The Little Barn

Completed last week. For sale: 7" x 5", oil, $175. 

Honorably Mentioned

Dear Imaginary Friends,

I am pleased as punch to have received an Honorable Mention tonight at the Art League's Monthly Art Exhibit at Alexandria, Virginia's Torpedo Factory Art ceneter.  The show, which will hang for a month, is titled Colorfield. 

My piece, Whirligig, is a quiet contemplative piece consisting of vertical fields of color painted in acrylic over raw linen. 

Check it out!

Your imaginary friend,

Patsie

St. Barth's: So OOh La La!

Dear Imaginary Friends,

Bonjour, mes amis!  A little bit of Caribbean paradise plus a little bit of France- away-from-France= St. Barth's in the Eastern Caribbean. But brace yourself for a very costly time there. 

This island with the famously death-defying airport strip adjacent to a well-used beach is a wealthy enclave of $30 million yachts and lovely vacation homes for the beautiful people. St. Barth was the setting for the airport landing scene in the Thomas Crown Affair, a popular movie. The pictures below tell the story far better than words. 

(All photos by S. Un. )

If you have a lot of cash and want a safe relaxing vacation, this is the place to go! The beaches are quite gorgeous. And the French accents are music to my ear. 

Although there are few hotels, the Eden Roc is on the lovely beach of St. Jean. 

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

Chair Shoes in Grand Turk at Osprey Beach Hotel

The Baobab Tree: 250 Years Old

Dear Imaginary Friends,
If you visit St. Croix, be sure to take a peek at the Baobab Tree, 250 years old, sited in a rural neighborhood of modest homes. We had a tour last month, and learned that the slaves brought seeds from Africa. Three such large old trees exist on St. Croix. They have weathered countless storms.
There are many folkloric tales explaining how the baobab tree has three trunks. It is one of the most enduring life forms on our planet.
Patsie

This photo gives you an idea of the scale of the tree.

The Lowlife Bar and Refuge

Dear Imaginary Friends,

When visiting the scenic but tiny towns of Christianstad and Frederickstad, in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, one might wish to start at the Lowlife Bar and Refuge, then work one's way down to church to wash the sins away. Or not.

One of the cool things one can buy in St. Croix is the Hook Bracelet from Sonya's Jewelry Shop. They are sterling silver and designed by Sonya herself.

The Caribbean makes an excellent adventure in February when the weatherman is singing the blues. And you can hang out with Lowlives. What's not to like?

Your Imaginary Friend,
Patsie

Articulture

Yesterday at the Philadelphia Flower Show, whimsical constructions made of flowers were in abundance. I make my yearly pilgrimage, knowing that I will see fabulous displays, practical applications for the home, as well as horticultural-based gifts and tools.  

In a tribute to art, floral creations provided interpretations of Calder mobiles and paintings by Mondrian, Kandinsky, Van Gogh, Monet, etc. 

The show is up through Saturday. And it smells like the perfume of Spring!

Your imaginary friend,

Patsie

Topiaries

Just Lovely

Chery blossoms with Pink Arbor

Calder in Upper Left Corner

Grant Wood

Frida Kahlo, Van Gogh and Dali

Modernist Zen Garden

Mondrian

Andy Warhol Flowers from the Bank of America Collection

Topiary Lion

Freaky Pink Hybrid Orchid

Abstraction