iphone 11. Strasburg, PA. I pulled off the road on my way to Strasburg and was amazed that I got this shot as cloud formations shift every so quickly. I would love to attempt to paint this one day. Time will tell. I can't say why I would like to paint it. I think just to see what happens. Exploration and Experimentation are my middle names.

This was taken in Chicago at the Mosaic School where I studied with Maggie Howarth. A dream come true. I wanted to learn from her since the very first time I saw her work in England. Lo and behold she came to Chicago to the Mosaic School. It was beyond amazing.

This old Bartlett pear tree puts out tons of fruit every single year! Noottingham, PA. 2015

HOLGA 120, Polson, MT. 2014. I chanced upon a museum in Polson, MT called the "Miracle of America Museum". In there I found many of the most curious objects! These blacksmiths symbols captured my attention. I immediately thought they resembled Hieroglyphics.

Yellowstone National Park. I see a face in the image - do you???

LSJ studio, Lancaster, PA had a magical grand opening and this was created for the event. Loryn Spangler Jones wanted something feminine, tactile and a tad sexy. If you look around the gallery you will see this appear again under sculpture - I think they are. And because it's my website I can do what I want!! 🙂 www.lsjstudios.com

A starburst pattern detail from Pat's Pad

(gourds, made flax paper, encaustic, found objects - 2.5' x 9" x 6") One of several masks that were used during the Lunar Opera performance in NYC. The opera was composed by Pauline Oliveros and performed in Lincoln Square and around its environs. It was such a big happening! I was delighted to be part of it. SOLD

Pebble Mosaic Installation - Philadelphia Flower Show. New Zealand was the theme of the year. The koru is a fern that grows in New Zealand and this mosaic is inspired by the unfolding of the koru ferns fronds.

This is a theorem painting and the first serious piece of artwork I ever created. There are a lot of firsts here. It was the first "art class" I ever took and that class was at the Landis Valley Farm Museum in Lancaster County. I went with my sweet mom. That was about 1968 I think. I should have realized then that no matter how large I might work, and no matter the medium, attention to detail was part of the end result.

Gourd, Kozo, Flax, Encaustic 4' x 1' x 1'

This is a photo of the entire pebble mosaic I was delighted to be able to create. Pieces like this, when finished, look so effortless. That is far from the case. First is the design concept, the sketches, the site prep, materials gathering, cement mixes, grout, colorant, in this case to represent different colors of fabric. Pat is a fiber artist and a collector of quilts. This was designed to interpret her love of those things. I am grateful to Dr. Patricia Levin for the opportunity to create something this large and this meaningful. She was a dream to work with. She is from Southern Illinois - the home of gorgeous feldspar stone. We used some of her collection in the small sections of the whole.

Mixed Media Collage. 12 x 16. The white figure is corn husk. (SOLD)

soap stone carving, Philadelphia, PA 2001 - I cannot say enough good about the wonder of stone carving for me. Sometimes your body tells you it is time to move on. I honored mine and did.

Strasburg, PA is near where I grew up and still a stomping ground. This was taken from my cousins house on a snowy, cold day.

From an in situ installation at the home of Dr. Patricia Levin, Lampeter, PA. Ms. Levin collects textiles and this piece is a take-off on a "Crazy Quilt".

You have arrived in the land of Love. It’s not just for Virginia. It is right here right now. From me to You! ❤️

Acrylic on paper. 2022. 10 x 14 - What would you call this fantasy flower??? I always love to know!

(gourd, paint, dye, pyrography - 14 x 12 x 5") A collaboration with a friend and iron sculptor Gregg Leavitt, Berks, Co. PA. NFS

Idaho Springs - I was captivated by the patterns that yielded strength to this old tree. And in its very center it provides a safe harbor for jewels.

Mixed water media on paper. 2018

(encaustic, plant material (including gourd fiber). 5x7.) If its on my website I like it. If it does not have a title - none has come or maybe it has and needed to be changed to ?????

Monoprint - This is the piece where my love affair with stark black and white began. I used a friends beautiful giant press. I wish Louise was still my neighbor. I miss her. Check out her work - it is incredible. Louise Kalin.

Mixed water media on paper. SOLD

Iphone 11, Susquehanna River, 7/13/22 #3 in an ongoing series of pictures of surfaces. Full Moon on the Susquehanna. The ripples and circles just "did it" for me. This inspiration found its way into the Illustration in the Dreaming Gourd gallery titled "Eye Am Here". Surfaces of things have always intrigued me. I think it must be something about the detail I see in them. The surface is the work of art and I merely see it and take a photo and try to do it some justice.

A vessel made using a gourd and pine needles and waxed linen. I love that all the materials are natural and the stitching process is so meditative. More of these will be coming in the future.

(Gourd, Encaustic, Made Paper, Shellac) My face, cast in flax and mounted on a long handled gourd. I am flying and enjoying it!

(Made Paper, Encaustic, Plant Material) All of the works listed as Japan were part of a cultural exchange presented in conjunction with the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1997. I was fortunate to have my work chosen and extremely fortunate to have been invited to Japan to teach my method of preserving plant material using wax (encaustic). The work was purchased and remains in Japan. There were a couple of things that really piqued their interest. One was the method I used to create the work and the other was that my style was very minimalist.

You will see a few of these creations appear under sculpture as well as flowers, because to me that is what they are. Little living wearable (time-consuming to create) sculptures! I loved making them but the time and effort was not equaling what the market would bear price wise. I have included some of these works because I think they are lovely. Some things are not meant to be and that is OK!

A Happy Customer. This one made it across the USA intact.

A snowy day in Strasburg captured by me and my Holga. Magic happened.

(sumi Ink, collage mobile - 3' x 6' x 2" ) - This is the image on my home page. And yes, that is me in the picture. My back is to the camera. That was not intended by me but perceived by the photographer as a good representation of my "not sure I wanted to be seen" vibe. The gourd is my muse as must be apparent by viewing this websit. This piece is quite large and it is a mobile. There is quite a story around its creation as there is most pieces of artwork created by any artist!

(gourds, Sumi Ink, Collaged Paper, Plant Material - 6' x 4'x 1' ) The face removes from the body to reveal the expression under it. Its most memorable use was for the annual Dream Festival held every October at the Deep Listening Gallery in Kingston, NY. The festival is an overnight sleep over and dream share. This piece was there for protection of all the sleeping souls.

(gourd, encaustic, pyrography, dye. 15x5x9") See some others in this series for a more detailed story of creating the Feminine Principle series.

Natural Pigment Watercolor (from rubbed stones) created with streambed water, rush stems, sticks as brushes. If a title strikes you please send me a note. I love to know these things!

The crazy quilt theme. This installation used lots of small pieces of flint rock collected by the owner from her home state of Kansas. You can see them in the small sections.

Who does love a tree house and being up high looking down on the world below. I think that is the way of all tree houses! This one was on the property where I lived and worked for many years.

You have arrived in the land of LOVE. It’s not just Virginia. It’s right here right now for everyone. From me to you. ❤️

Woodlanders Gathering, Nyak, NY. Natural Pigment Watercolor stick and stem brushes I look forward to creating more of this type of natural pigment water media work in the future. Using hand made paper.

(gourd, flax, encaustic, found objects. 24x 24x9") - This piece was a challenge to name. Evolution of the soul via birth - the natural outcome of the rest of the activities that the series is comprised of. Resurrection is often associated with the cross. I basically liked the way those two pieces of wood looked and created a natural cross and the gourd hung there "just so". The rest of my contemplation about just what it was saying and what to call it came after that visual fact. I created this series over the span of about a year. There was no exact intent in mind. All the pieces were created independently of one another with no concept of "I am creating a series". It was after about 6 pieces were complete, all unnamed at that point, that I realized the connection. It was then that names appeared. Read More

ALABASTER 10 x 8 x 5. Every time I look at one of my stone carvings I can recall every minute of its creation. The way I approached carving is known as "direct". That means after I choose the stone - which is a journey of its own - I begin the carving process without an end goal in mind. Some carves know exactly what they want to create and chose a stone that they feel will best work to that end. I choose a stone "just because it feels right" and then go from there. Unfortunately I no longer carve stone. It became much to hard on my body and hands.

A winters day in Nottingham, PA at Octoraro Farm.

(gourd, found objects, acrylic, dye, found objects - 1' x 1' x 7' )- A large mask/wand.

iPhone 7. An ongoing series of photographs of surfaces. The surface is the work of art. I merely see it and take a photo and try to do it some justice with my camera. Nature so perfectly creates abstracts and they are incredibly inspirational.

You will see a few of these creations appear under sculpture as well as flowers, because to me that is what they are. Little living wearable (time-consuming to create) sculptures! I loved creating them but the time and effort was not equaling what the market would bear price wise. I have included some of these works because I think they are lovely. Some things are not meant to be!

All of the stones for this tread were collected from the banks and shallow shores of the Octoraro Creek. This piece was created in situ and resides happily at Octoraro Farm in Nottingham, PA.

A sunflower all abloom in a sunny sky. Nottingham, PA 2017

(gourd, paper mache', found objects, acrylic) I got into the mask-making thing and this has always been a favorite. SOLD

Iphone 6 - Taken in Manatee State Park, FL. There is something about how the tree stump holds the neighboring tree roots up and the tree roots in turn, are keeping the stump intact. Perhaps they will completely embrace it? I would like to go back and see. I know exactly where it is!

An action shot in Manhattan. 2017

Southern IL, Feldspar.

(gourds, found and made papers, dye, encaustic, acrylic) After some flirtation, the embracing and copulation ensues.

Tent Rocks, NM. This stone being has been around much longer than any of us that have had the good fortune to notice it. Alien perhaps?? But we did chat!

(gourd, encaustic, carving, dye. 16x17x16") Red is the color of attraction in both the human and plant worlds. See other images in this series for additional information on its creation.

mixed water media - I had originally titled this 'Petals of Red'. But it feels as if if needs something different. Since I do not know what it shall remain untitled. As always your visions and words are most welcome!

Encaustic, made paper, plant material, seashells. 4 x 5 (SOLD)

Red Rocks, CO - Saw this on a hike. Power!