Sunday, March 27, 2011

Beaked Dragon for Japan


Spring is very slowly arriving and here we still have large areas of snow with brown grass revealed in many fields and yards. It's also been extra cold for this time of year, way behind last year.
we can complain, but then, when we think of the disaster in Japan all our weather problems pale. How anyone could ever be ready for such a disaster is incomprehensible.
All of us hope that a more normal life can be restored in Japan as quickly as possible. Nothing can replace the loved ones lost as well as all possessions.
Amity Farm Batik as well as many other etsy shop keepers have donated the proceeds of sales from some of our work to Relief for Japan.
"The Beaked Dragon Flies above the Sea" is a print from a batik that was inspired by oriental art. Any purchases of this print on etsy.com will benefit relief for Japan. See etsy link on the right side of this page to click to etsy. Let's hope things can more quickly improve for the Japanese.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Moon Over Spring






Last night the brilliant super moon arrived to bring in spring. From my view it was very large and had golden crescents around it. It shone very brightly throughout the night to bring spring here. My batik "Moon Over Spring" is on exhibit at the Thacker Nature Center in Knox, New York, along with a beautiful collection of artwork. The exhibit will be there through next Saturday. The John Boyd Thacker State Park is a gorgeous Park with breathtaking views and the Nature center is charming and filled with exhibits so that you can not leave without learning many things about our local habitat. How lucky we are to have this beautiful park where all can go to enjoy nature and the open space of the wild.(visit Thacker Nature Center on Facebook).
I'm including an image of "Moon Over Spring" as well as several other batik that are inspired by moonlight. "The Unicorn and Phoenix", "Pan Calls the Moon from Zebra's Back", "Poseidon Rides the Sea", and "Dragon Breathing Arrows around Moon". The full moon has been an inspirational symbol for all time.
You can see my artwork on Fine Art America, Etsy- Amity Farm Batik. Check to the right of this post and click to these sites. Spring is here at last and it is cold, but sunny and bright!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Winter Goodbye.................


The days of heavy snow have not been gone for long. It was only a short time ago that I looked out in the blowing snow to see our little birdhouse nestled in the small entryway. Near bye another bird nest in the little apple tree was pounded with snow, abandoned for the winter.
What a relief when the snow stopped and the sun shone on the coated branches with the sky a brilliant blue. Crows cawed hap




pily in the distance as the sunlight produced an optimistic cast to everything. The dogwood that had such beautiful flowers and fruit last summer and fall poked toward the bright sky coated with fluffy snow. Spring will be here tomorrow and the earth will come to life soon. Lets hope it will be a good day for us all.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Last Breaths of Winter






As I finish feeding the hutch calves this clear evening, I look off to a sunset sky in the west and catch a glimpse of the West Mountain Ski area beyond Glens Falls, New York. It sparkles in the distance like many diamonds. At home the sky keeps changing and is both cold and lonely looking as well as very beautiful. Droplets of frozen ice hang on tree and shrub branches and I find them enchanting. There is an old tree stump by our house with a hole in it that I can see the dimly lit sunset through before complete darkness descends.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Another Winter Wonderland!






I awake to a winter wonderland again! Yes it is beautiful, but we have had so much snow, that I fear the long, uphill driveway will have no room for cars if it has to be plowed once more. As I look out I see the Rhodedendrons highlighted with fluffy white snow and they are beautiful for sure. As I stumble around in my studio in the dim morning light I find it a bit difficult to feel inspired. I look at several tables with projects sitting on them waiting to be finished. My art cards with images of batik I have done on one table, some smaller batik sit finised, ready to be tagged and rolled up. I have a selection of scarves tied after the first dye bath and ready for shibori patterning to be added with the next dyebath. Suddenly I find myself involved and anxious to finish some of these many projects I've begun.
I look out again and now see the rain has begun and created sparkling patterns on the window. This is inspiring..........

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Good by to February!






February, the shortest month can often, seem the longest. That was the case this year. Most of the month being cold, cloudy and snowy. There were some beautiful days however, and the light was much stronger, giving off a feeling of optimism when the sun did shine. The winter has unique and beautiful images and the snow covered fields give a feeling of spaciousness and also have sculptural effects when the snow drifts. Even looking out the window in the early morning is different and special every day. I wanted to share some of these images with you but my mind as all of us are now focused on spring, still quite away off.......