Nature CAN Nurture

I recently had the chance to speak with Hudson Valley photographer Portia Munson for an article I wrote for Medium.com. As the uncertainty of a world in turmoil continues, we can take solace in nature’s cycle of renewal. And even when we can’t be in nature, whether we are dashing through the airport or spending a day on the computer, Portia Munson’s images transport us to that restorative moment where we feel the chaos of our lives stop and let the natural order begin.

Hudson River School Revisited

Hudson River Octopoda                    Oil on Paper

A Wing and Prayer Wallet         Upcycled Leather

As I completed the painting Hudson River Octopoda featuring the Thomas Cole House in Catskill and Olana across the Hudson River in Hudson, NY, I realized the importance of the conversation between two artists.  It was the collaboration between Thomas Cole and Frederic Edwin Church that encouraged both men to pursue ideas about man's relationship to nature, thus establishing the Hudson River School of Art.  With this context in mind that I changed the name of this blog to Omgeving, a Dutch word for surroundings-- for when you surround yourself in an environment of creative people, an engaging conversation about art, architecture, and the environment is bound to emerge.

I've had such a 30+ year conversation with dear friend and fellow artist Adriane Errera, whose one-of-a-kind handbags have inspired me greatly. As a lifelong vegetarian, Errera faced an ethical quandary over using leather materials, so when making her handmade accessories, she decided to upcycle second-hand leather garments found at thrift stores, which not only keeps garments out of landfills, but curtails the use of new animal products.  The designs themselves incorporate nature-based motifs with tattoo-inspired illustration. I've long admired her sense of color and craft as she refashioned garments into artistic statements.

So perhaps this blog can serve as a conversation-starter for your own creative growth, either alone, or with friends!

Olana on Foot

A couple of weeks ago, we took a minor detour off the Rip Van Winkle Bridge and visited Olana, artist Frederic Edwin Church's lavish Byzantine- inspired mansion. With its breathtaking views of the Hudson River, it's easy to see why the artist was duly inspired to create such equally captivating works of art. After a quick walk downhill to the education center, the kids were provided with backpacks for field notes and illustrations. Olivia worked on a nature sketch and Jackson did some architectural drawings-- both of which were added to the the center's walls.

Olana on the Hudson

Everyone who has traveled over the Rip Van Winkle Bridge notices the large home perched on top of the hillside, Olana, the Persian-inspired residence of Hudson River School artist Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900). Church designed the home and its surrounding landscape on the site where he painted as a young man with his mentor Hudson River School founder, Thomas Cole. The residence, equally impressive close up as from a distance, remains as it was during Church's lifetime thanks to its stature as a National Historic Landmark.
The building's exterior is a bit intimidating on several elevations, but is softened by the ornate details of the crown moldings and the Moorish doorways. Not surprisingly, some of the best angles of the building are the ones facing the Hudson due to the porches and balconies meant to capitalize on the stunning view.
A walk through the grounds shows an equal attention to details. With its well-tended flower gardens and its specimen trees, it didn't disappoint us too much that the house wasn't open to the public when we showed up on a Monday. Instead, the kids and I delighted in watching the butterflies flutter around in the sunshine. The interiors will have to wait for another day.