(i am alive)

faces.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:48:15 PST

i'm fussing around in the studio today practicing faces. my tendency is to overwork flesh tones creating muddy and flat images. it's harder than it seems to keep things loose and simple.

snow has arrived.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:52:20 PST

a present to myself.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:00:00 PST

itching for some new supplies and inspired by geninne zlatkis, i got myself a new travel set of watercolors. it was difficult to break my winsor & newton habit, but i have been pleasantly surprised with this set of schmincke horadam so far.

longing for snow.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:59:01 PST

it's been an odd kind of winter here in the northeast; mid-january and barely a inch of snow on the ground.
i may be one of the few to admit it, but i am aching for snow. not just snow, but actual accumulation. i grew up around syracuse, ny and went to college in buffalo, ny (#1 and #9 respectively in U.S. cities with the highest snowfalls) making my baseline snow tolerance quite high. a storm isn't something to quiver at unless it's predicted to drop more than a foot in a few hours. certainly snow storms can be dangerous but when compared with the type of weather events other parts of the world face, heavy snow falls seem quaint and cozy.
the photo above is from the last real snow storm i can remember since moving from buffalo northerneastern new york. it was valentines day 2007. i can't imagine a better way to spend valentines day than snuggled up in a warm house watching the snow fall!

couch post.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:28:45 PST

i am feeling a bit sluggish and unmotivated today. so much so that this post is being scripted from the couch, on my phone.
considering my condition, i can't seem to put words together well. times like these lend themselves well to imagery, so here's a quick snap taken this week after our first 'significant' snowfall.
incidentally, this photo is taken with the instagram app. i was late to get into instagram, thinking it was merely a scaled down version of hipstamatic (which i still feel takes superior pictures). what i didn't know is that instagram is a social network of it's own. i'm still feeling my way around, but if you would like to find me over there my handle is 'adrndack'.

capturing time.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:57:32 PST

this sketch pretty much summarizes how i have been spending this long weekend. after last weekend's holiday, it's nice to kick back with no scheduled events or expectations to meet.
a new year always lends itself to reflection and i have not been immune to this. in looking back, it's often easier to see trends that weren't so transparent at the time. for me, 2011 was mainly defined by wedding preparation and finding my own understanding of the concept of "being married". i suspect that the latter will be a lifelong process of reevaluation, growth and change.
although i shy away from formal "resolutions", i do plan to focus more on my illustration and personal artwork. as with most things, it's a matter of capturing the time and making the best use of it, not just thinking about it but doing it.

"This time, like all times, is a good one, if we but know what to do with it." Ralph Waldo Emerson

ivy.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:37:10 PST

remember that commission i was knee deep in?
well, i can finally reveal it to you!
meet ivy. she was a black german shepherd with loving parents and a family who had to make the hard decision to say goodbye after ivy's struggles with illness and injury.
i couldn't show you until now because the portrait was given a surprise christmas gift.
it's an honor to be able to memorialize such a loyal companion.

cheers!

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 07:51:59 PST

("winter bear". my illustration for this years holiday card.)

merry christmas to all who celebrate!
we have already celebrated twice and still have one more gathering to go. it's hard to believe i could possibly eat more, but i suspect i will find a way.
cheers!

seek out the brightness.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:41:36 PST

most times i write here, i don't really know what will come out. i don't normally sit down with a plan or an outline. i just let what's on the edge of my mind jump off.
that is probably some of the reason i don't post as frequently as some bloggers do. my writing is dependent on the rare convergence of being in front of the laptop, having the time and the clarity to let the simmering thoughts flow into written words.
the last two weeks have flown by in a blur of activity, tasks and planning. while the great majority of it has been fun and positive, it's easy to get stressed by the pace at which things need to be completed. it shouldn't be difficult to keep focused on the positive but sometimes the rush of time is like the tide and before you know it, you're caught up in it and have to fight your way out.
and then sometimes you don't realize the grey shade you are casting on all of your brightness until a single event stops you in your tracks.
two days ago i was stopped in my tracks.
a client of almost eight years passed away. folks who know what i do might think this would be easy or routine, but it's really not. this loss was especially poignant because of the long term relationship she and i developed and her abrupt decline.
over the years i have gotten to know this woman well but when i stepped into that ICU room, she wasn't present. only a small ghost of herself was there. just enough of her to recall to but not enough to connect. her eyes were open and searching. i tried to talk to her. i looked up at her now grown son, on emergency leave from active military duty, and without words we knew each others thoughts. she was leaving us and this is not how she would want to go. in her life and even in her early illness, she was bold and strong. she rode harley-davidsons. she wasn't afraid of single motherhood and took full responsibility without ever complaining. until she was too ill to continue, she worked as an HIV nurse caring for people with the same illness she would eventually contract. when i first met her she would wake up with a beer and drink straight until bedtime. then one day she stopped. just like that. when i suggested support groups she would say to me, "i don't need that. i made up my mind to stop and so i did."
we are all full of so much strength and possibility. we can make what we need. we can set our own pace and create our own environments.
we should try to see this everyday and not just when we are faced with such a tragic juxtaposition that we can no longer ignore our own blessings.
so right now, i will look around and be grateful. i will see the brightness. i will seek it out even through the grey moments.
and i will remember this woman. not as she was in that ICU bed, but as the one who lived the life she wanted and made the best of it.

knee deep.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 13:01:04 PST

i am completely engrossed in a commissioned project right now and it is leaving me little spare mental power to put meaningful words together into a post here.
'tis the season to feel overwhelmingly busy and one step behind. try as i might to avoid that trap, it seems that i always find myself digging out and trying to justify down-time.
i suppose i am no different than the rest of us mere mortals, trying to slow time down unrealistically. when things seem to be spinning, hot tea helps and so does turning the television off. (we have a terrible household habit of the television being on even if no one is watching it.) i find that taking the time to prepare a recipe or snap some photographs puts time back on track too.
what ways do you all stay sane this time of year?

getting to zero.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:00:03 PST

today is World AIDS Day.
beginning in 2011 the World AIDS Campaign & the United Nations theme is "Getting to Zero", an effort to move towards eliminating AIDS related deaths.

think that's not possible? well it is. HIV/AIDS is a completely preventable disease, but because it is so closely related to "taboo" behaviors we don't speak openly about it and let it continue to spread.

we can all stop it.

don't think you're at risk? it's probably not true.

never been tested? go and get it done. unless you've delivered a baby in the US since the mid-nineties, you have not been tested without explicitly consenting to it, which means you signed a form. HIV testing is not part of routine medical exams.

most of all, be aware, be compassionate and be informed.

wait...people watch football on thanksgiving?

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:29:22 PST

i hope all who celebrate had a gratitude-filled thanksgiving.
adam and i had a quiet day of cooking, feasting and watching horror movies; just the two of us. it was a perfect way to celebrate our first married thanksgiving!
adam smoked his turkey while i made a nutloaf. having been vegetarian for so long, i find it hard to believe i have never tried a nutloaf, let alone make one. despite the long ingredient list, it's relatively simple to make and most definitely delicious to eat. surprisingly "meaty" and due to it's name, adam found endless ways to inject innuendo into my meal.
my only regret is that we didn't wait to watch the unrated version of cabin fever 2 until after we ate. it was the goriest movie i have ever seen; not violent but a gag-inducing and repulsive kind of gory. i know that folks who don't enjoy horror movies might find it odd that a movie would be appealing and disgusting at the same time. honestly, i'm not sure i understand it myself and have written about the paradox before. to each their own, right?

loosen up.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:48:12 PST

with the lack of wedding planning tasks, i am back to spending at least half of my weekends back in the studio. most recently, i am studying up on photoshop cs5 and it's migraine-inducing powers. i somehow avoided learning much about photoshop in college and i am paying a price for that now.
perhaps it's a reaction to all the computer based imaging software, but when i have a free second to actually create art i am trying to experiment a little. the above painting is an attempt to be more spontaneous and play with the transparency inherent to watercolors. there is a beautiful quality to the unplanned aberrations but it is difficult for me to leave them alone and let them exist untouched.
there's a tiny life lesson in that painting wisdom, isn't there?

view from space.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:20:29 PST

Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS from Michael König on Vimeo.

i realize that many people find it difficult to justify spending very large amounts of money on space exploration, especially as it seems to pose no real benefit to most of our daily lives. this article notes that the $196 billion dollars spent on space missions (spread out over 40 years) is only slightly more than the $182 billion dollar bailout of the single financial giant, AIG. this article posits that U.S. citizens spend more money on pizza every year than they do on space exploration.
regardless of your view this video is pretty awesome; the lightening and aurora seen from above is amazing!
(for the record, i would rather spend billions of dollars on science and learning than war. i can't find any personal justification for the latter.)

thirty sixth year.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:13:23 PST

yesterday was my thirty sixth birthday.
i do not feel any different and i certainly don't feel any wiser.
i do, however feel extremely grateful.
i am surrounded by amazing and sincere people, both family and friends.
i have a humble, yet comfortable home.
i have a rewarding job and am making strides at building a more art focused career.
i am able to save a little money and may someday pay off my student loans.
i have an extraordinarily awesome husband who cooks, cleans and takes me out for fancy dinners.
my wish for my thirty sixth year is to explore life with curiosity, allowing everything to have value and to not lose sight of how the simplest things have the greatest impact on my personal evolution.

haunting. beautiful. emotionally charged.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:00:06 PDT

i am a faker*...i mean, baker.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 06:00:07 PDT

*to be sung along to this tune.

chilly, late fall weather screams for baking, no?
plus it's a great opportunity to try out some of the recipes i have been socking away on my Pinterest pages. (i have invites left for Pinterest. comment on this post or email me if you're interested.) this is a bit of a Franken-recipe as i pulled from three separate cupcake recipes to make this one.

Spicy Chocolate Stout Cupcakes

(makes about 24 cupcakes)

1 (11.2-ounce) bottle Guinness stout

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3 large eggs

3/4 cup sour cream

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

preheat the oven to 350 degrees farenheit. prepare muffin tins with liners and set aside.
in a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne, baking soda and salt.
in a large bowl, combine the Guinness, milk, vegetable oil and vanilla. add the eggs, one at a time, whisking until completely incorporated. mix in the sour cream.
add 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and fold to combine. gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, folding to combine. divide into the prepared tins.
bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. set pans on a wire rack to cool for 5-10 minutes. remove cupcakes from the pans and allow to cool completely before frosting.

Bailey's and Cinnamon Buttercream

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

2+ cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 tablespoons Bailey's Irish Creme

pinch of salt

beat the butter until light and creamy.
beat in 1/2 cup of sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, Bailey's and salt until combined.
continue to add the sugar 1/2 cup at a time until desired consistency and sweetness is reached.

catching the show.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 11:05:30 PDT

the ceremony.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:30:01 PDT

(photo by Monica Donovan of Eve Event Photography)

We are gathered here today in the presence of family and friends to join Adam and Reneé in the bonds of matrimony. You have each been invited to witness this event to honor the individual role you have played in fostering who Adam and Reneé are, how they arrived at this day and the couple they have become. Without the love and support of everyone here, this union could not have been made.

He Never Leaves The Seat Up by Pam Ayres

He never leaves the seat up

Or wet towels upon the floor

The toothpaste has the lid on

And he always shuts the door!

She’s very clean and tidy

Though she may sometimes delude

Leave your things out at your peril

In a second they’ll have moved!

He’s a very active person

As are all his next of kin

Where as she likes lazy days

He’ll still drag her to the gym!

He romances her and dines her

Home cooked dinners and the like

He even knows her favorite food

And spoils her day and night!

She’s thoughtful when he looks at her

A smile upon his face

Will he look that good in 50 years

When his dentures aren’t in place?!

He says he loves her figure

And her mental prowess too

But when gravity takes her over

Will she charm with her IQ?

She says she loves his kindness

And his patience is a must

And of course she thinks he’s handsome

Which in her eyes is a plus!

They’re both not wholly perfect

But who are we to judge

He can be pig headed

Where as she won’t even budge!

All that said and done

They love the time they spent together

And I hope as I’m sure you do

That this fine day will last forever.

He’ll be more than just her husband

He’ll also be her friend

And she’ll be more than just his wife

She’ll be his soul mate ‘till the end.

Adam and Reneé will now read the vows they have written to each other.

“Reneé, I admit my love for you on this day in front of our friends and family. I invite you to share my life as I hope to share yours. I promise to always hike by your side, to love, help and inspire you and embarrass you by singing out loud every song I have in my mental jukebox regardless of where we are. I pledge to take time to share with you, to listen to you, respect you and most importantly bring you coffee in bed every morning. For the rest of our lives Reneé, I promise to share your laughter and your tears not only as your partner, but also as your friend.”

“Adam, I am here today surrounded by all of our most important people to tell you I love you and to promise that I will forever. You are my best friend and my constant support. You have made me a better person in more ways that I can name. Sharing my life with you feels natural and I cannot imagine a day without you. I promise to forever laugh with you, to always support you and to give you the best of myself for the rest of my days.”

With this ring, do you, Adam, in the respect and confidence of your own individuality, acknowledge within yourself that same respect and confidence for this woman, Reneé, in the certainty that you will share the deepest of all your emotions: aware also that you may share, but not know, for in knowing you deny the person that she is?

“I do.”

With this ring, do you, Reneé, in the respect and confidence of your own individuality, acknowledge within yourself that same respect and confidence for this man, Adam, in the certainty that you will share the deepest of all your emotions: aware also that you may share, but not know, for in knowing you deny the person that he is.

“I do.”

Adam and Reneé, inasmuch as you have have promised to share your joys and tribulations in the bond of marriage; I, in accordance with the authority vested in my by the law of the State of New York, now pronounce you husband and wife.

buck mountain.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:00:08 PDT

if you live near or in the southeastern adirondacks, you have likely heard of and probably hiked buck mountain. it jumps out of the eastern shore of lake george and has a large, exposed summit that can, and usually does, hold lots of hikers without feeling too crowded.

we have enjoyed buck mountain many, many times over the years, usually starting at the shelving rock trailhead. sunday we started the hike from the west, from the pilot knob trailhead. this trail is longer (6.6 miles round trip) and nearly doubles the elevation gain (about 2,000 feet gained). despite this, the western trail offers views of lake george through the trees and off rocky ledges that the shorter, eastern access doesn't have.

nearing the peak, we moved through the mass of folks who either mistook the false summit for the top, or simply tired before the end of the journey. we found an isolated rock on the summit and took a moment to enjoy nature's spectacle; both the view and the unusually intense october sun and temperatures.
it's hard to imagine that in only a few short weeks, these trees will drop their leaves and we will be waiting for snow!

saturday.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:02:11 PDT

i can't help but jump on the bandwagon and mention the absolutely, ultra fabulous weather we are having here in northern new york. we are reaping the visual benefits of fall as well as the warmth and outdoor relaxation abilities of summer.
saturday was spent with our friends moses and cheryl at their camp on glen lake. cheryl took their 7 month old daughter, addison out on the lake in a kayak for the first time; an early introduction to the outdoor experiences that will enrich her throughout her life.
we spent the afternoon talking about both the ups and downs of adult life. friendship was a major topic of conversation as it can be effortless and sustaining, but when the balance somehow changes, that same relationship can be exhausting and exploitative. what is the best way to repair a friendship that is being used as a resource by one person and feels thankless to the other? i believe it's possible to rectify something so important, but only if each party is willing to own their role and is willing to change.
the night ended after dinner with a roaring fire under the stars. if there any better way to end a day of unpretentious time sharing space with good people, i certainly can't think of one.

sleeping in on sundays.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 09:41:07 PDT

one of thousands of reasons to look forward to the weekend.

little porter.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:01 PDT

we took our second hike on the last day of our stay in keene valley. since our cabin was on little porter mountain, it seemed fitting that we choose it for final jaunt into the woods. the state trail to the summit of little porter crosses a private dirt road which was just out the back door from our lodge. we were too nervous to use the private road, even though the folks who own the cabin we were staying at taut little porter as "45 minute walk out the back door". perhaps it's our previous experience with unintentional trespassing tickets?

after a super quick drive from the cabin to the garden trailhead, we started up the short trail to little porter. it was pretty chilly and i wished i'd brought a hat. we rock-hopped over slide brook and crossed the private road. a short bit later we arrived at the summit of little porter mountain. there was an ADK outing group at the top, many of whom were already 46'rs. we shared our newlywed status and got a geography lesson from one of the older gentlemen who apparently was an actual geography professor! he told us about his first adirondack high peak adventure in 1955. he explained that he hiked the loop including both wolf jaws, armstrong and gothics in street shoes.

surveying the view, you could see a new slide on the brothers resulting from hurricane irene. we could have spent all afternoon up on the summit if it weren't for the fact that it was freezing; especially considering adam was only wearing shorts! we were back to the truck less than two and a half hours from starting and headed back to the cabin to enjoy our last glorious night before returning to the "real" world.

rooster comb.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 06:52:07 PDT

lest you think we didn't do any hiking on our adirondack honeymoon, i have the first of two little hiking reports. admittedly we were mostly lazy, enjoying some rare quiet time being isolated but our cabin was right in the middle of the most beautiful part of the high peaks and it would be silly to not get out and take advantage of it all.

we chose to hike rooster comb after having a delicious breakfast at the noonmark diner in keene valley. it's hard to get motivated to drive all the way to the adirondacks and not hike a high peak, so this was a great opportunity to hike a "lesser" mountain.
rooster comb most certainly should not be considered a "lesser" mountain though, because its summit is nearly completely open with expansive views. it's a short 2.5 miles from the trailhead on route 73 to the top. the grade is moderate and steady, but the trail is excellent, with lots of elaborate stone stairs.

having not done much hiking this season due to spending more time at the gym, we were more in wedding-shape than trail-shape. despite this, we huffed our way to the top in a little over an hour. we could have spent more time at the summit were it not for the fact that it was amazingly windy. there is an additional lookout near the summit which looks down over keene valley. we looked across the valley to the side of little porter mountain and were even able to spot our honeymoon cabin!

mountain getaway.

noreply@blogger.com (reneé leigh) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:35:02 PDT

our post-wedding getaway was perfect. we chose to rent a privately owned cabin on little porter mountain. the lodge was gigantic at 3,000 square feet. we made short work of settling in; unwinding from all of the wedding excitement. we were ready to hide away.

adam lit the wood stove every evening. for most meals we stayed in, cooking gourmet dishes from groceries purchased locally in keene valley or from the marcy field farmers market. the kitchen was beautiful with a large granite topped island. the few restaurant meals we did eat were all at locally owned establishments.

one of the deciding factors in choosing the lodge was the fact that we were able to bring our dog, crosbi. she enjoyed having a whole cabin with a mountain backyard to run around in after being couped up in a hotel suite for two days. she chased chipmunks and sniffed out the local wildlife.

we drank our morning coffee on the deck and our evening wine under the stars. we were even lucky enough to get a nighttime thunderstorm complete with lightning that illuminated the adirondack panorama.