Holly Goulet

This makes me have happy tears....

Plant Wise

I need to do a...what do you say?....a Shout Out to my beloved Sister-In-Law!  She helps me understand and appreciate plants, animals, nutrition, and the simple and not so simple way of life!

Thanks for sharing!

Squirrel Proof?  I think NOT!  We love our "Chippy"!!!  Life w/o critters is no life for me.  He has been known to get stuck at the bottom.  Luckily, I have been around to release him. 

Her Secret Garden

I never know what I may find in my Daylily bed.  Usually, I am fishing out baseballs that find their way tucked under the towering foliage.  This time was different.....

  

We The People

I am excited that one of my paintings will be auctioned off to support our East Grand Rapids High School "We The People" team.  The team won the State Championship and is heading to Nationals in Washington D.C. 

"We The People" is an instructional program about the history and principles of American constititutional democracy for high school students. The students compete by using their knowledge of constitutional law, American history, and current events to simulate a congressional hearing where they "testify" before judges. The judges score the students based on the depth of their knowledge, their poise in presentation, and their overall understanding of the issues. "We The People" competitions are held at the district, state, and national levels. The program is funded by the United States Dept. of Education. www.civiced.com.

In order to raise money for their trip, this year's team and their parents are having a Live and Silent Auction Saturday April 19, 2008 at the St. Stephen's Parish Center. The Honorable Sara Smolenski, judge and very funny humorist, will serve as the auctioneer.

Here is a sneak preview of "Lion Trees".  You may remember my post on the interesting story behind the setting of this painting. 

Lion Trees

acrylic on canvas

2007

30" x 40"

The Superbox

Finally, a perfectly sunny day.  The snow is receding, the birds seem more restless (although I haven't spotted a Robin yet), and it's actually too hot to wear my coat in the car.  Spring is happening!  So, I was not exactly looking forward to my trip to the Supermarket.  But, there are just some things that only the supermarket carries....I really had to go!

So, on this perfectly sunny day, I find myself in the middle of a not so sunny place surrounded by towering boxes of what I believe is considered food.  Everyone knows what I'm talkin' about!  Many of my friends personally know my trials with the supermarket.  PANIC comes to mind!  I feel myself getting over stimulated with choices I don't even want.  How many choices of cereal, crackers, power bars, and toilet paper does there really need to be?  Then the produce aisle has rows and rows of neatly shaped and polished vegetables!  This is where the my anger starts to radiate from my pores.  To my astonishment, the bumped, scratched, or malformed vegetables/fruits don't even make the grade for supermarket shelving.  Supermarkets only accept produce that conforms to certain standards of color, size, and shape.  Where do all those wasted calories go?  If anyone knows, do tell!  It's nice to know that some organizations give back to the community by supplying low income families the "factory seconds".  For my family, it is entertaining to find a green bean or squash that has beaten all visual standards.  And, it's nice to know that these odd looking foods carry the same amount of energy as their "high society" counterparts.

I admit, I am a shopper cart peeper.  I am waiting for Mrs. Piggle Wiggle to have a cure.   Yes, I peer into other mothers carts to see what they are feeding their children.  Much of what I see are the boxes upon boxes upon boxes of food??? piled high in the basket with the child in the front seat stuffing a free cookie in his mouth.  Yikes!  I further admit, I am not perfect.  My kids look forward to the free cookies too.  But, it the low income families that hurt the most.  These families are getting the best bang for their buck.  Lots of cheap calories at cheap prices.  It is way too expensive to cook with whole foods!  But, these cheaper foods have higher prices in the end.    Foods full of high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, lots of Omega 6, hardly any Omega 3, highly processed, and extra packaging to boot equals bad health!   It is way to complicated of a subject matter for me to come up with great answers.   I think that is why I get so angry at Supermarkets.  I see the problem and the ones suffering and feel completely helpless!

I am grateful I can provide whole foods to my family.  I am grateful my children have met the wonderful farmers that provide us our chicken and eggs and can learn the benefits of growing our own produce. But, in reality, my kids are also thankful I buy Girl Scout Cookies on occasion too!!   Moderation is good!  I am waiting for the day whole food choices aren't considered a luxury! It should just be commonplace. 

This painting was done for my brother and sister-in-law.  They enjoy their whole foods I'm sure!

No Box Needed

Acrylic on Canvas

2003

48"x60"

Private Collection

Paintings for Kids!

Some of my favorite things in life, which the list seems to be getting longer as I get older, is to watch my children create "masterpieces".  Their approach to a blank canvas is totally different.  My son, sketches, plots, considers, analyzes, dreams, and then spends 5 minutes drawing and runs away.  I have grown to realize my boy prefers to be creative in other ways.  He finds enjoyment in creating software, excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, swords out of wood, Runescape inventory, outdoor shelters, numerous chess combinations, and spectacular essays!  My daughter, on the other hand, dives into any project that is set before her.  Her mind, full of a zillion ideas, does not languish.  Instead, she throws mind, body, and spirit onto the canvas as if the canvas has been waiting for years for this cosmic development.  She considers her supplies, purpose, order, colors, consistency, scale....EVERYTHING!  She is for a moment, floating above the paper dreaming of the numerous and awesome possibilities.  And the best thing of all, she is FEARLESS!!!  If you asked anyone to step into an empty white room and tell them they can paint it as they wish, some would take a few steps back.  Not my daughter.  I am sure, she is already dreaming of the day I hand over the paint brush. 

I wonder what it would be like to paint without fear or stereotypes.  I know if I am painting in plein air, I should look at the landscape before me as if seeing it for the first time.  The impressionist mastered this concept with ease.  Throwing down color on their canvas, even if it was present only for a short moment.  This is what children do naturally.  They are not intimidated or stereotypical.  Their minds are fresh and innocent.  Personally, I am learning how to be a child again! 

I have done a few paintings for children.  They stand over my shoulder looking in amusement as the painting develops.  It's a great job.  The elephants were done in a girl's bedroom who adores elephants.  The lion was painted on a large board and made into a Plinko game for the school carnival.

A Plant's Eye View

After watching this intriguing video podcast, I have a new found respect for my fellow plants.

TEDTalks - Michael Pollan

What if human consciousness isn't the end-all and be-all of Darwinism? What if we are all just pawns in corn's clever strategy game, the ultimate prize of which is world domination? Author Michael Pollan asks us to see things from a plant's-eye view -- to consider the possibility that nature isn't opposed to culture, that biochemistry rivals intellect as a survival tool. By merely shifting our perspective, he argues, we can heal the Earth. Who's the more sophisticated species now?

You will have to search for TEDTalks in your ITunes Store...then look for Michael Pollen.  I can't seem to figure out how to link a podcast!

Apple Country

My good friend asked me to visit her family apple orchard which sits on gently rolling hills north of Grand Rapids, Michigan in what we call "Apple Country".  This would NOT be a day of picking, but a day of capturing the farm in full bloom. 

I have always been told stories about how magnificent the apple trees are when they are blooming, but I wasn't prepared for the reality of splendid beauty!  There stood before me neat rows of trees towering with white branches that have been artistically pruned.  What seemed a simple task of capturing the farm in Spring, now seemed overwhelming.  I had an ideal that an apple orchard was simply rows of trees that bore fruit that needed to be picked.  I quickly realized how wrong I had been.  The trees were an art form in their own right.  Plus, you had the wonderful old red barn with a green door that seemed out of a fairy tale, and then there were the bees.  I am not talking about a couple of bees in the tall grass!  I am talking about bees with a purpose and ALOT of them!  I was amazed to learn that they weren't there by mere luck, but the family RENTED them!  This company brings houses of bees into the field and lets them go to work.  The bees pollinate the trees to bear fruit.  Without bees, there are no apples.  Every morning, or was it evening, the bees naturally return to the wooden crated homes and the bee keeper drives up and takes them to their next job.  Circle complete!  Tree...Bee...Apple...ME!

I think the best part of my visit was walking with my friends listening to their proud stories of working and growing up on a farm!  Our girls ran from tree to tree squealing with joy at new found discoveries.  I just happily walked slowly with my camera taking in the sweet smells, damp trails, and blue sky, and the low hum of bees.  Thank You for the wonderful experience and letting me paint it!

   

Springtime

acrylic on canvas

sold

Bees for Rent

Just Can't Let Go

During my college years, I painted all different types of fruits and vegetables. I was a little Cezanne ! Perhaps this interested me because it made me feel closer to my garden.  I loved going to the store and browsing the aisles of fruits and vegetables taking time to pick just the right ones.  This in itself was very entertaining.  The subjects I was choosing were not merely vegetables to be eaten.  They were subjects waiting to be posed in some sort of eye catching scene.  They felt to me like they were coming alive.  I know, this sounds very strange!  But, when you are painting, each piece holds it's own wieght and becomes an intergal part of  the whole.  Color, shape, balance, and texture are all important from the very beginning and have to be considered right there in the grocery aisle!

This painting was created during my years at Aquinas College.  It is my first attempt at a large scale painting, which today still hold my interest,  and was accepted into the student show of 1995.  This painting I just can't seem to let go.

Still Life
1995
36"x48"
private collection

Good Photos

I am not a photographer by trade, but I don't mind sharing some of my amateur shots.  As for my photography friends...you can save your criticism! 

Roy

Hoffmaster