Hanging My First Solo Show and Going Back to My Roots

Framing, Framing, Framing

From November 1 - 30, I will have my very first ever solo show! I'll be exhibiting my artwork (watercolors and pastels) in the gallery at the East Islip Public Library. The library is located at 381 East Main Street, East Islip, NY 11709

There will be a reception on Sunday November 9 from 2-4 pm. Everyone is invited.

I am delighted to be able to have my first solo exhibit in a place that meant so much to me growing up. East Islip Library was one of my favorite places since I was a toddler and the library was on the other end of town next to St. Mary’s. I worked here as a page and later as a clerical assistant – it was one of my favorite places to work and I made many friends and great memories here. 

Coincidentally, my mom's quilting group (Patches and Pieces) will also have their works on exhibit in the display cases as you enter the gallery area.

Meanwhile, I'm desperately trying to finish this one of Brookwood Hall in East Islip. 

I can hang it a little late, can't I?

SOLD!

Many thanks to my friend Diane who passed this "time slot" off to me when she decided she couldn't do it and some dear friends who loaned me paintings they've bought despite the fact that it leaves a big "hole" on their living room walls. Last but certainly not least, a HUGE thank you to my mom, who helped me hang the show (that second pair of eyes is so necessary).  

See you next Sunday!

Post 30/30 Challenge - So What's the Take-Away?

Collage of 25 paintings/drawings from 30/30 Challenge

First, I want to say thank you to everyone for following along, and welcome the new followers to this blog. I hope you've enjoyed my painting journey and what you've read here. I hope you'll stick around and to see what happens in the future! I also hope that you've joined my blog with your email  (so you don't miss a post) and/or joined my email list (MUCH less frequent postings!).

So, what was the point of this exercise? What do I get out of it?
I'm not sure if there is one specific take-away – no big epiphany. For me, there are a bunch of smaller, more subtle things that I've noted:
I think the point of painting or drawing something every day (or at minimum several times a week) is an important way to grow as an artist. It's a commitment - the same way getting in the car and going to work is a commitment. A habit - like brushing your teeth.
It's NOT about creating a masterpiece every time you pick up a pencil or a paint brush or a pastel stick, though it's wonderful when people think they're masterpieces. It's just doing it. It might be as small as a square inch of brush strokes you love, or discovering a new paper, or as big as a composition that makes your heart sing when you look at it.
It's about problem solving and editing. Sometimes, it's as much about the planning as it is about the spontaneity.
It's discovering your limits in the moment AND that there are no limits in the big picture (pun intended!).

If you are interested in purchasing paintings from this or the previous challenge, most of the postings here have a link to my Etsy shop. If there's something that you've seen either here, in person or on my FB page, that doesn't have a link or a price, please feel free to contact me.

Thanks for following along!
There's more to come!

Day 16 - 30/30 Challenge - Life is a Bowl of Tomatoes

Cherry Tomatoes in a Blue Enamel Bowl

6" x 6", watercolor, $35

Available in my Etsy shop - Just Click Here!

Day 16 and I need to take it a little easy on myself in terms of subject matter. I've got a busy week and I know that I'll be spending most of the week trying to keep up. 

I love these shiny red cherry tomatoes in the blue enamel bowl. 

I wasn't terribly diligent with my garden this year - got started too late, then July was an inferno. I didn't plant cucumbers or cayenne peppers or radishes or beans like I usually to and I didn't pay enough attention to my tomatoes - which are my favorite part. Every couple of days though, I did manage to collect a few handfuls, and they are ALWAYS sweeter and tastier than anything in a grocery store!

Day 11 - 30/30 Challenge - Still Virtually Visiting Monhegan

Monhegan Lighthouse Buildings, Sunrise

6" x 6", pastel, $35

Available in my Etsy shop - just click here!

Monhegan Lighthouse is such a "photogenic" lighthouse. With commanding views of Mañana Island as well as the coast of Maine (on a clear day), this is one of the most popular places to paint and photograph on the island. The light and shadows on the angles of the buildings - the walls and the roofs, the sky – are just fabulous. I love the blue of the sky, the red roofs, the weather worn white buildings and the green, green grass. 

 I could probably paint on this hill for a month. Just delicious.

Day 7 & Day 8 - 30/30 Challenge - Catching up!

Today I spent catching up on my paintings! It's really rough to fall behind. I got so caught up in the boat that was supposed to be Friday's painting that I managed to fall TWO days behind! I should probably get started on my Monday painting too! 

Day 7 - Monhegan Fog, watercolor, 6"x6", $45

SOLD!

Sadly, While I was on Monhegan it was socked in fog for most of the two full days. I did however, take lots of hikes and many photos. I'll have enough subject matter to last for months! The rocks here seem so different than Acadia. So much of Acadia is lovely pink-orange granite. Monhegan has black and dark grey, almost purple rock. 

Day 8 - End Of Beach, pastel 6"x6"

One of the last perfect days of summer. My favorite time of year. Very few people taking advantage of the gorgeous day. This group was around somewhere...they set up on beach and disappeared. Probably off fishing. The whole bay was very quiet, only a few people boating or fishing on the dock.

Day 5 - 30/30 Marketing Your Art Challenge

Today's challenge on Leslie Saeta's blog is to make a collage of some of your work.
I chose to pick some old and some new pieces, some sketches and cards, but you can use anything really - I'll probably do one with some of my graphic design work soon.
It's really easy when you use ipiccy. You can choose from any number of layouts, switch stuff around add frames and effects, and when you're done, you can save it.
Here's mine for today:

From the top left to right:

• Row 1: Four boats, colored pencil on canvas; Blue Truck, North Fork, watercolor; Casa Pelligro, watercolor; After The Blizzard, watercolor; Fire Island Lighthouse, Sunset, oil pastel
• Row 2: Bayville Marsh, Oyster bBay, watercolor; Winter Vineyard, pastel; Evening, Greenport Boatyard, watercolor; Rescue Dogs, watercolor & colored pencil. This was a piece done after 9/11 and was part of the show at Society of Illustrators, NYC.; Mermaid for 2013 Great South Bay Music Festival, watercolor and colored pencil. This is for a festival in Patchogue, NY. Every year I do a new version of the mermaid.
• Row 3: Self Portrait with Carrots, watercolor & colored pencil; Osprey, pastel; Abandoned Farmhouse, watercolor; Coffee Pot Lighthouse, Orient Point, Sunset, pastel; Cat Bowl, acrylic on wooden bowl
• Row 4: Blue Kettle Still Life, colored pencil on canvas; Froggy Holiday, watercolor & colored pencil. This is one of the first Christmas cards I painted and sold.; Hidden Door, watercolor sketch
• Row 5: Lopas Point, Maine, watercolor; Ballerina Dress, acrylic on canvas. Painted as a custom piece for a friend's baby's room. Available on Etsy as a commissioned piece.; Winter, Yellow Farmstand, Orient, watercolor; Red House, Bass Harbor, watercolor; Yellow Still Life, watercolor.

Many of these pieces are available on Fine Art America, or at Greeting Card Universe, or on Etsy.

A Walk At Shu Swamp
Yesterday I took a little walk at Shu Swamp. It's a lovely little place in Mill Neck on Long Island, NY.

The light in the late afternoon, illuminating the millions of tiny leaves, is magical.

The skunk cabbage (and irises, not blooming yet) along the little brooks 

that snake through the property.

Ferny Fiddleheads

Is that a fairy behind that fern? Could be.

One of the huge tulip trees that came down in Hurricane Sandy.

Counted the rings - it was well over 150 years old.

Some of the tallest tulip trees in New York. 

Love looking up - makes me a little dizzy though.

And that's a snapping turtle (one of two) - he/she's HUGE! 

Yes, he is stalking the swan.

Great Blue Heron sculpture by F. Edwin Church.

Thanks for walking with me!