City Fireworks

I have always loved the July 4th celebrations. My family would always be all together, usually 20 or so of us all swimming and grilling up burgers and hot dogs. When we were kids my Father would drive us up to the local fireworks and we would sit on the hood of the car and watch from the parking lot of the industrial park. When I was in high school and college my friends and I would drive a bit further to Camden to sit at the waterfront and watch the Philadelphia  fireworks from across the river. Last year my Sister and I drove around to all the local towns looking for a good spot and settled upon the Haddonfield fireworks which we watched from a small parking lot off the beaten path. It was perfect sitting there with the crickets chirping and the smell of grass and gunpowder all around. This year however, with the holiday falling on Wednesday, I couldn't make it down to NJ until the weekend and I was truly sad to miss that yearly tradition. Luckily my friend was having a dinner party that evening and everyone was going up to his roof to watch the New York City fireworks from his roof. It was a terrific spread and about as down home as you can get with lobster rolls and home made cole slaw.

Not to mention strawberry shortcake for dessert!

It had been years since I stayed in town for the 4th and I admit I was skeptical about our view from the roof. There are always so many tall buildings between you and the river! Was I surprised and delighted to find that after our climb up the fire escape to his roof (no small feat in heels with a cocktail in my belly) we had the most perfect view of the Hudson River. The buildings were perfectly placed with spaces in between for the best show I could have imagined! Yes I missed the smell of gunpowder and seeing them from a distance isn't quite the same as having them explode over head but boy were they grand and just so beautiful! Here are some selected photos...

We also had this great view of the Empire State Building...

We also had a view of the Freedom Tower to the south (the center building with the blue lights) in progress. I heard that it reached the height of the Empire State Building last week.

The Humble Parsnip

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I just finished the second in my Vegetable Kingdom series, the Humble Parsnip. Parsnips are another of my vegetable favorites which, sadly, are often overlooked. The next time you pass parsnips in the market, pick them up and give them a try! Roasting them simply with olive oil salt and pepper is delicious. Some people also toss them with a bit of honey or maple syrup, mmmmmm. Prints of this will soon be available in my new Etsy shop The Curious Kitchen.

The Unassuming Leek

I have just finished the first in my series of Unappreciated Vegetable posters to be included in my new Etsy shop The Curious Kitchen. I began with the leek because it is one of my personal favorites. I never had leeks growing up and rarely see them at a dinner table here in the U.S. I only became acquainted with it's  delicate flavor during my stay in France as an au pair. It just makes such an adorable vegetable person with it's jaunty leaves that can make it so expressive. Usually when I am painting this type of illustration I use gouache but this time I decided to go with watercolor. I love the richness watercolor has on good paper and I found that I liked the variable transparency that doesn't occur with gouache. I began by outlining them with a crow quill pen and india ink but then switched to a Staedtler Pigment Pen because the crow quill was catching on the texture of the watercolor paper. I also decided to hand paint the lettering to give it a more handmade look. I did use the font Apple Casual for the body of the text and then wrote it out myself using a light box so it wouldn't be so uniform. I also loosely used a delightful font called Honey Bee for the title because it had a whimsy about it that I thought was perfect . I am working on the next installments that may just be about brussels sprouts and of course parsnips. So many delicious vegetables to be explored!

The Curious Kitchen

I am so excited to announce the opening of my new Etsy shop The Curious Kitchen!  I have  always had a soft spot for anything anthropomorphic and have been painting these retro illustrations inspired by my own collection of vintage collectibles for years. Since they are such a different style than the work in my Curious Portraits shop I decided to give them a spotlight all their own. The images here are from my archives but I am working on a new series of paintings to continue the tradition. Now I have so many more items in my collection to inspire me, I hardly know where to begin.

A Haunting Video

This is a beautiful video by my friend Stephen Spera shot in my apartment using my vintage clocks! He has also written the accompanying music. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-GD3U0rZw8&w=420&h=315]

Hail to the Queen

Image Oh happy day, I just received this GORGEOUS tin from my dear friend Katy in Scotland to add to my collection. It commemorates her coronation and is dated 1953. I can't believe she parted with it. I photographed in it's place of honour on my mantle. It's arrival has inspired me to go around the apartment and dig out the rest of my tins which are all in use.

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This is my favorite and is from Lazzarroni who make the great amaretto di soronno liquour. I've used it to keep my gouache in for years.

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This atomic beauty I found in my Father's workshop in the basement. It has paint and wear but I love it all the more because he used it. I think he kept nails in it!

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 Here are 2 from Mere Poulard where the best butter galettes in Brittany are made. These were sent to me by my friend Jeannie

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This one was brought back from Sweden by my friend Cajsa

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I love these 2 from Fauchon but I can't remember how I acquired them

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I actually keep my tea in these, the Lipton one belonged to my dear Aunt Gertie who always promised me I would have it someday and I think of her every time I open it.

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One can never have too many recipe boxes. The rooster one is just like the one my Mother always used and I found it on Ebay (as I did all the others).

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These are some of my tea tins which are in constant use.

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These 2 are new commemorating the Queen's 60th anniversary and I don't own them. They are supposed to be from Marks and Spencer but they aren't on their website but I will continue to search for them. Many thanks to Katy for inspiring this post with her thoughtful gift!

Hippity Hop

Why is it that rabbits always seem to be in such a hurry? Perhaps they are simply punctual by nature, which in my opinion, is a good thing. This portrait began as any other rabbit you would find in your yard (wearing a suit) but as it progressed I just couldn't keep myself from adding in the pocket watch! It must be the inevitable influence of Alice in Wonderland that I could not resist and I do think it adds to his gentlemanly appearance. He is now available in my Etsy shop Curious Portraits as a print, notecards and as a brooch. Happy Easter!

Time and Again

 

 Anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that I do not need another clock in my apartment. I honestly was not out looking for one but stumbled upon this adorable Teapot clock from the 1940's on Etsy (courtesy of a lovely shop called The Love Butler). Not only was it in the shape of a teapot which I also collect (see photos on an earlier post called Apartment Therapy House Tour) but it is a windup and so it TICKS! I hadn't realized how much my kitchen needed that reliable, comforting sound until now...

This aqua General Electric once belonged to my Parents and so it has a special place in my kitchen. The Santa mugs look so good with it I haven't been able to put them away with the other Christmas things.

This one also a General Electric and belonged to my Parents. The dial is truly a work of art. You can see a painting I did of it in my Etsy shop Curious Portraits.

This one I actually found on the street, I can't believe someone threw it out!

I've had this lovely copper wall clock for so long that I don't remember where I bought it. Probably at a flea market before the time of Ebay. That darned "11" is still tumbling.

I've been collecting these Westclox Baby and Big Bens for years now. The square one is actually a Telechron and the small one with the golden face is an old travel clock with a sliding cover that closes over the face.

This Moonbeam clock is a real prize. I had been looking for one for years with just the right face and hands as they do vary. It is translucent and glows when the alarm is going off. You can see a painting I did featuring this and some of the Westclox in my Etsy shop Curious Portraits.

Here is another Westlox and a beautiful old leather bound clock that was left to me by a friend.

This one is made by Reveille of which I know nothing. I just loved the Deco look.

This ship clock was a crazy purchase but my Grandfather had one just like it when we were growing up and I thought the chances of me ever finding another were slim. There is a little night light inside so that all the portholes glow. Just charming.

This pewter clock isn't vintage at all but I saw it in Pottery Barn years ago and loved it. It has become my every day alarm clock as it has a very quiet tick and a very calm alarm.

This beauty belonged to my Father and is my treasure. He used to repair clocks so I guess I know where my love of them originates. It has a deep, mellow tick and a beautiful chime on the half hour and gong on the hour.

Last but not least is this adorable one that isn't a clock at all but an old bank that I found in an antique market in Lambertville, NJ.

The beauty of vintage Vermouth Labels

Some things are so beautiful the way they are and simply don't need to be changed. One thing that has long been a bee in my bonnet is vermouth labels. My Father always believed it was best to have a well stocked bar for when people drop over and I've continued this practice. I remember as a kid being fascinated by all the gorgeous and intricate labels on the liquor bottles in his cabinet and I derive comfort and joy to see some of the same labels gracing my own kitchen. At some point along the way I noticed that liquor companies were modernizing their bottles and labels and so I began to keep the original bottles I had and simply pour the new liquor into them. Here are some of the ones I have:

Vintage Vermouth
Vintage Vermouth

Cinzano Bianco was one of my Father's favorites and I am so glad I still have that bottle as well as the Martini and Rossi Red Vermouth. I don't know if the Strega label has changed because I've had this bottle for about 100 years now. Seriously, it isn't something that gets consumed regularly. The Punt e Mes was recently changed but it actually looks more vintage now so I have the new one. I think they modernized that one long before I even discovered it.

New Labels
New Labels
Lazzaroni
Lazzaroni

Here are some newer bottles that aren't so bad. The Martini and Rossi Bianco isn't the original but it has been modernized even more since so I still hang on to this one. I would love to get my hands on an old Bianco or even a dry vermouth bottle as all mine are sadly modern and kept in the back of my cabinet where they don't show. The Hendricks Gin bottle is gorgeous and this old Lillet is lovely. (Changed into something strange now).

This Lazzaroni Amaretto tin is brand new (in the past 2 years) and so beautiful and old fashioned that I thought I should include it along with the Angostura which at least looks old.

Vintage Tomato Labels
Vintage Tomato Labels

Last but not least I thought I'd give a nod to my favorite tomato labels, I certainly hope Sclafani and La Bella San Marzano don't have any ideas of change. These are gorgeous just the way they are!

Victorian Needlepoint

I know I haven't posted in awhile so I hope you are all still with me. I have been home recuperating from surgery (I'm fine) for the past 2 weeks and honestly going a little stir crazy. I am just getting back to work in the studio now but what saved my sanity these past 2 weeks was working on a new needlepoint when I couldn't really do much else. I knew that would be the project to engage me while I was stuck in the apartment but unfortunately I had already finished my Dove portraits so I had to come up with something new and personally interesting. I decided to pay homage to Mrs. Beeton and her Homemaking books of the 1860's. I have always loved those beautiful illustrations of victorian desserts and thought that they would make a lovely addition to my kitchen wall. I admit to using artistic license in the names and desserts for visual reasons but the inspiration is all Mrs. Beeton.  There is a wonderful film made about her for PBS a few years back entitled The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton which I highly recommend. In the weeks leading up to the surgery I designed the image and charted it on graph paper so it would be all ready to begin when I returned home. Here is a little piece of it so far, it will probably take me most of this year to finish but after all the pleasure is mostly in the making not just the final product!

I wasn't sure at this point whether I preferred a greenish gold or an aqua background and I have since changed the wording a bit.  Half the fun is adjusting it as you go.

Upcoming Exhibition

I have been very busy preparing for an exhibition opening Saturday December 3 at the Wyatt Art Studios in Rochester New Hampshire. It is my first exhibition with them and I am very excited about it. It will be in their new back room which is small so I decided to show small works. I started with the 3 vintage-y still lives I already had which are nice and cheery and created 6 additional small paintings to accompany them which are all painted from my collection of vintage salt and pepper shakers and Christmas ornaments. Unfortunately I won't be able to go up there for the opening but I'll be there in spirit!

Halloween Enthusiasts

As far as I am concerned the week before Halloween is the best of the year! I thought I would celebrate the people in my neighborhood (Manhattan's West Village) who get into the spirit of Halloween as much as I do! The above photo is in my living room, I just love the old ornaments from the 40's and 50's.

These 3 are from Rag & Bones on Christopher St.

My downstairs neighbors

Further up Morton Street...

Jacques Torres chocolates down on Hudson Street

Some spooky votive candle holders my dear friend LJ sent me!

My mantle.

Homage to the humble mouse

We have had a mouse in our apartment for the past few weeks and have grown rather fond of him. We’ve even named him Henry. I don’t know why but he just seems so polite and apologetic after having eaten the corners off the banana bread we foolishly left on the kitchen table overnight. We know we must send him on his way before his friends and family turn up but I decided to paint his portrait to remember him by. I imagined him as an old soul so I've painted him in quasi victorian garb.

Mouse Portrait Victorian
Mouse Portrait Victorian

Old Fashioned Cat Dandy

Now what can this dapper cat be up to? He is certainly a gentleman and seems to befriend mice. He must be a cat that marches to the beat of his own drum. I was so happy with my Headless Skeleton portrait done in sepia tones that I decided to go the same route with this portrait. I believe it  gives the impression of being a vintage photograph for those who appreciate a good old fashioned cat portrait from yesteryear. Prints of him are available in my Etsy shop Curious Portraits.

Headless Skeleton Finished

I began this portrait in sepia tones as I do most of my paintings and liked it so much I decided to finish it without adding color. I think it gives it a spooky and old fashioned look and reminds me of my Halloween portraits of my dog Bingo. I'll be selling prints of it in my Etsy shop Curious Portraits beginning this weekend.

                                      

New Uses for an Old Skull

Now that it is September I am already looking forward to Halloween, my favorite time of year. I've been making good use of that resin skull I purchased last year by incorporating it into some new paintings. The first one  I finished is a still life. The second which is still in progress, alas, does not have the skull but features a disembodied hand  that usually sits on my hearth and a vintage doll head. The third is so far an underpainting and has the whole skeleton holding his own head in his hand; a theme I used successfully with my dog Bingo in his "Sleepy Hollow" halloween card a few years back.