Madame butterfly

NEW WORK: Madame butterfly 8 x 10

I painted this to pay homage to our 11-year old yellow magnolia tree that died over this winter. We had a lot of rain last fall followed by intense cold temps. Lots of perennial plants in my garden died, also. The saddest part was that it was planted in remembrance of a fine young woman who died of her own hand, far too young. 

Painting donation to MGH

My Ipswich salt marsh painting was unveiled today at a reception at Massachusetts General Hospital  in Boston, where it will hang on the Blake 6 transplant floor. This painting is my humble way of thanking the lovely and amazing doctors, nurses, etc. — particularly on the Blake 6 transplant floor — who cared for me before, during and after my kidney transplant surgery and subsequent infections. I had a nice, cozy bed there for a total of 22 days over three stays. The staff at MGH are all titans in their medical profession. When it’s eventually hung on the walls of the transplant floor, I hope that this painting, which I have named ‘Radiance’, will bring joy to other transplant patients as they recover from their surgeries. This was such a nice way for them to acknowledge my little gift.. #forevergrateful #MGH

Below is the note I put on the back of my Radiance postcard, which I will keep a supply of in the Family Room on the transplant floor at MGH. I hope it supports and inspires future transplant patients!

Warm greetings, transplant friend—

Transplantation is an extraordinary journey that tests the limits of one’s strength and courage. In addition to commitment and faith, it requires strong mental and physical preparation as well as endurance. But you already know that. If you can endure transplantation, you can conquer anything that you set your mind to. The tough part is over. Now it’s time to let your body heal so your inner radiance and spirit shines through again. Wishing you well as you continue on your own transplant journey.

—Diane Carnevale

Kidney transplant recipient

October, 2018

Ranunculous blossoms

Happy and cheery spring ranunculous flowers will always remind me of my mom, who adored them... exclusively the yellow and orange blossoms. The ombré cooors of the golden blossom above reminds of the ruffles of a party dress.

Radiance II

Radiance II    36 x 48"

Remember that Ipswich salt marsh painting that I made last October? This larger version of it, my thank-you gift to some very special people, is all dry and about to be wrapped up and delivered to its new home tomorrow! Stay tuned...


 to donate to the lovely Transplant staff at MGH, Boston to thank them for the fantastic care I received from them after my kidney transplant surgery in late October. More to come.

Provençal fish

How lucky am I to get my fish delivered to my door each week? I prepped the sole that was left on my doorstep yesterday in a Provençal manner, with roasted garlic, kalamata olives, grape tomatoes, a dash of red pepper flakes and all anointed with lemon olive oil. Just bake for ten minutes and dinner is done. If you live on Boston’s North Shore you need this delivery service, too!

See Kim’s Fabled Fish Route

Radiance

Radiance   18 x 24"  

The marshes win my heart with every season. Here, autumn is just beginning and the marsh grass has gone to seed, showing an intense blushing red. This gorgeous wind swept day, along with the colors, was an exhilarating inspiration for me.

This painting is one of three that I will be exhibiting at the annual Crane Estate art show & sale in Ipswich, Massachusetts, being held November 2-4.

Roasted tomatoes

What to do with that avalanche of ripe backyard tomatoes?... Roast 'em! I slice mine in half and place them cut side up, on an oiled sheet of tin foil for was cleanup. Generously sprinkle with salt and pepper. Crank that oven up to 400º and let your tomatoes get good and charred. I sometimes even broil them for the last 5 minutes to get the them charred the way I like it. 

Now what you do with your tomatoes is entirely up to you. They are delicious just like this, as a side dish with eggs in the morning, or for lunch or dinner. I like to mix the roasted tomatoes with white cannelloni beans and basil to make a nice warm Italian salad. Freezing to make a marinara sauce is a good option, as is this wonderful smokey tomato soup. Lately I've been adding in some crumbled chicken sausages, also. Get roasting!

Song of the Sea

Song of the sea  18 x 24" 

Here is the progression this seascape, from the initial color block wash, to the final thick, impasto paint. I enjoying seeing and revisiting my process. I visualize and 'paint' a painting in my head well before I ever get out my paints, but the final painting itself surprises me every time.

Cobbster salad

Special friends and family call for a special dinner. For this night I decided to make a lobster salad, but I call this my Cobbster salad because it combines elements from a classic Cobb salad, including avocado, blue cheese, corn, and tomatoes. There are great textures in this salad, with the velvety avocado and blue cheese, and crunchy corn. I garnished my layered salad, formed into pyramids using triangular molds with flowers and baby veg from my garden—baby French breakfast radishes, baby purple pea pods, navy yellow beans, nasturtium blossoms and leaves, and borage blossoms.

I made six of these plates, so it was 

imperative that I had an organized 'mise en place' 

station all set up for speedy assembly. 

I made 7 of these plates, so it was imperative 

that I had an organized 'mise en place' station all set up.

My sister-in-law, Sheri, helped with this task, my twin 

brother supplied the lobsters, and they both 

supplied the beautiful seaside setting. 

Dinner by the sea is served!

Color inspiration—plums

A basket of earth colored Reine Claude plums is a wistful reminder that summer is waning and autumn is waiting in the wings. Photo by David Lebovitz

To see more colors, click on the red "color inspiration" label below.

Greek tomato + feta salad

Lunch at the office does not have to be boring. For me, lunch always has to include loads of colors. Here is a simple salad of peppery arugula leaves and slices of various sizes and colors of tomatoes, which have been topped with chopped fresh herbs—including oregano— and a briny crumble of feta cheese. I dress this Greek inspired salad with a light Greek or Italian dressing, and finally, a toss a few a few nasturtiums and pansies blossoms to make lunch at the office extra special.

Color inspiration—dahlias

How lovely are these dahlias in shade of demure pinks and apricots? No bold fuchsias here—grabbing attention and stealing the show—just dainty ladies in their frilly dresses, all getting along at the ball. The colors remind me of frosty sweet sherbet.

To see more colors, click on the red "color inspiration" label below.

Bean + barley salad

So often it's the simple foods that are comforting, like this bean and barley salad. It's only got a handful of ingredients; cooked barley, 3 kinds of beans (here I've used dark red kidney, chickpea, and small white beans), tomatoes, diced red onion and dressed with your favorite Italian dressing. I mix all the ingredients and place over a bed of baby kale, spinach or arugula. Fast and filling.

Rhubarb, alliums, and irises

Beautiful alliums and irises in one of my gardens. The rhubarb leaves look great this time of year... it’s leaves are enormous—the about 3 feet in diameter. For reference the white rhubarb plume shown here is about 7 feet tall.

Flaming Ipswich Marsh

Flaming Ipswich Marsh 20 x 16

This oil painting will be available for sale at the upcoming Art in the Barn Show in Essex.

Two Egrets

Two Egrets 5 x 7" 

Here is another small watercolor that will be for sale next weekend at the Essex County Greenbelt's annual Art in the Barn exhibition and sale. I painted this scene in oils as two large diptych paintings, called Egrets at Dawn. Click here link for more information on that painting, winner of the People's Choice Award at the 2018 Crane Estate art show and sale.

Essex marsh

Essex marsh 5 x 7" 

Another sneak peek for some of my work that will be for sale next weekend at the Essex County Greenbelt's annual Art in the Barn exhibition and sale. 

Happy marsh

Happy marsh  5 x 7" 

Here is another small watercolor that will be for sale next weekend at the Essex County Greenbelt's annual Art in the Barn exhibition and sale. 

Gnarly old cherry tree

 Gnarly old cherry tree  5.75 x 8.25" 

Here is another small watercolor that will be for sale next weekend at the Essex County Greenbelt's annual Art in the Barn exhibition and sale. Friday, Saturday, & Sunday—June 8 - 10.  Hope to see you there!

Spring marsh

 Spring marsh  5.75 x 8.25" 

I will be putting some of my oil paintings, pen and ink drawings and watercolor field studies (like this marsh painting), in the Essex County Greenbelt's annual Art in the Barn exhibition and sale, coming up next weekend (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday—June 8 - 10.  Hope you can swing by.

Celery + bean salad

Celery—usually more of a supporting actor—gets a starring role in this salad. Or at least equal billing with beans. Mix 3-4 kinds of beans with chopped red onions and a generous about of chopped celery. Dress with your favorite Italian vinaigrette, mix, and put over a bed of lettuces. I also like to add the delicate celery leaves at serving.

Cucumber + hummus

This is a quick and easy lunch that I have at the office from time to time. It's creamy hummus on Persian cucumber halves, with slices of red and yellow peppers and a sprinkling of chive blossoms. I used to think the only way I could enjoy hummus was with Stacy's pita chip cracker (mmm, salty, crunchy!) but those carb calories add up fast, so I swapped in cucumbers and don't miss those chips at all. Much. Well...

Painted river

I painted this small painting an hour before going to a friends party, you know, as a hostess gift for her. It was the first time I had ever delivered a completely wet oil painting to someone. Ha! This friend lives right on the edge of the river that winds through the marshes and goes out to the sea. Every day she gets to see these beautiful salt marshes! And oh how this view changes. About once a week for 3+ years this friend has been snapping a photo of this river view. I think she needs to make a coffee book with all of her beautiful photographs.

Beet salad with chives blossoms

Sweet earthy beets are anointed with a classic french vinaigrette. Other tidbits in the salad are French lentils, edamame, arugula, goat cheese, red onion, and oniony chive blossoms, which are in bloom this week. The cosmos flower decided to join the party.

Floral confetti

Deadheading the pansies—such a colorful chore.
It's floral confetti!