Goodbye Mr. Salinger

I just read that J.D. Salinger died at 91.

He was such a reclusive, strange man.

Are there works unpublished, a raft of manuscripts?

I wonder how he spent his days, how he lived. Did he write?

This quote from The Catcher in the Rye seem fitting,

"Who wants flowers when you're dead? Nobody."

Fresh Hope

I found snowdrops blooming!

These little winter bulbs are so delicate, so sweet.

I believe they have cured the winter doldrums.

The last months of winter are the hardest to embrace.

I am a little more hopeful that we are closer to spring.

Harbinger

Promise of Spring

New birds.

Robins.

Nests Part III

More nests!

What can I say? 

I am a serial painter.

Uncommon Goods

Another fabulous collaboration with Cat Ivins of Polarity!

Cat teamed up with three Etsy artists to design lockets exclusively 

for the Uncommon Goods Valentine's Day catalog.

I am so pleased to be one of them. Thank you Cat!

Tidbits | Iris Schwarz

Iris Schwarz's work has captivated me for some time.

Her images are elegant, spare and mysterious.

I wanted to know a bit more about the artist,

so I asked her a few questions, little snippets and tidbits.

Meet Iris Schwarz of Paulette Edition 

If you had to choose another profession, what would you do? 

I would be a cabinetmaker/interior designer. 

I can look at houses and interiors for hours and hours, and dream… 

If you could be any character in fiction, who would you be?  

Oh, difficult question… I love to laugh, 

so I guess it’s Annie from “Annie Hall” 

There are not too many who touch my humor like Woody Allen.

What book are you currently reading?  

Mrs. Thomas Mann. The biography of Katia Mann, 

the wife of the writer Thomas Mann.

If you could go back in time, where and when would you go?

Paris, end of the 19th beginning of the 20th century. 

Since I’m very young I always thought I was born 

about hundred years too late.

Do you listen to music while you work? 

Who is on your playlist now?  

I’m a (good old) Radio addict, we have this station here, 

mostly classical music/culture themes. It’s on all day long. 

What is your favorite museum?  

When I was living in Paris for some months (some years ago) 

I loved to visit the Musée Rodin, 

sometimes just to sit there in the garden.

 

Name one artist whose work makes your heart flutter:

Oh, the most difficult question… as you can imagine, there are a few… 

I’m always impressed when I see how much time and passion 

an artist invests in his work, like for example Valerie Hammond. 

If you could pick any artist in the world, 

who would you choose to paint or sculpt your portrait? 

Frida Kahlo 

You can find Iris's work here: 

Website: www.irisschwarz.com

Blog: Paulette Edition

Shop: Paulette Edition by Iris Schwarz

Nests Part II

A few more nests in my shop.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Nests

Two new paintings available in my shop.

I love when forms are redefined in a new context.

Seeds become eggs. Twigs become nests.

Scale

Playing with a larger format.

Bringing elements together.

A little scene.

Listen

Quiet Lament

It occurred to me today that I have no road map for where I am going, 

I am just compelled to make paintings more than anything else.

This morning I was looking for an out of print book, Life Is Paradise, 

when I stumbled on this great interview with one of my 

favorite artists, Francesco Clemente. It is so insightful.

If you have a moment click here to listen. 

I'm not sure he has a road map either.

Dancing

My twelve days of Christmas.

Dancing in the shadows.

It's time to pack up the decorations.

Say goodbye to the tree.

Whipping Wind

It is so cold outside. The wind makes it even colder.

These January days can be challenging.

Taking pictures is a great distraction.

More on Flickr.

Residue

Back to work.

Sometimes I like to clean my palette and start with a blank slate.

Most of the time I like to incorporate the residual paint 

from the previous painting. It's like an unbroken chain.

The old informs the new.

To Do

Blushing Birds

There is much to do this year.

A new year brings a sense of renewal.

It is as if we are at the starting line and the race is on.

I can't wait to see what unfolds.

Patience - I must find some!