The Cloisters - NYC

I just came home from an amazing mini vacation with my friend Polly in New York City.

Our first stop was The Cloisters which is a branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to art and architectural elements from the 12th - 15th century. I have been wanting to go for years so this was a very special visit.

Amazing carved faces, dragons, animals, devils, everywhere you looked.

A carving of Clovis, first Catholic King of Gaul (France) below.

The Spanish crucifix above is from around 1150 AD.

Beautiful fountain in the cloister garden above.

Below are reliquaries. These head sculptures were made to hold the skulls of saints.

You can see the lady on the right also has a round pendant that would hold some other bone

The painting above is part of the Annunciation Triptych and was created in The Netherlands around 1427AD. I can't get over how vibrant the colors are after so many hundreds of years.

The painting below depicts the Archangel Michael stabbing the Antichrist.

I have never seen the devil portrayed in a creepier way.

I finally got to see "The Unicorn in Captivity".

It was so amazing in person, you can't believe the detail.

This famous tapestry inspired my Painted Pony, The Unicorn's Garden.

Poor unicorn...

I love the shot below of my friend Polly. A true friend, she held my camera bag the whole time while I was photographing all I could.

A view of the George Washington Bridge from our parking space.

A young robin outside of The Cloisters.

Ponies in the Garden

My newest Painted Ponies have arrived and they look wonderful. I am amazed that they can take my original art and reproduce it into thousands of figurines. Still a bit strange to see my name on the bottom!
Here is The Unicorn's Garden in my garden. This one means a lot to me. It was the first Pony I painted that I had a really hard time parting with (back in 2007). I love medieval art, unicorn lore and everything to do with gardening.

I also had a Pony collector fall in love with Sakura and he wanted his own Pony similar to the first I created.

I love how Sakura II looks on the rearing Pony form. Part of the proceeds from the 2nd cherry blossom Pony will also be donated to aid Japan.

View from outside my studio window...

We have a lot of beautiful azaleas here planted by the original owners.

This crimson red one behind the house is my favorite!

Love this Lunaria that grows wild in our yard.

This is the most amazing tulip growing in my garden and I have no recollection of planting it!

My neighbor's yard is nothing but dandelion seeds.

Hope the wind doesn't blow them over here.

Pumpkin in the neighbor's jungle.

Bye, bye!