Finished my building rendering job. Sorry I didn't follow through with the step-by-step thing - I had to burrow in and just get it done and didn't feel like stopping to scan and all that. Maybe the next one. I did like doing the different crop, and putting in a little Fall foliage. Sometimes I get pictures to work from that are covered with snow, and have to fake in the 'growie bits', but this one was easier to capture.
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Other news - I did my art show / fair this weekend, and think I've recovered. It was OK, the people running the show were lovely and the restaurants and businesses involved get an A for support, and for handing out samples of Orange Chicken and other delectables for all of us artists.
But I have to say, the flip side was that I've confirmed my feeling that art shows are not my thing. I don't particularly like sitting behind a white cloth draped table with framed and matted samples of my art, watching people slow down and smile and look, or maybe make a nice comment, then move on enthusiastically to the booth next to me with the guy selling little glass turtles he makes out of marbles.
There was one other guy there who is also an illustrator, and a really good one. He's been around a while, doing architectural illustration (the real kind, for architects and builders, of new buildings) and has had to branch out some because of the economy, and the fact that no one is building anything nowadays. It was kind of sobering to think that he and I were both trying a venue like this, just to see what would happen, when I know that in the not too distant past neither of us would even remotely consider this as a viable option for selling /getting work.
I may - no, make that will - be paring down my 6 holiday shows to, oh, one or two more that I've committed to, and that will showcase my knitting as well as art. They're both a little bit different environment, and may be more rewarding.
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Found this today:
I'm amazed that these people spend all day doing this, knowing that it will all be washed away at the end of the day. Not only could I not bear that thought, I couldn't sit all cramped up like that on a hard sidewalk for hours. So my hat (if I wore one) is off to them.)
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I also really enjoyed this article by Bruce Handy in the NYTimes about Where the Wild Things Are (the book, not the new movie).
(Illustration © Christian Northeast)
I never read the book until I was an adult, so I don't have the 'kid perspective' on it he speaks of. Interesting to think about. I only looked at it as a budding illustrator who dissected his rendering technique, more than as a good or not-so-good children's story.
I also love Maurice Sendak's recent comment telling parents who think the movie is too scary to "go to hell". How refreshing! Especially in the 'nicey-nice' children's book world, where you don't generally hear that kind of thing.
Just saying.
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Its raining cats and dogs here, wow. It went from way too hot to this in no time flat. What happened to Fall? I see one of my too-tall rose bushes has already succumbed to the wind, and has a large branch broken and hanging sadly lawn-wise. I had planned to go out today for a little R&R, but maybe I'll rethink that. This is one of those days where people who have good sense just hunker down and stay inside until it passes. I am worried about my little wild kitty friend who comes to eat every day and is usually waiting on the back porch for the cat door to open in the morning. He's a no show today, and I wonder where he's tucked in - hopefully somewhere dry and warm. He'll be hungry when he does make an appearance, I'm sure!
Okay. If I'm going to get my five on Friday in, I'm going to have to do it quickly.
1. I'm extremely excited to tell you all that two of my fine artworks have been accepted into a juried show. The first annual Yarmouth Art Festival will take place Oct. 15-17.
Forty-five artists are slated to display and sell their work – including photography, painting, etching, sculpture and digital media – at the inaugural event in the church’s bright, post-and-beam space in a wooded setting about a mile from Cousins Island.
The jurors were Chris Thompson, an associate professor at the Maine College of Art in Portland; and Kevin Tierney of Falmouth, a longtime art enthusiast and founder of the online marketplace www.maineartcollectors.com.
The gallery will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. Admission is free each day, with donations accepted. Sponsored by St. Bart’s, the festival will open to the public with an artists’ reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, that includes music and refreshments. I'll be there! I hop to see you then.
My piece are: Rhododendron, which is an oil painting,and Patriot Reflected, a pastel.
2. Another oil painting of mine will hang in the Harvest Show and Auction to benefit the Maine Farmland Trust. That show will be in Belfast.
The opening reception for the HARVEST show at Maine Farmland Trust Gallery is set for October 23rd, 5-7pm. The 10th anniversary celebration with the silent auction has been scheduled for November 16th. MFT Gallery, 97 Main St, Belfast ME 04915.
3. I spent an amazing day at the Art Educators conference. My gosh, I didn't realize how lonely I was. (Writing and illustrating is a lonely business.) It was great and I learned a ton from the VSA maine outreach educator. Thank you Rachel!
4. (Ack. I only have 15 minutes until Saturday and 15% power.) My parents are coming to visit this weekend!
5. Hubby comes home tomorrow after 2 weeks of single parenting. Just in time to celebrate our 16th anniversary! Hooray!
Been busy with lots of different things. But that's good, it keeps life interesting.
First up, a building rendering, work in progress. Its barely started, just doing the first pass of sky and trees. I'm trying to work top to bottom to minimize smudging as much as possible.
This is Polychromos on Stonehenge, about 8 x 11 or so. It has an 'artistic' crop, with the tree leaves extending out past the rectangle of the picture. Not much to see yet, but be patient!
Then onto the art show this weekend, and matting and framing some prints. I have no idea how this show will go, or how many people will attend, so am not going 'all out' for this one. Once I get a feel for it, I will know better how to gauge things for next month.
In case you're in the area, its the 2nd Saturday Art Walk here in Sacramento, and this is in the Arden Arcade area, rather than downtown. It will be at La Casa Plaza on Fair Oaks Blvd (near Howe) from 4 - 7. There will be music and a potter doing a demonstration, which should be fun.
I've also been knitting, and have two more pieces in my shop.
Both are 100% wool and knit with a different cable design. Filbert Steps is finer and "drapey", while Embarcadero is thicker and chunky.
I've just been invited to participate in
another holiday arts and crafts fair, this one in Davis. Let's see, that makes - SIX! between now and Christmas. Holy cow. Well, it is the season, I guess I should go for it. We'll see. I'm honored to be invited, its just tiring, you know?
Oh! I forgot. Did you know that American Artist Magazine has a new website which is officially called
Artist Daily, and they have art forums now? I signed up and have done a quick peruse - looks like a good place to chat and discuss art.
From there I've discovered there is now a
Society of Pen & Ink Artistsand also an
International Charcoal Artists site.
So that's what I'm up to.
Have to go get ready for Jim and Pam's wedding!*
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on The Office
I am off the the Camberwell Art Show tomorrow morning. It is a great day out meeting up with fellow artists and scanning the paintings for those extra stunning works. I didn't enter this year but intend to next year for sure. The morning off may well inspire me in preparation for the next few weeks of Landscaping!
Yesterday we went to Dandenong station to ride on the old steam train. My main motivation was for material and time with family. Now back with several nice pics i am itching to do a watercolour or 2!
Great post Paula, enjoyed reading it. Love the way you've done the foliage on your pic, it really livens it up.
Re. Maurice Sendak, we used to read 'In The Night Kitchen' to our kids many moons ago. They loved it, beautifully illustrated - in fact we still have the book. I agree with what you say, children are so wrapped in cotton wool these days but they love scary/ weird stories, don't they?
And....hope your wild kitty friend is ok...he'll probably turn up again when the rain stops and he's hungry...hope so.
Your new piece is gorgeous - so soft and light.
I agree with your thoughts about doing shows - it's soul destroying.
Good luck for the future.
Wow, a guy that makes little glass turtles out of marbles - how neat! Sorry, couldn't resist. Okay, better luck with the next one(s)!! No matter what the venue etc., shows are a lot of work. I am often shocked by how many shows some artists do. I guess it makes sense if you are making lots of sales but again, they sure are a lot of work.