Heads Up

"Heads Up", 8x10" Oil on Gessobord

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"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." — Oscar Wilde

The sleepy head models who posed for this painting were a mom's day gift. I love sunflowers and took a ton of photos of the quintuplets sitting near my kitchen window, while sunbathing in the morning light. These little ladies are definitely not morning people, for the life of me, I couldn't get them to lift their golden heads wreathed in Rapunzel tresses, and open their big brown eyes to face the camera. Finally the one in the back popped her head up and said good morning.


I really enjoyed painting this piece which is looser and more abstract than some of my most recent work. Stretching and reaching for light myself, I tried to stay focused on my goal of not reproducing each and ever petal, but rather to capture all the spots and shapes of colors I was seeing. It was fun giving my inner child permission to come out and color outside the lines. Jim Carey had it right when he said, "If you aren't in the moment, you are either looking forward to uncertainty, or back to pain and regret." 

Thank you for dropping by to play.
nancy 

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

First Light

"First Light", 10x8", oil on gessobord

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"In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present."

 — Francis Bacon

Early one morning, stumbling into the kitchen for a cup of coffee, I happen to notice this quiet corner of my living room sitting in darkness, just as the sun began shining its flashlight into the east facing window to create a wondrous light show on the walls. I had painted this same scene last spring, but wanted to catch the light brought on by the changing season. It's always interesting to see how different light appears at various times of the year. 

Francis Bacon's quote above can apply to art, for without the darkness nothing has shape or definition. Darkness holds the light serving a backdrop, yet darkness and light are both necessary and have their own unique co-dependent roles to play; one is nothing without the contrast of its opposing truth. This is such an appropriate metaphor for life, especially when we find ourselves overwhelmed by darkness; if we can just wait patiently, soon the light will again break through to show us the way. Martin Luther King said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that..." 

My favorite part of this painting was placing the one little white dot of light hitting on the red pillow. After all it's the simplest things in life that mean the most.

Thanks for shining your light into my digital world today. 
nancy 

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

SOLD - Room Service

"Room Service" 8x8" oil on gessobord

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"All of life is an empty room. It is our task to fill it with something worth listening to." 

— Joan Chittister

As Shakesphere said, "All the world is a stage"... and this empty chair is merely a player. A stoic prop, positioned slightly off-center stage, sits transfixed in the warm flood of first light pouring in through glass and splashing across the floor. 

This painting is of another corner of the hotel room where I recently stayed in Fort Worth. This delightful room serviced me well, an unspoken invitation to pause in the solitude of the great abyss. Or at least, that's how I perceived it. 

I've mentioned in previous blogs about my need for silence, and how important it is to my soul. I suspect this might have something to do with the fact that the TV broadcasts day and night at my house, especially during football season. I rarely ever sit down to watch it myself cause nine times out of ten, I'll be asleep within a matter of minutes. My need for quietude really is very productive because it spurns me to retreat to another room of service—my studio—where I can listen and paint to my hearts content in the utter soundlessness of "Do Not Disturb."

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

What's For Dinner?

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

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"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

Morning Headlines

"Morning Headlines" 10x8" oil on gessobord

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"The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you; 
don't go back to sleep." 
— Jalaluddin Rumi, mystical poet

How I love being present to witness the first light of day as it streams in my east facing kitchen windows. Stepping boldly into the center ring with awesome power and majesty, this mighty force pummels it's way in through every crook and cranny, splitting open a gaping gash of light across the surface of dark wooden table. Instantly this force to be reckoned with, delivers another swift jab resulting in a death defying knock-out blow! Sun, the "winner and world champion" is silently proclaimed as rooster erupts in unabated joy. Darkness, has once again been trumped by the hope and resurrection of new day. 

John Ciardi summed it up so perfectly, "Cry anything you please. But praise..."

Top of the morning to you. I hope you've enjoyed this not-so-still life. 

nancy 

© 2013 nancy parsons

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To see more of my art or to contact me: 
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My Little Corner of the World

"My Corner of the World", 6x6" Oil on Gessobord

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  " Light is the first of painters. There is no object so foul that intense light will not make it beautiful."                  

 — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Time for  a coffee break! You deserve it. 

 
Step right in and have a seat. Welcome to one of the cozy little corners in my world. The big blue hand-me-down stuffed chair is calling you to stop whatever you’re doing, to pause for a moment and relax in quiet mindfulness.

Arlo Guthrie said, "You can't have a light without a dark to stick it in." Can you feel the morning light as it breaks through the slats of wooden blinds to warm your heart right where you sit?  Like a rooster waving sticks of soft yellow pastels, the sun breaks in —without the need of a key—to illuminate this sleepy corner of my family room every sunny morning. I love the play of light on the walls and wood floors, but especially the striped pattern it creates on my red pillow.
 

Would you care for coffee or tea? It’s moments like this that souls thirst for.

nancy

© 2013 nancy parsons

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Punkin Patch

"Punkin Patch" 10x8" oil on gessobord

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"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
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To see more of my art or to contact me: 
Gallery  •  Blog  • NEW Website • E-mail  • Graphic Design Studio
 

SOLD -All That Glitters

"All That Glitters" Oil on gessobord" Painting from photo by Angela Fletcher

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Somewhere out at the edges, the night

Is turning and the waves of darkness

Begin to brighten the shore of dawn. 

 The heavy dark falls back to earth

And the freed air goes wild with light

The heart fills with fresh, bright breath

And thoughts stir to give birth to color." 

                            

 —John O'Donohue, Matins

All that glitters can be gold. Sometimes it's the sun shooting beams over a mountain peak like a laser, firing in rapid succession.
Spouting and spewing its milk and honey glow over all that lies in its path. Like an eruption of shimmery lava, transforming light races down sides of mesas and hills, oozing its way freely to fill entire valleys, and gobbling up the dark like an enormous shark on a feeding frenzy. This ghostly lion trainer cracks its whip, forcing the wild and untamed back into molded cages of form, shape and color...reclaiming what was stolen by the night.  
  
Thanks for peeking in on my pot of gold today. 
nancy

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

SOLD -Light Into Darkness

" Light Into Darkness" 14x11" oil on stretched canvas

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“Each time dawn appears, the mystery is there in its entirety.” — Rene Dauml

 This painting is what I looked out on each morning from our campsite in Chama, NM. Actually at the top of this hill was a puppy playground for campers to walk their dogs. I swear every RV must come equip with two dogs. Never one, always two. Anyway, I loved waking at the first crack of dawn and watching the sunlight roll in over the mountain tops and then drip it's course of light over the dark side of this hill like bright orange sticky molasses.

Thanks for rolling by today and for viewing my painting. 
nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122  

* Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My blog: www.headondownthehighway.blogspot.com

My website:http://www.njparsons.fineartstudioonline.com
E-mail: njparsons@suddenlink.net

My book: Head on Down the Highway A Blog Book

My graphic design studio: www.graphicdesigngroup.net