Monster Monday 7/27/26

 Welcome to

It's late Sunday evening and it is like summer out. All day it's been overcast and cold. Nice to see the sun.

 

No sun with the monsters.  

 

 

 

 

 

Now for some sunny pretties. 

 

Have a great Monday! 

 

Nicole

Sunday in the Art Room SITAR 7/26/26

 Welcome to 

SITAR is about ANYTHING art. Your art, someone else's art, writing, photography, the art of cooking, the art of sewing and textiles. Sharing historical art, street art, a story about art. Do you have a question or need help with art? Write a blog post and link it up here. We will all try to help with it. My only rule is that if someone asks for critique it must be done with generosity and consideration. 

This is a place of learning, encouragement and inspiration.

 

All of the art that we create today is because of artists in the past. Especially women artists who stood strong against society and their male counterparts.

 Many talented women artists of the 1950s were overlooked by mainstream history, including Lee Krasner, Carmen Herrera and Elain de Kooning. These women worked hard in movements like Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism, but, as we know, male peers and gallery owners often pushed them aside. 

 

Today, I want to focus on Lee Krasner.

 Born Oct. 27, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York. Her birth name was Lena Krassner, and she grew up as the child of Russian-Jewish immigrant parents. 

  She was married to Jackson Pollack so you would think she would have and "in" to mainstream galleries and art functions. Not so. Gallery owners and the press frequently reduced Krasner to a supportive spouse or manager rather than viewing her as a serious, independent artist. 

 

  

It's impossible to discuss Lee without addressing her marriage to Pollock. They were married for 11 years and despite Pollock's chronic depression, alcoholism and infidelity, Lee supported him and his art. Their marriage was turbulent to say the least. After yet another affair Lee left for Europe and shortly there after Pollack passed away. Lee returned to make sure Pollack's name and art was remembered as genius. Pollock died in 1956. 

 It was then that Lee was able to focus on her own art. Lee produced new series of art that were/are powerful and emotional. Yet, she struggled against widespread sexism that viewed her primarily as a grieving widow and caretaker of his legacy.

 

 

Lee finally gained major widespread recognition in the late 1970s and early 1980s, highlighted by a major 1983 retrospective at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and a major exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in late 1984 

 

In fact, Lee's art is now permanently held and displayed across at least 20 major international museums and has been featured in dozens of prominent galleries and retrospective venues worldwide. 

Original paintings by Lee generally sell for between $500,000 and $12 million at auction, depending entirely on the era, scale, and historical importance of the piece. While her market historically lagged behind her husband's her value has surged dramatically in recent years. Smaller works on paper and prints typically command much less, ranging anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. 

Lee's story is vast and if this has peeked your interest check out these links. 

 

Nicole

 

Joining Gillena

National Museum Of Women In the Arts. 

Lee Krasner Collage Paintings 

The Pollock Krasner Foundation 

 

Saturday Post

 Hi Everyone!

 

I'm feeling much better and of course over did it a bit today.  Being so lupus sick I haven't been able to clean my house. Believe me it drives me crazy.

Mr. M. does as much as he can but it's not like me cleaning. So today I got the vacuuming done and then dusting.  I don't have carpet so it was all of the floors down stairs. OMG! The dust was remarkable. 

OK, it wasn't this bad but you get the idea.  

 

I mentioned last year or maybe longer ago that I stopped using my oven and stove. Every time I turn it on my electric bill goes off the chart. It takes sometimes 25 minutes to preheat. Bahhhh no way. I bought 2  butane cook stoves and have been using those. So much cheaper than electric. Along with that my instant pot. Couldn't do without that. I haven't had an air fryer for quite some time and I have been wanting one to help with Mr. M's. Kidney, heart and diabetes problems. Well, I bit the bullet and it arrived today.

Photo from internet. 

 

I did a lot of research before purchasing this. I wanted the new Ninja glass air fryer. Isn't this a beauty? Very spendy and not the greatest reviews. 

However, after all the research, considering price, how user friendly it is, capacity, a window, shape of container, the wattage, PFAS-free nonstick ceramic and ease of cleaning. It was hands down the Chefman Crispinator. Plus I really like the name of it. LOL

In addition it's on sale at amazon

Here is the cool thing about it.

The top is simply sleek.

 

 When I plugged it in the power light came on. But something was wrong there was no display lights. I turned it off and back on. Nothing. I called Mr. M. into the kitchen and he was as baffled as I was. I thought great they forgot to install a display. Mr. M. was touching the top of the air fryer when all of a sudden the display comes on. The technology is kind of freaky. You can see there is no indent, or place for a display. It just shows up through the top. Here it is in black so you can see the display better. Seriously, it is so cool. 

 

The booklet that comes with it has a lot of good information, but it doesn't say a thing about the display. So now we know how it all works and I will be making dinner with it tomorrow night.

If you are looking for a new air fryer I can recommend this one.

Have a good Saturday

Nicole.

Friday Face OFF (FFO) 7/24/26

 

Welcome To Friday Face OFF (FFO)

This is the place to show off your face art.

You know, ANY type of face, nature, the face of a flower, photography, drawings, paintings, AI. There just needs to be a face in your blog post, a link back to my blog and please use the image below. 

Thank you.

 

Hi Everyone!

I feel like it has been a successful week for drawing. I hope your art week has been a good one as well.

 

She starts like this. Actually she started with a sketch but I don't have a photo of that. 😁

 

Stage 2. I'm very happy with her nose.

 

Next, getting the eyes right and more shading.

 

This is my hand drawing. I do wear a compression glove for my lupus hand and it helps with not smearing the graphite. I draw on an easel with an attached light. 

 

Here she is starting to come alive.

 

and I finished with this. I like how I was able to create her features. For me it's improvement. 

More very old photos
1983 Alaska. In the back is me, my dad, I'm leaning on my brother Steve, in the chair is my brother Tom, and on the floor is my daughter April and my brother Pat.  

 

 I have shown this one before.

Me, April, my Nan, and my Mom. 

We all just woke up but Mr. M. wanted the photo. 

 

Me taking the shot. I'm wondering who's car is behind me, because it is not mine. LOL

 

Now for some features

 

Christine

 

Carol

 

KWARKITO 

 

That's it for now 

Be sure to join in for 

Sunday in the Art Room 

 

I will be joining Gillena 

Now it's time to show me your face.

Nicole

GAG

 

Hi Everyone!

I have so much to say about the "thing" and what he is doing but I just decided to show these instead.

 

Spend, Spend, Spend 

The US debt to date

debt held by the public $31,874,795,478,548.56 

Intragovernmental holdings 

$7,785,574,186,584.91 

Total public debt outstanding

$39,660,369,665,133.47 

 

He runs the country like all of his failed business . 

 

and one of the worst things

 Just saying.

Nicole 

T stands for Texas chocolate sheet cake

 Hi Everyone!

 

Today I'm joining T-Day with 

Elizabeth and Bleubeard. 

 

Not much going on this past few days. On Saturday I met up with my 3 neighbors for our monthly gathering. We've been doing this now since before covid. No I don't have photos.

But this week we all brought things for a salad. Kay, made a Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake.

photo from internet. 

We were eating outside and having a good time. I could NOT eat salad due to some lupus digestion troubles so I had just a very tiny bit of salad toppings and my water.  Soon it was time for the cake. Now, Mr. M. and I don't eat much sugary things in our house any more. But the chocolate frosting was calling my name. As Kay cut into the cake, I thought, "oh perfect its a thin piece of cake. In fact, the icing, more like fudge, was thicker than the cake. We each got a piece and we all moaned as we took the first bite. It is the BEST chocolate cake ever!

photo from internet.  

 

After several hours of our gathering we all headed home.  I wasn't feeling well at all as I crossed the street to my house. For the next few days I was just sick to my stomach and a diverticulitis flare. Now, I'm not saying it was the cake but it was as rich as chocolate cake can get and I'm just not used to that much sugar.

However, if you want to try it  

here is the recipe. 

 

For my drink today, just plain water.  

 

Have a good Tuesday. 

 

 

 

Monster Monday

 Welcome to 

I had a very bad weekend. In bed not doing much at all. Uuhhhhggg.

 

But I made monsters in advance so here they are.

Even the bees like the skeletons.

 

 

 

For something pretty Murmuration 

 

Have a great Monday

 

Nicole