Embroidery: Fighting Fish & Orchids

This is an embroidered piece with a different twist.  Instead of embroidering over a composite visual, I incorporated embroidery from a tropical fish-themed tablecloth that I made for my sister-in-law Stephanie. 

I scanned two pieces for the collage.  Here’s the flying fish.

Here are the rocks and coral.

I also added a pen and ink drawing of an orchid. 

Then I added some special effects and coloring.  I am quite fond of the final result.  And Edward likes it too!

Ciao

PJ

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

Forsythia

Forsythia has a special place in my heart, since its appearance signals the beginning of spring. 

It is true that crocuses come first, but they aren’t nearly as splashy. 

There are many forsythia bushes in Central Park.

Some especially large ones line the north side of the crosstown transverse at 65^th Street. 

This allows them to get full sun and bloom bright even when everything else is still basically brown. 

After a cold winter their appearance is a great relief.  And even after an easy winter like this one, I am still happy to see them.   

Last night I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art

 They had huge bouquets of forsythia in the lobby, so I guess they were thinking thoughts of spring too.

These are from the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

where they line the edge of the garden, to spectacular effect.

Happy Spring!

PJ

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

Erin Go Bragh!

In July 2001, Edward and I headed off to Ireland. 

Glendalough

Edward had insisted that we visit the last two weeks of July because it was our best shot at good weather. 

Dolmen

Well, he was right.  We had two beautiful weeks of weather with only one afternoon of rain. 

Crannog

It was very unIrish.  After all, why do you think it’s so green?

Connemara

 We hired a terrific driver named Ciaran Ganter, so we didn’t kill ourselves driving on the wrong side of the road. 

Trinity Church

He also helped us to plan our trip so we got to see many sites we probably wouldn’t have without him.

Kylemore Abby

 But, I think our favorite place was Kilkea Castle. 

Kilkea Castle

 Edward had stayed there on his first trip to Ireland in 1968.  We had a room right in the turret. 

The food was wonderful and the neighborhood beautiful.  We liked it so much that I recommended it to a friend who is visiting next month. 

John’s Castle

Unfortunately, they went bankrupt in 2009!  So we were lucky to visit when we did.

Roundstone

Ciao
PJ

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

The Museum of Natural History

A few years ago, I visited the Museum of Natural History with Beth, Ryan & Judy. 

After we checked out the dinosaurs, we took a look at some of the dioramas. 

I hadn’t looked at them in years. 

But when I did, I realized that they were really beautiful. 

It occurred to me that if I photographed them I could use the images in my artwork. 

And, it would probably be easier than getting live animals at the Bronx Zoo to pose for me! 

I read recently that they are currently renovating many of the displays,

so I will wait until they are done before I go over again. 

Meanwhile these photos were definitely worth sharing.

Ciao

PJ

(c) 2012 PJ Lehrer