Master's Secret Summit

A couple of weeks ago I was contact by an artist, Kathryn Lloyd for her artist's series, Master's Secret Summit.  This series was new to me so I went on line and saw some of her amazing interviews with master artists like Harley Brown, Virgil Elliott, and Stephanie Birdsall.

Yesterday was my scheduled time for the interview and a first time user of Skype on my laptop with camera.  After a few minutes of technical glitches we were up and running. The interview flew by and forty-five minutes later it was over.  Kathryn was a delight to talk to and I rambled on and on.  Hope she is good a editing.  This is her second round of interviews and am not sure how many other artists are in this second series that will be aired on line Sept. 14th. Click on this link to sign up so you will be able to view my interview and the others as soon as it comes out.

I love pot(s).  No not the growing kind but painting interesting pots in a single large format.  I don't paint a lot of them; only when I find a pot that speaks to me.   Had fun painting with a new color-Perylene Black.  It is transparent and a deep green/blue black.  When mixed with Naples Yellow (Old Holland), you get this yummy color.

                                                                     Nebulae
                                                          Oil on Linen  36" x 36"

And The Winner Is . . .

As promised, I have given away a giclee print on canvas of one of my oil paintings.  Here is a video of the drawing and the announcement of the winner.  I apologize ahead of time for the amaturish quality of the presentation.  Hollywood IS NOT looking for me.

Our winner is Jo-Ellen Trecartin and she will receive a 12 x 16 (approx. size) print on canvas.  If you want to be included in the next drawing, please sign up on the newsletter link, the one with the Eiffel Tower symbol.  Again congratulations to Jo-Ellen.

Good News

Just learned that my painting, French Lace, was accepted into this year's Oil Painters of America National Exhibition in Evergreen, CO.  This painting is one of many in my series, Threads of Life.

This is a cropped image but basically you get the idea.  Because I am working on another painting with this tablecloth and its intricate lace work I haven't painted a small gem for this week.  Painting white cloth is a passion for me and I never tire of capturing the subtle color and light that is reflected through the fabric.  For all of you living in the area, come on out to the DeLand Outdoor Art Festival and see this painting in person.  Next week I will be attending Deborah Paris' workshop in Dade City, Fl.  Looking forward to expanding my repertoire to include landscape (maybe). 

Painting of the Week

As Dr. Seuss says, "Oh all the places you'll  go."  I feel like I have been moving at warp speed with my fingers in everything.  Today's Small Gem was a commission so it has already been sold.  Thought I would share it with you anyway.   Classes are now three days a week and I am loving my students.  They sure keep me on my toes.  Everyone loves painting the grisaille first and are looking forward to learning about glazing.  Beside classes, commissions, getting ready for an art show in DeLand on the last weekend of this month, I am beginning another big piece in the Threads of Life collection with my heirloom tablecloth.  So if you don't hear from me for awhile, I'm up to my derriere in lace.

One and a Half

5 x 7 oil on stretched canvas

SOLD

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Be sure to check out my Events section for the time and place of the DeLand, Florida Outdoor Art Festival.  Hope to see you there.

Busy Husband

Some of you may know that my husband, David, is the business side of my art and takes care of all the computer work (other than blogging and tweeting).  He also enters my work into the various shows, competitions, and sends off the images to various sources.  Being married to a photographer/ journalists/ Motorola techy has its benefits.  SO when I opened my e-mail Saturday and found a notice from Old Masters Maroger saying I was the Artist of the Month, I was totally caught off guard.  He had entered me into this competition without telling me.  I appreciate this honor and want to thank all who had a part in this decision.  Check their website out and learn from their videos about how to use Flemish Maroger, Black Oil, Mastic Varnish, and  Italian Wax medium. 

Be sure to check out my Painting of the Week that was posted Monday.  It glows with luminosity and is a true jewel.

Fun in the Classroom

Today was a teaching day with my students so I wasn't able to get back to my own work.  I am grateful for each student that comes into my studio.  They teach me as much as I teach them.

Today Rahna brought her iPhone with the app-- Accu View.  She took a photo of the still life, made a grisaille, and then gridded it.  Finally cropped it with great negative shapes.  Unfortunately, it only works on iPhones.  If any knows of an app for the Droid that does the same thing, let me know.

Pam is finishing her still life of cherries in a bowl and it looks like it's a keeper.  She is an professional photographer by trade  and shared today about lighting at different times of the day.  Sweet light is a magical time and we talked about the colors that reflect off the creek at this time of the day.  Living on this waterway is pure magic at sunset.

Remember to sign up for the bimonthly newsletter that will come out at the end of February. 

Road Trip to Ashville, NC

The last two weeks have been not only busy but both David and I caught a cold.  Needless to say I haven't shared everything I wanted to.  Getting the demo out took most of my efforts and I forgot to share a marvelous trip we took to North Carolina.
If you get a chance to visit Ashville, be sure to stop by the Southern Highland Craft Guild at the beginning of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Upon entering you are met with a spacious two story building filled with light streaming in and the feel of the arts and crafts of the Carolinas all around. On the ground floor are all kinds of handmade crafts including clothing, pottery, jewelry, and blown glass.  As you ascend the ramp leading to the second story you see full size hand sewn quilts hanging on the walls.  When we were there the second floor featured an exhibit on the history of quilting with samples from each decade till now.  At the far end were looms that were magnificent. 

Another one seems to be much older but just as beautiful.

All in all, the trip was enjoyable and on the way back we stopped in and dropped one of my paintings off at the M Gallery SE  in Charleston, SC.  Check out their website.

Oil Painters of America

 

More exciting news.  Apple Harvest was accepted into the Eastern Regional Oil Painters of America Exhibition being held in Orleans, Mass. Sept.17.  I will be posting four or five new paintings that I have in the pipeline as soon as I put on the finishing touches.  Hard work everyday is paying off.

Oil Painters of America

It's been a few weeks since my last post.  My only excuse is that I have been behind the easel painting, painting, painting.  My goal is to increase my portfolio which means painting daily up to eight hours a day.  Almost forgot to share information about the National Oil Painters of America's exhibition at the Devon Gallery  in Couer' d Alene, Idaho.  Check out all the great paintings being shown this month.

Hard At Work

These last few weeks have been extremely productive.  After a trip to N. and S. Carolina to visit family and friends, we stopped in our favorite cities of Charleston and Beaufort South Carolina.  My heart skips a beat in the presents of these southern beauties and I marinate in charm and history of the old south.   If you haven't been to Beaufort and taken a carriage ride through this storied town, put it on your bucket list.  Our carriage horse and guide were a show stopper and worth the ride.

Now back to the art scene.  I just discovered a great little book that I believe all professional artists need to have in their quiver of informational gems.  Deborah Paris  has written a straight forward, no holds barred book on how to grow in the profession of being a self sustaining painter.  It's entitled Studio & Business Practices for Successful Artists.  My experiences confirm that she knows what she is suggesting in every chapter.  Some of the topics include:  Studio Practices, Pricing Your Work, Approaching Galleries, and Self Promotion.  Check it out on her website, it's well worth the nominal price.

As my title suggests, I have been hard at work with a daily routine of six to eight hours a day in the studio. With classes canceled for the summer, I am using this time to put brush to canvas.

Workshop at the Atlantic Center for the Arts

Friday and Saturday I ventured out of my comfort zone.  I was invited to join a group of accomplished women artists for a weekend retreat at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, FL.  So why was that a comfort zone issue? I am a Classical-Realism still-life and portrait painter. So picture this---Classical-Realism and abstract taking residence in the same room; two different worlds coming together side by side.

These lovely ladies create images so big they required an entire wall to paint on.  And there I was with my little 12 x 16 inch canvas and my little easel in the midst of huge canvases as the abstract ladies made sweeping strokes of vibrant colors all around me.  At the end of the "work" day before having dinner together we critiqued each other's work and found that we had more in common that I at first thought.  Note to self. Good design and composition are universal.

As the adage says, "A good time was had by all" as well as a greater appreciation for abstract art created!

Here are a few of the images of Saturday's efforts.

My sincere thanks to Beau Wild for organizing this fantastic experience, and to the Abstract ladies, Sarah, Carol, Diana, Betty, Jean, and Gretchen for making me feel so welcome and one of the girls.

I will be posting my retreat portrait in a few days when it's finished.

Teaching, Showing, and Painting

The last two months have been very busy including two outdoor art shows--which is always exciting--in addition to my own work and weekly art classes too.  Outdoor art shows are not only great for showing my work and meeting  possible clients, but also to promote my art classes.  The two shows did exactly that plus an added bonus---winning an award at each of the two shows!   It's always nice to get the extra recognition and the money goes along with the award.

Last weekend at the DeLand Outdoor Festival I met a lovely lady who makes quilts.  After talking with her about using one of her pieces in a painting, I found a small table runner with beautiful cool colors of blue teal and lavenders and arrange to purchase the quilt.  To my surprise at the end of the show, she brought it over to me as a gift and asked only that I send her a picture of the painting (which will include her quilt) when finished.   Her quilting business is called Unique Design by Linda K.  I love getting something new and with it the challenge of seeing what I can do with it in a painting.  So here is the still life arrangement I am currently working with.  The multifaceted pitcher along with the luscious colors of the quilt is going to be a challenge but well worth it.

Teaching is going very well and my classes are growing with new students.  Now I am trying to make room for everybody in the studio so we are not tripping over each other. The Saturday class is full and the Tuesday class is filling too;  I am thinking of adding another class day.  In addition, I would like to add a couple of workshops to my teaching schedule during the fall of this year.   So, if your art league or art group would like to schedule me for a workshop please contact me for more information.  

OPA National Exhibition

I am pleased to announce that my painting, Country Morning, was accepted into the 20th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils for Oil Painters of America.  The exhibit will be held at the Devin Galleries in Coeurd d' Alene, Idaho, June 10 - July 9, 2011.  I'm not sure that I will be able to attend the opening but for anybody who can attend, it is worth the trip.  In the past approximately 2,000 entries are viewed and juried for a national show and this year only about 170 were accepted.  I am deeply honored to be one of the few. For all my local friends, please come to the DeLand Art Fesitival and enjoy not only the art but the beautiful 80's weather.

Halifax Art Show

The Halifax Art Show was a total success.  The write-up in the paper brought many people to the show and all were very complimentary.  For me, just meeting old friends and making new ones who share a love of art is worth the price of admission.  The Museum of Arts and Science's guild gave me a purchase award for a landscape of a sunset river scene on the Tomoka River.  This piece will become part of their permanent collection for Art in Public Places.  Another pleasant surprise was an invitation for a show at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens.  I also had a few comments from folks who read my previous blog and watched the video essay on The Banishment of Beauty.  If you haven't seen it, you should.  Scott Burdick did a fantastic job of articulating why we should value art for the sake of its beauty and craftmanship.

Halifax Art Show

Life has taken me in many directions these last months--all good.  Gallery sales have improved somewhat but the economic downturn has really taken a toll.  Having said that I am excited about next week.  November 6th and 7th is the Halifax Art Show in downtown Daytona Beach.  Last week the local paper--News Journal--called and asked if I would like to be the featured artist for this year's article in the newspaper.  Don't ask me twice!  Today the article with pictures appeared in the Sunday paper.  They did a great job and their choice of using the portrait of Angel on the cover of the tabloid was very well done.  The article has already brought e-mails asking about the art and prices.  For all of you locals, please come down and say hello.

Ebb and Flow

                                                                                            




                                                                        It's been quite a few weeks since my last entry.  I've come to realize that my painting, as well as my life, ebbs and flows like the tide and I must accept what that means for me .  After returning from Maine and having the gala opening, I came back feeling lost and void of energy.  With no work at home, I needed to begin again.  Hence the feeling of emptiness and wanting to get excited again about returning to the easel.  I hate it but I'm starting to recognize that angst and accepting that with time, silence, and just letting go of expectations, that the gestation period before a birth of something new will come forward.  In the meantime, our local art league--http://www.artleague.org/Exhibit-Openings/2010/July2010-FigureShow/index1.htm had a show called Figuratively Speaking.  I entered two pieces and a student of mine, Janis Murray, entered three of hers.  As you can see from the newsletter, we both were very happy with the results.  Recognition for my work helped to lift my spirits but I still didn't have a desire to pick up the brush.
     When I'm empty, I read.  Years ago my son gave me a small book entitled Gift from the Sea by Ann Morrow Lindbergh.  I dug it out and began to read it for the second or third time.  She wrote it about 55 years ago when she stayed one month down on Captiva Island just west of Ft. Meyers.  Ann's insightfulness as a woman and the stages of life touched me on many levels.  Road trip!!!! Walking the beach where she walked and collecting the shells that gave her inspiration for the book gave me an idea.  My shell collection is enormous but I have only painted a couple as part of a large still life.  Why not paint shells in an environment.  Just shells.   So for the last two weeks I have worked on this one that is huge for me--36 inx48 in.  Nothing like jumping into it with both feet.  If you don't know about A. Lindbergh and her life,  there is a website about this amazing woman and Captiva Island.  Check it out at http://www.charleslindbergh.com/press/21Sept05.asphttp://www.charleslindbergh.com/press/21Sept05.asp

Two for Two

After returning home from Maine, I went on the patio to water my half-dead flowers.  Suddenly a small wren flew out of one of my wall sconces that is a cut in half piece of Mexican pottery.  Was I surprised when I looked down inside.  Four delicate eggs were tucked deep inside a nest that was fashioned to fit the sconce.  I can't wait for our new arrivals.  Does anyone know how long wren eggs need to incubate and hatch?

         4X6 in. oil on linen canvas panel
                      Click to bid

Finally Finished

Country Kitchen  18" x 30" oil on linen
After three months, this piece is finished.  Not only did the cheese go bad but the milk became cheese, or something to that effect.  The plums shriveled and I don't know what condition the raw egg was in when it went in the trash.  Working from life presents its own set of problems.  I think there is a parallel to life if I think about it for a while.  This piece plus three other ones will be sent to North Light Gallery for my One Person show in June.  There will be a reception Sunday, June 20th and I can't wait!  I have never been to Maine.
I have spent about three weeks on a figure in an environment.  Boy did composition issues become a major challenge in the process.  Painting a figure is not easy but putting it in a space with other objects made me take out my books on composition to help create a more dynamic piece.  Note to self:  work out all these problems ahead of time with sketches, value and color studies.

Taking Inventory

These last few days have been more about business and less about painting.  I will be shipping a couple of pieces to my gallery in Atlanta.  My other gallery is in Kennebunkport, Maine but I am lucky that the owner spends half the year here in Florida.  He'll be coming by this week to pick up a dozen or so small pieces.  Framing is not one of my favorite activities but a necessity.  What I do like is to put all the paintings out and look at them as a unit.  I can immediately tell which ones are my strongest and which ones shouldn't be let out of the house.  Every piece has to be photographed by my husband and printed out on a consignment sheet.  Fortunately, he's good at that.  When I get the images, I will share them on the blog.  I'm hoping for a good summer but with the economy in the condition it's in and now the volcano in Iceland, I'm not taking any bets.

Garlic and Vinegar

My strength is almost back to normal so I'm back at the easel.  I thought I would try the Painting A Day ritual to see if I can get back into the groove again.  I have large pieces that I need to begin soon but this is a great way to "warm up" like stretching before exercising.