A COUNTRY NIGHT
Stars glisten against a black velvet sky
A wind chime melody played by a gentle breeze
Nature’s entertainment
Cicadas sing from the old oak trees
Coyotes howl on a nearby hill
Bullfrogs offer their nocturnal serenade.
Sounds of creation fill the cool night air
A song that only nature can sing
An orchestra of music on a country night
The breeze stills
Silence covers the darkness
A calm so quiet you can hear an ant crawl.
It’s intermission!
© 2016 Susan J. Harris
A NEW DAY*
The coral glow of morning spreads across the horizon
casting its reflection on the frozen pond.
A lone coyote races across the open field disappearing into a stand of trees
where it spends the day undetected by human eye.
The blanket of silence is broken by the awakening of nature.
Crusty, ice covered snow crunches beneath the feet of passing deer.
Geese honk, calling to one another as they fly overhead
while tiny snowbirds flit along the ground searching for their morning meal.
The sun breaks the horizon.
Its brilliance illuminates the neighboring hillside
casting distinct shadows in an abstract pattern.
Beauty! Pure beauty . . . abounds on every side.
A new day has arrived
Bringing with it fresh hope and new expectations.
Journey's Dream - 22" x 28" Acrylic Mixed Media on Canvas
*The poem, A NEW DAY, was published in: LOVE, LIFE AND PEACE - POETRY, PICTURES and MUSINGS by Thomas and Arrington, pg. 28, 2012. The painting, JOURNEY'S DREAM was also published along with the poem,
ON THE RIVER
The River flows
Over rocks
Past fallen trees
Sweeping the riverbank
Swirling eddies
Creating pools
Moving on
Unencumbered
Where does it come from?
Where does it go?
Hear it calling
Away from the turmoil
Offering refreshment
Promising tranquility
Oh! To be on the river
Peaceful and calm
Drifting free
Please bear with me while I have a sentimental moment. This is a tribute to my Daddy. . .
Harvey B. Jeffries
Dec. 13, 1914 - Nov. 14, 2004
Today, December 13, 2015, would have been my Daddy's 101st birthday if he were still with us. I've been reminiscing about him and wanted to share some thoughts about the type of man he was. Although it has been 11 years since he moved on to his Heavenly home, I still remember and miss him every single day. I guess you could say he was one of my heroes in life.
He was an unassuming, quiet man who didn't require riches or great success to be happy. He was at peace, content to live a simple life and thankful for everything he had especially his family. He was rich and successful but his wealth and success were not based on worldly things or accolades, it came from his character, a life well lived and the relationships he had with family and friends.
He was a kind, sweet man who would give anyone the shirt off his back if they needed it. He always put others first and would help meet any need he could. He was a generous man. Whatever he had, he would freely share without hesitation.
He knew how to love unconditionally. He never met a stranger and showed love and acceptance to everyone. I never heard him say negative or bad things about others. He had a caring and accepting heart and always thought the best of others. He believed there was good in everyone.
He was a collector of "stuff" and loved to repurpose things. He never wanted to throw away or waste anything and was a creative craftsman who was able to take things others discarded and make something out of it. This is something I have seen both of my children do as well.
He had so many neat little sayings which my sister, Jo, and I now refer to as "Harveyisms". For example. "People have more fun than anybody", “If you can’t make yourself at home, that’s where you ought to be”, “Eat every bean and pea on your plate.” "My get up and go got up and went"...just to name a few. I always loved hearing him share his little nuggets of humor and wisdom.
He was not a highly educated man because he had to quit school at an early age to help support and take care of his siblings when his mother died. However, he was smart and very knowledgable. He loved to read newspapers, maps, phone books, etc. He could study a map or a phone book for hours on end and never get bored with it. He had a lot of common sense that served him well. I remember the first time we played the game Trivial Pursuit with family and friends. Everyone thought he would surely lose but he amazed them by answering every question correctly without hesitation. Needless to say, they were blown away by the wealth of knowledge he had.
I have so many fond memories of Daddy when I was growing up. Things like him pushing me around the yard in our wheelbarrow, watching him build a tree house in the Mimosa tree on Smith Street in Whiteville, helping him build a walkway at our beach house on Oak Island so we could get from the house to the road without stepping on the cacti in the yard, and sitting on his lap with his arms wrapped around me while we watched westerns together, especially Gunsmoke. Then there were the times he babysat so Mom could go to her bridge club. Those were some of my favorite nights. Often he would take my sister and me to the store (Roses) and let us play with all the toys while he did paperwork in the office. He didn't worry about bedtimes but he would take us to the store in our pajamas so we could stay as long as possible. Then he was always careful to sneak us in the door right before Mom returned home, telling us to run get in the bed, pretend we were asleep and not let her know how late we were up. It was our little secret. Those were such special times and memories.
He was a very patient and understanding man. I almost never saw him riled up and often wondered how he could remain so patient. A trait I am afraid I didn't inherit but wish I did.
My Daddy taught me things by showing me how to do them. He taught me how to fish, crab, and dig for clams. He taught me how to drive a car, and maintain it... how to change a tire, change the oil, set the points and plugs, etc. He taught me all the ins and outs of dime store management... how to order and price merchandise, unload a freight truck, make signs, put together bicycles and tricycles, stock shelves, manage and clean the candy counter, measure and sell candy, cook the various types of nuts we sold, pop the popcorn, run the checkout, make change, and take inventory...the list goes on and on. And he taught me, by his example, how to interact with people.
He always told me, “You can do anything you put your mind to.” And he was right. That is something I have tried to pass that on to my children because I believe it is true. I learned so many lessons from watching my Daddy live his life; lessons that cannot be learned from a book or in school. Most importantly, he taught me how to care and be thankful. He taught me how to love unconditionally. He was a gem in the crown of life.
Daddy always took time for others...he was never so busy that he couldn't stop and chat, sit down and drink a cup of coffee with someone or just speak while passing. He always willingly gave out hugs, a smile, a kind word. He was a friend to all and had no enemies that I know of.
He was quick to forgive and never held a grudge. He understood the importance of forgiveness and reaped the benefits of it. There was nothing anyone could do that he wouldn't forgive. For him, forgiveness was a way of life. He had a heart full of compassion and treated others the way he liked to be treated.
He took life one day at a time. I don't ever remember seeing him in a hurry -- except, of course, the time he and my Uncle JP were shooting off fireworks and caught the field across the street on fire. He moved pretty fast that night, burning all the hair off his legs as he and JP proceeded to stomp out the fire. :)
Here's one example of the type of man he was (and yes, you've may have heard me share this story before so forgive the repetition)... While working for him at Roses when I was in high school, I spotted a man shoplifting and ran up to the office to alert Dad. He immediately followed me downstairs. I pointed out the shoplifter and Daddy went over to talk to him. They were speaking in low tones so I couldn't hear what was being said. Then I watched as the man put the items he had taken (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant) back in his pocket and turned to leave; Dad smiled, patting the man on the shoulder. When he returned to where I was, he explained that the man had lost his job and was homeless. Daddy said he told the man to come back whenever he needed any necessities and get whatever he needed without fear of embarrassment or getting arrested. The example of generosity I saw that day made a major impact on me. I think it was at that point that I actually saw the Life of Jesus lived out through my Dad. The homeless man would occasionally return and go straight to Daddy instead of just helping himself. They would go together, get a bag and find what the man needed and Daddy would bag it for him then send him on his way. The man never took advantage of Dad's generosity. He was very appreciative and respectful. Of course, mind you, Daddy had no problem having a shoplifter arrested when they were stealing for the sake of stealing. He held honesty, truth and integrity in high regard and exemplified those traits in his life.
I guess as I watched Daddy in his later years when he started pocketing American flags and pens at the retirement home, or paper placemats and peppermints at restaurants, I realized he must have felt he was entitled for the generosity he had shown while managing Roses....Or maybe that's just part of getting old. Hahaha!
When our two children, Jamie and Mark were born, Dad immediately fell in love with them. They were his pride and joy. He always wanted to show them off and spend time with them every chance he got. Whenever one of them walked in a room where he was, his face lit up. It thrilled my heart to watch him interact with them, always with a twinkle in his eyes. If he had only been younger when they were born, there would have had so many more wonderful memories and lessons they could have learned from him. I must admit it was a little sad that he was as old as he was when they arrived on the scene but the timing was God's plan and that's the way it was meant to be. It is my hope and prayer that Jamie and Mark will always remember their granddaddy, aka "Poppy" and that he loved both of them as much as life itself. Jamie and Mark have received so many of Daddy's good traits and it makes my heart sing to see part of him live on in their lives. They are his legacy!
Thanks for letting me reminisce. I hope I haven't bored you too much. My Daddy meant the world to me and I just wanted to share with you a few of the memories I have of him.
Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you and I miss you!
TRUST
As moonlight seeps through Autumn trees
And leaves rustle in the cool night breeze
I think and ponder what needs to change
What part of me should I rearrange
Humbly yielding, I release my dreams
Letting go not as easy as it seems
What was, what is and what is to come
Who knows the answer's to that one
What I thought no longer exists
It's only with hope I take the risk
Trust is where my heart wants to be
Otherwise I am helplessly me
October 2015 Sunset
A summer to remember has ended and we are headed into Fall with temperatures dropping faster than usual for this time of year. Sure hope we get some more average Fall temps before winter sets in.
I haven't had any time to be in my studio to create art this summer but sometimes there are more important things in life that take precedence over what we love to do. Loving, helping and caring for a family member or friend during a difficult and challenging season is one of those opportunities and one which I embrace to the best of my ability. It is another aspect of who I am as an artist and as a person. As I lay down my desire to paint and allow myself to be available for a loved one, I know in my heart that I will be rewarded with joy and there will be time to paint at a later date. So until then, I am making mental notes of creative ideas for new artwork.
My mother-in-law, Marjorie, fell in June and broke her hip. At age 94, this started a chain reaction of events that have required much time and energy but she is now settled into a Memory Care facility and I am happy to say she seems to have adjusted well to her new environment and made new friends. She is not aware where she is or what happened to her but she is happy and that is what matters most. It has been a difficult transition for the family but it has also been rewarding and a season full of blessings with gifts of love along the way.
Besides seeing that Marjorie is properly cared for, my husband and I have also had the responsibility of getting her home ready to sell and feel we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. As we cleaned out her house, I was acutely aware of all the "stuff" we, as humans, accumulate over the years. Stuff that once held precious memories, now has little or no meaning and has to be processed. In the end, it all winds up being donated or sold for pennies, way less than it's initial worth. Once the one who held the memories can no longer remember, things lose their value. Note to self: Quit accumulating and start cleaning out stuff so the children won't have so much to do when I'm gone. They'll have more than enough to handle with processing all these paintings I have sitting around my studio. (Smile!) Needless to say, it has been an eye opening, emotional rollercoaster of a summer. There have been so many changes, new responsibilities and adjustments which have required attention but we are very thankful it has gone as well as it has.
It's interesting how the circumstances of life can consume your time and zap your creativity. Although I have missed being in my studio and painting, I am eternally grateful for the special times I have had with my mother-in-law over the past few months. They are priceless and have been and continue to be a gift -- memories I will carry in my heart forever -- and this season isn't over yet so I'm sure there are more memories to be made. I remain hopeful the energy will return and the creative juices will once again flow and I look forward to when I can get back in the studio. Until then, I am determined to enjoy this journey, the time we have left with Marjorie and soaking up all the memories possible.
I did manage to accomplish one thing this summer. I put prices on my website to make it easier for collectors to chose their favorite artwork. I invite you to take a moment, browse the gallery and let me know if there is anything you are interested in. I accept PayPal, personal or certified checks. And, of course, cash is always welcome for local purchases.
09/06/2012 Sunset
All I Need
In the midst of trials, trouble and affliction
In seasons of loss and grief
You give me strength
You hold
You walk beside, shelter and protect me.
When I am faint, weak and weary,
You carry
When sadness and fear overtake me,
You rescue.
You are all I have
I am humbled by your love
You are all I need
BEYOND TODAY - 12 x 9
BEYOND TODAY is intended to be a symbolic reminder that we should look beyond the weight and cares of this world and see the light of a new day on the horizon.
SOLD
I sincerely hope the new owner will enjoy it for many years to come and that it will be a reminded to look forward with hope and a positive attitude.
Ahh...The sound of water, music to the ears, providing refreshment that quenches an inner thirst and restores a weary soul. Inspired by my love of the coast with alluring blue water and sandy white beaches where the mind is enticed to entertain thoughts of new hopes and dreams.
WATER SONG, 24 x 30 x 1.5 in., acrylic mixed-media on canvas
Water Song was constructed using a background of paint mixed with sand, modeling paste relief texture and layers of paper applied with acrylic gel. Thin layers of paint in buff, raw sienna, shades of blue, aqua and yellow were applied to give the sand and water appearance. Raw Umber was scumbled on top to add depth to the textured relief. Painting wraps the edges of the 24" x 30" x 1.5" gallery wrap canvas and is signed with artist signature (sjh) on the front in the bottom right hand corner. It is sealed with an archival UV protective varnish, wired and ready to hang. No frame required.
Click photos to enlarge
As we embrace truth, we experience grace and the chains that bind us — such as
un-forgiveness, anger, hurt, fear, etc. — begin to fall away. The inspiration for this painting came while I was seeking a better understanding of Grace and what it means. Grace = God’s mercy (undeserved favor) toward us.
The symbolic dove embedded in the texture has been released from the chains that had it bound, setting it free to fly.
RELEASED was created to hang vertically or horizontally. The painting consists of heavy relief texture and archival acrylic yellow paint with a gray and white wash. Burnt sienna scumbled on top accentuates the texture.
Painting wraps edges of the gallery wrap canvas and is sealed with a satin archival UV protective varnish.
Private Collector: Welshpool, Wales, UK.
Click images to enlarge.
RELEASED - 40 x 30 - Vertical View
RELEASED - 30 x 40 - Horizontal View
Calm Pursuit, 36 x 36 x 1.5
The inspiration for this abstract came from my pursuit for calmness in a hectic world where day-to-day responsibilities seem to pull me in every direction. Calm Pursuit is intended to convey the message that it takes grace along with commitment to pursue and maintain a state of calmness in everyday life regardless of circumstances.
The colors and texture of Calm Pursuit were inspired by coastal North Carolina. While growing up, I spent a lot of time on the beach enjoying the warm sand and sunshine. The beach always served as a haven and sanctuary for me, a place where I could get alone and just be--a place of calm.
The painting was constructed by starting with a background wash of neutral colors. The circles and patches of texture were created with a mixture of paste, gel medium and sand. The turquoise represents the ocean on a sunny day and the number 5 stands for grace. The five circles are symbolic of the grace I need to pursue calmness and freedom and maintain it.
The painting wraps the edges of the 36x36x1.5 inch gallery wrap canvas. It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, artist signature (sjh) is on the front and it is wired and ready to hang. No frame needed.
Detail image 1.
Detail image 2.
Calm Pursuit - 36" x 36" shown in living room setting.
Calm Pursuit - 36" x 36" shown in another living room setting.
December 1st brought a beautiful sunny day with temperatures rising to the low 70's. Hubby and I headed for Chapel Hill in our SUV loaded with paintings. What a perfect day to deliver artwork for my first Chapel Hill solo exhibition. We arrived at the Library at 11:00 with 16 paintings in tow and met with Steve Wright, Public Art Coordinator for Chapel Hill Cultural Arts Division. Steve had two artists/installers on hand to help him with selection and hanging of the artwork. Ten paintings were selected to fit the 30 foot wall space inside the lower level entrance. Tape measure and level came out and Bryce (artist and professional installer) began to work his magic. The exhibit has good continuity and Bryce did a stellar hanging job. Hubby was quite impressed with his perfectionism. The remaining paintings returned home with us to fill in some of the now bare wall space in our home/studio.
If you are in the Chapel Hill area between now and February 11th, I invite you to stop by the lower level entrance at the Chapel Hill Public Library and check out the exhibit. All artwork is available for purchase and a percentage of sales will go to Hope Ignited.
While visiting the coast in October, I finally had an opportunity to walk through the STATE OF THE ART / ART OF THE STATE 2014 Exhibit at the Cameron Art Museum (CAM) in Wilmington, NC.
WOW! CAM did a fantastic job of installing the STATE OF THE ART 2014 Exhibit. I am in awe and amazed at how they received, organized, processed and installed all 678 pieces of artwork by 678 North Carolina Artists in a 24 hour time slot. Kudos to those in charge of getting it done.
Here are some of the photos I took during my visit. They will give you an idea of what NC Artists are up to these days and the magnitude of CAM's excellent installation job. Some of the photos may seem like duplicates because I was trying to capture different angles to include all the artwork...not sure if I succeeded or not. There was A LOT of art!
Below is a photo with my Kaleidoscope Dreams painting in the center background. My painting is 4 ft. x 4 ft. just to give you an idea of the scope of the displays.
Must admit I am excited! Received an invitation this week from the Public Art Coordinator of the Cultural Arts Division for the town of Chapel Hill, NC, inviting me to do a solo exhibition. The exhibit will be at the Chapel Hill Public Library December 1 - February 12, 2015.
So looking forward to my first exhibit in Chapel Hill!
KALEIDOSCOPE DREAMS, 48x48
My Kaleidoscope Dreams abstract has been delivered and hung in the State of the Art / Art of the State 2014 exhibition at Cameron Art Museum (CAM) in Wilmington, NC. Thanks goes out to CAM and all their great volunteers for doing such a stellar job. It was a very organized, smooth running sign-in, meet a curator and drop off art process. Each artist had the opportunity to meet one of the curators as they dropped off their artwork. I had the privilege of meeting with Heidi Zuckerman Jacobson from the Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, CO.
There are a record breaking 678 pieces of artwork by 678 North Carolina artists in this exhibit -- one you won't want to miss.
The SOTA 2014 Exhibition opened Saturday Sept. 20th and will end Feb. 12, 2015.
Do stop by the CAM if you are in the Wilmington area and check out the SOTA 2014 exhibit.
Organized by the Cameron Art Museum, this exhibition focuses on contemporary art by artists currently living in, or native to, the state of North Carolina. The design of this project provides any participating artist equal opportunity to meet a significant curator working in the field of contemporary art today and have their work seen by all visiting curators. Participating curators: Nora Burnett Abrams, Associate Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA Denver), Denver, CO; Peter Eleey, Curator and Associate Director of Exhibitions and Programs at MoMA PS1, New York, NY; Laura Hoptman, Curator in the Department of Painting and Sculpture at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, NY; Heidi Zuckerman Jacobson, the Nancy and Bob Magoon CEO and Director, Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, CO.
EDGE, 14x11
Acrylic/Mixed Media
Canvas Panel/Framed
14 x 11 in.
RETIRED
I applied a thin layer of acrylic medium with a paint knife for texture then added shades of turquoise acrylic paint on the left with red on the right for balance. While studying the painting and contemplating where to go next, I heard from a writer/photographer friend who said, “I walk right up to the edge with Him. I know He won’t let me fall.” Her words gave me the title along with inspiration and direction for the finishing touches. Thank you, S.T.! I added a line of acrylic orange gel to define the dividing edge and scumbled metallic gold highlights to accentuate the texture.
This week I'm in the studio finishing up a painting to enter into an upcoming juried exhibit which will be held in January 2015. I am in hopes to have the painting finished and named by the end of the week so I can meet the entry deadline. Once it's finished, I'll post it and start the waiting period to see if it gets accepted into the exhibit.
Kaleidoscope Dreams, 48 x 48 x 1.5
Dreams are what they are and they do not have timelines. Kaleidoscope Dreams is representative of a vivid, creative imagination where images of unusual clarity and significance--a mentality filled with hope and anticipation--overshadow the cares and concerns of life.
Kaleidoscope Dreams is composed of colored tissue paper buried under layers of matching archival paint mixed with glass bead gel medium to maintain its transparency and color integrity. The white relief texture draped across the canvas adding interest and depth to the artwork was created by mixing sand and paper with acrylic gel medium and modeling paste. Painting wraps edges of gallery wrap canvas and is sealed with an archival UV protective finish coat. Comes with C.O.A., wired and ready to hang. Artist signature (sjh) on bottom righthand corner.
Note: The background of Kaleidoscope Dreams is painted a bright white. The blue tint that appears in the photos is caused by the camera setting.
Kaleidoscope Dreams shown in living room with gray wall.
Kaleidoscope Dreams shown in living room with white walls.
Kaleidoscope Dreams shown in a kitchen.
Kaleidoscope Dreams shown in room with yellow walls.
Tissue paper/paint area - upper righthand corner
White texture relief area - upper lefthand corner
White texture relief area - lower righthand corner
2004, 8x10, Artist's Private Collection
This abstract is titled 2004 because it represents my life during that year. Losing both parents in one year was not easy. There were times that were really dark with only a glimmer of hope to keep me going. The loss and grief I experienced helped me realize the importance of learning to roll with the ups and downs life brings our way--ups and downs that provide opportunities to trust God in all things.
Created in loving memory of my parents Harvey and Aileen Jeffries who transitioned to their heavenly home in 2004. They lived long, full lives and were loved by those who had the privilege of knowing them. Their presence is still greatly missed but they live on in my heart. This piece is in my personal collection and is not for sale; however, commissions for a similar painting are welcome.
SANDS OF TIME
Strolling barefoot on the beach
Warm sand beneath my feet
Ocean spray against my face
Footprints in the sand, my only trace
Waves crashing on the sandy shore
Leaving me waiting
Listening for more
On the beach is where I thrive
All my senses intensely alive
Recording images in my mind
Memories that mark the sands of time
© 2013 Susan J. Harris
