Studiology

TV Show

Based on the last lecture I gave for Merrifield Gardens titled "Winter Interest", I will help host the Merrifield TV show on February 7th. David Yost and I will talk about trees that have exfoliating bark, bulbs for spring, and shrubs that offer exceptional winter color. Airing on the local channel 8 (Washington DC) at 8 AM, Saturday the 7th of February, tune in for an elevated horticultural hour.

Next on the agenda will be the Middleburg Horticultural Societies day long symposium titled "The Art of the Landscape". An all day event for February 28th at the Salamander Resort and Spa. Other speakers include Jeff Lowenfels, author of the book "Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web", Jeff Jabco will speak on garden vines and climbers, my lecture is "Growing the Seasons, From the Ground Up" and W. Gary Smith with a lecture titled "Art to Landscape", which I'm sure will be extraordinary! 

Homework

On Friday I leave for New Orleans for another wonderful workshop with Michael DeMeng. The group of artists that are gathering for the week long event are from all over the county (and Canada). It's usually a really talented bunch, high on commitment, imaginative and great fun to be around. This year we are sharing ATC cards, short for Artists Trading Cards. All new to me, I had to come up with a title or theme for my group of cards and a number, making the finished cards for New Orleans a limited edition. Once we meet, our homemade ATC cards are traded or shared. 

My ongoing love of collage was going to be the ground work for this project. I wasn't sure if I would be cutting the original collage into ATC card size (3.5 x 2.5") or scanning them to place on card stock. Well  low and behold, everything came together beautifully. The finished product is the result of digital manipulation and each hand created collage. 

For example, here is the original:

and the digital manipulation:

another before:

My series name is "Misfits", and as final products go, this morphing from something I found appealing to layering and texturing, well it's a happy medium. 

Here are just a couple others:

I feel more ready than usual for this "Artventure". Two projects to work on while I'm there and a costume for a Second Line Parade. Not to mention a private class with Thomas Mann, the famous jeweler, and a show by the sword swallowing "Ri Diculous".  

Will try and keep you posted on events and art in NOLA. 

New Work

I've been holed up doing silly Pez dispensers (fully functioning) and I can't help but laugh about it. My studio space is like a playground. What a great thing for January. I plan on finishing up number 7 this week. Here are a few going to the gallery Art A La Carte.

On a more serious note, I finished up this encaustic piece, which is a photograph on wood and then layered with wax. The layered wax gives it this mysterious, cloudy look, which suits the image. This is a big piece.

Chill Time

This winter has been dreary and super cold. Teens and even single digits have been the norm, something most of us don't care for but it may be good news for the gardener. Trees, particularly fruiting trees have chilling requirements and need a suitable period of dormancy to produce fruit the next year. Chill hours are determined by the amount of time that temperatures are below 45 and above 32 degrees. The longer the chill, the more a plant sleeps, which equates to more flowers when spring arrives. The chilling requirements for various plants are something that breeders have taken into account for hybridizing. Typically with trees, the initial stages of dormancy are reversible, a warm day, arriving after a period of cold, can stop the process, the tree ignores it. After a certain amount of cold days the plant will go into full-fledged dormancy, not waking up till its chilling requirements have been met.  The hybrid or selection process in trees is mainly focused on fruit trees for southern climates, and because of these efforts we have apple trees for California and better peaches and apricots for Alabama and Texas. The right fruiting tree, in the right climate will respond to warmer temperatures once its chilling requirements are met, but not flower with the first warm spell and risk losing that year’s harvest to frost. Testing for various climates is something that takes many years so it’s best to research fruiting trees for your climate or follow the practice of a local orchard, using the same hybrids or cultivars. Bottom line with fruiting trees; apples, pears and cherries are for northern climates and barring a late frost, this will be a good year. You are challenging yourself to grow peaches, nectarines and figs here in Virginia and Maryland, pick the right microclimate, possibly one where the flowering period may be later (the early flowers tend to freeze), a lower cold spot or an east exposure.

For those of you that love figs, their only requirement for chilling hours is 100, we live in a 1,400 hour range. The buds, which are the part of the fruit we eat, are produced on old wood. Last year, (and I suspect this year), the stems froze; this is an entirely different kind of challenge for the gardener. As is their desire, long hot summers suit them, but we run short on long enough for late summer fruit to ripen. In a good year, the previous year’s stems don’t freeze, abundant fruit is set, and we have more figs than we can eat. Choices are limited for a northern gardener growing figs. At the very least plant the right variety of fig with an unobstructed south exposure. After that, or with that, build supports and cover them with plastic, maybe add a heater set to low on really cold nights. We all know that store bought figs are no match to handpicked, and pricey, but cheaper than moving south.

Lindera salicifolia

The willow leaf spicebush or Lindera salicifolia is such an outstanding shrub. Today, a super cold January day with 4" of snow just emphasizes how wonderful it is. The foliage is almost peachy, the berries black. 

Fall is the best season for the willow leaf spice bush with leaves that turn red and orange, which I covered in this blog. Yet, with the persistent winter foliage, it's perfect for screening. Still nearly impossible to find, I can find only 1 source via the internet, a wholesale nursery that lists the nurseries they sell to. As more people learn about this outstanding shrub, the demand will rise and growers will propagate more. Let's try and make it happen.

Caught in Collage

I have twice heard of  study where a group was split into two,one group asked to make a single magnificent drawing, the other asked to make many drawings, they (the second group) would be judged by the pound or weight of their work at the end of the study time. In both studies, the group that worked by weight created better master pieces than the group that worked on only one.  I'm sure mistakes were made, corrected in subsequent work and many lessons learned from the faster working group. With that in mind I began some collage work. Over painting the pages in two small books, I began with a collage or two a day. As with anything, my incorporation of elements came and went. My long ears, or horns versus long skinny legs changed as I tired of them. In one book I painted the pages black, the other cream. Interestingly I found it was easier to work in the black book than the cream one. Intimidation comes from whiter pages - maybe?

Making collages is so varied, my trigger was a class by Lynn Whipple. Her work makes me laugh, which is exactly what I wanted. Faces are generally used, in this case old cabinet cards are scanned, the foundation for characters that are driven by the papers you add around them or just their expression. I have almost filled both books with a one in three satisfaction rate. I like one for every three made. The beauty of all of this is that you can then photograph them and add more digitally.

Here are a couple that I have liked.

To better understand how it works, here are 2 with before and afters.

My intensive study of anatomy helped with appendage detail.

I know it looks like child play, but for the artist it's a study in negative and positive space. The key is to ignore the business that's underneath and create negative space. You're supposed to use a large paint brush and just let it flow. Which is the hardest part, the brain wants to fight your decisions. But even as you feel confusion as you move through each one, there is a subconscious element.  Colors and elements do something together that you didn't realize.

Lynn Whipple emphasizes that the movement of your hands, making something physically, will make you happier. Decidedly different than using the computer. I've already bought two more books to alter. Like I said, I'm caught in collage.

 

Photography and Gardening Lectures

A new year and a new spring line-up for lectures. Here's what I will be offering, so far:

January 10, 2015  Saturday

"Beginners DSLR (digital single lens reflex) Class"

Offered through The Center for the Arts in Manassas, VA.  This all day class is for the budding photographer who has moved up from a point and shoot camera, or their phone camera to a camera with removable lenses. The class begins at 10 AM and runs till 4 PM. We take a lunch break, usually grab some local food and return to the class room (feel free to pack a lunch).  Topics covered include, understanding the dials on the camera and many menu items inside the camera. Also understanding the histogram and ways to file your digital files, working with mixed light and undertanding  white balance. Bring your camera, manual, card for camera, notebook and any extra camera equipment like lenses, filters, etc...

January 17, 2015  Saturday

"Winter Interest" for Merrifield Garden Center, Merrifield or Gallows Road location

This lecture begins at 10 and runs for an hour or just over. There will be a show and tell as well as a slide show. I will highlight some great plants for our climate in winter but also talk about how to combine plants for the winter months.  This is a free program, no registration required. 

February 28, 2015  Saturday

Held biennially, the Middleburg Horticultural Symposium is open to all and this year's venue is the Salamander Resort in Middleburg. The title for the symposium is "The Art of the Landscape" with a fantastic line-up of speakers, including moi! My lecture is titled "Growing the Seasons, From the Ground Up".  There will be 4 lectures with an extravagant lunch. Enjoy a pre-spring day, designed to inspire.

March 14, 2015  Saturday for Merrifield Gardens at the Merrifield or Gallows Road location

"Bulbs, Corms, and Tubers" is the title and for those that have attended the Master Gardener classes I teach, you understand that this is a deep topic. Understanding the difference will help you grow your garden better. The discussion will involve how to grow each group best and how to store tender bulbs. Included are dahlias, summer bulbs like acidanthera and tuberoses, and exotics like arisaemas and corydalis. This lecture is free, no registration required.

April 5, 2015   Sunday (Easter) for Merrifield Gardens at the Gainesville location

"Miniature Gardens" offered at 1:00 PM. Many of you have admired the many miniature gardens at the various Merrifield locations and this is the day to find out how we make and maintain them. From the soil to plant choices, this will be a show and tell and slide show. This lecture is free, no registration required.

April 19, 2015  Sunday for Merrifield Gardens at the Gainesville location

Another 1:00 PM start. I am super excited to offer this lecture titled "Great Annuals for your Garden" Most of you know me as a perennial specialist, but a love that comes second (sometimes first) is annuals or tender perennials. Trust me, you don't want to miss this one! The lecture is free, no registration required.