“Pie Social”, mixed media by Kerry McFall
I just finished this a few weeks ago, painted from a photo by Charlyn Ellis of her Pie Social last November (2014). You’d have to live under a rock to not know that today is “3/14/15”, (the beginning of the number PI), and after seeing all the bad pie/pi puns on social media, I just couldn’t resist posting a painting of PIES on PI DAY! The big one up front must be Boston Cream Pie… looks tempting.
“Apple Blossoms,” mixed media by Kerry McFall, 12 x 12 framed, $200
This is another piece from the Call and Response show, perhaps my favorite this year, painted last spring (2014). I saw this broken but still beautiful branch on an ancient tree behind the homestead at Finley Wildlife Refuge, hanging on by a thread of bark and a bit of wood. The blossoms and bee are cutouts, made from watercolor, ink, and gel pen. The background is a collage of various papers and paints. The “float” frame makes it possible to position the cutouts into a 3-D setting.
I am amazed at how quickly spring is barreling in to the Willamette Valley right now… the honeybees seem to be having a hard time keeping up. So many flowers, so few bees. I noticed this morning that strawberries, blueberries, and pears are blooming in my front garden – WAY early!
“Ouch!” Mixed media copyright Kerry McFall
The little Fuji apple tree is a bit behind because some butthead college kid tore off the best fruiting branch one night in the wee hours in January … grrr… I scrounged around in the garage and found an old can of pruning tar to seal the wound. (Tip: wet coffee grounds are very useful for scrubbing pruning tar off your hands and arms. Also nail polish remover.) Apparently they had a go at uprooting it as well, but with a little luck and a few bungee cords… I hope the tree lives. And, I hope he/they (yep, pretty sure it was males) woke up with MAJOR headaches.