welcome to the hot-press blog a painting-a-day website by artist Ian Newbury

House Finch

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:18:03 -0500

House finches are natives of the American West, but were introduced in New York City in the 1940's. Since that time, eastern birds have spread throughout the eastern half of the country, while western populations have also expanded. The House Finch, like the House Sparrow, is well adapted to living with humans and has taken advantage of their presence rather than suffering because of it. Today the House Finch can be found throughout the country. This is an original miniature watercolor available for purchase, use the widget below to bid on this painting.

Make an Origami Crane for Peace

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:14:00 -0500

When: Saturday, January 3, 2009 from 10AM-2PM
Where: The Riverside Artists Studio
In the McCormick Building, 1st Floor
12 Broad Street
Westerly, RI 02891
Cost: FREE! Yes, I said FREE!
Why: Because it’s fun, and for a worthy cause

Stop by the Riverside Artists Studio between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM and learn the art of folding an origami crane. You can take yours home or donate it to our string of 1,000 cranes for world peace. I’m still trying to find an exhibit space or organization that will display the cranes, if you would like to recommend one please email me.

The Thousand Origami Cranes is well known as an international symbol of world peace through the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who contracted leukemia as a result of radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. Her story is told in the the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Several temples, including some in Tokyo and Hiroshima, have eternal flames for World Peace. At these temples, school groups or individuals often donate Senbazuru to add to the prayer for peace. The cranes are left exposed to the elements, slowly dissolving and becoming tattered as the wish is released. In this way they are related to the prayer flags of India and Tibet.

An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. The crane in Japan is one of the mystical or holy beasts (others include the dragon and tortoise), and is said to live for a thousand years.

Where the Hell is Matt?

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:35:46 -0500

I came across this video at the Joseph Campbell Foundation website, I am sharing it with you in the days leading up to Christmas. The text below comes from The Joseph Campbell Fundation website, and Campbell’s “The Power of Myth” series with journalist Bill Moyers.
In Japan for an international conference on religion, scholar Joseph Campbell overheard another American delegate, a social philosopher from New York, say to a Shinto priest, "We've been now to a good many ceremonies and have seen quite a few of your shrines. But I don't get your ideology. I don't get your theology." The Japanese paused as though in deep thought and then slowly shook his head. "I think we don't have ideology," he said. "We don't have theology. We dance."
And so did Joseph Campbell - to the music of the spheres.
The above video, found on the web, captures the essence Joseph Campbell finds in the words of that Shinto priest. Described as "fourteen months in the making, forty-two countries, and a cast of thousands," Matthew Harding's labor of love also illustrates that anything is possible when you follow your bliss.
One cautionary note - it's nearly impossible to watch this without bursting into a beatific grin ...
Happy Christmas.
Ian
For more information about Joseph Campbell visit http://www.jcf.org

Blue Jay

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 17:52:03 -0500

As a young kid, Blue Jays were everywhere in my neighborhood. Today, I live just miles away from my boyhood home and I rarely see any Jays. I remember that they were loud, and in my childhood opinion, rather obnoxious. They seemed to be aggressive and piggish around the feeder. Now when I see them today I smile. Like the old adage about absence, the heart does grow fonder.
This is an original watercolor, 2.5 x 3.5 inches. SOLD

Marsh in Autumn

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:10:02 -0500

This is a quick plein-air study, painted on location at Barn Island, a coastal marsh located in Southeastern Connecticut. It was a beautiful morning, so I went to walk the marsh and maybe snap some photographs. As is always the case I brought along my field box, portable brush and a small watercolor block. The gentle curve of this waterway caught my eye, as did the color of the distant trees. I sat down and painted this small study in a few minutes. As I was cleaning up, waiting for the sheet to dry, a pair of hunters walked by, one spoke up in an angry tone, lecturing me on how I should be clad in orange from head-to-toe so as not to be shot accidently. I unenthusiastically replied “thank you.” He brusquely ‘shot’ back “your life, your safety.” I was tempted to respond “sorry the election didn’t go your way”, but I bit my tongue. Look, I have no problem with recreational hunting, I have a number of friends who shoot, and yes, I should have been wearing some color. I just don’t like being told what to do. My life, my safety is exactly the point. This watercolor, which I risked my life to produce, is up for bid. Use the widget below to get in on the auction.
“Marsh in Autumn”
plein-air study, original watercolor
4 x 6 inches

Autumn Apple

Sat, 8 Nov 2008 10:50:55 -0500

Painted recently in the late afternoon at the old Crandall orchard. The Rhode Island air is still warm and damp, and the leaves have not fallen. Soon, the winds and the chill of evening will arrive and strip this tree of what remains of this year’s harvest. This is an original watercolor, 6 x 9 inches. It is available for sale, use the widget below to get in on the bidding.

nothing gold can stay

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 09:05:08 -0500

This solemn White Oak tree has stood in tree pose (vrksasana) for over one hundred years. It has witnessed a century of change in our small town. I’m sure it has stood long enough for a yogi to attain enlightenment. The title comes from a poem by Robert Frost.