 These "Susans of the Mountains" were sent in as one of three paintings vying for a spot in the upcoming show, "Close to Nature's Heart," a celebration of mountains to be held at the Ice House Gallery in Berkeley Springs, WV from Sept 18 thru Nov 8. Of the three pieces, this is the one that I sincerely felt had the best shot. I personally "like" it best. (I do have a fondness for Black-eyed and Brown-eyed Susans and always include them in my garden). I am also happy with my execution.
However! (and, as you've no doubt already guessed), it was the other two works that were accepted. So, I am happy about that, and also that I can enjoy my Susans for a while longer. Listening to judges and show jurors explain their selection process has always been most interesting. Over time, these explanations have helped me accept that the "rejection" of a work is not necessarily a negative assessment of that work as such. Rather, other works simply called more strongly to that judge, on that day, for that theme, in that show . . . and one just keeps on painting! Today is August 7, and I have just discovered (thanks, Facebook!) that it is National Light House Day. I'm going to see if I can round up enough lighthouse images from the members of my local Art Guild to create a lighthouse album on our Facebook page, Colonial Beach Artists Guild. Below, my painting of the Cape Florida Light, which was built in 1825 and is located in Bill Boggs State Park just south of Miami FL. There are great views of both the Atlantic Ocean and of Biscayne Bay from the top of the lighthouse.  Enjoyed a day of outdoor painting this past Saturday with instructor Kim Hall. Hot as could be, but the locations were great. Very southernmost part of the Northern Neck, just where two "arms" of the Rappahannock River embrace the towns of Irvington, Kilmarnock, and White Stone, Virginia. We started in White Stone, at Robbins' Boat Yard. The painting I began there still needs some studio work, since the scene I chose was a bit complicated for the amount of time available. After lunch, we headed over to the Tides Inn in Irvington. Water, water everywhere, and some interesting clouds that began to build up in the afternoon. This is the view from a nice, shady vantage point at the Inn. Here is: "Might Rain Later" Oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 9" x 12"   A show is coming up at the Ice House Art Co-op in Berkeley Springs WV. It is being hosted by the Morgan Arts Council and I hope to get some work accepted. The show is titled, "Close to Nature's Heart," and will feature mountains. Like many people, having a deadline helps me focus on finishing a work. For that reason, I enjoy using a Call for Entries due date, along with the theme of any new show, as both incentive and encouragement to create some new work.
This week, I completed this "Mountain Sunset." The title is tentative, and I welcome suggestions. Oils. Gallery wrapped 9 x 12 canvas. There is a regional "freebie" magazine, "The Rivah," devoted to events and places of interest for both visitors and locals. It's quite interesting, and useful for finding things to see and do here on the Middle Peninsula and the Northern Neck of Virginia. The magazine includes a children's page, and a feature of the children's page is a scene to color. The publishers were in need of some new coloring scenes. They asked that the scene to reflect some aspect of living near the river. In taking a try at creating something that would suit, it was necessary to completely adjust the way I usually approach a painting or even a drawing. Rather than think forward to the a "finished" product, this drawing needed to specifically provide freedom for someone else to complete the scene. So, I gave it a try, and now feel ridiculously pleased that my two little sketches below will hopefully give enjoyment to others in the upcoming issues!    So, Covid-19 just drags on and on. It's now the beginning of July, and the Colonial Beach Artists Guild is still trying to create virtual shows as much for morale among our members as to have a means to have our recent creations seen. Our newest online show is titled "Found Object Art." The Getty Museum's challenge, proposed early in the “stay-at-home” period, was one of our inspirations. Its premise was to recreate artistic masterpieces with objects found around the house. It proved to be popular and quite impressive. Who knew what you could do with dry pasta and a pair of socks. Then, we began to inch outside our homes. Fortunately for us, we live in a small, very walkable riverfront town, which expanded our available materials to include objects found in our natural environment, such as driftwood, beach glass, and shells. We made our guidelines broad. It didn’t matter if the “found-object(s)” came from your junk drawer, closet, backyard, thrift shop, or yard sale. If you picked it up off the beach and lugged it home 3 years ago, that was fine. As long as some “found object” was an important component of your piece, and your piece was created in the last few months – great! The photo above is of my entry into the "virtual show." It is titled "Perfect Imperfections" and each shell was happily carted home from vacation visits to the Outer Banks. Every shell on this wreath could be called "flawed" yet the "wear and tear" inflicted on these shells through the rough and tumble of their environment (prior to their becoming "found-objects" only adds to their beauty and interest. The piece is a wall hanging (wreath) measuring 8.5" x 8.5". To see the Album of the "Found-Object Art" show on the Colonial Beach Artists Guild Facebook page, click here. Enjoy!
So, I've had birds on the brain for the past week or two, gathering images from my fellow Colonial Beach Artists Guild members for an online themed "show"of "avian art." None of the pieces happened to be of a wood duck. It seemed a shame not to have such a colorful (and fairly common, in Virginia) species included and determined to try painting one in oils. Although the male wood duck is so distinctive that I'd recognize one immediately, I still needed some research photos to look at. I found them on various birding websites. If painting a plein air landscape, I might be content to just start flinging paint at the canvas without much concern about how strictly representational the finished result will be. However, I did want Mr. Wood Duck to be an accurate portrayal. Recalling a illuminating series of classes I'd once taken from the talented Mr. Bill Harris of Liberty Town Arts in Fredericksburg VA, I first sketched my duck lightly in pencil on the canvas. Then, I went over the sketch with (in this case) black acrylic paint,  The advantage to acrylics is that they dry so fast. The outline was soon dry, and I could get the canvas effectively covered, also with acrylic paint. Having this "ground" of color, rather than painting onto a white canvas, can be useful. If nothing else, it does away with the occasional paralysis one can feel when faced with a "blank canvas."  Now, about an hour in to this project, I can start painting in oils. I am going to just put in some big, simple areas of color, and then think for a bit about where to take it from there.  Other aspects of life have come up, so I call a temporary halt on this painting. The oil paints on their sheet of pallet paper will be put in a Masterson palette keeper and still be usable when I can return, even if it is not for several days. Until then!
 (heading photo "Evening Flight" Oil on canvas 4x12 by Kathleen Moran) It's the spring of 2020. The other members of my hometown's Art Guild and I had a number of events planned for showcasing our art. Last year (2019) Colonial Beach held its “first annual” Osprey Festival. It was a lot of fun, and the Downtown Colonial Beach organization had planned to have another this year. The Art Guild was to participate by featuring bird themed art at numerous venues normally open for our 2nd Friday Art Walk and at a tent on town hill on festival weekend. Oh well, corona. So, DCB and the Art Guild determined to co-host a “virtual festival” instead. The Colonial Beach Art Guild has been featuring members’ bird themed art of all types on its Facebook page. I invite you to click on the link for the Colonial Beach Artists Guild Facebook page to enjoy the "Guild Artists Go to the Birds!" album. Below, a little sampling from three different Guild members each featuring osprey. From left to right: 3-D Baby Osprey by fabric artist JUDITH McIRVIN Photograph by DAWN WHITMORE Painting by BARBARA BRENNEN Visit the Guild FB page and enjoy them all ! My hometown art guild in Colonial Beach Virginia is hosting the 15th annual Potomac River Regional Art Show in September. It has never been a juried show. The Guild accepts art work (subject to certain guidelines and caveats) until it runs out of room to hang them. That being the case, I once again opted to enter pieces that did not yet exist, other than in my (perhaps overly optimistic) imagination. What can I say . . . I work best with a deadline. And I met the deadline (barely!) "Sara's Pond," and "Blue-Green Ballet" were just finished yesterday.. Given that they are both oils, thank goodness that a combination of Gamblin's Neo-Meglip medium and hot, dry weather is speeding up the drying time. Turn in for the show is Thursday - 5 days from now! This may not work for everyone, and of course, it can't be done for the juried shows. However, there is an additional advantage to a looming deadline. It means one has to stop! Instead of working and reworking the painting, you just have to call it finished . . . and put down the brush. Paintings can be viewed in the Gallery!! |
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