Happy Halloween!

Here I am getting in the mood for Halloween with Howard on my back...

What could be better than Halloween in New Orleans?  Lots of over-the-top decorations every witch way!

 I went to a block party that was like a hollywood set...dry ice, sound system, outdoor Tiki bar, the works...One of the guests said that he believed Halloween costumes should always be scary, otherwise, save it for Mardi Gras.  I had never thought about that before, but it made sense.

New Orleans has a certain style...they do things in a big way!

This display is a lot of hot air.

And here's an old friend. Cast iron with a removable hat. Not to say a real pumpkin isn't the cat's meow...but this is a reliable Jack who always has a smile I never tire of! Happy Halloween to all!

Pumpkin Story

Here is one spectacular pumpkin; so beautiful that I didn't want to carve it as a jack o'lantern on Halloween. I kept it in my fruit cellar over the winter, waiting for the time when I could draw or paint it before consuming it in various delicious recipes. This is the story of a life well-lived of a legume! As I said, it started its career as an uncarved pumpkin porch decoration for Halloween.

Finally the day came when I did a drawing. It's so large, it filled the paper. There wasn't a bad angle!

Renee Flanders

Pumpkin

9" x 12"

graphite on paper

2010

Renee Flanders

Pumpkin

12" x 12"

oil and encaustic on canvas

2010

I called the produce department at a local grocery, to see if there was any reason not to consume my aged pumpkin. The grocer exclaimed to the others around him, "She still has her Halloween pumpkin!" He assured me that it would be fine to eat. I chose 3 recipes to prepare: Lentils and Pumpkin (Morocco), Pumpkin Salad (Sicily), and Pumpkin Squash Soup (Provence). I liked them all equally well! The remains of the pumpkin have retired to the compost heap. It will be reborn again in another entity.

Then, I did a painting of the pumpkin. Again, it more than filled the canvas. This painting is about the impression of my large pumpkin: orange and edges!