July 31, 2011 - Upcoming Exhibits

Just returned from downtown DC after dropping off my paintings.  My four Monopoly board corners (pixs shown in previous posting) were selected to go into the August Exhibit at Touchstone Gallery -  901 New York Avenue, NW.  The reception is this Friday, August 5th - 6-8:30pm.  The exhibit will be on display until August 27th.  Hope to see lots of people at the opening.  This is my first venture into downtown DC and looking forward to the feedback on my work.

Finishing up another giant gumball machine painting...similar to the first one, but with a twist (of course).  Also, have about 5 other paintings on the drawing board or in my head (I work out my concepts in my head, then start the sketches)...lots of work to do before the autumn festivals.

Mark your calendar as I will be participating in the following venues:

September 11th:   Adams/Morgan Festival in DC - 18th Street NW & Belmont Streets.

September 17th - 18th: Inner Harbor Festival in Baltimore.  Beautiful area.

October 8th - 9th:  Fairfax Corner Art Festival on Monument Drive (center where PF Chang's and 14 movie theatres is located.)

Thanks for reading this...please share your blogs or comments with me.

Commission Completed

Some artists paint portraits of people as a commission...I paint portraits of crayons!

Painting crayons is a lot more fun and you don't have to worry about getting the eyes just right!  And, flesh colors are so drab...  it's definitely more fun painting giant crayons.  This painting is 44" x 20"....going to hang in a kitchen in Florida.

Working on some new ideas for upcoming shows.

Speaking of upcoming shows...I will be in the Touchstone Gallery Mini-Solo Exhibit in DC during August.  I will post the invitation to the opening soon.

My four Monopoly Corners will be featured.

These are traveling paintings as they are currently in an exhibition at Herndon Artspace through Sunday, July 3rd - 750 Center Street. 

More later.....

I'm Back!!!!

After returning from the France trip...I lost my momentum in posting.  I apologize and hopefully I can continue now with new happenings.  I will blame my lack of activity on the wonderful laid-back attitude of the French.  I definitely think their attitude helped me realize that "you really don't have to work or stay busy every waking moment of the day." 

Therefore with some planning, I am trying to keep the calmness I built up in France.

The goal is to reduce my involvement in too many activities - mainly volunteering and setting priorities.

What is your passion?  That was the qustion I asked myself.  What makes me happiest other than being with my wonderful family and friends?  It is most definitely - painting.  Painting is the most frustrating, yet rewarding function of my life.  It was my favorite activity at the age of 8 and still is today.

Okay.  I will start posting more and sharing new work and any art related activities  and opportunities that may interest everyone.

This is a new painting I completed a couple of months ago. 36x48 acrylic.  "Gumballs" is one of several pieces I have completed in my "Fun & Games" series.  The paintings are of fun, colorful objects that relate to memories and fantasy.  As a representational painter.....it's all about interpretation of the realistic. 



DAY 31 - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH

ROAD TRIP TO MONT ST. MICHEL

From a distance looks like something from space!

No cars allowed inside the walls. Cars can park only during low tide (which they post inside the wall so you can move your car in time.

Post Office

Main Street with shops, restaurants, a couple of small hotels.

Up and up...lots of steps. But I am prepared!

View from top of low tide and stream through the fields.

Inside the main abbey. Since it was founded by Monks, the design is simple and sparce - no paintings or stained glass.

The cloisters on top with a garden.

The very top steeple

St. Michel in gold on top (glad I don't have to clean it!!)

In the 1300's Mont St Michel was a meeting place for the knights and their armies. The soliders had to check their weapons at the gate. Ths knights did not. The knight's hall with 8 large fireplaces where the knights gathered. The building was started in 700 or 800 and the first phase was finished in 1100. So you get the idea. Layers and layers of buildings on top of each other. Amazing feat of architecture and engineering. (And they didn't have computers!)

Architechure design of columns and ceiling to hold the floors above...we are talking very thick and heavy stones!

During the French Revolution in the 1600's the island was used as a prison and many carvings were defaced.






Mont St. Michel is a must see if you get to this area of Brittany (actually it is just inside the Normandy provence.

DAY 30, Monday, September 27th

Errand day. Went to Intermarche to purchase last minute gifts of brandy and cognac and food items. Last trip to the laundry mat. Then we did the Sightseeing trolley that has been making a u-turn in front of our house every 45 minutes for the last 30 days!

Bumping along over the cobblestone streets...

Castle of Princess Ann of Dinan - 1200's.

St. Malo Cathedral - Dinan - completed in 1400.

Fun day!

Information about the cottage in Dinan, France...

Several people have asked about the work space and cottage, so here are some photos. It’s small, only two people would be comfortable here. The studio is appx. 12’x12’ with a clean-up sink. There are seven track lights, one big wooden easel, a couple of straight back chairs, two small tables and two comfortable chairs. (We did tell them at the reception it would be really wonderful to provide a folding work table and a desk-type chair on wheels with a comfortable seat and back.) There are two big windows so I imagine in the summer you would keep these open while working (there is no a/c so I am not sure about weather in the summer months). Wall unit heaters in each room that heat quickly. I did enjoy the fresh air with the windows open.



Le Vignette (gate to the left goes to main House/Museum high on the hill above.)

Main Studio Room

Small Kitchen

The kitchen is well equipped with pots, pans, plates, glasses, etc. Small undercounter refrigerator (has ice). Double stainless steel sink, electric stove and oven and a microwave (which we never mastered other than 30 second express). Also, a bread toaster. Small table with two chairs. It works and easy to use.

A collector's tub!

The bathroom is the oddest part. It has a full bath, but parts on two floors. The first floor had a toilet and odd tub/shower combination. The tub is two levels for sitting with a deeper level for standing for a hand-held shower. The sink and bidet are on the second floor inside one of the bedrooms. So it takes some planning.


One bedroom is larger with a double bed and the second is smaller with a three-quarter bed - comfortable enough and have useable linens.

Getting Ready for Les Amies Selection....

DAY 27 – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2010

Today was an on-and-off rainy day. Lots of “sun showers”. Good day to finish my large “Yellow Cherries” painting. So I worked all day and mid-day we made the decision to return to the fabulous restaurant that we raved about – it is named “Lumachelle” – pizzeria, brasserie with wood burning grill/oven. Just in case you get to Dinan it is located at 80 rue du Petit Fort in Port of Dinan…worth the trouble. We were excited all day and it didn’t disappoint. Next door is “The Cottage” restaurant. Again, tiny, but exceptional food. I had tuna steak and they gave me two huge pieces cooked to perfection. Their béarnaise sauce was a béarnaise butter that melted into the fish – wish I could give you a bite! Delightful!

DAY 28 – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

Today is the day the committee is coming to select a piece to put into their permanent collection. (This is our payment for a month of free rent! Sounds fair to me!) Spent the morning cleaning up the studio – you can imagine three weeks of mess. We wrote our artists’ statements about our work and backgrounds and translated into French (via google translate) for the committee.

Several people have asked about the work space and cottage, so here are some photos. It’s small, only two people would be comfortable here. The studio is appx. 12’x12’ with a clean-up sink. There are seven track lights, one big wooden easel, a couple of straight back chairs, two small tables and two comfortable chairs. (We did tell them at the reception it would be really wonderful to provide a folding work table and a desk-type chair on wheels with a comfortable seat and back.) There are two big windows so I imagine in the summer you would keep these open while working (there is no a/c so I am not sure about weather in the summer months). Wall unit heaters in each room that heat quickly. I did enjoy the fresh air with the windows open.


The kitchen is well equipped with pots, pans, plates, glasses, etc. Small undercounter refrigerator (has ice). Double stainless steel sink, electric stove and oven and a microwave (which we never mastered other than 30 second express). Also, a bread toaster. Small table with two chairs. It works and easy to use.


The bathroom is the oddest part. It has a full bath, but parts on two floors. The first floor had a toilet and odd tub/shower combination. The tub is two levels for sitting with a deeper level for standing for a hand-held shower. The sink and bidet are on the second floor inside one of the bedrooms. So it takes some planning.


One bedroom is larger with a double bed and the second is smaller with a three-quarter bed - comfortable enough and have useable linens.


Les Amies du Grande Vigne arrive…


Promptly at 6pm, the selections committee came – four people. We had met the ladies previously and they are charming. One speaks English and helps with the translation, but glad we printed up the statements as it helped with the explanations. After spending time looking and discussing between themselves, they asked questions about the pieces and took my picture with the artichoke and yellow cherries paintings. This made me happy as I was hoping they would chose a large one so I didn’t have to worry about getting them home. They selected the “Breton Grand Artichaut”. (It’s funny because Art, my hubby, said he bet they didn’t have a giant artichoke in their collection.)



Val de Rance Pitchen & Teacup - appx. 8x10 - acrylic



Mon Amie - 12x12 - Acrylic
Heart Tomatoes - 20x20 - Acrylic

Breton Ice Tea Glass - 6x12 - Acrylic
French Peach - 6x6 - Acrylic

French Maribella Yellow Cherries
30x30 - acrylic

Paris Olives - 12x12 - Oil/
Creme Brulee  - 8x8 - Acrylic

Breton Grand Artichaut - 28x28 - Acrylic


 

They had a harder time selecting one of Chris’ drawings…they all are so great I knew they would. They selected one that had the keys to the cottage and other items relating to the cottage and Dinan. It is a wonderful drawing. We are going to find a place to scan it so Chris will have a copy.

Chris' Reflections of Dinan

The reception went well with lots of hugs and requests that we spread the word to other artists. The only publicity they do is through the artists, so I am spreading the word and if you are interested or need information, please let me know. The deadline for your information must be to them by November 1st for the next year. You can request the month you would like to come, but there is no guarantee and they will give you a time when you are accepted. I was happy with September, so I didn’t try to change, but I am sure they would be flexible if there was a way to make a change. If you have the time and desire, it is a life memorable experience.






DAY 29, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2010


We had a small open house to show our work since it was up. We had made postcards for the museum and gave some out to people we had met. A few people showed up. Nice to be part of the community. Everyone knows where La Vignette is located and most know that artists live here.


Took a walk back to the village and stopped in the shops. Many of the owners are getting to know us. It is a small town and if you are here for any length of time, they become more familiar with you.