My Neighborhood

I have decided to jump around a little bit with the paintings I show here instead of plodding through my various phases in groups.
This one was very much influenced by and similar in style to artist Red Grooms. It depicts my working class neighborhood in Upper Darby, Pa where my husband and I bought our first house. It was painted around 1992-93.On the porch at the right were our neighbors, an elderly Italian couple who spoke very little English. He was about 70+ and used to crack me up with his big pompadour of white hair and missing tooth. She was a very sweet lady who was always knitting which is how I portrayed her with her head bent down and knitting in her hand. To the left on their porch were our other neighbors, Tom and Helen, a toll taker and teacher, respectively.
In later years my family bought a Christmas tree angel who reminded us of Helen and has always been referred to as such as she emerges from her box every year. In the center is my husband looking at me. You will notice I painted myself pregnant which I was not at the time but hoped to be soon. That wish came true in the form of my beautiful daughter who was born two years later.

Holy Communion

This week's painting is another in the series of my first black and white's. I hope I won't bore anyone by presenting this series together but they represent a whole period of reflection on my life fueled by my Mother's death. This painting was done from
a snapshot of myself, my brother and my father the day of my Holy Communion. I don't particulary remember anything about the day, except for our priest taking my purse and tucking it between his legs under his cassock to hide it for another picture. This one in some ways reminds me of the Grant Wood painting "American Gothic" in it's stiffness. I don't know if it was because of my state of mind at the time I painted it or some underlying feeling, but whenever I look at this one, there appears to be a sinister feeling which seems to have come from my unconscious into the painting. I would really appreciate your comments and feedback. Below it says "Post Comment" in pink, if you click on that you will be able to leave your comments . I hope you are enjoying my blog thus far and look forward to sharing more with you.