FROM THE IDAHO STUDIO of CHARLEEN MARTIN

CABIN BY THE LAKE   ~  SOLD

5 x 7" Acrylic on Textured Wood Panel

This panel is not nearly as textured as the last 2 pieces I showed here  (Dear October, I love how you dress ... and  Winter at Broken Limb Falls) but definitely has enough to add interest to the Painting.   

We recently went for a drive so I could take some reference photos of the Tamaracks changing colors.  I had never heard of a Tamarack until I moved West (They are also called Western Larch).  A Tamarck is a 'deciduous Conifer'.  Very confusing to a lot of People.  Deciduous and Conifer are mutually exclusive ... except when it comes to the Tamarack.  It looks like an Evergreen.  It has needles like an Evergreen.  It has cones like an Evergreen.   But, unlike other Evergreens, its needles change color (from green to gold) and then drop off only to come back the following Spring.  

I took the above photo because it seemed like such a paradox to me. Out enjoying the beautiful Fall colors on all the trees around us and then right ahead of us ... that beauty cut and loaded onto a truck. It didn't seem quite right.  Yes, I know we need the jobs, etc. etc. I am probably a little more sensitive to all this at the moment because they are 'clear-cutting' on one of the mountains up behind us.  (They just came up over the ridge this past week and we can already see a big bare spot from our home)   I didn't think that was allowed anymore but that just shows you what I know! :(  

Below are Tamarcks that have already changed color and started losing their 'needles.  

Almost spooky looking aren't they?! 

Hope your November is going well!

 Charleen

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.

~  Carl Rogers

SEPTEMBER IS BREATHING DOWN HARD . . .

Fall is already in the air here.  The flowers have lost their 'perkiness' and the nights are just a bit cooler.  Now when I take my dog out for his last evening jaunt it is no longer light out (so the 'jaunt' is MUCH shorter!)  I'll be very happy when we are able, once again, to just open the door to our home and I can say 'go potty' and know he'll take care of business.  :)  Of course, the way the progress on the house building is going who knows when that might be!  If you aren't up to date on all the shenanigans at Camp Dunmovin just click  HERE  and you can get yourself up to date.  We keep hearing things like 'I'm so sorry you are going through all that with your house, but . . . it really is funny!"  :/ 

I did this little cartoon for my monthly Newsletter which just went out.  It's how I'm feeling! (The Crazy part!)

(If you are interested in reading the Newsletter you can Click HERE.  There is a short humorous story that goes with all this.  The link will take you right to it.)

Because we are in the midst of building (well, . . . on good days) I haven't spent as much time in the Studio as I would like so no big projects have been completed.   I did manage to get two new Necklaces done which are shown below:

   

SAND WHISPER                                               TRIBAL MIST

You can find more information about both of these pieces by Clicking  Here

This is a little fun 4 x 4" that I did.  It's called 'Moon over Caponata' because there is a great Eggplant Appetizer called Caponata.  Progresso used to make it years ago but I haven't seen it in the stores in ages.  I usually now make my own.  I thought I would include a Recipe just in case any of you are interested in trying it.  If you like Eggplant this is really very good.  It can be served either hot or cold ~ I usually serve it cold. :)

   

MOON OVER CAPONATA

Caponata Recipe

• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large eggplant, unpeeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 medium onion, cubed
• 4 large garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 ~ 14.5 -ounce can diced tomatoes in juice with Italian seasoning
• 3 tblsp red wine vinegar
• 2 tblsp drained capers
• 1 tblsp dried basil
•  Dash Lemon Pepper

Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add eggplant, onion, and garlic cloves. Sauté until eggplant is soft and turning brown, (about 15 minutes). Add diced tomatoes with juice, red wine vinegar and drained capers. Cover and simmer until eggplant and onion are very tender, stirring occasionally (about 12 minutes). Season Caponata to taste with salt and pepper, dash of Lemon pepper.  Mix in Basil. Transfer Caponata to bowl. Serve either warm, at room temperature, or cold. Caponata can be made 1 ~2 days ahead. Cover and chill.  Serve with toasted sliced baguette.

LOVERS AT NIGHT

6 X 6 Acrylic on Wood Panel.  Comes Framed.  For more information Please Click HERE

Don't be afraid to sit at the front row of your life . . .

                                                                                  ~  Unknown

til next time . . .

Charleen

FROM THE STUDIO of CHARLEEN MARTIN

"I HEARD SHE REALLY IS A NATURAL REDHEAD . . ."

I think I had as much fun naming this as I did painting it!

"I heard she really is a Natural Redhead . . ."

12 x 12 Acrylic on Canvas

For more information on this piece Please Click HERE

This is the second piece I've done recently where I have two trees in the background 'talking'.  Didn't even realize it until I went to title this one.  I think I might have a theme going here  :)  I'll put the other one just below this so you can it too.

"Say . . . who's the little guy?"

5 x 7 Acrylic on wood panel

For more information on this piece Please Click HERE

I am up in Wallace, Idaho (this week :) and recently I took myself out to a Restaurant up here (Been back twice since!).  It's a fairly new place called 'The Fainting Goat Wine Bar and Eatery.'  

Besides the food being excellent and the prices very reasonable, the decor is great.  I think you might appreciate the Creativity.  It's in an old Bank Building so the vault is now a Wine Cellar.  It's done in a sort of industrial rustic theme.  I took a few photos and the one I didn't get (which I will next time I'm there!) was the bathroom.  It's just fun. The sink is an old Wine barrel cut in half and epoxied on the inside so it doesn't leak.  It looks great and fits the decor so well.  Such a simple idea . . .

That's an old water trough cut to fit on, and around, the wall and then finished off with a wood top for a bar.

This is an old Mining area so the tables are made from old mining equipment.  Simple, but makes a definite statement.  Anyway, if you are in the area it is definitely worth a stop.  

                       ANTS. 

45,000 of them crawling around in your head!!  

For those of you that aren't on my Newsletter email list that's what I wrote about this month  :)  (This months Newsletter just went out last night.)  And just so you know, they are not the ANTS you are thinking of!  (But, that's quite the visual isn't it!  :/ )  If you are curious you can Click  HERE  and then click on the May issue.  I think you might find it interesting.  I know I did when I first heard it.  It's amazing how our Brain works . . .

And, to repeat myself from my Newsletter, I hope that your Memorial day weekend is filled with new memories, new Joy, wonderful remembrances of special people . . . and, hopefully...

No ANTS!

Charleen