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.