Three Rivers Arts Festival

Sorry no image to post....I just wanted to let everyone know that I was selected as one of the emerging artists for the Three Rivers Art Festival this year. http://www.artsfestival.net/ I have booth #96 from June 4th through June 8th. It is really a wonderful opportunity and I can't wait for the show. There is so much to do, from the juried art show, demonstrations, art mart, music line up... something for everyone. Stop by and say hi if you get a chance!

Small portrait

I was doing some research for my Baba paintings and found some old photos that I found really interesting. I think this is a family member from Russia. I painted this small 5x7 inch acrylic painting from a black and white photo. I used strectched canvas and painted a bright warm red as a base. I also gave her a yellow pencil... not from the time... she had an ink pen and ink jar... but I wanted to add some yellow warmth to the image. Hmmmm.... was it wrong? or could this be like a game... what does not belong in the picture? (Where's Waldo-ish?)

Baba 2, Watercolor Portraits

My second Baba. I took the inspiration for this Baba from a painting I did over a year ago as a commission. I posted the inspiration below. both are about  8 x 10 inches, watercolor.

Oh, and if you get a chance, have a look at these two up and coming artists.... yes, I am a proud mother!

Nick

Greg

They are still in high school... yes, I am a proud mom!

Baba

I am starting a new group of work and this is a loosening up piece that I did today. I am looking forward to exploring more of this subject. I think there are many stories to tell. I have some other Baba paintings that I did a few years ago, posted below.

This painting is the story of my grandmother's life. The main image is her traveling clothes.  The background is her as a young woman on the farm, the ship they arrived on, the church and her church clothes, roses and as an older woman in her favorite chair. She was a strong woman that I have huge respect for.

This is one of the studies that I worked on for the painting above. I have it matted and framed since the one above sold. It was a tough sale, but I found that many people really identified with the image and said it could have been their "Baba". These were all done in watercolor.

Which way to the beach?

One of my students is going south (lucky girl) and I did a class to inpire her. When you paint water, waves, beachy scenes, remember to paint the flat water as a reflection of the sky. The waves have form with a light side, dark side and reflections too. This is simplified but something that can be done section at a time.

And this was the following class... I am really getting her ready to go... I was inspired from an image I saw on the Daily Painters of Pennsylvania's site. You can see that I simplified the project for class. We had fun!

These demonstrations are on 7x10inch paper and were done in about half an hour.

Ukrainian Egg Classes

Every year I hold classes in Ukrainian Easter Egg decoration. I have enjoyed making them for years and the classes are always fun! I was not planning to have classes this year because I wanted to take the time to work on them myself (alittle selfish), but legend has it that the more eggs that are decorated the less bad luck can happen in the world. How can I not do my part! Classes begin the end of February.

Small Acrylic Break

I painted this small pear with acrylic on a 4x6 inch stretched canvas. It was a  nice break from the larger watercolor and pastels that I have been working on. I like to look for hints of warms and cools in the shadows and play with them till I think it works. I used a bright orange/red as an underpainting. I like how it gives the image a glow. I will post the other paintings soon. I felt like I was neglecting my blog so I did this quick pear.

Also a qucik travel note. Went to New York to the Moma to see the Tim Burton Exhibit and thought it was great. It's a nice insight to how he works, from highschool on with examples of sketches, paintings, storyboards, films, notes, models, armature, props... all really fun and a nice inspiration for the boys. Can't wait to see what they come up with now!

Wildbird Recovery Donation

I  painted these birds as demos for some classes and decided to donate them as a part of "Art for Animals"  to the Wildbird Recovery Center.  I did a project last year for the Butler County Humane Society and this year I chose the Wildbird Recovery, Songbird Rehabilitation Center in Valencia, PA.

Last spring I found a little robin that was neglected by it's parents... not being fed... I watched the others being fed... so I called the recovery center and they said to bring it in. While I was there another woman brought in a crow that was hit by a car. I never really thought there was such a place for birds... funded by donations... and getting the birds rehabbed and back out.

They were happy to recieve the paintings and I hope will sell through their giftshop to get needed supplies.

Volant Mill

I did this small 7x10 inch watercolor today for a show at the Blue Heron Gallery in Volant, PA. I had a show there this summer and was invited back for a reunion show this February. I will have three pieces in the show. I did some local images, one of the summer kitchen behind the gallery, one of a PA road, and this one of the mill. Volant is a great little town with shops and a fly fishing creek for the guys.

Dog Portrait

another 7x10 inch watercolor dog portrait... this little guy looks like a handful. What fun!

Almost Done

I bought myself some new pastels (terry ludwigs) and started this painting for a show at the Butler Art Center. The theme is art and music. I originally started a watercolor based on the Kokoon Club (an old Cleveland art club) Bal Masque but I couldn't wait to try the pastels. Wow, it is so nice to use these pastels. (I also like windsor newtons.) I will finish this today and get it to drop off tomorrow if I can make it out the driveway... snow, snow, snow...

Update- Here is the finished image. I cropped it to 14x18 inches. It will be matted and put into a 20x24 inch frame. I titled it "Preparing for Class".

Another Update- It won second place in the pastels.

How about two more

Two more 2.5 x 3.5 watercolor, face cards.

I am doing some research on the Kokoon Club, an artist club from Cleveland, Ohio that had it's heyday in the 1920's and 1930's. They used to have fundraising "Bal Masques" that were costumed, decorated, skandalous?... and the hottest ticket in town.