On May 23 I received artist of the year award from the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit. Debbie Donowski received the teacher of the year award. The photo shows us with our award - beautiful vessels made by ceramist Skip Sensbach. On June 1 we gathered again for a breakfast to honor the seventh grade 'core' students who worked on the 'Tiger Eyes' to be hung on the outside on the Seventh Grade Academy building. As a rostered artist of Pennsylvania I am fortunate to go in to school for a month at a time to work with the art teacher and students to produce a work of art that enhances the morale of all. 

Sue is retiring from being the principal at Tunkhannock Area Middle School.  She sold their house and it's contents to make a fresh start with a new home and new furniture  in North Carolina.  She commissioned me to do a  silk to add some color and energy for her dining room.  So a bit of NEPA goes with her and her husband  for a new phase of her journey.  Good luck Sue - enjoy and have FUN!!!Sue is retiring from being the principal at Tunkhannock Area Middle School.  She sold their house and it's contents to make a fresh start with a new home and new furniture  in North Carolina.  She commissioned me to do a  silk to add some color and energy for her dining room.  So a bit of NEPA goes with her and her husband  for a new phase of her journey.  Good luck Sue - enjoy and have FUN!!!

A good friend of mine came to see me at the Pet Expo where I was showcasing dog portraits.  At first, he was going to have me do a painting of his wife with his dog.  Then, he decided as a Mother's Day present, for me to paint his wife with their children.  I smiled the entire time I did this painting.  It made me realize the importance of hugging your parents (or anyone) and getting it on camera (or canvas!).  He called me last night to say they were so happy with the gift, I fell asleep with yet another smile on my face.  

                                                     "Skye-Girl"  Acrylic on panel                                              

This sweet crazy girl has had quite a ride in her two years.... New Mexico, Texas and Georgia where she 'vacationed' for five weeks with her awesome foster mom.  Two weeks ago, fourteen 'angels' from 'Above and Beyond Rescue' took shifts driving her to meet me in Ravine, Pa.  We've already had some adventures and I must say - she has stolen my heart and created a new beginning just as her predessor 'arranged'.  And! She's my muse for the Pet Expo (sponsored by the SPCA) at the Armory in Kingston, Pa where I will have  a booth  (thanks to Marquis Art and Frame) :

April 28 and 29th 10am - 6pm.   Come see me! : ) 

Here is my last and fourth 6' x 8' fence for the SPCA.  A black lab with the backdrop of Harvey's Lake refrenced from a photo by Mike Burnside. I'm so excited to see all the fences various artists from the area have done for the enclosed 'meet your potential new pet' space.  The SPCA will be hosting a formal unveiling, dedication, and cocktail event to show off the work the Wyoming Valley art community has create on Friday, May 4, 4:30 to 6:30pm at the SPCA of Luzerne County.  

A friend of mine said I should paint Eloise to help process the grief.  The next day the SPCA director called asking me to do another 6' x 8' fence for their project to make a beautiful spot for people to meet potential pets.  I asked what animal would the patron like and  he said they only wanted a dog. He then suggested I do my dog.  I decided to do my favorite memory of Weezie running down the hill in the beginning of our walks.  Her ears flapping in the wind - so happy - so in the moment.  Here she is in her field - transitioning and going towards the rainbow bridge where I can't wait to be with her once again one day.  Oh and by the way.... Home Depot donated the eighteen 6' x 8' fences..... ; )  

My sister Ramah said there is a last time for everything and usually we don't know it.  A last time your child sits on your lap, a last time you tuck them in, a last time you hug your parent. Two weeks ago, I took my four legged comanion and love, Eloise out for, unbeknownst to me, our last walk.  We stopped and I took a photograph of the stream which struck me with the decaying leaves underneath and the sun sparkles on top.  She passed the next day.  I came home and started a watercolor on hot press paper in her honor as a way of processing this grief.   I miss her more than words can express and find solace in knowing there is also a first for everything.  

Friday February 23, twenty- three art core students along with their art teacher, Debbie Donowski, Ali Wilson, and Debbie Cichak from Tunkhannock Middle School and myself did a field trip.  I was asked to show the kids some of my work as a finale to the residency I did at their school.  The core group was selected based on grades, behavior and desire to do art.  We completed a mural which will be hung on the new seventh grade academy building in May. 

 Highlights from the trip: 

- Seeing the ariel view of Wilkes-Barre mural and sunflower mural.

-  Viewing the amazing hubcap collection thanks to Ken Marquis graciousness. 

- Seeing the amazing exhibition at the new Sordoni gallery by Angela Fraleigh.

- Touring the inside and outside of Wet Paint and being educated on the graphic side of art by Steve Taren. 

- Viewing the local murals designed and painted by Jim O'Connell and myself at Hardee's restaurant in Wilkes-Barre.

- Being welcomed by Mary Beth Pacuska and 'The School of Practical Nursing' and seeing the history of nursing       mural we co-created. 

- Being warmly greeted by John Pepe at Linde headquarters, fed lunch prepared by Eric Kranson, touring the beautiful building and seeing three floors of my works. 

- take aways given to all the kids and cupcakes!!!!!

- picture taken with Scott LInde who shared that his seventh grade teacher said ' if you don't shape up, you're going to    be digging ditches... "  hmmm... 

- a drive by Main street Pittston to see ALL the amazing art !  

We often look 'up' or 'out' to see the always available 'show' Mother Nature is giving us.  As of late, I have been seeing her random beauty by looking down.  There is no arranging or rearranging needed with pine needles atop fern amongst dead leaves.  It's all exquisite - the living amongst the decay. 

Words have vibrations, as does color - so why not surround yourself with high vibe words and color? 

I went to nursery school with Tobie's master and he and his wife  asked me to do a portrait of their 'first child' of fifteen years. Tobie is a Scottish terrier and still looking rather regal for an old chap! 

She said she wanted a painting that depicted her marriage vows and the energy/ life force of her four girls.  She looked at my past works and came up with the colors and some ideas.  I worked them into a sketch which she added some comments.  On Christmas Eve, I delivered the works and unveiled them to one happy mamma.  Thank you is what I say : )

May you and your family be blessed in 2018!!!! 

                                "Pineal Pincone 1" acryic on panel 30" x 30" 

Throughout the span of recorded human history, Pinecones have served as a symbolic representation of Human Enlightenment, the Third Eye and the Pineal Gland.

Conifer Pine Trees are one of the most ancient plant genera on the planet, having existed nearly three times longer than all flowering plant species. The Pinecone is the evolutionary precursor to the flower, and its spines spiral in a perfect Fibonacci sequence in either direction, much like the Sacred Geometry of a rose or a sunflower.

Our “Pine”al Gland, shaped like (and named after) the Pinecone, is at the geometric center of our brain and is intimately linked to our body's perception of light. The Pineal modulates our wake-sleep patterns and circadian rhythms, remains uniquely isolated from the blood-brain barrier system, and receives a higher percentage of blood flow than any other area of the body save the kidneys.

It is considered by many to be our biological Third Eye, the "Seat of the Soul," the “Epicenter of Enlightenment” -- and its sacred symbol throughout history, in cultures around the world, has been the Pinecone.

                                'Gus Amongst the Flowers and Butterflies'

                                            'Center of the Universe'

Several local artists are working on  6'x 8' wooden fences with images assigned by patron of the arts and animals.  The finished pieces will contain an area for animals and humans to get to know one another and to see if they are a potential match.  

Here I did Gus amongst the flowers and gnomes and center of the universe - which all dogs are, of course! 

The Danville mural for the psych unit is up!  The thing I love is the floors above it can look down and see the HOPE images.  It's on the outdoor rooftop where patients can get some fresh air and exercise amongst colorful imagery. 

The Geisinger psych unit in Danville is the only facility that has an outdoor space for patients.  The 8' x 80' wall is begging for inspiration which is where I come in.  I designed images of hope and happiness.  The process involves priming cloth (with some help from my friends ; )) and then painting.  Here are some images - the wall, the priming and the begining -!

I recently did a black and white series, experimenting with graphite powder, charcoal, acrylic and fixative.  Prior to this my studio was filled with oranges and greens reflecting the colors the wet summer has produced.  Last night, she said:  "all my clothes are black but today I bought a peach skirt".   This morning as I wrote my daily three pages, it occurred to me her statement reflected the wall in my studio.  And then I took a look at the major color in my closet..... 

Yesterday Chris and Mandy picked up a commissioned piece for Mandy's foyer.  She wanted an uplifting landscape with poppies which are her birthday flower.  The mourning dove and cardinal represent those that have passed.   Was so fun to do this piece and I am glad it will be seen by many who come through the front door. 

The mural shows the work done at at residency with Judy Greenwalds's art classes at Pittston high school.  They worked on designing and painting the "Welcome to Pittston" mural overseen by myself and Judy.   Judy Greenwald and Clark Riley were on the rooftop of the YMCA handing glued pieces of the mural to me and the mayor of Pittston, Jason Kush which we adhered to the wall.  Main Street Pittston, Pennsylvania is on track to have the most original artworks per square foot in the nation according to by past mayor Michael Lombardo.  The best picture is to come of the students on the rooftop with their creation as insisted by the overseer of all the great art projects, Rose Pizzuto.  It takes a village and there sure were so many people who helped - Hadley construction donated the lift and manpower.  Big Thanks to all!