Peaceful Afternoon, 6x6", sold

Peaceful Afternoon, pastel on paper by Adriana Meiss

  This painting of the Meadowbrook area by the university, is one of my three sold at the OAG annual spring show and sale this past weekend. I'm happy to say they were all bought by returned customers.

  Now, I'm in the process of cleaning my studio and sooner or later will have to make hard decisions about work that has been sitting around for too long. Sometimes cropping helps to salvage a painting but action is definitely needed because that pile of "not so good work" is a constant reminder of failures and it's best to start something new with a clear slate --- I might end up just hiding it...

 I'm hoping the weather improves enough so I  can open the studio windows to let some fresh air in and start new work.

Dusk Reflections, 12x12

Dusk Reflections, pastel on board by Adriana Meiss

    I learned today that this painting and a larger one were accepted in the Northeast National Pastel Exhibit at Old Forge!  It was just the kind of good news I needed, after two disappointing rejections, one from another show and one from a plein air event. 

   

 My work has been rejected many, many times, and even though I try to take things in stride, somehow when rejections come one after another they amount to a big blow and I usually begin to question my art, at least for a little while. This time I did not have time for that. I've been busy working on two large paintings and can only think ahead, to when they are finally finished. It's something to keep in mind next time I submit work to a competition.

Meadowbrook Pond, 7x5

Meadowbrook Pond, pastel on board by Adriana Meiss

Anyone visiting my studio and seeing the work in progress that's sitting on my shelves would notice right away that I'm a season behind. Maybe it's just that painting winter scenes makes me cold... well, there will be time for that.

This little pastel is one of the many that will be for sale at the Plowshares Craftsfair & Peace Festival this weekend. This will be my 4th year there.  If you are in the Syracuse, NY area, take the time to visit, shop and have fun.

Meadowbrook in Summer, 9 x 12

This painting was started and practically finished on location one August afternoon. However, back at home I started to have doubts about the dark trees that were originally on the left. After several attempts at reworking the trees while trying different greens, I had to stop and think. At this point I had also looked at other photos taken at this same spot under slightly different light conditions and that confused me even more. Finally, I decided it was best to try and convey a mood, and it was smooth sailing from then on. I hope you get the feeling of a warm and lazy afternoon.

As an afterthought I added three seagulls.