Mary Jabens. She’s got a great eye. My favorites are her clouds. They are magnificent! Her colors are fabulous, composition is interesting and ooh the little touches like the cloud break in the sky… makes this a stunning painting!
I’m telling you… Mary is an artist who’s work you need to check out… before her prices go up… up… UP!
25 Minutes to Rain by Mary Jabens
You can see the rain in the distance, yet still see some of that wonderful light… makes for a beautiful, moody painting!
Being creative has always been a part of my life. Different mediums, subjects, places, people and events continually give me inspiration. My passion is Plein Air painting. Living in Southern Utah provides a lifetime of subjects that are irresistible to my desire to paint! Trying to replicate nature in painting is a challenge: Warm and cool, light and dark values, soft edge versus hard edge- all the elements that make a great painting outdoors are a paradigm to me – one not existing without the other. Merging these elements together is my challenge. To make the results dynamic is my goal.
For more information regarding Mary’s thoughts and views on plein air painting check out the article (Clouds for Clouds’ Sake) by Bob Bahr for Outdoorpainter.com in June 2014!
Most everyone loves a good pot roast. The taste is so wonderful, like you’ve been slaving away for hours and hours, when in reality, it basically does most everything itself. Some people prefer to make mashed potatoes, if you’re on of those people, you can certainly pull the veggies and pot roast out when done, and maybe stir in a little corn starch/water mixture and and to pan, heat to thicken the gravy. I don’t bother, the juice is just that good. I usually throw my carrots and potatoes in the pot instead of making mashed potatoes, it’s just too easy this way!
My notes on the recipe below… I rarely use wine, I just like the taste of pot roast best without it, same with Thyme… garlic I use occasionally, but rarely… I buy a large container of Kitchen Basics Beef Broth (unsalted), and use about 3/4 of it. I don’t measure I just make sure it covers most of the veggies… I use a lot of carrots and a few potatoes. For a 1.5# roast, I usually bake it for about 45 minutes, then add the potatoes and carrots (I put the roast on top) and bake another hour. It’s perfect when the meat falls apart easily.
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium beef broth $
1 bay leaf
4 large carrots, peeled and cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces $
2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
Fresh thyme leaves (optional)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350º.
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chuck roast with salt and pepper. Add roast to pan; cook 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove roast from pan. Add onion to pan; sauté 8 minutes or until tender.
Return browned roast to pan. Add the red wine, thyme sprigs, chopped garlic, beef broth, and bay leaf to pan; bring to a simmer. Cover pan and bake at 350° for 1 1/2 hours or until the roast is almost tender.
Add carrots and potatoes to pan. Cover and bake an additional 1 hour or until vegetables are tender. Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaf from pan; discard. Shred meat with 2 forks. Serve roast with vegetable mixture and cooking liquid. Garnish with thyme leaves, if desired.
Note:
MyRecipes is working with Let’s Move!, the Partnership for a Healthier America, and USDA’s MyPlate to give anyone looking for healthier options access to a trove of recipes that will help them create healthy, tasty plates. For more information about creating a healthy plate, visit www.choosemyplate.gov.
Jeanne Thiel Kelley,
OCTOBER 2006
Ok, now for my step by step shots!
Sear the meat first!
Sear to lock in juices on all sides
Since there are only two of us, I usually go to Whole Foods or EarthFare and buy a pot roast (chuck roast) and if it’s really thick i have them slice it in half lengthwise, I usually end up with about a 1.5 pound roast, but if you have more than two people in your family (this is several meals for us), then you may opt for the larger cut, just keep it in the oven longer.
Start by adding a little olive oil to the pan so it won’t stick, get the pan nice and hot so you hear SIZZLE when you put the roast in the pan… you aren’t cooking it through just browning on all sides, at medium high, I even sear the sides… keeps all those juices where you want them to be! Once it’s seared, move it to a plate…
Sautee onions…
Now sautee the onions… smells wonderful doesn’t it?
Add seared roast and beef broth to pan
Now add the seared roast and the beef broth to the pan – cover and bake OR… go ahead and add potatoes and carrots (If roast is small) and bake all together for around 1.5 hours or until it starts to fall apart! I tuck the potatoes and carrots all around the roast… you can check on it a time or two, splash a little more broth on top… a few hours later (and a WONDERFUL smelling house)… you have…
This is what BEAUTY Looks like when you pull it out of the oven… oh. my. word.
Patricia Canney. She has some interesting work out … she’s painting dresses, all kinds of dresses. Beautifully! Hey, if you were getting married, wouldn’t it be cool to have a painting of your dress in the store window? Take a peek at Patricia’s paintings, very nice! She’s in several galleries, below is a Q&A from the Abend Gallery in Denver, CO.
Patricia is in the process of creating a new website, so be on the lookout! For now you can continue to use this site as well as Facebook and Pinterest!
I also like this one from the study/sketch section of Patricia’s website, the bright happy color really pops:
When people ask, I say, “I paint dresses and garments and stuff!” Garments, dresses, costumes, hats and shoes appeal to me as variations on figurative work. They are portraits without the figure, embodying the essence of a person or dream. I love that each viewer can read their own story, memory and emotion into the painting.
I like small scenes of people, places, garments and quiet moments that are loose and alive with color, connecting it all with places and times. I am drawn to that certain kind of light that captures the unguarded moment and captures both the “now” and “forever” on canvas.
Lately I have been assembling still life arrangements of garments, shoes and hats on hangers, dress forms and coat trees in my studio. They hang from the walls, drape on chairs and get moved around with the light. I paint them from life and photograph them in morning or golden late afternoon light. It’s great fun.
I use my graphic design background when composing a painting. Childhood memories of my parent’s small town café inform paintings of restaurants and interiors. Paintings of garments and shoes remind me of my grandmother who worked as a tailor in a men’s store….or of my mom who taught me to sew.
The Abend Gallery in Denver, CO wrote a Q&A with Patricia, I love knowing who artists have taken workshops with, as well as who inspires them!
Is my work more about realism or abstractionism or combo?
It’s a combination…a bit abstracted in the paint quality but aiming for realism of the emotion. I’d like to achieve the truth of a quick sketch, quickness and light , in the larger pieces.
Studied with?
Kim English was my first workshop teacher and the artist whose work always inspires me. I have also studied with, Peggi Kroll Roberts, Maggie Siner and others.
Inspired by?
All the above and more. Kim English for his amazing skills and sense of light. Paul Oxborough, a modern master. Nancy Franke, with her lovely ease of paint. Dan McCaw inspires me with his unwaivering curiosity and daily challenges to himself.
Of course, inspired by…
The classic, three…Sargent, Zorn and Sorolla
My work in the future?
Always working toward painting effortlessly (with precision)…or to appear effortless!
What would I say to a viewer?
Thank you for stopping for a look. I want every painting to live in a “good home”…like the “foster children” they all are!
What do I want the viewer to take away?
Enjoyment. I hope the viewer can imagine a story or bit of a story in the paintings.
How has my work changed over time?
I hope it has improved. So many ideas and not enough time to grab them all and get them down!
Favorite medium?
Oil on canvas but I’d like to improve my skills with acrylic, just for fun.
What stands out the most in this photo? Is it the stunning shadows that play brilliantly against the pretty color of this building? Or is it the light that seems to dance across the building with each gust of wind? Whatever it is, it’s beautiful and its just so Charleston!
Enjoy your day! Relax while you can, Christmas is 25 days away!
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Win. Win. What a delight to support small businesses! Especially this time of year!
For more details, or to register your card visit the Enrollment Site!
Capri Blue Candles. Wonderful! You may have seen them at Anthropologie or at other retailers near you. There are a few scents that are my favorite. VOLCANO and ALOHA ORCHID, but to be honest, those are the only two I’ve seen. The Gallery on Broad in Charleston, SC also carries the Volcano scent, in a few different sizes. These candles make a nice hostess gift, or a nice treat for yourself after you worked so hard yesterday.
Hey, if you’re in the downtown area, stop in The Gallery on Broad and say hello… check out these candles… lovely! I will pop it in a pretty gift bag for you and you’ll be set!
Wishing you and yours a safe and happy Thanksgiving day! Now, if for some reason you aren’t full after a Thanksgiving Day feast, and you would like a little treat, that really feels like a treat… Try this… it’ll warm you up too!
Hot chocolate, made from scratch. YUM! Yet one more thing to be thankful for on a chilly day, right? There are only a few ingredients, you can heat the milk however you like (stove or microwave) and instantly you have wonderful hot chocolate that warms you from the inside out! Click on that link to be taken to the original recipe complete with photos!
Enjoy this Thanksgiving Day. Whew, I have so much to be thankful for… all of you, my family, friends, health, Charlie (woof) and Fred just to name a few.
If you’re feeling blessed (as I am), do something to make someone smile. This time of year can be hard on so many people for a variety of reasons. Do you have a neighbor who may be eating alone today? Invite them over, or maybe take them a hot chocolate and have a visit. We all get busy in life, but we have to keep those in mind who don’t have family and may be struggling with something going on in their lives.
Make. Someone. Smile.
Happy Thanksgiving! I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!
Can you believe that tomorrow is Thanksgiving? Are you looking for something to make as a side to go with the turkey? Would you like to make something that is quick, easy, beautiful and tastes out of this world? Ahhhh, then this is the recipe for you! This is from Martha Stewart! I posted this several years ago (and would never buy canned since I saw how easy this was to make).
Yes, there is sugar in this recipe, but unlike canned sauce there is no high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup (2nd and 3rd ingredient listed, eek!)
In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, lemon zest, and water; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cook until cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, and let cool to room temperature.
This week I’m bringing back recipe favorites that I think may be a great match for Thanksgiving! This Rustic Apple Tart (click on link to see original post complete with photos as well as a video!) is easy, and so beautiful. The secret is the glaze and it couldn’t be easier!
Thanksgiving is this coming Thursday. Can you believe it? Seems like it was just summer a few days ago? Crazy how fast time flies!
This week I’m bringing back a few recipes that I’ve shared with you throughout the years, maybe one of them will sound good for your Thanksgiving!
Cranberry & Nut Israeli Couscous Salad is a fabulous recipe (click on that link to see the original post, complete with step by step photos). This is a fabulous cold salad with dried cranberries, fresh oranges, tasty pecans… oooh, I think this is one you will enjoy, and I’m thrilled that I ran across the recipe again, as I had forgotten about it, sigh…
Here’s the recipe – Click to print this recipe from Epicurious – NOTE: I added 2 1/2 oranges, cut into wedges (the other half is juiced in the steps below) – this made the recipe over the top good! You may want to jot that on your printed copy ;)
Salad:
2 cups Israeli couscous, uncooked
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup toasted pecans, quartered
2 scallions, minced
Dressing:
3 tbsp canola oil (I used olive oil)
1.5 tbsp champagne vinegar (I used white wine vinegar)
1 orange, zest
1/2 orange, juiced
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried tarragon
Salt and pepper to taste
…preparation
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and add the couscous. When it’s done (roughly 8-10 mins, or when it’s al dente), drain it but do not rinse. Set aside and let cool while you mince the scallions, toast and chop the pecans, and make the dressing.
In a small bowl, whisk together the canola oil, vinegar, orange zest and juice, spices and salt and pepper.
In a large bowl, combine the couscous, cranberries, pecans and scallions. Pour the well-whisked dressing over it and toss to combine.
Serve immediately, or chill in the fridge for a few hours to blend the flavors.
[As I look back through these photos with recipes… I cannot believe that I posted such horrible photos. Many times it’s starting to get dark outside and lighting + food photos don’t look great to me, of course, neither does the image above, which will be replaced SOON!]
Charlie looking for his lizard friends… ahhhh, “the Lizzies” as I like to call them! At times he’s obsessed and wants nothing more than to play with the many lizards that lurk in the monkey grass and palms. Then he comes in, dirt in his mouth, purple plumbago flowers stuck to his sides – Oh Charlie! Life is good!
For those of you who have been sending prayers, happy thoughts and anything else you’ve got for my dad… I spoke to the nurse this morning… he had a good night! First one! I was even able to speak to him for a minute. Nothing could be better than to hear his voice! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Zoey Frank. Wow! Stunning? Right? I love her work. The texture to it… and the background of that wallpaper? Mesmerizing! Zoey is one who can take an every day subject that most people wouldn’t think of painting and she can make it extra special!
Pink and Grey by Zoey Frank 36×30″
See what I mean? The colors, the textures… so nice! I am a fan!
Zoey Frank was born in Boulder, Colorado in 1987. She completed four years of classical atelier training under Juliette Aristides at Gage Academy of Art in Seattle, and received an MFA in painting from Laguna College of Art and Design. Zoey has received numerous honors and awards, including an Elizabeth Greensheilds grant in 2013, the Artist’s Magazine All Media Competition Grand Prize of 2012, the Hudson River Fellowship in 2012, scholarships from the Albert K. Murray foundation, the Stacy Foundation and the Art Renewal Center. Her work has been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur, International Artist’s Magazine, Artist’s Magazine, and Southwest Art among other publications. Zoey works from her studio in the Bay Area.
St Helena (SL 296) by Allison Ramsey Architects – available via Southern Living
St. Helena (SL-296) by architect Allison Ramsey. This home has 2,460 square feet with 3-4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It also has porches on three sides (what a dream!) and a center hallway.
St Helena (SL 296) by Allison Ramsey Architects – available via Southern Living
I love, love, love how the master bedroom has french doors that open onto a screened porch. How wonderful to sit outside at night and enjoy the evening, or early morning with a cup of coffee! Did you notice that the dining room has pocket doors? Makes the space feel even more grand! What a wonderful home with room for everyone, as well as room for everyone to have their own space!
St Helena (SL 296) by Allison Ramsey Architects – available via Southern Living
Upstairs are two bedrooms with a shared bath. Absolutely perfect!
Casey Childs. What amazing work! This painting is brilliant. It shows all the stuff that’s used to get us to look like natural beauties, ha ha.
I love Casey’s paintings, his subject matter is different, which I appreciate so much. The light on her face and hand makes her come alive. The finish on the walls, the door, the mirror… all brilliant!!
Check out more of Casey’s work, I didn’t want to spoil it for you! One fabulous painting after another! Casey is represented by Principle Gallery here in Charleston, judging by the Gallery ID for this piece (it ends in CHS) I would think it’s right here in Charleston, SC – something I didn’t realize when I started writing this!
Read a bit about Casey from his website (and check out more paintings):
“My work as a whole encompasses an exploration of the human experience. My interest in the people around me comes from the idea that we look at people every day, but we never really stop to SEE them. In every painting I strive to capture the beauty, variations and complexities of the human form. The goal of my portrait work is to capture the soul of the individual–not just their likeness. I’m inspired by the figurative works (to name a few) of Sargent, Fechin, Thayer, Caravaggio and John Giarrizzo. John, my art professor at Northwest College, instilled in me a great love of art and an immense desire to create it. His work and ideas have found their way into mine. I see my work as a self-portrait in that the subjects of my paintings are all a part of me, each painting a learning experience and an exploration of myself as an artist.”
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