Public Art

#46

January 2011

paper, acrylic on two 10 x 22" wood panels

"Lately, I've been thinking alot about
public art
and simple and playful ways

we could beautify the spaces around us."

Great Big Buttons

#45

October 2010

acrylic, paper on 24 x 36" wood panel



Light Showers on Tidy Town

#44

September 2010

paper, acrylic on 24 x 48" canvas

Inspired by the

lovely coastal
towns of Ireland.

Ancient Whimsy

#43
September 2010

Knobs / Drawer Pulls
Hand painted, assembled and photographed

by Courtney Snyder

Almost five years ago,

I painted my first ball knob 
for my daughter's room.
 I loved how the spiral looked on a sphere.

and have since been surprised by how much

peace and power this shape contains.

 On a recent trip to Ireland,

I saw pagan carvings of this symbol
in the stone of Megalithic sites.
I couldn't help but feel connected
to those prehistoric people
who found meaning in creating the spiral.

Field of Pinwheels

#42

April 2010

paper, paint on wood

36 x 48"

As with my "Whimsy" pieces,

I wanted to surround myself with,
 in this case,

an endless field of pinwheels.

This desire to be "in" the art

pushes me to make larger pieces.
It also makes me more aware of the art environment

that I am creating in my home.

Where Have All the Children Gone?

#40

March 2010
16 x 16"

paper, house paint on wood
"While making this piece,
I was thinking about the
 impact of marketing and media on children -
a topic I would speak on that evening.
This is the only piece I've made that comes out of
a sense of sadness -
sadness about the loss of potential -
the loss of the little Mozarts and Picassos
to screens and the persistent messages of marketers."

Raining Hearts on Proud Bird

March 2010

paper, paint on 12 x 12" canvas

Destined for Louisville

January 2010

#35

36 x 48"

paper, acrylic on canvas

"Made for a friend, who like myself,

reluctantly came to Louisville many years ago.

He found a meaningful career,

a close community,

a loving relationship,

and ultimately himself."

Happy Tears

December 2009

#34

acyclic, paper on 30 x 24" canvas

"I started this piece

during a rainy week in spring

when I moved my studio from home into a

retired automotive garage in downtown Louisville.

With the huge door open,

I felt like I was outside in the rain

doing what I love."

Ocean Whimsy

November 2009
24 x 36" framed
Knobs / Drawer pulls

Hand painted, assemblaged and photographed

by Courtney Snyder

Whimsy in Red

October 2009

Knobs / Drawer pulls

Hand painted, assembled and photographed

by Courtney Snyder

19 x 23" framed

Whimsy

August 2009
Knobs / Drawer Pulls
Handpainted, assembled and photographed
by Courtney Snyder
24" x 36" framed
"Most of these paints are from
a renovation project
my husband and I did five years ago.

We bought a dark and dusty condo in
a Butchertown mansion (circa 1855)
and sold a house we were happy in.
We were hoping to make the best of a difficult situation.
We also hoped to have a baby,
though were not bold enough to plan on this.
On the day we sold our four bedroom home
for a one bedroom condo,
we happily learned I was pregnant.
With these paints and a 9 foot ladder
we transformed the condo and I suppose our lives.
When we left E. Washington St.,
I had closed my psychiatric practice,
was an at home mom wondering
what could be done with left over paint,
my husband had begun a new career and
our daughter was getting ready to walk.
In these colors and shapes,
I see the nest we created for all of us.
I see the unexpected turns our lives took that
have brought us to where we are now."

Life is Short

June 2009

#28

Paper, acrylic on 30 x 40" canvas
"My goal in this piece was to
 fill the space of the canvas
with all of my favorite papers"

The inspiration came from a conversation with a friend and the
 Natalie Merchant's song "Life is Sweet"
 which played as I made this.

"But I tell you life is short

Be thankful, because before you know it

It will be over

Because life is sweet

Life is all so very short..."

Red Sails in the Sunset

(image split)

June 2009

Paper, acrylic on 48 x 12"canvas

"I made this piece for my husband.

 It was inspired by memories of our honeymoon

along the coast of Maine.

The title is from an old song
that my grandparents sang to each other
and that remained a source of comfort
for my grandmother
after my grandfather's death.

May Peace Be Upon Us

February 2009

#25

Paper and acrylic on 36 x 48" canvas

"This piece was made to honor a family

who lost a husband and father.

I wanted to reflect Eric's love for his family and

his love of astronomy.
I hoped to represent that intimate time and space

shared by this family or any close family -

those moments which transcend daily life and

become part of who we are.

The title is based on one of the Jewish honorifics

used when speaking of someone who has died.

The most common is "of blessed memory".

Another is alav ha-sholom "May peace be upon him."

I wanted to extend this wish for peace

to Eric's family, extended family and

to everyone who has or seeks those moments with family

which transcend daily life - hence the title.

This piece is at

Gilda's Club Louisville.

Proceeds from sales of prints and cards
go to Gilda's Club Louisville.

Collection of Collections

 September 2008

#21, #22, #23

One of a series of three mixed media (paper, acrylic paint)

collages on 6 x 6" wood panels ("Fabric, Buttons, Ribbon)

 "Inspired by and made for my mother.

After my siblings and I had left "the nest",

I happened upon my mother's growing fabric collection

and was struck by the thought

that it existed solely for her enjoyment.

This piece is about honoring one's bliss.

My mother is a talented quilter and

a source of artistic inspiration."

Autumn Bliss

 #20

September 2008

Paper, house paint on 12 x 20" wood panel

"Made for my husband,

whom I fell in love with
in the fall."

Shaker Drawers

 August 2008

#19

Paper and acrylic on 30" x 40" canvas

"I am fascinated with Shaker design.

This piece hangs over my desk,

and is my version of Shaker drawers.

The gradation in the size of the drawers

was thought to be pleasing to the eye.

Having the larger drawers on the bottom

meant that larger/heavier items

would not have to be lifted as high."

Paint Chip Cars

July 2008

#18

Paper (paint chips) and acrylic on 12 x 12" wood panel

"A local paint store
lets me know when they have

expired wallpaper sample books.

During my last pickup,
I lucked into a packet of paint chips
that inspired this piece.

I love repetition with variety."

Central Park at Dawn


Brooklyn Bridge at Dusk

June 2008

#15, #16

Paper, acrylic on 12 x 12" canvas

"These two pieces were originally inspired by

memories of living in New York,

and my mother's and grandmother's
nostalgic stories of
'the City'".

Love Birds

Taken from "Sanctuary"

Library Stroll

June 2008

#15

Paper and acrylic on 8 x10" canvas

"This piece is a tribute to my father

who taught me - before internet -
 that I could get any of my questions
answered at the library."

The scene reads:
"(looks around) I wonder where"

"INDEX"

"Book, Lyrics, and Music"

"book or magazine"

"A short story"

"...Oh, lots of things."

"Everything"

"Will you put that book down"

"No, I'd rather stay here and read"

Happy Father's Day!

Welcome to the World #2

#14

June 2008

Paper and acrylic on 24 x 30" canvas

"Made at the request of three friends

for a fourth friend's newborn baby boy."

The first building has the date of birth,

the second, a clock with the time of birth, and the words,

"How beautiful a day can be when friendship touches it,"

the fourth with a cake on top, "Happy Birthday",

and the fifth carries the wishes for the baby, and

the tag carried by the plane announces, "It's a boy!"

There's Always a Place Up Front

June 2008

#13

Paper, acrylic on 8 x 24" canvas

"Before I met my husband,

I took the farthest parking spaces,

or felt lucky if I found one closer.

My husband's parking philosophy
which I have since adopted, is
"There's always a place up front.""

Baby Art

 # 9, #10, #11

2008

Acrylic, paper on  12 x 12" canvas

Renewal

February 2008

#6

Paper on 10"x10" canvas

"A gift for friends who recently
renewed their wedding vows.

Later that day as they were watching the sun set,

they threw their old wedding bands
into the Pacific Ocean."

Happy Dancer

March 2008
#8
Paper, acrylic on 20 x 20" wood panel
"Inspired by my daughter who loves
dancing around the house
as if no one is watching
or rather...
as if the whole world is watching."
(words along bottom: BRAVO!)

City Lights

January, 2008

#7

Paper, acrylic on 4 x 4" canvas

"This tiny piece was inspired

by the scraps of paper from other projects,

that found their own way onto the canvas.

After a friend commented that my art made them happy,

I sent this piece to someone
I had been hoping would find happiness."

Sanctuary

January 2008

#5
paper, gouache, acrylic on 48 x 36" canvas

"Made at the request of friends.

I was inspired by this couple's story - of

their lives coming together and

the peaceful home they have created.

The birdhouses in the other trees represent the homes of

friends and family, near and far."

Welcome to the World

 November 2007

#3

Paper, acrylic on 36 x 48" canvas

"Made for the newest member of our family

I wanted to express wishes bestowed on a baby"

They are in gold letters:
On Pet Store (LOVE), Flower Shop (GROW),
Bakery (HAVE A SWEET LIFE under "Happy Birthday" Banner),
Toy Store (PLAY), Library (LEARN), Music Shop (SING),
Sun (SHINE), Bird (FLY) and Path (WELCOME TO THE WORLD)
The cake has the date; the clock has the time of birth
and the bird announces "IT'S A GIRL!"

Tetons

 June 2007

#2

Paper, acrylic on 12 x 12" canvas

"Made for my father, Larry K. Brown, Western Writer

Inspired by a trip I took with my parents to

Jackson Hole, Wyoming"

Letters along the very bottom of piece spell the quote:

"God bless Wyoming and keep her wild"

The Highlands

June, 2007

#1

Paper, acrylic on 36 x 48"canvas

"This was my first collage.
 I made it for my daughter's room.
I wanted to capture how much we love our life

in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville.

The children represent my daughter past, present and future.

The baby in a carriage with her mom (past).

The toddler on the bike with her dad (present),

and the little girl with a puppy (future).

For those familiar with the Highlands,

the building on the left is Mid City Mall and

the playground and archway are Tyler Park."