Trolley Alla Prima

I am working with a new style I call Willy Nilly but it’s actually called “alla prima” which is Italian and roughly translated means “done in one sitting.” My style is very loose and spontaneous and all alla prima paintings aren’t necessarily so, but this is what I decided to do. This painting is called Dowtown Trolley and I took this picture while painting minis in Tallahassee for LeMoyne Center for the Arts. I already posted Stripedie Reaches Out done in this style, which was my first, and there will be more to follow!

Artopia 2017 was a Success!

Myself, Heather and Lynn (from right) all had a great time last month at Artopia at the Tallahassee Civic Center. This function is put on by Big Bend Cares to raise money for AIDS/HIV patients and their families. Local artists donate pieces of their artwork for this worthy cause which they sell in silent and live auctions. I donated an acrylic painting of a pink pig, which got bid on and was sold, as well as two mini paintings which were both sold also.

There were a lot of artists work that I recognized, although not all were present. I’m including Ann Kozeliski’s eagle, Debo Groover’s tree with birds, and Barbara Psimas’ koi fish and I’ve also attached an abstract I really liked.

Finally, I’m showing someone bidding on my Mini Striped Cat (which made me very happy) and a shot of the live auction and the hallway outside the function room with some colorful guests. Can’t wait til next year!

Museum of Fine Arts Summer Exhibit

Here I am proudly posing with my selection for the FSU MoFA Artists’ League Summer Annual 2017. It’s called Rusty Truck Dashboard and I created it at the class I take at the Tallahassee Senior Center. I enjoyed the opening reception for the exhibit which was held Friday, June 23rd from 6 to 8 p.m. Although I am a new member, I saw some familiar faces as well as some new folks.

Shown above, top left, is Viki Wylder, Artists’ League Liaison, announcing the winners of the awards given for the show. Bottom, my supporters, from left, Andre Smith, Lynn Smith, Heather Lanham and Gillian Smith.

Above are my fellow local art friends’ paintings, from left, Ann Kozeliski’s (from LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts) Rock-N-Roll Tutu done in sumi-e. Next, Ned Stacey’s (from Renditions, An Art Space) Blowing Butterflys done in acrylic and finally, on the right, Richard Drake’s (Tallahassee abstract artist) Hippy Painted Stealth Plane done in paint. All talented artists and I am happy to say I was able to chat with all three of them that night.

And finally, here’s a few more pieces I enjoyed I wanted to included for you folks to view as well. One of my favorites, on the left, is the Black Light Guild Exhibit which was done in conjunction with the Summer Annual Exhibit, curated by Perdita Ross. The piece shown is called Finding Your Soul Mate. The Artists’ League exhibit was certainly a success and I’m glad I was a part of it. The opening reception was particularly enjoyable!

 

 

Customer Happy with Custom Mini!

Here’s another happy customer with a custom mini portrait of her dachshund Travis. Unfortunately, her dog passed away two weeks ago and her friend thought it would be a good idea to have me paint a mini portrait of Travis for a keepsake. This photo is of the very satisfied pet owner holding her painting. Her friend wrote me an email that said her friend cried and say “that’s my Travis!” I was very pleased to brighten this woman’s day and help her remember her beloved pup.

 

Sunflowers for the Summer

Here’s my latest endeavor which I tried two ways: the first, on the left, was a less controlled version with no initial pencil lines and it was done with soft body acrylics (which I call the willy nilly version). The one on the right was more the final product as opposed to the study, with a more planned out and was touched up after the first couple of layers to make it more refined. Although this was kind of an experiment, both paintings were successfully received in the local art scene. The one on the left, Sunflowers at Home, was accepted to the LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts “Come Home to LeMoyne” members’ exhibit and the one on the right, Sunflowers at Home No. 2, was accepted at 1020 Art to be exhibited in July where it’s also on sale. Shown below is also the reference photo for the painting as well as a sample of some sunflowers I painted at the Wakulla Senior Center in 2014. Just shows what practice and repetition can do!

Dropping Artwork off at FSU MoFA

Just recently, I joined the Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts (FSU MoFA) Artists’ League. This organization supports local artists with workshops, exhibits and meetings to keep artists up-to-date on local art happenings. I am happy to say I dropped off three paintings last week to enter their Summer Annual Exhibit which runs from June 23rd to July 28, 2017. I entered Calli Cat in the Tub, Punky Girl and Rusty Truck Dashboard to this juried exhibit. Shown below are the sign-up and artwork preparation tables, as well as the artwork that has been entered leaning against the wall in the downstairs gallery. I went to a smartphone photography workshop put on by the Artists’ League, but this is the first exhibit I am participating in and look forward to the opening where I can meet some more of my fellow local artists!

Minis Everywhere!

Shown above is my latest custom mini pet portrait. This is Tom, a cat who lives on 55th Street in Manhattan. I got a request to do a commission by his caregiver as a gift for his owner. Pictured on the right the woman is proudly displaying the new mini of her cat. I also have a request for another custom mini portrait, only this one’s of a dog. It’s a dachshund named Travis who passed away two weeks ago and the owner’s friend wanted to have a portrait done for his owner. Speaking of mini dogs, shown below are the four mini dogs I just finished for LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts in Tallahassee to sell in their gift shop. Let me know if you’d like a mini of your own for yourself or a friend. Just go to my Etsy shop…see my blog menu!