For You: Wrapped in Warmth and Wishes.

Wrapped in Warmth and Wishes...in process oil on canvas...24" x 36"109814

 

Day Dreamer

In process,"Day Dreamer", very wet oil on recycled canvas. I apologize for the reflection.  

Day Dreamer
"It is a good idea to be alone in a garden at dawn or dark so that 
all its shy presence may haunt you and possess you in a reverie
of suspended thought."  ~James Douglas

ART CONNECTIONS 7

Opening Jan. 23, 2011

2-5 pm

Montclair State University
George Segal Gallery
1 Normal Street
(973)-655-4000

  

In A Boy's Dream Jude Harzer 2010

http://www.montclair.edu/Arts/galleries/images/SeasonBrochure4Web.pdf

Cecilia: My Little Wildflower

For My Daughter...

My recent vertical triptych is entitled Cecilia: My Little Wildflower. This portrait is created in oil on 12" x 12" maple sheathed panels. It is a celebration of abundance, strength and the confidence to be oneself. "CiCi" epitomizes the untainted beauty and untapped potential and promise of youth.

“One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” ~Maya Angelou

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

Musical Inspiration

Yo Yo Ma's version of "Ecstasy of Gold "and Budgie's "Breadfan" are very different, but equally inspirational to me. As I paint, they evoke images of beauty,passion and dreams.Today I will paint my way toward me dreams.

Yo Yo Ma

Budgie 814109

Artistic Inspiration: Pamela Wilson

There are artists who inspire by their sheer genius, unique vision and talent. Pamela Wilson is one of those gifted artists. Read this recent article form the Ramshacle Review to gain a glimpse into the magical creations of this gifted painter. I am awed and inspired.
"Feathered Hopes and Intriguing Dreams"...

Antechamber of Regret

Pamela Wilson

http://ramshacklereview.blogspot.com/2010/09/feathered-hopes-and-intriguing-dreams.html.

Wildflowers

I have an upcoming exhibit that I am curating. It is about "love." Actually it is about passion and dreams which seems inextricably connected to my definition of love. A core body of work that will be featured are my "Wildflower" paintings....all very much in progress and process. Reflecting upon the essence of these works, I want to convey on some level the awesome beauty of that which grows freely and how it relates to the human spirit. True love and "wild" passion for others, for ideas, for work,for a purpose,for freedom... have a great deal to do with persistence, an indomitable spirit,and a strength of mind in the face of resistance. It also involves forgiveness, patience and adaptability.At heart, we are all wildflowers but often our growth is limited by both internal and external forces.As we mature, we hopefully identify these boundaries and realize that they are superficial and that we are mostly bound by our own thoughts and fears.

Two weeks ago when my daughter departed for Australia for 6 months, there were people who, prompted by "love" and concern ,shared with her a host of reasons why she SHOULD reconsider her choice of destination: distance, money,inaccessibility,insects and snakes(okay that may have been me but this kid has life threatening allergies):) I asked her to think about and believe in why she SHOULD go rather than the should not's and to think about whether or not she would regret not going based on the fears and misconceptions of others. She packed her bags and arrived in Brisbaine alone with no housing, no group program, no friends or contacts:) She loves it.She has met people from all over the world. She secured a youth hostel room until she signs a lease for a home that she found on her own.She begins her studies at the university today. Imagine if we all lived expecting to succeed and blossom. Christina is my "Wildflower" and I have a whole lotta people in my life that share that some wonderful spirit as well. We all have the potential to grow and become our own unique, abundant and beautiful selves! Yikes! I get excited!

So here is an idea for a painting that I know I will create. I drew it early this morning using charcoal on primed cardboard. It was an unexpected image but it represents all those lovely, free thinking, unique spirits that cannot and will not be subdued:) Grow, Tia, grow!

Listen to :The Woman In The Moon

in·dom·i·ta·ble/ɪnˈdɒmɪtəbəl/[in-dom-i-tuh-buhl] –adjective

that which cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable

Fly

"I'm ready now to fly from the highest tree...." P. Ahn

Fly

Fly: Breathe  Jude Harzer

When I started painting four years ago, my greatest inspirations were my own children,Christina and Robert, my students, and the children that we all are or once were. After considering for many years why any of us fail to recognize our talents,beauty,and potential to succeed and live fully, I realized that it had a lot to do with love or an absence of it:) True and pure love is offered without expectation, judgement or malice. It mutually nurtures the spirit of the "giver" as well as that of the recipient. I began a series of paintings entitled ,"Fly." Each featured a figure, usually a child, offering a "breath of inspiration." I believe wholeheartedly that if we were all encouraged with kindness and taught to celebrate our unique gifts, we would at least have a good head start as we ventured off to pursue our dreams...unfettered by thoughts of failure,fear or inadequacy.

I tried to raise my children with love and kindness. I  have failed at many things but I try like crazy to be a strong and mindful parent. I took seriously, the responsibility of encouraging my children to love and respect themselves and to pursue a life of purpose and passion. I imagine that they grow tired of hearing their wacky artist mom, spew motivational advice about chasing their dreams and embracing their own greatness:)....but they listen. I know they do. I see it in their eyes and in their actions.

Yesterday we said so long to my daughter Christina , who is bound for Australia for 6 months to study communications. As a young girl she would tell me about a recurring dream. It was clear and explicit and involved her travels to the Australian Coast . Okay , it also involved a beautiful surfer boy and his family  which is of no surprise because she was raised at the shore and prides herself on being a "beach bum".So at 19, she is chasing her dreams.Young, beautiful, bright and bold, this kid is destined to fly. And before she left she turned to me and told me to paint with all my heart. She hugged me ,praised my recent work (that is very generous coming from her)and advised me to return to my "Fly" images. I think she is right:)

Christina, last I heard, you were on a flight to Fiji. I will think only of your safety, the adventure and the possibilities! No fear! And although you will be missed (minus the mess, the mouth and the noise) I want you to live big my love and FLY! May you dream and dance down under....dreams really do come true:)
PS...Contact us ASAP when you land and are settled. I'm still your mama my muse:)

Saying "so long" for now 2-7-10

My Wish For You

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." ~ Leonardo da Vinci

Patience

"PATIENCE!" is an ever recurring self reminder. I'm incredibly patient...except of course with myself and often with those I love. For now, I am PATIENTLY painting....readdressing canvasess that I started and abandoned.I had a fellow artist look at my work this summer. He identified quickly, weak areas of my paintings that revealed evidence of  my IMPATIENCE. His only ,and VERY powerful critique was to,"Fix it..you are better than that!" Jeez ! I hear Peter when I paint!. So now I am completing work that I left because of unresolved issues. Some might advise me to move on, but I believe my efforts and PATIENCE will yield rewarding results. Here are two works in process to add to the others:)
I am actively patient. I am creating and hoping with discipline and passion.
"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish". ~John Quincy Adams

What Dreams May Come

I remember watching the movie, "What Dreams May Come," about 10 years ago. "An overtly sentimental and romanticized film", you say?....Absolutely, but beautiful all the same. It is one of my favorite movies...a fantasy perhaps but I viewed this years before I ever imagined that I would resume painting again. I'm still painting my dreams. For me it is how I can best speak to those I love whether or not they hear or see me. I always see beauty in the world around me, even when it seems difficult to find:) Actually, it's not all that hard. My mind usually takes me where I wish to be. DREAM BIG!!!!It's all beautiful....the pain, the joy, the love and hope.It means you are awake, aware and alive! What an incredible gift it is to be an artist!I am fully awake and dreaming:)!

Hope: Dandelion Wishes

Well I found my misplaced camera which was carefully tucked away in a drawer in my very messy studio space. I am certain that I did that in one of my more practical moments, realizing that if it was placed anywhere amid the clutter, it would be hopelessly lost:)
So I was able to photograph some work in process. I am creating paintings inspired by specific themes for several upcoming shows.This posted image is actually 3 individual canvas panels that will be stitched together to create a single 9 ft. unstretched vertical image.Painted in oil, it will eventually include other media that emphasizes its relationship to fabric and tapestries.
The piece will be included in an exhibit having the theme:"Hope." The title of this image is "Hope: Dandelion Wishes".

I am also working on a unique quilted piece. It is created using paper clay, aluminum wire mesh,gesso,oil paint and monofilament. The square panels will feature art work that will be applied,after it is fully assembled.It's abrasive texture is in direct contrast to the softness of traditional quilted fabric.

How Long Have I Been Sleeping?

My painting, "How Long Have I Been Sleeping?", is about personal "awakening".It celebrates those "aha" moments when I felt as though a veil had been lifted from my eyes and from my heart and suddenly I was able to see myself and others as never before.These experiences have led to significant personal changes, the most important being the rediscovery of my art and a whole lot of self forgiveness and forgiveness of others in my life.
"How Long Have I Been Sleeping?" is currently on display at the TriCity Arts event in Asbury Park, NJ.
The thing is, once we have been awakened to "who" we are and honestly consider our choices, our purpose and our dreams, it is difficult to fall back to sleep. Hmmm...insomnia is not always a pleasant state of being:)

"That she was seeing with different eyes and making the acquaintance of new conditions in herself that colored and changed her environment, she did not yet suspect."...
"The past was nothing to her; offered no lesson which she was willing to heed. The future was a mystery which she never attempted to penetrate. The present alone was significant..." ....
"I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself. I can't make it more clear; it's only something which I am beginning to comprehend, which is revealing itself to me." quotes from The Awakening Kate Chopin 1899

An interesting read:Transforming Dreams: Learning Spiritual Lessons from the Dreams You Never Forget Kelly Bulkeley 1986

Audacious Plans, Kid Toys and Huge Dreams!

Jude in NYC: You Are Invited!

In Your Dreams,Reveries, Fantasies, and Impossible Wishes
Curated by Edward J. Sullivan
Opening Reception, Saturday, April 4th, 3-5 PM
April 2nd - 26th
Gallery Hours: Thursday - Friday 4-7 PM, Saturday - Sunday 1-5 PM

The Pen & Brush proudly presents In Your Dreams: Reveries, Fantasies, and Impossible Wishes, an international multi-media group exhibition curated by Edward J. Sullivan. In Your Dreams was conceived to showcase the work of artists in tune with their inner lives and fantasies. It responds to a widespread taste for surrealist-related, fantastical art that seems to have developed recently in a surprisingly strong way in a wide variety of art worlds across the country and across the world.
We thought of the theme for this show some eighteen months ago, at a time of relative social and economic stability. Given the universal crisis in the areas of the economy and world social morale, a retreat into the unknown, the little-explored, or the worlds of fantasy on the part of artists expresses a more poignant and urgent sensibility. These works manifest a sense of unease or a desire to create alternate realities. The results are thought-provoking and intriguing for the community of artists and the public in general.

Edward J. Sullivan is professor of art history at New York University (Institute of Fine Arts and Department of Art History). He also serves as Dean for the Humanities. Sullivan received his PhD from NYU and is the author of over twenty-five books and exhibition catalogues. His research interests center around the Iberian world in its largest extension Spain, Latin America and the Philippines. He has also curated many exhibitions for such institutions as The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Guggenheim Museum (New York and Bilbao) and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Monterrey, Mexico. The world history of the Surrealist movement is of particular interest to him and when asked by The Pen and Brush to formulate a theme for an exhibition, In Your Dreams came to him, as he says, "in an almost unconscious way!"

Founded over 115 years ago, The Pen & Brush, Inc., is an international non-profit organization open to women in the visual, literary and performing arts. Our rich history is a chronicle of persistence, passion, dedication, and a commitment to equal opportunity. Some of the countless inspirational women in our number include Eleanor Roosevelt, Pearl S. Buck, Ida M. Tarbell and Jessie Tarbox Beals. While honoring the ideals and contributions of the women from our vibrant past, The Pen and Brush serves as an open, diverse, global forum, and cultural resource for its members, non-member participants, the professional arts community, and the general public. Our exhibitions, competitions and programs are open to women artists internationally. www.penandbrush.org

Go Fish!

Dream Series: painting in process

My dining room art studio is reflective of my recent state of mind...overloaded,noisy,chaotic and colorful:) I won't post images of the absence of any clear horizontal surfaces. I have spent weeks,sorting and searching and how funny that I return to my most treasured sources of inspiration. Every square inch of my work will forever be inspired by memories and dreams. I haven't painted much this past month and a half but when I began this week, my son came over,paused to see my subject matter and then commented," Joe(his most recent term of endearment for me),just paint some damn fish!" He is fresh but also ridiculously funny! :) and despite the fact that he may be right in terms of me creating something specifically to "sell", I think I will stick to what I do best. I love my dreams and after the weekend I will post news of upcoming exhibits. There are several!:)
Do what you love and success is sure to follow!Of course that depends on your concept of "success" (i.e. happiness). So basically, I get to dream and paint...lol...not a bad gig:)

Look Skyward, Taste Flight

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. "
~ Leonard da Vinci
This quote was sent to me by my daughter who has been living in Florida, bravely discovering who she is. Although only eighteen, she is perceptive, confident and strong. I laugh at how well she knows me. She has been my inspiration and my muse. She knows where my heart lies, my strengths and weaknesses. We fight like sisters but love deeply as mother and daughter.

She was an instrumental guide on my path to rediscovering my art and my sense of self. Children are amazing that way. They keep it real, keep you grounded but inspire you to want to be better and become more...much more. So it is funny that I received this bit of wisdom from Tia today because just yesterday, after spending months, resisting,regressing,reassessing and prioritizing( my usual thinking TOO MUCH), I realize, there is no going back. Our goal should be to fly,learn and grow. Often that equates to moving on and moving forward.
I know I have been unbelievably blessed...I hope that my children "look skyward and taste flight and soar!"
Thanks T-Bunny.You have a way of reminding me to never weaken:) Love and peace, Camel oxoxo

In Your Dreams: Jude in NYC

My painting, "Dreams:Haunted" ,will be displayed in NYC at the Pen and Brush. This juried exhibition,In Your Dreams,Reveries, Fantasies, and Impossible Wishes is curated by Edward J. Sullivan, Professor of Art History and Dean for the Humanities at New York University.

The opening reception is:
Saturday, April 4th
3:00pm - 5:00pm
at
16 East 10th Street in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Please join me for the opening reception!

Much thanks to fellow artist, D.J. Haslett who recommended that I check out this exhibition opportunity. He thought the venue and theme were ideal for my work and he was right!I paint my dreams and now I get to share them:)
If you are interested in seeing D.J.'s sculptures, click on the link below and type in his name to access his impressive portfolio. D.J. thanks again for your thoughtfulness and generosity.
Dream huge...and never abandon them. Trust me ...it works!

http://www.sculpture.org/portfolio/

"A Boy Who Loved To Dream"

One of my favorite illustrators is Patricia Polacco. Her drawings are both skillful and whimsical and each story is incredibly enchanting. Among my favorites are Babushka Baba Yaga and The Keeping Quilt, but my absolute favorite is Appelemando's Dreams.I reread that book this week and love the description of Appelemando as "a boy who loved to dream. For him,dreams were magic chariots pulled through his mind by galloping hues of color. For him,dreaming was a way of life." It has also become for me, a way of life. Fields of gold,autumn leaves,sculpture gardens,studios and stores filled with wax,paint and canvas. It is the "stuff" that fills my dreams and my art. Check out Patricia Polacco's story to discover how a creative young boy and his devoted friends who shared his secret,taught a skeptical and judgemental village about the importance of dreams.I will forever love the beautiful dreaming minds of children.May your dreams be huge,color filled and wonderful!

Empty Nest Means New Art Space

So my beloved muse, my beautiful T-bunny,my one and only Christina ballerina, I have a confession to make...your room has become the "finishing" room for my work. I resisted encroaching upon, yet another family space with my art, but I was in need of a clear, horizontal surface and your room offered several:) So you asked about Mommy's work, well here is some. I actually packed up a dozen other images to transport to the gallery. I know you would approve by letting me invade the "Beachbum" room for the sake of completing my work:)

You will be missed at my opening. I have been in desperate need of your "eyes" and your biting sarcastic critiques but I managed on my own.I'll email you new work and you can comment all you want.

So the show is installed this weekend in historic Asbury Park, NJ. Hope you are having fun in the sun ,Tia. Also look, I am holding a piece featuring my most recent muse, your baby brother who is now nearly 6 feet tall,braces free and set to drive. Yikes!

We miss you Christina Autumn. Your absence makes me realize how noisy and messy you were. This show is for you and Diesel. Never abandon your dreams!