"XO" has been accepted

I am so excited...I have been accepted into my first juried exhibition sponsored by the Art Society of Old Greenwich. The show is the 2010 Juried Exhibition and the juror was Simon Dinnerstein, NA.

I almost didn't enter since with a juried show you pay a fee but are not guaranteed acceptance. However, the judging for this show was done by viewing the actual work versus a digital image which is good for me since my pics aren't so great. So, today started with a quick trip to Greenwich to drop off "XO". Upon arrival and looking at the other submissions, my initial thought was "well, Ill be back tomorrow to pick up my work". So when my cell phone rang at about 6:30ish this evening, it was wonderful surprise to find out my piece was accepted and...won 2nd place.

The open reception is on Thursday, August 5, from 6-8pm at the Bendheim Gallery, 299 Greenwich Ave, Greenwich, CT. If you are in the area I hope you will join us.

Happy creating!

Gallery Hopping

Today was an adventure filled day. I visited four different art galleries near me. It would have been five but the last I couldn't find, oh well what can you do.

I had varied success as I made my rounds but I will say the most interesting conversations I had were at the Tappan Z Gallery (Tarrytown) and the Blue Door Gallery (Yonkers). The individuals I met there were warm and inviting as well as helpful. Especially, at the Blue Door Gallery, the representative took time and gave me all sorts of tidbits and good info regarding art in Yonkers. I am actually very impressed with how much Yonkers has going on as long as you know where to look. So here's to art networking in Yonkers! As for the artwork displayed at both galleries...beautiful! So if you are in the area stop in and take a look.

Other than feeling like I drove all over the place, it was wonderful to immerse myself in art from a spectator role. It has been so long that I had forgotten what an incredible experience it is to look at other artists' work. I have been to openings recently but there is really nothing like viewing works in a quiet atmosphere. Maybe I'll take a ride over to the Neuberger Museum of Art next week and maybe even the Katonah Art Museum. Oh, the artist in me is just tickled at the thought of looking at the exhibits.

Well, that is all for now. Have a wonderful w/e and happy creating!

Two Today (sorta since one belongs to yesterday)

Here is the piece from yesterday, Mother Moon, acrylic on bristol, 8"x10". When I did the sketch I felt as if I had a break through and even as I worked on the piece that feeling remained. However, upon completion and reflection I am not so sure. But let me tell you why I thought is was a significant piece... The figure has a head w/hair and arms. It is rare that I include these features. The reasoning behind the exclusion is unclear to me but it could have something to do with the flow of the subject matter. Arms cut into the abdomen. As for heads...according to an old professor, who I don't even remember his name although I liked him, I de-humanize the figure by not including a head. Uh, don't think so...again, I just think it is flow. In addition, the background got an additional element, the "moon". This

added a new dynamic to the color scheme and flow of the piece.

So there you have it. A sorta kinda break through but no matter if it truly is, it was a good lesson learned. Basically, heads and limbs are not so bad :-)

Today's piece is called "Mother Tree", acrylic on bristol, 10"x13". I am pleased with this piece. The sketch for it was done before "Mother Moon" and as you can see it is headless. But it is a tree so it doesn't really matter. This piece is a fusion between two series that I work w/in: Mother and Trees. So a new series evolved called "Mother Nature".

I did realize that I am now favoring a different color scheme these days, reds and greens, so I need to be conscious of that. If not everything begins to look the same.

On a different note, karate last night was awesome. I love feeding the martial artist in me, although I will most likely be an underbelt forever tee hee. I love going but my work schedule over the last couple years made it impossible. Oh, the things we have time for when we are unemployed, umm I mean in transition. However, I will share with you that once you start studying a martial art it stays with you in so many ways. You find you are stronger than you thought and whether or not you are able to practice the physical side, you tend to always practice the the non-physical aspects. I invite you to check out my school's link in my favorite website section and if you are in the area stop in one day...I'd love to meet you.

That's all for now. Happy creating!

No Camera

Well, the camera is not working at the moment so although there is a new painting for today, it cannot be posted :-(

But to give you some tidbits on it...it is the "break through" piece I mentioned yesterday. However, now that it is painted it doesn't have that "yes, this is a huge step forward" feeling to it. Not sure what it is but it just wasn't hitting me. Anyway, tomorrow (I hope) when I post it you can give me your thoughts on it.

On a happier note, I also set up another sketch that is ready to be painted tomorrow. I normally don't set up in advance but I was feeling a bit adventurous today...tee hee. So there could be two posted pieces tomorrow.

My favorite little artist has a date w/her g'ma tonight and I am going to karate. This let's me feed my other artistic side.

Till tomorrow my friends and happy creating.

Thank You, Beautiful Day!

Some days are just too beautiful to ignore and today was one of those days for me. Not everything went my way nor did I get any great news but it still was one awesome, fantastic, beautiful day and I will tell you why...

1. I had lunch w/a good friend.

2. I met an interesting gentleman in Walmart who asked me what I did and I said I was an artist. For the first time EVER I answered artist and it felt great. I then found out his son is an artist who is moving his storefront from Brooklyn to Soho.

3. I bought a skirt for my favorite little artist and it was $1, yes, you read that correctly $1.

4. My hubby and I put up the awning in the yard and filled up the kiddie pool.

5. My favorite little artist and I stayed outside for hours this afternoon. She played on the swings and in the pool. I even had some fun in the pool. We played pretend, she was a puppy, a Dalmatian to be exact.

6. I sketched 3 fantastic drawings. One was a great break threw and I cannot wait to paint it and post it.

7. We ate a fantastic dinner outside that included watermelon, my favorite.

8. A glass fell on the ceramic tile in the kitchen and shattered into a million pieces...so the floor got a really good sweeping.

9. My favorite little artist got to buy ice cream from the Mr. Softee Truck.

10. Hugs and kisses to a little girl who was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open once her head hit her pillow.

So there you have it, all the reasons for a wonderful beautiful day.

Swing

Swing

Swing

Pumping legs

Faster, faster

Swing

Swing

Swing

Touch the sky

Higher & higher & higher

YEAH!!

Have a wonderful good night my friends and I hope you also had an awesome, fantastic, beautiful day!

"V"

Here is the next installment in the GO alphabet. "V", acrylic on bristol, 5"x8". It is the second commissioned letter and it came together so nicely.

Here's to hoping this is a good art week. It is starting out on the right foot and I am hoping it continues. Now if only my allergies would calm down then things would be really good.

The w/e was full of non-art fun as we celebrated my favorite little artist's 5th birthday. Time is just flying by, it feels like yesterday that she was born. It was a "Barbie" birthday and she loved it. Fun, sun, swimming and cake...doesn't really get much better than that.

Ok, back to art...I am still looking for a show to participate in for August. Yesterday, I picked up my paintings from Kent, they didn't sell but then I didn't think they would since my work doesn't really fit with their style. Oh well, maybe next time.

Well, my head is swimming so I am going to sign off...till next time.

"A" is for...

Well, almost anything but in this case it is the first completed letter in my alphabet series. It is a commissioned piece so it is not for sale but if you like it you can request to have a print or notecards made up featuring "A". It is up to you, just send me a note. The next letter to be featured will be "V".

There is also the option to commission your own letter, you pick the color and receive the painting plus ten notecards for $50. Not a bad deal if you ask me and it makes a nice gift for a loved one or friend.

Ok, enough of the sales pitch and onto more important ramblings. My "ArtFire" account is up and running. I have posted 6 items to it so far and am happy with the way it looks. Also, I revamped the look of my blog...let me know what you think?

It has been a pretty slow art week and for the life of me I can't figure out what I have been doing with my time. Real life errands take so long and then are so boring that I forget what I did....hahaha. But seriously, most of this week is a focus on getting ready for my favorite little artist's birthday. She turns 5 tomorrow!

Well that is all for now. Hope you enjoy "A", acrylic on bristol, 5"x8". Keep an eye out for more letters and maybe some initials or a name sometime in the future.