lessons learned

I was thrilled when at my reception at Athan's, a woman who came said that she was going to buy "Retired Racer" (above). I had my friend John take care of sales and emails. She wrote the email on a list and now when I'm writing to tell her that the show is over and the piece is ready for her, the email bounces back. I have no other way of communicating with this person :(. I have posted on my Facebook page and have contacted other people that I new were at the reception, but no one seems to know who she is. She did take my card and information and I'm really hoping that she gets back in touch with me. I feel so embarassed and unprofessional. This like this shouldn't happen.

Please please please get in touch with me, CarolynWhoBoughtRetiredRacer! I wouldn't want you to think that I swindled you!!!!

It's been a good week :)

 

Ella

8x10 inch watercolor

 

 

I'm feeling very fortunate this week. The exhibit at Athans is getting nothing but praise from visitors and the press! Look here, there's a mention on BostonMagazine.com! *

 

We had a great reception and I'm so happy 2 of my paintings have found homes!  We (John Q and I ) we're talking the night I dropped them off and we decided since my paintings need homes that we should help out the real animals that need homes. We, Unbound Artists, are donating 10% of the sales made at this exhibit. The Ellen Gifford Cat Shelter ** was the obvious choice because they are right in Brighton. The exhibit is up until Labor Day weekend. Athans has a great menu for lunch/dinner and the eclairs are definitely worth the cheat!

Above is a painting that I just finished for my friend Angie. A wonderful woman that I met at Cocheco Animal Shelter benefit. We were both trying to sell our wares and hers was Barkin' Biscuit, homemade natural dog biscuits. At the time she had Bohdi, a gentle giant of a dog, with her. I did end up painting Bohdi not to long after that because Angie was the winner of my gift certificate donation!
Recently, Angie contacted me to paint Ella, a Sato dog from Puerto Rico. Ella is a goofy Rhodesian ridge back mix who only has 3 legs. Apparently as a pup, Ella broke her foot and when Angie took her to the emergency vet and they set the toes incorrectly. Poor Ella was in so much pain, she was so very shy and hid from everyone and everything. Angie and her husband Jon made the decision that to take off the leg was the only solution. Afterwards, it was as if Ella had come out of her shell. Angie said it took less than 2 days for her to fully recover and get accustomed to the missing leg. Angie wanted a full body of Ella, so you could tell that she had only 3 legs. They did the right thing for Ella.

Angie is also an avid gardener and and raises her own chickens for eggs and meat. She and I both agree that the healthiest and the TASTIEST way to eat is local and homegrown. Although I don't bake my own crackers as she does! So we are bartering for $250 worth of organic groceries. When I went up to visit her, and take pictures of Ella, I came home with 2 whole chickens 2 sets of chicken parts (dark and white), a dozen eggs, radishes, zucchini, lettuces, hot peppers, dill relish, summer squash, dilly beans (which were freakin' awesome!) and some jalapeno jelly. I have 2 more trips up!

I love a good barter!

*http://www.bostonmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/blog/2013/08/02/boston-coffeeshop-art-galleries/

** http://www.giffordcatshelter.org/

***http://www.athansbakery.com/

Riverside Gallery Annual "Pop Up Show"

Easter Chic

5x7 inches

watercolor and Prismacolor pencils

Onyx

5x7 inches

watercolor and Prismacolor pencils

I am excited to announce that these 2 pieces, "Easter Chic" and "Onyx" will be included in the Riverside Gallery's annual Pop Up Show this Sunday, June 23rd. Come in and check out the show from 4-6pm. All works are priced at $100. For more information check out the Riverside Gallery's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/RiversideGallery?fref=ts

Hope to see you there!

Snow dog

Some one asked me once to not only post my paintings, but post the photos that I work the commissions from. So here's Dublin, the Snow dog!

Dublin

5x7 inches watercolor

Dublin's photo

the client had given me about 10 photos to choose from. After talking with the friend of Dublin's owner, he told me that a) this doggie is no longer with us and b) that he just loved being outside and was a big goofball. Typical golden, right? So I had to do the one with him in the snow. I didn't want to go overboard with the lattice on the porch, so I made it more of a pattern in the painting. And I didn't retort back to my pencils (trying to keep it strictly watercolor) so I had to break out the white watercolor to get the snow on the fur. There were many photos, like I said, and this photo with him in the snow didn't really capture his true golden color. This can show you how important to get more than one or two photos for reference!!!

I hope she loves it!

Look, I'm Famous... (kinda)

My art and I made the local paper!!! Very nice article, thanks Jing for giving me the opportunity to bring my art and opinions to the village of Allston/Brighton. You can read it here: http://www.wickedlocal.com/allston I started laughing when I read that I was "tearing up" when talking about Luna. She was such a mess when I got her LOL.

First Layer

I haven't even titled this piece and was having a issue deciding whether to do it in watercolor or oil. I settled with watercolor, but did a 2nd "trace" of the image in case I go back to oils. So maybe this is just a study? We shall see how this turns out.
T & I went on an equestrian vacation at the Icelandic Horse Farm up in Mad River Valley Vermont. The horses were wonderful, the inn was beautiful and the people were awesome. Of course I took tons of pictures and plan to turn them into paintings. Maybe make a themed show out of it someday....

If you ride, you should really check them out http://www.icelandichorses.com/

Art Reception at the Faneuil Library

Me and my art

(Doggie Butt, Bull Terrier & Bongo on the Beach)

Last Tuesday was my reception for the first solo show that I've ever had. Quite a milestone for me! There were some familiar faces that came out (my parents and aunt were there) and some new fans as well. Over all we had a great turn out. Someone asked if I was going to do a "talk" but not really given any structure, I was more left to talk to people on a one on one atmosphere and I think that actually was better for me!

I would like to thank everyone who came and John Quatrale for putting it all together. The exhibit will be up for the entire month of August. The Faneuil Library is located at 419 Faneuil Street, (Oak Square) Brighton MA 02135.

A Solo Show at the Faneuil Library in Brighton MA

Luna in Oil

oil on canvas

16x20"

How do I explain how excited I was to read the email sent last month from John Quatrale asking me if I would like to have a solo show at the Brighton Faneuil Library?

Very excited. I will be showing 12 watercolors and 2 oils, including the one above of Luna. This is a very last minute thing and though the library isn't huge, a show is a show and this will be my first ever solo one. When we installed the paintings last Tuesday, John informed me that he listed it as more of an artist 'talk' and that I should be prepared to say a few things and answer some questions. Good Lord, I'm hoping that they'll let me serve some wine!

The Faneuil Library is located at 419 Faneuil Street, Brighton MA (Oak Square).

The show is up from July 18 through September 7, 2012.

Reception July 24 6:30-8

Hope to see you there :)

The Effects of Art

I truly believe that a successful piece of art is one that leaves you with emotion as you walk away from it. This could be disgust, joy, sadness, anger or anything really. I'm wondering if my art does that for anyone. Does it even do it for me?

"Horse Landscape Vermont"

Oil on Canvas

I will admit I'm more of a junkie when it comes to painting.... and it's not the art that I'm producing per say, but more of the medium: Can I handle oils? What can I do with salt and watercolor? How much can I stretch this composition out with out having it break apart in my hands? As you know I work primarily in watercolors. When I first started working with this medium, I would use colored pencils as well. Primarily  to correct some mistakes I had made, or punch out some values to make the piece more dramatic.  Slowly over time, I've stopped using those pencils because it was more like having a crutch - something to fall back on if things didn't turn out like I wanted them to. I have started using oils and looking at some videos regarding color mixing so that I can master this one as well.... But are my pieces evoking an emotion????

I've never been one wanted to "disturb" people viewing my art. Blame it on my 1990 experience of being in the middle of threat of the pulling out funding National Endowment of the Arts. I was in DC at the time of Maplethorpe's NOT being shown at the Corcoran Museum (my school). Too many people where figuring out how they too could make "shock art".

I was at Mass MoCA recently and saw this piece:

"You Are Loved"

Andrea Mortson

Oil on Canvas

I was thinking, "Oh my goodness. It's so beautiful the way she leans against him, how the tree encompasses both of them" and then I read the title and was just hit with a wave of emotion. That we should all feel loved.. Am I loved like the woman in the painting? I believe so. Is the artist loved? She must be, how else could she have captured this so perfectly? You might not feel the way that I do, but again, this is what I call a successful piece of art.

I hope to God that my art does this to people, and if not, will some day. Maybe I should start believing that it does and it will reflect in the art itself. But like everyone I need reassurance. And I guess I haven't got that in a while.

Trying new things

Someone told me once, to keep everything fresh in your art, you MUST try new things. Whether it be a different medium, or even subject matter, it will help you grow as an artist.

When T gave me that box of water based oils last Christmas, she also gave me the tiniest canvas that was 2x2 inches. It even has special cute little staples in the back to hold the canvas in place. I recently painted some flowers on it. I brought it to my office job to remind me that I am an artist first.

Flowers

oil on canvas

2x2 inches

Another thing I've been doing is experimenting with different backgrounds on the pet portraits. Salt is a great thing to play with in watercolor. Science will tell you that salt absorbs up water if place on it (that's why they spray salt on the roads when it snows.... to prevent freezing and ice). So if you sprinkle some salt on wet paint and leave it there for a couple of minutes, you'll get this really cool texture that almost looks like rock or something. I did it on the background of this collie.

Playing with Salt


Tri Color Collie
watercolor

5x7 inches

I've also been ditching the pencil overlay on the watercolor pencils. I think I was using them more as a crutch (as in: oh, I'll just fix that highlight later with pencil). I finished up that ream of reams of Cotman paper where I would ALWAYS use the pencil and I think that had a lot to do with it as well.

Salty detail

Pretty cool effect, huh? Looks like the paper has a texture almost....

What are you going to do to break out of the box?

What are you still holding on to?

"Beau With A Toy"

a birthday card for my mother

It's Mum's this month and I didn't have to dig very far for reference as this image was on the top of my photo stack. Beau passed in January 2007 but still remains one of my most beloved subject matters as he was such a handsome and still a very silly dog. I have taken so many photos of him over the years, and being such a handsome golden, most of the paintings that I have done with him have been my most popular. There are a few that I will not sell as they are too close to my heart. My mother has quite a collection herself.

I did this painting with watercolor on 250lb cold press Arches watercolor. I used to buy the ready made watercolor cards that you could just paint on, but after using them for some time, I feel that they aren't think enough or have enough "tooth" so a lot of the paint doesn't stay. But if they were thicker, they'd probably be more expensive.

Of course, I can't get rid of any supplies that I have purchased or were given to me over the years. There was one time I donated some things to an art class for an elementary school but I think that was mostly markers. I still hold on to everything and with the Creative Group still in full swing I usually take that time to use the different mediums. I still have charcoal from art school! But I still use it!!

What about you? Do you have a tough time letting things go? or is your life clutter and art supply free? I can only imagine.....

Kitten Art & Shows

If you don't love kittens, well, then you're no friend of mine. Just kidding, but really kittens are adorable :). Here are 2 of my latest out of the kitten art collection.

White kittens

watercolor & prismacolor pencil

5"x10"

3 Kittens 4 Bowls

watercolor and prismacolor pencil

5"x10"

I have been taking a break with outdoor shows. Back in 09-10, I did about 1 to 2 shows a month and I have to admit, I got burnt out.

Highlights of art fairs is that you meet people who are interested in your work. You get to talk about your work and in my case, your pets. You get to collaborate and meet other artists. You get tips on where all the other "good" shows are. And of course: Commissions and Sales

Downsides of art fairs is the weather is always unpredictable. I don't mind the rain as much as I mind the wind. The lugging of all your display and art from one town to the next. If your fortunate you'll have a great person next to you to watch your things while you go pee or whatever. But then sometimes you just have a person sitting there complaining. Most complainers talk about how there's no traffic at "this show". If I had a dollar for everyone who complained to me about a poorly attended show I'd be a rich woman. No doubt, I've had some pretty crappy shows but I try not to let it effect me anymore.

I used to do the South End Open Markets that happen every Sunday here in Boston. They were good, and from what I understand they're getting better. But for the life of me I can't get into these shows anymore and I think I know why. It was a rainy/windy day and my paintings kept falling off the display only to ding up or even smash my frames. Well, one point, I lost it. And I dropped a couple of F-bombs. Little did I know the organizer of the show was in the booth directly across from me. Now, I could be imagining things, but if I was the show organizer and I saw this woman across from me say F*CK! every time a painting fell I probably would feel the same way... We don't need this riff raff. So lesson learned.

This year I have entered my stuff in the Allston Street Fair that is happening on September 25th. It's a block party with live entertainment as well as food and art. I entered for 2 reasons. 1.) It's 5 minutes walking from my house

2.) Allston has this reputation for being a place where the hipsters hang out. College kids come in and live for a year or two and trash their apartments. I want to change that image. I've been living in Allston on and off for about 20 years. And yes, I was a college kid at the time I first came here. Allston has so much to offer! We are a mesh of all sorts of cultures from all over the world. We have a great music scene, a lot of restaurants in any ethnicity you can imagine and there is an art scene! So don't be a hater and come visit me at the Allston Street Fair. http://allstonvillagestreetfair.com/

Art Online

So I get emails from Dog Art Today, a great blog dedicated to... Dog Art! http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/ They are holding their 3rd annual wine label competition for the Mutt Lynch Winery and this year's theme was "naughty" Aww! I asked my friend T, who's got a goofy white boxer named Sugar, if she had any photos of Sugar being "naughty". She sent me some and here are my interpretations:

Sugar's busy day

8x10 inch watercolor

Sugar's Flower

5x7 inch

watercolor with Prismacolor pencils

You're only allowed one entry per person and because my black and whites tend to get more response out of people, Sugar's Busy Day is my entry. Fingers are crossed!!!

Lil Silver Pug

5x7 inch

Black watercolor and a silver Prismacolor pencil

So like I said, I'm finding that my black n' whites are getting more attention than my color pieces. I'm all about it. I've been working with black watercolor for a couple of years now. I started doing black and whites with some breeds, like pugs, that I already had a lot of color paintings of and wanted to do something a little different. I've done a couple of commissions this way too. I think black and white definitely creates more of a dramatic effect. I think the dog in Lil Silver Pug looks more regal ... or even old timey because of the black and white. Stay tuned for more!

???

Does anyone know what artist created this image? I found it on a blog, LOVE IT but there was no reference to the artist. I found the image for sale on Ebay as well and they only listed it as a Brazilian artist... hmmmmm. Anyway, if anyone knows please tell me! Thanks.

New Art works

I wish I had more to show you. There's only so much time.

"Toupee Kitten"

5x7 inch

watercolor and Prismacolor pencils

"Orange Kitten II"

8x10 inch

watercolor and Prismacolor pencil

"Doggie Butt"

8x10 inch

watercolor and Prismacolor pencils

"Long Haired Daschund"

8x10 inch

watercolor and Prismacolor pencils

"4 Bowls, 3 Kittens"

5x10 inch

black watercolor and Prismacolor pencils

All works are for sale. Feel free to contact me for pricing or if you'd like to get your own pet's portrait done. Thanks for looking!

It's all in the eyes....

So the other night Jason and I watched Bambi. I haven't seen this movie up to now, and that's probably a good thing because as I child, I may have been deeply effected ... in the incorrect way. Dating a hunter and being an environmentalist and doing many field studies on the whitetail I could go on and on all the incorrect things about this movie. Not to mention the amount of destruction the Disney has done on the everglades of Florida (I'm sure the alligators and whooping cranes are tearing up just as Bambi did when his mom died) but I digress.....

I want to talk about the great thing about this movie... the animation.

Bambi was based on a an Austrian book "Bambi, A Life In the Woods". The book (which I would love to have a copy) was about a year in the life of a Roe deer. Disney changed it to a whitetail as more Americans are familiar with that kind. This film was made in 1942. 1942!!! We officially were out of the Great Depression, but I'm sure there wasn't a whole bunch running to the picture shows at that time. In fact, Bambi didn't do very well at the box office because of the financial situation of the country. But in any regards, the animation was just lovely. Look at the eyes of these characters! Just melts your heart. The eyes have it. Just compare the pictures of Bambi and Thumper above to the ones below.

Bright eyes in awe of a butterfly! Eyes squeezed shut in anticipation of a crash while the other's is rolled back, almost terror. Yes the whole facial expression is there!

Back in the days of The Art Institute of Boston, I took a class for children's book illustration. We had an assignment where you were to take a stick figure's face and try to get as many expressions as you can. Something like this (I just did this one before I started writing):

Isn't it amazing to what a few simple lines can represent? Happiness, wonder, sadness, indifference, anger, extreme anger!, awe inspiring, eerie (what the hell was that I just heard?). The third one down in the first column is the look my mom would give us when she found us still up playing and giggling at 1 in the morning. That's when I knew she was pissed! Bug eyed and angry as hell! LOL.. then leering, boredom, very happy, laughing, chewing lunch? lol. and exasperated.

So here are some portraits I have done of friends pets. Mind you, both of these animals have crossed that rainbow bridge. I may have made the eyes a little sadder because of this reason.... It's pulling on the heartstrings. My friend Cathy looked at the Reba picture and when I had said that Reba is no longer, she actually got emotional herself. It's all in the eyes.......

Reba

8x10 inch

watercolor, colored pencil

Echo's Birthday

8x10 inch

watercolor and colored pencil

Well, this is exciting!

I got the letter in the mail on Saturday that these 2 pieces were accepted into the "Art Show at the Dog Show" which is a huge canine event that happens in Wichita, Kansas!

"BW Tibetan Terrier"

5"x7" black watercolor

"Retired Racer"

5"x7" watercolor & Prismacolor pencils

I had submitted 4 pieces all together and I have to be honest, I didn't think that any would make it in. Why so pessimistic? Well, could be that commissions are way down or the last 2 shows I tried to get into I was declined? Yes, I think so. But it just goes to show you that if you keep plugging away something is bound to get through.
So from what I understand the show is judged kind of like a dog show. You bring in your dog, let's say the "Retired Racer", would compete against other paintings of greyhounds. If yours wins, then you continue to best Sporting Group and if you win that then you compete for Best of Show. All pieces are for sale and the winners of the categories will win a purse of anywhere from $50 to $1,250! I'm not thinking of the money, per say. I just think that this is going to be some great exposure for my work! So needless to say, this totally made my weekend. Now I have to get them to the framer and mailed to Kansas by the 25th of February. Once I know exactly which gallery they'll be in, I'll post it here. If you're in that area, be sure to check these and more wonderful canine artists!

I heart my new iPhone 4!!!!!

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Christmas time!

The Holidays are upon us! I have been busy, but I have to say not as busy as I was last year. I believe that people were hurting financially in 2009, but 2010 really brought it home. Maybe this year we can all take a step back and realize that we don't need to fill our lives with quantity, but quality. That's my Christmas wish anyway....

"Love Bugs"

5"x7"

watercolor & prismacolor pencils

I received an email and payment on Sunday morning that "Love Bugs" sold off Etsy! What a wonderful way to wake up! Thank you, Perrey!! I hope your boyfriend loves the painting!

Chrismas wreath 2010

Coat hanger, boughs, cranberries, paddle wire, dino stuffed animal and bell ornament

I finished my homemade Christmas wreath last night. I had extra strung up cranberries because our tree is a wee bit smaller this year. I usually string up 3 bags of Ocean Spray. You think I'm crazy? No way! It's the best way to watch the Pats game! Keeps your hands busy so you're not snackin' all the time either! The only drawback is that they do eventually turn into Craisins, which aren't as pretty. But I like how it's more simple this year. Dino is ringing his Christmas Bell.

Merry Christmas :)

It's that time of year again!.

If you look around you can't help but notice the Christmas season is upon us. Whether you celebrate or not, this is a time of year that can be super stressful to some, and really depressing to others. Remember, that Christmas is not about how much you can save at the mall if you go there RIGHT NOW! It's the anniversary of the birth of Christ in the Christian calendar. Now, I'm not a religious person, so Christmas to me is about spending time with friends, family, drinks, good food and of course pet portraits ..

"Schuster"

5"x7"

watercolor and Prisma color pencils

Schuster's owner, Kristin, won my gift certificate that I donated to the PBRC (Pit Bull Rescue Central http://www.pbrc.net/ ) I actually got most of this painting done when I was sitting at Allston Open Studios so not only was it for a good cause, but brought attention to my work as well as the fact - yes, I do donate! and yes, I do commissions! I apologize for the poor photo, my regular 35mm camera is broken! I guess it was bumped around one too many times and now the back door that holds the film won't 'click' shut .. I'm not sure it can even be fixed. So Santa, if you're reading this :)

"Look Who's 10"

watercolor and ink

November 30th was my nephew's 10th birthday! The big 1-0!! Of course I had to make him a card. He's been taking drumming lessons and I think it's time to start introducing him to a little rock n' roll. In fact, I think the first time I heard Led Zeppelin I was 10... I remember my friend sat me down to listen to "Stairway to Heaven" because she thought it was SO cool that it started slow, got faster and harder and ended being slow again. It wasn't til high school that I realized how truly amazing this band was.... "Gallows Pole" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I5WU8r9Uj8 being a particular favorite

Then last week the girls and I had a creative Wednesday making Christmas cards. I normally do a winter/themed watercolor and have it printed out. But this year I wanted to break out of the box, so to speak, but that's what creative Wednesday is all about. So I went back to one of my first loves: Collage. When I was a little girl, my sister did a collage in her bedroom of cut outs from fashion mags and such. Funny sayings - mostly about flirting. I wanted so much to be like her that I then did the same thing, but with pictures of animals. In fact, she would bring a Vogue or something home and I'd start cutting it up before she even looked at it. Later, when I took an oil painting class in college, the professor had us make our own still life with found objects and make a collage out of it. I still remember mine had an orange nerf ball. But this was an assignment to teach about color. ... So for Creative Wednesday, I found a bunch of magazines, a photo promo book and lots of old Christmas cards to cut away at (I never throw anything away!) Anyway, with out further ado, here are this years 2010 Christmas cards:

"Underwater Christmas"

6"x9"

paper & rubber cement

"Snowball Fight"

6"x9"

paper & rubber cement

"Santa Baby"

6"x9"

paper & rubber cement

"The Reverend Jackson Dreams of Christmas"

6"x9"

paper & rubber cement

"Pear Tree Christmas"

4"x 8"

paper & rubber cement




"Money Owl"

6" x 9"

paper & rubber cement

So there you go. The JP Christmas fair is tomorrow. This is the last fair that I will be doing for the year. I will need to start focusing my attention on Christmas commissions and then its on to 2011!