WINTER IN BLOOM

FINDING A WAY THROUGH
mixed media/paper
22" x 30" 2015

Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Boylston, MA invited these two paintings to exhibit at their Winter in Bloom, A Month of Flowers show.   This exhibit is running from February 5 - 28, 2016.  Each weekend Tower Hill offers events for all ages.  The artwork is complimented by floral arrangements specially created for the event.

INNER SIGHT
mixed media/paper
22" x 30" 2015

I am excited to have this new work shown in this special place. It is delightful destination spot to visit in all seasons and especially in these winter months as the place is buzzing with events both inside and out.  Tower Hill Botanical Garden is located on 11 French Drive in Bolyston, MA, an easy drive from the Boston area.

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

New classes and workshops will be offered (all levels & water media) soon at Concord Art Association in Concord,  at Mother Brook Art & Community Center in Dedham, and at the Rockport Art Association in Rockport, MA.

Rockport Art Association: 2 day Expressive Painting Workshop on Saturday, April 30 / Sunday, May 1 from 9 AM - 3 PM.  All levels, any media.  Stay tuned for links to sign up and more workshop details.

Concord Art Association: Abstracting the Landscape,  5 week class starting Tuesdays May 24 - June 21, 1:30 - 4:30 PM.

Mother Brook Arts, Dedham, MA  1 day weekend workshops TBD and a 5 week beginner water media class on Tuesday evenings, starting April 5th, 6:30 - 9 PM.

I will be posting dates, times, class descriptions and links in the next few days so please check back.

2015 REVIEW

Talk & painting demo at Concord Art Association

Happy New Year!

We celebrate the new year as we say good bye to the past year.  In reflection 2015 was a year of bounty for me.  Here are a few highlights of 2015:

I finished the year giving a painting demo at Concord Art Association in early December.  It was a treat to connect with many friends and meet new followers of my work.  Since my art practice is solitary it is so refreshing to know there are fans out there.

I had the chance to study with Katherine Chang Liu in October and meet a wonderful group of artists from around the country.  I also continued to work with friend and mentor Skip Lawrence marking 10 years together.

Powers Gallery of Acton, MA, now represents my work on paper.  This relationship started in June of 2015 and I am happy to report they have sold 4 paintings since then.

SHIFT # 19
watercolor & India ink/paper
30" x 22"
sold by Powers Gallery

I had a solo show of my Wild Beauty series in Gloucester, MA, last August.  In late October I was in a 3-person show Detangled with Wendy Young (studio mate)and Joseph Fontinha at the Kathryn Schultz Gallery in Cambridge, MA.

My paintings were invited to other shows in 2015 from California to Maine.  I was awarded 2 prizes,  one being a large gift of acrylic paints from M. Graham & Co.  Thank you!

As a staff writer for The Palette Magazine (back issues now available on Etsy) I enjoyed writing about such interesting artists at work in Canada, New Hampshire, Montana and Georgia.  Plus working with my two editors is never dull.

Teaching is something I really enjoy and this past year I gave several workshops at Mother Brook Arts in Dedham, MA on color and the graphic language.  This year I plan to do more workshops as I find its a great way to share information and even better learn from my students.

new work in progress
acrylic/panel
36" x 36"

The new year is starting out with a brand new series.  For the first time I am working on 12 panels 36 inches square.  A new size for me.  I will be posting about this series in the days to come.

Thank you all for following my blog this past year,  for supporting and sending me feedback. I am finally on Instagram and posting daily.  You can find me @ MMWakefield.  And I plan to be diligent about posting on my blog and twitter  - at least weekly!  But for now the studio calls!  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Wishing you peace, joy, love and laughter this holiday season and each day in the new year!

And many thanks for following my blog this past year.  

Best Wishes & Happy Holidays, 

Martha

MAKING SPACE

Before

Just reorganized my stuff to make room for a new series I am beginning.  Six 36' x 36" panels, all prepped, will be here tomorrow.  

After

DEMO @ CONCORD ART

On Wednesday, December 2nd, I have been invited to give a painting demo and talk at Concord Art.

Lily Pond & Dark Woods
oil/panel
10" x 10"

My talk is titled Abstracting Nature:  

Wakefield is an energetic painter, abstracting the natural world with expressive color and mark-making. She works in oils on carefully prepared panels. To create luminosity, Wakefield utilizes many tools in addition to the brush, which she uses to both apply and scrape away paint on the surface. Wakefield will discuss her tools, preparing her panels, and her process—simplifying the subject to create a personal expression.

Wild Beauty
oil/panel
8" x 8"

The fun starts at 10:30 AM until 12:20 PM.  Please join me for an art-filled two hours.  Concord Art is located at 37 Lexington Road, in Concord with plenty of street parking available.  For more information call 978-369-2578 or concordant.org.

SMFA Art Sale

Barely
watercolor/paper
30" x 22"

It is that time of the year again - the SMFA Art sale is opening this Thursday until Sunday.  I have two paintings in the show.  Both are from my Slip series.  Barely, above, is framed in a slim frosted gold metal frame measuring 36" x 28" with archival 6 ply mat and archival backing board.  The painting is watercolor on 300 lb CP paper. Below is Intimate III, also watercolor on 300 lb CP paper.  This one is offered as a shrink-wrap.  For pricing info click here.  If you would like to view more from my Slip series please visit my website or Powers Gallery in Acton where they have a selection of my abstract slips.

Intimate III
watercolor/paper
30" x 22"

Hours for the sale are Thursday 11/19 - Saturday 11/20 @ 10 AM - 8 PM.  Sunday 11/22 from 10 AM - 5 PM. Click here for directions & for more information please click here.  Hope to see you there!