Busy Busy Busy

Yep....times flies sometimes.
It's that time of the year when you're not only busy with the usual stuff...but the holidays are all falling in on top of it.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner...it can only mean Christmas and Christmas shopping..etc. is soon to follow....,making it even busier.
Well....just wanted to let you know that I am indeed around. Part of my missing time has been in tending to a bad tooth. With the last of three dentists visits done....the plan of action is a root canal the first week in Dec....yuck.
I did at least get another Torn Paper Painting done while this was going on...Annabelle. Needed a new mermaid!!
Working on some holiday stuff now.
Also...progress....my Torn Paper Paintings Zazzle shop will be open for business very soon!!!
Stay tuned. I'll be posting the opening here shortly. You'll be able do some fun holiday shopping of lots of cool products with my painting images....just in time

Taking Third

While we would naturally all like to come in "first" in everything....sometimes even "third" is a wonderful thing when in the company of sooo many other talented people.
This weekend was the Westport Art Group's spring juried show,"Nature's Bounty". This happens to be an area where there is an abundance of very fine artists, many of whom I am happy to also call "friends" as well. Needless to say it becomes a challenge to have your work noticed above the rest in a place where there is such fine art at any given show.
Soo...imagine my surprise when I discovered I had placed in the show!!

Another truely  lovely detail of this was the "Judge's Statement" written in the show program. In his words...." Strong, simple composition, impressive from a distance yet full of complexity within the selection of collage materials. The wry expression of the turtle suggests that he is viewing his audience."
My delight was that he "got" it. The fact that my paintings are, at first glance, easily recognized subjects on their own.....but upon a closer look...much more complex than what is first implied. That is the part that draws the viewer in to a deeper level of the piece...to where a story starts to unfold.
Yes...it made my day.

Mabel

Finally. Poor Mabel was in the underpainting stage for quite a long time.

I'd had a request ages ago from a customer who already owned a couple of my pieces to please make a cow for her sometime.

I'd only done one cow previously for a certain show...and it sold right away. You'd have thought I'd make more, but I get most requests for coastal creations due to being in coastal New England. There is however an awful lot of farmland around here too as most good New Englanders know. Soo...a cow is not such an odd request.
I decided that I'd make this one during slow periods...but luckily, there were not too many slow times.

This past week however...after looking at that underpainting for sooo long, I decided it was time for Mabel to come to life.


Mabel - details

Sometimes you just have to wait until the spark happens...and fortunately it did.
Mabel is now promised to go off to her new home soon. She'll be in the company of a koi & a frog (Bill) that were earlier purchases.
I'm soo delighted my work is going to someone who really appreciates it.


Mabel - detail

Thank you Kate.


SOCO

Loving the new feature on my art in the latest issue of SOCO Magazine!!  If you haven't picked up the Sept issue yet....what are you waiting for??? And....better yet...if you can't get it in your area, you can read the entire article by clicking on the link above!!
Sure....as with any publication (I've been finding this out a lot lately) there are some mistakes. In this case, they are rather small ones (but of course the pic of the Bass is on it's side again...lol)
I am also delighted to have my Torn Paper Paintings sharing a magaine issue with the wonderful Emeril Lagasse!! We actually grew up in the same neighborhood...so of course, when I went to New Orleans I paid a visit to one of his resturants. Sadly, he wasn't in town then, but I was given the royal treatment and got to tour the kitchen and his private dining room!! Memorable!!
Soo...take a peek at the article, and if you want to keep up with what's happening in the world of Torn Paper Paintings...hop over to the FaceBook FanPage and hit "like" button!
There's always something new going on.

A Good Week

Just when you think that the summer season in the area is starting to slow down....you can be taken completely by surprise!
I started the week off by hearing that a nice Torn Paper Painting sold at The Little Beach Gallery in Hyannis. Without a doubt...this is the top selling gallery I've been involved with!!
Seems today, before the week is out, another big piece just sold. Nice!!
While I do love every piece I do...or I simply wouldn't do them....I always feel that since they are at a gallery, I always know where to find them and can bring them home when I need to. Sort of like kids..lol
When they do sell...it's a little bittersweet. I'm happy that someone loved one of them enough to give it a good home but of course, I'll miss them.
Seriously though, I'm always delighted to see my art being so well received. It's what motivates me to continue.

Lola

Another lovely lady of the sea.
Anyone remember the song...."whatever Lola wants, Lola gets".
Seriously...this is what mermaids are all about, aren't they? The sailors never stood a chance around them :)

A Big Oops!!

Yes...I guess mistakes do happen...even in the publishing world.
We of course expect to see it less often since there are numerous eyes that go over everything before going to print....but it still happens.

I'm honored and delighted to be a part of such a terrific publication as Cape Cod Magazine...but admit to being more than a bit disappointed in the mistake that happened in the Aug issue, especially after waiting months from when I was first approached by them till it hit the stands.


Left side - what happened...Right side - the right way



Seems that somewhere between the point where they received the images, to when it went to print, someone switched the orientation of the image...from portrait to landscape!! OH NO!!

I guess some would say an explanation is that the subject, being a fish, nobody could quickly see the mistake before it went to print.



What should have been!!



Well...being the artist...I nearly fell on the floor when I saw it. Seriously, the swimming position in that direction looks a bit unnatural to me. So...with the magic of Photoshop....I scanned that page in and corrected it myself. No, it doesn't help with the magazines out there on the stands....but made me feel better to be able to have this newly corrected page for my own personal use.



Oh well....as my daughter said when she saw it....."at least they didn't flip it the other direction and have it belly up".....lol

Flags

Still being involved in a bit of "mail art"....I joined a swap the other day for Prayer Flags. Not sure of what I would do...I did enjoyed looking at them.

This swap would be for flags that were not too heavy in religious themes....and a bit on the artsy side...so I gave it a go.

Gotta tell you....they are such fun to make!! In two days of sewing I did a bunch of them!!

These art swaps are such a great way to take you a bit out of your comfort zone and rev up the creative juices!!

Before I knew it I was in full swing in the art room again and several Torn Paper Paintings are in progress!!

And to top it off...I'll soon have prayer flags from other artists to hang and enjoy!!

A double win.

Intimate Museum



During our trip through Italy last month, we saw many great museums and works by the masters. I do love them all...but sometimes you can reach a peak of big huge museums!!While strolling around in Venice after a long leisurely lunch at an outdoor cafe with friends, we came to the Peggy Guggenheim museum. The friends we'd had lunch with suggested we might enjoy it...so, we decided to give it a go.

 



Love it!! Yes.....it's a wonderful much more intimate style museum. You felt as if you are one on one with the paintings...seeing them in the private home of Ms Guggenheim. Unlike many of the larger museums...you were happily allowed to take photos (without flash) of anything you wished. I certainly took full advantage of that. Some of my all time favorite artists were here....including Dali & Magritte. My husband had his favorite as well...an entire room of Pollock. I've included just a few of the amazing works we saw in the most lovely and relaxed setting yet. While yes, we saw lots of great art...and some we couldn't even get to including a Klimt exhibit going on while there....this will certainly rank as a real favorite for us. If you have limited time and need to choose...pick this one!!



Warming up

Just a tiny bit of yummy goodness to start warming up again for the bigger pieces. Spent lots of time cleaning up the previous mess and am ready to go again.

Vacation's over!!

Inspiration abroad

Sorry for the long delay between posts...but it was all for good reason.
My wonderful husband and I will be married 30yrs this year and we decided to take the long delayed amazing vacation this year in honor of such an event.
We went to Italy...and did a three stop tour. Our first stop, the Cinque Terre, one of the most visually amazing places ever. Second stop, Florence....beautiful city with awesome art everywhere. Third stop, Venice....how more romatic can it get!!!

We hiked the trails between the five villages of the Cinque Terre and enjoyed the beach for a bit as well. Lovely people, amazing vistas, and delicious locally made wines.
In Florence we visited all the "hot" spots. The famous galleries, a visit to see "David", the Ponte Vecchio, and of course a climb to the top of the Duomo. Each evening as we dined outside we were entertained by street musicians.

Venice and the outter islands were simply a feast for the eyes!! We had a beautiful room with a private terrace on a canal. We enjoyed wandering the maze of tiny streets every day as well as taking boats from place to place. We spent a day exploring the island of Murano and its amazing glassworks...as well as the most marvelously colorful island of Burano.

I will be posting to the FanPage other wonderful pics of creativity that I found during this trip. Stop by and check it out when you can.

Notecards

One of the advantages of my Torn Paper Paintings has been in making some lovely blank notecards from them. They are bold and colorful and really stand out.
Since I don't get to keep the originals around very long ...this gives me one other way to enjoy them and let others who don't get the chance to see the originals enjoy them as well.
I'm happy to say that for the start of the summer season they are now available at Seeds Studio in Wells, Maine....as well as Partners Village Store in Westport, Ma.
I will be doing a bit of traveling over the next few weeks....but when I return, I'm thinking I may make some available on my Etsy shop as well.
Will keep you posted.

I told you...

Yes I did!! I said I could see a series coming from these chair pieces.
I guess I'm certainly on my way. Here's the latest. Yes....of course there is more to come!!
Lets face it....there are sooo many colors yet to be done.
And a group of rainbow chairs....yes....can't you see it now....

Back at it...

After having been out of sorts for a number of days with a bug, I finally managed to feel normal enough to get back into the art room. I had started the underpaintings for some smaller pieces with one chair after I had done the piece with the two chairs. I just knew a series was coming from that!

So...back on my feet I've gotten the first one finished.

On to the next!!

Two with a view!!

Another iconic image of summer.

As with the little bucket & shovels, some images are just pure visuals of summertime.
When I was out back the other day taking reference shots by the pond of the buckets....I looked over at my colorful chairs and thought...why not!!

I just love colorful summer chairs....so there's a very good chance these may become the next series!

Watched

The weather was sooo beautiful today it felt like spring. For New England to be topping 70's in March is far from the norm....but I'll take it.

It was a perfect moment to get outside with my trusty bucket & shovel to set up more reference shots for art pieces.
I went to the pond out back and after a few sandy shots I took it to the dock. Well....I guess I caught the interest of others nearby I hadn't noticed right away.
Before I knew it I had visitors!! They really did seem quite interested in what I was up to. Since they ended up giving me some unexpected reference shots themselves that may very well turn into future paintings....I rewarded them with a little snack.

 Something tells me they may visit again next time too!

Seeds

With spring not too far away now...seeds of all kinds need planting.

a new little seed planted at Seeds Studio

I've been busy doing my "art seeding", with the joining of the co-op gallery to now...being part of a brand new gallery.
This lovely little gallery is not even a year old, but is in a great location on the coast of Maine in Wells. It is quite near Kennebunkport and Ogunquit.
What is especially meaningful is it's name...Seeds Studio.
As thir website explains, "Seeds Studio operates on the idea of planting positive seeds. Building upon the gifts, talents and abilities that each of us posses are the seeds we want to grow."
So..as of last week I have planted nine of my "Torn Paper Paintings" there....and I hope to watch things grow for all of us.
If you are in the area...stop by and take a peek. You'll enjoy what you see!
Check them out on FaceBook too...and be sure to "Like" them to keep up with what's happening!!

Merina

Yes...that's her name.

Have you ever been working on a piece of art and it somehow names itself? Well...every once in a while that happens to me. The name goes through my head every time I work on it.

Hey...who am I to argue. If that's what she wants to be called....so be it. I think it actually suits her.

This is the latest Torn Paper Painting. All she needs now is the varnish layer.

Off to see who swims by next.

Swimming in....

The sealife is swimming into a new season. With summer (hopefully) right around the corner, the sea creatures are filling up the art room.

This seaturtle, 18"x24", is the latest in that collection. Always a challenge to do the first one of anything. It's like having to build the first road map for future pieces. Once the first one is created, it does get easier to some degree with each one of a similiar design.

Yes...there are more new sea creatures ready and waiting for paper...soo....off I go!!! Gotta be ready to jazz up the galleries walls with new and wonderful art.

A New Video

Had a fun snowy day working on a newTorn Paper Painting video.
All the photos I used in this one are from the photos I took for a Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine project. I did all these shots of one of my works in progress and their staff created a stop action video for their new eMag...Colorful Collage.
While they did a lovely job and it was fun to see it in the finished eMag....I decided over the last several months that when I had a chance I'd use those photos and put one together myself.....one that was a bit slower to allow for seeing the steps a little easier. Still only about 2mins....but it's slower than the first version. Enjoy!!