Call of the Light

"Call of the Light", 20x16, oil on gessobord

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"All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone." —Blaise Pascal

This large painting is of the wing back chair that sits in the corner of my mom's living room where I snapped the photo reference. 

Caught in a yin-yang sea of cool and warm light, the chair sits vacant and still, like an empty canoe at dawn, docked against a back lit window that laps cool waves of early morning light against its sides. In a battle for dominance and balance, the table lamp to the right, casts its baited hooks of warm golden highlights designed to lure and reel you in for the catch.  

This seat beckons, kick off your shoes and sit right down. Simply be and listen for a quiet moment, not with the mind but with ears of the heart. 

This tiny minnow-of-a-habit built into each day reaps a bounty you'll never throw back. 

Thanks for bobbing by today!

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

Aroma Therapy

"Aroma Therapy", 10x8", oil on gessobord

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"Do Lipton employees take coffee breaks?"
— Steven Wright

 Hmm...good question, Steven? In my opinion, unless you are Brittish, tea breaks would be just plain wrong!  

Call it addiction, but I can't function without multiple breaks for cup after cup of rich strong aromatic Hazelnut or creamy French Vanilla. Lewis Black sums it up best, I like coffee because it gives me the illusion that I might be awake. I get up at 4:15 a.m. to walk my dog and swim, I'll take all the life-giving, ground from beans, rich dark liquid gold you can throw at me to keep my illusion going.

                  BOOK COVER NEWS

In my 9-5 business as a graphic designer, I am blessed to design a lot of book covers for a University Press. Today's painting is the cover of an upcoming novel of short stories by author Michael Lieberman. How fun it is to be able to paint illustrations for book covers here and there, especially when it features brimming cups of hot coffee. Mmm, can you smell the aroma?

                    ART SHOW NEWS
More good news! Last weekend I was awarded a 2nd Place Ribbon Professional Oil Division in the Conroe Art League's Spring Show for my painting "Home is Where Your Hat Lies." Bottoms up!

Thanks for breaking with me today, even if you're a tea bagger...tea-hee-hee.  : O
nancy

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

Window Seat

"Window Seat", 10x8", oil on gessobord

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"What you really want for yourself is always trying to break through just as a cooling breeze flows through an open window on a hot day. Your part is to open the windows of your mind."

—Vernon Howard

The other day a friend asked what was up with all the chairs I've been painting recently? To be honest I am not sure what motivates my fascination? However as I reflect on the question, I have to admit I've been as moved by the illuminated windows serving as backdrops in my paintings, as I have been by the silhouetted chairs themselves. 

The yin-yang of light and dark enchants me with the omnipresence of shadowy darkness stalking ever so close, lurking on the prowl; while parallel worlds of redeeming windows stream with the brilliance of life-saving portals, open invitations for light and color to enter pregnant with the hope of possibility.

I don't know why I feel compelled to paint chairs, but those flanked with wide outstretched stuffed arms, sure seem to long to surround with the warmth of a soft embrace, offering safety and protection. To coin a phrase from Goldilock, "Ahhh, this chair is just right."

Thanks for flowing in through my window. 

nancy 

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

Darkness or Light?

"Darkness or Light?", 10x8" oil on gessobord

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"A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?"—Albert Einstein

Taking the positive view, today the quiet morning light reflected onto my wooden living room floors creating shadowy markings as precise as the painted lane markers on the freeway. I will even go so far as to say, one of my ladder back chairs has jumped in to play a round of hopscotch? 

However from the opposing viewpoint, it could also seem that this unoccupied, desolate straight back was trapped, worthless, isolated, even trapped in the darkness behind bars. 

Which is it? The same scene with two opposing perspectives. Which slant resonates with you? Is the light overcoming darkness here, or do you see darkness overcoming the light? While I see stillness, quiet, and inner solitude; another might see emptiness, abandonment or even purposelessness. Life is what we bring to it...what we are looking for always finds us.

Thanks for playing along on this beautiful morning.
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To see more of my art or to contact me: Online Gallery  • E-mail  •  Website  •  Graphic Design Studio •  Saatchi Gallery

 

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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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."

Thanks for checking in today! You've earned a tip!!!  : ) 

*****FREE SHIPPING***** For the month of October treat yourself to FREE shipping on all domestic shipments, and 1/2 off all international shipping charges. Offer applies to any paintings purchased from my Online Gallery. 
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To see more of my art or to contact me: Online Gallery  • E-mail  •  Website  • Graphic Design Studio 

My Side

"My Side" 10x8" Oil on gessobord

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"Every closed eye is not sleeping, and every open eye is not seeing." — Bill Cosby

I just got back from my first trip to Orlando and Disney World with my high school girlfriend. We spent one entire day running all over Epcot, Magic Kingdom and MGM parks. We must have walked 15 miles. So here's my side of the story, there I was having this wonderful relaxing vacation only to be totally traumatized. First I was baited with this euphoric and exhilarating ride called "Soarin", however that was just a setup. Then my (so-called) friend dragged me kicking and screaming onto several terrifying rides, like something called "Tower of Terror" where you are taken up 13 floors on a creepy old elevator to the top of this haunted hotel to then—suddenly and without warning—drop 13 floors over and over again. I kept my eyes closed and somehow survived the experience, but came home from this 3-day trip needing lots of nerve calming rest, thus the subject of today's painting. ; )

I had taken the photo for this painting of my bedside a while ago; the path of light really caught my attention. I wanted to continue working in Colley Whisson fashion, using the new techniques and materials from my recent Austin workshop. I am really happy with this new painting which just seems to me to have more of an emotional impact...just downright poetic...don't you think?

Okay, with the exception of that one ride, I really did have a wonderful time at Disney and was totally pampered staying in such a beautiful resort.

Thanks for stopping in today unannounced. If I'd have know you were coming I might have even made my bed.

nancy
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Austin Workshop Day 2

"The Lobby" after Colley Whisson, 12x16" oil on Ampersand gessobord

On Day 2 of the Colley Whisson Workshop, we again painted from Colley's painting. This time a larger panel of an interior shot from the inside of an old hotel lobby in Australia.

Step-by-step, Colley demonstrated each of the three alla prima layers, pausing in between for us to complete each step on our own canvas. Then he would come around and help us individually correcting as needed.  

Copying is a great tool to help step out of your box, go inside the artist's head, and understand his process. This forces you to leave your comfort zone and explore new approaches. 

Hope you enjoy the painting as much as I did painting it!

nancy
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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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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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Sunny Sextuplets

"Sunny Sextuplets" 6x6" Oil on Gessobord

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Look what was just born at our house...a beautiful basket of bouncing baby sunflowers (reminding me of each of my six sisters). Okay, so maybe it's not really a basket, but somehow saying plastic container just didn't have the same ring to it. And while I'm coming clean here, this sunny clan of summer hotties weren't really born here either. They are actually silk clones, most likely of Chinese decent, that I picked up on a bargain table at Gardenridge. Oh well, sometimes you just have to use your imagination.

All of my "not-so-still lives" are normally arranged inside a makeshift light box; it's fashioned out of a cardboard box with the top and front sides cut off. Then, I set up a spot light to one side. This helps isolate the subject matter and control any bouncing light from other sources. However, I painted this scene of my kitchen table with morning light battling its way in through the cracks between the blinds. Don't you just love my red walls! I think I am going to have to overcome my control issues and come out of my box more often. 

 

Thank you for viewing my painting!

nancy

FREE SHIPPING

I am offering FREE shipping this summer within the U.S. on all paintings in my Daily Paint Works,  ebay and  Etsy stores. These small paintings look great in groups of two or more, and add interest and charm to an entry, kitchen, bath, sitting on a bookshelf, or other small areas. 

                                                                          FRAMES

To purchase online frames, check out the "floater" frames like those shown below. The paintings just gets glued onto it...super easy. http://www.kingofframe.com/6x6-Frames_c_22.html