Autumn Adventures in Life & Art
I’m writing this from Dallas, back with my son and his family — and very happy to be on terra firma after trying out my sea-legs on a cruise.
I’ve settled into a small ‘work station’ here to paint. Two artworks have recently found new homes through Manyung Gallery in Melbourne, so there is fresh work underway.
Even from this distance, I find my thoughts drifting back to the garden and studio at home — and to friends and neighbours — just as autumn was settling in.
Jenny x
FROM MY GARDEN
The topiary is coming into its own now, and H. Limelight has continued to be a show-stopper — full, buoyant, and quite convinced it is a tree. (I’ve taken to calling them limbs rather than stems!)
And then there are the little Zephiranthes — such a romantic name, conjuring up light warm tropical breezes.
These little bulbs shoot masses of thin dark green spears with pure white flowers with yellow centres popping up to delight me.
I’ve been dividing and replanting them as edging along the pebble courtyard — useful as well as pretty, helping keep the inevitable bird-scattered debris at bay.
My usual burst of plants and thoughts softened over this period as I moved into holiday mode.
ROM MY ART
FROM MY ART STUDIO
Before leaving, my painting rhythm had felt a little interrupted.
All the assembling and marketing of the Nest Egg prints — so satisfying, but it does pull you away from the work for a time.
Picking up my paintbrushes again, I found myself returning to familiar themes. The watercolour nest image above is a work in progress — evolving slowly, with a good deal of ignoring between splashes!
A new nest has begun at a larger scale - oil this time. Still finding its footing, but I think it will have a presence. Look out for it and smaller works at the Bay of Plenty Garden & Arts Festival this November.
Alongside the delicate nest-egg work, I could not resist making some further splashes with the lovely Wollerton Old Hall rose watercolour.
It’s very much a wet-on-wet exercise at this stage. Letting colour temperature do that quiet push and pull, the dispersal of colour interlacing shapes and texture. A time-honoured exercise that brings these luminous blossoms to 3D life on a flat surface. The paper-maker’s quality and skill affecting the outcome as surely as my input.
It’s slow work.
Layering. Stepping back. Coming back again with fresh eyes - simply a must!
There is something pleasurable in that rhythm — coaxing the illusion of my garden onto beautiful Italian and French papers. The real coup will be in finishing this piece, but I’m not rushing. My rushing days are over - they don’t achieve the quality required.
FROM MY KITCHEN
Kornies Renaissance
Kornies have come back into my life.
I can’t recall when I last made them, but there it was — the Edmonds recipe, waiting patiently.
Soft, with that familiar crunch (the big crisp cornflakes, of course).
I did make a few adjustments… almond essence instead of vanilla, and some slivered almonds added in. The artist in me is always trying to improve the subject at hand!
They disappear quickly...usually to friends and neighbours. I’m sure they emit an irresistible signal to passing fingers :)
My pleasure in baking is not only to indulge myself, but to nourish others. While I enjoy the comfort of my studio much of the time, visits to my lovely kitchen produce delicious reasons to share moments — or longer — of gentle conversation, nurturing friendships and providing a healthy touch-base with the world.
On occasion, one can ignore the ground rules of great nutrition and simply enjoy the pleasure… usually accompanied by coffee and conversation.
FROM MY ART COLLECTIONS
The Nest Egg printsare now out in the world, which has been rather lovely to see.
I’m delighted to have released them as fine art prints — available in both A5 and A4.
They’re gentle, intimate pieces — the kind that sit comfortably in a hallway, a study nook, a bedroom wall, or a quiet corner that needs something thoughtful.
If you’ve been meaning to take a look, they are available to view online.
I’ll be back in New Zealand in late May and will send more prints out then, so if you’ve had your eye on one, now is a good time to choose.