week 15 in my  “this is where i am from” year long project:

Over the stone wall, across the road, past the tiger lilies and into the far swamp.

This is a pencil sketch for  a painting.

week 14 in my  “this is where i am from” year long project:

I remember Mr. Hennessy in sunny glimpses, tending his little rhubarb patch in the forest. The idea of a garden in the forest was intriguing and  mysterious to me. Sometimes Hennessy would cut some rhubarb stalks for the little people peeking through the trees at him and you could run to Mrs. W for a dixie cup of sugar to dip it in. Little kindnesses to children last a very long time.

PS – a note on the painting – I started over- scrapped last week’s progress. I am mrs. do-over. I still didn’t really get where I wanted to go. I did get somewhere though. Onward.

week 13 in my  “this is where i am from” year long project:

Work  on a painting of Mr. Hennessy tending his rhubarb patch in the forest.

(click the image for a larger view)

week 12 in my  “this is where i am from” year long project:

(click the image for a larger view)

Growing up in a small town in the 70’s afforded even a very small person considerable geographic independence. It was a reckless time when children rode bikes without helmets, were unrestrained in cars and open truck beds, cigarette smoke was everywhere and loosely supervised by an older sibling or absorbed into the roaming neighborhood pack – one could be out of sight  and earshot of adults for considerable stretches of time and at considerable distance without causing concern. Hennessey’s grove was a favorite place to play, past the house next door and headed up the hill, the forest got thick and deep. A wide path opened and if you followed it you came to the grove – a shady, pine needle covered clearing concealed from the street, industrial size, limb crushing, wire spools everywhere. They were intended as picnic tables for grown up gatherings but irresistible as playthings, fun to roll and ride and climb on and it’s a miracle we all emerged with fingers, arms and legs in tact.

For next Wednesday’s post I’m going to follow one of the little paths on the far side of the grove: one trail led down a steep hill and further into the forest through purple trillium (skunk flower) and wild rhododendron to a weird little pond and the other led to Mr. Hennessey’s rhubarb patch.

week 11 in my  “this is where i am from” year long project: A little more progress on my depression era dump painting.

( you can click the image for a larger view)

And thanks to Laura from Duo Fiberworks for sharing this link  to an accidental terrarium she found with her son.

week 10  in my  “this is where i am from” year long project:

I’m working on the depression era dump painting, it took some frustration and some hours for me to figure out I was going to have to take my time with this. The place is such a rich and vivid memory for me I want to express it as fully as I’m able. It’s slow work that I’m very happy doing.

I indulged in my favorite paints – lascaux – and a cradled gessoed board. I haven’t invested in good painting supplies in a long time and it’s such a pleasure – I love the texture and flatness of the lascaux.

I’ll share this little detail with you today – the leafy forest floor and some lovely old junk poking through – and I’ll probably post a little bit of  progress on instagram later this week.