30 artists 30 days in Buffalo

I was invited to participate in an upcoming holiday art show in Buffalo. I've been busy making some new work, I'll post pictures soon. If you're in the Buffalo area stop by and check it out, there will be some fantastic work there by a lot of talented artists.

Neighborhood Collective Artisan Bazaar
Novemeber 20th - December 24th, 2008
Tuesday- Sunday noon - 5pm, Fridays noon-8pm
810 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo

bounty ~ daily painting

I found a whole robin's egg in my back yard. Just laying in the grass, no nest nearby. It really is one of nature's most perfect things, the most beautiful color and shape, a treasure in the palm of my hand. I set up this still life on my porch and added the egg to a nest I had collected a couple of years ago. It sat there for a few days until one night some critter coveted my egg and stole it away (along with the nest!).

"bounty"

oil on canvas ~ 10 x 20 inches

across the pond

redFish gallery's (where I have my studio) new show is opening this week. It is called "across the pond: paintings inspired by travels Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy". It has inspired me to unearth some paintings of mine. Many moons ago, I spent a summer in France with Parsons School of Design. We studied painting and drawing...half the time in a wee town in the Dordogne region in southern France and the the other half in Paris. We painted on location every day, in tiny, ancient villages, country scenes, old castles, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Monet's gardens at Giverny... in other words a once in a lifetime experience. Anyway, the work I did there has been languishing in a portfolio for years, so I decided it was high time they saw the light of day. I've been matting and framing about 20 pieces that I will put on display in my studio. Here are a few:

"Paris scene"

gouache on paper ~ 9 x 12 inches

"cathedral interior"
gouache on paper ~ 9 x 12 inches

"La Tour Eiffel"
gouache on paper ~ 9 x 12 inches

black cat stare ~ daily painting

And here is my other venture into pet portraiture. This is Bear...I made him a little to intense I think. He really was a sweet natured cat. I'm thinking of trying another one of him with warm tones instead of the cool tones I used in this painting, maybe that'll lighten up the mood!

"black cat stare"
oil on canvas ~ 12 x 12 inches

daily painting ~ pets!

"sophie"

oil on canvas ~ 12 x 12 inches

I am a big animal lover. I grew up with lots of cats and dogs in the house and can't imagine a life without them. My hubby is a cat lover...so our house is a feline haven. This past Christmas we lost one, our beloved Bear...who was just the sweetest tempered cat. We had him for 14 wonderful years, here's a picture of him with my daughter when she was a baby.

Bear & Sage

After losing Bear, we adopted Milo from a local shelter. And, oh my gosh, he is just a sweetheart...one of those rare cats that will let you hold him on his back like a baby doll, and just drape himself in your lap, and gets along with all the other cats. He even turned around Minna, my cranky 11 year old siamese. So, I wanted to do something for this shelter and it turns out they're having an artshow fundraiser. Thing is, the work has to be of pets which is not my thing (so far)...but I've given it a go. This is Sophie, my Mum's soulful eyed cocker spaniel. I have another of Bear that I'll post tomorrow.

the boys: Milo & Punkin (Milo is the gray one)

ode to summer

On this last fine weekend of summer, my hubby and I, along with our 2 little charges had a mini celebration in our backyard. A campfire and a simple dinner of pasta with the last of the garden's tomatoes and basil, we sat outside and reminisced about the best of the summer and what we were looking forward to this autumn.

Some highlights: the treehouse my hubby built, the neighborhood ice cream truck finally finding our street (hurray!), many exursions to lakes and creeks in the area, picking berries, canning peaches for the first time, campfires and camp-outs in the backyard, swimming, and or course our trip to Maine. Looking ahead to apple picking, fall raspberries, one last trip to the beach, more campfires, pumpkin chocolate-chip muffins, and the crisp azure blue days of autumn. In the meantime, here is a medley of summer's beauty. I'll be back in my studio this week, painting away. Coming next: some new work...a small departure for a good cause.