Open studio for the Turtle Artisan's Tour

Thanks to everyone who visited me in the
ELKINS PARK TRAIN STATION!



Ready at the station!

Beautiful tour weather!

Special thanks to
Amy Ragsdale and Denise Shardlow
for all their hard work organizing the tour!



"Tour-ists" browse my paintings

Great to get feedback on my new series

for more information about the Turtle Artisan's Tour, visit:

www.turtlearttour.com
 

 New painting series:
"EYES ON THE ROAD,
HEAD IN THE CLOUDS"


"Nightfall Over Turnpike Crossovers" 36 x 24, Casein

"Sunrise Overpass" 36 x 24, Casein

 

"High Clouds Crossing to Jersey" 36 x 24, Casein
 



"Storm Clouds Over Manayunk Viaduct" 36 x 24, Casein

 

MURAL FOR STATION RENOVATION PROJECT

To help raise funds to create a community arts space in the station's beautiful original waiting room I will be painting a mural for the outbound side of the station facing the High School Road business district.

Working sketch for the station mural

 

Lisa Stockebrand, Cynthia Blackwood, Bruce Starr at Elkins Park Station

"Beginnings" exhibit continues through April at OCJAC gallery

Bruce with his paintings at the OCJAC gallery on First Friday

 A beautiful spring evening fueled the crowds in Philly's Old City during April's First Friday event. Four paintings from my new series "Eyes on the Road, Head in the Clouds" were on display in the OCJAC gallery at 119 N. 3rd St. in the show "Beginnings" which runs through April.

Visitors view pieces from my "Eyes/Clouds" series.

RECENT PAINTINGS:

By coincidence, the scene for the two pieces shown below was the street just outside this gallery, on another First Friday last fall:

"The Violinist, First Friday" 30 x 18, Casein

"The Opening" 14 x 14, casein

Another recent work from the Esplanade along the Charles River in Boston on a warm summer afternoon

"Anchorage on Esplanade, Charles River" 32 x 21, casein

Special Pricing on Selected Framed Original Paintings

on display for Turtle Tour, 2013

Elkins Park Train Station

The pieces below are among those with special pricing for the tour event, benefiting the Elkins Park Train Station Renovation effort. All these paintings include custom frames. (Click picture to view larger image)

"Wheatfield and Lone Tree" 24 x 12, Casein,
Classic Gold Frame

"Miranda's Window, Rainy Dawn" 16 x 12, Casein,
Classic Gold Frame

"Fountain of My Youth" 9 x 12, casein,
Chestnut floater frame
 

"Green House, Flowering Apple, Commercial St. Ptown"
24 x 12, casein, Classic Gold Frame

New works also on display!

 

Artisan Woodworking

Repurposed for a New Millennium

Also available during the tour, or from the Frame House gift shop.  These are objects I've found and salvaged from rural Pennsylvania, Virginia, or Maryland. They display the craftsmanship of previous centuries, which I've reworked and updated for a new life as home furnishings and accessories.

Rope Bed Table



This table would fit perfectly in a foyer or behind a sofa. The beautifully turned legs began life a rope bed in Pennsylvania's Perkioman Valley, probably at least 250 years ago. They have been refinished with a beautiful black cherry Casein stain, and fitted with a rustic pine plank top, protected with a polyurethane finish. 

Picket Coat Rack

This 5-hook coat rack was made from a beautifully weathered picket gate also found in rural PA. Because it was never painted, I merely sanded the planks lightly and sealed them with polyurethane prior to re-crafting them into this rack.

Rustic Votive Tray from Column Base

Weathered column bases salvaged near Schwenksville Pa formed the bases for this pair of Votive Candle Trays with bun feet. The trays were first dyed with burgundy casein stain, then hand painted with a tracery of branches, buds and leaves, creating modern candle holders with a rustic heirloom feel. These make a perfect dinner party presentation used on a long dining table with a floral centerpiece in between.