Starr Cummin Bright

New Painting, No Title

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In gardening, as in painting, the unplanned can sometimes produce “a happy accident.” In this case, a pumpkin planted for its pie-making and a vine planted for its magenta-violet flowers enhance each other on the courtyard wall on a late October day.

The pumpkin (Cucubita pepo  Early Sweet Sugar Pie) is not a long keeper, but makes a wonderful pie which has great flavor without needing disguise through spices. It color is such a rich, deep, orange one would think it had been bred for color alone. The Asian vine, Hyacinth Bean (Dolchos lablab), bears magenta-violet flowers which are a visual treat as well as enhancers of salads. The purple bean itself, however, has to be specially prepared before being eaten. Planted by our courtyard wall, this energetic vine reaches up 15 feet to where it somewhat camouflages the martin house before a frost puts an end to it.

The combining of these two culinary and visual delights was a chance event, but sometimes in gardening we just luck out

Autumn Painting

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Clayton enjoys painting at this time of year when the colors are vibrant and the air crisp and clear.  In this instance, Clayton was attracted to the orange of the pumpkin contrasting the purple hues of Grape Hyacinth, both flower and bean.  Autumn sunlight filtering through the green leaves created a variable background, while the old stone wall provided a subtle, textured base.

Quail Sculpture Commission Ready to be Cast

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Clayton received a request to sculpt a life size quail and since he sculpts using live models, his first step was to find a quail. Next he needed to determine where the quail would live, since they are not indoor animals.  He found a suitable cage, big enough for the bird to run around in and purchased food that would keep the quail healthy. The model, though shy, became used to Clayton’s presence.  As with all wildlife, she didn’t pose per se, but Clayton observed her habitual body carriage and behavior, and set to work sculpting in clay.  When he finished the sculpture, he released the quail “in a soy bean field with about 7-8 inches of growth. The edges of the field had been left in a wild state with every kind of “weed” and sapling all mixed together. The early morning sun light poured in between the trees to my right. When I opened the box, the quail scrambled, and then gracefully took off in a curving flight to the left: a vision to be treasured.”

Pictured is the finished piece in clay, ready to go to the foundry to be cast in bronze.

Teaching Sculpture

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Clayton recently taught a sculpture class, using the same techniques he consistently uses: starting with an armature, using a live model, and leveling the sculpture stand at the beginning of each session.  Having a local live model that was cooperative and patient was important, so Clayton provided Georgia, a horse, in a large turnout shed which provided shade for the participants. The series of photographs show start and finish as well as some intermediate stages below.  The students (all adults) worked hard and learned a lot during the week-long class.  Clayton enjoyed teaching the group of ten, and when asked if he would teach another class next year by his students, readily agreed.

Witch hazel!

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A mid-winter warm spell fills the air with witch hazel fragrance. Clayton planted this witch hazel and others years ago along the way to the barn, for just such a day. Hamamelis vernalis, commonly called Ozark witch hazel, is easily bypassed since the flowers are small and unobtrusive.

Clayton exhibits at Chester County Art Association

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Clayton currently has a sculpture show @Chester County Art Association  with three other sculptors.  His talk about “More than Meets the Eye,” concerning the essential elements of paintings preceded the show (see News Post November).  The show opened January 11 and runs through February 1, and includes a panel discussion. There is a lot going on here.  Thank you CCAA!  Interested in Clayton’s art other what you see there? Browse the rest of his web site to see all the areas in which Clayton’s artistic outlook manifests itself.

 

Freezing Waterfall in our Japanese Garden

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Freezing Waterfall

We never know how late in winter the re-circulating water can flow in Clayton’s Japanese Garden. The first photo was from December 27; the one below from  December 29.  We haven’t had temperatures above freezing for five days.  The sun has been helpful, but with nights in the single digits, everything is freezing up.  Luckily the flow of water is keeping this waterfall open for the moment, providing a source of fresh water for drinking and bathing for the birds who feed nearby. The ice formations change from morning to evening as the water passes over or under existing ice, so we are able to enjoy seeing an ever shifting water/ice -scape.  Did Clayton know when he designed and then set the rocks for the waterfall that it could continue to provide such interest in the middle of the winter?

Painting a Reflection of Coastal Maine

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Sometimes only takes a glance in a certain direction for Clayton to recognize a scene that he would like to paint.  After a morning bike ride, Clayton was standing at the griddle cooking pancakes when he glanced toward the open kitchen door.  Reflected in the glass portion of the door was a field full of Queen Anne’s Lace leading out to the ocean where a lobster boat was heading out to work. The view out the door itself was the edge of the woods across the road.

Clayton finished cooking, ate his pancakes and then set up his easel in the middle of the kitchen to begin painting this double scene.  Meanwhile other hungry family members continued to cook their pancakes, careful to avoid jostling the painter at work.

Teasel

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Many consider Teasel, Dipsacus fullonum, a noxious weed, but as Clayton walked by this plant he noticed that four butterflies (monarch and swallowtails) and at least five bumblebees considered it a feeding station.  It does need to be cut back before it goes to seed, since it is difficult to control as a non-native plant.

Jack O’ Lantern bronze displayed at the Chester County Studio Art Tour

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Jack O' Lantern J C Bright

Clayton created Jack O’ Lantern because he wanted a different take on jack rabbits.  He had been working on a jack rabbit in full run, legs outstretched, and realized that if he stood it upright, it could be put to work holding a lantern.  This bulb is low wattage but sheds enough light to see a walkway or short set of steps.  It can also be placed indoors, as shown recently when Clayton combined his art with two artist friends, Doug and Pat Mooberry, for the open studio tour.  There is a dignity to the jack rabbit that is evident in this photograph.