Just in time

Yes, despite all my good intentions to keep up with things here, I barely made it to have at least one posting for the month of March. I'm trying...really.

Things have been busy and I've been making and showing art. In fact, my great 4 ft. whale tail, Triton, was hung in the place of honor at a juried show in Jamestown, RI. I was so delighted. Yes, Torn Paper Paintings made a big splash at that show!!Also, as promised, an update on the restoration of the "Hotpoint" neon sign for the Hotpoint Emporium Gallery in Bristol. It's looking amazing. I personally can't wait for it to be installed back onto the front of the building again and shine in all its' glory. Yes, we are still in serious need of donations toward the cost of this restoration, so any and all help you can give to our "go fund me" page would be greatly appreciated.

Also...just look at these amazing pieces of pieces of jewelry. They were made by one of our gallery artist out of some of the original remaining pieces of glass from the sign.
All proceeds from the sales are going toward the funding. What a brilliant idea.
I may need one myself.
Well, April is around the corner and I promise to try to post a bit more often...no fooling :)

Triton

Wow....always so hard to believe that time can pass so quickly.
Haven't been here in a while...and yet it seems like yesterday. Sorry to have been MIA.
Mid July....where in the world does the summer go? If you're anything like me...you wait on the edge of your seat for the weather to warm up and gardens to start growing, then, before you know it, half of that warm weather has passed.
Well....let's keep enjoying what we've got while it's here. Tonight...party at the beach club....woohoo!!!
I haven't spent all my time laying in the sun....really...lol
I've been working on upping my game....going bigger. The most recent...Triton.
A new whale tail that is 2 feet x 4 feet....a size challenge in many ways...including the physical space to work. It makes walking around in the art room a bit of a obstacle course.
He is done however....and has traveled off to the local art show. Won't see him hanging till tomorrow....so I'll take a pic then.
Also since we last spoke, I have had to upgrade my tech devices. First off my camera died....so extremely sad. Loved that chocolate colored camera! Well....had to research and replace that. Also...my beloved computer has been firing warning shots at me for quite some time now. After tons of research and waiting for the right deal....I have finally found my new one. The past two weeks have been a real learning curve on not only the new machines...but on Windows 10. Just getting into the comfort levels now.
Soo....I'm up and running and still putting out new Torn Paper Paintings. I just may be MIA a little more though since I have no intention of missing fun in the sun while the warm weather is still upon us.
Hope you all take time to enjoy the remains of the summer!!!

Tis The Season

Three Amigos

the "busy season" that is!!
Waiting for the summer to actually take hold has been a long and almost painful process!! The spring has been anything but lovely. One of those very unpredictable New England springs at best.
Now...finally....I'm feeling optimistic!!
The weather seems to officially be on the upswing and people are getting out and about.
I just received word yesterday (yes, Friday the 13th...love it) that the Three Amigos just sold!!! Yay....that's a good sign that Cape Cod and The Little Beach Gallery are getting into full swing.
This means I'll be creating at full speed....because I'm also due to be one of this summer's "guest artists" during a trunk show weekend in July at The Art Stable Gallery!! Sooo....I've got to have plenty of stock not only for these two places...but for the upcoming local shows!!!

Been working pretty much non-stop to stay ahead of all this.

Seems that 12"x24" canvases have been my size of choice lately. Did another "cabana" piece. The first one I'd done last summer sold on the first day of a week long show. Figured I'd better produce another one.

Also did another Whale Tail because I've actually sold two others and have had inquires about more.



And...as always.....Mermaids!! The latest one...just finished today in fact....is Avalon.
I'm really pleased with her. It's not always easy to get that vision you have in your head to show up on the canvas. She came pretty darn close!!

Yes...all of these are 12"x24".

Got my next subject planned and ready for an underpainting!!
No...not a "coastal" subject this time. Sometimes you just need
to change the pace a bit.
Soo...stay tuned.
The "season" has begun!!

Oh my....it's May!!

How in the world does time pass sooo quickly??
I had no idea I hadn't posted in so long. Sometimes I think I need to get out of my artroom more often! In fact, during a recent Dr. visit, I was told I was low on vitamin D....so yes, I do need to see the sun on a more regular basis.
At least I can say I've been busy and productive. That's good....right?
Been booking workshops....and taking one myself. Took a new beading class that was all about beading around the edges of seashells!! I'd been wanting to do this one for quite some time. Now I have a new way of creating some "wearable" art from all those beach treasures!!
I did also restock all the art for the new upcoming season at The Little Beach Gallery in Hyannis, Ma.
Every year they freshen up the gallery and paint and redecorate....so it's fun to put up lots of fresh artwork!
Been also keeping busy making more art!!
This is the start of the busy season....or at least it's very soon to come...so I want to be ahead.
Just finished another of the "Whale Tales" since the first two sold at the gallery.  It's a beautiful subject and they always looks so great. This new one is 12"x24".
Right now...I'm in the middle of making another of the Seaside Cottages. The first one sold at a show last year on the very fist day.
I also created a piece called "I'll Take Manhattan" for a good friend. This is her favorite drink....so it was certainly well received!!

Today was my day to catch up on a lot of online work. Art...on a serious basis...needs lots of marketing!! There's always sooo much to do besides the job of actually creating the art.
FaceBook, websites, blogs, etc....that's just the start.
I also had to stop and create new business cards and marketing materials. I am going to be the "guest artist" at another local gallery...the Art Stable Gallery in Westport, Ma during the July "Open Studios" weekend. That's a very busy and heavily visited event in this area...so I need to be prepared.

Now that I'm a bit more caught up I can hopefully return here again sooner.
Rest assured...if I'm not around for a bit, it may be a good thing. At least it means I'm very busy...and that's not all bad.

Another Installment

 For the second time, my art has become part of a permanent collection at one of the locations for the Boston Children's Hospital!!
The first collection I became a part of was for their Weymouth, Ma location.
This time I was called about doing work for the hospital's newest location...in No.Dartmouth, Ma...my very own town!!

Well, months have gone by and the place is finally completed and running. All the art has been installed...so it was time to go and take a peek. I just adore the very Art Deco look of this building!

A lovely lady there greeted me and happily pointed out where all four pieces now hang in their new home. They've also all been given new matching wooden frames.
My seaturtle now greets everyone right in the main entrance/waiting room.

The two little birds...the plover and seagull keep each other company in the hall outside the exam rooms.




The whale tail has now found it's new home right inside one of those exam rooms!!






I'm delighted that my art will once again be in a place that will help to put smiles on lots of little faces!!

Two Tails

8"x16"

Whale tails....big & little!!
Previously I had created a Torn Paper Painting of a whale tail. Not a big one....just a nice sized 8"x16". I took it to The Little Beach Gallery and it looked lovely hanging there among the other coastal pieces! Well....since then it seems there have been requests and interest in having a whale tail created in a larger size.
I get it....whales are "Big"...so it makes sense that some folks would want to see them bigger....even though there is a bit of whimsy in seeing something huge done in a more delicate scale!


12"x24"

Soo....I just delivered another....this one is 12"x24". Not huge...but a bit bigger so that we can....ummm...test the water...lol
Although they are the same subject matter....I did try my best to give them each their own personality....and made each of the tails a bit different. Now....let's see what happens!! The season has just begun.

On my way home from the gallery, while stopped in traffic, I noticed the bumper sticker on the car in front of me. Luckily I had my camera beside me...so grabbed a quick shot!!
Need to get me one of those!!

New "coastal' sightings

When I made a recent delivery of art to The Little Beach Gallery in Hyannis the gallery owner told me that there had been some requests made for some new coastal images.
One of these was a "whale". In thinking about that we agreed that an entire whale might not make for a very interesting Torn Paper Painting....but a "tail" just might do the trick!
The other image request was that of a Piping Plover. Hmmm....since I'd already done so many seagulls....there didn't seem any reason that this couldn't be done as well.
"Piper" the plover turned out to be a fun little birdie to create. It gave me no real problems except for having to create some rice paper that could hold the look of some moist sand.
The "Whale Tail" was a bit of another matter. While the tail was interesting enough, I did feel the water had to take on a lot of life to give movement to this. Then...there was the matter of creating what would look like water droplets flying off the tail as it came out from the water. Not actually an easy task to be done with paper and make it light and airy. After a bit of a struggle with that....I finally found the answer!! (click on the pic to see a larger view)Yep...for now, a trade secret :) Unless some of you figure it out....not really all that hard...lol
I think the effect worked...and I'm almost sad to let them go!
 Oh well...no reason not to do it again :)