12 Days of Christmas: A Selection of Special Paintings

Susan Van Campen’s gorgeous watercolors of flowers and the Maine landscape demonstrate her mastery of the notoriously difficult medium and singular artistic style. She says of her work: I like to paint what I see that strikes me at the moment. Things that don’t last long – like flowers and skies, water, the sunrise, clouds, approaching storms, a dandelion, an open tulip just before the petals fall off – a poppy bud before it bursts … as simple as possible, without laboring. I am trying to capture the color and shape the first time, that’s all.

We typically don’t buy prints at Avery Galleries, but we could not resist this work by Alexander Calder! We too were swept up in Calder fever, after the opening of the Calder Gardens in Philadelphia. This print titled L’Etoile captures the playful exuberance that characterizes the best of Calder’s work in any medium. He loved making these prints late in his career, and they mirror the ways he played with form, color and movement in his sculpture. L’Etoile is also happy and a fitting way to say we wish you the happiest of holidays and a healthy, prosperous New Year!