Carolyn Newberger: Capturing the best in NAture: the berkshires, MA

from Carolyn Newberger Illuminating contemplations in art and words from the forest

by harryet candee

Carolyn Newberger

IN THE GROTTO

Illuminating the Hidden Forest

Carolyn Newberger

Carolyn Newberger Artist Biography

Watercolor painting, mixed media and collage, and a practice of drawing from life form the body of Carolyn Newberger’s work. She draws in real time, in the natural world and as well in darkened concert halls. There the challenge is to keep a receptive ear and a loose hand in order to capture both performer and sound, with their rhythm, flow, and intensity.

More recently, Carolyn’s work has focused on the life and beauty of the hidden forest, a place filled with unexpected discoveries. Living on the edge of a deep forest, Carolyn and her dog, Lily, have been exploring it together. While Lily leaps and sniffs out rodents under decaying logs, Carolyn, with folding stool, notebook and art supplies on her back, illuminates in words and images the forest’s revelations.

Carolyn came to art after a long career in psychology, dedicated to the wellbeing of children and families. Two years in the Peace Corps in Africa from 1967-1969, the diversity of her extended family, the preciousness of the people she has served in her career, and a life in music have all found their ways into her art.

Carolyn’s artwork has received numerous awards, including Watercolor Artist Magazine, the Danforth Museum of Art, the Cambridge Art Association, and the New England Watercolor Society. She has been widely exhibited in solo and group shows in New England and beyond. A signature member of the New England Watercolor Society, she is represented by Galatea Fine Art in Boston.

www.carolynnewberger.com

EMBRACE WATERCOLOR

5 1/2 X 8”

A catalogue of natural world watercolors

Illuminating the Hidden Forest

Carolyn Newberger

Carolyn Newberger A STUMP COMING AND GOING watercolor 5 1/2 x 8

CHANTERELLES AND OTHER MUSHROOMS Carolyn Newberger watercolor / ink 5 1/2 x 16

Illuminating the Hidden Forest

Early this summer I found a morel mushroom near our home, bordering on the edge of a deep forest. About the same time, our little dog, Lily, a rescue, began running into the woods, leaping, snuffling in holes, and racing with abandon across every obstacle. We discovered the forest together, Lily and I, she in pursuit of rodents under logs, and I in pursuit of whatever other delectables were nestled on the forest floor or in the crevasses of fallen trees.

Lily and I enter the forest in early morning, I swathed in insect proof clothing, mushroom knife in pocket,bear bell on hiking pole, and with folding stool, notebook and art supplies on my back. Perched on my stool,I draw, paint, and record in words the many insights the forest offers. I am surprised every day by the forest’sastonishing variety, beauty, power and wisdom. ...

Carolyn Newberger CHICKEN ON THE WOODS watercolor 5 1/2 x 16”

I made it slowly to the tree and pulling my knife, filled my bag with the spongy white margins, hoping that the glossy remains would keep pushing out new white margin pillows for my table. Fried up in olive oil with salt and pepper (is there any other way?), they were meaty, a bit nutty, and we came through our degustation with no ill effects. ...

And of course, as with the morels, the varnish caps activated the hunter-gatherer in me. So the next morning,

Lily and I set off on a quest for more. This meant the pursuit of downed hemlocks, plentiful on the forest floor, their lives cut short by wind gusts, hurricanes, lightening strikes, and a tiny beetle that was transplanted from Japan and, just trying to survive, is felling giant hemlock after giant hemlock across North America.

I found many hemlocks, lying heavily on the ground, circles of branches thrust rigidly into the air. But no more varnish caps. Instead I found a hollow stump into which I peered, feeling a bit as though I were violating its privacy, peeping into its private parts.

— Carolyn Newberger

Carolyn Newberger MYCENA MUSHROOMS ON A LOG watercolor 5 1/2 x 8”5