canvases or panels had to be stamped on the back, to make sure no one tried to slip in something they'd painted previously. This was not a "competition," but all works had to have been painted on-site during the two day event.

We'd been given a list of private farms, estates, and historical homes to which we had access to paint.
I chose a working farm with wonderful old barns and stone out-buildings, spread out over hillsides above the Bandywine Creek. I've been driving by this place for over thirty-five years.

Another artist and I arrived early, and were greeted by this yappy little doggie.

As it turned out, just one of many living on the farm.

Soon other artists arrived, outfitted for the chill morning air. This is Lee Boynton, a very talented artist.

And his subject and painting-in-progress.

By mid-day artists were everywhere.

Here's the painting I did on Friday, in oil.

And this one, about a hundred feet away, on Saturday.

By four p.m.on Saturday all of the still-wet paintings had to be in frames and ready to be hung.

For the evening's reception and show.

Painting on-site is not for every artist, but like my colleagues, I love the challenge of chasing the sun as it moves across the sky, the sound of geese high overhead, and trying to capture the variety of shapes and colors and edges and...well, the whole bit, on any given day, and in most kinds of weather.

First Snow Of The Winter.

2012-01-29T18:04:00.000-05:00

About a week and a half ago I was awakened by the scrunch of snowplows on our street.

A peek out my bedroom window confirmed the forecast for snow. I grabbed my camera and headed out for my morning walk.

My route takes me past the now defunct Barnes Foundation.

At the half- way point I go through Merion Botanical Park, beautiful in any season, and the site of many of my oils and water colors.

Very still on this chill gray morning.

Just as I do when painting, the photographer in me looks for the natural rhythms that exist in nature.

And color, subtle at this time of year.

It's also about the interaction of shapes, and in particular on a day with such extremes of contrast; the relationship and distribution of light, dark, and middle values.

Here's a vertical version of the scene above, drawn in my sketchbook about a month ago.
Spring is just around the corner.

The latest from my sketchbook.

2012-01-21T00:15:00.002-05:00

With the new year I have resumed teaching at Pat Witt's Barn Studio, in South Jersey.

About half way down Route 55 last Thursday, my van's engine overheated. I sat for about three hours, waiting for the AAA guy to show up. I did this sketch of him on the return trip to Philly.

Here are more drawings from my sketchbook, done around the holidays, and since returning from Florida.

You know what they say about "Idle hands"...

Celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2012-01-16T13:53:00.001-05:00

Back in the early 1960s I was a young and very naive art student in Philadelphia.

At the same time this amazingly brave man was marching, preaching, and dedicating his life to fighting racism and the protection of equal rights for everyone in America. Dr. King's legacy is a reminder that we really should always choose love, because hate is too much of a burden.

This weekend Nancy and I sang in the "Unity Choir," made up of members of two local Jewish Temples, and the Mt. Zion Black Baptist Church. We were rockin', clappin', cryin', and huggin',
and it was a wonderful way to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I did this drawing 2 years ago at Mt. Zion.

The Holidays were fun while they lasted.

2012-01-11T16:22:00.001-05:00

I hope every one of you had a fun holiday and New Years celebration.

My little family decided to spend Christmas in Florida. Here's my view from the backseat of Will navigating while his friend Stacey drove.

Upon our arrival we indulged in good food...and Ms. Diver.

Pierce and his partner-in-love, Maggi, perform a lot in Florida. Here practicing on their deck.

So they decided they needed a "home base" in the south.

On our morning walks Mason and I encountered the high rises...

And the funky low rises. 'Twas the season, even in sunny Florida.

And I now know where Santa spends his vacation after delivering his gifts to good little girls and boys.

As do lots of those "one per centers" and rich retirees.

But of course for children, Christmas is a magical time. Diver trimming the Mango tree.

Escaping into one of the many books left by Santa.

And proudly showing her drawing of herself twirling in a hula-hoop, to her Silver Pop-Pop.

Must be in the genes.

Christmas Break From Being On The Road.

2011-12-18T20:11:00.002-05:00

My son Pierce and his partner Maggi and daughter Diver and Pokey the Band Dog pulled into Philly last Saturday.

Gypsies that they are, they were returning home from being out on the road for the past three months,
touring the U. S. with their band, "Hymn For Her".

Their thousands of fans across the country know them as " Wayne Waxing and Lucy Tight."

As usual they were welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd of hometown friends at the "Grape Room," in Philly's Manayunk section of town.

Here's a drawing I did of the Doorman and the Sound Guy while H4H were doing their sound check.

A few nights later son Mason also performed at the "Grape," in a debut performance of his Raggae band "Tree Rats."

This morning they packed up their van and once again headed down route 95 south, where they'll be spending the holidays in their little Airstream Trailer in Sarasota, Florida. Here's a drawing Diver did yesterday showing her and me (I'm the guy in the shorts and turtleneck) romping on the beach.

She assures me a great time will be had by all. Happy Holidaaaaze everyone.

An Artist's Homage To His Daughter.

2011-12-07T23:12:00.001-05:00

I just finished a very unique commission for two longtime friends.

It was a portrait of a beautiful woman, and she was the daughter of this very focused man, William S. Gault. Bill Gault was a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and a respected illustrator and painter in Philadelphia during his long career.

Bill started this portrait of his daughter Lynn, but unfortunately died before he could complete it.
I hesitated only briefly before agreeing to bring the painting to completion for Lynn and her husband Morris.

Lynn's father worked in oils and water color, as I do, and we shared the same approach to painting.
Here is one of his water colors.

I used the same small, but now faded and scratchy photo Bill had based his "start" on, for reference.
But unlike him, I had access to good old Photoshop, to clean and blow up the image.

After laying out my palette, I began what would end up being about a two week job.

I always tell my students to begin with the obvious, which in this case was laying in the initial flesh tones. With oils you must consider "drying times," so I work all over the painting.

The most challenging part of this painting was Lynn's beautiful smile. I had to come up with just the right neutral colors to imply "white teeth in shadow."

Bringing the portrait to completion was the result of much back and forth and trial and error.

I'm often asked, "How do you know when a painting is finished?" My answer: "Same as knowing when a conversation is over; there's nothing left to say." Happily, my friends Lynn and Morris liked the finished portrait; a "collaboration" between Bill Gault, and Bill Ternay.

Norman Rockwell Would Have Loved It.

2011-11-26T17:21:00.003-05:00

Two weeks ago I taught my last class for the fall at the Barn Studio, in Millville, N.J.

Every morning before class, I had breakfast in the heart of town at a wonderful eatery, "Jim's Lunch." Although more of a Cafe, Jim's embodies all that I enjoyed when eating at Diners, as a kid in South Jersey.

Jim's has been around since 1922. Here are founders Jim Arnes and his wife Dorothy, looking down from the wall at Jim's to make sure customers are still well taken care of by today's family members.

I can assure them they need not worry. This is a drawing I did of current co-owner Jim Maul, at the back grill piling homefries on the plate of a hungry regular.

Overseeing business at the front of the house is owner Rochelle, Jim's wife, and their daughter Nicki.

Here is Nicki's brother Jim, Jr., making me a pancake as he looks out on his early morning view of
downtown Millville.

And oh my what a great pancake it was, accompanied by Italian sausage, and lots of hot coffee.
When classes at the Barn resume in January, the folks at Jim's will once again see my face, at breakfast.

And by the way; did I mention that on the last day of class, I just had to go back for Jim's Lunch?

Norman Rockwell; where are you when we need you?!

A Peek Into My Sketchbook.

2011-11-21T21:12:00.001-05:00

I'm often asked if I draw and write in my sketchbook every day?

I definitely write in it every day, and on average do a drawing every other day. Last Friday I did this drawing in the cafeteria of a nearby hospital. Happily I was only visiting.

That evening I had an urge for Chinese take-out, so while waiting, I did this pile of images of other
patrons, with some of their overheard comments.

Saturday night my harmonica teacher, Seth, was playing about an hour away, with his Blues band.

Sunday morning I went to a local Deli, where I've done many drawings over the years.

Later in the week, lunchtime at Hymie's Deli.

And on another night, I drew this woman sitting at the bar at Olive Garden.

My one rule when sketching; make sure my subjects don't know I'm drawing them.
You know what they say about "Idle hands."

Portraits In New York City.

2011-11-13T20:37:00.000-05:00

A few Tuesdays ago my son Mason and I went to New York City to see some Art.

We caught an early 6:30 a.m. Bolt Bus.

The plan was to go to the Museum Of Modern Art to see a big show of Willem de Kooning.
But it seems the Modern is closed on Tuesdays. Poor planning on my part.

Undeterred, we walked the almost 50 short blocks up to the Metropolitan Museum Of Art, to see
an exhibition of the works of the the Dutch Master, Frans Hals. Everyone was out and enjoying the beauty of Central Park.

It was a warm fall day, and we were looking forward to seeing some wonderful portraiture at the MET.

But it seems the Hals show had closed on Sunday, two days earlier! OH NO! This was as close as we got to seeing the exhibition.

If I'd been in charge heads would have rolled!

But we were at the MET; where there is TONS of wonderful Art to see, on any day. Here, paintings by Chuck Close, on the left, and Andy Warhol on the right.

This big image was comprised of close ups of President Lincoln's image...

...on the penny.

Here; two very early Roman portraits; one sculpted, the other painted in encaustic. (wax.)

We ended our day by walking back downtown to Times Square.
That's us on the upper right of the girl's shoulder doing the "tourist-bit" on the big screen.

And finally, catching the Bolt Bus back to Philly.

American Impressionists In Allentown, PA.

2011-11-07T23:25:00.001-05:00

Last Saturday I took advantage of the beautiful sunny fall day and drove up to Allentown, PA, to visit the cities' Art Museum.

This gem of a museum sits on the East end of an expansive grassy mall and park. On one corner is a
powerful bronze re-creation, by Nina Akamu, of the fabled horse envisioned, but never cast, by
Leonardo da Vinci.

At the Western end of the mall is a huge mural by my friend and neighbor, Michael Webb.
Mike has created some of the most elegant and complex murals in the city of Philadelphia.

In the early stages of this mural Mike asked me to work on the design and placement of many of the figures in the lower part of the composition. Mike is a Master at "Fool-The-Eye."

At the museum I'd specifically wanted to see a new exhibition of American Impressionists. Unfortunately on this day, the gallery was closed as caterers prepared for an evening event for members. Oh woe!

Undaunted, I spent the afternoon drawing these two obviously powerful men who were hanging-out
next to each other in the Renaissance Gallery.

One; the pompous and pouty Pope Clement XIII.

The other; a "manly-man" of the world, no doubt. Drawn with a Uni-Ball Micro pen, in black ink.
I will return to see that Impressionist show.

Halloween; My Favorite Holiday.

2011-11-03T22:52:00.001-04:00

Something strange seems to come over me at this time of the year.

Last Halloween, while I was in the middle of trying to clone Nancy's head, she suggested "Why don't we throw a big party at my house, in 2011!"

GREAT IDEA! So a few weeks ago I whipped out this invitation...

Gathered all the really spooky stuff in my house...

That I've been collecting over many, many years...

And embellishing with my paints...hee-hee...

To scare the bee-jubees out of generations of local kids...

And put it all up in Nancy's house!

Where we threw a great party for forty or fifty of our killer friends.

Thank you Nancy and Leah. Wanna' do it again next year? Hee-hee.

Teaching Art At The Barn Studio.

2011-10-22T12:59:00.000-04:00

For the past six weeks I have been teaching a Painting class in South Jersey.

I get up before the sun, and drive down through the farmscapes I've loved since I was a child.

The ten week adult classes I teach are at The Barn Studio, in Millville.

I've been a "Friend of the Barn" for over fifty years. And in an earlier incarnation it really was a barn.

The Barn's founder, Pat Witt, likes to come down to say "Hello" to the students, even when it's not one of the classes she is teaching. Most of these "Barnies" have known Pat for many years, as I have.

In this class there are students working in Watercolor, Oil, or Acrylic, mediums with which I've had lots of experience using. Half of my job is assuring them each is an artist, no matter their skill level.

Here I'm doing a demo in oils from part of a still-life, to make a point about using fresh clean color.

The demo.

Here is another demo done last week, but this time in watercolors. I rarely do still-lifes, but this one was lots of fun to do.

We know the class is over when Pat's cats start climbing up on the still-lifes, to sleep under the warm lamps. I'll be teaching this class again for ten weeks, starting on Thurs. Jan. 5th thru 8 Mar. 2012.
For registration go to: http://barnstudio.org/

Birthday Boy At Ninety Nine.

2011-10-14T14:31:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday my dear Dad turned ninety-nine years old.

I bought him a very nice looking cake, at Whole Foods.

While he was opening cards from well-wishers he complained that he'd gotten "too many damn phone calls" in the morning. But I knew he loved the attention.

At mid-day we took a ride, and of course, the Birthday-Boy drove.

He had to get some blood tests done at the local hospital. I'm afraid I just cannot watch when my Dad gets poked.

But when the nurse asked the routine question, "Do you know when you were born?," Pop took great pleasure in answering "Yes, on this day, ninety-nine years ago!" She laughed and wished him a happy
birthday.

We then went back to his little South Jersey home. He was getting a bit tired, so this time, I drove.
I knew Pop was about to give himself a gift on this; his special day.

A Birthday nap.

Museums And Art That Seduces.

2011-09-26T20:14:00.001-04:00

Every once in awhile I feel a craving for some Humble Pie, and spend time in an Art Museum.

I roam the galleries with my sketchbook, drawing other art lovers, and seek my favorite artists.

Often I'm not the only live artist in the galleries. Here are children totally focused on doing their version of a portrait, in the National Gallery in London.

Invariably I encounter a painting that needs to be captured within the pages of my sketchbook.

In the Tate Museum, a guard keeps watch over a reclining lady.

Nearby, a guard sleeping on the job. The abstract painting a bit too boring?

In the Detroit Museum Of Art, my dear friends Vincent and his friend and sometime nemesis,
Gauguin. I would consider cutting my ear off for either one of them.
NAAAAAA!

Closer to home in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, this child, so vulnerable, by Vincent.

And finally, a woman I adore; Ms. Frances Sherborne Ridley Watts, by John Singer Sargent. Also to be discovered at the Philadelphia Museum Of Art. Whadda' woooman!

Thomas Capano, Murderer, Is Dead.

2011-09-21T21:41:00.001-04:00

There is now a little less evil in the world.

Thomas Capano is without a doubt the most evil person I ever drew in court.

He blamed the murder of his beautiful young lover, Anne Marie Fahey, on this woman, who had also been his lover, for eighteen years.

The police had no body, but Capano's brother Gerry finally admitted he'd helped Tom dump Anne Marie's body sixty miles off the Jersey shore, in an area known as "Shark Alley."

During the very long trial a fisherman realized the trunk he'd found floating at sea, with a bullet hole in it, was the trunk Anne Marie's body had been stuffed into.

Here Capano is being led out of court for cursing the prosecutor, whom he hated.

At the end of the seventeen week trial the jury found Capano "Guilty!"

The judge sentenced him to death, but eventually that was reduced to life in prison.
And that is where his life ended this past Monday, in his cell.

I saw Capano as an evil clown, trying to distract everyone as he juggles his donuts in the air.
Happily, he is now peddling on the path to Hell, and last I heard, there are no donuts in Hell.

Labor Day Water Colors.

2011-09-15T19:58:00.000-04:00

If you've been following this blog of mine, then you know I'm in love with this view.

It is a view I grew up with, as a child in South Jersey. And now, as an artist, it seduces me.
My brothers and I played Cowboys and Indians in those woods, my father grew strawberries in the fields.

In early morning wild turkeys search for food in the hollow. At dusk deer venture out to feed.
I feed off all of the shapes in the landscape as I wed pigment with water on the paper's surface.
Do you like one of these water colors more than the other? Tell me why.

Labor Day's Labor Of Love.

2011-09-10T16:04:00.001-04:00

Last Saturday I got a call from my brother Bob.

Seems our Dad had once again been taken to the Emergency Room.

During the three days Pop was in the hospital his faithful and long-caring friends, Leona and Martha, visited him every day. He still has that Ternay charm.

A crazy thing happened on the day Dad was to be released. My brother Frank woke me at 5:30 a.m., asking me to take HIM to the E.R.! We Ternay men were obviously being "tested."

One of my jobs, between visits, was to pick up prescriptions. Pop is now at home, and Frank should be released within the next few days. Life goes on.
Stay tuned.

Maine On My Mind.

2011-08-31T18:47:00.002-04:00

In a bit over one week, summer will officially be over.

But my mind of late has been on heading back up to Deer Isle to paint, and work on our cabin.

I miss the chilly foggy mornings that turn into beautiful sunny afternoons. (Oil 24 X 12")

Getting up at 6 A.M. to go painting with my son Mason.

And all that makes Deer Isle such a magical place.

Water Color 9 X 12 " $125.00

I'm counting the days.

Irene, Julie, Nancy and Me.

2011-08-28T16:00:00.001-04:00

OK, I admit it. The thought of a once-every-hundred-years visit from a gi-hun-dous angry hurricane named Irene, was scary.

Saturday morning, after finally giving up on my attempts to find "D" batteries, I joined the long lines, to fill up my gas tank.

Then I went to Hymies, my favorite local Deli, to indulge in what might be my last hot meal for the weekend.

But around five p.m. I was invited to ride out Irene's visit by having dinner and watching movies with my friend Nancy, and her former college roommate, Julie. A toast of cold "Cosmos" to Irene.

Sunday morning we made another toast, this time to our having survived Irene's visit.

After a leisurely breakfast with Nancy and Julie, I decided to walk the mile back to my house, where my son Mason had been holding down the fort overnight.

Some of my neighbors were already up and out, like this trio of women on a life-affirming run.

My route took me past the now permanently closed Barnes Foundation.

Across the street Dr. Barnes frowns at the thought of how his foundation has been "stormed," not by Irene, but by greedy and wealthy "Philliestines."

I soon rounded the corner onto Birch Avenue and saw my old house sitting there, unscathed, awaiting my arrival. Happily, we had all survived the stormy visit of Ms. Irene. Until next time.

Maurice River Wetlands.

2011-08-23T19:18:00.000-04:00

This little water color was done back in July, as a demo during our workshop.
Being on the Maurice River, whether the river itself, or along it's beautiful banks, is such a wonderful ,
calming experience, at any time of the year. We will soon be slipping into fall.

House Party and Hospital Weekend.

2011-08-22T17:52:00.003-04:00

My dear friend Carol Gillott, of "Paris Breakfasts", asked me the other day if I take my sketchbook with me everywhere I go? I told her I hardly ever leave home without it.

Saturday night Nancy and I were invited to the nearby home of friends for an evening of live music.
After an hour or so of wining and dining, we gathered in the living room to hear our friend Jim Magaziner
doing covers of Beatles songs. Great fun, and he was good.

Not so much fun was the night before, when I was visiting my Dad. Around midnight he insisted
I take him to the nearby hospital's E.R. We were there 'til 5:30 a.m. Although painful, it was not
life threatening. He is once again at home and on the mend. I never know what will end up in my sketchbook.

Bob Dylan and Leon Russell on tour.

2011-08-18T11:30:00.001-04:00

Last night I took advantage of living only about ten minutes from Philly's wonderful outdoor venue, the Mann Center, in Fairmount Park.

Two music "legends" were performing there; Bob Dylan and Leon Russell.

The place was packed with rockin' fans, and in the beginning of the evening there was enough light from the setting sun for me to do this drawing of Leon Russell.

Not so when Dylan came on. Toward the end of his set I moved to another area, with more light. But the guards kept telling me to move. Finally one of them asked "How long will it take to finish that drawing?"
I said "Ten minutes." He said "Go for it!" I like to think I kinda' caught Dylan's "essence. (?)

Silver-Pop-Pop-Baby-Sitting-Artist-Roadie.

2011-08-15T17:59:00.002-04:00

Last Wednesday I climbed into "Hymn4Her's"van and we drove up the Jersey turnpike for their gigs in Brooklyn and the Village.

While Lucy and Wayne were unloading and setting up at the "68 Jay St. Bar," I did this drawing looking up the street, towards the Manhattan Bridge.

My job for the next three days and nights was to look after Diver while her parents performed.

Some regulars at the bar, waiting for the show to go on.

Others watching during the performance.

We spent the night at the home of a friend. Her row house is one of hundreds built by Donald Trump's father
back in the 1930s. Very charming and very retro.

I awoke hungry on Thursday morning and found breakfast (?) at a "take-out" around the corner.

I lingered long enough to draw this poignant woman, a "regular."

The next night, in the village, I stayed in the van while Diver slept. Here again, an observed "NY Moment,"
on the sidewalk.

We had to be back in Philly Friday for a live interview/performance in the studios of my old stomping grounds, KYW-TV 3. Even Diver got in the act on the noon show "Talk Philly." Check out the interview here: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/category/talk-philly/

I'm not so sure Diver believed me when I told her Silver-Pop-Pop worked there way back in the '60s and '70s.

Ahhh...to be once again young...and so naive. (A Christmas party, as I recall.)

Maine, beautiful Maine.

2011-08-09T09:51:00.002-04:00

There is a saying up in Maine; "Well if ya' don't like the wea-tha', just wait five minutes."

Here is our cabin on Deer Isle on a misty morning in July.

Within a half an hour the view of the cove from the porch could be in full sunshine.

My youngest son Mason and I enjoy going out painting in the early morning, in all kinds of weather.

Mason is mostly self-taught. Here is one of his recent water colors, with his thoughts about the moment.

And here, an oil of one of my favorite houses on the island.

We are usually back at the cabin by 10 a.m. or so, and then begin the day's project.

This week, getting rid of mold on our log cabin.

A very physical job well done.

Followed by a swim in the lily pond.

And wondering what will be in store for us with tomorrow's weather...?

A New Chapter In Saving The Barnes Collection.

2011-08-02T08:37:00.000-04:00

I did this painting yesterday in Courtroom B in Norristown, PA. The lawyer standing is Samuel Stretton, who represents "The Friends of the Barnes" in our final attempt to convince judge Stanley Ott there is good reason to re-open the case against the planned move to Philadelphia. Stay tuned.

Painting and Teaching along the Maurice River.

2011-07-25T14:20:00.001-04:00

Two weeks ago I once again participated as "Coordinating- Instructor" in the week long "Maurice River Master Painting Workshop," in South Jersey.

This was our third year of what has become a very successful annual event. I painted this water color at the end of the first day. We were at "Matt's Landing," and as in past years, it was incredibly hot.

Earlier in the morning, Stan Sperlak introduced the students to his approach to the medium of pastels.
Stan is a very talented painter whose demos and crits are always informative and entertaining.
http://www.stansperlak.com/index1.shtml (from my sketchbook)

This eager young artist, Melissa, drove all the way across the U.S. from Breckenridge, CO, to do the workshop.

Tuesday found us at one of our favorite painting spots, an old boatyard that built landing craft during WW2.
Patrick Conners, a professor at PAFA, demonstrated painting techniques of the "Old Masters."

On Wednesday Jill Rupinski, another instructor from PAFA, presented yet another approach to the art of using pastels.

Throughout the week students had views of the beautiful wetlands and Maurice River as sources for inspiration.

A two hour sunset ride out on the river has become a relaxing tradition on Wednesday evenings, weather permitting. We sip wine, look for eagles and ospreys, and enjoy the view of the wetlands from the river.

Ellen, one of the returning students, looks very much like she belongs on Monet's boat, which he used as a floating studio.

Finally it was my turn to teach on Thursday, back at the boatyard. I chose this structure...

...to do a very brief demo in oil pointing out the importance of maintaining color and value relationships, when
interpreting a subject.

On Friday, our final day of painting, I taught water color at the Burcham farm, with its' incredible views of the river.

The clouds had been amazing all week, so I ended the day with this water color.

We had our usual showing of still very wet paintings on gallery walls in time for Friday night's "Millveille Art Walk." And on Saturday morning, the workshop officially ended with my two hour critique of the paintings, and preliminary studies. Next year; more fun out on the Maurice River.
Join us for an intense, but fun, learning experience! http://www.barnstudio.org/

Barn Studio Of Art Outdoor Festival 2011.

2011-06-22T22:53:00.002-04:00

Two Sundays ago I joined South Jersey "Art Lovers", and the proud parents of young artists, at Pat Witt's
annual event at her "Barn Studio of Art" in Millville, N.J.

More than twenty years ago I had done a mural project with students painting on the side of one of Pat's
outbuildings. This horsey looks you in the eye from every vantage point.

The setting for this festival of art is lush and inviting.

Pat has been teaching more than three generations of children and adult artists since opening
"The Barn" in 1962.

On this day young budding artists were painting bunnies.

And flowers.

Throughout the day there was entertainment from a local high school choral group.

And lush color everywhere.

There were also tours of the Barn studios, and Pats home.

Here's a mini version of just a part of the tour, for those of you who couldn't be with me that day.

A day spent at my dear friend and mentor Pat's "Barn Studio of Art" is sure to bring out the child in each of us. Which reminds me of the following:

In just a few weeks I will be one of four instructors in the Barn Studio of Art's third annual "Maurice River
Landscape Painting Workshop."
Dates are July 10 thru 16 for an intense week of Pleine Air painting in the environs of the beautiful Maurice River, and surrounding wetlands. Stan Sperlak focuses on Pastel, Patrick Conner on traditional Oil techniques, Jill Rapinski on Pastel and color theory, and I will be teaching a day of Water Color and a day of Oil painting, in the great South Jersey outdoors. For particulars go to:
http://www.barnstudio.org/

Pleine Air on The Banks Of The Schuylkill.

2011-06-16T23:57:00.006-04:00

I love the Schuylkill River. Rowers, bridges, changing seasons. Always evolving, yet the constant is beauty,
no matter what the time of year.

Here is an oil done in early spring, about a year ago, just off Montgomery Drive.

But I've never done any paintings of the river from Bartram Gardens, on a bend in the river in southwest Philly. It is the 18th century homestead of America's very first botanist, John Bartram, friend of Benjamin Franklin. The farm and buildings sit on a hill overlooking gardens woods and meadows, with paths leading down to the river below. http://www.bartramsgarden.org/

On the opposite shore a pristine swan glided past oil refineries. I visited the gardens to check out the lay of the land, and hopefully encounter artists who were participating in Philly's second annual "Art In The Open" event, all along the banks of the Schuylkill river. http://www.artintheopenphila.org/

The first artists I found were in the cool interior of the barn. They were participating in a Botanical Painting class. It was very quiet there, and I felt a bit like an intruder.

Outside was another artist; Carol Philips. (http://www.carolphilipsart.com/)

Carol was using actual flower petals, mixed with acrylic medium, to create elegant little paintings reflecting
the beauty found in the gardens.

Beyond a meadow where a brick factory once stood is the skyline of center city Philly, just a bit more than a mile away from the lush natural landscape.

In the middle of the meadow were these two artists, Rebecca Keller and Amber Ginsburg. They'd traveled from Chicago to participate in the four day event. They asked if I would like to draw, on objects of all kinds that they had dipped into wet plaster, then let dry.

I had fun letting my pencil line take me for a little walk over and around all the bumps and nooks and depressions of the object I'd chosen.

I then added it to the growing pile of white shapes, each looking like an ancient Pompeian artifact,
on the table-top tableau. What fun!

On the other side of the meadow, in a parking lot at the river's edge, I found Karen Stone, creating a GIANT pleine air painting of what she saw on the river, and the industrial landscape beyond.

Karen's medium was very wide white tape describing in very graphic and simplistic images boats, fish, dock,
and industrial structures. She was delighted to hear from fishermen that her images also glowed in the dark at night. Next time I go to Bartram Gardens, I'll be loaded with gear, and ready to do some Art of my own.

Drawing Lesson In Ink Line.

2011-06-02T11:07:00.002-04:00

The teacher in me has decided to share my ink line techniques and thought processes when drawing in my sketchbooks. I have been drawing and journaling in these books since I left KYW-TV 3, in 1974.

Here are about one-third of my sketchbooks. I recently started number fifty-two.

Artists use sketchbooks for many different reasons. For some, like Claes Oldenburg, they are a place to explore new ideas.

I use mine primarily to capture my fellow humans, and their relationship to their environment. First of all it is about the SHAPES of the "things." Those things in this case are the people, the counter, the patterns in the floor, the upright oxygen tank, the bulletin board and the different angled papers pinned to it, and the implied door and space beyond, behind the man facing us.

All of the things I enumerated above are the POSITIVE SHAPES. Equally important to an artist, when drawing or painting, are the spaces in BETWEEN all those POSITIVE shapes. These we refer to as (you guessed it!) the NEGATIVE SHAPES. These can change as the drawing evolves.

Picture a donut. The donut is the POSITIVE SHAPE, the hole in the middle, and all the air around it, are the NEGATIVE shapes. There is a saying: "If you get all the SHAPES right, then you've gotten all the THINGS right."

If I decide to go to the next level and add TEXTURE and WEIGHT to the drawing but still just use ink line,
then I must make decisions about the resulting VALUES, and how their distribution throughout the drawing changes the over all feeling. Here I've started to add more line, which creates TEXTURE and VALUES.
(Degrees of LIGHT and DARK.)

In this graphic VALUE SCALE you can see most of my options. By changing the angle of my pen or brush,
and the continued build up of a variety of ever darker textures, I can go from the pure white of the page to
areas of pure black.

Here is the final full-value and textured drawing. Not necessarily BETTER, just DIFFERENT, than the
initial more airy drawing in line.A definite overall PATTERN. The female doctor's "whites" are now even whiter because of the contrasting mid-values around her. The darks in the doorway imply the depth of the darkened room, while framing the man's head.
It's all part of the fun of having my pen take me for a walk across the page.

Jealousy and Murder in Easton, PA.

2011-05-24T07:45:00.001-04:00

In my forty five years of being a Courtroom Artist, never have I covered such a gruesome trial.

Two weeks ago I was asked by the Allentown Morning Call newspaper to cover a murder trial, in Easton, PA.

The man on the right is the defendant, Michael Ballard, seated with his lawyers. At the time of the slayings, a year ago, he had just been paroled on a 15-to 30-year sentence for stabbing and slitting the throat of an
Allentown man, in 1991.

Ballard admitted he had very meticulously planned the murders of his girlfriend, her father, grandfather, and an
unfortunate neighbor, who heard screams, as "punishment" because he felt she was cheating on him. His
girlfriend's mother is on the left.

In the darkened courtroom, members of the jury view the bloody crime scene and autopsy photos on a big screen. Ballard stabbed his girlfriend 43 times.

This young woman is lucky to be alive. She found her friend's body in the kitchen, then ran screaming from the house when she heard Ballard in another room. It took Ballard approximately 12 to 15 minutes to complete his slaughter of four people that Saturday morning.

Ballard's lawyers presented testimony via Skype from a County Sheriff and childhood friends in Arkansas, to imply an abusive childhood and head injuries contributed to Ballard's murderous mental state.

The jury didn't buy it. After deliberating for a bit more than two hours, they unanimously agreed Ballard deserved the sentence of death, on each of the four counts of murder in the first degree.

An unemotional Ballard was then led away by Sheriff's Deputies. Under the law, he has the right to appeal his sentences.

The general feeling among the citizens of Easton were summed up by this night security guard I met early on my first day in the courthouse. In this instance, it's very tempting to agree with him.

Nature's Wonders in Philly.

2011-05-14T09:34:00.000-04:00

Exploring an island of green on Philly's western border.

Last Saturday the country boy in me ventured into a beautiful and magical forest, on the very western edge of Philadelphia. http://www.schuylkillcenter.org/

The Schuylkill Center was founded in 1965. It is a natural setting high above the Schuylkill river, with six miles of trails, a stream, big and small ponds, meadows and wetlands. I felt right at home.

Here are Jenny Laden, Associate Director of the Environmental Arts Program, and two of her colleagues, at the edge of the Pine Plantation.

A truly magical space amidst giant evergreens, with school children darting in and out of the sunlight and shadows.

I was reminded of my brothers and me building forts in the woods, on our farm.

But none as sheltering and secretive as this rustic log structure.

Another structure; a boat made of twigs, created by a Chinese artist.

Mother Nature contributed her own art forms. I will return to paint this giant.

In contrast are these gently colored flowers, meandering along the banks of "Smith Run", a stream flowing down through the forest to the Schuylkill river.

Here, deep into the woods, is "Wind Dance Pond."

A still-life, left in the night by Wood Sprites?

Not being a "Birder," I don't know what beauty left this feather in the middle of the trail.

A lizard frozen in time, eyeing the darting snake, on stones...

surrounding this mysterious pool. Steps leading up to...

the darkened interior of an abandoned Well House. Do Fairies dance within at night?

Hurrying up the trail at the end of the day...did I see a flicker of movement in this old stump?
Perhaps an impatient "Shape-Shifter," awaiting nightfall...?

Only in my dreams.

Monet Had His Haystacks.

2011-05-03T20:15:00.000-04:00

There is a field behind my Dad's house that has been a constant source of visual delight to me.

For many years Pop's old country store sat in the hedgerow, having been moved there from its original site, down on the corner. Like my Dad, it was retired after many years of service to the farming community.

Monet was fascinated with the always changing light on his haystacks, in different seasons and times of day.

I've long felt the same way about the light down in the hollow, on the trees and field, with the same need to capture it in paint.

One warm day last week, I set my easel up just inside the kitchen, and painted the view looking out the back door. At the end of the afternoon I had three small water colors.

The first attempt ended up heading for the trash can. Much too busy in the trees, and generally pretty "mushy"
all over. A real stinker.

Painting number two, enveloped in sunlight, I liked. A keeper.

I also liked number three, although there is too much blue in the shade side of the tree. The light was much softer, after clouds moved in. A "Gray day" painting that I'll use for reference in a bigger version, back in my studio. All in all, a fun way to pass the time while my Dad slept. Time to make supper.

Life's Surprises.

2011-04-28T07:26:00.000-04:00

The best laid plans of mice and artists. My adventures of the past two weeks.

My ninety eight year old Dad was admitted to the local hospital, in Elmer, N.J., three weeks ago.

After four days spent in ICU, his doctors decided he should get a pacemaker.

This thoughtful gentleman was Dad's roommate, after leaving ICU.

Pop and I agreed if he died of anything, it would be boredom. I, on the other hand, had my sketchbook.

The voyeur in me found unsuspecting subjects everywhere. Here; in the cafeteria.

The view of a distant farm, from Dad's room.

One day a jolly, well-meaning Catholic priest entered the room. Happily, a bit premature.

During Dad's operation, I shared a waiting room with these folks.

Implanting a pacemaker is pretty routine these days, even in a 98 year old South Jersey farmer, like my Dad.
I'm happy to say he is now on the way to recovery.

Barber Shop Nostalgia.

2011-03-31T08:12:00.002-04:00

It seems every time I go down to South Jersey to see my Dad, I encounter someone from my childhood.
And of late, I've been indulging in nostalgia.

About two weeks ago I took my Dad to get a haircut, at Joe Barca's shop, in the little town of Elmer.

A visit to Joe's Barber Shop is like stepping back into a Saturday Evening Post cover, from the late 1940s.

Joe is still cutting hair at the age of ninety four. When I was a youngster, he was my barber.

On the wall he proudly displays a picture of himself, as a dapper young pilot, during the second world war. But the image I will always remember from those visits to his shop, to get my "DA" trimmed, is the one below.

It's by the illustrator Paul Detlefsen, once famous for his idyllic scenes of country life.
I, of course, was the naive farm boy in the straw hat. I knew even then I wanted to be an artist.

This is is an illustration I did about a year ago, for a puzzle company. Most Illustrators I know, no matter
their age, are fueled by the child still lurking within.

And here is an image from two years ago of Joe and his son, Joey, who is the other barber in the shop.
Next time I'm in South Jersey, guess where I'll be getting my long-overdue haircut?

Art From My Teens.

2011-03-23T21:18:00.004-04:00

Like so many artists I know, I was the kid in school everyone thought of as the "Class Arteeeeest."

Here I am in Mrs. Gloss's Art Class, while at Bridgeton High, in South Jersey, in 1955.

I was about sixteen when I did this cover for a History assignment. My apologies to all of my Indian friends out there.

Whenever my brothers and I played "Cowboys and Indians," guess who played the Indian?

I figured I must have been a Chiricahua Apache Indian in a previous life, for better or for worse.

My fantasies knew no bounds.

And of course, many of those fantasies were inspired by unrequited teenage lust.

Which was all the more frustrated by good old Catholic guilt, and tons of "Impure Thoughts!"

Ahh, to be free of Society's rules, like my hero, Tarzan.

But thank goodness there are no "Thought Police" in the U.S. of A.
And if there were, I knew how to deal with them.

As long as I had my pen, and my imagination, I was in charge.

Did I tell you my brothers and I also used to make Cowboy and Indian movies?
Yup, that's me squatting in the back, as Geronimo. But that's another story.

U.S. Air Force and Sin City.

2011-03-11T15:48:00.002-05:00

Two weeks ago I found myself at Philadelphia Airport, drawing fellow passengers as we all awaited our flight to Las Vegas, Nevada.

My brother Frank and I were flying to Sin City to attend the retirement ceremony of his son Bryan, and
celebrate his 25 years of service in the U. S. Air Force.

I cannot tell you how many drawings I've done over the years of dozing passengers.

There's no doubt it brings out the voyeur in me.

Upon our arrival at the Vegas airport, we were greeted by rows of blinking slot machines, and a very scary lady holding a weapon.

The view from our hotel room was a bit surrealistic, but it appealed to the Artist in me.

As did this character I kept catching glimpses of in the smoke-filled casino, at all hours of the day and night.
Wait a minute! I think I know this guy!

Son Pierce and Maggi and Diver took time off from their U.S. tour to join us for a few days of partying.

They return to Philly on April 3rd, just in time to celebrate Diver's fourth birthday, and to play at The Grape Room, 400 Main Street,in Manayunk, on 16 April. http://graperoommusic.wordpress.com/

Was this woman ending a night of gambling, at 8 a.m., or just beginning her day with a beer and a stack of bills?

The highlight of the trip, of course, was Bryan's retirement ceremony.

He and his family and friends had good reason to be proud of his accomplishments.

And here is a very young and naive me, in the Air Force in 1958. Not quite yet the Artist, and definitely not
meant for a career in the military.
Not everything that happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Provence beckons.

2011-03-03T10:45:00.003-05:00

I don't know about the rest of you out there, but in my Philly neck of the woods, I've actually been seeing small signs of spring in the offing. Sunlight appears at my window a bit earlier each morning, and on my walk yesterday, delicate violet and gold crocus smiled at me as I passed. Can our next trip to Provence be far behind?

My friend Ellen Greenberg and I invite you to join us for our second "Painting In Provence Workshop", which will be held during the week of August 29 thru September 5, 2011.

Our "home away from home" for the week will once again be in the beautiful medieval "perched" village of Bonnieux, set high up on the north side of the Luberon Mountain range, in Provence.

We will be staying at Le Clos du Buis, as we did last year. This incredibly lovely Bed and Breakfast is in a 200 year old building that formerly housed a bakery. It has been lovingly restored by our hosts, Chef/Owner Pierre Maurin, and his wife Lydia.

Each day's adventure begins with a lavish buffet breakfast.

Our daily excursions to the towns, wineries, marketplaces, and artist's studios will be chaperoned by our private guide, the very French, always elegant, and incredibly knowledgeable Laurence Minard-Amalou.

We will visit the studio of the Cubist master, Paul Cezanne, in the ancient city of Aix-en-Provence.

And the 12th century cloister and asylum where the anguished Vincent Van Gogh painted many of his most famous works.

We will experience a private wine tasting at the organic vineyard Chateau la Canorgue, just a short walk from our hotel. The film "A Good Year," starring Russell Crowe, was made here, a few years ago.

Evenings will be spent enjoying the fare in our choice of the many quaint restaurants in Bonnieux.

And I will have the pleasure of sharing everything I know about painting with you during our late afternoon painting sessions, in the hotel's beautiful garden, with it's magnificent views beyond. (LaCoste, wc)

Here is our group of friends and fellow travelers at last year's farewell dinner. Everyone agreed it was an absolutely wonderful week of delightfully new experiences, and Ellen and I invite you...and friends of yours, to join our "Painting in Provence" workshop, (29 August thru 5 September) or the new "Picturing Prague" photography workshop during the following week. (9 September thru 16 September.)
Here is the link to see details of the two itineraries: http://www.quickculture.com/PaintinginProvenceAug2011.pdf

These

Philly Snowed In.

2011-02-01T14:35:00.001-05:00

Anybody who believes climate change isn't happening must have his head buried deeply in...
well...a big snowbank.

A few nights ago we got dumped on yet again in the Philly area, and even more snow is predicted within
the next few days. Kitty was contemplating a warm day inside.

We were both awakened by the chatter of my friend Tom's snow blower. Peeking beyond my Batman collection I could see he was busy being gracious to his neighbors, clearing the sidewalks.

Son Mason and I, taking a breather from our morning of shoveling out.

As a tip of my winter cap to dear old, and insistent, Mother Nature, I thought I'd show you some paintings
done by me of landscapes that have snow in them. It seems I actually have not done as many as I thought.
Here is a detail of one done in a nearby park. Each of these paintings is a water color.

This and the one following were done at Keystone Ski Resort, above Denver, Colorado.

I did these from quick ink sketches, on site, then did the actual paintings in the warmth of our lodge, in
front of the fireplace, with a delicious Manhattan within reach. There have actually been occasions when
I dipped my brush in my drink, instead of the water. Whooops! Only when on vacation.
Now, if only spring was truly just lurking around the corner.
Hang in there, friends.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend Celebration.

2011-01-24T10:57:00.003-05:00

Back in 1970, while I was still in the Art Department of Philly's KYW-TV3, I was asked to design sets for a "Special" we were doing about the recent history of the Civil Rights Movement.

This is the image I did depicting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi.

Last year I did this drawing at the Zion Baptist Church, in Ardmore, PA during a rousing and rocking
"Unity Day Service," shared by the church, and two local Jewish Temples; Beth Am Israel and Main Line Reform. This year I joined my friend Nancy and her daughter Rachel, singing in the choir. Although a long ago lapsed Catholic, I do consider myself very spiritual, and I do love to sing, which we did on Friday evening and Sunday morning. I'll be looking forward to doing it again, this time next year.

Here are more images from the set designs done for the History of the Civil Rights Special, in 1970.
I used the profile of the young Black man as a recurring theme throughout the series.

Police dogs and Billy Cubs used on protesters.

Stokely Charmicael, Black Power, James Meridith shooting.

The murders of Medgar Evers and Emmett Till in Mississippi.

Hymn 4 Her's Three Month Tour.

2011-01-14T15:55:00.002-05:00

If you have been following my blog since its' inception, by now you might have the feeling my branch of the Ternay clan is a bunch of Gypsies.

...and you would be right. It is especially true of my son Pierce and his mate in the band, and in life, sweet Maggi Jane...and of course, their daughter, Diver.

On January 5th they all piled into their van, with friend Gret as resident Nanny, and Pokey the Band Dog...to embark on a three month tour of the U.S., in true Gypsy style.

But before they left, they had one final fun local gig, at the "Grape Room," in Philly's Manayunk section.
This drawing is from my sketchbook.

Opening for Maggi and Pierce was a very talented and animated performer, " Le Roy Montana."
Great head, flowing mane and scarves; how could I resist?! Too bad I was working in pen and ink, 'cause
this guy was very "colorful."

As usual, I delighted in attempting to capture the variety of wonderful fellow fans at the bar, including my
hero, Batman. OK, so it's not really the man, himself.

I got so caught up drawing the performers and patrons across the bar that I didn't notice this beautiful
and so talented and famous Philly Rapper, "Schooly D," sitting next to me, waiting to go on.

And here are Maggi and Pierce, as they were playing their final gig in Philly, for quite awhile.
Happily, they are getting RAVE REVIEWS on the tour, and tonight they play in New Orleans, then
they head for Texas, and New Mexico, etc. Check out their website for their whole tour schedule.
They will return just before Diver's Birthday, on April 4th.
You can see them performing a few nights ago, in Nashville, below. ENJOY!

Hymn for Her 2011 01 11 Basement Sea from Kevin Kaz on Vimeo.

Holiday Traditions.

2011-01-05T21:11:00.001-05:00

When I was a young South Jersey farm boy, one of our favorite annual traditions and adventures was to head
out to the woods with my brothers, Bob and Frank, to find and chop down our Christmas tree.

Two weeks ago my son Will and I drove down to those same woods, to look for this past year's tree.

I just wanted a little one, of modest dimensions. We soon settled on a lone Cedar, at the edge of the field.
I liked its' "Charlie-Brownish" demeanor.

One of the other traditions our family of artists and musicians has had, is to make as many of the gifts, as possible. Here I am working on an oil portrait of Stevie Nicks, my brother Frank's favorite singer.

He loved it.

For our sweet Maggi, son Pierce's partner, I finally fulfilled a promise to repair, and repaint, an old Japanese
folding screen that she'd grown up seeing, in her Grandmother's bedroom.

She loved it.

And for my dear friend and Muse, Nancy, I Photoshopped, enlarged, and framed a favorite picture of her
with her sister Robin.

She also loved it.

For my three sons, Will, Pierce, and Mason, I cleaned up some old family photos, including this one of
their mom, Louise, twirling her fire baton.
We all loved it, especially the graphic color and pixellation.

And finally; since Christmas is for kids...no matter what the age, here's my granddaughter Diver, helping her
Daddy, Pierce, trim our little South Jersey Christmas tree. It was a great holiday.

Happy New Year to you, one and all!

Vandalizing the Barnes Foundation.

2010-12-28T12:54:00.010-05:00

Anyone who appreciates Art, and lives in the Philadelphia area, surely has heard of the fabled Barnes
Foundation, and its' massive treasure-trove of Impressionist and Post Impressionist Art.

For the past two years or so, I have been contributing "Cartoons of Protest" to the Friends of the Barnes, the group of concerned citizens attempting to keep the collection from moving to Philadelphia. Here is one of my
initial cartoons, showing the "Money Hole" the planned move has become. Money that could have been used to preserve the Foundation at its' beautiful original site, in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.

Here is a daily view I've had of the Barnes Foundation for the past forty years or more. A few weeks ago my
morning jog was interrupted when I saw the sign protesting the move, across the street from the Barnes, had
been sprayed with bright red paint!

My first reaction was to laugh, as I looked at my huge cartoon depicting a concerned Dr. Barnes, and various
artists whose paintings are in the collection, each peeking through the drips of paint.

Here is the original cartoon, before the spray-painting. When I eventually found out the Barnes had had their Annual Holiday Party for donors the day before, the artist in me knew there was another cartoon that had to be done.

And here is my response to the act of vandalism to our sign, and my cartoon. Events depicted here are, of
course, purely a "pigment" of my imagination.

Ironically, the zealot who felt threatened by our message, and emboldened by darkness, has created a visual metaphor for the even greater act of vandalism that is being perpetrated on the legacy of Dr. Barnes, and one of the world's most important collections of Art.

In its' present state of colorful vandalism, the sign now sends a much more powerful message than any cartoon I could have come up with.
But I'll keep trying!
http://www.barnesfriends.org/files/art_of_steal.html

The Trials of John du Pont.

2010-12-12T21:01:00.003-05:00

John du Pont, great-great -grandson of the founder of the world famous chemical company, was one of the wealthiest men in American history to be found guilty of murder.

This past Thursday du Pont was found dead, just before 7 a.m., in his prison cell. He had been serving a 13 to 30 year sentence for the 1996 murder of Olympic gold medalist wrestler, David Schultz, in 1996.

During my more than 40 years as a television courtroom artist, the du Pont trial was one of the most sensational. Sometimes I take my "Artist's Eye," and envision the view from another part of the courtroom.
In reality, artist Susan Schary and I were seated in the upper left of this image, drawing furiously.

The month long trial was presided over by Judge Patricia Jenkins.

Most of the psychiatrists testifying agreed that du Pont suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. During the trial one of the people who worked on his estate told me, "If you're rich, and have mental problems, you're not
considered crazy, just "eccentric."

Those of us who do courtroom art usually find ourselves sitting on the far side of the courtroom, away from the defendant, so we can at least get a "profile." view. As a result we are near the family of the victim.
This is my drawing of the family of David Schultz, who were incredibly stoic, while "bearing witness" for their son and husband, during the trial.

In this close up of an unfinished image, you can see the process I go through to create my paintings. First I rough it all in with pencil, then do the ink drawing with a "Sharpie" pen, followed by watercolor.
About 40 minutes from start to finish. I love trying to capture the ambiance of the really old County
Courthouses.

John Du Pont was found guilty of murder, but mentally ill. David Schultz's father said, after the verdict,
"I did forgive the man for what he did. I never forgave the act."

Sargent, Portraits, and Me.

2010-12-07T01:25:00.002-05:00

Supposedly John Singer Sargent's definition of a painted portrait was; "A picture of someone in which
there is something not quite right about the nose." Well, for the past month and a half I have been wrestling
with getting noses, teeth, rocks, folds, flesh, etc, to look like there is nothing wrong with the way in which
I have depicted them, in a commissioned portrait.

Back in the middle of the summer, I took the "Bolt" bus to New York City, to discuss the working procedure
and other aspects of creating a double-portrait of my subjects.

As usual on long bus rides, I passed the time secretly sketching my dozing fellow passengers.

My clients live on the Upper West Side, in one of those beautiful, old, and historic "Brownstones."

Although the interior of their home would have been fun to include as a background for the portrait,
they chose instead to be painted out in their quiet garden, where they spend most of their time
during the spring and summer. This was a "test shot;" one of many I took on my first visit.

The following week I took many many more photos of them, and the details in their garden, to refer to
once I returned to my studio to do an initial but rough sketch, in the same size as the final portrait, for their
comments.

After their approval, I did an even more detailed sketch, this time to pin down every element of the painting,
before transferring the drawing to the canvas. In this detail, you can see the "code" I came up with, to guarantee getting the darks (B) and the halftones (H) where they actually were, in the rock wall.

With the drawing in reverse on my lightbox, I once again went over every line, this time with a soft pastel pencil, then flipped the drawing into position onto the canvas...and traced everything one final time,
then sprayed the drawing with a "workable" fixative. (whew!)

Finally, I actually get to lay out my colors, and start painting. My goal is to keep moving around the canvas,
getting all the values and colors right, so they will function as a FOIL, for the main stars of this pictorial
event, my clients, who I leave to the very end.

Taaa-taaaaaa! After about 3 weeks of painting, I am satisfied with the final portrait, and I feel I captured
the likeness of my clients, and their environment. The BIG question, of course, is whether they will agree?

This past Saturday I once again made the trip up to New York City, and delivered the painting.

My clients/friends LOVED IT. We celebrated with a relaxing and delicious brunch, and I ended my day in New York over on the east side of Central Park, where there is a wonderful showing of the "Impressionist" paintings, of the Master himself,...John Singer Sargent.

John Ebersberger's Portrait Workshop.

2010-11-27T13:49:00.004-05:00

The majority of the paintings you've seen on my blog so far have been landscapes, in oil or watercolor.
But during my career as an Artist I've continued to be fascinated by painting people, whether as a Courtroom Artist, in my sketchbooks, and in my portraits.

Three weeks ago I took a two-day Portrait Workshop in Annapolis, MD, at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. The instructor was John Ebersberger, holding the white block (above.)

John is a nationally known and respected painter and teacher, and I jumped at this opportunity to study with
him, and to bring with me my "Beginner's Mind" for what I knew would be an informative workshop.

John is dedicated to passing on the painting concepts of "Impressionism," as taught by Charles Hawthorne and Henry Hensche, of the Cape Cod School of Art. Here John is showing us the layout of his palette of colors.

In his demo on the first morning, John emphasized the importance of doing lots of "Squinting," and focusing on laying in the masses of the big shapes, ignoring details in the final portrait until the later stages. Here he is doing a quick color study, that preceds the actual portrait.

There were two models in each of the two studios, each enveloped in the simple beauty of north light.
Here is my initial very rough color study. I was having a ball being a student again!

During the model's "breaks," John would make various points about form, drawing, and Impressionist color, using his own, and other artist's originals, as examples.

Here is a finished "demo" of John's, all done with a palette knife.

And here; a quick charcoal sketch, to make a point about the structure of the model's eye.

Here is my unfinished portrait, definitely a "work-in-progress," at the end of the day on Sunday. None of us came with the intention of doing "finished" portraits; just many "starts." John did his critiques, we scraped passages out, re-painted, focused on getting those "masses," and ultimately, the subtle shifts of color within.

Finally; a beautiful demo by the Master, Henry Hensche, owned by John.
I got exactly what I wanted from this workshop. A chance to loosen-up, to meet other artists with like interests, and to be exposed to John's thoughts on Art and Portraiture. Now; to put it to use in my own paintings, and teaching.

Halloween Greetings from a French Graveyard.

2010-10-28T00:46:00.002-04:00

In many countries it is called "The Day of the Dead," and with Halloween coming up this weekend,
I could not resist one more visit to Bonnieux...

...and the huge cemetery I discovered on my last day, at the very tippy-toppy of the town.

And now, from the sadly serene to the zaniness of the whole Ternay clan performing just for your
entertainment, in the latest "Hymn For Her" music video, "Sea." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuhUxFdRCkw
Have a safe and scary Halloween.
And oh yes: BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Provence; the Summation.

2010-10-19T01:06:00.000-04:00

I returned from our wonderful week in Provence over a month ago. It was a fun time for all.
And it looks like we're going to do it again next year. So time for a summation, and moving on.

Although I enjoyed every one of the many trips to rustic towns, and wine tastings, and effulgent
meals, and camaraderie with my new friends, on a very aesthetic and personal level, there were two
excursions that took the Artist in me to hallowed ground. Here I am in the studio of Paul Cezanne,
in Aix-en-Provence.

Everywhere we went in town one encountered signs announcing "The Trail of Cezanne."

And here is the master, exiting his studio; in the last known picture taken of him.
When I was in art school and for many years afterwards, I did not have a clue of what Cezanne's
paintings were about. And although I took the course at the Barnes Foundation, I'm still at work,
in my attempts to digest the totality of meaning in his paintings. But I do know he was a revolutionary
genius, and marched to his own drummer, and influenced artists who followed in his footsteps, since.

Not many footsteps beyond his studio (about one half a mile) is a hill from which he painted many
of the views of his beloved "Mont.Saint Victoire."

And here I am, playing "Tourist," with the Mount in the distance. At one point Picasso bought
a piece of land that had a view of the mountain, and he supposedly proclaimed "I now own

Cezanne's mountain!"

And here we have another genius, although during his tragically brief lifetime, neither he nor

anyone who knew him or his art, would have thought of him as such. This is a sculpture of my friend and mentor (I have many) Vincent Van Gogh. It is on the pathway leading into the grounds of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, the sanitarium in St.-Remy where he voluntarily admitted himself.

The actual room Vincent stayed in is in the still active part of the sanitarium, but I assume, as in most institutions, each patient's room is pretty much like another.

Here is a drawing done by Vincent of the interior courtyard. So beautifully complex.

And that same courtyard today. A space for contemplation.

Here are three more water colors done by me while under the spell of Provence.

And this week of wonderful experiences would not have happened without the enthusiasm and
planning of my dear, dear friend, Ellen.
Merci Ellen, and au revoir!

Avignon and Workshop Day One.

2010-10-12T00:35:00.002-04:00

Monday morning we were greeted by our elegant, charming, and oh-so-very French guide for the week, Laurence Minard-Amalou. On this first day she was taking us to Avignon; city of the French Popes, and after lunch to the first of our many wine tastings.

Unfortunately, as we left Bonnieux, I found my camera batteries were dead, so everyone but me has pictures
of the wonderful architecture of Avignon, the amazing rooms and art in the Pope's grand palace, our leisurely lunch, and the wine tastings in the afternoon. Such is the life, at times, of a forgetful tourist.

So we fast forward to the end of the day, and the beautiful garden behind our hotel, where I did a "Demo"
to introduce my students to my thought processes as I do a painting.

The light in the late afternoon was perfect for my mostly fledgling student/friends to tackle outdoor painting,
which is challenge enough for experienced painters. Wonderful shadow shapes, patches of golden lawn,
rock walls, a fountain and a variety of trees.

And a view of the town of LaCoste, on the distant hills of the Luberon Mountains.

After my demo everyone found a subject to paint...but first of all, I insisted they explore their subjects
to resolve compositional concerns by doing "Value Studies."

Here is the study by Jackie Lang, who loves the Impressionists, and had never drawn before, least of all
picked up a paint brush. A very good start.

By the time the sun had set behind LaCoste, and the castle of the Marquis de Sade, now owned by Pierre Chardin...

... we were ending our day dining in one of the many cozy restaurants in Bonnieux.

Here is a water color painted by me a few days earlier, again looking towards LaCoste.
Awaiting us on Tuesday: our visit to an organic vineyard, Russell Crowe, and serpents.
And a very private and raucous dinner.

Provence Workshop; the students arrive.

2010-10-04T08:20:00.004-04:00

By now anyone of you who reads my blog can see I enjoy the art of photography, almost
as much as I love painting.

On Sunday morning I took advantage of my second free day, and explored the cobbled
streets and winding stone stairways leading me to the upper reaches of Bonnieux.

But first, a quick "Bonjour" to the friendly and very busy baker, at the nearby Boulangerie.
He took time out from making the morning breads to sell me a yummy croissant to go with my coffee.

Although I was looking for a subject to paint, I kept getting seduced by...well, the following,
and so many more images to shoot.

I finally did settle in, and found a subject to paint.

Here is the final finished water color.

By the time I got my painting gear together, and made the trek down to our hotel, it was late afternoon.
Just enough time to get cleraned up, and meet the students.

Here we are at our "Welcoming Dinner," in the dinning room of our hotel, le Clos du Buis.
From left to right; Ellen, Holly, Donna, Cass, me, MJ, Jackie, Tema, and Judy.
The first of many wonderful meals and experiences to be shared in the coming week

Provence Workshop; discovering Bonnieux.

2010-09-29T21:14:00.004-04:00

After flight delays that prevented me from making the rendezvous with my dear friend Ellen, and three of our students, I finally arrived at de Gaulle airport, in Paris, and caught the last train to Avignon.

Ellen had booked me in First Class, and what a pleasure it was, speeding through the French countryside,
at the end of the very long day, for the three hour trip.

At one point this group of giggling young women paraded down the aisle. They were from England,
and were touring France with their friend, for her extended "Bachelorette" party.
They'd spent the day at Disney World.

Here is a quick compilation sketch of bits of farm architecture glimpsed among the hills, forests, and fields.

Although my taxi had delivered me to our hotel well after midnight, I was up bright and early for
my first day in the beautiful medieval town of Bonnieux, in the Luberon Valley.

Of course, I was not the only one enjoying the early morning sunshine.

On the left is our hotel; our "home away from home," for the week, "le Clos du Buis."

And here is the very same view, many, many generations ago.

I decided it was time to have some breakfast, and joined friends Tema and Ellen,
who were also starting their day, with what looked like soup bowls of coffee.

This was the buffet that awaited us every morning, in the dining room.

My morning fare; the beginning of a week of eating delicious foods, morning, noon, and night.

I spent the rest of the morning roaming the narrow streets, until I found a subject to paint.
And oh yes, most importantly, a place to set up my easel, in the shade.

Here is the water color I did that morning. The rest of the students would be arriving the
next evening, on Sunday, and then our week together, in Provence, would officially begin.

Provence, Chadds Ford, and Reality.

2010-09-21T00:45:00.002-04:00

For me, making the aesthetic leap from teaching my Painting Workshop in Provence, followed
by last weekend's outdoor festival in Chadds Ford, PA, was a natural one.

Old stone buildings, like that of colonial settler John Chadd, the smell of wood smoke curling into
the damp morning air, and reenactors in period garb; I'm a sucker for the romance of history,
no matter where I encounter it. It's the Illustrator in me, for sure.

On this particular weekend I am one of many artists and crafts-people who are pitching their tents
on the grounds of the Chadds Ford Historical Society, for the "Chadds Ford Days" annual festival.

I find the subjects for most of my "Pleine Air" paintings in Maine, South Jersey, and along the banks of
the Schuylkill River. Here are two done in Chadds Ford, in the past year.
"The Brandywine, Looking North." Oil on panel. 5 X 7" $110.00 unframed.

"Kuerners; Homage to Andy and N.C." Oil on panel 12 X 24" $1,900. framed

Saturday was sunny and beautiful, with over 4,000 visitors meandering the grounds. I decided to
entertain the throngs by setting up my easel and finally finishing a painting I'd almost completed
in Maine, the previous summer.

Here is the finished painting. I love New England homes that are attached to their barns.
They move across across the landscape, in so many varied configurations. Oil on canvas, NFS

Just in case you think it was all just fun and games; at one point I forced myself to test the texture and taste of this weighty Funnel Cake. (urp!) No easy task.

Unlike our sunny Saturday, Sunday loomed gray and threatening.

While a gentle rain fell, I shared the shelter of the John Chadd house with these lovely women,
a mother and her daughter.

But we artists were an optimistic bunch, and just in time for the opening, the rains passed.

To pass the time between visitors to my tent, I did this ink line drawing of two new artist friends,
Kieth Hoffman and Bruno Baran. Each is a really good landscape painter.

Happily, the rain held out for the rest of the day. As I emptied my tent and packed up my
paintings, I thought of Andy Wyeth, whose winter home was about a half mile down the road.

Just a few weeks earlier, while in Maine, I had spent a night baby-sitting my granddaughter,
Diver, at a bar in which Pierce and Maggi were performing. We were in
Port Clyde, where Andy and his family had for so many years spent their summers.

I kinda' like the idea that Andy's spirit will continue to trek the landscape, in Maine and in
his beloved Brandywine Valley, forever seeking the subject of his next painting.

Philly to Maine and now Provence.

2010-08-26T09:33:00.000-04:00

I really don't know how my "Painting A Day" colleagues do it!
I've been at our cabin, in Maine, for the past two weeks, painting
in the mornings, working on the cabin and grounds during the day,
and of course, hanging out with my kids at all times, eating fresh seafoods,
and usually ending the day at the "Lily Pond," for a good swim and a jump off the rope swing.
And this evening, I fly to Provence, for a week of teaching in a painting workshop.

Am I crazy, or what? Here's a taste of the art done, while in Maine.

A bientot

Sunset Cruise on the Maurice River.

2010-08-05T09:48:00.007-04:00

One of the really serene highlights of our workshop week is the sunset cruise on the Maurice River.
Once again our River Guide was Captain Dave, a longtime "Friend of the Barn Studio." He obviously
enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of the history of the river, and its' inhabitants, starting with the
Lenni-Lenape people, and early Colonists of the Delaware Bay area.

For Pat Witt, the Maurice River and its' tributaries and marshlands and ditches and wildlife and
earthy wet smells have forever formed, and informed, her life as an artist and teacher.

I have the daily pleasure of owning and living with four of Pat's beautiful and elegant paintings.

We had hardly pushed off from the dock, before Pat had her sketchbook out, making rapid sketches
of her impressions of the passing wetlands and sometimes steep banks of the river.

And because of a few days of stormy skies, Mother Nature gave us a wonderful show.

Mostly, we sat and simply looked at the beauty of it all. We knew we were so very fortunate to
have this week, to paint along the river.

Rounding a bend, yet another view of the Burcham Farm.

At one point, as I stood with Pat and Kandice, at the bow of the boat...

We recieved this gift from the Art Spirit.

A wonderful way to end this year's cruise on the Maurice River.
http://www.nps.gov/maur/

Day Three, Maurice River Plein Air Workshop; Marie Natalie

2010-08-01T15:49:00.007-04:00

I had never had the pleasure of meeting Marie Natale, the instructor for the third day of our workshop.
But I'd seen her beautiful, lush, loose and luminous water colors, at Pat's Barn Studio. As I suspected,
she was a "kindred spirit", obviously in love with the medium, and enjoying the opportunity to share her knowledge with students.

Like her paintings, Marie's personality was overflowing and her humor and obvious love of the medium, infectious. After everyone was set up in the shelter of an open shed...once again, storms had been predicted, Marie did a small demo, just to discuss and show the immediacy of her approach to painting in water color. Note that she prefers to work vertically, which guarantees wet washes will be influenced by gravity, big time. Not for the faint of heart!

But Marie encouraged everyone to be brave, and assured us the medium can be controlled, if one proceeds
in a logical way. Rule # one: Only work into washes two ways. When they are wet, and then after they are once again dry.

She showed her palette, and discussed why she loves mixing colors on the paper, and not on the palette
first. She encouraged using a "triad" of reds, blues, and yellows, whenever possible.

And she emphasized the importance of using the loaded SIDE of the brush to apply color, using the
tip only for details. Why wear out the tip of very, very, expensive Sable brushes?

Marie then chose a nearby outbuilding as a subject for her more elaborate painting demo. Students
saw how she applied the various techniques, discussed earlier, in a painting.

After a break for lunch, students ventured out to a variety of vantage points, to paint the river and the distant marshlands, and as it turned out, the approaching storms, coming from the southwest. Marie went from student to student, giving her input. Since I love water color so much, I decided to live dangerously and do a painting, myself.

I was fascinated by the image of the one student with the umbrella, set up along the shoreline.
Her pile of "shapes," in juxtaposition with all that wonderful "nature stuff" going on, was just waiting
to be painted. Note the subtle texture in my sky, the result of getting caught twice in sudden downpours.
After the painting dried, I decided Mother Nature had done my painting and me a favor. I liked it.
As did one of my students, who ended up trading with me for one of her paintings, which
I'll show you in an upcoming post.

Around four P.M., Marie gathered everyone together, and proceeded to give a very thoughtful and
insightful crit of each student's paintings. Many of the students had never used water colors before this
class. As I said earlier, Marie's enthusiasm for water color was infectious, and everyone came away
from this day knowing so much more about this elegant, gutsy, and not really so mysterious, medium,
thanks to Marie's instruction.

Maurice River Plein Air Workshop; Patrick Connors.

2010-07-29T15:02:00.006-04:00

This is the fabled "Burcham Farm," situated on a hill that has a wonderful, expansive view of the
Maurice River. Its' lush green fields are actually lower than the water level of the river, and are
protected from flooding by dikes. Pat Witt's childhood friends, Janice and Jeanette Burcham, were twins,
and until their recent deaths, they ran a very active and productive working farm here, raising sheep and pigs, baling hay, and selling eggs from their many chickens, ducks, and geese. The farm is over 130 years old.

For many, many years, Pat has been bringing students and instructors here, to paint the farm and its' limitless, wonderful views and cloudscapes. In spite of threatening skies, optimistic students showed up for our second day of the workshop, ready to paint, and learn.

The instructor was Patrick Connors, who teaches at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
For his demo, we decided to play it safe, and gather on the porch. We soon found out why Patrick is
such a popular instructor at PAFA. Patrick is encyclopedic in his knowledge of Art History, and techniques
and their origins. And he is one very funny Dude!

He introduced us to classical methods of "Representational" painting, explaining in great detail the use of painting methods with wonderful Italian names." Imprimatura, Velutra, Chiaroscuro", and the always popular "Bozzeti," which is the plural of "Bozzeto," as we all now know.

Here is Patrick's version of the classical "Earth Palette." His medium is one part Blond Linseed Oil,
and one part Mineral Spirits.

And here are examples of Patrick's "studies," which he passed around to students.

Patrick chose elements from this view out towards the Maurice River, for his demo.

On his previously prepared colored "ground," he sketched the shapes in the landscape, painted the
"Darks," then with a rag went back into the wet paint, for the "rubbing out", of the "Lights."
This left a transparent and glowing image, much like a water color. Quite beautiful in itself.

But in this demo, that was merely the "Under-painting." Following the rule of "Fat over Lean," he then started
to apply very considered passages of opaque paint, laying each stroke onto the surface with a "loaded" brush.
Because it was time for a lunch break, ("Pizzeria" being another fond Italian word) Patrick decided to end his demo with this unfinished painting.

After lunch the students found sites to paint, for the rest of the afternoon.

Patrick made the rounds, offering his thoughts on each artist's work-in-progress.

Despite a few brief showers, this second workshop day provided students opportunities to explore
the concepts introduced to them by Patrick Connor, a very talented painter and instructor.
I had to leave around 5 P.M., so I missed the late afternoon-early evening landscape session,
taught by another wonderful artist and instructor, Ruth Formica. Everyone loves painting at the
Burcham Farm.

Maurice River School Plein Air Workshop; 2010. Day One.

2010-07-24T17:44:00.005-04:00

Last Sunday afternoon students gathered under the trees at the the Barn Studio of Art,
in Millville, N.J., for the welcoming "Meet and Greet." This was the second Maurice River
School Plein Air Painting Workshop, and the class size had doubled after last year's very
successful initial outing. In fact, sadly, students had to be turned away this year.

During the week that followed, students had access to the teaching of five
experienced Artist/Instructors, each offering their expertise in a variety of mediums,
aesthetics, and painting. On a very hot and humid Monday, we met at the Leesburg Ship Yard,
at the edge of the Maurice River.

Stan Sperlak was the instructor for this first day, sharing his knowledge of Pastel,
starting with a demo, which took about an hour to complete. He also encouraged students to
not set up too close to the shoreline, out of respect for a family of nesting Ospreys.

Here is Stan's finished demo.

The students then found sites to paint on the grounds of the now deserted, but very historic,
boat yard. Rule number one when painting outdoors (if possible) find a shady spot!
Some students braved the sunshine; others brought their own shade.

And most found refuge in the shadows of the silent buildings.

Here is an almost completed student work, with her preliminary rough concept sketch.

About an hour before the long day ended, Stan did another quick demo, just to make some
final points about showing "atmosphere," in the humid late afternoon light.

Here is "atmosphere" of another kind, one we looked forward to on most nights as the week
progressed. Always accompanied by good food and drinks, and reflections on the day's efforts.
On this first night; the "Oar House Pub," in Millville, with our "Mentor," Pat Witt, on the right.

Being an Artist is Hard Work.

2010-07-10T23:45:00.002-04:00

This past week was a very busy, and demanding one, for me, in regards to wearing my "Arteest's" hat.
I'll elaborate in my next post. But starting tomorrow, at four P.M., an even busier week will begin.
I will be wearing my "Instructor's" hat, teaching for the week with four other instructors, at the second annual "Maurice River School Plein Air Painting Workshop," in South Jersey.

Week after next I'll do a post about the week's adventures, but for now, here are some images from our
first workshop, last year. Everyone involved is delighted to know our enrollment has more than doubled
this year, totaling twenty five students. Here is the woman responsible for the founding of "The Barn Studio
of Art," in 1965, Pat Witt. As Millville's "Artist Laureate," she is the ultimate Artist and Muse, radiating the
"Art Spirit" to generations over these many years.

Pennsylvania Academy Associate Professor and artist, Jill Rupinski, presenting her insightful thoughts
on the use of Pastels, at the edge of the pond at the Barn Studio.

Students enduring the hot sun and sand at one of our many painting sites, East Point Light,
on the Delaware Bay.

My Water Color demo from that day of painting.
(Sold to a collector,)

Every day we painted 'til well into the evening. Here, at the swimming hole at the Burcham Farm, on
the Maurice River.

And here is our oldest, and I think most enthusiastic student, Al, a retired doctor, chasing the light
at the end of another long day.

This is a demo I did in oil, at the Burcham's Farm. Next week; more of the same. Gotta' stay in shape, because I can see the Maurice River School Workshops are going to just keep growing, in the
years to come. (Oil on panel. Sold to a collector.)
Did I mention that I'm also teaching an Acrylics Painting Workshop in Provence, France, at the end of August? Now THAT will be an adventure, for sure.
Can hardly wait. Thank you, Ellen.

Art And Pure Nostalgia.

2010-07-05T22:42:00.004-04:00

On summer evenings, after dinner, my mother would take my brothers and me for a cooling
dip in the brown cedar waters of nearby Palatine Lake. Palatine was one of a string of lakes
that included Elmer, Centerton, Franklinville, Parvins, Iona, and Garrison lakes.

Here we are, cooling our tootsies in Palatine lake, where I learned to swim. That's me, on the left,
and my brother Bob, on the right. Brother Frank was then only a gleam in my Dad's (and maybe Mom's)
eye. About fifteen years after this picture was taken, Bob worked here as a Life Guard, and met
and wooed his future wife, Eleanore, whose family rented one of the many cabins along the back side
of the lake, for the summer.

Here is a painting of part of the lake, including the Life Guard stand, that I did (from memory) as a
gift to Bob and Eleanore, for their wedding. I think I painted this in acrylics, while still in art school.
Sadly, only two of the lakes mentioned above are open to the public anymore, for swimming, or the renting of cabins for the summer, etc. Many of the others are polluted, but do allow canoeing and sport fishing.

One of the lakes that still has tons of summer visitors, and cabin owners, is one I've been driving past every
time I visit my Dad and brothers; Lake Garrison. For years I've promised myself to spend a day there, and do a little "photo essay" of this classic South Jersey Lake. So that is how I spent about 5 hours of
my Fourth of July, just quietly roaming in the shadows (it was SO HOT!, trying not to be intrusive to my
fellow humans, who were obviously having a very "American" experience, as I was, on this Fourth.

My thanks to Lake Garrison Manager, Joe Reggetto, for indulging my nostalgia, and giving me the run of the property. I was a kid once again, if only for a day.

And his friendly and informative staff, who filled me in on the history of the lake, which before
1934, was a Cranberry Bog. Bring your chips and burgers; they'll provide the lake, and a good time
is guaranteed for all, at South Jersey's Lake Garrison. http://www.lakegarrison.com/

South Jersey and the Art Spirit.

2010-06-30T08:35:00.003-04:00

This is the image I saw on my ceiling as I opened my eyes on this past Sunday morning, at 7 a.m.
As usual on the weekend, I'd planned to visit my Dad, but this beautiful, welcoming
spectrum of color was, for me, an invitation from the "Art Spirit," to also go painting.

Throughout our years of marriage, my wife Louise would kid me about knowing every country
road in South Jersey. Having traveled the roads is one thing, but venturing out to find a spot
that is waiting to be painted, and with the right light, is a whole different "mind-set." I came over
a rise, (yes, there actually are hills in S.J) and saw these back-lit outbuildings, and pulled over.

As I set up my easel I was glad that I was getting an early start on what was to be another
hot and humid day. A gentle breeze was moving across the expanse of fields, and the distant
sounds of children's voices...and an insistent crow on the humming wires above my head,
told me I was not the only creature up and about on this beautiful Sunday morning.

And on weekends in S. Jersey, there are always the bikers.
A few asked if I needed help, thinking at first that my car surely had broken down.
WHAAAAT! You're an ARTIST?

Just before actually starting to paint, I usually do a small "Value Study." It functions as a little road map and reminder, as the light continues to change, of what it is that initially made me want to paint a particular subject. It's the building of the cake, before any thoughts of icing.

In a very graphic sense, here is what I am concerned with. This is the abbreviated "value scale" I use, to interpret the various degrees of "lights and darks" that are in the subject, and eventually, in my painting of that subject. The first square is white, or the very lightest "Lights." The next square is the "Lightest Mid-Value," the next is the "Darkest Mid-Value," and finally, The "Darkest Darks," in the composition. None of this is written in stone, but it gets my brain heading in the right direction. You can see this thought process in the sketch, above. And that's my lesson for the day, to all you non-artists.

And after about an hour and a half of pleasureable painting, here is the finished water color.
I liked it. The crow seemed to have liked it, and my Muse liked it.
Life is good. (Water color 8-1/2 X 11" $110.00)

Deer Isle Is Calling.

2010-06-23T23:40:00.000-04:00

Now that summer is officially here, there is no denying the siren call of Maine.
We Ternays became "Maine-iacs" back in 1972, when we started going to the
Haystack Mountain School Of Crafts, on Deer Isle.

Within a few years we bought our little piece of Deer Isle; three1/2 acres, with
600 feet of shoreline, at the very end of a cove. We paid $9000. for it.
In 2000 Louise, our 3 sons, and 15 foolish friends who volunteered to help,
built most of this cabin, in 2 weeks.

Being in Maine all these years has changed and effected our family in so many ways.
For me, of course, the opportunities for subjects to paint, are unending.
Here are some of my most recent paintings, from the past few years.

"Rocks In Mist; Early Morning." Oil on panel. 5 X 7" $110.00

"Toward The Mainland". Oil on panel. 5 X 7" $110.00

"Burnt Cove Boat House." Oil on panel 5 X 7" $110.00

"Diver's Placenta Tree." Oil on panel 5 X 7" NFS

"Porch View Of Our Cove." SOLD

We can hardly wait to get up there.

This Artist's Father; an "Homage."

2010-06-21T22:26:00.002-04:00

Looking back on my childhood, it now seems very "Norman Rockwellian," to me.
Having parents whose roots were as farmers, and also owners of the local Country Store,
certainly contributed, in a big way, to forming me as the artist I continue to be.
Note that the price of gas, in the early '60s, was .31 cents a gallon.

Here are my parents, Bud and Helen Ternay, when they were dating,
in the thirties. Dad's first name is actually William, but the nickname "Buddy" stuck
because everyone agreed he was quite the handsome man, and looked a lot like
a popular movie actor of the time, "Buddy" Rogers.

This is a picture of my Dad and me, when I suspect I was about three.
Pop had stopped working in the local Feed Mill, and had returned to his first love,
farming, to provide for his young family. As someone who has always enjoyed
communing with his fellow humans, he soon was selling vegetables out of the
back of his truck, as a "Huckster." Buying the store up the road was an obvious
next move.

To this day, at the ripe age of 97, he still enjoys driving around the farmland he's known
and loved all these many years. He ventures within a 10 or 15 mile radius of his house,
which sits in a field where I used to sweat, as a kid, picking cucumbers under
the hot, humid, South Jersey sun.

Over the years Dad became well known for making wonderful "Subs," and during the
holidays, delicious Pumpkin Pies. When he finally retired and turned the store over to my
brother Bob, Pop was honored as "Citizen of the Year," which really irked our Mother,
'cause she, most definitely, had been right there at his side, working long hours pumping
gas, filling shelves, and raising her sons, just as Pop had done.

Throughout his life, our Dad has enjoyed taking naps, in the afternoon. I suspect that
ritual, and also never having smoked or drank, has contributed to his ongoing longevity.
He sent me to Art School on money made playing "the Horses," which he still does.

He can tell you the history of every horse he ever bet on, the jockey who rode him, and
what everybody ordered for dinner, on the drive back from the track, 30 years ago.
And for the past 10 years, he has been singing many of his favorite old songs, like
"Send Me The Pillow You Sleep On," into his tape-recorder, and doing so
"A Capella," in a strong voice. He's been known to leave his songs on the message
machines of female friends, who call him every day, to see if he's OK.

Although this tough old South Jersey farmer is slowing down more than a bit,
I cannot tell you how many times, as we enter his Doctor's Waiting room for
a check-up, he smiles at a fellow patient, and asks. "You know my only problem
these days? Too many Birthdays!"
I can only hope to be so fortunate. And in fact, I am.
Bud Ternay is my Father.

Lower Merion PaintOut; Day Two.

2010-06-14T15:54:00.002-04:00

Here is the process I went through to attempt to capture the feeling of light, in the scene above.
My first marks on the panel were the placement of the warm spots of sunlight,
the "lightest Lights", and the calligraphic rhythm of the "Darkest Darks," which
established the linear movement throughout the horizontal composition.

After about two and a half hours of painting, and adjusting my easel to keep my painting surface out
of the insistent sunlight, here is the finished painting. We had a 4 p.m deadline to finish painting,
somehow pop the art in frames, and deliver them to the home of the hosts of the fundraiser.
It was hot, and the deadline loomed! (Oil on panel, 12 X 24" $1900.00)

When I finally arrived to deliver my paintings, I found my always elegant painting partner, Nancy Herman,
finishing the task of putting together easels, with Mary Beth Hughes, the artist who oversaw the "PaintOut" part of the fundraiser.

Entering the house I was greeted by the sound of classical music. In the living room
I found an old friend, Deborah Reeder, who is Director of the "The Philadelphia Trio."

I soon found a spot for the smaller of my three paintings, on an antique desk,just inside
the entrance hall of the lovingly restored mansion.

Adding to the tasteful decor was this buffet in the dining room, awaiting the arrival of hungry guests.

And on the back lawn, a "Caribbean" buffet, near the pool.

Happily the threatened rain held off, and the crowd of guests representing
Lower Merion's "Mainline Elite," enjoyed the evening's offerings and opportunity
to mingle with old friends.

As did the artists, who participated in the two day PaintOut.
It will be interesting to see who participates next year.

Lower Merion Conservancy PaintOut Part One

2010-06-09T13:38:00.015-04:00

Last Wednesday and Thursday my dear friend Nancy Herman and I participated in
the Lower Merion Conservancy's Plein Air Paint Out, with about eight other local artists.

Nancy and I were the first artists to arrive at the Conservancy Headquarters.
Although tempting, we passed on the goodies offered by the thoughtful staff.

First order of the day was to get the backs of our canvases stamped with the image of a woodpecker,
which guaranteed the authenticity of our paintings having been painted during the two day period,
and not before. We then had to decide just where, among all the many beautiful historic sites
available in Lower Merion Township, to do our first paintings.

I suggested we go to "Saunders Woods Preserve," a 25 acre former farm with beautiful meadows
and a steep, forested stream valley. We decided to take advantage of the rustic old Pennsylvania
stone barn, which at that hour was still being slowly revealed by the early morning sun.

Nancy chose a spot in front of the barn.

And I decided to paint on the shady side, with it's crusty textures, and view of meadow and trees, beyond.

Here is a close up of Nancy's painting., nearing completion. To see the finished piece,
check out Nancy's blog. And yes, this photo is upside down, as seen from Nancy's viewpoint.

And here is the finished painting done by me.
( Oil on panel 12 X 24" $1,900 )

After a brief lunch, (a welcome retreat from a day that was beautiful, but getting ever hotter,)
Nancy and I meandered through the back roads of the Mainline, visiting more potential painting sites. Eventually we took advantage of having access to a sprawling, historic home, and set up our easels along
Mill Creek, with a wonderful view of the former Colonial mill, on the far bank. Here is Nancy's point of view. More of her paintings will appear on her blog, "Post Cards From Merion."

Here is my little painting of a part of the mill and stream below.
( Oil on panel, 5 X 7" $110.00 )

Before we called it a day, we decided to find the home where the Fund Raiser was to be held, on Thursday evening. Here is another friend and respected Philadelphia artist, Joseph Sweeney, taking advantage of the golden light at the end of the day, and starting another painting of our host's beautifully restored English Tudor home. In Friday's post, I'll regale you with our Thursday adventures,
and the evening's festivities.

Rittenhouse Square Art Show, Friends, and Mentors

2010-06-07T15:20:00.009-04:00

I've been attempting to stick to a schedule of posting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. But last week
I was so busy participating in the Lower Merion Conservancy PaintOut that I missed Friday, and almost
missed seeing the Rittenhouse Square Art Show, one of the oldest outdoor art festivals in the U.S.
Since its beginning in1932, most of the participating artists have been "locals." But even in staid old
Philadelphia, the times they are a changin'.

These days the event has become very, very "upscale", and exhibiting artists come from
all over the U.S. It's now part of the the Tent Show Circuit, and Philadelphians look forward
to the spring and fall shows. I personally feel the majority of the "art" is pretty commercial,
appealing to buyers who are looking for that perfect image that will fit over their purple couch.
But I never begrudge an artist a sale, whatever their art.

Here are three very talented friends; Nancy Barch, Jane Miluski, and Pat Kerr.
I had the pleasure, for many years, of serving with each of them on the board
of the Philadelphia Water Color Society. Each is a seasoned veteran of Rittenhouse.
http://www.nancybarch.com/ : http://www.janebmiluski.com. http://patkerrart.com/Site/Gallery%201.html

And here is a fellow artist from down in my neck of the South Jersey woods, Ellen Gavin.
Ellen is from Millville, near my mentor at the Barn Studio, Pat Witt. Ellen does lush
Impressionistic oils, and like my other friends, she is very prolific. I had to wait my
turn, between her many customers, to take this picture. Ellen's smile reflects her good sales.
http://www.greenbootstudio.com/ http://www.barnstudio.org/

I was in the Rittenhouse show twice, way back when artists actually hung their art on clotheslines.
Once, when I was still in art school, and again, about ten years ago. I sold ZERO each time!
Here is a water color I did at the 2nd time, just to keep busy. (9x14", $110.00)

But my frail ego got its' strokes when, just a few years later, I was asked to be one of the two
judges for the show.
Such is the topsy-turvy life of an artist.

Thank Goodness For The Lowly Napkin

2010-05-31T16:03:00.002-04:00

As I said in an earlier post, I have been drawing in my sketchbooks sine 1974.
There are those rare times when I do not have my sketchbook with me.
At those moments, when I see a drawing waiting to happen,
I reach for the nearest stack of napkins.

The paper in napkins is of low quality, and because of that, it is also very absorbent.
When my hand hesitates for even a second, the ink makes a little extra dense mark,
thus, giving a certain "character" to the line, and the overall feel of the drawing.
That appeals to my sense of the unexpected.

Here are some examples of recent images. I draw what I see, and write what I hear.

I really don't think I want to know what was being planned here...?

This was waiting for a drawing.

Sometimes I feel like a fly on the wall.

Image problems, to say the least. And that rhymes with "Priest."

Now back to the things that really matter.
And so life, and my observations of the human condition, go on.

The Art of growing those Jersey Tomatoes.

2010-05-28T13:00:00.004-04:00

I had lots of reasons to head down to South Jersey, yesterday.
Some business to do, and of course, see my Dad, and since it was
such an absolutely gorgeous day, how could I not go painting?!

Because of my roots, I'm always fascinated by the many farms, and the varied ways
they spread themselves across the horizon.Wonderful piles of architecture, complimented
by nature's curvilinear shapes. And when it comes to painting, first of all; it's all about the
shapes, no matter what the subject, as far as I am concerned.

Well, actually, if you're painting on-site, first of all the Muse insists the Artist
follows rule number one: "Find a shady spot."

Then the Artist and the Muse wrestle with the paints and water and paper for about
an hour and a half, and if something acceptable to both results from all that struggle,
VIOLA'!...A painting! (Sold to a collector.)

When I was finished I packed up my gear and drove the 15 miles or so further South to have
breakfast with my Dad; my weekly overload of calories and cholesterol.

As always at this warm time of the year, the subject of good old South Jersey
tomatoes usually comes up.We bemoan the passing (when and how?) of those
BIG, MEATY, oh so DELICIOUS tomatoes Dad, and so many of our farmer
friends, used to grow by the ka-zillions. For the past two years Pop has overseen
my planting of about two dozen tomatoes amidst the bricks in his patio.

Happily, about 3 miles away from my Dad's house, on the appropriately named
Garden Road, there is a wonderful vegetable and flower center, owned by very
pious members of a nearby Amish community.

And TA-TAA! Behold the beautiful, big, heavy, and DEEEELICIOUS hydroponic tomatoes they grow,
almost mimicking the beauties recalled from my youth. Gimmee two floppy slices of Wonder Bread,
slathered with mayo, and some slices of onion on slabs of tomatoes, sprinkled with
salt and pepper...and...HEAVEN! (O.K., I'll repent and pass on the Wonder Bread.)

And amidst all the other overflowing but orderly bins of veggies, there are amazingly big, lush,
and sweetly juicy South Jersey Strawberries, the taste of which has not changed, over the years.

Loaded with my stockpile of freshly grown goodies, I finally headed back to Bala Cynwyd.
But of course, as the sun headed toward the horizon, and shadows lengthened, I once again
found myself seduced by the warm light illuminating all those passing "farm shapes."
So I went about 10 miles off my normal direct route, back to the site from early morning.
One more water color, adding to the fruits of the day.
(Each painting is approx. 9 X 12", $110.00.)

Pokey The Band Dog, and other creatures of the night.

2010-05-26T09:40:00.001-04:00

As many of you know, I have three very talented sons...and daughters-in-law, and granddaughter.
And of course, Pokey, the Band Dog, who has traveled all over the U.S., most recently with
Maggi and Pierce's band, "Hymn 4 Her." http://hymnforher.com/

Here they all are last fall, at the end of my driveway, the night before they left for a six months
tour of the U.S., in their newly purchased 1961 "Bambi." Airstream.

When they are back in Philly, as they now are, I end up spending lots of nights in darkened
venues, with Poki and Diver, in my role as "Silver-Pop-Pop-Baby-Sitter-Roadie," while
Maggi and Pierce perform. The only downside to that is, I don't have time to sketch,
which I also love doing at various other gigs.

So most of the nighttime drawings in my many sketchbooks (working on # 49, since 1974)
are of performers who are friends of ours. Here are Tuba Dan and E.J. Simpson doing E.J.'s
annual version of "Jesus Christ Superstar," at the Dawson St. Pub, on Good Friday.

And here is E.J. again, at the Dawson. This time with friends as "Two Men and Two Women In Black,"
in a tribute to Johnny Cash, on his birthday.

I love Blues, and here we have Dave Coppa wailing with his nephew, Pat, and friend Ray, on the drums.
They play a lot at the "Blue Parrot," in Wilmington, DE. Great Cajun food there!

Another favorite Blues band of mine is the "Backbone Blues Band," featuring Seth Holtzman,
my former Harmonica teacher. (I never practice.)

But of course, after these late-night adventures, there is always the morning after, and breakfast
with Ms. Diver, and Pokey, the ever faithful Band Dog.

Merion Triptych

2010-05-24T09:48:00.002-04:00

Almost every day for the past forty years I have walked past this house,
during my morning 2 1/2 miles jaunt. The new owners had commissioned
me to paint it, about six years ago.

But three weeks ago, for the very first time, my walk was interrupted by
the dancing white flowers, and contrasting shadows, within this little grove
of trees, on their front lawn.Obviously they needed to be painted.And not just once, but on
three canvases, as a "Triptych," showing them in the early a.m., at noon,
and in the p.m. A humble homage to the Master; Monet. and his haystacks series.

So for three days, when the light was consistent, I set up my easel and painted.
Painting "En-Plein-Aire" like this, one is always at the mercy of the moving sun.
(And bugs, and the comments of passers-by.) There's only about a 2 1/2 hour
window of time, before the light has shifted, to get it down.Any longer than that,
and you're faking it, painting from memory.Which can be fine, also, but a totally
different painting experience.

Here's early a.m.

Here's noon.

And here is p.m.

And finally, here are all three paintings, framed together as a triptych, and hanging in my show at
Tim Noble's Town Hall Coffee Co., in Merion.

Painting outside, "from the motif," as Bonnard said, is not everyone's cup of tea.
I happen to thoroughly enjoy it. Probably from playing cowboys and indians all those
many weekends, as a kid in South Jersey.

Here I am, heading out to look for a wagon train, on my horse, "Jerry.".

I was about 16 years old. Note my shield; to protect me from those
notorious South Jersey mosquitoes, no doubt.

Paintings at Town Hall Coffee Company

2010-05-21T12:31:00.005-04:00

This was a beautiful morning for my walk.At the end of it I stopped by the newly

opened Town Hall Coffee Company. For those of you living in my area,
it's just a few doors down from Hymie's Deli, on Montgomery Avenue, in Merion.

Tim Noble, owner/barista, obviously takes pride in knowing everything there
is to know about reeeeely delicious upscale coffees, and the proper, loving, preparation

and presentation of them, to one's palate.

But up 'til today, the walls in his otherwise elegant space have been empty.
And it seemed to me they were probably waiting to be adorned by my paintings.
Happily, Tim agreed, so this afternoon I begin to install paintings, most
of which I've done in Merion Park, just down from the Barnes Foundation.
Others are of rowers on the Schuylkill River, and a few from Deer Isle, Maine,
where we have a cabin.I offer to you a sampling of my paintings.
Azaleas, Merion Park. Oil on canvas.

Rocks, Gray Day, Maine Oil on panel.

Azaleas #2, Merion Park.

Looking West, Deer Isle, Maine Oil on panel.

Bridge, Merion Park. Oil on panel

I will have a little "Reception" within the next few weeks. In the meantime do stop by the Town Hall
Coffee Company. And enjoy a bit of art with your coffee and other delicious goodies offered by Tim.

.

.

.

Artist, Juror, Silverpop-pop

2010-05-19T01:28:00.005-04:00

I have painted this little bridge, in Merion Park, in all kinds of weather, and I hoped to do
so again this past weekend...but it was not meant to be. (5 X 7" oil on panel Sold)

Friday I spent all morning at the Greater Norristown Art League as juror of their 68th Annual
Open Juried Exhibition. Here I am with friend Jo Ann Cooksey Bono, who Co-Chaired the
Exhibition with Susannah Hart Thomer. (gnal.org/generalinformation.htm)

There were over 230 submissions, out of which I had to chose 100 for the show. That was
difficult enough, but the real challenge was choosing the Award Winners from the many really
wonderful pieces of art.

Saturday I was up at 6 a.m.and by 8 I was sitting across the street from the very elaborate
and imposing gated entrance to the historic Laurel Hill Cemetery, on Ridge Avenue, in
Philadelphia. I'd bought lots of coffee and donuts to help welcome fellow members of the
Philadelphia Water Color Society to our annual Spring Paint Out.

By noon 8 or 10 PWCS members could be found sitting or standing in the shade on the hot day,
some painting, some drawing, some just taking reference photos to work from in their studios.

From 2 until around 4:30 p.m.I donned my hat as proud father and grandfather-babysitter,
watching after Diver while her parents, Maggi and Pierce, along with 2 or 3 other bands,
played a Fund Raiser, in the back yard of a friend of theirs.

By 7:30 that evening I was back in Norristown, attending the reception for the exhibition I'd
juried the day before. I'd wanted to meet the artists, some of whom had spent the earlier part
of the day, painting in Laurel Hill Cemetary. Here I'm congratulating Siv Spurgeon, to whom
I gave the top award of "Best In Show."

Sunday was truly a much needed day of rest, spent mostly with my 97 year old father,
just "hangin' out.,"in South Jersey. There'll always be more opportunities to go painting...
one or two days...next week?

Barn Studio and Pat Witt

2010-05-17T10:53:00.002-04:00

This is a magical woman; a force of nature in the world, but in particular, in Southern New Jersey. The light in which she is enveloped is from "The Art Spirit." For almost 50 years Pat Witt, founder of The Barn Studio of Art, has been imbued with the Art Spirit, and a passion to pass it on to generations of children and adults, through her art classes. In honor of her life of dedication to the Arts and her community, Pat has been declared the official "Artist Laureate" of Millville, NJ.

I fell in love with Pat when I was about 17, and she was about 28. She is 10 years and 1 day older than me, and we maintain a tradition of having dinner together every February, to celebrate our birthdays, sip Martinis, talk "Art," and chuckle at the thought that everyone in the restaurant surely assumes we are lovers.

Last Year Pat and her daughters, Nancy and Carol, decided to offer to students of The Barn the first "Maurice River Intensive Landscape Painting Workshop." Here you see one of the instructors, Jill Rupinski, doing a pastel demonstration, inspired by the lush pond, at the Barn.

Throughout the week morning demos by instructors were followed by a very full day of painting by students, "En Plain Air, at a variety of locations in the Maurice River Valley. Here is a demo done by me, in oil, looking out over the Maurice River. (Oil on panel, sold to a collector.)

All of the students were from South Jersey, and were prepared for the hot afternoons of
painting along the Delaware Bay. Here we were painting the East Point Lighthouse, in water color.

At the end of the intense and informative week, we had a well attended showing of paintings created by the students and instructors, in a gallery in Millville. The Workshop was a success, and this year's Workshop
will be held from Sunday 11 July thru Saturday, 17 July, 2010. For information go to Barn Studio.org or call 856-825-5028. Sign up. Learn. A guaranteed good time will be had by all.