Sacred Spaces

"Sacred Spaces", 9x12". oil on gallery wrap canvas

CLICK TO PURCHASE 

"A painter shows me what he painted, 
but an artist shows me why she painted."

—Clint Watson

Here is a little slice of sacred space in our home. What's sacred about it? It's right smack dab at the heart of our home, and the first thing to grab your eye as you enter the front door. It's a part of our living space full of chairs and couches where family and friends gather to share.

Our most recent stray, sits perched atop my grandmother's wooden trunk ready to pounce on our unsuspecting chihuahua. We have used this trunk for years to store childhood Halloween costumes, grandma's once beautiful silk gown, boa and lacy robe, dance recital costumes, pom-poms and cheerleading uniforms, pirate swords, ruby slippers, princess crowns and fairy wings. It's a treasure chest sure to produce screams of delight and excitement for bored grandchildren on rainy days. 

Nothing in our small 70s home matches, nor is it fancy, or expensive, but rather an eclectic collection of hand-me-downs from parents and grandparents. Pieces of furniture wounded over the many years with scars, scratches and nicks, yet somehow healed and made whole by the memories they bear. 

I loved painting the natural light—creeping in like fog through the north facing paned windows of the french door—silently sweeping across oak floors buffed in chalky reflections of cool morning light. 

The key role here is played by the little table lamp casting rays of luminous warm light from the focal point of the painting; a beacon to all who stop by for a visit, perhaps to share in a glass of wine, and bask in the rich abundance of our humble abode. 

Thanks for stopping by,
nancy

To see more of my art click here, or one one of these additional links: Online Gallery • Email  • Website  •  Graphic Design Studio • Saatchi Gallery • Fine Art America

Silent Sentinel

"Silent Sentinel" 10x8" oil on gessobord

CLICK TO BUY 

"You study, you learn, but you guard the original naivete. It has to be within you, as desire for drink is within the drunkard or love is within the lover."  — Henri Matisse

What more can I say about the beauty of a cat, sitting idle, alongside an empty chair. The cat longing and waiting for just the right moment to jump into the empty lap. The chair sits longing for the cat to nestle in for a morning nap and the inevitable sharpening of claws sure to fray and tear. Two strangers yearning, yet afraid to leap, like two sentinels waiting for the dawn, or a nudge to awaken from the trance. 

To quote from a passage of The Goldfinch by Pulitzer Prize winning novelist, Donna Tartt, "And just as music is the space between notes, just as the stars are beautiful because of the space between them, just as the sun strikes raindrops at a certain angle and throws a prism of color across the sky--so the space where I exist, and want to keep existing, and to be quite frank I hope I die in, is exactly this middle distance: where despair struck pure otherness and created something sublime."
 

Thanks for watching.

nancy

______________________________________________________
To see more of my art or to contact me: Online Gallery  • E-mail  •  Website  •  Graphic Design Studio •  Saatchi Gallery •  Fine Art America

Nelly Logan

"Nelly Logan" 8x10" oil on gessobord

 SOLD

 "Time spent with cats is never wasted." 

— Sigmund Freud

This is Nelly Logan, may she now rest in peace. Her owners, dear friends of ours, recently had to say good bye to their cherished Nelly after years of extraordinary measures of love that kept their little girl mewing. 

There are many misconceptions concerning cats such as, cats so graciously allow us to love and care for them. Christopher Hitchens even said, "Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are God. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are God." 

As independent and self assured as cats may appear, deep down their aloofness is only the reflection of their keen senses on high alert for the sight, sound or smell of potential prey. And to debunk another myth, did you know cats actually need your companionship and can in fact, go through separation anxiety if left alone too often or for too long?

As for Nelly, I know she was as grateful to have had the Logans, as they were blessed to have had her in their lives. Nelly enjoyed a long life nine times over in the comfort of their home, and will never be forgotten.


Thanks for dropping by to show your respect. 
nancy
______________________________________________________ To see more of my art or to contact me: Online Gallery  • E-mail  •  Website  •  Graphic Design Studio •  Saatchi Gallery •  Fine Art America

What's For Dinner?

"What's for Dinner?" 6x6" oil on gessobord

CLICK TO BUY

"Life creates itself in delirium and is undone in ennui."

— Emile M. Cioran

Suffering from a bit of over delirium right now, I might even welcome just a little ennui? Unlike this fat cat resting comfortably in soft light filtering in through the window, my life has been the polar opposite of his siesta scenario. 

The arrival of a purr-fectly-purr-fect new grandson, lots of graphic business, and my paintings to keep me engaged, there simply isn't time to get bored around here. In fact, that's probably one of the best parts of being an artist, there's always another painting waiting in the wings...another mouse entering the room.

Hmm, wonder what's on the menu for tomorrow? 

Thanks for hanging out here today. 

 -nancy

To see more of my art or to contact me: 
Online Gallery  • E-mail  • Graphic Design Studio

Punkin Patch

"Punkin Patch" 10x8" oil on gessobord

CLICK HERE TO BUY

"Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat." 

                            — Mark Twain Notebook, 1894

I haven't posted in nearly three weeks and am feeling quite remiss. All of the holiday madness and deadlines on a couple commissioned paintings took up most all of what little spare time I could muster away from my full-time graphic business. 

To end the year on a positive note, I'd like for you to meet Angela's cat, Punkin sitting in partial sunlight. Isn't he a cutie! Wonder what he's looking at so intently? A green lizard climbing up the trunk of a crepe myrtle, or maybe a thirsty finch splashing about in the bird bath? You never know what lurks in the eyes of a cat.

You say you're a dog lover and don't like cats? Beware, Faith Resnick said, "People who hate cats, will come back as mice in their next life." Meow!

Happy New Year!

nancy

© 2012 nancy parsons
_____________________________________________________
To see more of my art or to contact me: 
Gallery  •  Blog  • NEW Website • E-mail  • Graphic Design Studio