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.

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Mad Hatter - in My Drawers

Day #19 of What's in My Drawers.

Mad Hatter
Monotype with pastel on paper
13" x 15"
©NanciHersh
$150.00

                                                             

Most artists have done a self portrait or two in their career. Many have used props or costumer to try on a new persona or catch a certain mood.

Our friend Rembrandt is known to have done quite a few of those. 

As the daughter of a milliner I have spent countless hours trying on the fabulous hats in my Dad's Nobby Shoppes. It seems that we couldn't take a family day trip without stopping at one of his stores to either pick up or drop off merchandise for one of his customers. 

In this monotype I am trying on a festive creation as I am navigating my new life after my divorce.

Where in your work do you see your roots?

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Eskimo Kiss- in My Drawers

Day #18 from What's in My Drawers.

Eskimo Kiss
Watercolor with water color pencils
14" x 11"
©NanciHersh
$150.00

                                                              

First there was an Eskimo Kiss. This is a loose watercolor with water color pencils I did for an Eskimo Kiss- two noses rubbing together.

Originally, when my cousin Ellen McVicker wrote the words for me to tell my then two young sons that I had breast cancer the title of her story to share with Griffin and Nate was "My Mommy has Cancer." And in the story, the child learns that cancer is not contagious and he can still give his mommy as Eskimo Kiss.

Ellen and I eventually collaborated to create the children's book Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids now in its fifth printing with a Spanish edition as well.

In the book an Eskimo Kiss is replaced by a Butterfly Kiss and the rest is history.

Butterfly Kiss
available as an Archival art print
8" x 10" matted- $35.00
16" x 20" - $100.00
©McVicker&Hersh, LLC

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3 Tea Bags- in My Drawers

Day #17,  from What's in My Drawers

3 Tea Bags
graphite on paper
14" x 11"
©NanciHersh
$125.00

                                                                 

My drawers are filled with tea bag drawings, in fact I have tea bags strung together hanging from door jams like love beads. Actually, that's what they are.

Everyday for the past 18 or so years I make my husband a cup of tea. Just how he likes it with milk and sugar. On work days, I run it upstairs and put it on the bathroom vanity counter so it is there for him when he steps out of his morning shower.  Then we are off and running to the demands of our busy days.

Drawing the beautiful stains and folds is a small gesture that speaks of love, ritual and marking time.

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Weathering the Storm- in My Drawers

Day #16, December 3, 2013 from What's in My Drawers.

Weathering the Storm
Solar print, encaustic collage on paper
6" x 4"
©NanciHersh
$35.00

                                                            

If only it were that easy... put on the proper gear and ride it out. Often that's all you need, other times a little more....

Don't remember what was going on when I made this piece, but I had this little solar print kit I bought at a museum store a while back and tried it out with one of my beloved nets. Found this image of a guy in rain gear, added the pattern piece with something underneath it and voila- it's just how I am feeling today.  A bit weary, caught up in virtual computer overwhelm. I bought Quick Books 2014 to help me stay on top of things. After I purchased it I learned that my OS needed to be upgraded, thankfully that was free but now I can't run my old Photoshop on it, my computer seems slower and my brain has short circuited cause everything is totally different now on my laptop.

So off I go to the Apple Store. Throw me a line, will ya?

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Flight- in My Drawers

Day #15, December 2, 2013 from What's in My Drawers.

Flight
Watercolor, ink and collage on paper
7.5" x 11"
©NanciHersh
$85.00

                                                            

This is a piece I started when I was at Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital back in 2011 for my surgery. It was actually a pretty groovy kind of hospital stay (especially compared to the one back in 2003 at St. Peter's Hospital in New Brunswick!)  I had a room to myself, the nurses were fantastic, as was near by family and friends who came stopped by with goodies, and there was a lot of interesting contemporary art on the walls in every corridor.  Art makes everything better.

They also had an activity and social area on another floor. I went up there one day- sun was streaming in, live music was playing and there were lots of art supplies. So I dug in... grabbed some heavy watercolor paper, brushes and paint and thought positive thoughts.

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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.