Shots from Nanci's Open House/Studio Party

It was a picture perfect end of summer evening and from the start at 5 pm on Saturday, September 20, 2014 to the end- and beyond we had a steady stream of friends, neighbors and collectors join Scott and I for my 2nd (I think it needs to be annual!) Open House/Studio Party.

Open Door to an Open House

Here is a tour of sorts with some shots taken by Carlos Hervas.

Discussing my most recent painting, Exhale with sculptor
Stan Smokler and his wife, Madeline Lewis

This is a great room to showcase work. The color of the walls

was inspired by a sheet of hand made paper produced in South America that I have carried with

me since my days working at the Brodsky Center (called the Rutgers Center for Innovative Print and Paper

when I worked there many years ago) in New Brunswick. My dining room in our house

in Red Bank was also painted that color. To the right of the wall, outside of

The French doors on the right lead to our backyard lanai and koi pond.

My upstairs studio and office complete with doggie crates
where they like to hang (with the doors open of course)
and another set of doors leading out to our lanai and
koi pond.

Our open floor plan, plethora of wall space, and great
natural light are just perfect for a party! 

Another shot of my upstairs studio/office.

Here I am on far right talking to friends and collectors of my
work (including two new large pieces from the evening)- Karin and Henry Silbernagel.

The evening was a success in every way, and I am happy to say that many new pieces will be going to new homes- and freeing up my wall space for a future Open House/Studio Party at the Okie Dr. Gallery!

Sounds of Spring with an Invitation

April. Doesn't that have a lovely sound to it?  Conjures up images of daffodils and other signs of new life.

Signs of Life II
encaustic on birch
14" x 14"
©2014NanciHersh

Speaking of sounds and new life one sure sign of spring here is the high pitched other wordly mating sounds of the frogs in our pond. The first couple of years here I had no idea what that non stop whirring was, but then again it took me two years to figure out that the street in our neighborhood called Delpa is because half the street is in Delaware, the other in PA. duh. 

Yesterday I had the opportunity to get up close and personal for one of the apparently very hormonal residents of our pond. 

So the guy with the bulge under his mouth is the one making the noise and yet
check out the couple near by... is he the look out?

After listening to this for countless hours of intimate experiences all times of day and night we realized, that we need to move. just kidding- I have an exhibition coming up, these guys INSPIRE me!

Koi Pond Series at Mala Galleria in Kennett Square, PA. May 1- June 3, 2014
Artist Reception: First Friday, May 2, 2014 from 6-9 pm.

Please join us!

In the Fray- in My Drawers

Day #20 of What's in My Drawers.

In the Fray
Acrylic, pastel and collage on paper
29" x 41"
©NanciHersh
$400.00

                                                             

Fish or  koi have been in my work since I first fell in love with snorkeling - and Hawaii.

The colors, patterns and light found on the fish - and in the water, soothes my soul. So when we were looking to move to the area and house hunting, our realtor showed us a beautiful home with a koi pond in the back yard-  that sealed the deal. She also later introduced us to her friend in the area with 3 or 4 large incredible koi ponds where I am fortunate enough to be able to visit for sporadic inspiration when I want the "big guys."

This was one of the first pieces I created in my Koi Pond Series when we moved to PA.  There is a small rubber stamp of a swimmer, as well as other collaged images from a children's book. This piece is about finding the peace and grace within the uncertainty and turmoil of moving with a family including two sons, a mother in law, a rabbit and a cat.

It's all in the fray.

Click here to see the post about What's in My Drawers and be in the loop for the rest of the art and stories in this blog series.

Can You Hear Me Now?

October 1, and picture perfect. Finished up another koi painting while they are still swimming around enjoying this gorgeous weather. With the onset of fall and cooler nights, I officially switched my koi food to the Fall/Spring blend, leaves are beginning to drop in the pond, as well as my portable phone. 

Transition, 2013
acrylic on canvas
24" x 24"
©2013NanciHersh

Yes, it's true. We just recently had the railing on our deck/lanai with wide steps leading to the pond. An unobstructed view was desired. We were concerned that Dini and Maggie (our Lab and Jack Russell) might come bounding out the door when I let them out and keep going down the stairs- right into the pond. A little momentum goes a long way.

Yesterday, I decided to sit and enjoy the pond for a bit while I ate my lunch. Had my dish and fork, my cell phone and the house phone as I was expecting some calls and wouldn't you know it, just a little falter and the house phone flies out of my hands, bounces and rolls a couple of times, and plop. You got it. Down at the bottom.

I keep trying to see if I can spot it and "fish" it out. No luck. So now we are down to one house phone, from the original 3. The other I left out in the rain. Something about water and me, wouldn't you say?

Oh well. I am grateful for another beautiful day, a pond to enjoy with my "girls" and the fact that it was not my smart phone that went for the swim. So... can you hear me now?

don't ask.

See For Yourself

Floating
acrylic on canvas
30" x 30"
©2013NanciHersh
photo by JudyWeinberg

The Artists Reception for Catching Up this past weekend with Catherine Hartigan was a great success. The warm terra cotta walls were a perfect back drop for Cathie's photographs and my koi paintings. 

Catching Up Artists Reception
photo by Judy Weinberg

Our work spoke to each other from across the room while the non stop flow of people mingled, mixed and reunited. So many of our family, friends and classmates made the trip to Metuchen, NJ it went on well past the scheduled 9 pm end time.

Catching Up Artists Reception
photo by Judy Weinberg

Group shot of Edison Jersey girls looking pretty darn good
in front of Cathie's photos

Caryl Felicetta of Think Plan C, Nanci & Cathie
in front of Deep Blue with Red (detail)
acrylic on canvas
36" x 48"
©NanciHersh
photo by Judy Weinberg

Fleeting
Acrylic on canvas
30" x 30"
©2013NanciHersh
With plenty of food and drink to go around

Be sure and check back on this blog in a couple of days to see photos and directions from our Artists Talk and Learn to Transfer Workshop held the following day.

And for those of you who missed us this weekend, Cathie will be at Transformations Gallery at the Old Franklin Schoolhouse in Metuchen, NJ on Sunday, October 13 for a town wide Gallery walk.

What's in a Name

A prince name George.

A Fish Called Wanda.

A Rottweiler named Sheila.

For now: Summer Koi #4
Acrylic on canvas
10" x 10"
©2013NanciHersh

I am working on new koi paintings for my upcoming exhibition in September at the Transformations Gallery in NJ with photographer and friend Cathie Hartigan and I seem to be at a loss for some memorable titles. Titles help me identify and often remember works of art when I get ready for cataloguing and labeling them. Right now they are named and numbered such as Summer Koi #1, Summer Koi #2, etc. Confusing and not too interesting.

Naming something or someone gives it an identity and can set a trajectory.  Because of this power, it's not always easy finding the perfect name for your child, a pet, or in this case a painting. Often, I know the perfect title for a piece, be it the painting's or sculpture's composition or the narrative behind it.  

Recently, my son Nate was telling me about a Rottweiler, a large gentle giant he met at a friend's house named Sheila. Nothing butch like King, or Queen or Diva, but Sheila. It makes me smile, having never even met her. 

Then there's the film from the late 80's with Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline, a quirky comedy called A Fish Called Wanda.  I sort of remember the story, but I'll never forget the movie's title. 

I have decided to give my paintings, or more specifically the koi in my paintings names- so I can identify and remember them. I will be posting my Summer Koi paintings on this blog and my FB page and I will be taking suggestions for names. 

This is where you come in. I'd like your help... any suggestions for this fish?  
(FYI- Whitey, Gefilte or Pike are not what I am looking for)

Please click on the word comments below and help me give my new paintings their rightful appellation. 

Gone too Far?

or not far enough?

Summer Koi #2, 2013
acrylic on canvas
10" x10"
©2013NanciHersh

This painting above, started as this, below.  

The beginning of Summer Koi #2
©2013NanciHersh

Have we done enough? or too much? and often it is FEAR that drives us one way or another. 

Art, like life is that push pull. We keep working, until it's done or we move on.

Seth Godin in his blog states that 

Fearlessness is not the same as the absence of fear.  

By recognizing and acknowledging our fear, we can have "it", rather than it have us.

Saw the movie the Impossible recently. Freaked me out...especially because we all know it is based on the true story of the horrific tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004. The beautiful clear turquoise waters become a moving mountain slamming and sweeping away everything in its path.

But heck, we get out of bed every morning, still travel, live our lives, enjoy the water... and keep going. 

One of my favorite quotes is by Helen Keller

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

Helen Keller

More Helen Keller quotes

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/helenkelle121787.html#RHqmC2ABTJTtJW7F.99 

Let the Daze Begin

First full day of Summer- yea!

Picture Perfect days. Gotta love 'em and appreciate them while they are here.  

Summer Koi #1, 2013
10" x 10"
©2013NanciHersh

Today is also the longest day of the year. More time to do... or more time to not do.

So easy to look at the weeds, the to do list, the pulls in all directions, but I plan to keep my list shorter and my naps longer.

You heard it here first.

Happy Summer!

Art Redo- Koi Fish

Revisited a painting from my Koi Pond Series that I had up on my walls, but bugged me- at least part of it did.  So yesterday I took it down and went to work.  Much better- fresher, and that one weird looking "parrot" looking fish is now deeply submerged.  Here is the redo of Koi #6.  

Koi #6 (redo)
Acrylic on cradled panel
16" x 16"
©2012NanciHersh
$500.00

To see the older version- go to my Facebook Artist page... and while you are there hope you will click LIKE!

Kennett High School Art Festival

Last week I had a lot of fun participating in the Kennett High School Art Festival. Artists from the community were invited to demonstrate their craft and exhibit their work along with student work. I brought in copies of our Butterfly Kisses Book, as well as prints from the book, mixed media works on paper and paintings from my Koi Pond Series. 

A table of Butterfly Kisses books with
Kaleidoscope of Color
Acrylic on canvas on th easels behind

This event was on the heels of the Kennett Middle School Career Day with at least another two concerts in the district, a Choral at the High School and Band and Orchestral at the Middle School in between. It reminds me how fortunate we are to have our children in a school district that values and (still) supports the arts.  (and yes, they do also have a strong athletics program.)

We also put a large roll of paper and had conte and pastels available for students to draw on all day.  It was a big hit.... as were the ice pops for sale form La Michoacana- a favorite local homemade ice cream store in Kennett Square.  (coconut is my all time favorite!)

Local artist Charles Lewis sharing prints of his
scratchboard art with KHS students 

Watercolorist Annie Strack painted all day 

to the awe and appreciation of students and community

A day of Art

Art Treasures Found in Backyard- Part 1

I am a hunter and gatherer of ideas, images and materials for my art.  I am lucky. I don't have to go very far.

Usually, everything I need is in my own backyard.  I tend to use the term backyard loosely.
Sometimes it's literally in my back yard, like my the fish in my koi pond or like Mr. Santiago, my neighbor and part of the inspiration for my Ranch Camp Series in Hawaii.

My pond in warmer times! 

My yard is even bigger if you consider (which I like to do) that our backyard extends into Pennsylvania AND Delaware.  In fact, the street behind us is called Delpa for Delaware and Pennsylvania. (get it?  if not, don't feel bad, my kids pointed that out to me. hmmm.) That brings me to Doug Paul's backyard.

Doug Paul's award winning collection

Doug has huge beautiful koi, and award winning bonsai in his yard. A visual feast, truly, and lot's of inspiration.

Now it's cold.  The fish are hibernating- swimming slowly under a thin layer of ice. (brrr)

My Koi Pond series continues,

Changing Seasons, 2009
42" x 54", oil on canvas
©2010NanciHersh

but I have been finding lots of other inspirations in my "big" back yard.

Stay tuned for more local treasures uncovered...

How does your backyard inspire you?

Reception for Koi Pond Series at Empowered Yoga, Newark, DE

Artist Reception today 7/17/10 at Empowered Yoga Studio, Newark, DE  5:30- 8:30 pm

Koi #3
acrylic on cradled board
16"x16"
©2010NanciHersh
SOLD

Koi #1
acrylic on cradled board
11"x14"
©2010NanciHersh
SOLD

The Koi Pond Series grew out of an intention to feel centered or grounded in a time of

transition. Our family relocated to Pennsylvania, and our new home has a beautiful koi

pond stocked with fish in the backyard. This has become a sanctuary for me to sit,

meditate, practice yoga, and paint.

Pond life is continually moving and changing with the weather, the seasons, as well as

moment to moment. Some of the smaller pieces are snapshots - moments frozen in

time. The larger paintings and mixed media drawings are more like the water itself,

constantly in flux, with life shifting above and below the surface. Process and presence

are part of an ongoing investigation and connection to something larger than self.

Hope to see you there!

Life as a daring adventure or nothing at all..

I Love that Quote by Helen Keller. It is paraphrased of course, but the gist of it speaks to me about risk and adventure and not playing it safe. Spoke to my brother in law Larry yesterday as his beloved daughter Katie is off on a great adventure in Peru. Katie is a beautiful soul, inside and out and well travelled for the 20 year old she is. Larry dropped her off on Saturday at Philly Airport for her amazing adventure to Peru. She is down there doing internship and community service with an organization called Cross Cultural Solutions. I will be following her blog and invite you to do the same. There are wonderful opportunities to experience the world while serving others.

http://katiemaeinperu.blogspot.com/

Here's a picture of proud Papa Larry with love Katie.

PS. What I am working on these days:

Getting ready for my Koi Pond Exhibit at the Empowered Yoga Studio in Newark, DE

Installation ideas for my 38th St. Window in NYC

Painting my boys' playroom- the back wall is a bright blue called SNAP!