Spirit of Summer's End

Turtle Spirit by Gayle Pritchard
A Commissioned Quilt for a Wedding

Today is my sister's birthday, which means August is right around the corner, which means, in my mind, that summer's end is beginning. Have you noticed that the days are becoming gradually shorter, that the flowers in bloom have changed, that the gardening season is slowly winding down? For me, this is the spirit of summer's end.

As summer winds down, the still-flickering childhood memories of relishing the remaining month of summer, and of preparing for going back to school in the fall remain impressed in my psyche. While I strive to live "in the moment" each day, the busyness of fall looms, as the events and deadlines on my ever-present calendar remind me to get ready.

I am working on a new piece, a companion piece to the one shown here, Turtle Spirit. The artwork at left was commissioned for a couple's wedding, and I have always loved it. The companion piece will be larger, but still focused on the turtle in the central panel.



Turtle,  a native american animal symbol

is the central focus of the piece.

In Native American symbolism, which is where this turtle symbol comes from, turtle is sacred, and contains fetish properties. Among other things, turtle is a symbol for fertility, truth, and long life. It seemed the perfect wish for a couple entering into a marriage.

Meanwhile, I have been invited to create some new work for a wearable art exhibition at the Valley Art Center. Art Strikes a Pose opens September 10 and runs through October 13, 2011.

Turtle Spirit II by Gayle Pritchard, in progress:

Thinking about Color

Hydrangea and daylilies, side by side in the garden

This time of year here on the North Coast, as we fondly call our lakefront city, the garden is usually dry, and the grass is beginning to brown. This year, though, we have had so much rain, that the garden looks lush. This creates an all the more beautiful background for the flowers that are in bloom this time of year. I adore each season of blooms in our short flowering season, but love this blue and orange combo in my garden.

Seeing this color combination in nature reminded me how much I love complementary colors together. I have never shied away from using them in my artwork. Since I am in the process of shifting between computers, though, I am having trouble finding pictures of all the examples I wanted to share with you. The following are just a few that happen to be on my computer. What colors inspire you?



Joie de Vivre I: love these happy colors



Bye Bye, Daddy, detail bottom: a rubbing from a statue in Mexico in blue and yellow

Shrine to (mid)Life in blue and orange

Gayle's paper bag journal in blue, orange and yellow

Another of Gayle's Shrine to (mid)Life series, called My Hands Don't Look the Same Anymore