Mask Making Day!

Saturday's workshop was a blast- the kids (and a couple of the parents) made these cool masks in my studio. I have decided to donate 10 percent of all my sales at my upcoming open studio to the AANE,
Aspergers Association of New England, so these types of programs can continue. Art is a connective and healing process. I am grateful for Catherine Mayes for bringing these kids to me. She does many other types ofactivities with them as well. I have learned a lot working with her and it's fun!

Eye Candy 10"x10" mixed media

rushing to get this one to Cohasset today for  the small works show opening Nov 4!

paper mache in a day- mask

I have 6 teens coming to make masks today from the Asbergers Association of New England.

These kids are awesome, and they help me to get really organized in my studio. I want them to be able to make a mask and finish it in the 2 hour session, so I made one yesterday to see if it could be done.

Using construction paper it's possible to finish with color as the final layer.

 I had all these ginko leaves I had preserved in glycerine and water-( thanks Martha Stewart!) and with the leftover paper mache mix I glued them to a piece of rice paper.

Deer #69/80 8"x8" acrylic

I showed my class last night the technique I used to do these forest paintings- everyone did amazing pieces!
This morning I added the deer to mine. Yesterday's post mentioned that we are going into Daylight savings time- my editor (my sister) corrected me- we actually return to standard time in the fall. I thought it all was about saving daylight- but apparently we only do that in the spring and summer.
My sister has an eagle eye for all typos and corrections.Thats why I love her ! Here's to you sis-

#57,58 &59/80- forest triptych - 8'x8' acrylics on gatorboard panels

I did these over the course of two sessions- yesterday was busy- I started a new yoga class in the morning . If I don't post the blog by 10 AM it doesn't get to my subscribers till the next day. Sometimes that is good because it forces me to work fast, but I wonder if I should change the setting ( if only I knew how!)
I am loving the forest these days - this triptych is from my head,
Above is how they looked after yesterdays session- lots of spritzing scraping and wiping.

Each panel complete after this mornings session. Above's pink tones are what I saw out my window this morning as I was making coffee- the remains of the sunrise. It's happening later now- daylight savings starts pretty soon!

and here is the triptych.

#55 "After Degas"and #56 "Pumpkin Pie"/80 acrylic 8"x8"'s

This is after Degas- one of my favorites in his bather series. This piece is at the Hill- Stead museum in Hartford.Ct... a must- visit place. Their permanent collection has many jewels.

I have not seen the show at the MFA yet- cannot wait to go.

This is me thinking about pumpkin pie and all the parts that are needed. This crisp weather is making me think about pot roast and pie! I better get out and walk so I can justify the eating....

I kept the pine needles in the picture- love the texture.

#53 and 54/80 James the Rhino and Trick or treat

This was last nights demo at the James Library's annual open house- my challenge group "Girls Just Wanna Paint" is showing there opening December 2- hope you can come to the opening!

Lisa Daria brought this sweet rhino and we had fun painting it. Distracting venue- lots of chatting going on and there was a GREAT jazz band playing up stairs- which included the great Lars Borror Chapell on bass.

This is from a photo of my my girls- Maddie was a purple cat- Markie a zebra- one Halloween a million
 ( seems like) years ago.
Also- to clarify- yesterday I wrote about my dollar store palette-I actually only use the containers from the dollar store- my paints are mostly Golden acrylics- very permanent and high quality ( not dollar store paints!)

WIP , last nights adventure and meet me at the James tonight!

This is my set up- acrylics in little cannisters from the dollar store- love this method- my paints stay wet forever... This is a painting  in progress of my little girls getting ready to go trick or treating...

Last night I went to Cambridge to the Lizard Lounge and saw my good friend Carols nephew perform (blonde guy on the manolin) in his band the Deadly Gentleman

It was was really fun and such a great crowd- the music is joyful.

 On our way home we saw this buck in the woods- you can barely make it out...but he had huge antlers.
Tonight I am doing a demo at the James Library in Norwell- 6-8 PM with Lisa Daria- it's their open house. Please stop by!

mixed media collages #51 and 52/80 8"x8" on gatorboard

Inspired by my daughter Maddie's art ( below) . She is looking at the patterns around her in Charleston and interpreting them in a cool graphic way.

It was so fun to respond to her image!

This one is from the lowest one in her triptych- she was in Starbucks.
I feel "saved" each morning by my cuppa joe. Do you?

This collage/ mixed media was inspired by random pages and maps in  an old national geographic magazine. It became about how my daughters are now living at a distance and how fast  time is going...

Thank you all for your wonderful messages yesterday regarding my new status as a gallery artist- it means so much!

I'm a gallery artist!

Yesterday I received news that I was accepted by the South Shore Art Center in Cohasset to be a gallery artist! I never seemed to have my act together when it came time to enter- this time I did!
I am excited to be part of the different venues they have there. I am joining a lot of really great artists there!

"toast for breakfast" 50/80 8"x8" acrylic and I got an new iphone

This is taken with my new phone under the kitchen lights- not bad although the color is a little off
( and I cropped it a bit too much in the left...)
I knew I needed a new phone since I stepped on mine recently and cracked it and this morning I drove to the apple store to get it at 8 AM - I hate crowds. I had a dream about an Elton John protective case- it was black with gold stars,  it dosen't exist- YET.I got a red one, looks cool with the white phone!
I will admit I am phone addicted...but the camera feature is awesome and a few other things as well like Siri- talk text.
Anyway I love my toaster and all things toasted!I guess its a gadget day for me. Might even take my vacuum cleaner out but I'm not sure i feel THAT crazy today...

Occupy Boston 49/80 8'x8' acrylic, fabric, charcoal and shredded money

As I was leaving the South Station area on Saturday I thought I saw a craft fair- uh NO-
 it was Occupy Boston.
I realize I keep my head in the sand and really was not aware of this movement until last week. I need to be more up on current affairs I guess- yet, I am a big fan of sand.
No excuse for me .....

woods 48/80 8"x8" acrylic on gatorboard

Love the woods- hate the ticks.
Yowzer- I pulled about 12 off my dog just now- I'm headed very quickly to the shower!

Zinnia 47/80 8''x8'' acrylic and charcoal on gatorboard

Finally got around to the zinnia today. I like drawing with charcoal on the paint. Spritzed it a little too with my atomizer.
Autumn is here- things are falling from the sky. I need to get my house plants inside and make a garden in my house!
I am off to see the Fort Point channel open studios in Boston today. Excited!

maskmaking at North River Arts and portrait drawings!

 I attended the maskmaking workshop at North Riverlast night- it was so much fun! Everyone had a blast. Mine was inspired by Chagall. People were so creative with all the fun materials provided.

                                                        My portrait of Jonathan Arouca

                                                           Sarah's Buddha from class

Inspired by Jane and hawaii- 46/800 8"x8" acrylic on recycled panel

Its really dark and rainy today- I thought I was going to paint one of my still pretty zinnias plucked from my garden, but things changed. This panel is one that a kid had started painting and abandoned last summer- I cropped it to 8"x8". The colors that were there inspired this scene. Also I am thinking about my oldest daughter Markie who just arrived at her grandfather's farm in Hawaii.
And, of course, Jane Filer inspired me to paint the colorful stuff. She gave her talk yesterday at the Art Complex- she is just the best. We had a great turnout!
She is on her way back to NC today...
this photo isn't great- the rain makes it hard to shoot- sigh.

Saquish 45/80 8"x8" acrylic (from the front upper deck)

Yesterday the weather treated us to another gorgeous day- and how lucky were we- we had planned this outing to my friend Michele's cottage on Saquish 2 months ago! It is not easy to get here- the roads are sand and rock- our driver Deb ( who also grew up on Saquish) was our fearless driver.
No way could I have done it! We spent a perfect day together. High school friends are great and I am so glad I still have these connections.

The cottage- re- built 10 years after after a lightning bolt blew up the original house...

There were buterflies everywhere! ( Michele Deluca's photo)

                           The girls at the end of the day( I photoshopped my self in the picture!)

                                   Perfect way to end an amazing day- Thank you Michele and Debbie!

I'm a guest Curator!

This week I am installing an exhibit of paintings at the Art Complex Museum. It is the first time I have curated a show- I selected 3 artists- Jane Filer, Susan Swinand and Ed Trejo.
Each of these artists have delivered and the work is wonderful.
There will be an artist talk/slideshow with the amazing Jane Filer on Wed, October 12, (10:30 AM coffee and mingle- 11:00 gallery talk)
It is free and if you can come please do! Jane is from Chapel Hill, NC and it is a treat to have here here.The opening reception for the show is Sunday, October16, from 1:30-3:30- the other two artists will be there then.

                                                                         Jane Filer

Susan Swinand

                                                                       
                                                                          Ed Trejo