Nisky woman's paintings, poetry at local cafe art show
Butterfly, Dragonfly by Elizabeth MacFarland
Reprinted from an article by John Purcell that appeared in The Spotlight on November 17, 2011
A Niskayuna resident has tied her oil paintings and poetry together for an art show that stems from a children's book she released earlier this year.
Elizabeth MacFarland, a Burnt Hills native, started working on a children's book, "Butterfly, Dragonfly: Poetry for Children" about two years ago, but she never planned to illustrate the book. MacFarland had a number of her poems that she wrote in the 1980s and she knew she eventually wanted to bring them to life. She planned to have her cousin illustrate the book, but MacFarland ended up doing the paintings herself after her cousin started to face health problems.
"I like the fact that other people are now able to enjoy the poems and paintings, rather than just keeping them in a drawer," MacFarland said.
She said she wanted to have artwork for the book that could stand up on its own, and all of her paintings included in the show are from the book. The paintings were inspired by the poems.
"I was always drawn to visual arts, even as a child, and I used to try and copy Van Goghs and other classic paintings," MacFarland said. "I never did end up studying painting formally. When my boys were little I would do pencil sketches of them."
When her two boys left home, she said her urge to paint started.
"I got into painting when they left home and I was suffering empty next syndrome," she said.
She knew of a teacher in Albany teaching oil painting and started taking lessons in 2001. The first still life painting she finished was on 9/11.
"I remember hearing on the radio what was going on because I was finishing my first painting at the time," she said.
Her work is being featured at the Moon & River Cafe, located on South Ferry Street in Schenectady's Historic Stockade, until the end of December. An opening reception is being held on Friday, Nov. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. MacFarland also gives piano lessons in her home studio and on Dec. 4 she will play and be accompanied by her students and flutist Laura Bulatao.
"I used to spend hours and hours practicing the piano," she said. "I am still practicing and doing music, but not as intensively as I used to."
She said what she enjoys about painting is similar to what she used to enjoy about being at the piano for long periods of time.
"Kind of leave the present moment and go into another place that is very quiet and meditative," she said. "There is a very real challenge, and I like the challenge of it."
Every single painting is a process involving many hours of thought. She said she would take different photographs and images and would combine different elements from various sources.
"Painting is hard work, but that is what is so fun about it," she said.
Over time she has noticed a change in her painting style and she said moving forward she wants to make more of a statement with her paintings.
"I want to explore being less tied to reality" she said. "Paintings that involve metaphors or dream-like images is where I think I'm headed next."