Final Week for What's in My Drawers

Day #27 of What's is My Drawers.

 Fork and Shadow
Acrylic, Carborundum grit, pastel, collage on paper
30" x 22"
©NanciHersh
$250.00

                                                        

The work is often about the materials as much as the imagery or subject matter. The fork was a departure point to move paint around and use line to draw in space. The dark grey grit of the Carborundum grit mirrors the Fork in the foreground and adds texture to the surface.

The journey is the destination.

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.

Buttoned Up- in My Drawers

Day #25 of What's in My Drawers.

Buttoned Up
Acrylic, collage on paper
10" x 14" image size
This piece is matted
©NanciHersh
SOLD

                                                  

My Nana Ceil gave me a sewing machine for my Bat Mitzvah. My Singer sewing machine moved with me from NJ to Brooklyn to Manhattan to CA to HI (and at least 5 times on the island of Oahu!), then back to NJ. Finally sold it before we moved here to PA.

Talk about some heavy baggage. Metaphorically, not physically, though moving anything you no longer use is pointless.

Buttoned Up is a piece post surgeries having learned I have the BRCA2 gene which increases odds for not only breast cancer but ovarian cancer. 

I think in this piece a picture says a thousand words.

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.

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.

On Your Way Sir- in My Drawers

Day #14, December 1, 2013- Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit from What's in My Drawers.

On Your Way, Sir
acrylic, pastel on paper
42" x 30"
©NanciHersh
$400.00

                                                           

From Wikipedia- "Rabbit rabbit rabbit" is one variant of a common British superstition which states that a person should say or repeat the word "rabbit" or "rabbits", or say the phrase "white rabbits", or some combination of these elements, out loud upon waking (or first moment) on the first day of the month, because doing so will ensure good luck for the duration of that month. Today, it is a frequent tradition in many English-speaking countries.

Coming AND going; the first day of a new month, which happens to be the final month of the year.

The perfect time to feature another piece inspired by Lambchop my beloved surfing rabbit.

On Your Way Sir features the rear view of Lamb with his hapa flop ear, his cotton tail, and his adorable large hind pads, as I would send him on his way- away from where ever I needed him to be away from- usually wires and floorboards- his favorite treats!

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.

Namaste I- in My Drawers

Day #12, November 29, 2013 from What's in My Drawers.

Namaste I
Acrylic, graphite on paper
20" x 16"
©NanciHersh
$185.00

                                                               

Surrender, let go, bow to the divine light... it's all about putting your heart- and your faith above your head. Which is a good thing since lots of time it's our head that gets us into trouble, thinking too much, worry, judgement. It can be overwhelming so like Namaste II posted earlier this week, it is all about that life saving practice in your life... art, yoga, exercise, faith.

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.

When Life Unravels

When Life Unravels - Let Go
Gesso, spraypaint, graphite aquarelle on paper
32" x 42"
©2012NanciHersh

Am in the midst of reading Comfortable with Uncertainty- 108 Teachigns on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion by Pema Chodron. Whether it is moving, making art, facing cancer, birth, marriage, divorce- you can fill in the blanks, life is about transition.  

"As long as we believe that there is something that will permanently satisfy our hunger for security, suffering is inevitable. The truth is that things are always in transition. 'Nothing to hold on to' is the root of happiness. If we allow ourselves to rest here, we find that is is a tender, nonaggressive, open- ended state of affairs.

This is where the path of fearlessness lifes."           Pema Chodron

Learning to let go... safety nets are only an illustion.

Pages from the Past with a Story of its Own

Reading a recipe is the start of a narrative with a life of its own.  Another page from the Ladies Luncheon book I picked off the curb when my neighbors moved away, another idea to chew on. (ok, ok)

Cocktails
Acrylic, collage on paper
7" x 5"
©2011NanciHersh

More on view at Willow on State in Kennett Square, PA.  

This piece is floated on archival white mat board and framed with a blonde ash molding.  Pages from the past offering up a recipe for the imagination.

Tip: For a good read along these lines The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman.

Surprise... yourself!

Swimming Eye to Eye

Acrylic, graphite, collage on paper

40" x 60"

©2010NanciHersh

"When I'm in the studio working, I reach a point at which I know I could stop - that the painting if fine as it is - but I feel that there's something else I want, something more, and I keep pushing, bringing the painting to another place. I scrape off what I have and try something else. That act of pushing myself to make a change- even though maybe what I have there is okay - that, for me, is

excellence. It's pushing yourself further than you think you can go."

- Elizabeth Murray (1940- 2007)

I LOVE this quote! I have it taped inside of a sketchbook and reread it when I work to keep pushing... and surprising myself.

Elizabeth Murray talks about "bringing the painting to another place." That is an act of faith and courage ... and practice. Showing up consistently, and as we say in yoga, coming to your edge.

How do you know when you are at your edge? How do you take that leap of faith?