"Cateyes" came off the easel today. It is an 18"x24" painting. Cateyes were always my favorite marbles and painting them is a true pleasure. The colors and the shapes of the interiors were a challenge....but watching them come to life on the paper was worth the effort! Brilliant color always calls to me to capture them in pastels. Add to that the reflections from the windows and this painting was just pure fun! I hope you enjoy it as much as I!
I was thrilled to receive an e-mail today notifying me that my piece, "Chile Peppers" was juried into the 18th Juried Exhibition of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS). This exhibition will be hung at the Hispanic Arts Gallery at Expo New Mexico during the 2011 IAPS Convention in Albuquerque, NM. The show will hang from June 1st through June 5th. One of my professional goals is to achieve Master Circle status with IAPS. This is achieved by earning 5 points. One point is awarded for being juried into a juried IAPS show and an additional point is given for any awards earned in one of the shows. I have been juried into two IAPS shows and now have 2 of the 5 points needed for Master Circle status. Happy days!!!
At the Arizona Pastel Artists Association's Spring Juried Show reception held Saturday in Sedona, AZ, it was announced that "The Line Up" received an Honorable Mention Award. This show was judged by internationally known pastelist. Richard McKinley,.....and the competition was stiff.....so I am very pleased! The show runs through April 27th at the Community Exhibit Gallery in the Art Barn behind the Sedona Art Center on 89A in Sedona. If you find yourself in the area do yourself a favor and stop to enjoy the show!
Nothing makes a day sweeter than going to the mail box and finding a letter with great news. I have been a member of the Sonoran Arts League for several years. It is a very active art group representing all art mediums. There are over 400 members and the majority of the members are professional artists. Once a year the League holds a jury process for members seeking juried artist status. Juried artist status allows members to participate in exhibitions limited to juried artists as well as being identified as a juried artist on the website and in publications.The process requires you to provide 5 artworks to be judged by a panel of three judges from outside the League. I have submitted works the previous two years and was not granted juried status. My on-going efforts to improve as an artist paid off this year as I got my letter yesterday congratulating me on achieving juried artists status! I am a happy camper!
Marbles II is my latest painting fresh off the easel. Between art festivals and family visits easel time has been in short supply, so it was great to get back to painting. Marbles II is a 12" x 12" painting on archivally mounted sanded pastel paper. I can't begin to tell you how much fun I am having painting marbles as I continue to build my newest collection called Fun and Games. I have a number of ideas for additional paintings for this collection swirling around in my head....so stay tuned!
I am very pleased (actually more like tickled pink!) to announce that I am now represented by Easy Street Gallery in Carefree, AZ. This is a new gallery....just open two weeks. The gallery has a focus on contemporary art which fits my work perfectly. New artists are bring added at this point with a nice mix of abstract and representational art developing. The gallery owner, Robert Hutchinson, has some very creative ideas for the gallery. There are small studio spaces for artists wishing to have on-site studios. This allows for gallery visitors to see art being created as well as the typical display of art on the walls. I did not choose to be a studio artist as I love my studio at home. I enjoy being able to work whenever I want to and still be with my husband and my two dogs, Emily and Jazmine. ( In an upcoming post I am plannng to share my studio and I think you will see why I so enjoy working there.) In the meantime, if you happen to be in the Carefree area I hope you will stop at the gallery. It is located at 100 Easy Street across from the sundial that put Carefree in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest sundial.
