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!

DETANGLED

Tuesday, October 27th, our show Detangled opens at Cambridge Art Association's (CAA) Kathryn Schultz Gallery,  featuring new paintings by Joseph Fontinha, Wendy Young and myself.  Joseph, I met at CAA's exhibit Paint last winter where we were both awarded juror's choice awards by Ali Ringenburg of Boston's Sloane Merrill Gallery.  And Wendy and I share a studio in Arlington.  We realized our art is intuitively linked in the exploration of detangling the past.

Here is a segment from our exhibit's statement:

Detangled is an amalgam of the “now” fused with dreamlike memories. Feelings, non­literal portraiture, internal landscapes, and a celebration of process are common threads that bind Joseph Fontinha, Martha Wakefield and Wendy Young.  Their images share bold marks creating immediacy while maintaining an overt sense of trace.  The final surface is the culmination of the past leading to a visual present....

I will be showing all new work created this year.

Beyond Light
mixed media/paper
22" x 30"

Please join us Friday, October 30, 2015 for an artists' reception from 7-9 PM at Kathryn Schultz Gallery, 25 Lowell Street, Cambridge, MA.

Also during this Detangled show enjoy Detangle Yourself Yoga in the gallery:

Artists & yoga instructors Martha Wakefield RYT – 200 and Katie Kelley RYT – 200 will lead two 90 minute yoga session of alignment based vinyasa flow, guided meditation and pranayama to detangle you body, nurture your soul, & inspire your creative spirit. 

The sessions are Wednesday November 4th @ 6-7:30 PM & Wednesday November 11th @ 11 AM - 12:30 PM.  Registration is required as space is limited - to register click here. Please bring a yoga mat & wear comfortable loose clothing.

Detangled runs until November 13, 2015.  Gallery hours are Tuesday - Saturday 11 AM - 5 PM.

PUSHING COLOR

Last week in the studio.  Day 1 of this painting using my favorite colors: cadmiums.  

Acrylic on panel 16" x 20".

Day 2 - getting outside my "color zone."

Finished.  A keeper to remind myself to really play the colors.

COLOR IS POWER

If color is power discover your color strength on Saturday, October 17th, 2015, in an expressive color workshop at Mother Brook Arts in Dedham, MA.  This daylong workshop runs from 10 AM - 5 PM (with a break for lunch) offering plenty of time to experiment and learn about the dynamics of color.

Here is the class description:

Learn the properties and personalities of colors to make your paintings more luminous and vibrant.  As Vassily Kandinsky said, “Color is a power, which directly influences the soul.”  Color is the dominating element of strong paintings. In this workshop we will learn the language of color and color relationships through exercise, demos and examining the master artists’ of the past and contemporary artists’ paintings to further enhance your color knowledge.  Martha creates a supportive art-filled environment to assist each student in deepening his or her expressive voice.   Watermedia.  All levels.

Make your paintings more dynamic.  Find you signature palette and create a personal statement of your expressive voice.  The exploration starts on Saturday, October 17th in a fun and supportive painting environment.  Hope you can join me in this journey!

To register and for the supply list please click here

NOW IN KANSAS

Shift # 10
mixed media/paper
30" x 22" 2011

Where did that popular saying,  "We are not in Kansas anymore," come from?  I know I have used it over the years when finding myself in an unfamiliar places.  Thinking it is from the  Wizard of Oz, I googled it to be sure.  And, yes, Dorothy said to Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

Shift # 24
mixed media/paper
30" x 22" 2012

I am happy to report that these 3 paintings are not in unfamiliar territory but now hanging together in a corporate collection in Kansas.  The paintings are from my Slip series created from 2011-2013 and are mixed media on 300 lb CP paper.  Once again I am very grateful to Larry Powers and his staff at Powers Gallery for their wonderful support and for introducing my work to another client.

Intimate II
mixed media/paper
30" x 22"  2011

Powers Gallery now represents my work on paper including my Slp series, Journeys series and new works created this year.  If interested in seeing more of my paintings you can contact the gallery at 978-263-5105 or visit them at 144 Great Road in Acton, MA.  

NEW HOME

Shift #19

Shift # 19 now has a new home with thanks to Powers Gallery of Acton, MA.  Powers Gallery now represents my works on paper since June of this year.  This painting is from my Slip series and one of my favorites. The medium is watercolor and India ink and it measures 30" x 22", unframed, on 300 lb CP paper.  I am very excited to have this welcome into a new home and grateful for Powers Gallery for making it happen.