Monthly Archives: November 2011

…back to some familiar fun, for holiday gifts!

October/November 2011

I currently have a piece  - The Dancer – “hanging” in a virtual show;  the MFA Online Member Juried Exhibition, juried by Sue Ann Lasher of West Annapolis Artworks & Fine Framing.

July 2011

I was honored to have one of my paintings selected for Maryland Federation of Art‘s National Juried competition “Strokes of Genius,” juried by Daniel Shay of the National Gallery of Art in DC. We had a lovely chat about my painting, and when I asked what he responded to, he said it was poetic and cerebral. Wonderful comments! For this series, I put my brain in the passenger seat and let my heart take the wheel. And while I was surprised at the descriptor of cerebral, I did plan this series and how each painting would develop, which was a first for me with the abstracts. The freedom from extensive planning is what drew me away from representational work and toward abstraction. Now that I’ve had my bout with wild abandon, I can happily blend planning and spontaneity.

I am encouraged to continue in the direction of this recent series. Getting feedback is important at this stage, as it is harder to know if I am truly developing and growing with my abstracts than it is with my representational work. Thank you, Mr. Shay, for your time and gracious conversation.

April 2o11

After the intensity of preparing for my last exhibit, I decided to take a few weeks to breathe, re-energize and get caught up on the mundane things of everyday living that seem ridiculous when in the throes of creation.

To wind-up my respite, I indulged in an energizing art immersion weekend, with instruction at the Art Studio New York (thank you Charlotta Westergren for your immediate guidance, inspiration and friendship!) and endless hours of working up an appetite hopping from museums to galleries to shops and on and on…  Of course, there is no end to great food and fun in the big apple and I did a little of everything!

Now I’m ready jump back in – I have a renewed spirit and a new direction.  The painting I worked on in NY is the next level of building up, excavating, layering – adding and subtracting, back and forth.

Following this muse, and urged on by Charlotta, I now plan to work very large as I have wanted to do for two years – I am ready!

October, 2010

I needed a get-away, and I got it – and so much more!  I flew from Maryland to California for a three-day intensive workshop on “Abstraction from Nature” offered by San Francisco artist  Tesia Blackburn – FABULOUS!  She’s an amazing artist, instructor and a great person- and her artwork is stunning!  The workshop was held in Ukiah in the heart of Mendocino County, at the Art Center Ukiah, which is a wonderful hub for incredibly talented artists.

There were eight of us in the workshop and Tesia was tuned in to each one of us.  We sketched from the vineyard countryside and visited a little gem within Ukiah, which is the City of 10,000 Buddhas – a thriving community of monks, peacocks and visitors.  The Temple walls are lined with golden Buddhas, and the streets are named “Mindfulness Way” and “Joyful Alley.”   How can one not be inspired?!    I created three paintings while I was there, and “Jewels” is by far my favorite.   Check out Tesia’s workshops if you are in or plan to be in the Bay Area of Northern California – a truly wonderful experience!

Thank you Tesia – for your friendship and guidance -  I hope to return for more of your great instruction!

PS:  Tesia is affiliated with Golden Paints as one of their Working Artists.  Working in acrylic for two years now, I am a loyal Golden Paint artist – the paints have a high pigment load; the variety and quality of mediums are unmatched!   Check out their Working Artist workshops around the country.