Latest Painting - Step by Step

I had no idea when I broke out my paints just exactly what I would paint but I thought this time I would include a person/subject. Below are the steps that ensued.

 First I played around with color, putting some random washes as a background. Then I sketched in the girl with a light wash on her outfit just to give me a feel for the composition. Then I laid in a coat of Golden's Heavy Gel Medium over the outfit making swirls to follow the drape of her skirt and texturizing her top with a piece of vintage lace. I also went outside and picked some Bleeding Heart leaves, painted them white and used them like stamps across the top. On the bottom I added some opaque white flakes for a 'magical meadow' feel.

 I decided I didn't like the white circles (bubbles) so blocked them out with more of the leaf prints. I think Golden's Pyrrole Red is one of the most powerful and beautiful colors so that was my choice for her outfit, just blocking in the color.

 More washes over the top knocking back the white leaf stampings a bit. Here I've also added some shading to her skin and clothes as well as a brilliant bronze metallic paint on the ruffles of her skirt.

 More overall white shapes stenciled in on the top made me think of some pressed Hydrangea blossoms that I'd had for a long time. They were rather brownish so I painted them with a whitewash and laid them across the top to see how I'd like them.

 Here I've glued down the Hydrangea blossoms and added some crimson and blue washes across the top.

 To fill it out and give it a feel of an arbor I've added some green leaves and flowers in green. Lots more definition in her face, body and outfit.

 Here I've painted the flowers white with blue centers and I've added some berries to balance out the color red.

 This is (I think) the finished piece with much more shading/highlighting on her face, hair and body as well as her clothes and a shadow beneath her. A bit more purple to level out the values and of course lots of ferns done with acrylic inks. Of course you can't see the shiny metallic or the textures in the painting but there are many which I think makes it so much more interesting.

Any thoughts on a title?

Best... Canace

The MAD Museum!

What an amazing and fun place! I must confess... several of my Steampunk pieces are in this museum. If you are at Stratford Upon Avon in the UK it's a 'must see'.

Best... Canace

Bizarre Art Contest and UFO Festival

I've mentioned before how Pine Bush, N.Y. is considered the UFO Capital and last year they held their first UFO Festival complete with parade. This year in conjunction with the festival the Pine Bush Area Arts Council had a call to artists for a 'Bizarre Art' show. My first thought was how much fun it would be to sculpt an alien, which I did, only to find out later that they couldn't take 3-D pieces. BUT... I also did a painting and honestly I can't remember if I called it 'Sighting' or 'Encounter' but either way... I won! I won the contest for Bizarre Art!

Encounter

 Saturday, April 28th will be numerous lectures about sightings and abductions etc. along with the parade in the afternoon. Then Sunday there will be a cook-off and car show, then the reception and presentation for the Bizarre Art contest. I will take some pics and post them later on so you can all see what our local aliens look like. ;o)


Have a great weekend!

Best...  Canace

Whew! I'm actually ready!

Today is the annual Wallkill River School Holiday Bazaar and the Biffs are part of it. We've been working non-stop for weeks to get ready and we did it!

Those of you who do shows know how it is...  do I have enough?... is there too much? .. how to display it to its best advantage?... what sort of people are buying?.... how do I price this?... etc. etc. etc. It can be very stressful and there is no science to it.. ya just wing it the best you can.

So..  the Wallkill River School Holiday Bazaar starts at noon and ends at 7pm during which time there will be a members reception as well. It's located in the beautiful old Patchett House on Route 17K in Montgomery, N.Y. If you are in the area I hope you'll stop by and say hello.

Off we go!

Best... Canace

Next stop... BEACON..... please step carefully....

 That's what you will hear if you take the Metro North train out of New York City. Normally Beacon is one of the stations where I catch the train for a day in the City but this past Saturday it was a new gallery for 'The Biffs' (Janet and I) to show our work...just jewelry this time. Funny how things happen... one day you're on an art studio tour meeting new artists.. next you're at their house for lunch.. and the next thing you're in a new gallery!

This is the River Center Gallery, part of the Scenic Hudson. It sits right on the Hudson River as part of a little park, right next to Dia (look that one up) and the train station. It's a converted barn and a fabulous space.
 Reception was Saturday evening... with a great turnout.

 

Janet welcomes you to the River Center

Setting Up

Yummmmm!

 

Our Table.. see the Hudson in the background?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are some of Janet's pieces on display.

 
And these are mine below:

 Many Hudson Valley artists represented along with their Hudson River landscapes...

Hope you enjoyed your visit to the River Center in Beacon... next stop.... 


Best... Canace

Orange County Arts Council-Open Studio Tour Weekend

Wow, it's going to be a great weekend!

Beautiful weather, beautiful leaves and the Orange County Open Studio Tour. There are 50 artists participating....everything from performing arts, oil painting, fiber arts, collage, assemblage etc. etc. etc. You may recognize the name Jonathan Talbot.. he'll be opening his studio this weekend as well. Trust me, his wife Marsha  makes the best scones!

Open Studio Tour Opening Reception: Friday, October 21 from 6-8pm
Open Studio Tour-South: Saturday, October 22 & Sunday, October 23
Visual artists and performing art studios from Warwick, Florida, Goshen, Sugar Loaf, Chester, Monroe, Highland Mills, Cornwall, Blooming Grove, Newburgh and Rock Tavern will be opening their studios and providing a rare opportunity for the public to observe artists up close and personal during their creative process from start to finish. It is the Arts Council’s desire that the Open Studio Tour will open up the world of artists to everyone – from students to the seasoned collector to the first-time art buyer or observer, to the curious general public. We believe that through education, visitors become loyal customers and supporters of art and that this program will grow over the years. The Open Studio Tour-South Opening Reception is a Free event to the public and will be held at the Seligmann Estate, 23 White Oak Dr. Sugar Loaf
I have the complete map in .pdf format... can't figure out how to attach it to a blog post.. so if you would like to see a copy of the map with all the artists listed by location, just drop me an email and I will send it to you. It's fun just going over the map one by one and visiting the artists' websites to see their work.

You know what Janet(Biff) and I will be doing this weekend! (If we keep running off like this do you think our husbands will disown us?) Nahhhhh.... ;o)

Enjoy your week/weekend too!

Best... Canace

From The Corners of My Mind

From September 1st through October 31st my work will be featured in a solo exhibition at the Ellenville N.Y. Library Museum. The reception is the 10th of September from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. I hope if you're local that you may be able to stop by.
Since I have so many different avenues in my pursuit of art... ie...  graphic arts, collage, assemblage, painting, jewelry etc.(Is there a name for A.D.D. artists?*) I had to come up with a name that would cover it all.. what better than 'From the Corners of My Mind'. (Sometimes a scary place)  ;o)

I will post the press release at a later date, but for now here is the postcard invitation.

Hope to see you on the 10th!

Best... Canace

* Maybe M.M.M. for Mixed Media Madness?

Buried Treasure - Seth Apter does it again!

If I were asked 'Who do you know that accomplishes the most in any given time frame?" it would have to be Seth Apter. I'm convinced he has lots of artistic clones running all over Manhattan visiting galleries while he creates new and interesting ways for artists to connect and collaborate... and he does it so well! The 'Buried Treasure project ends today, so go to his blog The Altered Page and leave a comment after reading the particulars. I know I had fun looking through my old posts .. I think you will too. Then we get to see what everyone has chosen. Thanks to Seth! :o)

Buried Treasure

 Have fun with Buried Treasure!

Best... Canace

Time for a beautiful FREEBIE

I've had this image for a very long time waiting for the perfect project.... still waiting.... so I thought perhaps you might like to play with her. I hope you'll let us know what you do with her, she's so beautiful.

Best... Canace

The Arts Map - Post yourself so others can find you

Co-created by  Robin Colodzin and Jonathan Talbot, this map can tell you all the artists in your area, local art events and you can post your own artwork as well. Check it out!

 The Arts Map

Best... Canace

AND THE WINNER IS...... Drum Roll Please......

Today is the drawing for the assemblage entitled 'Talents' giveaway. I have used the random.org site to determine who the winner is... and..... the winner is.....  (I just love suspense)

Jeanette Janson!

Congratulations Jeanette! 

Thank you to everyone else for your lovely and kind comments about the assemblage and for entering for a chance to win it. I hope to do this again soon, it's been fun.

Best... Canace