With a nod to the traditional 12 Days of Christmas, the #12DaysofArt has been a social media gift from Hopewell Valley Arts Council, as we celebrate winter’s multicultural holidays in all their richness and traditions. Thank you so much for our talent artists helping to make this possible. We hope you have enjoyed it’s warming effects as much as we have!
Nancy Stark, Untitled winter scene (oil on Masonite)
Day 1 of #12DaysofArt, Nancy Stark, Untitled (oil on Masonite)
On the first day of art, my true love gave to me… winter solstice woods by Nancy Stark!
“I love to push the color I see and I find it interesting to see what I can get out of colors,” Stark told us. Brighten your winter days with Stark’s exhibit at the Lambertville Public Library through December 30th.
Stan Saperstein, blanket chest carved from redwood
Day 2 of #12DaysofArt, Stan Saperstein, blanket chest carved from redwood
On the second day of art, my true love gave to me… an heirloom blanket chest carved from redwood by Stan Saperstein!
This piece is a redwood hand-carved Kalem Winslow 17th century replica paneled chest. Saperstein, at Artisans of the Valley, has been whittling since age six, gaining master status in furniture making and bringing his love of history into each piece of hand-crafted-period furniture he creates.
Mary Michaels, Winter Field (pastel)
Day 3 of #12DaysofArt, Mary Michaels, Winter Field (pastel)
On the third day of art, my true love gave to me… Mary Michaels’ pastel of a tree-lined scenery!
Michaels creates primarily small-scale landscape paintings in pastels on location, capturing Mercer County’s open space vistas. You can check out her pastel paintings set to music on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQA0diEbywE
Martin Schwartz, Winter Farm (photograph)
Day 4 of #12DaysofArt, Martin Schwartz, Winter Farm (photograph)
On the fourth day of art, my true love gave to me… Martin Schwartz’s Winter Farm!
Schwartz is a professional photographer and member of Gallery 14 in Hopewell Borough. Exhibits can be found on the Gallery 14 website: http://photogallery14.com/
Linda Martin-Mills, Santa Moon quilt
Day 5 of #12DaysofArt, Linda Martin-Mills, Santa Moon quilt
On the fifth day of art, my true love gave to me… a dreamy quilt of old St. Nick!
Martin-Mills shared her touching story about how she started quilting, “When I took care of my aging parents, a dear friend introduced my ailing father to quilting as a way to keep busy. At 79 years old, he took quilting lessons and made many beautiful quilts. When he died at age 81, I found a bag of fabric with a note that said, ‘Now you have to learn.’ I took lessons but didn’t cut that fabric for 10 years. I finally made the quilt that I sleep under each night from those pieces of fabric my father left to me.”
Linda is an RN and now the Patient Experience Manager at Capital Health Medical Center in Hopewell. She has been an active and involved member of the Newtown Quilt Guild for almost 20 years.
Janis Blayne-Paul, Peacock in Stone (stone sculpture)
Day 6 of #12DaysofArt, Janis Blayne-Paul, Peacock in Stone (stone sculpture)
On the sixth day of art, my true love gave to me… a peacock of iridescent greens!
Originally an architect by trade, Blayne-Paul has found joy in creating art from the natural environment. As a sculptor of stone, Blayne-Paul channels her artistic talents by creating socially relevant and meaningful art that tells a story and stirs emotion.
Anna Fraczak, Winter Wonderland (photograph)
Day 7 of #12DaysofArt, Anna Fraczak, Winter Wonderland (photograph)
On the seventh day of art, my true love gave to me… a young fairy catching stars!
Anna Fraczak has a passion for evoking emotions — a smile or cry, capturing a moment, or to telling a family story. In this piece, Fraczak’s own daughter lights up each box in this work of art.
Lucia Stout, First Thaw (soft pastel)
Day 8 of #12DaysofArt, Lucia Stout, First Thaw (soft pastel)
On the eighth day of art, my true love gave to me… a wishful thaw on the first of the new year!
At her Beechtree Farm, Stout and husband raise grass fed beef and lambs and are active in preserving farmland in Hopewell Township. Lucia is also known for her artwork — working with pastels, oils, handmade walnut ink, and watercolors, and photography . Stout is the founder of Artists at the Station, a group that meets Tuesdays to practice art. The group’s artwork can be seen currently on display at the Hopewell Valley Bistro & Inn in Hopewell Borough.
Craig Lieboff “Just the Two of Us” (click video link)
Day 9 of #12DaysofArt, Craig Lieboff “Just the Two of Us”
On the ninth day of art, my true love gave to me… cool acoustic soulful music!
On Jan 2, Leiboff’s cover of “Just the 2 of Us” is just the thing to inspire new things in the new year. Hopewell-based Leiboff has also recently joined the HV Arts Council as a board member. Make sure you check out the video of Craig performing “Just the Two of Us” at this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsadNvQfuy0
John Goeke (ice sculpture)
Day 10 of #12DaysofArt, John Goeke (ice sculpture)
On the tenth day of art, my true love gave to me… an ice block carved into a snowflake!
You may have seen John Goeke carving his incredible ice sculptures at Pennington’s annual Holiday Walk. John is also a culinary artist, and is the food and beverage director at the Hopewell Valley Golf & Country Club.
Kit Greener, “Reflections” (oil painting)
Day 11 of #12DaysofArt, Kit Greener, “Reflections” (oil painting)
On the eleventh day of art, my true love gave to me… a warming wish for spring!
Kit Greener grew up in a family of artists and believes we can all find our artistic side. “Like any other skill or interest, it’s the ‘doing of it’ that drives success. People say ‘I can’t draw a stick figure!’ but, if they educate themselves and practice everyday, of course they will rapidly improve!” she shared. While her education and career took another path, she was drawn back to art in her adulthood. Greener has continued studying, teaching, and creating art on canvas and murals and as a HV Arts Council Stampede artist. Greener’s artwork is currently on display at the Pennington Public Library.
Carol Lipson, Winter Tree Reflection (photograph)
Day 12 of #12DaysofArt, Carol Lipson, Winter Tree Reflection (photograph)
On the twelfth day of art, my true love gave to me…. an icy scene of winter trees!
Carol Lipson explores her creativity in many ways — as a photographer, flower arranger, gardener, and through her mixed media collages. Lipson is also the HV Arts Council board of trustees president and one of the organization’s founders.