Carolyn's Roopalees

Author and photographer, Carolyn Viens recently commissioned me to paint her Roopalees. 

“I found my Roopalee sandals shortly after I moved to Singapore, in a tiny little shop in Little India. The Indian women wear these sandals along with their gorgeous multi-colors saris and bangles.  I discovered Asia with my Roopalees, roaming through the side streets of Saigon, the back alleys of Kuala Lumpur and the beaches of Bali.  Nanci’s painting perfectly captured the comfort, beauty and uniqueness of my favorite  sandals along with the kilometers they covered in my explorations” 

                                           

Carolyn's Roopalees, 2011
Acrylic on canvas
10" x 10"
©2011NanciHersh

Girls just want to have fun.

Sole Sister

Adventures and inspiration are never far away, especially if you are on foot and take the time to explore.

Helen, my friend visiting from Australia and I spent an afternoon in Old City, Philadelphia.  It was there at Three Sirens that we found some far out shoes and and met Aubrie Costello- a "Sole Sister."

Aubrie, it turns out, is not only a super friendly sales clerk, but a wonderful artist. She also, paints shoes and incorporates them in installations.  I shared with her my Walks thru Life: Shoe Portraits Series, and she in turn, showed me her work.

One of her pieces, Ladies in Waiting is right behind the register.

Ladies in Waiting, detail
©2011Aubrie Costello

New finds, new friends and new muses .... what's your favorite recent discovery?

Red Hot Red #3
Acrylic on canvas
6" x 6"
©2011NanciHersh
from Walks thru Life: Shoe Portraits
$150.00

House Dreams: Tapping into Valuable Real Estate

Net Drawing with House, 2011
Gesso, Stabilo pencil, collage on
book page
©2011NanciHersh

House dreams seem to be a barometer of where my head is emotionally.  Renovating or moving dreams stayed with me for months following both of those activities. My nightime sleep reflecting the challenges and anxiety that came from those experiences during the day.

During a summer printmaking program at the Santa Reparata Graphic Art Center in Florence, Italy the house in my dream was a vast and gorgeous palace.  No doubt, reminding me that my days spent in the museums, streets, and art studios of Florence had the power to inspire and transform me well into my return to Oahu and my failing marriage.

The most recent House Dream took me to an urban setting of undiscovered rooms including an exquisite glass atrium, and one filled with lots of old and unused easels. Meandering through I met interesting neighbors and discovered street windows surrounded by brightly painted bricks that offered exciting possibilities for work, not unlike my exhibition last summer at theFashionCenter in NYC.

Waking up to a reminder that opportuities and possibilites can be found in every situation - whatever the Real Estate Market!

Tools of the (Ocularist) Trade

It has been almost 2 months since my son Nate's left eye was severly damanged in an accident.

Nate is an inspiration. He is strong, resilient,  and feisty as ever.   Getting fitted this week for his temporary eye shell reaffirmed these traits.

Our trip to Legrand Associates introduced us to the world of the ocularist, a professional specializing in the fabricating and fitting of custom made artificial eyes. Joe Legrand, a second generation ocularist was kind,  patient and generously allowed me to snap photos in his office, or studio, as I see it.  After all he is located in the Medical ARTS Building on Walnut St.

As a mother I appreciated his kindness and compassion.

As an artist, I was drawn to the tools and materials that he will use to make Nate's scleral shell prosthesis.

Windsor & Newton Colours....
timeless quality for Nate's Eye Shell

These little stands are called "dobs" if I remember correctly
and were made by Joe's assistant, cast from her finger.

Eye Kitch lurking in his plants!

A funky, phallic, palette of sorts!