Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Open studio Holiday Art Sale

100 Paintings for $100 or Less Holiday Art Sale

Saturday, December 7th 2013
10am to 4pm


This is my last open studio of the year!  I'm cleaning out, painting, baking, & decorating up a storm. There will be many original oils and mixed media paintings priced at $100 or less (get a preview here). Also prints on canvas and paper, note cards and large paintings at 50% off.

December 7th, 10am to 4pm, 87 Ashuelot Street, Keene NH


 

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Stained Glass Poppy Votive Tutorial


How to make a stained glass poppy votive

Here's a fun little project that would make a lovely teacher or hostess gift for the holidays.


SUPPLIES:
  • glass jar (recycled or purchased)
  • modge podge--gloss finish
  • scissors
  • paint brush (1/2 inch flat brush or similar)
  • tissue paper in red, orange, light blue, navy blue, 3 shades of green (lighter is better)
  • small candle



1. Using red tissue paper, cut out approximately a dozen small ovals about 1.5 inches or so in diameter and several elongated triangles as pictured. These will be the poppy flowers and buds. Using the paint brush, brush a thin layer of Modge Podge on the glass--it will go on white and dry clear. Lay down one of the ovals and paint over the tissue with the Modge Podge. Make sure to completely cover the tissue paper, going over the edges and smoothing out any bumps in the tissue and any globs of Modge Podge. Arrange the poppy flowers and buds going around the glass about half way up. Some can be a bit higher, some lower. Vary the arrangement--some flowers can overlap a bit, etc.





 2. Using the light blue tissue paper, rip it into small pieces, roughly an inch or so in size. Going around the glass, using the same technique start laying in the sky. Make sure to completely cover the top of the glass all the way up to the rim, overlapping blue over blue as you go. Carefully cover the spaces around the poppy flowers with blue going about half way down the glass.




 3. Using the 2 lightest shades of green tissue paper, rip it into small pieces as you did with the blue. Cover the bottom half of the glass, going in and around the poppy flowers making sure to go all the way to the bottom of the glass making sure there are no clear spaces left.



 4. Using the dark shade of green (or two if you have them) cut up long, skinny stems. Going around the glass, place a stem for every poppy flower and bud, making sure stem goes all the way to the bottom of the glass. Curve the stems or cross one over the other.




 5. Using red and orange tissue papers, rip up some small pieces. Going around the glass, add some extra layers to some of the poppies and buds with red and orange. Think of it as painting with tissue paper--these layers will add extra dimension and shading when the light shines through.
6. Using the navy blue tissue, rip up some tiny oval center shapes and place one on each poppy.

7. Go over the entire glass, smoothing out any globs of Modge Podge and painting down any bits of tissue what aren't smooth. Make sure you have covered the entire glass with color.



8. Let it dry and you are ready to place a small candle inside.



Thursday, November 21, 2013

dreaming of the sea

I woke up to an 18 degree morning up here in the cold Northeast. It's only November but I'm already dreaming of the sea. Here's a little painting from my 100 painting sale depicting a favorite beach in Western Australia.

Where are you dreaming of ? 


the best beach



Sea glass creation from my Maine beaches collection.




Visit the 100 Painting Sale.








Thursday, November 14, 2013

4th annual 100 Painting Sale


4th annual 100 Paintings for $100 or Less Sale



November in my studio means one thing: 100 paintings.  

It's a lot of work and things always get a little nutty but I like a challenge and pushing myself a bit. Something interesting artistically always comes out of it--this year I have been creating a lot of new pieces with collage elements.  

For the fourth year in a row, I am offering 100 Painting for the Holidays.  Prices are affordable, with most $100 or less.  New this year are prints on paper and canvas, mixed media paintings, note cards and larger paintings. 

November is also lung cancer awareness month.  And since lung cancer has affected my family in a big way I like to give back by donating a portion of November's sales to the Lung Cancer Alliance.  

The sale runs November 15th through December 16th online or at my studio. Stop by on Saturday, December 7th, 10am or 4pm for my Holiday Sale Open House.  



100 Painting Sale
November 15th -December 16th















Monday, November 4, 2013

open studio--in pictures

If you didn't make it--here's a quick peek at the 2013 Keene Art Tour. The place was hopping all weekend. Looking forward to doing it again next year!
dining room converted to studio--with beautiful southern exposure

Milo--the official ambassador and greeter for the KAT

art supplies!

what was on my easel during the tour
painting finished!



refreshment table and "the upper meadow"--this is painting featured in the Keene Sentinel article

me with my talented guest artists--Tanya & Melinda

fiber artist Melinda LaBarge

flowers & birds nest corner

some of my new acrylic & collage creations

pottery by Tanya Rudenjak

pottery by Tanya Rudenjak

painting in progress

some of Melinda's fiber creations

pottery and "a prayer in spring"

my beautiful Melinda scarf matches my painting

not shy about color here at my home/studio


peonies

chickens--originals & prints


Tanya and her pottery

"bloom" diptych & chunky floral prints

"facing the sun"

Friday, November 1, 2013

Keene Art Tour



The 2nd Annual Keene Art Tour is this weekend.  I'm pleased to announce that two talented artists will be joining me in my studio: fiber artist Melinda LaBarge and potter Tanya Rudenjak.
We will have many items priced under $100--just in time for holiday shopping. Brochures and tour maps are available online or at my studio.

Keene Art Tour
November 2nd & 3rd, 2013
10am to 5pm
87 Ashuelot Street, Keene NH


Check out an article about our tour in the Keene Sentinel.







Tuesday, October 29, 2013

a HALLOWEEN painting progression: the scream

I decided to follow up last year's Girl with a Pearl Earring costume with Munch's the Scream. Of course, this requires the user to have their face perpetually forced into full-on-open-mouth screaming posture--but it's all in the name of Halloween. Right?

Read on below for how to make this a two person costume and some other amazing art-themed Halloween ideas.


Start by finding a large size picture frame--large enough to cover your head and upper body (not too big though--you'll have to carry it around all night). Cut a piece of cardboard or heavy poster board to fit. Paint or gesso it white.


Using the Munch's the Scream as reference, draw in the basic composition.


paint in the sky




the dark outlines




Carefully cut out the face shape with an x-acto knife. Attach inside frame.



viola---(thanks to dear husband for modeling)


And for a two person costume---I present the Art Heist:


Check out this amazing rendition of Klimt's "the kiss" and a Roy Lichtenstein painting come to life (with tutorial).