The Conquest - in My Drawers

Day #22 of What's in My Drawers.

The Conquest
Encaustic and collage on page from book
8" x 5.5"
©NanciHersh
$50.00

                                                      

another page from the book The Conquest of Fear , a discarded book I found curbside.

I love drawing and collage, finding connections between seeming unrelated images.

The fence image from an earlier solar print I did of my son on a swing, the small section of a pattern piece, a page from another book, held together with wax and another past favorite material- masking tape.  The fence- home and heart, the pattern piece- becoming whole after surgery, and half the circle sitting on top of the stormy sea.

We are wounded, full of holes, and often atop stormy seas, riding it all out, but doing our best to remember that faith and love conquers all.

P.S. Surprise! There is another whole collaged image on the reverse side of this piece.

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Snow Blind - in My Drawers

Day #21 of What's in My Drawers.

Snow blind inside...

Snow Blind #7
Acrylic on canvas paper
16" x 20"
$150.00

                                                              

and out.

Unexpected - or I guess I should say, unaware. I came out of yoga this morning and noticed the gray sky and damp cold air, but snow was not on my radar.

Until about an hour or so later, and then the large white flakes came down and down.

Kind of like my first winter back in NJ after living in Hawaii for over 11 years. We had snow and more snow, and I was in the house staring outside at the white covered blanket over everything. And that's when I started painting the crows. Stark, black and beautiful. 

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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?

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.