2014 The Year in Review

Paintings SOLD in 2014!

Happy New Year! And it was a very Happy Old Year!

It's been very busy and exciting!

As I get ready to say farewell to 2014, it's helpful for me to look back and celebrate the year – the things I learned, the places I went, the achievements big and small.

Here's a recap:

• An artist's “bucket-list” trip to The Olson House in Cushing, Maine, two trips to the Fine Art Museum of Boston to see the AMAZING Jamie Wyeth exhibit, a great quilt show and the Sargent exhibit. (If you haven't seen the Jamie Wyeth exhibit, its next stop is The Brandywine - mid-January through April. PS: The Wyeths have become my new obsession.)
• Several classes and workshops (most notably a pastel workshop at Acadia Workshop Center in Bernard, Maine with Michael Chesley Johnson) have (I hope) improved my skills as an artist. I've met some really wonderful new artists and friends.
• I've been given the opportunity to work as the Associate Executive Director of The Art Guild. I hope I can learn the ropes quickly and take on more responsibility in in the new year. It's been wonderful to be back in our building and we've planned classes for kids and adults beginning in January as well as photography and landscapes exhibits. 
• Though I sort of floundered though September's 30/30 Challenge, I did paint a lot and sold quite a number of paintings this year. Two commissioned paintings of the Locust Valley Fire Department was a nice surprise. Twelve 6"x6" paintings from the 30/30 Challenges sold via my Etsy shop.
• Most important (to me), was my very first solo show in my "Hometown" (East Islip) at the Public Library in November. It was a huge challenge - and I painted a number of pieces specifically for that show and the work did pay off! It was wonderful to have the support of friends and family who made the effort to stop by and say "Hi!" at the reception. Thank you to everyone who left a nice comment in the guest book - there were some familiar names in there. And a HUGE thank you to everyone who purchased a painting. It was a terrific validation of my growth as an artist and I'm delighted!

What I'm looking forward to in 2015

• January 1 starts the first 30/30 Challenge of 2015. Do you think I'm ready? LOL!
• Painting a new mermaid for 2015's GSBMF should be a little less stressful this year as there were two good choices last spring. The one not chosen was actually the one I preferred, so I'm looking forward to painting it. (Look for posts on the painting of last year's mermaid, coming in February.)
• I'm looking forward to seeing some interesting museum shows. It might be fun to see the Matisse Cut Outs Exhibit (through Feb10) and The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec: Prints and Posters (through March 22), at MOMA. I doubt I'll make it to the Brandywine to see the Andrew Wyeth: Lines of Thought exhibit. Does anyone have any recommendations?
• I'm looking forward to helping plan some fun art/painting events at the Art Guild. We have lots of ideas! We hope to do an "art gallery swap" show with another art group on Long Island, that should be really fun!
• I'm looking forward to my annual trip to Maine. Not sure which workshop I'll be taking, but there are some good ones to choose from. 
• Painting, learning, creating, exploring!

If it wasn't for the support of friends and family...

I wouldn't be doing any of this. I'd like to thank my friends and family, everyone who follows my facebook page, blog and emails, for their love and support. Being an artist is often a solitary affair – so your comments and feedback are always important to me. I am thankful and honored to share my work with you. Please share with your friends, come to shows, and tell me how you feel about my posts.

Where did October go? Bring Back Maine!

Two pastel paintings done at Seal Cove, Oct 2, 2014

It's true. I came back from Maine - bursting with lots of information and memories. Paintings partially finished from a great class with Michael Chesley Johnson, loads of photos to pour over, museum visits to think about and visits with friends and relatives to treasure.

And did I blog about it? Did I say much at all? No, I am ashamed to say, I did not. I got pitched back into the frenzy of deadlines and a new job and catching up with friends and family I didn't see on my trip.

Thursday at Seal Cove

Thursday was so pretty - we went to Seal Cove to paint. The ocean was sparkly and the sun was warm. It was a nice change from the previous dreary days and it was a joy to paint in the sun on the rocks, watching a barge move the moorings around, and listening to the chickadees and the woodpeckers in the woods. (See paintings above.) That's why I like to paint outside - It allows me to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. I even bring my binoculars and bird book.

Highlights of Maine post-workshop

Friday was such a stellar day! My original plan was to go to Rockland & the Olson House, but I decided to spend the day in Acadia Park and head there in the evening.

On Cadillac Mountain

Jessup's Path near Sur du Mont

The Cave at Schooner's Cove

Thunder Hole

Along the Ocean Trail

Monument Rocks

The weather went down hill as I left Mount Desert (no pun intended), so after a few scenic stops I got to Rockland just as the rain started.

Ft. Knox, Maine

Fort Knox. Looks like they're prepping for a haunted house. This is a pretty neat spot. I'll have to make time for it next year.

Speaking of haunted houses...my favorite falling down house outside of Searsport (across from Hobby Horse Flea Market). I always wonder about the stories it could tell.

I got a hotel room (at The Claddagh Motel) and went into Rockland where I had the MOST STUPENDOUS Lobster Mac & Cheese at The Lobsterman's Restaurant. I was so overcome, I didn't even take a picture!

Next up...The Farnsworth Museum and the Olson House.

30 Paintings in 31 Days - Painting in Maine

Painting plein air has been sort of a challenge this week here in Maine. All the days have been overcast and breezy. Grey/blue/purple clouds, no cast shadows and values nearly all the same.

Today we painted in Manset at the Moorings, a lovely inn that was very accommodating. The view is amazing - a working harbor, the little Cranberry Isle ferry/mailboat going back and forth, a yacht builder hauling boats out for the season, and people going for their last sail of the season. You can see all the way up Somes Sound and across to Bear Island & Sutton Island and the mountains beyond.

Tomorrow they promise there will be sunny skies! Even thought the challenge is technically over, I'll post a few more paintings in the coming days. I have a few I've started, some from photos, some were the second painting of the day.

I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little paintings really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Day 30 - 30/30 Challenge - At Acadia Workshop Center

Another damp and dreary day here in Maine at Acadia Workshop Center. So we stayed on property in case we needed coffee or warming up. For me this is an exercise in editing and finding values in a rather flat and backlit scene (despite the cloud cover).

I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little paintings really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Day 29 - 30/30 Challenge - Lopaus Point

Day 1 of Pastel workshop with Michael Chesley Johnson at Acadia Workshop Center. An overcast day, too breezy down at Lopaus Point to work on the south side with the beach...so here we are at the marsh.

I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little paintings really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).