Winter Grasses, No Snow

Beef Wellington

A fiore family Christmas tradition, decorated by Lisa

After an annual Christmas Eve dinner of fishes, not always seven, we had Beef Wellington for Christmas dinner. It's very delicious and festive and fun to decorate. Someday I'll make something different but for now, Paul has contracted me to keep making it until he graduates from college -- 2 more Christmases.

Wishing you a belated Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year from me and Peter to you!

Kuerner Farm

If you know Andrew Wyeth's work, you know this hill

Peter, Karl, Martin and Paul walk from Karl's studio to his grandfather's farm

Walking in a Wyeth painting

Paul in front of the Kuerner farmhouse

As I mentioned in my previous post, we visited the Kuerner Farm, made famous by Andrew Wyeth's countless paintings inspired by this place. It was a thrilling and surreal experience for all of us, but most especially Paul. Every step and every view was like walking in a Wyeth painting.

Karl Kuerner's Studio

Peter, Paul and Karl talk painting

Paul's new patron and friend, Martin O'Rourke, arranged for Paul to meet Karl Kuerner III and visit the Kuerner Farm, made famous by Andrew Wyeth's many, many paintings of the farm and hill. Peter and I happily tagged along.

Another Take

... on unexpected beauty

Lisa and I went for a walk on Saturday. The last few photos I've posted are from that afternoon. We were both struck by the sunlight coming through the curtained windows of this abandoned restaurant. Lisa posted her photo a few days ago with all it's soft and beautiful moodiness and here is mine -- a different variation on the same motif.

Birds Over the Bridge

Shooting at birds, digitally

I've been enjoying walking over the Matmaoras / Port Jervis bridge lately. There's always a flock of birds that circles the bridge constantly. That's all they do. I wonder if they get tired of it.

Port Jervis, NY

...looks so quaint from afar

Olsommer's Tree Farm

Picking a christmas tree

Snow Alien

...hurrying through the night

Finger Puppets!

Part of the whole gang

I just finished making more finger puppets. They are for sale on my website, www.BarbaraFiore.com. Check them out!

ACOPAL

Reframed, packed and on it's way to the Butler Museum of Art and beyond

Peter is one of 4 Grand Prize Winners in the America China Oil Painting Artists League competition. His painting, Winter Storm Clearing will be exhibited in Youngstown, Ohio at the Butler Museum of American Art this December 18th through February 26th, 2012.

Photographing Big and Small

Peter cleared out the studio to photograph some large paintings...

..and then got in close to photograph my finger puppets

Peter has a loft in his studio that is designated for photographing paintings but on Sunday we had to improvise. His 48x96 inch paintings were too big to carry up the stairs so we pushed everything to the side to make room for his strobes and to give him a long clean shot. After we got the studio back together, he helped me photograph my new finger puppet sculptures on top of his flat files. They look like little gems against the black velvet. They're available on Etsy.

View from the Bridge

Sunset over Matamoras, PA

Delaware River Sunset

Time of Day is Everything

Sunset from the Price Chopper Parking Lot

Birthday Cake

Peter's famous homemade birthday cake is almost gone, yummmmm...

Stuffed Artichokes

Happy Thanksgiving!

Really Long Brushes

What a reach!

Tree Shadow

Treasure in the Woods

A most massive white pine stopped Peter in his tracks

Peter and I were out exploring this last weekend and we came across the biggest white pine tree we'd ever seen. It is so stately and beautiful. Peter is very excited to explore it as a new motif. We'll be back.

The Mighty Delaware

Tow Path, Sunrise

View from the Lumberville Foot Bridge

Travis Show Opening

During a quiet moment, Graig, Paul and Lisa take a closer look

Peter's show, Visionary Landscape, opened this weekend at the Travis Gallery in New Hope, PA. It was a fun and fruitful evening. The show runs through the end of November. For more information and to preview the work, visit peterfiore.com.

Sycamore Bark

Nature's doodles on a broken branch

Not Cherry Blossoms

Snow in the trees at sunrise, beautiful!

Over the shoulder

Fiesta walks home with her stick

October Snow

First Snow, Already!

Peter welcomes the snow

Like much of the east coast, we're expecting 10-12 inches of snow today. Yay! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Wooded Window

Like the leading in a stained glass window

Fall Colors

Peter photographing a favorite farmhouse in Vermont

Seeds Pods Release

Autumn Flowers

Framing

Nice!

Peter has finished all the paintings and is now photographing and framing them for his upcoming show at Travis Gallery in November. You can see a daily preview of the work on his blog, peterfiore.blogspot.com. Over his shoulder is a sneak preview of what's to come.

Storm Coming

Electric!

Clean Dogs

Camy, fresh from her bath

And Fiesta too!

Brushing Up Article

Peter editing his thoughts on winter painting

Peter has a "Brushing Up" article in The Artist's Magazine's November 2011 issue which is available on his website and on newsstands.

Color on a Cloudy Day

A sunny day is all about light and shadow. In contrast, overcast days are about even light and saturated colors, making exposures much easier. The clouds act like a giant deflector and send light into all of the dark shadows of the earth.

And Cider Doughnuts Too

What would apple picking be without...

...cider doughnuts, double yum!

Apple Picking

Empires -- yum!

Destiny

Two leaves come together