CROSSING by Nancy Herman

CROSSING

Nancy Herman

12" x 16"

oil on canvas board

I have often wondered if people living in the city are eventually turned into robots because they live in among the hard edges all day.  It is no wonder so many are able to deny climate change.  They are isolated from the climate except for stray moments between subway rides and taxi cabs.  Why should they believe nature could be the one to bring us down when it is so easily ignored in day to day living.

$750.00

<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="_top">

<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick">

<input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="EJEEY4LFCMHTS">

<input type="image" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynow_SM.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!">

<img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1">

</form>

CAUGHT ON THE CORNER #2 by Nancy Herman

CAUGHT ON THE CORNER #2

Nancy Herman

9" x 12"

oil on canvas board

Caught in the hard edges of today's world these two men find companionship on the corner.

$250.00

<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="_top">

<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick">

<input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="24YANPTNB2832">

<input type="image" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynow_SM.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!">

<img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1">

</form>

CAUGHT ON THE CORNER by Nancy Herman

For a while I have been contemplating the way people are attached to their environment.  The time and place we live forms us in so many ways.  I have been dealing with this idea in each painting that includes people but have decided to push it a bit further.  Can I say this in a few simple shapes, carefully choosing the color to enhance the feeling of place and time?

Many times when cruising along the streets in Google maps I come across 2 or three men or women standing on a corner talking.  I always wonder what brought them there.  Here is the first in a series of paintings about that.  I have made the paint very thick, almost like lacquer.

CAUGHT ON THE CORNER

Nancy Herman

9" x 12"

oil on canvas board

$250.00

<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="_top">

<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick">

<input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="3K4HVJ8ECBPNU">

<input type="image" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynow_SM.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!">

<img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1">

</form>

4 water colors by Nancy Herman

As you know I am in the process of trying to figure out what kind of water colors I want to make.  The first one I did I wet the whole paper, made a loose water color of the scene and then after it was dry put a pen and ink drawing over it.

ALIUM 2015

Next day I went outside and decided to start off with the pen and ink sketch.  I had a new selection of calligraphic pens that I was eager to try.  I sketched in the drawing with the pens and then using a rather larger brush then I wanted to (because that was what I had) I began to fill in the colors.  The pens, which I had selected because they were supposed to be water proof, were not, so all the water colors turned a bit dark and the lines fuzzy.  After the paint was dry I went in again and did some more pen and ink.  This is a scene by my pool.  The whole thing has gotten so fussy I'm not sure that is even visible.

BY THE POOL

Things had gotten out of hand so I decided to simply play with the colors and pens at this point.  This was a lot of fun.  

DANCE

water color on Arches cold press

9" x 12"

Nancy Herman

$100.00

<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="_top">

<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick">

<input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="UXXK2TUVYZYLN">

<input type="image" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynow_SM.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!">

<img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1">

</form>

Next day I hunted around my studio until I found a small water color brush, made a sketch and painted very carefully these 4 tulips that I have been longing to paint since early spring.  Nothing loose about this and no pen and ink.  Today I will try another version of this scene.  I have to admit this was also a lot of fun.  So where I am heading I do not know.

YELLOW TULIPS

Nancy Herman

water color on arches cold press

8.5" x 11"

$125.00

<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="_top">

<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick">

<input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="DAZN5PJ4257P4">

<input type="image" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynow_SM.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!">

<img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1">

</form>

BLUE NOTES by Nancy Herman

BLUE NOTES

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

Nature is always fighting for more of what it needs.  Here the plants thrust into each other for a little more sun and then when it gets too hot they hide to preserve themselves.  I have painted the foliage almost the same tone so that they are united in the struggle.  

$150.00

<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="_top">

<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick">

<input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="X8AG52WFPSMBS">

<input type="image" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynow_SM.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!">

<img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1">

</form>

Stroll Down the Hill by Nancy Herman

STROLL DOWN THE HILL

Nancy Herman

9" x 12"

oil on canvas board

This is the second painting I did last week while practicing for the Plein Air Festival in Chestnut Hill.  This time I used a sketch that I made after changing the photo in Photoshop so that the shapes were simplified.  I painted it outside in the shade of my Elm tree while looking at my iPad with lots of juicy paint.  This is a very strange method of making a painting but I do enjoy pushing the paint around.

Here is a small blowup of the texture.

Now I have tried two methods of painting.  Neither follow the rules of the competition but at least I have been working outside, testing my set up and getting used to the vagaries of weather and seeing if I can sit in my very small chair for several hours.  Now I have to decide what method of painting to use at the actual competition.  Let me say at the outset that I am against competitions for something as subjective as art.  But now that I am in this contest I must decide whether or not to follow the rules and how to manage the 'painting as a competition' idea philosophically.  Tomorrow - The contest.

CHESTNUT HILL HOTEL JUNE by Nancy Herman

Yesterday I participated in the first Chestnut Hill Plein Air Festival.  There were around 50 artists dispersed over several blocks of Germantown Ave.  We were assigned a specific block and a specific side of the street.  We could begin at 8:00 with a blank canvas and were to be finished by 4:00.  It was a contest and judging was to take place at 4:00.

I signed up for this work because I have not painted outside for many years and I knew if I signed up I would have to get out there and do it and I wanted to get back to that taxing but rewarding approach to painting.

So, last week I went to Chestnut Hill on two occasions to check out where the sun was in the morning and the afternoon and where I could stand that was under a tree.  I have an umbrella that can be used if there is a place to stick it into the ground but I didn't see anywhere with ground accross from a place I wanted to paint.

While I was there I took some pictures of possible spots, as this was part of the possibilities permitted by the rules of the contest.  I decided to get some practice in before the actual event but did not want to sit on Germantown Avenue and paint so I set up my tables in the shade of my yard and painted from a photo on my iPad.  Sort of plein air.

This is the first painting.   Traditionally one would start with thin paint working probably directly with the brush (no sketch) starting with the dark areas and working gradually into thicker paint and lighter areas.  I, however, have been trying to use more paint lately and at the same time to simplify and condense my shapes.   So I make a careful sketch and fill in the shapes with juicy paint.  This is not a tried and true method for painting outside at all.  It is what I have been doing in my studio.

This painting was done with that method but painted outside.  It is a little cut off and the 9" x 12" paintings don't quite fit into my scanner.

CHESTNUT HILL HOTEL JUNE

Nancy Herman

9" x 12"

oil on canvas board

 More about the contest tomorrow.

Ghost by Nancy Herman

GHOST

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

Sometimes you sense the presence of someone who does not actually seem to be there.

This happens to me once in a while.  Not sure what to make of it.  

$150.00
<button style="padding: 5px; font-weight: bold; color: #1e477a;" type="button" onclick="window.open('http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nancy-herman/ghost/364279','_blank');" >Buy with PayPal</button>

SunGlasses by Nancy Herman

SUNGLASSES

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

Okay what's going on here?  In the last several paintings I have been trying something new.   What I am thinking about with these new paintings (I began the series with Winter Porch) is, "what can I leave out in order to enhance the 'feel' of the subject".  I am using juicy paint in solid areas, but that's another story.  In this painting a girl appears in the chaos of shapes coming out of a station.  She is wearing sunglasses against the sudden glare.  I want to integrate the figure in the composition without losing it as a focal point.

WINTER PORCH by Nancy Herman

WINTER PORCH

Nancy Herman

18" x 24"

oil on canvas board

I listened to The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro while painting this.  It is a book that transports you to the world of myths while tugging at your conciousness with its very real allusions to the present day.  I think some of its magic is woven into my colors and shapes.

This is the largest painting I have done in several years.  It took many days and I am happy with the results but probably won't be painting large as a regular thing as I really like the idea of completing work in a day or two.  I also like sitting and working on something at the table where I can easily move the canvas around.  Another problem with a larger work is that I can't scan it into my computer but must take a picture of it.  Scanning really reproduces the work much better.  This piece actually has a lot of juicy paint which is completely lost in this reproduction.

$750.00

Cold by Nancy Herman

We had a couple of really cold days, but the sun was out creating those beautiful blue shadows that I love so much - especially from my warm room inside.  I did venture out to add to my mulch pile.  While I was there I got a  shot of the blueness with my new iPhone.    When I came in I was greeted with this beautiful begonia in the sun made even more delightful because I was warm again.

New Project by Nancy Herman

I won't be posting paintings for a while as I am working on writing and illustrating a children's book with a friend.  I will tell you all about it when it is finished.  In the meantime today I walked to the library to pick up some books to do research for the book.  How lucky I am to be within easy walking distance of a library!
It was snowing and on the way through my neighbor's yard I spotted a slightly mangy young fox.  We eyed each other and moved on.  I hope he or she makes it through the winter.  I also hope my dogs don't catch the mange from the fox in the area.  It is an ugly harsh disease.
Without sun, snow has little to offer in the way of saturated color, but there are some nice subtleties in the dark greens and tans.  The light snow coming down was a slice of something softy dreamlike.

A Fresh Start Original Oil Painting by Nancy Herman

CHARD IN THE SNOW

Nancy Herman

6" x 8"

oil on canvas board

It is really just another Thursday morning but because we count and measure our lives and have done so for centuries it is also the first day of a new year.  I thought this painting of a leaf of Swiss Chard braving the snow was a fitting symbol for the day.  To be outside in the winter on the coldest days is a small act of courage, unless you are a child, and then you hardly notice until the blue night begins to creep under your hat and through your mittens and you know it is time to go home.

I plan to don my warmest gear and head out for a bracing walk on this cold day to celebrate still being alive in 2015.  The sun is out and it looks like a good day for hop scotch!

HAPPY HOLIDAY by Nancy Herman

Presents for the Holidays by Nancy Herman

The computer has brought about a big change in publishing.  Some say that the printed word will soon be extinct and we will do all our information gathering and pleasurable reading on line or on Kindle.  I don't think so.  In fact I think there will be more books than ever, as it is now possible to publish your own book without going through all the aggravation and disappointment of trying to find a publisher or the huge expense of vanity publishing as it was in the past.  Finding a publisher can be more difficult than writing a book.  For instance most children's book publishers don't even accept unsolicited manuscripts, so you must hire an agent to even get your book into the hands of a potential publisher.
Now, however, it is possible to write and illustrate (if necessary) your book at home on your computer and pay a minimum amount for each book as it is sold without having to invest in 500 or 1000 volumes.  This is going to allow people who previously would not be able to find a publisher to make their work available to anyone.  There will be more  books and there will be more unusual books.  The problem of course for the authors of books that are self published is distribution.  They do not have a huge marketing staff or publicity machine to get their titles to the public.  Some enterprising person with marketing skills will probably come along to solve this problem but in the mean time it is up to the authors to make their own markets.
All this is leading up to the suggestion that you give one of my books as a present to someone for the Holidays and/or send a link to a book to someone who might be interested.

My newest book is OLIVE AND STICKY BEAR.  This is a book for young children with a link to the song available at the end so the child can hear and see the book and later look at the pictures on their own while you sing to them.

JOE AND THE ADOBIANS is a book for children 5 to 9.  It is a fable for the 21st century.  It takes you into the heart of a lonely boy trapped in his fears. Through his imagination and a few tricks, he discovers a way out of his isolation. It is a book about magic, art and above all “seeing”. Richly Illustrated, it is a treat for the eye and a puzzle. How did Joe ‘find’ the Adobians?

POSTCARDS FROM MERION for a teacher, hostess, client, friend or anyone who lives in the Main Line is an inexpensive book of oil paintings and notes from my blog. 

And for a big coffee table book for anyone who loves music and color, IF C IS RED, a large format description of my method of translating music to color in 2 dimensions.  It contains lots of beautiful illustrations of music by classical composers.

The Crooked Door by Nancy Herman

Finally got back to painting after finishing Olive and Sticky Bear.  A friend sent me this dramatic photo in hopes I would paint it.  I may do that, but for some reason I was drawn to the rather dark and mysterious door found when I zoomed in.
I am beginning a new period of painting so a door seems appropriate.  Not sure where I'm going and the oddness of this door reflects my emotional state.
For some reason very dark colors seem to reflect every nuance in the surface of the paint in a way that does not appear under normal light, so the door looks even more uncomfortable in reproduction.

Olive and Sticky Bear ready by Nancy Herman

Olive and Sticky Bear (the book) is now available on Amazon.  And there is a new video to go along with it with better music.  My friend Bob Loy, who is a fine musician, played the guitar for the video and my daughter Gail Herrine sang with me this time, filling out the music.  Now it is possible for a child to see the video and then have a book to hold in their hand and look at the pictures.  Olive, the star of the video, my dear granddaughter, is already singing along, so in that respect it is a success.

Joe and the Adobians by Nancy Herman

Looking for presents for the holiday season?
Here is a trailer for a book I wrote and illustrated for children 5 to 8, "Joe and the Adobians".    It is available at Amazon -  JOE AND THE ADOBIANS

Olive and Sticky Bear Video by Nancy Herman

Sorry it has been over a month since I posted.  I have been bogged down with the song Olive and Sticky Bear.  I added a verse or two and have been working on the video to go along with the book.  I wanted to sing into my computer but could not find a way to do it until I got an iPhone.  I have now joined the 21st century and am an owner of an iphone.  Here is a version of the video.  My voice leaves something to be desired so it will not be the last.
Olive and Sticky Bear

Honey tastes good - more from Sticky Bear by Nancy Herman

"Olive stuck one finger in the jar,

the golden goo was sweet and new

and Olive now was sticky too!

Sticky Bear, Oh Sticky Bear"