Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Juried in!















I recently entered these 3 paintings into a juried show for the Zullo Gallery Center for the Arts and I just found out today that they accepted all three! How exciting. Now I have to get busy doing the finish work for the show. Reception is September 25, from 7-9pm.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Half baked

I think it's interesting to see works in progress. I started this painting on Thursday and plan to finish it up this week, but in the mean time, I thought I would share it at this stage anyway. Why not, right? What I find interesting for my own introspection, is to see how I worked the top portion first (I think to completion) and left the bottom sketch alone. The bottom part includes people eating at an outdoor cafe and some flowers and landscaping. I think it will be a nice juxtaposition with the structural city buildings painted above.

The reference is a photo I took on one of my walks around Boston. When I post the final painting I'll share a little more about exactly where the photo was taken.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink

Oil with a palette knife on cradled artist board
10" x 10"
SOLD

This painting was done from the sweetest picture that Suzanne gave me to paint of her and her sister. Looks like they just got a new doll and are as happy as two sisters can be, sharing at least long enough to smile for the camera. Their pink dresses are as cute as they are. I had to borrow the perfect color (Rembrandt's Carmine) from my friend Frank in order to get just the right shade of pink. This was such fun to paint and a nice diversion from the rigidness of city windows and perspective of late.

All proceeds from the sale of this painting went directly to the Susan G. Komen foundation. How appropriate for it to be pink!

Friday, August 20, 2010

My moment to be a famous palette knife artist

Yesterday, we received the new (and really big!) Dick Blick Studio catalog in the mail.
My husband emailed me immediately to let me know that my painting was in there on the painting knives spread.
Even though I had posted a pdf of the page awhile ago on my blog, it was so exciting to finally see it in print! Someone told me this means that I am now a published artist. Perhaps it is my 15 minutes of fame, but hopefully people will hold on to it longer than that before it hits the recycle bin. Here is the painting that they chose to put on the page:

Afternoon in the City
Oil with a palette knife on cradled artist board
8" x 8" x .75"

I really do order most of my art supplies from Dick Blick. I love their prices, their website is easy to use, and I find everything I need there. And they don't pay me a dime to say that.

Now, I think I need to go order some of those wonderful palette knives. Just look at them all!

Happy art supply shopping.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Another Boston city view

Boston Near the Finish Line
Oil with a palette knife on artist board
12" x 12"x 1.5"
SOLD

The finish line of the Boston Marathon that is. I've been taking some photos during my lunch hour and have discovered some interesting views of the city that are going to inspire some future paintings. I began this painting in class on Thursday and finished it up today. I think I'm getting obsessed with painting windows. The order and structure appeal to me in a weird way, even though with the palette knife, it's really not that all that straight and orderly. You may remember that I did this sketch for this painting a few weeks ago. It helps me compose the painting, study the photo, and do some editing ahead of time.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Abdi is the winner!


I watched every episode like an addict. Work of Art: The Next Great Artist season finale aired last night, and my favorite artist won, Abdi. Modest, generous, and funny, he just seemed like he had so much talent that he was not even aware he had. I can't wait to see what his show is like at the Brooklyn Musuem of Art.

From the very first challenge, this portrait that he did of Ryan was stellar in my opinion. Even though he didn't win that challenge.
I also thought it was interesting that he seemed to be one of the only artist who thought out and sketched his ideas first on a consistent basis. At least from what I could tell anyway. But when he included his sketchbook in his final exhibit, one of the judges called it "too art school". Interesting.

I am now inspired to check out the work of the guest art judges. Which most of the contestants seem to know. I had never heard of any of them. I'll try to find some good links later.
Andres Serrano
Will Cotton
Jon Kessler
Ryan McGinness
Jonathan Santlofer
Richard Phillips

As I watched each episode, I couldn't help but think, "what would I have done?" "how would I have tackled each challenge?". I've seriously thought about challenging myself and actually attempt each one. Although-I think I'll give myself a little more time.

Here is the list:
1. Create a "portrait" of a competitor
2. Create a work from trash found in an electronics graveyard
3. Create a book cover of a classic novel
4. Create a piece of shock art
5. Create art inspired by a visit to the Audi showroom (the only commercially driven challenge as far as I can tell)
6. Work in a team to create an outdoor sculpture
7. Create a work that symbolizes your early inspiration to be an artist using only children's art supplies
8. Work with a partner to create work that expresses opposing words -man/woman, order/chaos, heaven/hell
9. Create a work inspired by nature, including something from nature in the piece
10. Create a final collection

Anyone want to join me?

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Drawing on the beach


It took all week to finally be able to do some pencil sketching on the beach. This is a drawing I did on the very last day at the beach. This captures our friends in their daily beach position-relaxed, reclined, and reading. Ahhh, summertime in New England. There is nothing better.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Great esCape

Cape Escape
Oil with a palette knife on artist board
8" x 8"
SOLD

I finally took a break from the sun and surf to do some plein air painting while on vacation. What wonderful weather we have had this week so far. I included some more photos to give you a sense of our quintessential cape surroundings.The place we rented is right near the path to the beach. People leave their wagons and other things while they carry their beach gear down the stairs. Our place is to my left.
While I was inside taking a lunch break, some onlookers stopped to take a peak at my progress.
I hope to get some more painting time in. Today is a little rainy but we're going to try to get 9 holes of golf in later this afternoon. I do not want this week to be over!!
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