Featured image: Watching the Storm Approach
I am truly honored to share that my work, "Approaching Storm," has been accepted into the prestigious Society of Watercolor Artists International Juried Exhibition. It is a privilege to have Juror Carrie Waller AWS, NWS select my piece for inclusion in the 2024 exhibition. This year's event saw a record number of entries, making the acceptance even more meaningful as only 55 pieces were chosen for display.
Featured image: Coffee With a Little Yellow Bird At The Bird Bath
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a yellow bird land on the edge of the cobalt blue bird bath. It pecks at the water, looks over at me and asks, I imagine, “Actually, well, what are you going to do about it?”
Then more birds came and did the same thing. I tried to ignore them and finish my morning coffee. There were about 15 birds there at the bird bath, now desperately trying to get some water. Peck, peck, pecking at the hard ice in the bath. Man, do I feel the pressure or what!
It's the feeling you get when you give in to the begging, and you tell your daughter she can go to the grocery store with you. Guilt. It takes twice as long to go grocery shopping with her. She puts things in the basket that she likes and I put them back telling her that they aren’t good for her, not enough nutrition. Then, as we are waiting in line to check out, she meanders over to the “catch me” things. McDonalds learned from this behavior quickly. They started making happy meals and putting little toys in the very special box the lunch comes in. As an aside, I started eating happy meals lately. There isn’t so much food there, and there are apple slices, so McDonalds listened to moms and dads too.
Anyway, back at the checkout lane when she thinks I am not looking at her, she slowly drops a little toy - that tiny little doll with long hair and glitter and a pink dress. I look at her sternly. “Put it back,” I say. Head down, droopy eyes, shoulders sagging, “ Please mom, I will….”
Back to the birds, guess who wins, hint it isn’t me. I get up, get the hose, turn on hot water to the ice in the bird bath, and refill the bird bath with warm water. Such a soft touch I am, everyone knows it, even the birds.
Featured image: Coffee in the Rain
Raindrops sparkle in the sun
Grass is littered with tiny crystals
Silver mist blankets the forest
Slow moving air
Canoe meanders
Transfixed round ripples
Reach out before her
Featured image: Charting Pathways
I am thrilled to share the incredible news that my artwork "Charting Pathways" has been accepted into the prestigious 2024 National Fine Art Show at the Lincoln Gallery in Loveland, Co.! The honor of being a part of this exhibition is truly humbling and inspiring.
🗓️ Opening Reception:
📅 Date: May 10, 2024
🕕 Time: 6:00pm (Artists & Guests) / 7:00pm (Public)
📍 Location: Lincoln Gallery, Loveland Co.
Featured image: The Present
there is a way of knowing
not mechanical
not taught
but flowing
within us
we just need to
let it emerge
Featured image: Along the Shore III
Keep your spirit free
Unclogged
Let nothing come between you.
the earth
and a Creator
sit in the forest
or stand in meadows.
journey past great
Granite rocks
Look up at the
Jeweled
Sky
Become part of the
Earth
Sky
Water
Cherish that mysterious
feeling
of being
Cherish the majestic
Feeling of solitude
Cherish earths
spiritual powers
its essence
and the good spirits that
exist there
Featured image: Piano Man's Spirit
I am excited and deeply honored to share the wonderful news that my piece, "Piano Man’s Spirit," has been chosen as one of the winners in the prestigious online exhibition: Spring 2024 International 2D Online Exhibition for Soul of Artists!
You can now view the entire exhibition, including my award-winning artwork, by visiting the link below.
https://www.soulofartists.com/spring-24-exhibition.html
Featured image: On the Fence
It is not art.
Many say my work is not art. Well, since they often sound like they know what they are talking about in so many things, I may be tempted to agree with them... sometimes.
But, most people don’t know what they’re talking about when it comes to art. If they think that they know art and understand art, and then they call something “art” or “not art”, I say, for the most part, they know nothing about art and what art is. They only call it art because they are told it is art. But honestly, all things called art aren’t art, they are merely technê.
If someone thinks they understand art enough to say my work is not art, then I believe they need to label something in order to understand it, control it and to sound professionally professional. Most times, their label is way toooooo small to define something as complex as art. Every time someone labels something, anything, they, put it in a slot; like a mailbox, like a category in science, and they destroy, actually take away, the freedom of whatever it is that they are labeling. As I said they are labeling it just to be able to control it and most of the time sell it. Labeling is great for communication and science but not art. For as long as I have been an artist, historically “art” has avoided definition. Why? Because the concept of freedom cannot be labeled. Think about it – I mean really, REALLY, think about it – if you label freedom, it is no longer freedom but something else. And for as long as I have been studying history and what is understood as art - art has avoided labeling and categorization.
I think back at what happens to “art” once something grabs the title of “art.” It becomes replicated because it is cool. But the copy can never, never be “art.” And that is why many things that are being called “art” are really technê.
It is ok to copy “art” but it is not ok to then call what you copied art. Think about it, can you be copied? The unique, personal being you are, can never, never be copied. You are unique and one-of-a-kind. You should always think of “art” as unique and one-of-a-kind. Your uniqueness, your one-of-a-kindness, can never be labeled i.e. let's all be Christine Alfery, (put your own name here)- it would be impossible. Wouldn’t you agree?
Always, ALWAYS, think about that when you read or hear something being called “art.” It really is merely technê here. It’s something being called “art” when it really isn’t.
I can tell you what art is not -this I have found is the only way to tell you what “art” is.
Featured image: Friends
Learn to enjoy each other
open yourself to the
creation of differences
celebrate the uniqueness
of each other's life
and their unique differences
Featured image: Earth Sings
spiritual connection
gifts
from the earth
energy forces
gifts
from the earth
melodies resonate.
gifts
from the earth
gentle heart beat
a gift
From the earth
listen, feel, dream
from the earth
Featured image: With Diamonds
welcoming a light-kissed day,
breezy whispers wishing love,
diamonds glisten
on the water
Featured image: Tumbling Stones II
Wheels of Time
sloped hillside
tumbling stone
wheels of time
history suspended
along the
sloped hillside
Exhibition Dates: May 1 – May 31, 2024
Featured image: Everything Comes Full Circle
I love this time of year for many reasons. One reason, and not the only one, I get only unusual birds that don’t hang around land follow the open ice lines. You have to be on the lookout for them or you might miss them. This morning, I saw a pair of Mergansers playing in the water. And then there was a bird I have not seen on the lake before, totally white sides with black head and other black markings. Turns out that one was a Merganser also.
I’m glad to have these exciting things happen in the lake this time of year. I am always grateful for the approaching spring and the renewal of all things including myself. My heart sings with this renewal and it is impossible not to enjoy this glorious morning. Earth is regenerating and earthly forces are giving life to all things in the unending circle of life.
Featured image: Journey of a Blackbird
Soaring travelers
above swaying pines
their mystic way
leaving no trail,
traceless, try to find where
the wide spreading black wings
have touched
the wind.
Featured image: Ms Pileated
I am thrilled to announce that my work, Ms. Pileated, has been awarded the 2nd place in the Nature Homage exhibition! Being recognized among such talented artists is truly an honor.
Statement from Juror Tonya Hopson: “This piece blew me away the minute I walked into it; I said to myself, oh my goodness. Pileated means large red-capped woodpecker. When you look at this media piece, you will notice that not all parts of it are exact, especially when you look at it and see all the little things she has done in there. With all her splashes and splatters, she has done a lot in there. But it is just a beautiful media piece. Blew me away.”
The Nature Homage exhibition featured original and unique 2D and 3D artworks that pay tribute to animals and insects. With 396 submissions from 34 states, having 57 works selected for this exhibition makes this achievement even more special.
Featured image: From the Sky
She ran to the hilltop,
Ribbons of wind tugged at her hair
And reached for the blue blue sky
She knew her blood was more like
The earth than anything else
And she let moments like this
fill her up and lets moments
like this love her, fill her.
