OAG Spring Show and Sale this weekend

Sumac Copse, 7"x5"
















One of the guilds I belong to is having it's annual art sale this weekend. These three will be there hoping to get a new home.

So much rain in the last couple of days put me in a very moody state of mind.

Willow in Fall, 7"x5"















Creek in November, 5"x7" SOLD

Otisco Field, 16"x20"

Good news: I had two paintings accepted into the 7th National Northeast Pastel Exhibit at Old Forge, and this one won the Mary Bonner Chapman memorial award.

From the beginning I had a good feeling about this painting. Perhaps that was due to the strong impression that the light of the setting sun on the tree tops produced in me.

The scene had some composition issues: there was a row of trees in the middle ground, the row of trees in the distance continued to the left, and the grasses pointing to the left guided the eye away from the focal area and outside the picture. I could have made the grasses face the other side, but often when you change too many things from a scene you end up with something totally different and the feeling for the place is gone. Anyway, I think I solved the problem by creating an S-shape design. When it came to color, I had to take risks and push it further.

Early Stars, 20x16" -- sold

I'm back after a 2-week vacation visiting my family in Costa Rica. I took over a 1000 pics and have so many plans and ideas I would like to put into practice in the near future.

The show went well. Two paintings were sold before the reception day and one more after I came back. I'm still hoping to sell at least one more before the show is over.

I have to thank my friend Marybeth for insisting that I painted some night scenes for the show. As it was, I only had time to paint this one, but it received very good comments. A lady described to me what she felt about it, which was exactly what I wanted to convey with it--what a nice feeling!

Otisco Evening, 13x19"

I painted this pastel a year ago purposely for a competition. It did not get in so I just put it aside until this show where it helped me achieve the goal of having at least ten new paintings. As it was, I ended up showing fourteen paintings: eleven new ones and three more done last year.

This is the third painting I've done of this area in Otisco. It's very fascinating seeing and comparing the colors of the crops as the light changes. I'm looking forward to paint it again this year.

Passing Clouds, 18x24"

Another big-sky landscape. This one is near Keuka Lake.

The framing began this week. I have four already framed and there are six more to go for Sunday's setup.

I received some great news: the two paintings I submitted to the Old Forge National Pastel Competition were accepted! Two more to frame... I'll post pics later on.

Nearing Syracuse, 12x24"

Another typical scene south of Syracuse.

I have only twelve days before set up and I'm still painting...

Two of the paintings I had started earlier were not working and had to put them aside. In a way, this was good because it has given me the opportunity to select better scenes that will go much better next to another painting, and will also fit the space like a glove. Even though I had measured the display area very carefully, and had made fairly good estimates as to the size and number of paintings I could have, I had not considered this important point.

Time is precious these days and I have resorted to organizing myself with very detailed to do lists. That's what's keeping me sane!

Cirrus Clouds, 19"x25"

I've decided I'm finally done with this one. It will be be in the cover of the invitations to the exhibit.

There was a lonely, bare tree in the middle of the field, but I removed it to intensify the feeling of big sky and long expanses of land, so typical of the area. Actually, the truth is that I did not feel like dealing with bare branches at a time when I'm in a hurry. There! It's so easy to justify our actions...

Next week I hope to be doing only framing, but I know a new painting will try to sneak in somehow.

Good news: I am now represented by Gallery 54 in Skaneateles!