more from the button factory

Wow. Can't believe it has taken me so long to follow up on some of the art I enjoyed at this year's Button Factory open studio. Admittedly my time there was TOO short, but I did get to the studio of Jen Benn, the reigning queen of technology paintings. How does one make circuit boards look beautiful? Always richly painted, Jen's canvases are filled with wonderful patterns. I could see sections being reproduced as fabrics. And this year she introduced some intricate patterns representing DNA. Jen likes to work on large canvases, but I heard a rumor that she might work on a series of smaller works. Stay tuned.......
AND, as always, Tim Gaudreau had some a provocative works aimed at raising awareness of environmental concerns. Previous projects have included a Lost and Found series which more or less viewed discarded litter as it might be seen through the eyes of someone visiting our planet for the first time. Tim's Self- Portrait Through Trash show won him national recognition. And this latest group of photo collages assembled in a cross formation, depict packaging,(ultimately trash) made necessary by our increasing desire for convenience, as modern day idols. In all of these projects, Tim manages to awaken an awareness regarding serious environmental issues, without really preaching. I think this is a much more effective means of getting his audience to examine their own behaviors and perhaps make modifications which will benefit the planet. It's important work.

only show your hands to this woman if you can handle the truth!!

I briefly attended the open studios at the Button Factory this weekend. More about the art in a bit, but FIRST I must tell you about a fascinating hand reading I had done at Tim Gaudreau's studio. Tim's wife, Atlanta is a certified hand analyst. She examines your hand shape, line formations and fingerprints to tell you some things about yourself; your strengths and weaknesses, your journey, the stumbling blocks and how you might overcome them. Now when Tim first sent out the email about hand readings I thought of it as a fun, quirky kind of thing. But almost as soon as she took a look at these working hands of mine, she started telling me all kinds of things about myself which I KNOW to be true. And some other things I have really been thinking about the past couple of days. It was amazing! I had just the brief ten minute reading, but I hope to have her do the full hour reading at some point. Atlanta does not yet have website, but I'm sure you could contact her through Tim's. I would highly recommend it!

Thanksgiving already???

WOW. I mean I know it's a little early this year, but it feels more like a month early! It has been a busy Fall and deceptively warm.......until the SNOW today! I hope you are all able to enjoy a relaxing (at least for we, the non-cooks) Thanksgiving with family and friends. You have to love a holiday that is just about eating and visiting! And this weekend if you are looking for a "non-mall" alternative to kicking off your holiday shopping, please come to Art on the Hill, an open studio at 78 Government Street in Kittery, ME. The event takes place on Sat and Sun (Nov 24th & 25th) I will be there along with nearly 30 artist and crafts people. So there should be a wonderful mix of work. I plan to bring a number of original pastels, large and small, representational and abstract......AND my new shipment of calendars. It would be great to see you! OH, and I almost forgot to mention, we will have some delicious appetizers on Saturday afternoon, courtesy of personal chef, Joyce Amorim.

Magical Mexico in Portsmouth

While gallery sitting this afternoon at Three Graces Gallery, I was surrounded by the beautiful, colorful works of Santiago Martinez from Oaxaca, Mexico. Even as they reference reality; the figure, a studio, nature, the paintings also have a fantastical quality. Each compositional element is included intentionally, beautifully, while much is eliminated. It it a luminous and enchanting world, one well worth visiting if you are able. The show is up through November 25th.

acrylic painting class

I recently started an acrylic painting class at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, shocking, I know as I am pastel-girl. Having worked with pastels for so many years, this new exploration has been challenging, but it is my expectation that working in another medium will open up some new avenues creatively and for my business. SO......with all that in mind, I registered for a class which meets two days per week with teacher extrodinaire, Phil Press. I took drawing with him several years ago and knew he had a teaching style that was constructive without being intrusive. That is to say, he is there to guide you along in your own direction, but does not stand over your shoulder while you work. As an added bonus, the other students in the class are serious about painting and often take time to comment on the work of others in a supportive way. It's a wonderful environment and I already know it will prove very valuable to me going forward. Stay tuned.........

DC tour

Just got back from a mini-vacation touring Washington DC with my Dad and sister. Kind of embarrassing to admit it was my first time there as an adult. WOW, what a place!! You could easily spend a month checking out all the monuments, museums and government buildings. (And it's all free!!........well, as long as you don't think about the taxes you pay every year.) All the buildings were so large in scale and I really felt the energy of the place. It's where global decisions are made on a daily basis. I also found the people to be very PATIENT with we, the bungling tourists. I will DEFINITELY be visit again before too long........

calendars at the MFA!!

A friend of mine was recently at the MFA and sent me some photos of my calendar in the store. She took them with the camera on her phone, so they are a little grainy, but STILL...there they are!! I heard from the head of retail that they are selling well. What a thrill for me and a wonderful opportunity to reach a new audience!

calendars are shipping like crazy!!!

The launch of my first art calendar (2008) has been exciting and has kept me very busy. Tim did a great job on these and the orders through my site have been brisk. The folks at Post Office are getting to know me quite well! Keep those orders pouring in. My shipping manager is ready and waiting!

exhausted assistant

Occasionally after a working frenzy (which I have been in since about January) I need to take some time to individually clean and re-sort the pastels in my working tray. It can be a tedious process, but necessary. Now my tray is all spiffed up and ready to go for the next project! Lula, my loyal assistant, found the whole thing rather exhausting.

porcelain pot

This week I was most fortunate to acquire a beautiful porcelain pot from the studio of Tim Christensen-Kirby. Tim begins by either throwing a vessel on the wheel or building it from slab. Once dried, he further refines the shape by filing and sanding. Then it is covered with a black slip into which he inscribes his drawings. Always based in nature, his designs are thoughtfully conceived and executed. Once fired, the design is permanent and the result is a truly unique piece of art.

Hopper

I FINALLY got myself in to the MFA Hopper show at practically the last hour! I have admired Edward Hopper's work for years, and of course, I have seen some of it in person before. But seeing a retrospective was SO much more informative and satisfying. The man knew composition and light....and color. Some of the paintings just pulled me right over to them and held me there. And standing in front of some of his larger canvases, I had an almost meditative feeling of immersion that I could never experience from a book. Wish I had gone in earlier, so that I could have encouraged you all to check it out. Hopefully, you were way ahead of me!

nahcotta opening

The opening last night at Nahcotta was really buzzing! I was so happy to see family members and friends who traveled from near and far to support me. It was also wonderful to meet some of the other artists who's work I admire. All in all a great night!

art in embassies exhibition

I found a HUGE surprise in my mailbox last week. I received several copies of the catalog for the Art in Embassies exhibition in Botswana. (One of my pastels is there on loan.) I was absolutely shocked, thrilled, humbled to see that they used my piece as the image for the cover of the catalog!

calendar in the works

I am most fortunate to have to have my good friend AND awarding-winning photographer, Tim Gaudreau, working away on my very first art calendar! (2008) Not only is Tim very skilled, but also VERY patient as we collaborate in the proofing process, often using phrases like.........

Help me to better understand what you mean by that.

He is doing a GREAT job. The calendars should be ready in a few weeks' time. I will be sure to let you know!

administrative assistant

I recently adopted a sweet little kitten from the Merrimack River Feline Rescue ...a wonderful place if you are thinking about bringing home a new family member. Miss Lula has proven most helpful with administrative matters. Mr Max is still thinking things over.

landscape show

Here is a small preview of some works I will be exhibiting as part of the landscape show at Nahcotta. I am excited to be showing with some wonderful artists at this very hip gallery, right here in my own homwe town!! The show opens on August 8th, so please check it out!