Darlene Foster-Artist

Annabel Lee

2012-02-28T20:49:00.001-05:00

"For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes of the beautiful Annabel Lee" - Edgar Allan Poe from the poem "Annabel Lee". When I came across the tintype of the lovely lady in this montage at an antique store, I was struck by her haunting eyes and wistful expression. As I finished this piece, the lines from Poe's poem came to my mind and immediately, I had my title. The main image is yet another from the abandoned property in Middle Valley, New Jersey. (In fact, it is the back of the same building that I used for "Rear Window" when I photographed the property the first time 13 years ago.) She seemed to fit perfectly in the doorway between the textured old window on the left and the weatherworn red door on the right. The moth I found sleeping one morning on my front porch and was amazed at his size and beautiful colors. This moth had a wingspan of at least 5 inches! The birds, of course, are my ever willing to pose backyard blackbirds who I'm happy to see are back from their winter migration - a sure sign spring must be on it's way!

"Behind the Wall" SOLD!

2012-02-24T19:36:00.002-05:00

Another sale! Yea! "Behind the Wall" sold from the Nexus exhibit at Arts Guild New Jersey in Rahway! It was a pleasure being involved in a show with so many talented artists. A sad note to this story- I passed by the abandoned building that provided the wall in "Behind the Wall" yesterday only to see it in the process of being demolished. I'm happy at least to have documented it before it succumbed to the wrecking ball.

SOLD! The Golden Egg

2012-02-01T19:36:00.000-05:00

I'm very excited to report "The Golden Egg" recently sold from the Potpourri exhibit of The Edison Arts Society! Many thanks to Tom Fairbanks of New Jersey for giving it a new home!

Support Local and Independent Artists

2011-11-26T13:30:00.001-05:00

I thought this was worth posting on this Black Friday and Small Business Saturday weekend!

By the Light of the Moon 2011

2011-10-05T14:56:00.001-04:00

"By the Light of the Moon" came from a trip to Middle Valley, NJ a couple of months ago in search of an abandoned property I had visited almost 13 years ago. To my surprise, a photographer friend of mine ran across it and told me it still existed! She recognized it from one of my images, "Remains of the Day", featuring an old wicker rocking chair on the porch of an abandoned house. Since I'm really terrible sometimes at keeping track of places I've photographed, I thought it couldn't possibly be the same chair after 13 years! This was one time I was happy to be wrong! The property was a little worse for wear, but it was definitely the same place! I had also used another one of the buildings there in "Rear Window" and yet another in "The Bucket" (the latter of which has since been demolished). On my first visit, the house used in this piece was too overgrown to get any usable images but not so this time around! I liked the composition in this shot taken from beneath a huge old tree in front of the house but it needed something more. The old man is from my vintage photo collection, the bird and the moon from the back window of my house. I added some texture, filters and a little tweaking to get the final montage. What a wealth of art material I've gained from the demise of these beautiful old buildings.

My Art on YouTube

2011-09-27T15:02:00.000-04:00

I finally decided to try a video of my art on YouTube! Check it out! To view it in a larger format, clic to watch on YouTube.

Summit Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts

2011-07-21T13:38:00.007-04:00

If you live in the New Jersey area, I'll be participating in the Summit Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts on Sunday, July 24th along Beechwood Rd. and Union Place in downtown Summit, NJ. The show runs from 11 AM to 6 PM with lots of artists, musicians, restaurants and shops to keep you busy! Should be a fun day so stop by my booth and say hello if you can!

Blood on the Tracks

2011-05-12T14:34:00.000-04:00

"Blood on the Tracks" began with a visit to the abandoned property of The Snuff Factory in the borough of Helmetta, New Jersey. Helmetta was founded in the late 1800's by George W. Helme, a former New Orleans lawyer and Major-General in the Confederate Army who built a thriving community around his factory. The huge building sits empty and boarded up awaiting it's probable demise in the name of progress but until then, remains a great place for photo ops with all the beautiful old brick and peeling red paint. As I studied the image, the railroad tracks and the abundance of red in the bricks and paint brought to mind my favorite Bob Dylan album, "Blood on the Tracks". It became a montage of 3 different photos. To get the composition and mood I had in mind, I replaced part of the building on the left with one of trees and birds taken from the window of my house, then added the figure with the crimson scarf blowing in the wind above the tracks. After a lot of filter mixing and blending, it finally became the image I had in my head!

Behind the Wall

2011-03-04T18:46:00.005-05:00

I love the texture of peeling paint and crumbling concrete and this old building had an abundance of both. It's so sad and beautiful at the same time. The figure in the doorway is from a vintage photo I came across awhile ago but never found the right place to use him until now.

The Inner Path

2011-01-29T18:19:00.004-05:00

Another montage featuring friend and model Mary Anne Christiano. During our photo session I had Mary Anne do some yoga poses to capture that part of her personality (she's an avid practitioner of yoga). The bank of this peaceful, winding stream I captured in rural New Jersey seemed the perfect place to insert her Lotus pose and thus became "The Inner Path".

The Twelfth Moon

2010-12-28T17:48:00.004-05:00

"The Twelfth Moon" started with a photo taken at Mill Creek Village, New Jersey several years ago. I always loved the textures involved with the wood of the old shed, the falling down fence and the rocks in the foreground but I never found the right composition until now. I was arriving home a few nights ago just after sunset, looked up and saw a perfect crescent moon with a beautiful lavender sky behind it. Of course, I ran for my camera and was able to get an image that created just the mood I wanted for the background. The title is a Native American name for the December moon which marks the onset of winter.

The Gathering

2010-11-26T17:37:00.003-05:00

I took this image at Cross Estate Gardens in New Jersey earlier this year and was pleased with the composition and artwork I used but always felt something was lacking to make it work for me. I tried adding a figure but it still wasn't right. Then, as if on cue, while I was working on the image, I heard lots of commotion outside my window and realized my birds were back! This huge flock of blackbirds comes to my neighborhood every fall filling the trees and sky and covering the ground! I grabbed my camera and got as many shots as I could before they moved on. They were just what I needed to complete "The Gathering"!

Hallowed Ground

2010-11-26T17:03:00.005-05:00

"Hallowed Ground" is a montage created from a photo session I did recently with friend and model Mary Anne Christiano. My plan was to photograph her in a local cemetery to make use of the beautiful old trees and architecture of the mausoleums. Luckily, I took a variety of test shots prior to our session because we were rained out that day and had to do the whole shoot indoors. I had Mary Anne pose with some of the locations in mind and I was able to montage the two images to get the composition I wanted. Worked out okay after all!

And Winter Came

2010-09-01T13:17:00.003-04:00

Another piece from last week's trip to Annandale. I loved the peeling paint colors in this room but the view from the window didn't fit the image in my head so I replaced it with an image I took last year of a flock of birds headed south for the winter and it worked perfectly! The Converse sneaker (which happened to match the color of the walls) was in a shot I took of another room in the house so I placed it on the windowsill to complete the end of summer feeling I was going for.

The Teacup

2010-08-28T20:39:00.004-04:00

Okay, so its been way too long since my last post. Wish I had a really good excuse but other than life keeps getting in the way, I don't. Took a road trip last week to the quaint town of Annandale New Jersey and came across a fabulous abandoned property wide open for exploration- not one boarded up window! (quite unusual these days). It was a little precarious in places but I always play it as safe as I can and don't take unnecessary chances. "The Teacup" room was quite an odd one. It seemed to be a bedroom but in the corner was a small sink. There was no sign of any other plumbing in the room and on the windowsill sat a dainty china teacup. Quite puzzling, leaving one to ponder "why?".

A Quiet Corner

2010-06-02T15:19:00.004-04:00

Another road trip, this time to the quaint riverside town of Lambertville, New Jersey. Situated on the east bank of the Delaware River just across the bridge from New Hope, PA, it's filled with art galleries, antique shops and wonderful restaurants. It dates from the middle 1800's and is loaded with historic homes from that era. Raritan Canal State Park runs through the heart of town with a picturesque path along the canal for walking or jogging. Many of the backyards of the row houses butt up against the path and this one became "A Quiet Corner". It seemed a perfect spot for daydreaming or reflecting according to the cat lying lazily across the wicker table.

The Ruby Slippers

2010-04-30T17:30:00.004-04:00

On a recent Sunday afternoon drive, I ended up at the amazing Cross Estate Gardens in Bernardsville, NJ. Although I was familiar with it's reputation, this was my first visit but definitely will not be my last! The photo opportunities are endless with huge, ancient trees, formal gardens and lots of stonework! As I worked on this image, I experimented with different filters including infared which gives anything green a glowing white luminescence. In the end, it seem to take on a fairytale kind of feel and even though "the yellow brick road" is only a path and the shoes are my version of "the ruby slippers", it still seemed possible that Oz was just around the bend.

Benefit for Haiti Big Success

2010-04-12T13:24:00.010-04:00

The fundraiser for Haiti went really well! There was a nice turnout, people bought art, drank a little wine and we raised a lot of money for a good cause! The evening began with a wonderful performance by the Good News Community Gospel Choir directed by Mark Miller and ended with the reception and art show featuring myself, Ivan Lo, and Jeremy Langdon. A big thank you to the organizer of this event and all around fantastic lady, Farah Pidgeon, who made the whole thing happen! And finally, (before I leave the podium!) many thanks to all the art lovers whose attendance and purchases made the evening such a success!

My print "The Raven's Wood" actually sold twice, once to the very nice Joan Ludwig and again to the also very nice, Phil Schafer!

Me and good friend and client, Pat Rubin of PM Studio in Edison, New Jersey.

The room had lovely, soft lighting from the beautiful chandeliers overhead.

Me, my sweetie, Tom and friend and mentor, Bernard.

Good friends for 33 years (and counting), Bernard and the lovely Virginia Carroll.

Help Haiti Smile

2010-03-22T15:07:00.003-04:00

If you're in the New Jersey area, I'll be participating in an art show for Haiti relief Saturday, 3/27 at Grace Episcopal Church in Plainfield, a beautiful old church dating from the 1850's. Admission is $10 with proceeds benefiting Haiti relief funds. Hope to see you there!

Charcoal Portraits

2010-03-08T15:15:00.005-05:00

I've always loved working in charcoal, sometimes more than painting. Something about the relationship of the darks to the lights is very appealing to me as is black and white photography. When I began to paint digitally, it seemed easier somehow to make the transition in the color mediums (oils, watercolor, etc.) than charcoal or pencil, so that's where my concentration has been. Recently, however, I had a client inquire about drawings so I decided it was time to seriously give it a try, but only if I could make them look just as they would if I were doing them on physical paper with charcoal in hand! After a lot of trial and error, I think I've succeeded! The drawing above is my first effort and I have to say, I really enjoyed it (although there's still nothing like the feel of charcoal on your fingers!).

Seeking Solace

2010-02-19T18:54:00.004-05:00

"Seeking Solace" began with a photo taken at the amazing ruins of the Wolf House in Glen Ellen California not far from San Francisco. It was to be the dream home of author Jack London ("Call of the Wild") and his wife Charmain but burned to the ground just days before completion. Located deep in the woods of Jack London State Historic Park, when I was there in 1998 it was only reachable by a long, narrow path thru the woods. The hike was well worth it when at the end a clearing revealed the majestic ruins of the stone house rising before me, hauntingly beautiful. If you're ever in the area, I strongly recommend a visit to the Wolf House.

It's Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T18:45:00.006-05:00

Hope everyone's having a good one! The flowers and candy are from my sweetie and since we all know gargoyles are ga ga for chocolate, one of my pets agreed to pose atop the box for a little valentine still life. He does have a bit of a lovesick expression, don't you think?

The Raven's Wood

2010-02-06T21:27:00.006-05:00

Now that the holidays are behind us, it's time to do a little creative catch up, get the juices flowing, and start making art again. I always seem to hit a slump around the holidays when priorities seem to be everything other than my own artistic endeavors. So here's the first addition of the new year! I captured this image (minus the ravens) a few years ago in Millcreek Village New Jersey, a fantastic historically preserved early American village. I would love to know what happened to the amazing tree in this image- some huge storm or maybe lightning. It's limbs were so contorted and angled it reminded me of a giant insect. I used this photo in color for a painting once but in black and white, all of the detail in the grass and brush reminded me of an etching. So again, it has new life as "The Raven's Wood".

Messenger of Peace

2009-12-16T21:07:00.005-05:00

Happy holidays to everyone with wishes for a peaceful new year! I actually created this image last year but recently submitted it to Empty Easel where it was featured today along with some beautiful work by other artists. They will be posting holiday related art by different artists every day until Christmas so stop by and take a look!

The Morning After

2009-10-19T13:44:00.006-04:00

I first photographed this old stone building in 2006 on my New Jersey backroads travels. The resulting piece became "Shelter from the Storm" with the drying cornstalks trailing off into the tall grass in front. I never seem to remember to document the location of the subject for future reference (note to self- document locations!!) in case I want or need to revisit so I was pleasantly surprised when I came across it again this year. The scenario was totally different. The cornstalks and grass were down revealing trees and fields in the background that weren't visible the first time around. The new image seemed to lend itself to minimal color and starkness that became "The Morning After".

Arts on Amboy Best in Show!

2009-10-12T13:03:00.005-04:00

Needless to say, this has been a very rewarding past few weeks for me! "A Wing and a Prayer" won Best of Show at the 1st annual Arts on Amboy exhibit in Edison, New Jersey! There was a great turnout of artists from student to professional with some amazing artwork in all different categories. I particularly enjoyed a long conversation with artist Marcel Truppa who had some fantastic collage work in the show. He has a rich history as an artist with lots of interesting tales to tell. I think you'll enjoy checking out his work and reading his story.

Winning this award was made even sweeter by the fact that one of the judges was a photographer/digital artist whose work I greatly admire, Jim LaSala. I think you'll feel the same way after seeing his incredible images.

Many thanks to another great photographer, Mitch Rubin of PM Studio, for taking the photo of me with my ribbon!

2nd Place in Poetry of Art!

2009-09-30T14:23:00.006-04:00

I'm on a roll for ribbons this month! I know it can't last, so I'm enjoying it while I can! "Miles to Go" took second place in the Poetry of Art exhibit at the Edison Arts Society! Alan Rosenberg (fellow member and photographer) was nice enough to send me this photo from the opening reception.

2nd Place in Art on the Green!

2009-09-23T14:41:00.003-04:00

It was a really good day for an art show! Not only was the weather just perfect but I took 2nd place for "Miles to Go"! Yea! Laura Williams ( a wonderful artist, teacher and nice lady) took 1st place for a beautiful portrait painting. Interestingly enough, our spaces were side by side! That's Laura below. All in all, it was a great show- met lots of interesting people and received a lot of nice compliments on my work!

New Jersey Art Show Postponed

2009-09-12T13:07:00.004-04:00

Rain, rain, and more rain! For only the 2nd time in 37 years, "Art on the Green" has had to implement the rain date. It's now scheduled for next Saturday, 9/19/09 (keep your fingers crossed Mother Nature cooperates this time!). Same time, same location (see post below). So if you had plans for today and couldn't make it, here's your second chance! There's always a silver lining!

New Jersey Art Show

2009-09-09T10:42:00.004-04:00

If you're in the New Jersey area, I'll be participating in a small outdoor art show on Saturday, 9/12/09, 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. It's a wonderful show held in Washington Park on North Washington Ave. in Dunellen, New Jersey with lots of big trees, gazebos and small town ambiance. Appropriately titled "Art on the Green", this is the 37th year for the show presented by the local Rotary Club. I've missed being in this show for the last few years, so I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully, the weather will be nice, but if not, the rain date is 9/19/09. Stop by if you can!

I want to thank everyone for the wonderful comments and response to my Empty Easel feature last Wednesday! I was really pleased with Lisa Orgler's review of my work and the opportunity to be a part of the gallery of featured artists!

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Featured Artist on Empty Easel

2009-09-02T09:04:00.005-04:00

I'm so excited and pleased to be the featured artist on Empty Easel today! If you're not familiar with it, I urge you to check it out. It's a wonderful art blog with a wealth of information for artists and about artists from tutorials to marketing and more! While you're there, sign up for the newsletter to stay informed about articles coming up the next week and think about submitting your own work!

Listen to the Warm

2009-08-24T18:30:00.006-04:00

This is my second entry for the "Poetry of Art" exhibit at the Edison Arts Society. This one was specifically created for the exhibit based on a poem by one of my all time favorite poets, Rod McKuen. The poem is simply titled Thirty Six from the 1967 book Listen to the Warm. It's my favorite of all his books and when I saw him perform in the early seventies, I was lucky enough to have him autograph it for me. I've read it many, many times over the years and each time it evokes the same deep emotional response as the first. Each time I reach for it, it's like reconnecting with a dear, old friend.

Miles to Go

2009-08-17T19:22:00.009-04:00

I recently completed this montage for entry in what should be a wonderfully creative exhibit by The Edison Arts Society coming up in September entitled "The Poetry of Art". Accepted pieces will be exhibited along with the poem, song, etc. that inspired it. I didn't actually start this piece with the exhibit in mind, but as it came to completion, it reminded me of part of a poem I've always loved by Robert Frost "The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep." And so I had my title.

More Textured Portraits

2009-07-20T14:55:00.005-04:00

This is a lovely engagement session shot by my client, Silver Lining Studio, on location in Hoboken, New Jersey. I added some toning and texture to give it an urban feel with the New York City skyline muted in the background.

All Who Enter

2009-07-13T12:29:00.005-04:00

I've always had a passion for gargoyles. In spite of their intimidating presence, they have a grace and beauty all their own. Usually perched high atop buildings, they were traditionally used as a spout to carry water clear of a wall through the throat of the statue. The name stems from the old French word for throat, "gargouille" and is related to the Greek "gargarizein" meaning "to gargle". To me, they have always represented protection from harm and a guard against evil. True or not, I have a collection of them all over my house (Hey, you never know!).

The Shopkeeper, Rue de Chartres

2009-07-05T18:30:00.009-04:00

I captured this image in 1989 (I can't believe it's been 20 years!) in New Orleans, one of my favorite cities in the world. I happened across this wonderful man, who seemed to really enjoy being photographed, on Chartres St. in the French Quarter. I took several shots but this is my favorite with the dog exiting the shop at just the right moment! It was originally shot with black and white film but I think a little enhancement with toning, color and texture gives it a different mood and feel.

Enhancing portraits with texture

2009-06-24T12:49:00.005-04:00

Recently, I was working on a digital portrait painting for my client, PM Studio , when I got the idea to apply some of the texture options I've been using in my fine art to portraits. The result gives a vintage look and feel to the image. Of course, not every photograph would be a candidate but with the right subject and composition, I think it could be quite a striking option for a portrait.

A Perfect Landing

2009-06-10T12:08:00.008-04:00

Spring has finally sprung so here's my contribution to the celebration! We've had quite a bit of rain so far in New Jersey paving the way for a lush spring and summer ripe with painting and photo opportunities. Here's to new beginnings!

Art Show Opening

2009-05-29T13:28:00.004-04:00

In case you happen to be in the New Jersey vicinity, I have some work in a group show for the Edison Arts Society in the Performing Arts Center Gallery at Middlesex County College in Edison New Jersey. The opening reception is tonight, May 29th from 5:30 to 7:30. The show runs until June 29th so stop by if you get a chance!

A Wing and a Prayer

2009-05-24T14:22:00.007-04:00

Another candidate in the old, abandoned buildings/houses series. I discovered this one a couple of weeks ago in western New Jersey. The tangle of vines covering most of the roof reminded me of a tousled head of hair. I'm puzzled by all the different openings and what it may have been used for in it's past lives. At times I really wish walls could talk!

Out on a Limb

2009-05-15T13:39:00.005-04:00

While visiting an antique shop a couple of weeks ago, I wandered around the back of the building and found an interesting pair of old chairs with a little table arranged in the yard. I took a couple of shots but wasn't that enthused. When I turned around to walk back to the car, this composition hit me in the face! I admit I added the bird later, but this graceful, white limb seemed to flow across all the trees behind it and float above the small stream running underneath.

Rear Window

2009-05-04T18:21:00.005-04:00

It's incredible how many sources there are for texture to experiment with. For example, I was doing laundry in my basement when I happened to notice the concrete floor and an endless variation of patterns (I live in an old house built in 1927). I immediately grabbed my camera and began taking shots in different areas ending up with lots of wonderful images to use for adding texture to my artwork!

The Bucket

2009-05-03T18:32:00.010-04:00

I've never quite figured out what this old shack with a single bucket hanging in the center is supposed to be, but I loved all the texture of the vines and weeds surrounding it.

The Wishing Well

2009-05-01T13:41:00.007-04:00

Another abandoned house from my archives but I decided to add a figure to this one to give it more of a storytelling quality. I was glad to discover several years later that the story of this house does have a happy ending. I happened upon the property again, expecting the house to be demolished by now, only to find it had been completely renovated and given a new life as a nursery school and daycare center for children! The unexpected find certainly brought a smile to my face!

And Then There Were Three

2009-04-22T13:47:00.007-04:00

This house has always been one of my favorites. Something about the three dark windows and the open door tugs at my heartstrings. It's almost as if the house is crying out for someone or something to come in and bring life back once again.

Remains of the Day

2009-04-18T12:40:00.002-04:00

Lately I've been revisiting the piles of negatives I've accumulated over the years with a fresh eye and getting a new perspective on some of my favorites. It seems to be turning into a series of sorts of all the run down and abandoned places I've come across over the years. It's exciting to find that I can now (thanks to the digital medium) create the image I envisioned a lot more easily than I ever could have in the darkroom! In fact, many that I had put aside because they never quite lived up to my expectations for one reason or another, are getting a new life!

The Gatehouse

2009-04-04T15:20:00.003-04:00

A favorite pastime of mine on Sunday afternoons (when the price of gas is down) is getting lost on the back roads of New Jersey looking for photo ops. I especially love finding old abandoned, rundown houses or buildings. They seem to have a soul of their own.

A Road Less Traveled

2009-04-01T19:30:00.001-04:00

Trash to Treasure

2009-04-01T14:40:00.002-04:00

I've been experimenting with textures a lot lately. Reminds me of the old days of sandwiching negatives in the darkroom only with a lot less trial and error and aggravation.

On Golden Pond

2009-03-11T18:05:00.000-04:00

I'm not usually drawn to painting landscapes but I took the photo this is based on a couple of years ago and the composition intrigued me. I like adding unexpected elements most of the time but in this, the still, serene pond giving way to the rushing water seemed to be enough and thought anything additional might be distracting. Also, the two geese (which were in the original photo, by the way) seemed content meditating alone on the quiet side of the pond.

With Strings Attached

2009-03-04T13:01:00.001-05:00

I digitally painted this still life from a photo I took recently. I think tulips with their long graceful stems and leaves are wonderful flowers to paint. I have been experimenting with a lot of new brushes and I'm really liking some of the results I'm getting!

In the beginning

2009-03-03T20:42:00.000-05:00

Hi and welcome to my little corner of the blog world. I'm new to this so bear with me as I find my way around. The purpose and main focus of this blog is art (since that is what I do!) and the direction and focus of my own creative path at the moment. I won't bore you with my life story except to say I've been interested and involved in art in some form since I was a child (which was way too long ago!). I've been drawing and painting since then but in the last few years have focused on photography and digital art. I work in photoshop and corel painter and am constantly amazed at what is now possible with these two art tools. I am often bothered by how quickly some critics dismiss digital as "not real art" instead of seeing it as just another tool in the creative process. If you love art, every new avenue should be embraced and explored. How else can we move forward and discover whole new worlds of possibilities that weren't available before? After all, in the end it's the artist that does the creating, not the tool. Well, enough of my soapbox for now. I'll be posting some samples of what I've been working on lately. Thanks for stopping by!