For Ms. Rosa

When Becky from Tribeca Trunk told me Ms. Rosa's daughter bought her 9 Bird Eggs for her birthday, from the Light, As a Feather exhibit it made me very happy. Happy to know how joyfully it was received. Since you asked to know more about it, Ms. Rosa, I write a few thoughts about one of my favorite artworks.

©B.N. Ochenkoski, Ms. Rosa's gift of 9 Bird Eggs by Kathleen O'Brien

I usually begin art making without any preconceived ideas. This piece was different, I intended to create collages as a multiple about bird eggs. It required some research about birds habits. You can also see this as a magic square of 9.

©O'Brien, 9 Bird Eggs, multiple collage, 30 x 30" 

After painting the backgrounds abstractly with watercolor, I drew each egg with Prismacolor pencils. Each one in the collage is the exact size one would find in a nest. Each drawing was glued onto the painting.

©O'Brien, 9 Bird Eggs, detail of Mocking Bird Egg

Mica pieces that I formed to size represent the number of eggs one would generally find in that birds nest.

©O'Brien, 9 Bird Eggs, detail of  Meadowlark Egg, mica

For each bird I attempted to gather botanicals that each would use in their nesting materials. so in this example of the Song Sparrow - one of my favorite song birds - you see leaves and grass glued onto the painting.

©O'Brien, 9 Bird Eggs, detail of  botanicals, Song Sparrow Egg

In all my work I have scripts that are an invented language, a universal language that you may bring your own meaning to what you see. This is symbolic of the importance to everything in life, of communication. Notice how these strips of scripts are aligned in 3 rows, intended to feel connected. This symbolizes our connection to all life.

©O'Brien, 9 Bird Eggs, detail of  Bluebird Egg, script

May you enjoy this as much as I have cherished it, and belated Happy Birthday.

Through Art You Meet the Nicest People

My recent reception for Light, as a Feather at Tribeca Trunk was a big success with 8 sales so far. The even more fulfilling aspect for me is making new friends with the people who support the arts by buying art. First of all, I am so pleased to get to know Becky Neal Ochenkoski, owner of TT and enthusiastic art collector. What intrigued me was that she curated some of my most subtle, and favorite artworks to be shown together.

©Greg Orth, KOB & Ochenkoski with 3 Book of Light pages & 3 Treasure Maps, collages by Kathleen O'Brien

Becky's assistant, Sydney Fulkerson, is starting to collect art early in her life. She is enrolled at UK studying Merchandising, Apparel, and Textiles major with a minor in Business. It pleases me deeply that a student would value my art to the extent that she would acquire 2 pieces, Homage for Nightingale & Light of Autumn 4. 

In Sydney's words: "I was drawn to Homage to Nightingale because of the text about the Nightingale and how the male sings a love chant. I am giving this to my parents as a gift for Christmas for them to hang in their lake house that they built for their 25th anniversary."

"I was drawn to Autumn Light 4 for the colors, but also mainly for the word "elegant" used in the piece next to the long, thin, simple leaf used that also represents "elegant." The piece spoke to me on a personal level, as I like to think of myself as being somewhat of an "elegant" person."

©Greg Orth, KO'B with Sydney Fulkerson holding Homage to Nightingale & Light of Autumn 4, collages by Kathleen O'Brien

Jeff Kerr & Sharon Tognoni fell in love with Memories of Summer 3 and I fell in love with them. Jeff is in real estate and they have been decorating their new condo. How I love that they are decorating with my art! It means so much to an artist to hear about the joy it brings in to a person's home environment. I enjoyed hearing Sharon's plans for their fresh rooms. 

In Jeff's words: "The painting, Memories of Summer 3, spoke to us immediately,yielding a peaceful feeling of effervescent joy. The summer days are fading with the cool silver rain, causing the leaves to descend with the lasting memories of another resplendent summer in Kentucky, to linger in our hearts and minds forever. Memories of Summer 3 is a reflection of a lasting and beautiful sensation of contentment, that is harmonious with humanity and nature. WE LOVE IT !!!!!" 

©Greg Orth, KO'B with Jeff & Sharon in front of  Memories of Summer 3, collaged drawing by Kathleen O'Brien

So thank you to those others who will bring home my art from this show and all of those of you who shared your appreciation of my art. It means so much to hear things like,

"this isn't just art, this is a 

window into the universe." 

WOW! that adds up to success for me.

Guest writer, Mariel Smith

As an artist, it is so thrilling to have my art purchased and cherished  by someone like Mariel who can also be  articulate about her decision to acquire what spoke to her. This is what she shared;

by Mariel Smith

I first encountered Light of the Earth 1 at Kathleen's home and studio. My boyfriend Andrew and I were there as part of the annual Art Tour that many local artists participate in. It was my first time at her home, and it was absolutely lovely. We got a tour of the garden, the bread oven, and their lovely home which is full of light, warmth, and color (very welcome on a chilly November day!). 

©Mariel Smith & Cricket, with Light of the Earth 1 by KO'B

As I wandered through her studio and living room, I was stopped short by her collection inspired by Chavaux Cave, a French cave with spectacular prehistoric drawings and paintings in it. Andrew and I had recently watched the documentary about it, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, and been transfixed by the depth and beauty of the ancient artwork.