Acrylic paintings done

I think these are finished now. I just have to varnish them. Acrylic paintings, 8" X 10" (20.3 cm X 25.4 cm) on canvas panels. I liked using the sponge with the sunset colors. That was more fun than a brush.

The top painting was from a photo taken in Caesaria, Israel (Roman ruins). Interesting sculptures there.

My new camera

Just bought a new camera and I'm learning how to use it. The guidebook is intimidating so I'm trying a few shots on my own. It is a Canon SX210 IS. The zoom feature (14X) is easy to use. The camera stores very large files (14.1) so I have to shrink them down on my computer before I upload them.

The photos are of work in process. I hope to eventually do a painting on canvas of the horses. The foot needs to be lightened up a little (it was from a photo taken in Caesaria, Israel), the sketch I posted earlier. The sunset painting is an experiment using a book by Donna Dewberry ("fast and fun landscape painting"), but I'm using my own photo, not hers. The sunset stripes are done with a sponge. The bottom part was done with a palette knife and I have no idea how to use it. Obviously, I'll need some more lessons. Anyway, it was fun to work on and I'll keep at it a bit more over the weekend.

Some outside photos taken just to try out the camera. These are from my yard, squirrel pawprints in the snow, some berries clinging to a bush and the view of my neighbor's house and fence (backyard).

Craigsville Beach, Cape Cod

Just a quick sketch of the Craigsville Beach. Pen & Ink, Micron pen 05; Strathmore Bristol vellum paper.

Living in a world of possibilities

I am living in a world of possibilities now
leaving the working world soon for another focus
the world of retirement

I don’t think I’ll write as much
perhaps more haiku instead of poetry
the art world has caught my attention
always something new to learn
another verse to illustrate

more time to hike or walk
watching for the heron at the pond
the mallards still there in winter
there’s always another mountain or hill
to climb, the views inspiring
I say a prayer each time I reach the top

so thankful to live here, to be alive,
to see the beauty and feel all the possibilities
open to me as I approach the autumn
and winter of my life

copyright Linda H. Feinberg 2010


Photo taken on Cape Cod (Massachusetts) this past weekend while on havurah retreat. Amazing not to have any snow yet. We had a wonderful time with the group and would recommend the retreat (or a similar one) to anyone who needs a weekend away from their every day life. Havurah

Running Horses

Just a quick acrylic sketch from a photo of Joe's horses last spring. I think I like this one enough to actually make a real painting on canvas. Hopefully I'll have more time to do this once my business is sold next year and I retire. This was acrylic used like watercolor (used with water, not medium) on acrylic paper instead of canvas or board.

Joe's horses live in California with his daughter Sharon. Desert area, all sand. There are more photos of them on this blog (use filter on left for horse). They are beautiful animals (and no, I don't ride them). I love to watch them run. They are Missouri Fox Trotters, trail ride type horses, not show or race horses.

Leaves

Another attempt at learning to paint with acrylics on canvas. I didn't like the background on this one so I used oil pastels on it to give it a textured look. This may not be a good idea since I found out from my teacher that I can't put varnish on it yet since it takes oil pastels a long time to dry. I think I need to work more on composition, but I was just trying to get the paint on the canvas and struggling with it.

I used a photo I had taken a few years back from Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City, Utah. That is a botanical park that is beautiful that I've been to twice while visiting my daughter. Of course, there's snow at this time of year, but I was out there in spring/summer.

Grizzly

Just a little pencil sketch done over the weekend. I'm glad we don't have these bears around here.

Chanukah-new cards

Chanukah begins at sunset on Wednesday, Dec. 1st and concludes at sunset on Thursday, Dec. 9th. These two are new card designs I will be putting up on my website today. I also will put up some generic happy holiday cards, some with art, some with photos. Obviously, the pen and ink card was created from the photo I took in Jerusalem in 2006.  This is the "cardo" - the excavated market place from Roman times. My design from last year is still up there as well.

I hope my readers had a happy Thanksgiving. I had an enjoyable time with my current and former family, who insist that I am still "family". It was nice to hear after all these years. I have much to be thankful for in my life even though some of my life's lessons were difficult at the time.

The Hebrew letters at the top are from a song we sing on Chanukah "Al Hanissim" which is about all the miracles God has done for us at this time of year. The holiday is about religious freedom, the freedom to worship as we choose.

Craft fair yesterday

Good fair yesterday. This was the most popular card design. I ran out and took orders. Met lots of nice people with positive comments on my cards.

Clarks Pond/acrylic painting

Small acrylic painting done in my class with Jeanne Lachance. I will probably use this one for a holiday card. All that's left is to have Jeanne show me how to varnish it. I'm finding the acrylic painting very difficult, but challenging. This image was from a photo I took during the winter at Clark's Pond, Auburn, NH. There is a snowmobile trail on the abandoned railroad bed, also lots of hiking & biking trails there.

Sunset

Last week's craft fair went well. Doing another one on Nov 20th. No time to write much, but these were our views of the beautiful sunset last night. Our house faces west and we enjoy the view even though we are in the city. Lots of leaves to rake. The pretty colors are mostly gone, but the oak leaves are still a beautiful russet color, especially when the sun is shining on them.

The top photo was taken by Joe. He is just starting to figure out Photoshop. I took the bottom one. It is the view from our house.

Craft show Saturday Nov. 6th

All set up for tomorrow's craft show at Brookside Church, Manchester, NH. The ladies have been cooking and it smells wonderful in there!

Rhoda's Voice

your voice is fading now, my cheery cousin
you were always so happy to hear from me
I’m out walking on a windy autumn day
watching the beautiful leaves blowing around
leaving a russet, orange and yellow
carpet in the yard
their colors are fading too

I can’t just pick up the phone
to call you any more
but when I stop for a moment
to listen and think of you
I can still hear your voice in my mind
as you pick up the phone, smiling
and calling out – “Linda, it’s cousin Linda”

my cousin, more like a sister to me,
you are missed and our family
is not the same

in memory of Rhoda Moshel Coleman z”l

©Linda H. Feinberg

Angel's Blessing

This is a traditional Jewish blessing, sometimes given to the children when they go to bed. I think it's very beautiful. All the names of the angels have "el" in them, which refers to God in Hebrew. I have made this available as a small card and will have it at the craft shows I am doing next month. I'll put it up on my web site today too.

The art is acrylic paint  (I am taking classes now and learning how to paint) on canvas. I found this quite difficult and hope it will get easier as I learn more. The view is a winter sunset from my window. Our house faces west and we get beautiful sunset views. When we first moved in we could see the small mountains outside Manchester (Uncanoonucs), but now there are many trees in the way. On a clear winter day, we can still see the tops of the mountains.

Life haiku

Life is a journey
Wisdom comes from learning
Joy from an open heart

copyright 2010 Linda H. Feinberg

For the purists, haiku is 17 syllables, but in the form of 3 lines of 5/7/5. This one did not quite make that format, but is still 17 syllables.

Irish Blessing

Old blessing, new card design. Not up on my web store yet, but I will have at the next craft show in Manchester, Saturday, November 6th, Brookside Church.

Art copyright 2010 Linda H. Feinberg. This is a watercolor painting of Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City, Utah. (You can view it larger by clicking on it.)

Fall color 2010

Fall color is not at its peak yet here, but still very beautiful. The top 2 photos I took yesterday while walking the Heads Pond trail in Hooksett with Dina and Joe.  The bottom photo I took on Saturday while walking at nearby Dorrs Pond.

Pencil Portrait/Linda

Pencil & graphite portrait done from photo I posted earlier, taken in the 1940's. Each time I got one part of the face the way I liked it, I saw that another part needed fixing. Unfortunately, when I went to fix one area, I scratched it and couldn't remove the dark spot so I had to use Photoshop. Anyway, this is just for my sketchbook and I learned a good lesson from it, don't overwork and drive yourself crazy!

Andres Institute-more photos

These are Joe's photos. I liked the man in the rock one, I thought that was very creative. As you can see from the photo he took of me, I was having a good time!  Maybe next week I'll have finished some of my own pieces and can put them up. I am working on a pencil sketch from the old photo of me I put up earlier. In my painting class, I am almost done with my first real acrylic painting on canvas. It should be done by next week.

Andres Institute (Sculpture)

The Boat

Sculpture by Milen Vassilev, Bulgaria 2004

"Everybody has a boat and a direction in their life. We can create the direction of the boat, but we cannot change the direction of the current of the river of our life – the journey may be smooth or difficult – the same as our life."

Beautiful fall hike up a hill with sculptures on many trails. This is a free outdoor museum in Brookline, NH Andres Institute  We will go back again another time to see more trails and more sculptures. I posted some additional photos on FaceBook.

These large figures are called "Debate" - there were three of them, one seated in the middle. I didn't take a picture of that one. They looked like they were made of interesting junk metals. Joe e-mailed me a photo he sent of that figure along with our group. I am in the middle.

Student and Teacher

I'm back to being a student this week, studying acrylic painting with Jeanne Lachance at EW Poore's. I had a good first class, started on a view of the sunset from my window (from a photograph I took some time ago).  I think I understand my issues with the new medium.  I'm used to watercolor, or Chinese colors, only using a little bit of pigment, then going darker a little bit at a time. I don't need to do that with acrylics. I'll try to be braver next week and put more pigment on the brush. Meanwhile, I'm happy with my initial canvas and when it's done, I'll post it.  The class is 12 weeks and each student works at his/her own project. It's enjoyable to walk around and see what others are doing. Jeanne has some beautiful drawings up on her blog too.

I also started a new student this week. I am a volunteer tutor with the literacy program at the city library.  My new student is from China and we will be working on improving her English skills. I've had students from China (as well as other countries) before and I expect that this will be a good experience for both of us.

Sunset tonight starts the holiest day of the Jewish year, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). For a brief summary: Chabad summary/Yom Kippur  While I personally do not fast on this day, I wish a good fast for my friends and family who do. May it be a good year for all, (5771 on the Jewish calendar), filled with peace, good health, joy and happiness.

Old Photo

I was going through old photos this weekend, looking for photos of a dear cousin who passed away recently. I want to send them to her children.  Meanwhile, I found this one and cleaned it up a bit with Photoshop. This is what I looked like as a toddler, late 1940's. I think I will use this as a practice piece for drawing.  I have done some drawings of adults, but none of children yet.

I start my new painting class this week and I am looking forward to it. I tried mixing colors over the weekend (acrylics) and was frustrated. I am going to look for a color mixing book in the library this week. This should help too.

waiting rooms

women in the waiting room
sharing the burden of fear
waiting for mammogram results

two months later
another waiting room
another hospital
watching the clock
waiting for news

a different anxiety
not for myself this time
but for you, my love,
my soulmate, my partner

we are blessed
to be living at this time
thirty or forty years ago
you would have been blind
for the rest of your life

the heat wave is over
as we approach another year
may it be a good one again
filled with sweetness and love,
good health and hiking,
peace and kindness

L’Shanah Tovah

author's note: The Jewish new year of 5771 starts at sunset on Wednesday evening, September 8th. The Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar so this will be the evening of the new moon. For trivia buffs, this is not the first day of Genesis, but the 6th day, the day when Adam and Eve were created. That is considered the first day of Tishrei.

Joe is recovering well from his third eye surgery this year and we are hopeful that this will be the last one. Thanks for your prayers and good wishes.

California Poppies finished

See entry of July 14th for more info. I still haven't decided whether to make a card from this, but I probably will make some small cards for the next craft show in November.

Pittsburg NH

We spent 2 nights and 3 days at the top of NH, by the border with Quebec. No cell phones or e-mails. Relaxing, but it was a bit rainy. We did get out to hike the 4th Connecticut Lake trail. This was a bit of nostalgia for us as we had hiked it 23 years ago.  The lake is the headwaters of the Connecticut River which starts in northern NH, forms the border with Vermont, goes through Mass. & Ct. all the way down to the Long Island Sound.

The lodge (Tall Timber) was pleasant and the owner brought his German short hair pointers with him and we played with them a bit. That was fun and brought fond memories of our last dog, Tova.  I thought I would be sad, but I was o.k. 

Lots of signs at border and on the trail. I was able to read most of the French, but had to look up one word (for trapping) when we got home. No fishing, hunting, or trapping etc. The trail was steep and rocky, but we had our hiking shoes and poles. It started raining on the way back and we were glad we had rain jackets.

This is a view of the customs station from part way up the trail.  Lots of construction going on there. Not sure why our government is spending so much money there. Not too many people going back and forth to Canada on this rural route. The trail winds back and forth over the U.S. and Canadian border. There are plaques in the ground.   The border was decided on in the 1800's by some treaty.

Joe did some fishing at First Connecticut Lake, but it was overcast and drizzling. We didn't stay long. Saw ducks and loons.  Also maple trees with red and orange leaves already. Autumn comes early to the great north woods.

On the way up, we took a side road so we could see the pretty waterfall there, Beaver Brook. It was a good trip and tomorrow it's back to work again.

Sea Iguana again

I still can't decide if this picture is done or not. Every time I look at it, I feel I need to add a little more definition. I think the iguana looks better now, but I'm not sure about the overall picture. I may continue to work on it from time to time.

Next week we are going north, to the tippy top of New Hampshire (Pittsburg, bordering Quebec) and I will have time for some sketching. It has been a very busy summer, with hiking, family, gardening (all good stuff) and I have had little time for art. I hope to get some good photos of moose. The last time we were there, we saw many of them along Route 3 (a/k/a Moose Alley).

I have signed up for three craft shows in November/December. I will have to prepare more cards and prints for those. I think I'll bring one or two original pieces with me as well.

Mounts Morgan and Percival

Beautiful day hike in the Holderness/Campton/Squam Lake area with Dina and Joe on Monday, August 9th. Lots of rock and ledge to scramble over but it was worth it for the view. Dina gave us some technical pointers. I posted more photos on Facebook, just a few here. No more uphill hikes for a while. Our feet need a bit of a rest. My legs are fine and we'll still do some easy, flat or hilly trails the next few weeks, but not our granite and rock trails.

The first two photos are from Mount Morgan, the third one is Joe on top of Mount Percival.

Drake's Brook/Sandwich Mountain Trails/Jennings Peak

We hiked again in Waterville Valley area yesterday. I am convinced that trail maps lie. I had calculated a loop trail would take about 5 hours, doable at our level as we had been doing 4 hours the last two weekends. The trails actually took us close to 8 hours and we were very tired when we got down. Fortunately only a few minor slips on slippery trails and rocks did not cause any great harm to either of us. I actually enjoyed the cold water at the end of the trail and did not mind getting my shoes & socks soaked. Felt good on my tired feet and legs.

First we stopped at Ski Fanatics in Campton and I bought a hiking stick (Whistle Creek).  That was much more helpful on the trails than my trekking pole.  It is nice and sturdy and helped a great deal on both the uphill and downhill terrain.

According to the trail map, the Drake's Brook trail to the connection with the Sandwich Mountain trail is 3.2 miles, another .2 miles to Jennings Peak. The downhill is marked on the sign as 2.5 miles going from the connection back down through Noon Peak and to the parking lot. Personally, I don't believe the signage either. This was our longest hike ever and I'm glad it wasn't as hot and humid as the last two weekends.

Anyway, we made it to the 3500 foot summit of Jennings Peak and had beautiful views.  Also completed the Noon Peak part of the trail which we had done a portion of last weekend.  Very steep and rocky. My legs are tired, but I'll be fine by tomorrow.  Since we are in our 60's, I am proud of both of us for completing ths long hike and making it to the top!

I put more pictures up on Facebook, just a few here.