Holiday House

This painting was commissioned for Habitat for Humanity's  Christmas fund-raising card. Step into this scene for a moment of holiday happiness.  Pastel, 10  x 8

Holiday Reflections

"Life is a reflection of how you look at it." Our holiday card from 2003 is so hauntingly relevant that we are repeating it this year.  Let us hope we can all come together in 2017. Digital painting, 2003, NFS

My quilt

From my exhibit- "Many years; Many faces"  Category: Me

I started this art sometime, many years ago– 

a self portrait

with a quilt covering of things in the world that were part of me; some unwillingly.

The plan was to keep adding to my quilt of life over the years. Recently I discovered it in a drawer –many years later.

So, I added some more things; very aware that there are large gaps of missing time.

To be continued...

“My quilt”  ?-2016, 12.5 x 17, Ink & watercolor, NFS

Quirky cat

From my exhibit- "Many years; Many faces" 

Category: pets

A Russian blue.

All stately and reserved.

Coat of insulated armor.

To protect in his outdoor kingdom.

One minute he cuddled; the next he’d split.

A mysterious and wonderful cat.

Mixed media, 11 x 14.5, $125.

Kids on parade

From my exhibit- "Many years; Many faces" 

Category: kids

Superwomen, Supermen, Rockers, Princesses, Pirates and more... whatever you want to be.
Starts at an early age
this masquerade. 
It's not just about the candy.

Pastel, 5x15, $150.

Mom and her dog

From my exhibit- 

"Many years; Many faces"

Category: Women- Mom

Mom Loves Choochie.

You can see it in her eyes; 

the sweet smile.

She loves her dog. 

More than anything.

Her friend, her child, her world. ~ 

 80s, Pencil, NFS

Royalty

From my exhibit- "Many years; Many faces" 

Category: Men- Friend

In the 80s I began a painting project where I attempted to paint people as I saw them in another era, country, or style. Herewith is one of them:

"Royal.

I pictured velvet, embroidered and rich.

A person of stature. 

Tall in spirit; gentle in manner.

Could be a footman, a page,

or a king."

~ Johanna Bohoy

Mixed media, 17.5 x 14

Top Hat

From my exhibit- "Many years; Many faces"
Category: Men
In the 80s I began a painting project where I attempted to paint people as I saw them in another era, country, or style. Herewith is one of them:

I envisioned him at the turn of the century.

In top hat and cape.

Dashing and handsome.

Beard and bow.

Summoning his carriage to swoop me up.

 ~ Johanna Bohoy

“Top hat,”approx. 1985, mixed media, 17.5 x 14, NFS

Many years; Many faces- Bohoy painting exhibit

You are cordially invited to view my exhibit: 
"Many years; Many faces" 
Paintings that capture many men, women, children and pets who have been a part of my life throughout the years. 
Beverly Farms Library, 24 Vine St, Beverly Farms, MA, (978) 921-6066
Through the month of September, 2016.

(This is a sequel to my recent exhibit “Many years; Many places; Travels from my hand” which featured the many places I had traveled throughout the years)

Summer splash

Hot summer night. 
The sun is setting pink.
Satin sea edged in lace.
"Big kids" sit on watch.
Little kids play,
and play
and play
and play...

West Beach, Beverly Farms, MA.

Pastel, 8x10, $150.

Little Farmer, pastel, Bohoy

ROAD TRIP- paintings from upstate NY

Look what the chickens left.
My college friend's baby gathers the eggs.
Farmer in the dell; little Nell.
Fitted with overalls, bandana, and basket.
Now she's grown.
Too cute to forget.

Pastel, 5 x 7, SOLD

Summer Wind- hot, hot, hot

"The summer wind, came blowin in - from across the sea

It lingered there, so warm and fair - to walk with me

All summer long, we sang a song - and strolled on golden sand

Two sweethearts, 
and the summer wind

Like painted kites, those days and nights - went flyin by

The world was new, beneath a blue - umbrella sky

Then softer than, a piper man - one day it called to you

And I lost you, 
to the summer wind

The autumn wind, and the winter wind - have come and gone

And still the days, those lonely days - go on and on

And guess who sighs his lullabies - through nights that never end

My fickle friend, 
the summer wind."

1965 song, music by Henry Mayer, lyrics by Johnny Mercer

Pastel, 5 x 7, $125. [discount price $100.-contact me]

Uncle Sam & Ma'am on wheels

One 4th.
Our "Horribles Parade."
Uncle Sam and his Ma'am.
Striped and starred on wheels.
Vroom vroomed on past the revelers.

Only in America.

SOLD

Summer porch

"Summertime,
and the livin' is easy."
A slant of sun,
A pillow to prop, 
A cup of somethin'
A flower to view.
"Summertime.
Summertime.
Sum, sum summertime."


Pastel, 7 x 5
SOLD [PA/Florida]

Proud Poppy

Once WWI was over the poppy was amazingly one of the only plants to grow on the now barren battlefields. 
Blazing orange-red, proud, beautiful- yet delicate- they stood at attention as they saluted the soldiers who had died. Thus it became the flower symbol for all veterans who served our countries. 

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields."

Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915  during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. http://www.flandersfieldsmusic.com/thepoem.html

Watercolor, 5x7, $100.

Sunny Narcissus

The Narcissus have smiled. 
They must call it a day. 
Time in the sun is over.
Let the other flowers shine.

Pastel, 7 x 5, $70.

Purple Rain, painting, Bohoy

I didn't plan on painting purple rain. 
Coming home, as I drove around the curve, people were walking up the college hill. It was pouring gray. With an umbrella rainbow- red, yellow, orange, green and blue- but it needed purple. 
So... purple rain it became. 

" Purple rain, purple rain
I only want to see you
Only want to see you
In the purple rain"
Prince

Pastel, 8X10, $225.

Patiently waiting for Spring, Bohoy

Keep the faith.

Hats and sweaters, and jackets on hand.

Even Fido burrows in sand.

We wait... patiently,
stoically, hopefully.

For spring's coming.

Later, better than never.

(FYI- for those in other places-- in New England it's still snowing and cold.)

Pastel, 10 x 8, $125.

Drink to Ireland

A toast to to Ireland.
Take your choice:
A spot-o-tea in a china cup 
or a chug of brew in a frosty mug.
Beannachtam na Femle Pradig 
(Happy St. Patrick's Day).

"Spot O Tea" , 5x7, watercolor, $125.

 "Oktoberfest", 5x7 watercolor, $90.

Cranberry Harvest

8x10 pastel, SOLD Masssachusetts

Oscars red carpet 2016- Rainbow Runway

Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet. 
A rainbow on the runway.

Charlize, Olivia, Alicia, Rachel, Brie, Tina.

Pastel 8x10. $150.

To see 9 years of other Runway paintings click "fashion" under LABELS on the right of this blog.

Take us there, Greece, Italy, Caribbean...

Deep blue water, pale blue sky, sunshine whites, and fuschia flowers.
Drink in hand, barefoot, and free.
A siren from the sea is calling me.
Could be anywhere-
Greece, or Italy; Caribbean or Cuba...
Take us there.

Watercolor, 8x10, SOLD [Florida]

Deer Camouflage

On a snow canvas, 

trees paint the shadows: 

Horizontal swooshes. 

Curves up a hill. 

Blankets of blue and purple and gray.

Nature's final 'painting'- 

a camouflage for deer.

I started this painting last year in the midst of our 110" inches of snowfalls but thought better of finishing it and sending it out. The recipients had had enough snow. With hardly any snow this year [so far] I finished it.

Watercolor, 10x8  ©Johanna Bohoy, 2016. $125.