The Trefoil and a Family

I chose to feature my "Yellow and Orange Trefoil Flower Painting" as a follow up to my joining a way too brief but lively, heart juicy family reunion in Ortley Beach, New Jersey. The bright trefoil has three leaves growing from it's single root, and so it was with our three generations- a colorful group to say the least! I was not sure what to expect. It had been twenty-five years after all, but it was good, all good! One whole side of my very large family was there - my aunt, the matriarch, her eight children and all of theirs. In and out of each other's rooms we shared food, laughter, and conversations within conversations. With arms wide open to catch the tears, reminiscences, joy and sorrows, we caught all we could and re-connected like a quarter century had never passed. Like the bright leaves of my trefoil, we re-connected from the root like the colorful blossoms of my painting.

Off to Ortley Beach, NJ

I've posted my "Sandpiper Close Up Ocean Edge" today because I'm off to the sea for a weekend get away, the same beach where I found and got a close up of this cute little sandpiper, strolling the water's edge with some kind of snack in his beak. I grew up going on family reunions to Ortley Beach, NJ, meeting up with 16 cousins, aunts and uncles I adored, and a reconnection to the family bond we so thrived on. We lived several hours away, so it was a real adventure to watch my parents pack up the Packard, fight over which of the 3 of us got the window seats and go off to the Starlight, a motel that is still there and where we now bring our kids and grandkids. We'd burn ourselves silly on the beach, not knowing, then, the hazard.. then off to the nearby Seaside Heights boardwalk for pizza, sausage and peppers, cotton candy and the rides. Oh! How we loved those rides! Afterwards we'd meet in the pool area for the evening, to share food and jokes and an occasional push in the pool. It was so much fun for me that I get an endorphin rush just thinking of it! Due to health issues and, truthfully, not enough effort on my part (life does really happen when you're making plans)it's been years since I've gone down. Now today I have the pleasure of bringing my own daughter and two grandsons- As it turns out, she married a boy from Ortley Beach, who she met during my long hiatus from the family fun. Kind of weird. They could've played in the sand never knowing that one day they would meet and marry. Who knew? Better yet, we're bringing her two little boys to introduce to the family. And maybe, just maybe, they will one day continue the family tradition.

Never Will I Leave You

"Never Will I Leave You, Never Will I Forsake You" is a fitting image for any Christian in your life who is going through hard times. It's an artwork with universal appeal to those who read scripture, and I hope you will gift it to someone who needs it right now. Or maybe YOU just need to see it, right where it is. Right where you are.

What is Digital Art?

I will use the above image, Vintage Victorian Rivals II as an example of how I create my digital art. All of my art is digital art so I really would like you to understand what this term actually means. Digital art is art in which a computer has had some kind of role. Some artists create entire artworks with it. Others use it as a kind of assistant , for example to help with color, texture or blending . There is a great deal of controversy between many traditional artists and digitals. Some traditional artists do not accept digital art as "real" art. They think we don't know anything about color, composition, hues, light, washes and underpainting. All I can say is to look at my work, look at the work of Nina Fosdick and Lianne Schneider. Do you see "real" art? The image above is a perfect example of digital art. I felt my muse tugging at my soul (more about her later) and went into my resource file where I found the faces of these two Victorian females and also some lovely textures. I imagined that they were vying for an attractive man in their social circle. A wealthy man with the means to take care of them in the manner to which they were accustomed. Anyway, these were my thoughts as I combined and blended color, texture, hue, lighting, and many overlays and this was the result: digital art. There are as many different definitions for this genre as there are artists, and as many different ways to do it. Over two years after creating it, this is still one of my most popular pieces. Alexius Jorgensen has written in part: "There are arguments regarding the overuse of Photoshop, which it is claimed can turn photographs into digital art. However, this argument makes no sense, because by definition, digital photography is digital art. There´s no such thing as an untouched photograph. Changing the settings on your camera alters the way an image is presented. Maybe extra light via flash, reflectors etc. have also been used. So does it really matter then if we manipulate images on location, or do it afterwards in Photoshop?" In conclusion, all I have to say is that anything that can shake up a field of art to such an extent must be pretty strong and significant and is not going away very soon!

Purchasing Options

I really hate housekeeping but as we all know, it must be done. So... I'll be posting my artwork using each title for links to my gallery. There you will find printing options and prices, depending upon size and format. Fine Art Americahosts my complete gallery of work for sale, and prints and mails it to your front door. Just click the link to enter my gallery and you'll find all the information about the artwork of interest, as well as an order form, to make a purchase. Once you are there you can also peruse the rest of the gallery for some interesting window shopping! Prices vary according to your size and framing choices. ($27.-$165) My images are available from simple prints rolled in a tube, to classic matted and framed pictures. They are also available (depending upon size) as canvas prints, acrylic or metal prints, posters and greeting cards, and even mobile phone covers. The finished artwork comes right to your door with a 30 day money back refund if you're not satisfied for any reason. Your chosen art is printed on premium papers and acid free canvases which, with proper care, should last for generations.   Unframed prints are shipped in sturdy 1/4" cardboard tubes and include a 1" white border to allow for future matting and framing. You also have 230 frames and 100 mats to choose from! Prints may also be shipped in flat packaging upon request. Pick your image and museum quality art  will be on its way to you within 2 - 3 business days! Canvas Prints: All canvas prints are shipped "ready to hang" with a hanging wire, mounting hooks, and nails. Your image gets printed on one of our premium canvases and then stretched on a wooden frame of 1.5" x 1.5" stretcher bars. You can choose from 3 different border styles and 2 different wrap styles. Acrylic Prints: Your image gets printed directly onto the back of a 1/4" thick sheet of clear acrylic. The high gloss of the acrylic sheet complements the rich colors of any image to produce stunning results.   The image is the art - it doesn't get any cleaner than that! All acrylic prints arrive "ready to hang" by mounting posts or hanging wire. Metal prints:   Your image gets printed directly onto a sheet of 1/16" thick aluminum! The aluminum sheet is offset from the wall by a 3/4" thick wooden frame which is attached to the back (see images, below). The wooden frame on the back of the print includes a hanging wire for easy mounting on your wall.   All metal prints arrive "ready to hang" with mounting hooks and nails. Metal prints are extremely durable.   They're lightweight.   They won't bend, and they're water resistant. The high gloss of the aluminum sheet complements the rich colors of any image to produce stunning results.