Another reception this Friday night. Would love to meet you if you're local!

Best... Canace

Macro Magic in the Garden

Come walk with me this morning to take a very close look at all the magic happening in the gardens...

Best... Canace

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

SPRING is SPRUNG... the GRASS is RIZ

No words... just a walk through the gardens....

On the front porch

Pulmonaria

Sweet Violets

Yellow Archangel

Ajuga

Alyssum

Azalea

Bleeding Hearts

Dogwood

Pansies

Periwinkle

And the sweetest flower.....  a sweet little newt

Best... Canace

How BEAUTIFUL is this?!

As some of you know, the reception at the Lazarus Gallery in New Rochelle was a couple of weeks ago where 25 artists are participating including myself. It was a lovely reception (previous post) where I met fellow artists as well as the public. One of those artists and I decided we would do a swap since we both love creating assemblages and of course you never have enough odds and ends to give it that perfect touch.

 My package came yesterday and OMG...(kabuke dance) OMG.... just look!

Imagine how excited I was to see this when I opened the box!

And here are a few of them arranged in a printers tray.

 I can only hope that he is even half as excited when he opens his package of 'stash'.

 Thank you LC!!


Best... Canace

A Beautiful Reception!

This past Sunday was the Lazarus Gallery reception in New Rochelle, NY and it was a great success. I thought I'd share some pictures of the beautiful art that was based on the theme "Visual Symphony". I'm honored to be a part of such a carefully juried show. Thank you to all who attended .. it was great seeing old and new friends.


( Please forgive the iPhone pictures, they don't do justice to the beautiful artwork.)

Blue Light Jazz - Michael Patterson

Above - Barbara Maslin       Below- Marilyn Cohen

Above - Art by Canace   Below - Lewis Cohen

Barbara McIntyre

Erik Kucera

The Nature of Music by Joanna Zeller Quentin

Birth of Mandolin by Vincente Saavedra

All's Quiet

This is just a small sampling of the artists included. The exhibit runs through September 16th if you'd like to see all of the artwork in person.


Best... Canace

JEWISH HISTORY.... in my hands

A few months ago an artist friend of mine, Chuck Davidson most recently noted for his 'Archeoart' contacted me when he'd returned from a dig in Israel.

 #1 I was completely consumed with jealousy about the dig
 #2 I was dying to hear all about it

 #3. Chuck had brought back some pottery shards that he thought I should design some jewelry around.

 I love a challenge and this sounded so intriguing, so Chuck invited me to his home to see the shards and brainstorm the jewelry pieces.
'
Did I mention that these shards are from the Roman era? Only once have I ever held something in my hands that has such history. Picture terracotta shards with the potter's finger imprints from throwing the pot(s) on whatever type wheel they may have used.I felt an amazing connection running my fingers over lines that had once been created by someone who I'll never know but who took such pride in his or her art.

The story as I understand it is the people of Beit Guvrin / Maresha lived in a sophisticated catacomb of tunnels and caves underground. When they knew that the Romans were going to take over their city they stood at the top of the stairs leading down into the Bell Caves and threw their pottery down inside, smashing all of it so the Romans wouldn't be able to use and enjoy their belongings. It's a lengthy and fascinating history.. just search 'Beit Guvrin' and that will lead you to extensive reading on the history of these caves.

Apparently there are mountains of broken pottery and people on digs are allowed to keep a few pieces provided they don't have significant historical value such as inscription or an unbroken vessel.I felt honored and excited to start designing around these pieces of history.

So here are the pieces that I have designed. Many many thanks to Chuck for his generosity and for choosing me to work with these cherished pieces. Please take time to visit his web page to see his very distinctive art. I stand in awe of his very diverse talents.

Photo by Chuck Davidson

Best... Canace

A Visual Symphony

If you are in the NY area and free this Sunday afternoon there is an artist reception from 3pm - 4:30pm at the Lazarus Gallery, 391 Pelham Road, New Rochelle, New York.

I'm proud to be a part of this exhibition "A Visual Symphony" with my piece entitled "Majestic".

I hope you'll stop by and say hello!

Best... Canace