Summer

Summer is here and you could tell by the amount of people outside everywhere. Here in the Northeast we've been getting a considerable amount of wet cool weather (personally I'm okay with it. The longer I go with out putting my AC unit in the better) but this past weekend was beautiful.

I did the Cocheco Valley humane society benefit. I broke even on the table (not including the gas and tolls to get up there) so that's okay. Better than nothing. And met some really interesting people and did generate a lot of interest in my work. New Hampshire is a different mentality. I was amazed at the amount of biker tatoos I saw! LOL. Next week is the Davis Square Art Beat in Somerville. Pray for good weather!!

Summer means....

Get out side. Stop hanging out in front of the computer! Don't get me wrong, if you want to see my work and listen to me rant then that's great. But I'm only in front of this computer because I'm at work and there's not a whole lot going on. But if I were you, I'd go attend some art festivals this summer. Specifically the Somerville Art beat in Davis Square goi ng on July 17 & 18th. I'll have a booth on the 18th.

This past week I've managed to sit at least an hour a day in front of the table to work on watercolors. There aren't many commissions coming in, just some redeemed portrait certificates to keep me busy. I guess it's better than nothing. Jason and I ended up going to Wachusett Res yesterday and I wished that i had my acrylics with me. I did so some sketching, but wasn't feeling too inspired.

Maybe that's the reason why I'm in a bad mood today. It's finally gorgeous outside and I'm cooped up in front of the computer. That and it really didn't feel like the 4th of July to me. I'm such a sucker for the holidays. I didn't even get to do any sparklers. *sigh*

Welcome Summertime. I have some shows coming up this summer that I'm looking forward to. Here's a brief summary but you can get all details at my website http://www.thepedigreeartist.com

First, the Summer Sun and Fun Arts festival. This is to raise funds for the Cocheo Vally Humane Society of Barrington NH. A little far from Boston, but hopefully the lakes region will bring along all the NH vacationers to this fest. It's July 11th with a rain date July 12th. I do believe i'll have to get up at 4am in order to get up there and set up and be ready to sell by 9am. That, I'm not looking forward to. I'm toying with the idea of an air mattress at my parents house the night before as they are 40 minutes north of me, which is 40 minutes more sleep in the a.m.

Then the following Saturday, July 18th, is the Somerville Art beat. This one is only 15 minutes from my house (ya!) So it makes getting in and out of it very easy. Although last year I had a melt down trying to find parking with all of Somerville & Cambridge one way streets.... Argh!

Then the 2nd weekend of August (8th & 9th) is the Scituate Heritage Days. Kids, this is where it all started 7 years ago. My friend Tracy, who grew up in Scituate convinced me to start selling work here. She wanted to do the show but didn't want to do it by herself so she convinced me to share a space with her. Didn't sell much, but it was the first time that my artwork was exposed to the public and I did leave there with a swelled ego!! And received some of my first commissioned orders.

This past week I've worked on some paintings of a lemur (photo from the Stone Zoo) and started another on a Yorkie. This weekend is the 4th and I have a lot of parties and activities planned. I'm hoping that there will be one day that Jason will want to fish Wachusett or Vernon and this way I can bring some acrylics and do a landscape.. Can do much of that on a boat at Quabbin as my view is constantly changing with the drift.

Happy 4th of July!!

Coming back after vacation

After a four day weekend in Vermont having my equestrian vacation ( I went and rode Icelandic horses all weekend!!!!) there's not much to say about my art and the making of it. EXCEPT - if you are an artist I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a business card, a website and the forwardness to talk to anyone and every one about your art. Case in point - I passed out a lot of business cards this weekend. Yes, I was on vacation but if I plan to make it as an artist I can never turn off my marketing. These were people who were very into animals themselves and each got a business card. You could talk til your blue in the face about how fabulous you are but it wasn't until they had a little piece of work in their hands that they were like "Oh!! you'll definately be hearing from me!!" We shall see!!!

June 15th 2009

it's been some time since I blogged last, it was my birthday last week :) and I didn't do much too creative except get some great ideas of what I want to do with acrylics and visited the MoCA in N Adams. I so love that place. And I did post new art work on the site and around the internet as well as marketed myself at the Topsfield Strawberry Fest......

So, you ask, Can you elaborate? Sure!

I want to do large scale painting of insects. I'm talking like 6 foot by 6 foot paintings up close and personal of the bug world that co-exists with us. It will have to wait til I get my own personal studio ( i just don't have the space to store paintings that large) but in the mean time, I've been doing some watercolors of bugs but I think with my new found love of acrylics that this may get me closer to that goal.

the MoCA in N Adams is the Museum of Contemporary Art. This is BY FAR my favorite art museum to visit. Funny, because I live in Boston which is home of the MFA, the Isabella Stuart Gardner, the ICA and countless galleries. And I do enjoy visiting those as well, but there's something about what the MoCA finds and brings in that's just awesome. It's housed in what used to be the Sprague Electric factory and the layout hasn't changed at all. HUGE rooms BIG art and some great exhibits. There was a consistent theme in one of the shows about being an artist. And what can an artist do to separate themselves in order to stand out before all the other artists in the world, and as I'm looking at some of the pieces, as an artist, I can relate because I go through this every day. I remember being at the Corcoran in '89-90 and that was the year that the whole Maplethorpe controversy came out and the museum had banned the showing of the photos. There was a big rally, and then after that all this "controversial" and some really BAD art came out. Like the piss Christ.. (do you remember this??http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ ) and is it art? or is it just there to make you feel revolted??? I guess it is a feeling.... but then my point is that it was there to stand out above all the other art that's out there. I don't think you need to disgust people, but hey I did remember it, didn't I'???? I love painting and doing my art, but would much rather be doing landscapes or being an animal artist - painting LIFE and everything that I find is pleasing. I'm not a dark person and I wonder if that hurts my chances of being successful as an artist.... I hope not. There was another exhibit there; Ben-Nur is his name and he made short films using his family and classic themes from stories. Video is certainly not my favorite medium (a loop of someone doing the dishes with some eerie music in the background.... ???) but this guy's work was entertaining as well as thought provoking. His things were simple and enlightening. http://www.massmoca.org/event_details.php?id=450

Yes, I finally made my way over to Kinko's and uploaded some of the better pieces that came out of my studio this spring. More dogs & kitties, but the acrylics and I did a painting of my nephew when he was a baby. Jason called it eerie.... I don't think it really looks like him, but I was trying to "break out of my box" which I think is a good thing to keep doing. I think I need help with flesh-tone colors....... what do you think??

and then there was the Strawberry Fest. The weather was gorgeous and there were quite a few people walking about. I didn't make the booth cost but not to surprised about that. It was my first show of the season and I don't have a whole lot lined up. I'm different that way. I had people around me telling me that this was their 22nd show this season. Ugh! I can not do that. I did mention to some of the vendors that I'm trying to spend more of my marketing efforts online and one woman said that the internet "scared her". Well, I guess it's not for everyone but I'll be damned if I'm lugging 100lb tupperwares full of paintings when I reach my late 40s. Shows are a pain in the *ss. You got to do them but I'm realizing that it's much more than that. Especially when a lot of my work is all about calling me back for a commissioned piece.

until next time.....

new artwork

Finally, I scanned in some of my new artwork that I've been doing this spring. As I've said before, I've started playing with acrylics again and here is one done at the Wachusett Reservoir whilst Jason was fishing for white perch. Please visit my site and tell me what you think.

Happy June

So here we are on the first of June. This is my birthday season and usually spend a lot of time spoiling myself :). I won't tell you how old I'm going to be but I will tell you that I still celebrate my birthday as if I was turning 6!! LOL.

So these past 2 weeks, I have to admit, that I've been following more of a music scene than the art scene. This is partially my boyfriend's fault, but I have been enjoying it just the same.

But my u.box was featured in a newsletter that is mailed to everyone in my neighborhood from the Allston/Harvard Community. It was all about Boston Shines and what they did during that time and Lo! There's my u.box with my name under it! Hooray! If I had a scanner, I'd scan the article. But I don't so .. here's the picture of the u.box in case you hadn't seen it already...

I also took my acrylics to Wachusett and did a landscape painting which I thought turned out quite nice. So at least I've been creative these past weeks :) . My goal this week is to start getting pieces together for the craft/art show season. First one is June 13th in Topsfield MA... Maybe I'll see you there???