It’s hard to believe that the little ball of orange fur we brought home on Labor Day,
is turning into such a big tiger!
The weather has been so nice the last few days, I let the cats out with me while I worked in the garden. The late winter flower blooms have awoken the honey bees and Pumpkin is on patrol to protect us from them…
I can’t believe I got the bee in the last photo. Click on the picture for a larger image,
We live about 30 minutes south of Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and every year, at the end of the winter, it’s a resting point for snow geese in their annual migration.
It was a nice day out today so we decided to check it out. I think there were around 80,000 geese there.
While we were walking along the trail toward the lake, the geese in the field decided to take off for the lake. I turned my camera on to video mode to take a short movie – so sorry for my OMG comments. I was totally blown away by the noise of thousands of geese flying right over my head (and a little worried about poop)!
Certainly not as exciting but I finished the spring mare and foal folk art painting I was working on in the post below. I think I will put it up for sale on the PFATT Marketplace later this week.
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
I saw my first crocus of the year this afternoon, hiding out with the winter aconite. The smell was heavenly. I didn’t realize how fragrant they are. Love the orange color too.
Here’s our kitty, Pumpkin, doing his best meercat impression while watching birds from my art table.
Lastly a small cabinet door that I am painting in my folk art style for the PFATT Marketplace. It’s going to have all sorts of spring colors and patterns around the frame when I’m finished!
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Today I thought we should take my niece and nephew to the Delaware Art Museum to see the exhibit of over 60 original Dinotopia works by illustrator James Gurney. I went in knowing about the books and art but I hadn’t read the books and dinosaurs, while interesting, aren’t really my cup of tea. Well, we were completely blown away by this show – completely. Gurney’s imagination and painting skill is absolutely incredible. I felt like the picture frames were windows and I was looking through to another world. His handling of light, shadow and color were brilliant and I really loved the character and personality he gave to the dinosaurs. If you live anywhere near Delaware, please do yourself (and your kids, if you have them) a favor and go see this show which runs through May 16th. I can’t wait to read the books now!
After viewing Dinotopia, we walked the rest of the museum and I snapped a few photos of some of my favorite paintings of the day. Click on each painting for a larger image.
This Howard Pyle mermaid painting was a big hit with everyone!
A huge painting made to look like stained glass. Sorry, I don’t recall the artist.
A small painting created by an illustrator for a book or magazine.
I love the Pegasus.
The greyhounds are great aren’t they? Painting by Thomas Wilmer Dewing.
This George Inness painting, “Early Autumn – Monclair“, painted in 1891, really drew me in. I could look at that one all day.
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
I’m so excited, it’s almost March, a month with so many possibilities. Will is rain? Will it snow? Is it going to be 50 degrees outside or will it be freezing. Of course it’s the month that contains my birthday (and husband’s) so it’s always been a special time for me.
Any other Pisces out there? I love to meet other artsy fish like me!
So here’s what I’ve been up to this week (I’m really itchin’ to paint a horse, maybe next week!):
Working on turning an image that I’ve painted into a sculpture.
Little bunny in a pumpkin. Nice for Halloween or Easter, right?
Playing around with another rabbit I’ve sculpted. Not sure what direction this one is going in yet. My husband says this bun freaks him out a little.
Went to Landis Valley today and got to hop on a wagon for a ride.
Watching them tap sugar maples and make syrup at Lancaster Central Park this weekend.
A sign that spring is coming, primrose for sale at the grocery store.
I noticed that the winter aconite is blooming!
Hey, how did this get in here?
There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling. ~Mirabel Osler
One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. ~W.E. Johns
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Here’s a picture of my ornament.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
With the husband sick in bed and Zoe and I bored out of our minds, we decided to brave the cold weather and snow and head over to one of our favorite places, Landis Valley Museum. They are having their Winter Institute now so there are all sorts of things going on from learning to care for draft animals to blacksmithing. Zoe and I stopped and watched some of the students in the classes. But, we came for the animals and I got some great shots! I also got to cross off an item on my bucket list, scroll to the bottom to see!
Click on pictures for a larger view and don’t forget to leave me a comment and let me know which was your favorite!
I got to go on a sleigh ride!!!!!! Yippeee!!!
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
You can get a lot accomplished when there’s several feet of snow outside your door and the husband is home to watch the wee one. I finished my previously mentioned owl on the pumpkin sculpture and painted two fun welcome signs, one with a black Percheron and some spring flowers and another with a jack o’ lantern and a mouse peeking out of the nose. I suppose they shall both make their way over to Ebay sooner or later!
My daughter, who just turned 4, attempted her first horse drawing this week (I am so proud). Thought I would share. This is a large drawing on a piece of oversized construction paper I taped to the wall. She said the horse has a “million legs” (yikes). There are also some fairies around, Tinker Bell is green and Silver Mist is flying by on the top right. Bother fairies are holding flowers and the large horse has a baby horse with it and a rider.
Don’t forget! The Penny Tree Auction starts this weekend. Proceeds will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Read more about this wonderful work of art here, on the PFATT BLOG. I donated a glittery unicorn heart ornament for the tree.
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Two major snow storms less than a week apart. I’m getting a wee bit tired of the white stuff now. At least the husband gets off work and I have time to create.
Here are some pictures from last Saturday’s snow…
View from the front yard.
Icicles on the back porch.
Sunset from the back yard.
And here is what I see out my studio window today…
Dining room window…
Out the front door…
Maybe we should try making snow ice cream. Here’s another recipe for snow ice cream.
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Tomorrow is my first day as a vendor in the PFATT Marketplace, I’m so excited. I’ve been wanting to branch out with where I sell online since Ebay keeps upping it’s fees and I don’t always have the time to promote my Etsy shop. PFATT (Primitive Folk Art Trinkets & Treasures) seemed like a logical choice, there are so many wonderful folk artists on there.
Since we have 18″ of snow on the ground and 12″ more expected in the next 24 hours, I thought I would paint something to get people in the mood for Spring. So I painted two cute folk arty bunnies on canvas (8″ x 8″). They were inspired by the young rabbits I saw at the E-town fair last summer.
Okay, back to the painting table. With all this snow, I’m going to get a lot done in the next two days! I have a Halloween and a Percheron sign on my table half way finished. My owl on the pumpkin is nearly complete too. Can’t wait to share!
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Last weekend we ventured out into the cold for Community Day (free) at Zoo America in Hershey, PA. It was one of the best experiences we’ve had there. They had a lot of animals out on display, especially the raptors which are my favorite there.
Here’s an Eastern Screech Owl keeping an eye on me!
Red Tail Hawk has his feathers puffed up to keep him warm.
Wish I could have gotten a better pic of the Snowy Owl.
This little owl came in with an injured eye. Now she can’t be released back into the wild.
Love the barn owls!
Isn’t this Cooper’s Hawk a beauty? I was so lucky to get that close!
At the zoo they’re teaching their skunk to “paint” with target training. You can buy her “art” in the gift shop. This was Zoe’s favorite part.
Hunkering down for a big winter storm today. One good thing about it is that I will have lots of time to paint and create! My Franny the Snow Witch has been marked down, if you’re interested scroll down a few posts and read her story.
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Longwood Gardens of course!
We braved the frigid temps and practically ran from the car to the conservatory in search of some cheery color on Saturday. So sit back and relax and think of warmer days as you look at these pretty flowers…
I like this one below called coral pea.
The flowers were on vines that thickly covered several archways (see last photo).
I swoon for sweet peas!
Bouganvilla reminds me of a trip to Jamaica.
You can almost smell them, right?
Mother Natures works of art!
I’d like to pour a nice glass of wine, grab a book and sit on that patio set all afternoon!
Can you find it? It’s a little hidden. The fountain in the foreground made such lovely music.
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
I cleaned my studio last night, how cathartic. Now I feel like I’m ready to create anything!
There are some areas that still need work like my painting table and computer desk. I love to see other artists studios so I thought I would share mine.
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Franny the Snow Witch came to life one day,
when some witches in the village went out for winter play.
Her body they made from snowballs, big and round.
For her nose they used a carrot they had found.
After placing the coal for her mouth and her eyes,
“Something is missing!”, the oldest witch sighs.
Removing from her head a hat pointed and worn,
then placing it on Franny’s and POOF, she was born!
Quickly they worked to build her familiar,
a cat named Snowball that looked quite peculiar.
Franny the snow witch came to life that day indeed,
to remind us of the magic of winter, the witches all agreed!
Franny is a friendly witch, she loves to sit and watch the birds all day long.
I have a few other Halloween pieces for sale in my Etsy Shop including a wonderful folk art Sleepy Hollow painting that’s one of my favorites!
I am working on a new Halloween sculpture this week, a large owl on a pumpkin!
Here’s a work in progress photo…
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
If you are a frequent visitor to this blog you know that on the weekends I do not like to sit around the house. We have been sharing a car for 10 years now (it’s tough) and I sit around the house all week.
In last week’s Sunday paper there was a story about the Pennsylvania State Museum’s new exhibit on Mammoths and Mastodons including a newly remounted mastodon skeleton that was found in a peat bog in PA. I’ve always wanted to visit this museum but never really had any reason until now. All I can say is wow, this place really blew me away. Four stories of PA artifacts and treasures from art (past & present) to vehicles (horse and gas powered), Civil War history, geology, Native American history, natural history and more. To top it off it’s insanely cheap – only $8 total for our admission. They also had a planetarium show but we didn’t have time for it. Here are some photos from our day.
A HUGE statue of William Penn at the entrance.
I loved the mural behind him too.
An unusal sled. The sign said it was used for mail delivery I think.
Stuffed Bison. I liked how this diorama was painted.
The stars lit up in the backgroud.
My favorite painting of the day.
“A Romantic View of Nuclear Power”
by Clifford Lamoree
An impressiove painting of The Battle of Gettysburg.
And a sweet little robin to great us as we left.
Please visit the gift shop’s website for some lovely arts and crafts by PA residents.
©Copyright 2009 by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!”
