Seasons Greetings

It's nice having some fresh flowers in the house. I borrowed these from the dining room and made them my still life subject. The painting is 11x14

Christmas Peace

Tired of the hustle and bustle? Need a break from all the hectic activiities?
Stop and refresh...

Daisy

Meet Daisy, a much beloved an Atlanta dog. When I first saw this photo I thought she was a large dog but no, shes small with a large personality.

Family members asked me if I could paint her portrait as a surprise gift for her owner Kathleen. (Great name - how cold I refuse?)
I painted her on 11x14 clayboard and added a gel medium in thick strokes afterwards for more texture. A thin glaze of ultramarine on top, varnish, a black wooden frame and she was on her way to Georgia where she was a big hit. How could you not love that face?

ACEO Collectors

I recently read a new aceo artist explain his new insights into the world of ACEOs. He is new to creating aceos and shared his work with other artists for the first time. He writes about his experience on WetCanvas! here
I thought he did a great job of describing the lure of painting small.

Golden Sunsets

Seems like a good subject as we near the end of the year doesnt it? One of my favorite subjects. And painting scenes like this seems to 'ground me' before starting new projects. I have some commissions to paint and some pieces to get ready for upcoming shows. This is an ACEO done on stretched canvas with just a touch of gold paint.

My Show at The Rusty Nail

Its up! With a lot of help from Michael we hung my show at the Rusty Nail - and stayed for a great dinner. Stop by and have a look.
The restaurant website is http://www.therustynail.net/ complete with menu and directions.

Christmas Ornament

I painted this ornament on 4x4" stretched canvas. I wanted to focus on the reflections in the glass and on the table

and so then, I thought lets see if I make it smaller~ this one is on an aceo blank
and another one even smaller for a hanging ornament. This one is about 1 x 2"

Paintings, Students and Shows

First, the paintings.

These are two new ACEOS I did - a hen and a sheep. The point was to use color in an unexpected way. There's something about that burnt sienna and purple combo that I love. Then, the students~

Last week I was asked by an 8th grade student from the local Montessori school to give an interview about my art and the community. I was a little surprised when I found it that it was an interview to the entire class. But no matter; these kids were so well prepared and asked such insightful questions that I'm sure I gained more than I gave. Their questions resonated and I consider them still while painting. Thank you all!

And shows~

I participated in an online FaceBook based Autumn Painting Challenge. Over 1,000 artists across the world entered their work and the results are being posted here

A big thanks to the three administrators, Sandy Askey-Adams, Jean Levert-Hood, and Nancy Medina for creating this opportunity!

Sincere

I couldn't resist this fellows big brown eyes. I painted him 8x8" and loved doing it. I can see a lot of dog paintings in my future.

World Diabetes Day

The World Diabetes Day logo is the blue circle - the global symbol for diabetes which was developed as part of the Unite for Diabetes awareness campaign. The logo was adopted in 2007 to mark the passage of the United Nations World Diabetes Day Resolution. It is a simple icon that can be easily adapted and widely adopted, the circle symbolizes life and health. The colour blue reflects the sky that unites all nations. The blue circle signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes pandemic.

Learn the signs. Take control.

The Secret

Royal College of Art unveils annual secret postcard exhibition - Times Online

I had not heard of this event before. Reknown artists contribute a postcard size piece of their art with the proceeds going to the Royal College of Art's scholarship fund.

RCA Secret is an annual exhibition and sale of original postcard-sized art, made by professional artists, designers and illustrators, plus the Royal College of Art’s current postgraduate students. The postcards are signed only on the reverse, so the author of each work remains a secret until after purchase, and the signature on the back is revealed.

Here's the website where you can view all the art. I recommend that you clear a few hours before getting started!

http://dams.rca.ac.uk/res/sites/RCA_Secret/index.html

The Secret

Royal College of Art unveils annual secret postcard exhibition - Times Online

I had not heard of this event before. Reknown artists contribute a postcard size piece of their art with the proceeds going to the Royal College of Art's scholarship fund.

RCA Secret is an annual exhibition and sale of original postcard-sized art, made by professional artists, designers and illustrators, plus the Royal College of Art’s current postgraduate students. The postcards are signed only on the reverse, so the author of each work remains a secret until after purchase, and the signature on the back is revealed.

Here's the website where you can view all the art. I recommend that you clear a few hours before getting started!

http://dams.rca.ac.uk/res/sites/RCA_Secret/index.html

Color!

I tried this as an aceo first and liked it... no tube of paint left un-capped! This landscape is 12x 24" I have the perfect frame for it and plan to use it in my December show. Now I need a good title.

Local Color

"Local Color" is a movie that I watched the other night and I want to recommend it to everyone who loves art. It's based on the true story of a teen age boy who seeks out an elderly painter to be his mentor. Lots of room for discussion with this one!
Watch the trailer~

ACEO on Stretched Canvas

I love using these little canvas. They look great on tiny easels - or framed.
On close up photos like this the canvas weave shows but it is not so prominent to the eye.

1949 - A Good Year

I thought was a fun subject to paint and may try it again as a larger work. It wasn't until after I was done that Michael saw it and said, "Oh, a 1949 Ford." (The man knows his cars!)
How appropriate for me that this would be my painting of the day for today. Life is funny like that.
A special big thank you to everyone who made my birthday such a grand day.

Birds Eye View

I was fascinated with doing this aceo because of the different perspective and the varying texture of the grass. I think I could repaint this over and over again. I posted this one on eBay
Its been a very busy week. I am hanging a show tonight at the
Unitarian Church in Kent. Twenty full size paintings all framed and labeled. I'll have some photos of the show posted later this week.
I also entered the Ohio Collage Society annual exhibition.(Many thanks to Sweet Michael for all his help delivering and picking up art!) The show opens Friday night at the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center.

Honorable Mention

I'm thrilled to say that I have two paintings accepted in the 25th Annual Miniature Art Exhibition at the Council for the Arts of Chambersburg Pennsylvania.
I first told you about the show here and displayed my entries. "Ocean Surf" was accepted as was "Morning Light" which won an honorable mention.
There were 392 entries from 120 artists. The Council was able to accept 180 pieces.
The opening reception is November 5th.

Mr October

Maybe in years to come I'll be known as the Scarecrow painter? I painted this 8x10 for my second submission to an online art competition hosted on Facebook,"The First Annual Autumn Arts Painting Challenge and Competition".
One more to go... I have it partially done and today's cold rainy weather makes it a great time to stay in and paint.

Fall - Park Scene

This 8 x 10 was inspired by a paint out challenge in the Open Critique Forum on Wet Canvas! OCF is my home away from home where I'm known as Spyderbabe. [The name came from the kind of car I use to have.]
I'm pleased with the palette and spraying water is great fun to paint.

Country Road

This is typical of the farmland in central Ohio. I've seen similar scenes from the car window and made this up from memory. I am still fascinated with hay bales and in this painting use them to breakup the planes of grass. This is 12 x 16 on board
I entered this piece on an internet art show based on Facebook:

The First Annual Autumn Arts Painting Challenge and Competition on Facebook

Many thanks to Sandy Askey-Adams, Co-ordinator; Nancy Medina, Co-ordinator and Jean Levert Hood, Co-ordinator of the event for organizing this.

She's Never Satisfied

When I first paitned this in 2008 I was pleased with the contrasts of the snow and the dark woodline. The piece is 18 x 24" and all that white remains interesting because of all the color in the "white" snow. But as I looked at it every day the darks seemed too dark and I got the itch to make some changes. Last night I did.... the trees became more lighter, more mellow and thereby gave the painting a lot more depth. The interesting thing is that while I did fool with the weeds I didn't touch the foreground snow and look at it now! Granted the photo was taken with flash but the mood it totally different now. Its still on the easel; I may alter some of those pines. They are a little too symetrical for me. But for the most part its done. Again.

Autumn Scenes

For all you Facebook junkies (like me) look for this painting in the
"The First Annual Autumn Arts Painting Challenge and Competition on Facebook"... And once I get rolling with hay bales, look out, there's no stopping me.I painted this one from a photo ref of a bale I saw last fall outside Wooster Ohio. Michael was very patient and found a fairly safe place to pull over while I ran about the roadside snapping pictures of the huge bales of hay in the field. Both of these ACEOs are on eBay now. Click here

Art of the Figure

The Peninsula Art Academy is currently hosting an exhibit of figurative work. The opening of the show was Saturday night ( in conjunction with Blues Night).
I have two pieces in the show. The Potter's Hands is an acrylic painting 8x10" here I am with it~

and my larger work "Our Ladies of Good Counsel" is acrylic, 24 x 30"

Its a good show and the gallery is starting to fill up with wonderful fiber work, jewelery and pottery. The Academy is next to the train station in Peninsula, behind the Winking Lizard.

Mr September

It was a busy weekend - starting with a clambake Friday night, the opening of a show at Peninsula Art Academy ( photos soon) and Lily's christening on Sunday. I did some framing and paper work for upcoming events and I did find time for an ACEO which I just listed on eBay


Here he is, "Mr September"

A Mulligan

In the world of golf a mulligan is when you make such a bad shot that you ask for a do-over. Something I am heard requesting on a regular basis. This aceo is an art mulligan. When I first finished it I was happy with the misty soft look of the landscape. (I tend to be initially happy with nearly all my paintings. Doubt and regret sets in later.)

So when the second thoughts arrived I decided to go back to the easel and re-work this piece. I felt it needed more light values and hightened contrast. Here's the grand make-over:

I for one would love to see a tv reality show staged in the artist's studio - it could be called Project Atelier or What Not to Paint.

Pennsylvania Here I Come!

Phew! Talk about Just in Time Delivery. I had been planning on entering the annual miniature show in Chamberersburg Pennsylvania for some time now and luckily I looked at the entry form yesterday. Egad - art is due tomorrow! So its off to Fed Ex for me today with these pieces:

"Creek in Winter" is an aceo on stretched canvas

"Pecan Trees" is also 2.5 x 3.5" (aceo) on stretched canvas

"Morning Light" also 2.5 x 3.5" in a wooden frame

"Ocean Wave" is 2.5 x 3" in a gold wood frame
The Council for the Arts hosts this lovely show every year. Read more about them here.
The show opens November 5 and runs through January 9

Blogger Award

Thank you very much to Claire Beadon Carnell for including me in her selection of art bloggers for this award. Please go check out her blog and the other recipients of the award!

I am going to pass this award along to seven other artists for their impressive art blogs.
Also, here are 7 things about me that you might be interested to know:

1. I love ketchup and passed this love on to my children and grandchildren. Yes, even on scrambled eggs.

2. This was a two baby year - two new grandchildren! A boy in April and a girl in August.

3. I am hooked on playing FarmTown on Facebook.

4. This year I started making jewelry.

5. I love to buy pottery but I've never tried to do it myself.

6. Currently my favorite tv show is "MadMen"

7. Come be my Facebook friend and I'll tell you one more ;-)



Here are 7 people whom I think really deserve this award - please check out their great blogs:

1. Bill Guffy for his innovative blog The Virtual Paintout Bill combined a love for plein air painting with the newest technology of Google to bring us a whole new concept in painting.

2. Tj Lev - an artist I recently found who maintains a fun, interesting blog
here

3. Deb Keirce a multi-talented artist, internet friend and winner of the Six-degrees of separation award!

4. Paulo J Mendes dedicated artist and master of networking

5. Terry Banderas who does wonderful fun pen and ink work

6. Jill Berry a prolific plein air painter who inspires me to just go do it!

7. Jean Levert Hood the most energetic and talented Texas artist I have ever seen!!

Oil Painting Demo at HSA

Tonight for the first meeting of the year, Hudson Society of Artists had an oil painting demo by Larry Churski . An accomplished illustrator and painter Larry has studied with Don Stone, Richard Schmidt and Lowell Ellsworth Smith.

Larry chose to paint Hudson's Barlow Farm and used one of his own watercolors of the farm for quick reference.
Below you will see a slideshow of his demo. If you are able to visit his gallery in Bath you are in for a treat!

Different Cupcakes

This was my effort at the Different Srokes image this go round. I was excited to try it but once I got started it seemed like a lot of work. I don't know why. Even the sprinkles were not fun. Mabye I've watched one too many episodes of Cake Boss or Ace of Cakes or Cake Challenge or Amazing Wedding Cakes... or hmm, maybe I should stop watching so much tv and get back in the studio and practice!
The frosting gave me fits. Mine looks like someone smashed their hand down on it. I dont have those nice soft curves in it like a Dairy Queen cone. I may have to try some new variations on this. Or go the to the kitchen and try my luck with sugar and butter.

Remember

Ingebord Lariby

September 11, 2001

Ingebord Lariby dear family member and victim of Muslim terrorism. Rest in Peace.

September

I'm starting this month with some new fall colors on my palette; reds, and purples and siennas.
This is a traditional pastoral scene complete with grazing sheep in the meadow. Currently on ebay here

I thought it wold be fun to try a simpler style of broad, energic brush strokes and edgier colors. The still life is from a photo ref on Different Strokes - unfortunately I didnt finish the painting in time for the exhibition.
The covered bridge is based on a photo I took of the Everett Road Bridge in the Cuyahoga Valley
If you would like to see more of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park I have posted many photos on Webshots. Most were taken while hiking or biking the trails:




Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Season Change

I got some painting done this weekend while working at the Peninsula Art Academy. In between visiting with patrons I painted SEVEN new aceos for my eBay listings. There's a broad selection of subject matter and styles - heres one~
Ladies sharing an afternoon luncheon in the garden.

While I was at the Art Academy Sunday I painted a still life that was set up for an ongoing Oils class. Inspiration was everywhere ;-)

and so I'm off and running ....

Buying Art

I came acrosss an interesting article in the Washington Post today with tips for buying art. They interviewed Allison Marvin who owns an art consulting business. I thought her advice to be excellent.
As an artist I hope to produce a piece that brings about an emotional impact or reaches the viewer in a way that they are moved to look again and search for more.



What advice would you offer someone looking for art for their homes?
I would encourage people to take their time. If that means allowing the time to budget and save the money to put towards a piece, then do it. I also suggest they resist purchasing several smaller, lower-value pieces and wait for one larger piece when they can afford it and when they find a piece that really sings to them.

How do you figure out your own personal taste in art?
Go look at a lot of art. Go to museums. Walk through galleries. Pay attention to your reactions. Have a conversation with yourself about what you like and why and what you don't like and why. It's all about finding artwork that challenges you, moves you or reflects your sensibilities.

What would you suggest to someone on a limited budget?
Ask yourself: What are visual things around you that appeal to you? What moves you? Do you have favorite books, magazines, objects? Pick a predominant wall in your house and create a display of a personalized collection of objects and images, salon-style (different sizes and shapes hung in a grouped arrangement). If you have favorite magazines and books, pull the pages out. Hang a postcard that someone sent you or that you picked up on a recent trip. Include programs or other takeaways from art shows you particularly liked. I would do that rather than pay $250 for a framed poster from a chain store.

Is there a general guideline for hanging art?
Most people make the mistake of hanging art too high. [ KSH: A pet peeve of mine!]Art is supposed to be eye-level, but it shouldn't be eye-level to a guy who is six-foot-three. If you hang artwork lower, you bring it into the room, make it much more part if the environment and you can look at it better. Rule of thumb: Art should hang so that its center is 60 inches from the ground.

What do you need to know about choosing a frame?
Let the artwork be your guide and your only focus. The frame should respect and reflect the art, not fight it. The only guideline you should have when choosing your frame is your artwork, not the color of your walls or stain of your coffee table. A good framer will show you your options and tell you what he or she thinks looks best. Rule of thumb: Simple is better.

I'm Back!

Things have been a little hectic the past few weeks. After Lily's arrival we had a family reunion at my house for a week. It was a wonderful time but after everyone left I got sick and then had a nasty allergic reaction to a sulfa based anti-biotic. Downtime!!
I'm feeling better, back to work and I started a new painting this evening. It large. And different ;-) thats all I'll give away about it right now. I am getting ready for some new shows this fall - more about that later.
I just found out that there is a new exhbit at the Akron Art Museum Familiar Faces: Chuck Close in Ohio Collections http://www.akronartmuseum.org/ So the art scene is heating up even if the temps are in the 40s at night. But the days are beautiful!
Here's a scene from Hudson~

Museum of Fashion

My family is visiting this week and today we sent to the Kent State University Museum of Fashion.

The current exhibit of fashions from the early 20^th century is stunningly beautiful.

The exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Algesa O'Sickey.
In 2008, her husband Joseph gave the Museum her collection of 1920- 1922
Gazette du Bon Ton.

I had heard of women ordering gowns by Worth but I had not seen the fantastic workmanship before. The classic styles would be in fashion today.

I also was moved by the unique work of Noel Palomo-Lovinski.shown in the exhibit “Confessions and the Sense of Self”. She starts with the premise that “Public confession has become increasingly popular in our society as an outlet for individuals to expunge guilt, share personal tragedy, or express secret desires.” She goes on to use quotes from several confessional websites and then interpret them in in digitally printed fabric and original fashion design.. The exhibit was original and thought provoking.

Summertime

Two more summertime ACEOs with the intention of using yellows and light values.

Thanks everyone for the letting me know that the link from the DSFDF site to my blog isnt working. Its my own fault. When I send Karin my image and info I - get this!! - typed too fast and mis-spelled my own name. What can I say?

Mellow Yellow

I've been playing with my yellows with early morning light in mind. I could have darkened the foreground to add more contrast but wanted an overall light value piece.

...same with the flowers, light, airy, summery. I find yellow one of the most difficult colors to 'get right'.

I'm always thrilled to see the paintings of David Simons and what he does with color. If you have a moment visit him here - you'll be amazed at the quality and variety of his work.

Welcome Lillian

Introducing Lillian Frances - she arrived in the world August 6 at 4:10 am and she is my first granddaughter. She joins her three little boy cousins as the newest Harrington.



Lily and Mom and Dad are all doing well. Grandma may be found in the little girls department buying pink lacy things and not in her studio.

San Franciso

The first challenge in August on the Different Strokes from Different Strokes website blog was a street scene from San Francisco. As soon as I saw the photo I loved the composition of it.
The backwards L formed by the pole and the street seemed to make a picture window for the scene below. I think it was very important to create the sense going downhill and then back up by using value shifts. All the criss-crossing wires were just icing on the cake.

My painting is approx 6 x 9 inches in acrylic.

Marthas Vineyard

Years and years ago when we lived in Massachusettes our favorite vacation spot was Marthas Vineyard. We would rent a little house near Herring Creek. In fact the Vineyard is still is my favorite place so when I heard the president and his wife were going to vacation there this month I dragged out some old photos.

This is Squibnocket Beach where Obama is headed. It is a peninsula of land near Gayhead. The area is very beautiful and very exclusive.

This is an ACEO " Squibnocket Beach"

Another beautiful area on the Vineyard is Chilmark

If you want to go - and who wouldnt?

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