Edith Bingham

Toys are very interesting. Childhood, happiness, innocence? No. Placed together in various scenarios, children act out dreams, nightmares, fantasies, wars, drama, tragedy. The clash of scale brings absurdity to the situation. I use toys from different eras and different materials, sometimes from my own life or memories, to create a scene, sometimes frightening, sometimes humorous. Clashing colors add to the circus like atmosphere.

Chickens have been a favorite subject for me. I have raised chickens, and now my granddaughters are raising them. They have been a partner to humans forever, all over the globe. They have a place in folklore, art and literature, and come in many colors and different personalities. They offer a challenge for me as an artist, and always keep me inspired.

I am currently working on some more complicated still life paintings. With the theme of “Animal, Vegetable, Mineral” I am bringing together objects from three realms of the natural world. Sea shells have become a favorite subject for me. I have always lived within a day trip to the ocean. As a child I learned to sail, I have always loved being on the water. My Dad was an officer in the Navy in WW2 and we have sea captains in our ancestry. Sea shells are the beautifully created homes of a multitude of creatures. We can admire the spirals, colors and textures of the dwellings of the mollusks and sea snails as we contemplate the vast and mysterious world that lives under the sea.

Welcome to my blog! I am a working artist. My most recent series in still life painting began last year, with revisiting some of my high school art assignments. A pineapple, eggs, fruit, and bottles. when I was sixteen I worked as a nanny for a family with three beautiful girls. The Mom, Marguerite, saw some of my vegetable drawings. She introduced me to the work of Wayne Thiebaud, which really spoke to me, and is an ongoing inspiration.

My exploration of fruit and vegetables has led me into more complex compositions. Putting together objects can make a story, a powerful statement, or a mood. Arranging various elements, contrast of light and shadow, color and textures, present an endless source of challenge for me. The scene, like a stage set, can be obvious or mysterious, joyful, meditative, or creepy.

As I continue to create paintings I will be posting images along with my commentary.

Stay tuned!