deirdre friebely

In between my painting sessions I like to work on projects around the house. Last week I was inspired to recover the cushion on this classic chair. A chair that used to sit in my grandparents basement, and somehow survived 20+ grandchildren jumping in it! Anyway, I took a leisurely trip to a great discount fabric store down the road, not really thinking I would find anything too spectacular. Oh, but I did. And oh, it was on sale! Lucky me. The cloth itself doesn't look like anything spectacular...but it had just the right texture and vibe for the personality of this chair. Don't you love it when that happens?

Every now and then I get a bright idea to impulse buy something on Ebay. This time I bought a collection of old keys. I did have a plan for them...but when I ripped open the envelope and they spilled out, they suddenly seemed too precious for their original intended use. But wait! I came up with a better idea! Which I will keep under my hat until it is finished. Just a little project that includes a light fixture...until then though, I just wanted to share this photo—for all you metal lovers out there.

I've added ten new paintings to my website! A few additions to my "Welcome" and "Furniture" series...

I was in downtown Jacksonville today for lunch with gal pal...and had to have a picture of the side of the old library. The side of the library you ask? Absolutely! Check out this sweet tile work next to the entrance. It reminds me of the tiles throughout various subways around the world. Oh, don't I sound snooty! Ha Ha Ha! Seriously though, they remind me most of the tiles in the Montreal subway system...which had some really delicious skinny, vertical, apple and cherry red tiles. I wish I had a picture of those...ah well...

These pictures should have been posted a while ago...but you know how the days can get ahead of you, or fly past you...well, you know what i mean. These are some shots from last month's ArtWalk in downtown Jacksonville. I am not big on taking pictures of other people's work and posting it without permission...but in this case, I can't resist. (if it's a problem, please let me know) These paintings by Trevis X. Geary totally moved me. I think because I have such I secret love of machinery, utilitarian objects, tools and metal. The fact that a woman paints these massive objects, commonly occupied by men, is so intriguing to me. Perhaps because it's an interesting way to quietly view a man's world; to gain a different perspective without having to force one's way in. The soft brush strokes and color draws you into a massive world of steel.

I just finished this fun painting...

And here is a preview of paintings in the works...

Well, I was feeling a bit like I needed a change of scenery. So I spent my Sunday moving, revamping and CLEANING my studio! I not only moved things around, I moved them to an enitirely new room. We have this cute, somewhat small, room in the back of our house...it has two walls of windows and looks out into the backyard. The sad thing was it was being totally wasted on storing those special things that have no place. Well, it is now being used everyday, the shades are up...the light is streaming in...and it has a great vibe. Now I have to find places for all the stuff I displaced...and I am realizing how many projects there are in the backyard!!

Here are some characters that keep me company during painting sessions...My "Wander" angel...that was painted by my very own mom a.k.a. Marmie...and a very, worried doll that I made a few years ago...whose arms and legs came from the pine trees behind our old house in Maine.

"Worried? Do you think I look worried?"

This little piggy travelled all the way from Africa in my brother's pocket. He keeps me company when I am sitting at my computer, and he has been begging me to make him an internet star. So finally he gets his big break! I think he's super cool...he's been shaped from a tin can!

It's been a while since I have added any new entries. Days just slip by. I have been obsessively working in the backyard, making sure that our dry, old garage doesn't try to do itself in. That's another story...and a dull one at that. Air conditioning breaks have been doubling as opportunities to sketch. I have a ton of new ideas in the works. There are furniture projects in the works, that I will share when complete...and of course new paintings to come! In the meantime, I will share my one successful abstract piece. I love the idea of painting with color and shape, and letting the literal story fall by the wayside. Still, there are too many funny and touching stories in everyday life that I can't tear myself away from. So an abstract painter I will never be. It was a good exercise for my brain though...