Donkeys and Pears

This is a story of two escapees, donkeys that belong on some neighboring farm, that I see from time to time under Dan’s pear trees. The donkeys are very entertaining and thoroughly enjoy their bit of freedom. One is usually standing calmly, watching, while the other loves to roll around. I have never learned who they belong to. The pear trees have been untended for years so they’ve gone wild looking and the pears are almost inedible. I say almost because another neighbor has delicious success poaching them in red wine and bottling them for Christmas gifts. Dan’s little shed is in the center and there are Queen Anne’s Lace in the foreground and fallen pears in the grass. I added the two cavorting bear cubs and the watchful momma bear after finally spotting them in the woods after everyone I know had already seen them. Wouldn’t you know I’d be the last one.

“Donkeys and Pears”, 20” x 16”, acrylic on panel.
The painting is available here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/654348671/donkeys-and-pears-original-acrylic?ref=listing_published_alert

Prints of the painting are available here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/654279495/donkeys-and-pears-art-print-of-original?ref=shop_home_active_1

From November 1 through November 5 you can take advantage of this sale:
25% off on all orders. No code necessary.
Find my shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/NatalieWargin?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Below are more details of the painting. Thank you for following along!

“Donkeys and Pears” detail.

“Donkeys and Pears” detail.

“Donkeys and Pears” detail.

“Donkeys and Pears” detail.

Ten New Paintings!

For the past ten months or so I've been busy working on new paintings for my November show at the Gardiner Library. I've completed ten - a visual representation of my beautiful surroundings. They are a timely reminder of what we can lose if we're not careful.  

I'm offering all of these paintings for sale now, prior to the show, with the understanding that they won't ship until after the show closes on December 30.  I hope you like this collection. To purchase a painting please contact me via the "Contact" page or at natalie@nataliewargin.com. You can also email me for detail images of any of the paintings or for a more detailed price list with a description of each piece.  And you can see my work-in-progress
at instagram.com/nataliewargin/

If you're nearby you can check out the show or come and meet me at the reception.
The show runs from November 14 through December 30. 
Opening reception:
Saturday, November 18 from 12pm until 2pm.
Gardiner Library
133 Farmer's Turnpike
Gardiner, NY  12525
 

"Vultures at High Falls"
24" x 18"
Acrylic on birch panel
$2200.

"Maggie"
18" x 24"
Acrylic on birch panel
$2200.

"Slabsides"
24" x 18" 
Acrylic on birch panel
$2200.

"Lodges"
18" x 24" 
Acrylic on birch panel
$2200.

"Pleasant"
18" x 24"
Acrylic on birch panel
$3200.

"Red Barn with Fox"
12" x 18"
Acrylic gouache on birch panel
$900.

"Coyote"
18" x 12"
Acrylic on birch panel
$900.

"Autumn Orchard"
12" x 16"
Acrylic on birch panel
$1200.

"Winter Barns"
12" x 18"
Acrylic on birch panel
$1200.

Again, If you have questions please email me via the "Contact" page or at natalie@nataliewargin.com.  Thanks for taking a look!

Autumn Orchard

"Autumn Orchard" detail

"Autumn Orchard" detail

"Autumn Orchard" detail

There's a pretty apple orchard on River Road in Red Hook.  It belongs to Migliorelli Farm.  The trees are small and the many many branches reach dramatically straight up to the sky.  Both of these things surprised me.  Apparently it's important to keep fruit bearing trees small and tidy to get the best crop.  I'm still not sure why the branches grow straight up though, instead of gracefully curving and bending like other trees.  Anyway, I decided this fall to paint the orchard at harvest time.  The trees were loaded with red apples, the leaves were so green; lots of color.  I nearly always work from photos that I take and River Road is narrow and curved with no shoulder so where to put my car and how to get over the stone wall that separates the orchard from the road?  I knew if I could get onto the orchard that I'd technically be trespassing.  But the farm stand is way at the other corner and the lovely gray house is a bit farther still.  And I wanted some pictures.

There's a driveway with fancy iron gates that leads to a handsome property right across the road from where I wanted to access the orchard.  I have never seen anyone coming or going from this driveway so I decided to risk parking there for the shortest time possible.  Flashers on, I left Maggie in the car, crossed the road, and scooted across the relatively low stone wall.  I walked quickly through the high, wet grass to the trees, took pictures from different angles, all the while keeping an eye on my car and my dog in the forbidden driveway.  When I got back to the car my pants were wet to the knee.  I will confess.  I picked one apple.  It was delicious.  Crisp, and tangy; a MacIntosh.

Why the pheasants?  I didn't see them at the orchard but rather up the road at Bard College on another day entirely.  But they fit here, as do the mourning doves in the tree tops.

This is a 10 x 10 inch (25 x 25cm) acrylic painting on board.  It is listed in my Etsy shop.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/254514646/acrylic-painting-original-autumn-orchard?ref=shop_home_active_1