Chestnut & Pussywillow

Image of the Week

chestnut_pussywillow

Chestnut & Pussywillow

This gouache painting was done on just such a day as today about eighteen years ago.  The relentless grey of early March was just beginning to give way to hints of color in budding trees.  Seeking an interesting foreground to evoke the landscape outside my window, I found this shapely blue bottle, and stuck some pussywillows (from the previous year) in it.  As always, I was intrigued by the polarity between near and far, inside and outside, manmade and natural.  It was one of those times when I was “stealing” several hours from my other work in order to paint something for my own satisfaction.  Many of my fine art paintings are the result of similar acts of time theft.  The punishment, as a working single parent, is usually several nights of burning midnight oil to make up for the lost time (tonight is another such night, as I write this post at 2am after “stealing” time to work on a painting earlier today for which I really had no time).  Deadline pressure is the story of my life!

This is one of the few paintings I’ve completed in one sitting – and just as I put the finishing touches on it, a friend walked into my kitchen and immediately asked if she could buy it!  I don’t think that’s ever happened again.  I was happy to make the sale, but felt like my child had flown the coop just as it was born.  The painting disappeared from my life within a few days of its creation.  (Kathleen, if you’re reading this, I hope you still have it!)

Order Chestnut & Pussywillow as a POSTER this week, and get a free greeting card (of the same image)!   $10 for the poster and card, shipping included.  Order your poster here!

Wishing you a good week, and may spring bring color soon!

D Yael Bernhard
http://dyaelbernhard.com
Author / Illustrator of
THE JEWISH EYE – 2015 / 5775 calendar of art
NEVER SAY A MEAN WORD AGAIN – A Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review;
winner of the 2015 Sydney Taylor Award & National Jewish Book Award
THE DREIDEL THAT WOULDN’T SPIN – A Toyshop Tale of Hanukkah
WHILE YOU ARE SLEEPING – A Children’s Book Council Notable Book
GREEN BIBLE STORIES FOR CHILDREN – Nat’l Green Book Festival Notable Book
A RIDE ON MOTHER’S BACK – An American Bookseller Assoc. Pick of the List
– and more!

 

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