Easter welcome

Detail of one of my paintings

The early spring days are dear to me. Not only comes Easter, the lovely feast, but I enjoy every small sign of the season. The still chilly nights, but the first afternoons on the deck among the sprouting greens, tweeting birds and light turquoise, cloud filled sky. And today our 16 year old daughter returned from a first visit alone to her older brothers in Berlin, filled with adventures, stories, as many as one could possibly cram into one week. And I had double reason to prepare for the coming days. 

We cleaned the windows. After a winter of candle lights and crackling fires, the soot had certainly left more then its fair share behind on the small window panes. The sun was shining and I was for the first time sweating out there, polishing my bay windows. 

The feeling of satisfaction has not left me yet... I am always surprised by the glowing transformation.

Some Easter decorations made it out of the boxes, fresh cut Forsythia was put in a vase to force some blossoms by Sunday and fresh tulips found their place on the window ledge.

There are Ranunculus and Easter Lilies, Hyacinths and fist Narcissus...I love the early flowers.

Easter time always has a wonderful sense of awakening about it and although I am not religious, I feel a spiritual sense of wonder.

Happy Easter!

All images by V.Zlotkowski

Van Gogh and Hudson, NY

A weekend skiing trip for the family left me with time on my hands! I m not a skier. Valuable time to go to Hudson, NY across the river, window shopping, hunting for ideas, fresh inspirations and tea for one at my favorite tea shop in town, Verdigris!

This small town makes me feel good anytime I am there! It has gotten all the right attributes:
Understated, artistic, not overdone, great selection of shops for foodies, a lively selection of antique and design stores and diverse art galleries and studios. The town has a striking opera house! The last one of its kind. All this you will find in about roughly two square miles and with the charm of a quiet 19th century town.
It was a very cold and blustery day, so I was happy to slip into my favorite places....
Like LiliandLoo...

Just a few steps away is Shop 12, a sheer treasure trove. The not so large establishment carries exquisite antiques and vintage pieces. 

From the old pair of boots to a beautifully carved 15th century French angel I found most amazing things:

Delicate tables with more delicate jewelry

Mirrors, metal furniture and antlers...

Shadow play

China and a glass dome

Artwork on a lovely settee

A glorious chandelier

Mirror and vintage dress

Little precious somethings under glass

And a flowery plate

The friendly shop keeper, Anne McInnis let me browse and I took pictures to my heart's delight!
After a while I felt like this and needed nourishment!

Ladies in waiting at Shop 12

I took a pit stop at the earthy Swallow Bakery, where not only the coffee was very good, but also the delicious Quinoa bread, which I bought for the hungry at home. 
After this I returned to fetch my family in Hunter, a picturesque 50 minute drive from Hudson-on-Hudson.


Later that night, hours after I had taken the photo of the boots and worked around with Instagram, I suddenly remembered a painting by Vincent van Gogh, he had painted his boots, very  much like this pair and I was stunned by the similarities....

My original photograph

Playing with Instagram

VvG 1887 My boots.

VvG 1886 Boots

Image

Life creates art and art creates life! This is how I feel!
Maybe, I had this image deeply buried in my memory when I saw the boots and took the picture....
A simple association through a pair of boots, lying on the floor! This time remembering Vincent, my Dutch hero!
The wondrous works of the mind!



There was more, another great shop, which I'll show you tomorrow!
If you ever happen to come close to this lovely town Hudson, NY, do not hesitate to visit! It's so worth it!










All images by V.Zlotkowski and as indicated. Copyright 2012

Sweet 16

This Blue Lady is turning 16 and I feel she needs a bit of the spot light... I painted her in the late summer of 1995. A few weeks before I got married. My future husband had spent three months in Saudi Arabia, then working for a telecommunications company and I had heard his stories about the women, clad head to toe in black burkas. ( Since we were not married then I was not able to join him!)


There was little to no interaction with the locals, unless you've got invited by some of the executives. And even then women were not allowed. Unless the husband trusted you and you were formally introduced. At home, he told me, the ladies wore Chanel and Dior but still were not seen much! Meals were taken separately. He praised their cooking and their devotion to the family!
Of course I had heard these stories before but having it told by the man I was to marry a few weeks from then it made me shiver.
I am a bit of a rebel and certainly a free thinking woman. And it got me thinking!
This gave way to an idea for a painting. A proud woman I envisioned in a turban, facing the viewer! I was also influenced by one of my favorite painters: Gustav Klimt! It is called: Blue Lady - Homage to Klimt!
This is me on my wedding morning, my friend taking care of my hair at home! Behind me you can get glimpses of the painting, then still not quite finished. We lived in a shoe box studio apartment and painting was done in stages...There was no studio in this apartment...


And so she came about and she has been with us ever since. She hang a long time in my husband's home office, but I thought she might look really good in our living room! She has matured!



Do you have an artwork, which you love to live with? Any good stories with it? Do tell me.....

And have a lovely weekend!

XX
Victoria




All images and artwork by V.Zlotkowski

A little more Vermont

The Ottauquechee River, here in Woodstock!


Having been in Vermont for a couple of days, I am in love again!

I feel the atmosphere, the wonderful mix of landscape, winter sports, the pride of local food, locality, artists and craftsman, the alternative to the lifestyle I experience every day at home.

Time runs slower here, people seem to have more of it, there is time for listening and talking and time for quiet contemplation.




There are so many beautiful houses, immaculately kept. In small towns, villages and in the mountains.








I have spoken to many people around here: A man making furniture from branches.



And Elaine Beckwith, a gallery owner from the small village of Jamaica,VT with an absolute wonderful art collection...Thanks Elaine for introducing me to all these artists!

Painting by Ingrid Fromel Buckley.


Paintings by Jack Broderick.

Portrait by Hariett Wiseman. Interior painting by Ingrid Fromel Buckley.

Still Life by Jerry Caron.
I was blown away by the treasures in Elaine's collection. You can read her blog here!

Grocery store Vermont style...

I found again so much to look at and always feel the Vermonter's keen sense for environment, nature and history.

The name "Vermont" is derived from the French, les monts verts, "the green mountains." When peace was made with the French in 1760, the Green Mountains were quickly opened to settlement. In 1791, Vermont was the first state added to the US Union.
We have finally decided to come back here in summer time...

Into the green mountains!

Well, there is so much more I want to show you, I guess another post is in order soon!

xx Victoria

All pictures taken by V.Zlotkowski. Copyright 2011.