Loads of Time

As most of you know I've been getting my house ready for sale. In a nutshell, it is now on the market and several people have already come through to have a look. Yeah!

I know I'm just a bit inaccurate when it comes to time management. Tasks that I think will take 1 hour are never less than 2 hours. A 3 hour project takes 6. You get the picture. So, under the guise of having loads of time now that the house is for sale, I write this post.

Believe it or not, I've been painting. You wouldn't know if by looking at my Facebook page but really, it's true. I've described myself as an Elf in Santa's workshop because I currently have 7 commissions. Every single one of them is a special gift for a special someone for Christmas, and everyone of them is a dog, except one awesome cat named CC. I think that stands for copy cat.

I just wanted to make time to wish you all the happiest of Holiday Seasons.

Thank you for reading and for your ongoing support.

Peace.

Mary

Toledo Museum of Art

I visited the fabulous Toledo Museum of Art last week.
 
It is always thrilling to a see a piece of art in person that I have only previously seen in a book. The piece I saw at the museum that fell into this category was Pablo Picasso's Woman With Crow, 1904. It is stunning.

Woman With Crow, 1904

A piece of art that made me cry - Portrait of a Freedom Fighter by Julian Schnabel. I thought this was a portrait of a woman  but is actually about Cuban emigre poet Reinaldo Arenas. I was not familiar with this brilliant painter, sculptor, film maker, artist. Check him out!

Portrait of a Freedom Fighter by Julian Schnabel

detail

Wall label

A little about the Toledo Museum of Art from their website: The Toledo Museum of Art’s collection of more than 30,000 works of art ranks among the finest in the United States. In our more than 35 galleries, Sculpture Garden, and Glass Pavilion, discover important, popular, and outstanding works of art, including paintings and sculptures by Bearden, Cézanne, Calder, Close, Cole, Degas, van Gogh, El Greco, Holbein, Kiefer, Matisse, Miró, Monet, Picasso, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Turner; masterworks from antiquity and Asia; decorative arts; and highlights from our renowned glass collection.


Glass blowing demonstration in their Glass Pavilion:

I highly recommend this museum. It is well staffed with friendly, helpful people. It is filled with excellent art, has a wonderful cafe, a nice gift shop, a hot shop with daily glass blowing demonstrations, it's not crowded and it's all free.

Thanks for reading.

19 Thoughts About a Series of Work

A few thoughts, in hindsight about working on a series of paintings.

1) I like painting daily.
2) Painting daily improves my mood.
3) Having an end target - either date or quantity helps with completion.
4) Seeing a series develop is rewarding.
5) Developing a series takes you places you hadn't expected.
6) It can take over your life.
7) Making a postcard to announce your efforts will keep you on track. There's no turning back!
8) Sharing a body of work with others who have done the same builds very good energy.
9) Having a venue to share your efforts is the icing on the cake.
10) Anxiously awaiting the public preview is exciting.
11) Not being the center of attention is a relief.
12) Sales along the way is encouraging.
13) There is always room for improving painting technique.
14) Making a book to accompany the work is really cool and a nice way to remember the work.
15) Nice words about the work is encouraging and always appreciated.
16) Thinking about the next series is inevitable.
17) Beginning a new series initially may not live up to expectations.
18) Patience with the work and yourself is mandatory.
19) The universe knows better than the artist where you are headed. Listen.

To number 5 above, I knew my theme but I didn't really know what was to come. Day 1:

 

Beginning a new series of art starts here - Excitement!

To number 6 above I wrote some pretty whacked-out emails and Facebook posts. Huh?

 

To number 7 above, a postcard announcing the show.

Show Postcard

To number 9 above, showing at The Sanchez Art Center in Pacifica with 69 other artists. Awesome!

Me on installation day for 50 50 Show.

To number 12 above. I love my patrons.

To number 14 above. Make a book on Blurb and start a book store.

To number 15 above. I love my Facebook Fans. Thank you!

Thanks for reading.

Mary

A One Off

Sometimes I see things that create such a strong impression it moves me into action.

I was at an art and wine event this past weekend at Phyllis Jenkins' Gallery of Dreams. On her studio wall she had a row of black gloves pinned to a board. She wears these gloves while painting. It was nearly my favorite thing in the whole place aside from the art, of course.

I've tried to figure out why, but really have no explanation why these gloves moved me the way they did. Maybe you know why?

Sometimes all that matters is to go with what moves you and make the art, take the picture, do whatever it takes.

5 Gloves

Thanks for reading, and thank you to Phyllis for a wonderful art and wine afternoon.

Mary

The Magic of 10

When applying to a gallery or non-profit the artist generally needs to show a minimum of 10 pieces of art on a theme.

This is a number I've tried to accomplish many times over with a multitude of subjects to varying degrees of success. Yes, I have reached that number but there is another very important factor I have left out. The artist also needs to feel good enough about the work they've made that they will not only stand up for it but show it to the public.

For me the second point is more difficult than the first. I'm a pretty tough critic of my work so many don't make the cut. You all know by now I paint over paintings. That's my critic in action.

With excitement couched by a bit of apprehension, and now having completed 50 paintings of one theme and liking every single one of them, I want to climb to the highest rooftop and shout it out.

I have 50 paintings
and I like every single one of them.

Did you hear that world?

OK, for now I'll settle for you hearing it, and THANK YOU very much for listening.

Mary

50 50 ShowIII - 50 dogs in 50 days

9 Rules For Hanging Art

9 Rules For Hanging Art.

1) Hang large paintings on small walls. It looks awesome!

"Center of the Universe"

2) Don't worry about whether it matches anything. If you love it, it goes.

"Big Brother", "Vacation", "Thinking Cap"

3) Don't hang just any art to fill a space. You will never enjoy it. You gotta love it.

4) Think differently about how and what to hang:
   
a) Look at every piece of art in your home and ask yourself if you love it. If the answer is no, take it down. Rearrange what is left. Large paintings can stand on their own. Groupings of small art looks great.

b) Hang in unusual places - bathrooms, laundry rooms, above doorways.

c) Place art on table tops, bookshelves and other small niche areas on an easel. It looks fab.

5) Most paintings look great hung on a 60" center. This means measure up from the floor 60". Half of the painting should be above that mark and half below. This is a starting point. Use your best judgment.

"Skeptical"

6) When in doubt, hang art too low rather than too high.

7) Symmetrical is usually boring. Incorporate a shelf, or make an altar. It's OK to mix large and small paintings, cool and warm, framed and unframed. Use your best judgment. Rearrange until you get something you like.

"Golden Mask"

7) Hang paintings in your bathroom. It's unexpected and the subject matter is often ooh la la - nudes, potty matters, sinks, strange and wonderful stuff that often doesn't work in other rooms.

8) Frame and hang your kids' art. It's the best there is!

"Gray Sky" by Evaline

9) Do not hang what someone else tells you to hang, unless you love it too. It's your home, do what makes you feel good. Don't worry about what other people think.

Here's an article "Picture Perfect Walls In 3 Easy Steps" from Michael's. Good technical information on how to hang art.

Thanks for reading...

Mary

Paint a Dog and Happy Hour

Do you want to learn to make a painting of your precious dog's face or that silly little terrier from down the street?

What? You don't own a dog? Either do I, but I have lots of friends who own dogs and they have lots of friends who own dogs and guess what? They all have photographs of their dogs and they love to share. It's crazy good!

Come join me. I'll show you how I've been making all of these dog face paintings for the 50 50 Show. It's just for fun and it's free, and it's the Dog Days of Summer. Yeah!!

Dante in 4 Steps

Admission:
Food or drink. I'll have some veggie snacks and beverages to get us started.

When:
Saturday, July 30, 3-5pm for painting, snacking and happy hour until 7ish.

Who:
Any level painter.

Where:
My backyard. Dress for outdoors - we will enjoy whatever Mother Nature serves up.

Why:
To paint, to relax, have fun, enjoy an afternoon with other dog-loving painters.

RSVP:
Yes, by July 23 via email
I have enough tables for about 6 people. I can fit more people if necessary if some people can bring folding tables.

What to bring:
If you are already painting you probably know what to bring.

If you are wondering what to bring I'll get a supply list together soon.

I hope you can come hang out for an afternoon to paint and to eat, drink and be merry (actually, in any order you'd like.)

Mary

End of Week 4 - 28 paintings for the 50 50 Show, 22 to go!