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Outside |
| I start many of my
paintings outside, inspired by the beauty of the area around Centre
County. So often things catch my eye while riding horses or
hiking (or even going to the school bus stop!), and I feel like I'm always
noticing more in the process of painting them. I delight in
this on-going exploration, and finding out ways to consolidate my
discoveries on canvas or pastel paper. |
Our chicken coop and barn in winter
(photo by Julia Kelsey) |
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Alice plein air with her backpacker
easel |
I use a backpacker french easel
for many of these initial paintings (though I've been known to stand
in the middle of a stream in my fishing waders, carefully juggling
pastels and a sketch pad). This allows me to go where the
paintings are (I never paint from photographs), and to gain a deeper
sense of place. |
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Inside |
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| Inside our 1870
farmhouse, I finish paintings started en plein air (or work on still
lifes) in my painting studio. We've converted a second part of
the house into a gallery and framing area, to keep it separated from
the pastel dust, linseed oil, and other messy parts of painting.
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Fireplace in the gallery/framing room
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Framing table and mat cutter shelf in
the gallery/framing room (the shaker-style wall rack holds rolls of
canvas and backing paper)
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I do all of my framing
activities in this gallery/framing room, including cutting the mats,
and assembling everything. Most of my frames are handmade by
my husband from Pennsylvania cherry, maple, and walnut. We
also photograph my completed art work in this space, using a tripod
and professional lighting. Its a nice space to work in, with a
place for everything. |
| I use the walls in
this room to display my most recent completed artwork, and to
prepare it for delivery to art shows or to the
galleries who represent me.
I really enjoy seeing the finished works in this nicely lighted,
calm space. |
Framing cabinet in the gallery/framing
room |
