something good is happening

.......to quote the B52s. SO.......I have been plugging away in the studio working in acrylic on a series of small panels for the Enormous Tiny Art show at Nahcotta in February.........and now twelve panels into it, I can see that something is starting to gel. I am allowing myself to paint in whatever fashion moves me. Some of these pieces are representational. Some are abstract. Some have texture. I am not over analyzing, but just stepping into the process. I can feel that I am internalizing something. Not sure what just yet. Am I getting excited? Yes! Am I ready to share these images? Not quite yet. I need to dig in a bit more........BUT, just wanted you to know...something good is happening!!

In the meantime, I will post a picture of the always beautiful Lula and Max :)

back to reality

I just returned from a super relaxing vacation visiting family in FL. It was a week without deadlines: just some reading, painting, eating, drinking and sleeping! What a wonderful concept. When I got home Saturday night, the wind was howling and the temperature was 21 degrees. Hmmmmm.

While away, I began a spring series done in acrylic on small wood blocks. I am hoping to debut them at Nahcotta's Enormous Tiny Art show in February. I should mention that in order to fit my art supplies in my suitcase, I had to sacrifice shoes, clothes and my hairdryer!!.....lest you question my devotion to my work :)

2009 calendars!

I have been delighted by the response to my 2009 calendar! Almost everyone who sees it says, without any prompting, "Oh I LOVE the size!" It's funny because I was hesitant to make the calendar smaller, 8x8 as opposed to 12x12, for fear it would diminish the visual impact. But it still has plenty of punch and this new, smaller size is much easier to find a convenient spot for. Who knew?? People are also loving the translucent white envelope which makes a nice presentation. (and is recyclable!!) I have also been gratified to hear some encouraging comments regarding the variety of imagery. I tried to mix it up a bit to mirror my creative journey.

Sky Fever

I have recently been doing some work in an elongated format. It seems to add to the expansive feeling of the painting. One such pastel, Sky Fever, is currently on view at Nahcotta.

where did the summer go??!!

This summer went by with lightening speed. Recently a friend of mine was bemoaning all the rain we’d had and I hadn’t even noticed! I had a number of show commitments and weekends away with family and friends. Lots going on. But one evening really stands out for me. I have four nieces who all live in different states, MA, ME, FL and TX. Somehow the planets aligned and they all happened to be in New England the same week. We had an impromptu dinner at my Dad’s in NH. It was the first time they all been in one place together in years! And two of them also brought their little ones. My Dad’s normally tranquil house was filled with the sounds of giggling, tumbling, laughter and fragmented conversation. It was a brief, chaotic, but very special family time. A beautiful gift.

small works shows open Friday, Sept 5!!

Two fabulous galleries here in Portsmouth are busily preparing for their bi-annual small works shows. The Teeny Tiny Art Show III at Three Graces Gallery and the
Enormous Tiny Art Show IV at Nahcotta both promise to be amazing. The galleries will be featuring approximately 300 and 400 works respectively. It's a wonderful way take in a huge amount of diverse work. Participating artists are from all over the country. And works are very reasonably priced, so it's great way to begin or expand your art collection. The openings are in conjunction with Art'Round Town which has been moved to the first Friday of the month, so Friday September 5th from 5-8. Should be a blast!!

lanscape show at Nahcotta

I just delivered some "hot off the easel" pastels to Nahcotta for their 2008 landscape show. Most of the other artists had already dropped off their work and it looks like it's going to be an exciting show! It always fascinating to see the varied interpretations of any given theme. The opening is this Friday, August 8 from 5-8. It would be great to see you there!!!

Denmark Magic

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of spending some time in Denmark, ME with my family. My brother-in-law and his family built a beautiful vacation home, right on the water. Many of the materials were recycled. It is a welcoming and relaxing place with lots of amazing views. I think I feel a new series coming on.

show on Martha's Vineyard!!

Well......FINALLY Summer has arrived!! Beaches and barbecues await! Should your travels this year take you to beautiful Martha's Vineyard, I hope you will stop into the Belushi Pisano Gallery in the heart of Vineyard Haven. The gallery is filled with wonderful original art and fine crafts. I am excited to be having a show there this year. The opening is July 18th. Would LOVE to see you there! But even if you are unable to make it that night, my work is on hand throughout the season.

distillations

I have been working on some paintings using acrylic. Before I begin, I usually tone the surface and/ or use a palette knife to smear on some textured gel medium. Once the surface is dry, I begin to put color on top of it. I am thinking about color, light, texture and paint. I am thinking about rock formations, the ocean, currents, the wind and sky. AND......I am trying NOT to think too much, but to just respond to what is already on the surface. One mark goes down, which inspires the next, and so on. While these paintings might not be recognizable as landscape, they are distillations many years of observation. They celebrate paint for its own sake and more directly express emotion purely by use of color.

left bank gallery in wellfleet

I recently delivered a new body of work to the Left Bank Gallery in Wellfleet. What a gorgeous spot, right on the marsh. The gallery is filled with amazing original art, fine crafts and furnishings and jewelry. It's true, the cost of gas is through the roof, but go anyway!! Summer is short. Go to the beach, barbecue, ride bikes, garden, eat ice cream and BUY ART! :)

why abstraction??

WHY, one might reasonably ask, after many years of study and development, of honing the ability to make a two dimensional surface look like "something", in my case a landscape in three dimension.......WHY then would you wish to disregard that skill in favor of abstraction?? Paint, texture, color, on a two dimensional plane. There are several ways in which to answer this question. One is that when looking at the work of other painters, I found myself drawn to abstract work. The other is that after many years of exploring the landscape, I am needing something new to keep me challenged creatively. On some level, I have always used landscape as a vehicle for expressing emotion through color and light. With my abstract work, I am still using the same elements of composition, color, light, value, rhythm, texture. Just in a more direct way. And believe me,it is incredibly challenging. I'm not exactly sure where I am heading, but the journey is exciting. It is that unknown that pulls me forward.

blog neglect

...........guilty as charged. There is NO excuse. And yet, I will offer this. I have been working REALLY hard in my studio!! My solo show at Nahcotta was such an exciting experience. As I have mentioned before, Nahcotta is a wonderful gallery, right here in my FAB hometown. And.......the show, Explorations, introduced some of my new work in acrylic. The opening was amazing!! The show is up through June 8th, so there is still time to see it!!

Currently, I am working on deliveries to two other incredible galleries, a bit south of here. The Left Bank Gallery in Welfleet on the Cape ..........and the Belushi-Pisano Gallery on Martha's Vineyard. I am very excited about the upcoming Summer season. Stay tuned!

fabulous monotype workshop!!!!

This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity of attending a monotype workshop in the studio of Roger Goldenberg. I have been curious about monotypes for a long time and thought it could be a good way to expand my creative language. My good friend, Jean, who was way overdue for a Portsmouth visit signed up, too! (We went to art school together some gazillion years ago) And only when I arrived at the studio, did I realize that one of my neighbors was also a participant! It was a great group and a couple of FULL days. On the first day, we worked on lexan plates. These are a bit thick to go through the press and so require hand rubbing or pressing with a heavy rolling pin onto the paper. The beauty of this method is that it can be easily replicated at home. We worked initially in reductive manner, which was a great way to explore mark making with a variety of implements, and then by applying inks to the plate in additive approach. Day two brought aluminum plates, which were better suited to going through the press and afforded experimentation with embossing. Possibilities are infinite! Roger did a wonderful job of teaching many methods in a relaxed manner and in helping us all to maximize our printing time by doing the grunt work of cleaning our plates and tools, so that we could focus on creating. What a treat!! He is a very generous instructor and I would encourage anyone with an interest in printmaking to look into his upcoming workshops.

acrylic explorations

I have been working for some time now, off and on for several years, with acrylic paint. Inevitably, I would become frustrated and / or have a show commitment, so the acrylics would get put away and I would be reunited with my beloved pastels. Ah……..like coming home. So familiar and comfortable. In recent months, however, my study of acrylics has intensified. I have been spending the majority of my studio time socking it out with this unfamiliar medium. So many new things with which to contend. For instance, drying time: With pastels, there is NO drying time. So in SOME ways, the speedy drying time of acrylics is well suited to my working style. But what about when I want to blend color in a large area? I am moving that brush around like crazy!! And when the colors do dry, they are somewhat darker. I will put down a nice highlight at what I deem to be the ideal value, and when it dries it is darker an almost disappears. Then there are the issue of transparency and fluidity, both new for me. And the choice of substrates on which to work…….and the huge number of additives that can be mixed into the paint to alter its texture. Possibilities are infinite. This is both the good news and the bad news. Much to figure out and so many exciting possibilities, which, in case you were wondering WHY I was pushing myself into this new territory (and believe me, I have asked myself that very question many times) …..is the reason. Stay tuned……..(hint: think Nahcotta in May)

how long did it take you to paint that??

Recently, while at Nahcotta, I had the pleasure of meeting one of their clients who has purchased my work on several occasions. Standing in front of one of my paintings, he asked, in a very nice way, “How long did it take you to paint this?” I started with “Well, about twenty years and…then some number of hours.” Immediately, I could imagine him calculating my hourly rate……..and I was really hoping that he was factoring in the twenty years!! It is such a reasonable question. Particularly when one is spending quite a bit of money on artwork, it is reasonable to want to quantify that purchase somehow….in addition to the most important factor of it feeding one’s soul. I have been thinking about that conversation quite a bit of late. As I am exploring a new medium, I find myself remembering my struggles with pastels in the early days….and the feeling of utter elation and surprise when I got one to actually work! Hmmmmm, I would think, “If only I could get that to happen again.” In time, I did develop a better understanding of my materials and a clearer vision for my work. But even today, there are paintings that I am unable to resolve. Every painting, successful or unsuccessful, informs the painting on my easel today. Even when I am not painting, I am thinking about painting. I am looking at light, shadows, reflections, color, values and shapes all the time! Observing. Composing. It is all is part of my creative process.

a few more bits from Cali

A few more things worthy of mention RE: my Cali trip.

In San Francisco, I saw a wonderful show at the SF MOMA. Olafur Eliasson. The exhibit, which is interactive, opens one's awareness to aspects of light, movement and perception. It was truly delightful as well as thought provoking.

While in LA, I had the opportunity to attend the LA Art Show. There were approximately a gazillion galleries represented from across the country, and actually one or two from England. Two artists really stood out for me. One is Rusty Scruby. His works on view were essentially two dimensional, but had undulating surfaces. They almost looked as though they were woven. But the representative explained that his pieces were actually constructed by using a tabbing system which was stable and yet allowed for the variation of the surface. When I looked at his site, I could see that some of his works actually reveal the tabbing system on the front of the piece.

Broken Angel by Steve Yeates really caught my eye. The artist creates sculptures with recycled glass and poured resin. Looked beuatiful in the spotlight.

hey, it's been at least 17 hours! Time for another show!!

Good thing for adrenaline. Julie, of course, had everything well under control, so when I got back to Santa Monica we just needed to hang the work, change clothes.....and away we go! They had removed most of the furniture for the event which really opened up the space and made it easy for people to view the paintings. (Also provided great tumbling space for the little ones) Once again, I had some great conversations with some really interesting people. I was truly honored by the attendance of my ninety -year old Uncle Dan who spends part of the winter with my cousin, Cara and her family in Woodland Hills. It was such a fun night, after which just a small group stayed for a relaxing dinner........PERFECT all around.

It’s hard to convey the appreciation I feel for those who hosted and welcomed me so graciously. I hope it is just the beginning of more such events as I work my way toward becoming ”bi-coastal pastel-girl”.

and now the work begins: LA

After a quick flight to LA, Deb went to stay with friends who had recently moved there and I got to work!! It was great to see my cousin and her family. Julie is a fabulous cook, so once again, I was treated to some amazing meals. I really enjoyed having the chance to visit with her and Paul and their very special son, Flynn. Flynn turned six during my stay there, but I'm pretty sure he has been here before. Thursday night we unpacked the work as one of Julie’s friends had requested a sneak preview. Then Friday AM I packed up the rental-mobile and headed to Huntington Beach, to the home of my friend, Toby. I have known Toby since childhood and she has become one of my biggest collectors.......even though we live 3000 miles apart!! When I first proposed the possibility of going out West to have some small shows, Toby was totally excited to host one. After a little reunion, she and her daughter and I got to work setting up the paintings and getting the food and wine all set up. It was a mad dash, but it all worked out beautifully. Shortly after 7:00 the house began to fill up. Toby was great about bringing me around an introducing me to her guests. It was a great chance to meet a new group of people and many of them seem to feel a connection to my work………which is a supreme compliment. At the end of the evening, we were regaled by one of the guests with hilarious stories of their days working together for Disney. A really fun night with a great group of people. A late night rolled into an early morning and after breakfast, it was time to pack up the work and head back up to Santa Monica fro the Saturday opening. Oh my.

working my way back to Eastern Standard Time

Returned from my FABULOUS West Coast Tour early Tuesday morning and am slowly getting back to real life. It was an amazing trip for me in every way. I had the chance to see some wonderful artwork, drink yummy wine, eat delicous food.....and SHOP!!! And most importanty, reconnect with family and friends AND meet some great new people. Where to begin? Well, oddly enough, the LA pastel tour actually started in San Francisco. I was traveling with my friend, Deb, owner of the way hip Nahcotta gallery, here in Portsmouth. It just so happens that one of the artists she represents, Tjasa Owen, lives and works in San Francisco. I have always admired her work and so we were both thrilled to visit her studio, which is a beautiful space in a quiet little nook, but right around the corner from a thriving neighborhood. Tjasa was so helpful in terms of suggesting galleries we should visit. (Hang was my favorite) And places to eat. At her suggestion, we had breakfast at La Boulangerie, an amazing bakery where everything was freshly made. When you order a large coffee there, they serve it to you in a BOWL!! A bowl of coffee. Yes, indeed, that's the way to start the day. While innocently walking on our way to a gallery, I happened to glance in the window of boutique, Christine Foley. The manager unlocked the door and invited us in. What could we do?? I treated myself to a couple of jackets that are beautifully made........and will serve as a reminder of a wonderful little vacation. Stay tuned for part 2.........LA

Pastel Girl goes to LA!!!!

I am excitedly preparing for my upcoming WEST COAST TOUR!!! The plan was hatched in my studio last Summer when my cousin, Julie, her husband, Paul and their beautiful boy, Flynn all came to visit from Santa Monica, CA. Julie, who I would LOVE to hire as my director of marketing, thought it would be fun to have a little opening reception to introduce my work to her friends in her new home. At first, just the work was going to make the trip to Cali. Then she decided I actually needed to be there to, well, schmooze. (When in LA......) THEN a dear friend of mine, living in Huntington Beach also graciously offered to hold a soiree. So I will be busy with back openings, but it should be a lot of fun. I also hope to do a little touring around and visiting with relatives while there. I have been sorting through the work and getting it packed up and ready to go……….

three steps to guarantee your popularity

1. Move to New Hampshire (preferably a fabulous city like Portsmouth)
2. Register as an independent
3. Wait for Primary season.

It has been an exciting time to be a New Hampshire resident. Candidates have been visiting the area for months! From the planned, well-orchestrated rally, to the spontaneous coffee shop appearance, the candidates and their staff are working hard for the chance to get their message out and win your vote. My phone has been ringing off the hook!!!! I have had the privilege of attending several such events. I love that many of us are able to listen to several candidates and discuss the pros and cons of each with our neighbors as we make our way toward a final choice.