REFLECTIONS

Tracing the Journey
watercolor, india ink/paper
30 x 44
SOLD

The last day of 2013!   2013 has been a plentiful year in my art world.  I have had many wonderful opportunities to show my work around New England and across the country.  Sales have been very good not just through the galleries but also at other (surprising) venues.  I have been invited to teach at a new art organization along with continuing with private lessons.  And the writng continues for The Palette Magazine, where I really enjoy interviewing and writing about working artists for the magazine.  My role as marketing director for Rocky Neck Gallery was also a rewarding experience promoting the gallery and the many talented artists.

I have so many things to be grateful for as this year draws to a close and I am looking forward to a new year of new experiences, and creating new work.  Also I am very excited to have the opportunity to co-curate the inaugural show for Mother Brook Arts and Community Center in Dedham, MA, working with Jeanne Williamson.  The show is titled Flirt featuring the flirtatious work of 14 talented artists.  It opens February 1, 2014. This is a wonderful event to start the new year and be part of a new and vital artists' community.

(Stay tuned as lots more news on Flirt to come.)




  

SHIMMER+

Shimmer
watercolor
30 x 22

My painting, Shimmer, sold this year at the SMFA art sale that just took place November 21-24th.  This is from my slip series work on paper done in 2011.  One never knows what sells at the show until pick up day - yesterday for me.  So it it always a surprise. And this is a wonderful surprise.  I am very happy to know this is going to a new home.  I wish to extend a special thank you to the new owner!

CIRCLES ALL AROUND

Circle # 5
acrylic/canvas
7 x 7 ft

Since I started my Circle paintings I been snapping the circles I see everywhere in my daily travels.  Here are just a few images.

Fresh beet.

After dinner cappucino treat by my friend Michael Seif.  Specially made in his amazing Atomic espresso maker.

Important supplies at the yoga studio.

And fellow contemporary artist Jodi Colella sent me this image last night.  I love it - Thank you Jodi!   

SCRIBBLE

Here is my painting in the final stages - possibly.  Below is where I started in early September by just making marks with tools on hand to get myself back into painting.

Since then I have been slowly exploring mark making, color, line and building layers.  It may be done or not quite...yet.

Mixed media on 2 sheets of gessoed paper
40 x  44

ART SALE

SHIMMER
watercolor
30 x 22

These two paintings from my Slip Series will be at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts "art sale" coming up this week starting Thursday, November 21 until Sunday, November 24th.  Shimmer above is offered framed in a gold Nielsen Bainbridge metal frame with 6 ply archival matting while Barely below is offered as a shrinkwrap.  I also have 4 other slip paintings offered as shrinkwraps.  My good friend and photographer Michael Seif will have several of his photographs here.  His stunning work is highly sought so get there early!

BARELY
watercolor
30 x 22

I love participating in this event and giving back to the SMFA.  For times and directions please click on this link.  I plan to attend and shop for some art.  I hope you do too.

CIRCLE DAY 4

 Day 2 using Golden Acrylic Fluid Acrylic in Titanium White

Close up of day 2 circle - squirting paint directly from the bottle is the best part !

On day 3 (I forgot to photograph) I used carbon black acrylic paint: a mix of fluid and open mixed with acrylic flow release & water and then poured out of a widemouth jar.  Sometimes I feel like a mad chemist mixing everything  to get the right flow.  These are all Golden's products.

A close up of day 4 with another circle of Golden's Fluid in titanium white. 

This canvas measure 7 x 7 ft and is primed with white gesso. Today's  Boston Globe said there are 46 days left in the year.  My goal with this (Circle painting # 4) is to make a circle every day of this year.

CIRCLE # 4

Circle # 4
acrylic/canvas
7 x 7 ft

Yesterday I started another circle painting.  The first line is drawn!

HOLIDAY SPIRIT

Halloween is such a wickedly fun & magical holiday.  

I love seeing all the little ghosts, goblins and ghouls along with the neighborhood kids that stop by for some treats.

 To help these little spirits find our door the pumpkins put on their nighttime faces and just glowed.  

On these now early dark & cold November nights one needs to keep those magical lights burning bright to light our way home.

Pumpkins by me, photos by Pip!

STILL GOOD NEWS

Navigating the Distance Between Us
mixed media/paper
30 x 22

This year Concord Art Association's 14th Annual Frances N. Roddy Open Competition was juried by Nick Capasso, Director, Fitchburg Art Museum.  While this may be considered old news now in fast pace world of art, my news is my accepted painting, "Navigating the Distance Between Us," sold at this exhibit.  This is a first for me to have a sale at a juried show and is still an exciting event.

Part of the exhibit

I unfortuantely missed the reception and the chance to meet all the other artists exhibiting in this fine show.  My work hung between Karen Jones's "Study in Black and White," (L) and First Place winner Lynda Schlosberg's painting, "As Above, So Below," on the right.  Another award winner is my friend Anne Russell and her monotype, "Artichoke and Lemons."  It is equally exciting to see friends' work get well deserved recognition!

2nd PLACE

Slip # 2
acrylic/canvas
18 x 18

Slip # 2, my acrylic painting from my Slip Series has been awarded 2nd place in the ISAP 6th Annual Signature Members Online Show 2013 juried by artist Robert Burridge.  It is a very nice email to wake up to on the first day of November.  Yesterday, I was filling out my application for the SMFA Art Sale and when it asked for information on awards my response was, "none lately."  How nice to be corrected!

SACRED CIRCLE

Circle # 4
acrylic on canvas
6 ft x 5 ft

Happy Halloween!

Today I finished my fourth circle painting started in September.  This series was inspired by a yoga class I took last November while at the Vermont Studio Center.  In this class we performed our yoga practice within the circle of a large, beautifully made hoop - I think it was cedar as it smelled wonderful. 

Based on that class I was inspired to make these paintings due to the healing benefits of "being" in a circle.  Each day that I am in the studio I make a circle and alternate the colors of black and white acrylic.  It has become a studio ritual.  Tomorrow I hope to post more images of the progression on this painting.  

As my circles take on a life of their they become a journey.

69th MEMBERS PRIZE SHOW

If I Leave Now
mixed media/paper
30 x 22

My painting, "If I Leave Now," from my Journey Series, is hanging at the University Place Gallery on 124 Mt Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA.  This was accepted into the Cambridge Art Association 69th Members Prize Show juried by Kate McNamara, Director & Chief Curator Boston University Gallery.  I have applied to this show the last few years and and am happy to finally have a painting accepted.

The show is up until November 2, 2013.  It is a very strong show and I am honored to be among such talented artists.  My painting is hanging next to Kathleen Gerdon Archer's digtal photograph titled: "As If It Had Never Been."  She is a fellow member in the Rocky Neck Gallery.

This is the painting to the right of mine.  I can't remember the artist's name but I like being sandwiched between these two artworks.  It is nice to be among friends and meet new ones through art!  

FRAMING

Tracing the Journey
mixed media/paper

I am in the process of framing this painting Tracing the Journey which is actually two sheets of 300 lb CP watercolor paper. Once framed it will measure the same as it is now 30 x 44.  This work will not be behind glass or a mat and when on the wall it will look like it is floating.  The process is a bit labor intensive but once this is finished it will definately be worthwhile.  More details to come.  In the meantime wish me luck!

NEW CLASS

I have been invited to teach my class: Creating a Meaningful Series, at the Mother Brook Arts and Community Center in Dedham starting on Wednesday, October 16th.  This will be a 6 week class from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM.  I hope you can join me for a fun, inspiring and creative workshop and see how your paintings skills are strenghened by working in series.

Mother Brook Arts is located on 123 High Street at the former Avery Elementary School - a very cool place! 

This is the course description:

Develop your graphic language by creating a series.  Learn how to create a comprehensive body of work that explores an idea, form, visual sensation or feeling; explore and expand on a concept through variation on a theme; develop a personal expression and signature style. We will do painting exercises to support creating a series.  Class time will allow students to paint with individual attention.  Each session ends with a critique and class discussion.  Watermedia.

For more information contact Mother Brook Arts: info@motherbrookarts.org 

SEPTEMBER CIRCLE

When I finally got back into the studio in early September I started a new circle painting on a large rectangle of canvas.  (This was the end of the roll.)  The first circle of 9/10 is black acrylic paint Golden's Open Carbon Black with a lot of Golden's Open Acrylic Medium Gloss.

The first thing I do once I am at the studio is to make a circle.  The canvas is flat on the floor and I stand in the center pouring paint moving 180 degrees.  This is after a few days. The door helps to show the size of the piece.

Yesterday I made a large black circle and then folded it up to get some interesting movement in the paint.  I try to keep the sides from touching but it becomes challenging moving this large canvas about and this manhandling creates the random mark.

A detail.  This circle will go through October.  A goal is the be there everyday this next month making circles.  Wish me luck! 

STILL SCRIBBLING

Mixed media on paper
40 x 44

In spite of a seemingly full time marketing job I have been able to get back to the studio to play.  I am still scribbling away on this painting while I consider my next project and direction.  It feels good to just work with lots of materials.

TODAY

Scribbles
(work in progress)
mixed media on paper
40 x 44

After going to the UPS office to ship artwork and pick up a painting at Concord Art Association I finally arrived at the studio at 11 AM.  It seems like days since I have painted and I was feeling anxious about that.  Still, I spent a lot of time puttering: sorting paintings, organizing art supplies, taking inventory of paints, gesso-ing paper & hanging unfinished work on the walls.  Procrastinating.  Finally around 3 PM I tacked the gessoed paper to the wall and made a mark.  Then I made another mark, and so on and finally I was painting.  I had no goal except to experiment with the tools I had on hand: Caran d'Ache crayons, India ink, watercolors and graphite.  Sometimes I just have to hang out at the studio for hours before painting begins. By the time I left,  I felt like it had been a very productive time at the studio today. 

ACCEPTED

Navigating the Distance Between Us
mixed media / paper
30 x 22

This painting was just accepted into the 14th Annual Francis N. Roddy Open Competition at the Concord Art Association.  The juror is Nick Capasso, Director of the Fitchburg Art Museum.  I am a big fan of Nick and his tremendous talents in the art world so it is exciting to have been invited into this show.  The exhibit opens September 12th to October 13th and the reception is on Sunday, September 15th @ 2 -4 PM.  I hope you can join us for the reception and see this show. 

ARTSCOPE NEWSBLAST

IF I LEAVE NOW
mixed media/paper
36 x 28 framed
30 x 22



The SouthEnd by NorthEast exhibit is featured in the latest email blast by Artscope magazine!  

This new show opened Thursday, 8/29, at the Cultural Center on Rocky Neck (6 Wonson Street).  The show curated by RNAC Creative Director Gigi Mederos features the work of 5 artists from Boston's South End and four artists from the North Shore.  An artists' reception will be held on Sunday, September 8th, from 5-7 PM.  I hope you can join us!

I am very excited to be invited to participate in this show with these talented artists: Adam Batliner, Cathy Benningham, Susan Blatt, Linda Cordner, Kay Ives, Elynn Kroger, Ben MacAdam and Mary Bucci McCoy!

FRAMED

You Only Just Arrived
mixed media/paper
30 x 22
framed 36 x 28
$985.

These two paintings are now framed and ready for their debut in Gloucester in the new show Southend by Northeast!  This exhibit curated by Gigi Mederos, creative director of the Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC), features the work of five artists from Boston's South End and four artists from the North Shore.

I am very happy to be one of the four North Shore artists invited to exhibit with this dynamic group.  My two paintings are part of my Journeys series I started last year and am continuing to explore. 

If I Leave Now
mixed media/paper
30 x 22
framed 36 x 28
$985.00

The exhibit opens on Thursday, August 29, until September 22nd, at the Cultural Center of RNAC, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester.  An artists' reception will be held on Sunday, September 8 from 5-7 PM.

I hope you can join us on Sunday, 9/7, and see the works of Adam Batliner, Cathy Bennigson, Susan Blatt, Linda Cordner, Kay Ives, Elynn Kroger, Ben MacAdam, Mary Bucci McCoy and moi!

FIXED

Secondary Roads
mixed media on paper
22 x 30

I was able to fix the hole in my painting Secondary Roads, part of my Journeys Series.  More of this series will be on my website shortly under Works on Paper.   

FIX IT?

Secondary Roads
mixed media on paper
22 x 30

While spending two weeks in Pemaquid, ME in June, working on my Journeys Series I created this painting Secondary Roads.  Unfortunately it was damaged in the trip home.  It stuck to another painting and when I tried to separate them the paint lifted off at the upper middle edge.  Now it needs repairing... though I have discovered, countless times, I never actually fix a painting - I just transform it.  Still wish me luck!

  

SHOWING ELSEWHERE

St Albans
mixed media/paper
30 x 22

For the month of August these two paintings are now out of the state with one even west of the Mississippi River and the other outside New England!  St Albans above, from my Journeys Series, is in the “Map It,” National Juried Show at the Riversides Arts Center in Ypsilanti, MI.  This show runs from August 1 until the 24^th.

Slip # 10,from my Slip Series, is in the 16th Annual Open ISAP International Exhibit in Paso Robles, CA.  This exhibit opened on the same day as the “Map It,” show and runs until September 2^nd.  And this show is available to see online.  I love having my paintings exhibited in other parts of the country. 

Slip # 10
acrylic/canvas
18 x 18

SURF

SURF
oil/panel
10 x 10

Thinking about a day at the beach while I stay inside catching up on paper work.