large scale pastels

Wanting to work in pastel on a larger scale, I began to explore materials.  I knew that Golden Artist Paint made a medium specifically for pastels, so I wrote to one to the technical experts at Golden about an appropriate substrate.  He had a number of suggestions.  I decided to try sintra, as it was more like a "board" than like paper.  The surface required several coats of priming, first with gesso and then with the acrylic ground for pastels.  Once the final coat was dry, I had a beautiful, "toothy" surface, just waiting to accept many layers of pastel.  It was so exciting to blend color on this amazing surface and to feel immersed in the larger scale of the piece.  Framed right to the edge, using museum glass, the painting has a very contemporary feel.  This is the first of many to come!

Luminous Transition

  

"Luminous Transition", 30 x 60 inches, acrylic on canvas

Enormous Tiny Art 17 opening: Friday, February 6th, 5-8 PM

"Copper Light 1"  5.75 x 7.75 inches, acrylic on panel

The amazing staff at Nahcotta is busily installing 300+ tiny works in anticipation of the opening the Friday night.  It's always a crazy fun night.  I would highly encourage you to attend if you are able!! Otherwise, perusing online is the next best thing.  (pre-buying is encouraged!!)

one month to go

Today is July 1st.  My solo show at Nahcotta opens one month from today.  Let the hyperventilating begin!  Something happens to me (and I think most artists) when I am working towards a solo show.  I go a little crazy.  There are so many paintings to paint: there is so much to say about my inspiration; my spiritual connection to nature.  And about my materials, pastel and acrylic.  It is not possible to say it all.  I know this, particularly because each painting triggers ideas for so many others, but somehow, that does not keep me from trying.

Diebenkorn: The Berkley Years

I recently saw this incredible show while visiting San Francisco.  I have always been a Diebenkorn fan and seeing a large body of his work was amazing.  His color and paint are beautifully rich.  There is almost an underlying tension in his very well considered compositions.  There was so much to learn from this work and the accompanying video in which he was interviewed about his process.  LOVED this show.  I wish I could see it again!

A day at the Met!

LOVE, love, love the contemporary wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I have seen this piece by Ellsworth Kelly many times, but this time I really looked at the thoughtful transition of hues from a cool yellow to a warm yellow.  Wow.

Inventing Abstraction, 1910–1925 at MOMA

 

Diagram at the show's entrance

I saw a great show at MOMA this weekend: Inventing Abstraction, 1910–1925.  It was so interesting to see and read about how some forward thinking artists of the day, shared ideas, interacting with one another as well as musicians and writers. Their explorations served to re-define “art”, opening countless doors for artists of the future. 

 http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1291

recent acrylic painting

I recently completed this 30x60 acrylic on canvas.  I hope we can find it a good home soon :)

Ogunquit Museum of American Art

I went to the Ogunquit Museum of American Art this morning to drop off a couple of pastels to the gift shop.  What an absolutley beautiful setting.  The grounds surrounding the museum have a variety of sculptures........AND the Atlantic Ocean is right out back!   It's too gorgeous.  Tomorrow the museum opens for the season with a photgraphy exhibit that looks VERY cool.  I plan to visit again soon when I can take a better look.  http://www.ogunquitmuseum.org/events.html

while on my way to someplace else......

Recently at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, I was headed to a small watercolor exhibit.  As I wove through the maze of galleries, I stumbled upon one in which Japanese kimonos were displayed.  I stopped in my tracks.  The fabrics of these robes are so beautifully designed.  Each truly is a work of art.  ALSO this gorgeous basket is a wonderful example of functional art.

one week left!!

Still one week left to see Matt Adrian's show at Nahcotta.  These beautifully painted "bird portraits" are wonderfully stylized.  Somehow one feels the "personality" of the bird coming through.  The entire surface of each painting is very carefully considered.  The often quiet space surrounding the birds give the paintings a contemporary feel..........and some of the titles are hilarious!  Check them out here!  Oh....and you need to click on learn more in order to see the whole image on many of these.

giclees at the MFA, Boston!!

I am "over the moon" excited to tell you that the gift shop at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is now carrying three of my giclees!!  They also have them on their website.  I feel incredibly honored by this endorsement of my work.  Just sharing the good news :)

enormous tiny art eleven!

I JUST dropped off eight tiny pastels to Nahcotta for the ETA 11 show.  The pastels themselves are 3x6 , framed to 8x10.  Some of these images might inspire some larger works at some point in the future.  I always look forward to this show.  The diversity is so great.  Show dates are February 1-29.  The opening is Friday, February 3^rd from 5-8 PM.  It is always such an electric event!

mixed media at the MFA

I am currently taking a class in mixed media at the Museum of Fine Art in Boston.  So far we have created decorative papers using acrylic paint, built three dimensional constructions with cardboard and created a collage which references a master painting.  It has been such a great way to expand my creative thinking and process.  AND it means I am at the MFA every week!

This piece is a project called “call and response”.  First we sketched in the gallery from a drawing or print that was of interest.  Then, back in the studio, we each painted a background sheet.  On the right hand side of the page we responded (loosely) to some aspect of the sketch we had made.  Then we passed our page to another student who responded to that on the left side of the page.  It was so interesting to look at all of the results.

new in the studio

Just finished up a four panel piece called season shift.  Would love to find a big, beautiful wall to call home :)

passing the torch

Yesterday I delivered nine tiny paintings to Nahcotta for the ETA 10 (Enormous Tiny Art) show. Working in a small format is a great opportunity to experiment a bit with materials. I tried applying three different grounds to the canvas. They all accepted the paint in a different way. The inspiration for the works was one of my favorite subjects.......SUMMER. I have been enjoying many early morning walks on the beach. Every day brings its own beauty.

2012 calendars are in the house!!

It's always challenging to choose twelve images that tell the story of my work, but I am very happy with this mix. Some images are representational, some a bit more abstract: some done in pastel, others in acrylic.

.......now if I can just motivate the staff to get them packaged up!!

beach walk

What an incredibly inspiring way to start the day.......

CHIHULY

Finally made it in the the Boston MFA yesterday to see the Chihuly exhibit. It was SO inspiring! The installations are incredible from conception to scale to execution. It was very uplifting. If you can possibly get there, I would encourage you to do so! http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/chihuly

Saturday Cove Fine Art re-opens!

I am so excited to once again, be working with Kim Clark at Saturday Cove Fine Art in Northport, Maine. SO many years ago, it was Kim who welcomed me and my work, truly getting my career off the ground. After a well deserved break, she and her husband, Scot Sebold have re-opened the gallery and are excited about the season ahead. Mid-coast Maine is an absolutely gorgeous area and this beautiful gallery , filled with fine art, crafts, home and garden items, is just one more reason to make the trip!