Hubris

Wintry Autumn

December 11, 2014 /

Meredith d’Ambrosio

“On my first trip to Key West, Florida, I visited the home of Ernest Hemingway to explore the gardens, and discovered that there were more than 150 cats living on the premises. The scene in this watercolor shows the jungle-like vegetation surrounding the writer’s house.”—Meredith d’Ambrosio

The Disappearing Land

By Meredith d’Ambrosio

Meredith d'Ambrosio

DUXBURY Massachusetts—(Weekly Hubris)—12/15/2014—

“Saturday Morning,” Eggshell Mosaic, 17” X 22” (1977).
“Saturday Morning,” Eggshell Mosaic, 17” X 22” (1977).

I find it difficult to paint an indoor scene: my works almost always expand into dimensions beyond the confines of a single room. The viewer is made aware here of the other side of the room by the reflection in the jug; and yet another part of the house appears outside, beyond the window. The reflection of the egg in the jug illustrates my sense of tongue-in-cheek (egg-in-jug?) humor, as I used the medium of eggshells to create this mosaic.

“Hemingway’s Garden,” Watercolor, 29.5” X 21.5” (1992).
“Hemingway’s Garden,” Watercolor, 29.5” X 21.5” (1992).

On my first trip to Key West, Florida, I visited the home of Ernest Hemingway to explore the gardens, and discovered that there were more than 150 cats living on the premises. The scene in this watercolor shows the jungle-like vegetation surrounding the writer’s house.

“Moonlight On Daniels Island,” Watercolor, 21.5” X 29.5” (1990).
“Moonlight On Daniels Island,” Watercolor, 21.5” X 29.5” (1990).

On our late night walks to the top of Daniels Island, my husband and I would often marvel at our neighbor’s Georgian Colonial overlooking Ockway Bay, lit by the full moon. This watercolor caught in amber the many tall old trees which were eventually felled in 1992 by Hurricane Bob.

Note: Meredith d’Ambrosio’s exhibition of paintings entitled “Landscapes of the North Countries” will run from Sunday, November 15, 2015 through Sunday, February 14, 2016 at the Art Complex of Duxbury, Massachusetts, 189 Alden Street, Duxbury MA; daily opening times, 1 till 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday; Monday and Tuesday, closed. The opening reception will be held on Sunday, November 15, 2015, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Ms. d’Ambrosio will give a concert, accompanied by Chris Taylor on piano.

Boston-born Meredith d’Ambrosio, a Renaissance woman whose creative work crosses many genres, has successfully combined careers in the musical and visual arts. In 1958, in Boston, d’Ambrosio began singing with small bands, accompanied by Roger Kellaway on piano. Although she has worked primarily as a jazz singer-pianist, she is also known internationally as a calligrapher, watercolorist, creator of eggshell mosaics, composer, lyricist, recording artist, and teacher. D’Ambrosio branched out into New York City in 1981 and, since then, has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe (view d’Ambrosio’s complete discography at www.meredithdambrosio.com). D’Ambrosio’s paintings, both watercolors and oils, may be viewed at www.meredithdambrosio.com, her multifaceted website, which covers her work as a musician, painter, and writer. (Author Head Shot Augment: René Laanen.)

2 Comments

  • Will Balk

    December 14, 2014 at 2:34 pm

    These are beautiful, Meredith…I particularly like the tonalities on the crackled surface of the eggshell mosaic piece. Wonderful.

  • Meredith d'Ambrosio

    December 15, 2014 at 8:56 am

    Dear Will,
    Thank you, Will, for your kind words. You never know how an eggshell is going to take to water-based paint. Once the paint touches the eggshell, the shell has a mind of its own, though I use only white eggshells (as if their surfaces were canvas).
    Best wishes,
    Meredith