Daffodil Day - April 10th

Daffodil Day at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum is April 10th and less than two weeks away! We in Northeastern USA are very anxious for spring. We have had an unusually brutal winter with snow still on the ground and have yet to put away our winter wear. That said, spring is ever faithful and will not disappoint us. At the Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit, NJ the daffodils are on track to make their annual event not one to miss! Come join us April 10th (1-4pm).

Reeves-Reed Arboretum view of the Wisner House from the Daffodil Bowl

About the Daffodil Bowl

The  Arboretum’s paved serpentine walk overlooks a roll of land ending in a glacial bowl that each year hosts over 30,000 daffodils blooming sequentially throughout April in this naturalized setting. The bowl or kettle is a depression that remained after the Wisconsin glacier retreated some 17,000 years ago. The Wisner’s (first owners) planted daffodils on the property, but when the Reeves purchased The Clearing (name of the property before it became Reeves-Reed Arboretum) in 1916, it was Susie Reeves who expanded the collection. The daffodils constitute the first major spring display that prompts the steady flow of visitors throughout the Arboretum growing season.

Information adapted  from The Clearing on the Hill – The Story of Reeves-Reed Arboretum by Betty McAndrews

Daffodil Day -- April 10th (1-4 pm)

Over 40,000 daffodils
·  Performance by the Oak Knoll Ensemble
·  Container Gardening with herbs and tea sampling in the Herb Garden
·  Crafts, Victorian games and pony cart rides for children
·  Hat parade
·  Refreshments at the new Tea Rose Café
·  Photos by Bruce Lorenz among the daffodils

"Impressions of a Garden," solo exhibition by Lisa Palombo -- March 10th- May12th

Reeves-Reed Arboretum 165 Hobart Ave. Summit, NJ  www.reeves-reedarboretum.org

"Women Impressionists and Myself"

In honor of  Women's History Month, yesterday I presented, "Women Impressionists & Myself" at the Reeves Reed Arboretum, Summit, NJ.  My lecture coincides with my solo exhibition, "Impressions of a Garden."  I don't often have an opportunity to speak in a public venue about the Grande Dames of Impressionism and how they continue to inspired me, so this was a real treat! 

The Four women considered the center of the Impressionist movement of the late 1800’s are Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, Eva Gonzales, and  Marie Bracquemond. Not only did these women have to over come a new movement , Impressionism, but they had to overcome being a woman and all that it meant at that time. 

"Sleepy Baby" (c) Mary Cassatt 1910

 























In this beginning of a new century where modern woman artists are an equal force to the men gender in the art world, the example of Mary Cassatt who insisted on painting women as subjects and not objects remains highly significant. The most charming part of Cassatt's story was her profound dedication to her work. Despite prejudices against female painters she still had the perseverance to realize her life's ambition of being an artist. This paved the way for the prominence of female artists in the 20th Century and to present day.

"Impressions of a Garden" will be on view at the Wisner House till May 8th, 2001. 

Mark your calendars for Daffodil Day, April 10th.. Reeves Reed Arboretum

"A Penny For Your Thoughts" oil on linen 5" x 7" (c) Lisa Palombo

NJ Audubon Society, Wattles Stewardship Center

The NJ Audubon Society honored Mr. & Mrs. Wattles today at the new Warren county Wattles Stewardship Center. Last summer NJ Audubon Society partnered with local farmers to grow sunflowers for black-oil bird seed, as part of  the S.A.V.E. program. Fortunately, I was able to see and paint the sunflower fields before they were harvested.

Reeves Reed Arboretum

The Reeves Reed Arboretum has peaked with gorgeous roses! The garden boasts over 250 rose bushes (some dating back to 1950).  It is a wonderful place to visit and spend the afternoon. My daughter and friends love to have picnics here. Reeves Reed Arboretum

NJ Peony Garden on Martha Stewart

One of my favorite gardens, Peony Envy Garden in Berndardsville, NJ will be featured on the Martha Stewart Show on Monday, March 15th! Discover the latest in peonies and learn how to plant some of the most exquisite plants with Kathleen and Martha. Check your local listing for channel and time or visit Martha Stewart Online.

Peony Envy has a wonderful catalog, visit http://www.peonysenvy.com/.

Here is a small piece I painted on site, plein air last spring. Irises among the peonies...a heavenly combination!

"Peony Envy Garden" 5'x7" oil on linen SOLD

Peony Garden

I had the pleasure of visiting Kathleen Gagan's Peony Garden recently in Berndardsville, NJ. It is such a heavenly hideaway with lots of tree peonies and herbacious varieties. She also has many irises and a few red chickens roaming the property. At the moment the herbacaious peonies are in full bloom!

The garden is open to the public from 11 am- 5pm from May 1st-June 15th. Visit her website for more information. I plan on painting, plein air there next week and breathing in all the delicious perfumed peony aromas.

Hollyhock Escape

Hollyhock Escape 30"x24", oil on linen
To see more Paintings like this, click on, Recent Paintings.

I just managed to finish this piece, "Hollyhock Escape" in time for my Spring Open Studio this weekend, May 2 & 3 (12-5pm). It will be framed and displayed , although still wet. Come visit us. Our annual Spring Event is open to the public and children are welcome.

Blackeyed Susans

"Black-eyed Susans," oil on linen, 7"x 5" ($450 framed)

(ask about availability)

To see more Paintings like this, click on, Mini Collection.

I have to thank my neighbors, Diane and Lin, again for there splendid display of black-eyed susans!! I love that they plant a variety. The large one in the middle is called "Cherokee Sunset." It has a bright orange red center and feathery petals... I drool over them every time I visit.

summer melody

"Summer Melody," oil on linen, 16"x 36"
(ask about availability)
http://www.lisapalombo.com/

This weekend, September 20 & 21, 2008 we will be exhibiting at the Fine Arts at Anderson Park, Corner of North Mountain Ave. and Bellevue, Upper Montclair, NJ. Saturday - Sunday 10am-5pm. Rain or shine! This is a fun event. Hope to see you there!

Diane's Breakfast Nook

Diane's Breakfast Nook, oil on linen, 7"x 5" $450 framed

(ask about availability)

http://www.lisapalombo.com/

Number 24 of the "100 minis" collection

Diane is my neighbor. She and her husband have the most wonderful garden. As she was showing me something in her home I happened to spy this exquisite narcissus bouquet on her breakfast table. That was it!... I forgot why I came over in the first place. :0)

Painting Plein Air

Painting en plein air this morning at the Presby Memorial Gardens in Montclair, NJ was a real treat!!! A nice lady took this photo of me.

I was able to finish this small 8x10 painting in one sitting. For more information on how you can join our June Workshop and learn how to paint quickly too, click on this link -

art classes.

TV interview

Here's the link to my recent TV interview on WMBC-TV. Click on, http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3821986799349706208.

Wildflowers - why I love them so...

Wildflowers and Dandelions 12"x9" oil on linen
private collection

Most people dismiss the simple beauty of a wildflower. But if you look closely, you'll discover a world of intricate detail, splendor, and magic in a bouquet of these flowers. Every day I try to capture this essence in my paintings, and I approach this concept in two ways. First, I believe painting small flowers on a large scale amplifies their quiet beauty. Second, I have found the practice of placing wildflowers in a lovely antique vase elevates the everyday to a sophisticated level of elegance.

The artists I admire most are Van Gogh and Sargent for their brushstrokes, Janet Fish for her perseverance, and the California Impressionists for their palette.

I prefer to paint in oil on a fine-grade Belgium linen, because its tight weave provides a consistent surface yet is strong enough to sustain reworking with a palette knife. The durability of oil on linen also guarantees my paintings will endure for centuries, which is important to me and my collectors.

The inspiration for my paintings comes from my garden, where I grow a wide variety of wildflowers. Sometimes my neighbors and friends also offer flowers from their gardens. I like to paint from live models, so my compositions are determined by the blooming schedules of peonies, dandelions, poppies, pussy willows, lilies, and violets, among others. I stretch my own canvases, framing a selection of my paintings in hand-carved frames. After I have arranged a still life, I sketch the basics of the composition in pencil directly on the canvas. I then apply paint where I believe the focus of the composition lies and build the painting outward from that point, working the entire canvas one layer of paint at a time. A painting can take weeks to complete, depending upon the size of the canvas.

Painting wildflowers is not only my passion but also a part of my life path, urging me to appreciate the beauty of the simplest aspects of nature. I hope my paintings convey this same message to my collectors. If so, I would consider my life's work a success.