“SURFACE” Exhibition

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Norine

SURFACE, the current exhibition in The Duke Gallery at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford, PA includes the work of 72 artists, creating in all media. Lorraine Riesenbach, founder and retired Director of Artists’ House Gallery in Philadelphia, was the juror for this show. I’m happy to report that both of my natural mosaics, “Ascent” and “Blossoms”, are part of this show.

The Duke Gallery was teeming with artists, art patrons and appreciators during Sunday’s afternoon reception, in spite of the pending wintry conditions. I met many new artists and enjoyed learning about their work which came in many shapes and sizes: encaustic panels, mixed-media collage, ceramic, tooled clay and plaster tiles, bamboo mosaic, trompe l’oeil paintings and drawings, wood collage, assemblage art, watercolor and oil paintings, abstract / representational, in other words, something for everyone to appreciate.

This was my first time exhibiting in this beautiful gallery – made all the more terrific when I discovered my 3rd Prize Award for “Blossoms”! Thankyou, Lorraine. Thanks also to everyone involved with handling the details of this exhibition – your efforts are greatly appreciated.

“Inside the Labyrinth”

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Norine

“Inside the Labyrinth”
9.5 x 9.5″ original painting
acrylic on panel

Wishing everyone a joy-filled and radiant New Year, New Day, New Path…

“Ascent” awarded First Prize – Sculpture

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Norine

“Ascent”
Bamboo – Wood Mosaic
28.5″ x 16.5″

On Saturday, November 9, Mayor Larry Keller presided at the Opening Reception & Awards ceremony of the National Juried “Works in Wood” Exhibition at the New Hope Arts Center. As usual, this show was jam-packed with woodworkers and patrons of the arts. I was overjoyed upon hearing that my mosaic “ASCENT” was awarded First Prize for the Sculpture category by Jurors Mark Sfirri and Michael Ingham. Many Thanks to both of you!

“Ascent” – detail

I have two works in this show, Ascent and Jubilation, both bamboo – wood mosaics.

“Jubilation”

These works will be on display until December 8 so get yourself to this excellent show! See how these 50 terrific artists amaze and delight with their innovative, exquisite, humorous, and intricate creations in wood! New Hope Arts is located at 2 Stockton Avenue in the heart of New Hope, PA. NHA is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12 – 5 pm. Check their website for the Calendar of Events, or call them at 215-862-9606.

“Highlights of an Autumn Afternoon”

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Norine

“Highlights of an Autumn Afternoon”
Oil on panel
10″ x 12″

This impressionistic painting is one of my most recent, of a field in Buckingham (Central Bucks County), Pennsylvania. The golden afternoon light, especially across fields and trees, always stops me in my tracks. It’s Autumn, it’s gorgeous, and out in that field is where I want to be!

“Highlights of an Autumn Afternoon” is on display now at Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, in Lambertville, New Jersey. I designed this new style of frame and am very happy with the results; this brings the size of the work to 15.5″ x 17.5″.

Please contact me for purchase of this original painting.

“Ringed Rocks and Sphere”

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Norine

“Ringed Rocks and Sphere”
Silverpoint on prepared paper, heightened with white ink
6 x 8 inches

These are some of my favorite rocks stars in the large collection I have. If you’re a regular visitor to this site you’d probably have picked up on that, and have seen them in my paintings and drawings. The bottom rock I found near Findhorn in Scotland, the top one from Block Island, off the coast of Rhode Island.

Silverpoint is a centuries old drawing medium, predating the graphite pencil; think about that for a second. It’s getting more and more popular these days, not surprising to me since it is a meditative medium and has a calming effect. You and the object of your attention. The more you look, the more you see and become absorbed in…writing line after line, keeping a diary of sorts.

Sunset on Cape Cod

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Norine

Just made it in time to capture the sunset from a vantage point on the beach in Truro on Cape Cod. A nice way to end the day – and to finish up a vacation.

Art of the Seashore

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Norine

Sand Art I, Cape Cod National Seashore

Sand Art II

Sand Art III

Sand Art IV

It has been a week of bliss here in Cape Cod, Massachusetts – gorgeous weather, gorgeous sunsets, beautiful rest and relaxation!

The ocean left these fleeting abstract images in the sand, couldn’t resist!

“Intertwined”

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Norine

“Intertwined”
Silverpoint Drawing
4 x 10″ on blue-gray prepared panel

This recent silverpoint drawing is a section of intertwined vines and branches that I found in the woods and had to have. The more twisted the better. (I’m also attracted to bamboo that is bent, curved, or somehow different than the others.) These things have grown naturally like that and are great finds!

The actual piece will become a focal point in some future “work in wood” that I create. Until then, I get to know it by drawing and sometimes painting it.

A silverpoint drawing is made by using a silver rod that is typically inserted in a holder. The drawing surface, or ground, is prepared, that is, it must have a “tooth” that allows metal from the silver rod to rub off. The term metalpoint refers to any metals – silver, gold, copper, aluminum, etc. – that could be used in the same way.

Your questions and comments are always welcome.

“Firework”

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Norine

Happy Birthday, America!

“The Art of Silverpoint”

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Norine

Silverpoint Drawings

I’ve been drawing in the Renaissance-era medium of silverpoint since the mid-1980s when I worked as an assistant to a fine woodworker, who was also a fine artist. We would break up the work day by exploring this medium – preparing traditional silverpoint formulas with rabbit skin glue and whiting, heating the mixture, and applying thin layers of it to leftover wood panels. An uncoated support won’t do since the ground must give the silver something to attach to as it is dragged across the surface. We made holders for the silver rods, and wooden cases to contain these and a few prepared panels. That Old-World apprenticeship was highly satisfying! Here’s a great link: SilverpointWeb.com for history, resources, Renaissance and contemporary artists, questions, etc.

I got in the habit of copying faces from the masters of that period in art history. These are some of my earlier works, this one inspired by a detail from a DaVinci painting.

I was constantly experimenting with tinted grounds, then adding details in white or color pastel. This was inspired by a Dutch artist, whose name I don’t remember.

Mona Lisa, after DaVinci’s. This is 7 x 5 inches.

A 7 x 5″ face of a Renaissance boy, based on a Boltraffio portrait.

I love the headwear on Jan Van Eyck’s models. This is based on a portrait of Arnolfini. My original image is 12 x 8 inches, mounted in a frame that I made specifically for it (photo upon request). I was experimenting with a mottled background in this piece.

More great headwear, this time inspired by a painting of Rogier Van der Weyden’s. Years back, I created a large series of silverpoint drawings based on these masters’ works. This evolved into a series of accompanying decorative paintings, where I took great liberties in expressing my love for this era. The images are familiar, but with a twist.

This is a larger, pretty recent drawing that was inspired by a Durer portrait.

This is one of my favorite drawings, not based on the Renaissance era but from today. He is a fellow named Maximov, a mason’s assistant, wearing a knit hat on a wintry day.

I thought I’d take you down one of the paths on my art journey so far. That’s something we all have…a unique journey, one road always leading to another.