Keeping up

Yes, that's my goal this year. For 2019 I plan to try to keep up with this blog once again. Not off to a very good start considering it already Feb. 2nd., but hey, takes time to get back up to speed.
I started off the year with the first month being mainly a huge clean up month for my art room. Needed to get into some very deep cleaning and purge whatever I could. Not easy. Still need to prune a bit more off the top, but after weeks of going at it, it's in darn good shape.
After the big clean up I finally got back to work and decided on some small bird pieces. Since the birds are all over the feeders right now with the single digit temps we've been having, they seemed like the perfect subject. My little "Woody" the woodpecker sold within a day after posting it to the Torn Paper Paintings facebook page.
I've also been keeping busy with the co-op gallery I joined about six months ago. Lovely place and lots of delightful and talented artist members as well. We have over 30 artists and the gallery is on two levels. Great space. Working in there a couple times a month is more fun than work. I can keep changing up my wall space, have nice chats with customers, and exchange information and inspiration with other artists. The gallery is The Hotpoint Emporium in the lovely town of Bristol, RI.
The name Hotpoint comes from the huge vintage neon sign on the outside of the building that referred to the appliances back in the day. Even though it's in desperate need of repair, it's a grand thing to see.
In fact, there is now a fundraiser for this purpose...to bring the sign back to it's former glory. We have already located a person who can do the repairs and get it back to glowing again with actual neon lights. Fingers crossed we can make this happen.
So, there you have it. This is what I'm up to and my plans at the moment.
I will do my best to stay on top of things here and will also update on any and all progress on the restoration of the Hotpoint sign.
Stay tuned.

Summer happens

Yep...it sure does.
As you can see, I haven't been here for a while. Sorry. I do try, really.
I'm sure most of you out there are actually very much like me and when the summer comes around and you're able to be out and about more often, some things take a back seat.
Here in New England, we try to enjoy every bit of summer weather we can before we fall back into those winter months.
Here we are, about to hit Sept 1st.  Where did the time go.
Well, here's a short run down on where mine went.
First of all, I have to have lots of Torn Paper Paintings ready for The Little Beach Gallery in Hyannis. Busy season there you know.
Secondly, this year was especially busy with being part of a fund raiser to create a yearly grant for women in need, in the name of my beautiful sister-in-law who passed away from cancer just over a year ago. The event was very time consuming, but raised a great deal of money to create this self sustaining grant.
Then of course there's all the regular stuff, gardening, beetlecat races, family gatherings...etc.
So, I do hope you'll continue to check in now, knowing that I'm aware I haven't spent much time with you....but that will change.
Why will it change you ask? Because I'm finishing up my new Torn Paper Paintings website as well, and attached to it, will be this blog. Yes. One stop shopping so to speak.
So, bear with me. We're almost there. I will announce it when it's "live".
And, since we're changing things up, I'll leave you with a pic of one of my latest pieces...Birds Eye 1.
Maybe there'll be some changing up of things in my artwork as well. Stay tuned.

Palette Pictures IV

That is the name for the fund raiser this year at the Fall River Historical Society.
Every year area artists are assigned a certain size format to create a piece they will donate for a silent auction. This year the size is an 8"x10". Theme is simply "artists choice".
Last evening was the artists reception to kick off this auction. Always a fun evening. The building is done up in fine Victorian Christmas style. While we are not allowed to take pics of that....we were allowed to take a few of the room in which the art is displayed. This is simply a small sample...the art is all around the room...in Christmas trees..on mantles...in cupboards..etc.
This is my third year of taking part in the event. My piece this year... "Coffee Break".

Right now...with the auction having just started last night...they are in the process of getting it all organized and posted online. This will make it possible for folks from everywhere to take part. The auction will run until late Dec.

The bidding on each piece starts at half of the retail value....so if you're quick...you can get yourself a beautiful bargain for the holidays.

My Contribution

After my Torn Paper Painting of the Koi appeared as a full front page on one of the local newspapers I received a request from the local Historical Society. Last year they ran a fundraising auction called "Palette Pictures" and many local artists had done a painting for this on an actual wooden palette. I hadn't heard of this event before, but sounded wonderful.

I was told they would again be holding the auction, Palette Pictures II, but the art would be created this time on a 5"x7" canvas. Seems that my koi had sparked an interest and they decided to contact me to see if I'd be willing to create something for them.

Every year I do a number of pieces for fundraisers of one sort or another as I can fit them in. Feels good to give back.
So, I took on the task.

I wanted a piece that would be directly connected to the area. Since I'm usually geared toward the coastal scenes...one of our delightful little lighthouses came to mind, the Borden Flats Light. If my research is correct, it started it's working life in 1881.
This was such fun to work on. So much history.

The city had also been know back then for the Old Fall River Cruise Line.

I was lucky enough to run into some darling little vintage looking cruise images which I gave a sepia coloring to and have added them to the base of the lighthouse. When viewed without knowing it is actually quite subtle...but there.

I will deliver this piece next week and am hopeful that someone will want to take it home to enjoy!

 

and the other

Finally finished the second house for the Habitat fundraiser. I'd always wanted to try something using the "crackle" effect. The birdhouse seemed to be the perfect piece to try this on. I really liked the way it came out. I thought that it would be rough to the touch...but it is actually quite smooth. I hope they enjoy these and the fundraiser goes really well.
Now....off to get some other art done!!

Habitat House

Finally finished with the first of two birdhouses I have here to decorate for a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser that my real estate office is taking part in. I had originally said that I'd do one...but the minute they realized that I enjoy painting I was given the job of making two...one that will be considered the "office" donation. I've still got the other to finish...so I'm not sure yet which one will be the personal contribution and which will be the office.