The Maiden, the Mother, the Crone

The Triple Goddess in Marble and Clay

Join Eileen Bernstein to enjoy and discuss her work on October 8th from 1-3 pm at Domesticities in Youngsville. 

Who is the Triple Goddess? She represents all aspects of the female life.  She is the virgin maiden at the beginning of life.  She is the mother, full of strength and power. She is the crone who has learned life’s secrets and lights the way for others.

Eileen Bernstein interprets the Triple Goddess in clay and stone.  She has found an innate connection with these materials which is inspired by the paleolithic Venus of Willendorf to 20th Century modern sculpture.  She hopes that her work imbues both childlike spontaneity and homage to ancient work.

Eileen has been dabbling in clay for over a decade. Her functional pieces led her to create more sculptural forms, primarily hand built female forms.  Many of her clay pieces are fired using alternative firing methods such as wood, soda, and salt.  This past year she had the opportunity to sculpt marble for the first time in Italy.  She is thrilled to present her three marble sculptures as well as her ceramic sculptures.

The show will be on display from September 29th through October 27th.

En Plein Air – Lessons with Helena Pittman

En Plein Air with Helena Pittman July 30th

Enjoy the outdoors and capture its beauty in this class

The Cutting Garden is pleased to host a plein air class with artist and instructor Helena Clare Pittman on July 30th, at 2 pm.  (Rain Date: July 31st) She will guide you through the steps of painting directly from nature, teaching you ways to better understand the landscape and to successfully transfer what you see to your work.  Bring the medium of your choice (watercolor, oil, pastel), brushes, a hat, a stool, and an easel.  Paper will be supplied.  The class fee is $20.00

Helena majored in Painting at Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, New York, and was awarded her Bachelors of Fine Art degree there. She took her Master of Arts at Antioch, in Painting, Writing and Education.

Helena has taught Color, Illustration and Drawing at The Parsons School of Design; Design, Drawing and Life Drawing at The State University of New York at Farmingdale; Writing and Classroom Methods at The City University of New York, Queens College School of Graduate Education; and Painting, Drawing and Illustration at The Nassau County Museum of Art. She has also taught both children and adults at the Art League of Long Island, as well as worked as an Author/Illustrator in Residence in many public and private schools.

Helena has published 17 books for children, most notably “A Grain of Rice” and “The Gift of the Willows.”

Mad Ads and Funny Phrases opens May 6th

We’re pleased to welcome back Barbara Winfield’s fun work!  We’re absolutely sure that Barbara has way too much fun creating these pieces, and we’re glad that she does!  
Imagery taken from 1930s and 1940s advertising is combined in witty ways and presented on an abstract background.
Join us at the opening reception on Saturday, May 6th from 3 – 5 pm.

Celebrate Paint and Pop June 19 – July 5th

Local artist Barbara Winfield was busy over the last year, creating a series of pieces that will bring a smile to your face.  Please join her for an opening reception on June 19th from 3-5 pm here at the shop.
Barbara explains her process, saying “For the past several years I have been collecting imagery from both popular and mass culture, such as vintage mid-20th century magazine advertising and iconic comic book art.
I chose imagery that is both nostalgic, amusing and a reflection of American society post WWII. Although many of the images are vintage, they also depict feeling and emotions that resonate today.
These works combine two major mid-20th century art movements:  Abstract Painting and Pop Art.
First I chose an image that amuses me, and then created a colorful background painting to frame the image.
Although certain paintings are inspired by Abstract Expressionist women artists of the 40’s and 50’s downtown NY art scene, I discovered that  in the end the iconic images I chose actually told me what colors and patterns to use for each image.
My goal is to create art with amazing visual effects that are pleasing to the eye, nostalgic and fun to look at.”
The reception will be held inside and outside, ensuring that all who attend will have an opportunity to see the work while maintaining a respectful distance from others.  Masks will be required inside.

Barbara Winfield is an artist and writer specializing in Art & Interior Design. Her experience includes full time editorial positions at several national home furnishings magazines.  Ms. Winfield is the recipient of  The Dallas Market Center Editorial Award.  She is also the author of two home design books, The Complete Book of Home Details, and Dream Log Homes and Plans,  Ms. Winfield has taught “Color for Interiors” for twelve years in the Interior Design Department of the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. She has shown works at The DVAA annual “Art in Sixes” for the past two years. Starting as a weekender in 2001, she now lives full time in Jeffersonville, NY.

Barbara’s work will be on display at Domesticities, 4055 State Route 52, in Youngsville through the July 4th weekend.

On Writing and Painting

An afternoon with Helena Pittman and Scott Woods

Join author/artists Scott Woods and Helena Pittman for a lively discussion on writing and painting on Sunday, December 2nd at 1 pm.  WJFF’s Valerie Mansi will facilitate the discussion.

Helena has written and illustrated 17 books for children and her best-selling book “A Grain of Rice” has just been published in a new edition by Penguin Random House. On the origins of this book on exponential progression, Helena writes “Math was never my strength, anything but! But I worked out the transactions up to one hundred doublings of the numbers. Kids would love this, I thought. I hadn’t yet imagined the pictures the numbers would ultimately inspire me to conceptualize and draw—the book was published in black and white, its drawings in pencil. I was just taken with what the numbers did.”

Scott started his career illustrating boys’ adventure novels for Simon and Shuster, then moved on to the film business in LA, animating for Amblin’ Entertainment and DreamWorks. He spent his childhood summers in Callicoon Center and that landscape provided the inspiration for many of his later illustrations. Eventually the Catskills called him home and his recent book “We Hillfolk” describes his re-entry into country life, a real-life, grown-up boy’s adventure.  He is a portrait artist and painter whose work captures the charm of each subject.

Winter Show opens November 17th

Ann Higgins, Elise Hornbeck, Valerie Taggart, Laverne Black and Kate Hyden, have created an early winter show featuring their vibrant watercolors and drawings of landscapes, wildlife, flowers and faces. This professional group of local artists and friends meet regularly, getting together to paint, share their expertise and have some fun.
Join us for an opening reception Sunday, November 18th at 1 pm.  The show will run until December 16th.

Don’t know these artists?
Ann Higgins is a former Liberty, NY teacher, a founding member of the Catskill Art Society, a signature member of the North East Watercolor Society (NEWS) and a renowned artist who continues to exhibit her work from the Adirondacks to Connecticut.
Elise Hornbeck has a passion for drawing and painting the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains, including the old covered bridges and barns of New York State. She is also a signature member of the North East Watercolor Society and has exhibited locally and throughout the region.
Valerie Taggart is a former Art Teacher with an MA in Painting/Printmaking from SUNY Oswego.  She is also a signature member of the Northeast Watercolor Society. Watercolor is her favorite medium, about which she says “it allows for direct and immediate expression.” Invoking the quiet solitude of rural life, she strives to create a sense of place in her work.
LaVerne Black grew up on a small farm in Sullivan County and she holds dear the rural landscape and country lifestyle. She has exhibited widely throughout the region and in NY City. For many years she roamed the countryside photographing the rural scenes that were rapidly disappearing. She has returned to painting, drawing upon her photography for inspiration.
Kate Hyden has a degree in Painting from FSU and is a resident of Livingston Manor, NY. She is a member of the North East Watercolor Society, Catskill Art Society and has exhibited in the area for the last several years. She is also a member of the Sullivan County Audubon Society.  Her love of birds is reflected in her work. She created and participated in the three Audubon and Friends Too exhibitions in Sullivan County.

 

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