Friday, June 28, 2013

Friday Feature: Watts Mortuary Chapel


Another place on my bucket list to visit before I die:
Watts Mortuary Chapel in the village of Compton, Surrey, England.  

The creation of the chapel was orchestrated by the artist Mary Fraser-Tytler. Many villagers contributed to both the design and construction of the ornately carved gesso plaster paintings adorning the interior walls as well as the terracotta exterior. The intricate weaving of design was obviously influence by Celtic calligraphic manuscripts but I also see a hint of Indian architectural painting as well.  Perhaps this was influenced by Mary Fraser-Tytler's early life in India.  Regardless it is a unique and stunning example of both the Symbolist and Arts & Crafts movements.



Inside the chapel "the morning stars sing together" and the tree of life grows up to the heavens.

Creation from chaos is natural.
We've come to a place where we've realized that we have this actual physical need to create things. We've discovered that we hate people en masse, we're sick of homogenized culture, and these realizations have left holes in our hearts. We create to fill those holes, to be able to sleep at night knowing we've done something, even a small something, to confront the manufactured culture that is currently being churned out.
-Renee Rigdon Zabet Stewart



Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Before this River Becomes an Ocean

We Come From the Water
Oil on Canvas
16" x 20"
Prints available on Fine Art America
This is another painting that will be part of the "Portraits of Passion" Show next week!
Join us July 5th 6-11pm at the Sanctuary 701 N. Pennsylvania, Indianapolis

Before this river
Becomes an ocean
Before you throw my heart back on the floor
Oh baby I reconsider
My foolish notion
Well I need someone to hold me
But I'll wait for something more

Yes I've gotta have faith.
-George Michael

Monday, June 24, 2013

The Nativity 2

The Nativity 2
Copyright 2013 Addie Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
22" x 28"
I know, I know...
here I am celebrating Christmas in June
and probably giving you an earworm of "O Holy Night"
but inspiration strikes when inspiration strikes.  

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
-Robert Louis Stevenson


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Floribunda

Floribunda
Copyright 2013 Addie Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
18" x 24"
Prints available on Fine Art America

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees
Is my destroyer.
And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose
My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.

The force that drives the water through the rocks
Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams
Turns mine to wax.
And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins
How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.

The hand that whirls the water in the pool
Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind
Hauls my shroud sail.
And I am dumb to tell the hanging man
How of my clay is made the hangman's lime.

The lips of time leech to the fountain head;
Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood
Shall calm her sores.
And I am dumb to tell a weather's wind
How time has ticked a heaven round the stars.

And I am dumb to tell the lover's tomb
How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm.
-Dylan Thomas

Monday, June 17, 2013

One Life

One Life
Copyright 2012 Addie Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
16" x 20"


If I can stop one heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain.
If I can ease one life the aching 
or cool one pain.
-Emily Dickenson

Friday, June 14, 2013

Friday Feature: Anna and Elizabeth


Anna and Elizabeth presenting a "Crankies" shadow puppet show
The duo, Anna and Elizabeth, offer unique performances combining old-time music, storytelling and shadow puppetry.  Go to their website, www.annaandelizabeth.com, and watch a "Crankies" video.  Their shows look like a magical experience!  I can't wait to see a live performance.

One of the things that is so inspiring about artists like Anna and Elizabeth is that they are using classic traditional formats to present fresh new work.  This is the sort of art that strikes a universal chord that can cross culture and boundaries to get at the essence of human experience.  Yes- I am a fan.


Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Westfield Road Tree

Westfield Road Tree
Copyright 2013 Addie Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
16" x 20"
Original available on Etsy
Prints Available on Fine Art America
The earth is our origin and destination.
The ancient rhythms of the earth have insinuated themselves into the rhythms of the human heart.  The earth is not outside us;
it is within:
the clay from where the tree of the body grows.
- John O'Donohue, Beauty

Monday, June 10, 2013

Indiana Sunrise

Indiana Sunrise
Copyright 2013 Addie Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
9" x 12"
Prints available on Fine Art America
Original Painting available at the Art IN Hand Gallery

Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it.  
-Rabindranath Tagore

Friday, June 7, 2013

My Expressionism Class is Filling Up!

Ancient Clay
Copyright 2012 Addie Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
18" x 24"
Prints available on Fine Art America

My upcoming Expressionistic Painting class is filling up quickly!

Join us this summer for an exciting painting class at the Indianapolis Art Center.  In it we will explore the master painters of the Expressionistic movement. Inspired by their methods and philosophy we will create paintings to release emotion and express the beauty of the world around us and within us.

Register here:

One of the artists we will be studying!
"Head of a Woman" painting by Odilon Redon
Another work of inspiration by Hundertwasser

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Art IN Hand Gallery

Illinois Street Bridge in April, Indianapolis 2013
Copyright 2013 Addie Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
16" x 20"
Prints available on Fine Art America

I am pleased to announce that I am now showing artwork with the Art IN Hand Gallery of Zionsville, Indiana!  I feel so blessed to have yet another opportunity to share my work with others and celebrate the beauty of the natural world through my landscape paintings.

Join me on the evening of Friday June 7th 7-9pm as I celebrate my first "First Friday" at the gallery.  Click here for the facebook event.

Words are a pretext.
It is the inner bond that draws one person to another, not words.
-Rumi

Monday, June 3, 2013

Guilford Avenue Bridge

Guilford Avenue Bridge, Broad Ripple Indianapolis
Copyright 2013 Addie Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
9" x 12"
Available at the Art IN Hand Gallery 
Prints available on Fine Art America

We were always intoxicated with color,
with words that speak of color, and with the sun that makes colors live.
-Andre Derain