Happy Holidays!

It is official. Today, the January 2012 issue of American Art Collector magazine hits the stands - complete with a special section on Collecting Still Life Art that includes my paintings!

I reworked my website for this... Here is a screen capture of my "new" home page:

The link to purchase has the pricing and gallery phone number for the three paintings included in the magazine as well as images/prices for similar works. John is standing by to take orders. I am super excited to be in this magazine and feel my work holds up nicely to others in the issue. Let's hope subscribing collectors and galleries think so too.

I paused work on the large pastel which I have dubbed, The Places We Have Been. I refuse to post images yet because I am considering reworking an area and cropping off the very bottom. It will have to happen later this week or even after Christmas because there is so much going on. It will be the last piece of art made by me in 2011.

That said, I look forward to January 2012 and all it holds. I have a number of projects to work on and plenty of fire to get to them after the year-end celebrations cease.

Enjoy your gatherings with family and friends. Until next year...
Laura

Time for the Holidays

Hard to believe the year is almost over. I still have much to do which is why this will be brief.

I have HEAT in the studio! Of course, the weather turned warm again as soon as it was installed, but I look forward to the advantages of warmth and lower humidity in my workspace. Good-bye dehumidifier! Scarlett was happy to test it out.

Last month I also attended a workshop given by Diane Townsend in Rochester, NY. I found it very, very difficult and really learned from my struggles. I have yet to complete the final project, but plan to soon. For now, I have noticed I am more free in my current painting. I am actually having FUN working!

I am finally using my full page of UART paper. Wish I hadn't waited so long to try it. Here is where I am so far:

More news at the end of the month and hopefully images of the finished pastel as well as images of an oil I have brewing. Stay tuned...

Don't forget - artwork can make a great Christmas gift!

Back to the Easel

It is the Monday after a jam-packed weekend and I am putting things back in order. We had 20 people show for the Studio Tour. A hearty, "THANK YOU!" to those 20. I got to spend some time with Anne Kenyon yesterday afternoon talking about working surfaces, organizing our studio spaces, different artists that inspire us and other art business talk. We traded art and I now possess one of her lovely winter scenes.

I am very excited about my studio for this winter as my husband and I finally selected a gas stove to heat the space! It will be installed before Thanksgiving and I am re-arranging things a tad down there. It will be nice not to have to bundle up or worry about space heaters going up in flames.

I realize I have not posted images of my last pastel or any of the current oil painting on the easel. The oil will hopefully be completed this week.

Ivy and Syrup, pastel, 12" x 18"

Work in progress:Memories of Maine, oil, 12" x 12"

Enjoy! - Laura

Fall Colors Studio Tour 2011

This coming weekend I am participating in the Fall Colors Studio Tour along with pastel artist, Anne Kenyon at her home and studio at 121 Green Acres Lane in State College, PA.

Here is the ad:

Anne is gracious in allowing me into her home for this event. It works for both of us as she has a prior engagement for part of Saturday and my being there will allow her to participate. I have never felt comfortable with strangers coming into my home, so this opportunity is ideal. It is at times like this when I wish my studio was not in my home. At any rate, for this weekend I will be setting up in Anne's dining room. I will have a few 3' x 6' panels on which I will display my wares. I hope I can make it look nice and not too crammed.

I designed and ordered new brochures to promote myself and let people know I have done and love commission work. I have been selecting paintings to take, making price tags and packing everything in transportable bins. This has been a daunting task since I decided to pull out some older and smaller work that might be more affordable for some people. There are many really nice tiny oil paintings, but this makes me worry about my display looking crammed or too cluttered. I will not allow that to happen!

I am also trying not to be overwhelmed with minutiae - something I'm not very good at. For example, it crossed my mind when I went to the office supply store for printer ink that I might need a sales receipt book. After 10 minutes deciding on which one would serve me best, I decided to look at binders to keep the receipt book and perhaps other notes and such in which took another 10- 15 minutes. See how I can make mountains out of molehills?

Well, I still have much to do in addition to trying to get back to the painting I had going. I sure hope that the weather cooperates for the weekend and that people will come out and say hello!

Fall Thoughts

I have been ill for two weeks. I'd thought I was over the worst of it and then a sore throat came along. My head and chest are packed and all energy sapped. My laptop also decided to stop running at about the same time, so it has been miserable to be sick with rainy weather and no computer to keep me entertained.  I did read a book, but sleep has been the priority.

Today the sun has finally made an appearance and I managed to get this teeny notebook up and running. Dog has been walked and meds taken for the sinus headache. I'm hoping to have enough energy left after posting this to piddle in the studio. I have another small oil going and am in the planning of a large pastel.

In just a few weeks the Art Alliance's Fall Studio Tour will take place.  I need to prepare!  My brochure design was lost with the laptop, so I'm hoping to come up with a replacement in time.  I picked up some of the small work I had framed and am quite pleased with how nicely they "cleaned up" by adding quality frames.  Thank you John and Jeffrey at the State College Framing Company & Gallery!

Here is one of the paintings without its frame...  Yes, a landscape.

Stoney Point Hill, pastel, 11.5" x 9"

I hope in another week (or sooner!) to be back to my old self and keeping you updated. Until then enjoy the sun
L

Worth It

Well, once I got off my butt and got to business, I managed to complete the little oil without too much difficulty. I am quite pleased! Here it is:

Green, oil on canvas, 12" x 12"

There is no clever title. "Green" sums it up just fine. It will take some time to digest some of the things going on here - the lighting, the space, the juxtaposition of the objects... It is exactly how it is supposed to be, but I need to figure out the "why this way?" part.

Now for momentum. I have several ideas bouncing about for some large-scale pastels. Funny, but the ideas for oils are all small! We'll have to see where the ideas take me, but I'll need to start right away before I forget where my head was taking me while painting this. Glad for the cool, clear days. They seem to help.

As far as the postings and communications: I am torn at the best way to do so. So far, posting these blog links to Facebook has not resulted in as much feedback as I thought they might. I really LOVE getting feedback. If I post the images of work directly to Facebook, I get a few comments from people. If any of you have suggestions on how to connect the two and generate more feedback, it would be greatly appreciated.

All for now,
Laura

A Sneak Peek

Well, I've been plugging away at a small oil painting. Struggling is a more appropriate word. It's been months since I've painted in oil and it feels foreign - not a good thing at all! Of course, I chose a pitcher and a vase. Ellipsis. You'd think I'd have them down by now, right? Nope. Why do I torture myself?! I suppose it is worth it.

I won't say too much more about it other than it shouldn't be much longer and here is a sneak peek:

Enjoy,
Laura

The Prince And The Pea

The Prince And The Pea, pastel, 19 ½" x 27 ½"

Some of you may remember this painting from earlier this year. It is one of my personal favorites. Last week I was in a funk that it had been turned down for a national show and delivered it to The State College Framing Company & Gallery at the suggestion of owner, John McQueary. I am happy to report that The Prince And The Pea sold to a couple from Texas in less than 24 hours!

Thank you John and Jeff! I am very grateful for your representation, help and especially your encouragement.

Happy Labor Day everyone!

August Already Almost Accomplished

I just had to do that - sorry.

A friend and colleague contacted me the other day wanting to know my thoughts about using blogs vs. websites vs. Facebook to promote my art. It was then that I realized I actually have all three and hadn't posted here since January!

There has been a lot I should have posted here, but I'm not sure a catch-you-up post is entirely worth it. In that case, how about the highlights?

I have been focusing mainly on pastels and was fortunate to have gotten both of my entries accepted by a prestigious juror - Wende Caporale, PSA - for the 7th Annual Northeast National Pastel Exhibition at The Arts Center, Old Forge, NY this summer. The entries were Sycopated Pink Lady and Missing U.

Another pastel, Lemon Meringue was selected as part of Images 2011 a Mid-Altantic Regional Juried Exhibition too!

I had a very nice visit with dear friends over the winter months and managed to complete one oil painting as a result.

Perfect Gift, oil on canvas, 24" x 24"

Most of my summer was spent in Lake George, NY with side trips to Syracuse and Vermont to visit with family. I did manage to do a few pastels along the way. Here is one:

Threads, pastel, 18" x 12"

Lastly, a confession: I have done a few landscapes. Yep, you read it here. No idea why, but they have provided a change I seem to need just now. No pictures...YET. You'll have to stay tuned!

Happy New Year

I am certain that I am not keeping this up to date enough since I keep having to reset my password to access this! Happy 2011 at any rate. Here is the pastel I promised in my last post:


Missing U, pastel, 18" x 24"

The Zola exhibit is down and I am hunting for storage and/or wall space. I sold a second pastel - Apples & Oranges - during the last week of the show and am thrilled. What's next?

Well, not the gallery in New Hope. Just after sending my work samples, they posted a notice that they were looking for "modern and contemporary" works from artists in the Philly and Baltimore areas. Also, it now states they will only contact you if they are interested in your work and not to call. Great! How do I know they ever got my submission? I suppose I should just try again in another month with new work and ASK for a notice of receipt.

I've updated my website as best as I can and actually created a professional page for Facebook. Hope that wasn't a mistake. I do feel like I need to separate my personal and professional selves. Who knows? Perhaps this is a good move!

Feeling on the edge of a cold with scratchy throat and exhaustion or I'd be working on one of the two paintings I began instead of typing here. Here's what's on the easels:


(Bleeding Heart), oil on canvas, 24' x 30"

and


(One Basket), pastel, 20" x 16"

Yes, having the second easel available is a good thing. Productivity should increase as a result. Just not today. Really, I am excited to get these pieces going and done, but working today is not going to end with good results. It is time instead for more tea and a nap after changing the laundry.