"On the Edge of a Wood", oil on panel, 36" x 60"

On the Edge of a Wood

She sits alone

on the porch at dusk

at the edge of a wood

on the brink of dark

The sun descends 

below the low hills

the trees silhouetted

against the dimming light

All is silent until 

she begins to hear

the barely discernible sounds

 

of those who are near

The snap of a branch

The rustle of leaves

The soft padding of paws

through the distant trees

A whooo from above

A flapping of wings

 

Someone chewing

 

on some  thing

She takes comfort

in knowing she is not

by herself

The creatures around her

leave her no doubt

The Stories in a Portrait

 I worked on two portraits this spring and summer. One was of a family and the other was of a woman and her very close friend. The close friend commissioned it for the woman as a gift. The family portrait was commissioned by a husband for his wife. Both sound pretty standard for portrait work on the surface, but each had a story and emotional depth that was far from standard.  

I don't want to tell the stories of the subjects because I respect the privacy of the people who ask me to paint for them. But I will say that the process of making a painting specifically for a family or individual is wonderful in the trust and intimacy it involves and I love that aspect of it. The stories inspire me to try to find that connection to the individual as well as to honor them and their lives and relationships to each other and it also inspires me try to make the environment they choose for the setting resonate and feel familiar to them. I also think about the painting in the future. Who will it live with? Will they understand and know the stories too? Will it hold meaning? 

Both these paintings have a future in future generations. I feel sure that the family portrait will eventually go to grandchildren. And a wonderful thing will transpire with the painting of the two friends- The friend (the woman with the dogs) gifted the painting to her dear friend (the woman on the horse) - but  the woman on the horse has no children, so the painting will go to the granddaughter of the woman who originally gifted it. Sort of a magical arrangement. And that means a lot to me. 

"Every Picture Tells a Story" oil on linen, 36" x 48"

"Friends for Life", oil on linen, 30" x 40"

March comes in like a Lion...or maybe like a Bear oil on linen, 30" x 36"

 I enjoyed painting the bears in "The Baker and the Bear" (see earlier post) so much I decided to do another version of the painting with the baker in profile, facing the light (quoting Vermeer here) and the bear heading toward us head on. I was working on this painting during the month of March and other spring-like things started creeping in-The forest just starting to green up, a Bluebird looking for a place to nest, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak making a rare appearance, and a bullfrog making an unexpected appearance from the open cupboard. He is also making an important compositional maneuver by allowing the viewer to move up through that corner of the painting back to the window. Sometimes many elements influence the direction a painting takes. In this one the season took control. 

Here are some of the preliminary studies

charcoal study

gouache study

underpainting 

Sanctuaries-Capriccio for Coyotes oil on linen, 30" x 36"

 I have always had a fascination for coyotes. They got a bad reputation years ago from a silly cartoon in which they were depicted as homely, wiley villains. Yet they are magnificent creatures. They are smart, beautiful and mysterious. Because of their natural habitat being crowded in on and destroyed, like bears, they have made a habit of treading a little two close to humans looking for food. And the outcome is not in their favor. 

So I decided to make a painting that portrays them as invited guests in a space of acceptance and respect.

Capriccio for Coyotes

One could hear them at night

calling to each other

from the river

to the hills

An eerie sound

mournful yet resolute

So she began to play

to calm her nerves

a light capriccio

And the calling

quieted 

the coyotes

came

and began to sing

softly

tails thumping

like a metronome

* a capriccio is a lively piece of music, typically one that is

short and free in form. It is also defined as a painting or work of art representing a fantasy

or a mixture of real and imaginary features.

"Dance with a Bear"

 Winter seems long right now. The snow is falling hard and fast on top of ice and frozen snow from last week. There is a frigid wind. It's a good time to be in inside physically and metaphorically and dream of the spring bulbs which will appear (they miraculously always do), warm summer evenings (yes they will come) and dancing with bears.  

Dance with a Bear

She was accustomed to eating alone

A simple supper

and a glass of Gamay

One warm summer night

she slipped into her party dress 

opened wide

the doors to the woods

and let her mind wander

into the forest

and dance between the trees

Sanctuaries - An Evolution

This is the first time I have posted on my blog for quite awhile, but I moved into my new studio last week and I felt that it was time to start writing again.  It has been exactly a year since we started digging the foundation. After working underground for a year and a half I now feel like I am in heaven, reveling in the natural light and high ceiling. I can actually work without any electric lights on- this is a first for me as no matter how bright the day was- in my former studios I always had to supplement with electric lights. Natural light is amazing!                                                                                

Hunting Season oil on linen, 20" x 24"

My relationship to the natural world has really deepened with my move to this beautiful part of the country. The Berkshires have a gentle beauty that is lovely to live within and the scale of everything feels right. The mountains are not overbearing, the rivers not to wide, the forests not too dense. The wildlife is abundant and literally right on our doorstep. It snowed recently and the array of paw prints in the fresh powder was fascinating. It is inspiring and makes me want to live here as an observer- to watch the world around me and coexist with it without imprinting on it- to sort of let it wash over me and feel one with it.

"Stories for Foxes", oil on linen, 24" x 30"

 I have been working on a series of paintings titled Sanctuaries which hark back to a few paintings from my work in the past but has a fresh meaning, at least to me, in my new life. Some of the paintings are about coexisting with nature, some about nature inspired dreams and some about protecting the natural world and the vulnerable creatures within it. This series may be ongoing for a long time. I think that my intention will be clearer as each painting evolves. 

    "The Baker and the Bear" , oil on linen, 30" x 36"

Gardeners' Dreams in watercolor and gouache

 While construction is continuing on my new studio in the Massachusetts Berkshires I have found myself working in various spots in the house from the cold basement all winter to the kitchen table, where I find myself now. The new big window in the kitchen gives me a wonderful view of the garden as tiny ephemerals and bulbs of all kinds are emerging from the soil. It is truly magical and inspiring me to once again work on my paintings which I call Gardeners' Dreams. My kitchen table is not very big so I decided to work in gouache and watercolor on a tiny scale. Here are the six I have done so far and each of them is accompanied by an equally tiny gardener's dream scenario. Each one is about 7" x 5". 

She dreamt of pole beans so vigorous that she was tempted to climb up and look for Jack.

When she planted the milkweed the most extraordinary Monarch appeared.

       

She dreamt of an asparagus bed with ferns so soft and airy she could float on it like a cloud.

It was amazing the difference a few days of sun could make.

She dreamt that one tomato grew so large she could sit on it like a pouf. 

On the third year her asparagus was so prolific she could walk between the spears like a forest.

She dreamt she had to play tug of war with that damn crow to save her corn.

In her dream she pulled back the curtain and tulips rode in on a spring breeze.

"Food is Love", oil on linen, 32" x 34"

“Food is Love” is a narrative portrait about one person’s journey through a new chapter in her life. After a successful career in the corporate world she went through a process of self discovery and came to the conclusion that her passion was the soil, growing vegetables and gathering people together to share in the meals that were the product of hard work. She bought some land and along with her son began to farm it. The painting depicts moments and objects that have special meaning to her on this journey, from the goats, pigs and chickens that were part of her day-to-day existence to the produce they grew, and the dishes she made for the people she gathered around her table.

       

                                                                

       the compositional sketch

  watercolor study for the landscape

"The Greeters', oil on linen, 36" x 48"

 

My wish, and I  assume everyone else's, is that the day we reach the other side, all the dogs we have loved in our lifetime will be there waiting to greet us.

This painting is the greeting line up of all the wonderful dogs that belonged to an individual in Bethesda, Maryland. She loved her dogs intensely and with all her heart and when she saw another "lifetime of dogs" painting that I did she knew she wanted a painting of her own. She is an amazing person and besides loving her own dogs, she loves all animals and was very involved with the Washington Animal Rescue Alliance for years. 

When she started sending me photos of her dogs I fell in love with them as well. They were all so different and unique. There is Kiki, the black lab who was wonderful with children, and Senta the beautiful German Shepherd mix with the most soulful eyes. And Daisy the yellow lab who loved the water so much -- she was wading in every photo. And tiny Moose, (perfect name) the cheerful Yorkie, who could hold his own with the big dogs. Then Laila the white and caramel terrier mix who looks tough until she rolls over and her tongue flops out to show she is a total love. And the amazing and much loved Mango who has both incredibly expressive ears and a way of sitting on one hip that is totally endearing. And finally Wolf the big, beautiful Husky with a smile so wide you can't not smile back. 

These dogs were so special on their own I decided to let them have center stage, sitting or standing in an open landscape with water and a big blue sky. I wanted their surroundings to feel like what a dog might imagine as heaven. Their owner has a house on an island in New England so she had the perfect setting for this. And just to add a little movement and color there are seven sailboats for the seven dogs, sailing behind them -- a touch of existentialism to symbolize that they live forever in their mom's heart.

Madame et Le Chien, oil on linen, 22" x 30"

 I have a close friend who is naturally elegant. She is tall and graceful and has lovely refined features. She also has a beautiful and elegant Weimaraner named Greta. Whenever I see them out walking together I have a strong urge to paint them in a double portrait. But I had not figured out how to do it and elevate it beyond being a pedestrian likeness. Also my friend is modest and I couldn't imagine that she would enjoy the process of having her portrait painted. One day I was perusing a gorgeous book on John Singer Sargent with full color plates and I was mesmerized by the studies for and the the final painting titled "Madame X" which Sargent painted in 1883 of the young socialite Virginia Amelie Avegno Gautreau, the wife of the French Banker Pierre Gautreau. It is a stunning and mysterious painting. As I was studying it the subject Madame Gautreau suddenly brought the image of my friend and her dog Greta to mind. There was something so familiar. So after doing a few sketches I decided to paint Greta and have Madame Gautreau stand in for my elegant friend. I composed the painting so that Greta's stance and profile mirror Madame X's, and in a setting that echoes the late 1800 period. The breeze lifting the sheer curtain and what the subjects are gazing at beyond the window- remain a mystery. 

Here is more about the original Madame X, which caused quite a bit of controversy in its time.

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-madame-scandalized-art

Two more "A Lifetime of Dogs"

 Late summer and early fall of this year brought me two more commissions that involved painting the dogs from someone's lifetime. In my mind I equate this to painting a glimpse into what someone's heaven might be, because for me I would like to see the menagerie from my entire lifetime waiting at the gates for me to arrive. We would pick up just where we left off  and they would all get along beautifully. Of course my vision would include cats and a few horses, and maybe a couple guinea pigs. 

The painting I finished in August was for a gentleman on his 80th birthday. I was asked to paint it by his family and they gave it to him as a surprise.  They wanted him present in the painting, quietly sitting in his yard enjoying the company of his current dog as well as the dogs from his past. He often had two at a time of a certain type- all beautiful. The family provided me with whatever photos they could come up with as well as descriptions of a few when a photo couldn't be found.

"Dogs of a Lifetime", oil on linen, 24" x 30"

The second painting was for a friend who was the owner of an architectural salvage shop in DC. She is a collector herself and has a beautiful home filled with interesting and exquisite objects. She also has a wonderful sense of color and has had a fantastic collection of dogs over her lifetime as well. She is a delightful individual and has a special charm and glow. Even though she didn't want to be present in the painting I wanted the painting to "feel" like her in spirit and mood.  As we chatted about the painting she told me about each individual dog, how they came to be with her, and their unique personality and disposition. I got very attached to them as I painted them and wanted to do each one justice. On the day I delivered the painting, I finally got to meet the beautiful Tessa in person and I got the feeling she was quite content with her likeness...or it might have been the treats.  

"Donetta's Dogs", oil on linen, 32" x 32"

Donetta and Tessa

"Living with Goats", oil on linen, 30" x 40"

I started this painting as a tiny gouache sketch sometime last summer. It was inspired by the goats we see every morning on our early morning walks up Hayes Hill Road in Mill River, Massachusetts. At the top of the hill there is a farm. A young farmer lives there with his family and every time I pass I wish I could tell him how much I admire him. Farming is hard there is no doubt about that. I always hope that the beautiful view from his hill makes up for his early and late hours, the search for enough land, hauling food and water for all the creatures he is raising... and never mind the weather being temperamental and uncertain. And then there are the goats. I really hope that their crazy antics and funny voices bring the young farmer some joy and that he is not too overwhelmed by the weight of his responsibilities to enjoy them. I started thinking that maybe I should add some goats to our menagerie of cats and dogs, but then I thought again about the reality of that... and did this painting instead. 

Living with Goats 

A Lifetime of Animals, oil on linen, 42" x 42"

oil on linen, 42" x 42"

The inspiration for “A Life with Animals” came last October from conversations with the individual who asked me to paint it.  The concept for a painting like this is very organic. I listen to the individual tell me stories about their life, their passions and the animals they have loved, and slowly the idea emerges, followed by the seed of a visual portrayal of the idea.  In this project there were so many inspiring stories, so many wonderful creatures, that the initial concept kept growing and expanding over time.

My first challenge was how to place all these creatures into the same space yet have it feel cohesive and somewhat natural – a very happy peaceable kingdom. I liked the idea of making the setting the large room of an English-style country house with various areas for seating, and opening to a landscape. Since many of the animals were rescued from dire situations and given a second chance for comfort and love, I thought that should be reflected in the painting – all the creatures living harmoniously together in a beautiful and cozy home. 

I started by drawing a floor plan on grid paper as if I was figuring out where to put furniture in an empty room, then I slowly added the animals and moved them around until they each had their own spot. Then I did a perspective drawing on paper to create a deep space within which I could arrange the composition. Using photographs and descriptions of all the animals, I did a number of preliminary drawings so I felt like I knew them before starting on the canvas.

On the linen canvas, I always begin with a reddish orange imprimatura, then grid it so I can scale up from the perspective drawing. First I draw the space in charcoal, then add the figures. 

Once the drawing is complete, I do a grisaille (gray tones) underpainting. When that is dry, I start working over that in transparent color glazes.

 

Along with the animals there are some objects depicted that are unique and personal to the owners of the painting, such as the scale of justice, the hats, the bluebird and robin, certain attributes of the interior and the landscape. 

There have been times in my career when a painting sort of takes over and paints itself. This was definitely one of those. I think perhaps the spirits of all the lovely creatures had something to do with it. I am just grateful to be the person who got to hold the brush.  

See a video of the painting here: https://youtu.be/gGSfxtcfzE0

Images of the painting in progress: 

 

Sleeping Women

A theme I seem to return to again and again in my paintings is the image of a woman asleep. There is a long tradition in the history of art of a woman sleeping so I am not the first or last artist to be attracted to this subject. Perhaps it's because when you gaze upon someone asleep the potential for looking into their mind, their dreams, their virtual reality is so tempting and inspiring. Do they dream of the ocean, or the stars, or the face in the moon, of love, or perhaps of horses or herons? Hopefully all the dreams are beautiful with few nightmares. 

Some of my recent Sleeping Women paintings:

The Dreaming of Horses theme grew from having frequent bad dreams or "nightmares"  over the past few years. When I would wake up anxious and fearful,  I would try to focus on what I would rather be dreaming of- And I decided I would always rather be dreaming of horses. 

I love the Richard Diebenkorn painting "Sleeping Woman" from 1961 so I decided to depict that painting on the wall and mirror it in the sleeping woman on the sofa in the painting below. 

"I'd rather be Dreaming of Horses" 24" x 24", oil on linen

The next Dreaming of Horses was done for a friend who loves horses. That is her horse Piper peering in the door at her and gently touching her hair with his soft muzzle. And her beagle Riley sleeping near by. Have you ever noticed that you sleep more deeply with your dog or cat in the room? 

I'd rather be Dreaming of Horses II, 24" x 30" oil on linen

A painting I did a couple years ago- A woman has come home from work, had a sip of wine and dozed off on her sofa exhausted.  She had waited all day for the moment when she could feel

safe and unthreatened in the company of her cats. In her dreams her cats have become her guardians and stand over her like protective angels while she sleeps deeply and peacefully.  

"Shine Theory", oil on linen, 50" x 50" 

And another woman asleep is Henrietta. It was the middle of winter, cold and bleak. Henrietta was looking at a photo of her favorite painting by Matisse called "Still Life with Sleeping Woman" and started dreaming about a warm climate, the sea, a breeze, when two beautiful great blue herons materialized and flew through the open window. Henrietta kept on dreaming...

"Henrietta and the Herons", oil on linen, 24" x 30" 

And my most recent sleeping woman painting... She wondered why she always felt a little fuzzy 

when she woke up from an afternoon nap.

"Afternoon Nap", oil on linen, 30" x 40"

And one more that has a lot of meaning for me personally and which has a poem that accompanies it.

 

"We are just passing through like the river..." oil on linen, 36" x 48"

He came to me in the night

two weeks after he departed this earth

I heard him climbing the stairs

which he had not done for years

I awoke and could see his silhouette on the landing

back lit by the hall light

his big strong head and shoulders monumental

I got out of bed and tiptoed to him

and sat down

He leaned against me and spoke in a deep baritone

which I always imagined he would have

I am sorry I left without explaining

But you shouldn’t grieve for me

We all know we will be leaving and moving to our next life

Who is We? I asked, pressing my forehead against his

The Animals, he said.

We exist before we come to earth and we exist after we depart

We learn while we are there-

about human frailties and strengths

about cruelty and kindness

and we give selfless love to those who care for us, to those who need us

Then we get our next assignment

and we depart

So please don’t grieve for me, you see

We are all just passing through like the river.

If you look through my website you will see more sleeping women. www.kathrynfreeman.com

Hope you enjoy them.

Here are some of the images of the wonderful paintings referenced in this post and others that inspire me.

Matisse "Still life and Sleeping woman"

Diebenkorn "Sleeping Woman"

Balthus "The Dream"

 Rousseau "Sleeping Gypsy"

Vermeer "A Maid Asleep"

Girogione "Sleeping Venus"