#art365 : the bright ones (or it's starting to look like spring)

Do you have any bright ones? 

 Yes, we're pretty much over winter here in the Midwest. It is near the end of April. Is it spring yet? Let's have it already. We're impatient. And even though I've been enjoying seeing all the different shades of browns and tans and greys, I'm ready for some color, too. Here's some of the latest #art365 pieces which show spring on the way.

4.10.13 afternoon prairie, overcast, acrylic on paper, 5" x 7"

4.16.13 slow morning, acrylic on paper, 5" x 7"

4.17.13 vinca, leaf buds, acrylic on paper, 5" x 7"

4.20.13 deceiving spring, with willows, wicker park, acrylic on paper, 5" x 7"

4.22.13 forsythia, willows, acrylic on paper, 5" x 7"

 You can see the whole #art365 series on my website. Now through the end of April: 10% for autism for Autism Awareness Month.

Live Art!

update 4.7.13: Photographer and blogger Wes Bushby was at the opening/event Friday night. You can see his blog post here. He shoots at lots of local events, not just in NWI but in Chicago, as well.

This Friday I participated in a Live Art Show at Studio 659 in Whiting. There were 10 invited artists, each was asked to bring one piece which would be hung at the start of the event. Then we were to create a brand new piece while visitors could watch us work, to be completed and cleaned up all at the end of the reception. The newly created piece was  to be hung at the end of the night. I brought renewal with me, framed. And a whole portfolio full of the rest of the #art365 landscapes.

renewal, acrylic on paper, 5" x 7"

During the evening, I created 2 new larger landscapes based on a local park.

wicker park willows, acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

wicker park willows II,acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

And, happily,  sunrise over the ridge sold. The first sale of the month! 10% of all my sales this month are being donated to NAA-NWI, the local National Autism Association, for Autism Awareness Month.

sunrise over the ridge, acrylic on paper, 6.25" x 4.75"

PINK!: Women Artists Call for Art

Studio 659 in Whiting has a new call for art posted. Link is below.  This is their third Pink! show, held annually in conjunction with the City's Paint the Town Pink program in support of breast cancer. I've been in the show the last two years. embrace was in the first year's Pink! What to enter for this year. hmmm....

Women Artists Call for Art

embrace, 2010, acrylic on canvas, 48" x 36"

10% for autism

#art365 4.1.13 new life, acrylic on paper, 5" x 7"

I've been thinking recently that it was about time to do another good karma giveaway. I have a lot going on art-wise and I am very grateful for it, even if I do sometimes think I have too much going on. And then I had one of those rare (for me) really decisive moments. 

 I'm going to give 10% of all my sales for the month of April to NAA-NWI.

April is Autism Awareness month.  The Northwest Indiana chapter of the National Autism Association offers support and information to local families. You can donate directly to them here.

I have a soon to be teenager with pretty severe autism. Depending how you know me, this may not have come up in conversation before. I am really not ready to have a teenager. Probably a lot of parents feel this way. Probably not a lot of parents who feel this way are in the middle of potty training their teenager. I talked about how having a special needs child impacts my work last summer in this video.

Currently I have artwork in Crown Point, Dyer, Whiting and Hammond. And I certainly have tons more in my studio. 10% of any and all sales for the month of April will go to NAA.

How to find my work:

A selection of #art365 landscapes are at Candy Café.

Alternate Realities is at South Shore Arts.

Recent paintings at Paul Henry's Art Gallery.

I will be part of Live Art Show, April 5th, at Studio 659.

And there's more work on my website and facebook page.

#art365 at the dunes

Every spring the scouts go on a hike to the Indiana Dunes State Park. It's an amazing place, which I can honestly say now that I am not exhausted from the hike. Last year I took a photo that ended up being used as an underpainting reference for roots. This year, firmly involved in the #art365 project, I was looking for ideas to use for this series. Most  of the time, I just walk outside and then paint what I see, but sometimes there are reference pics. Below you can see some of the reference pics and finished pieces.

the grand marsh

the grand marsh, from the boardwalk

duneland forest, trail 10

the grand marsh and 11 other #art365 paintings can be seen, beginning tomorrow through the end of April at Candy Café in Dyer. A portion of all sales will benefit DAVe, Dyer Arts Visionaries ensemble, a group working to promote the arts in Dyer.

reclamation

I've reclaimed three canvases today. Three pieces from three different series, different points in my life, surprising all in the same color family. I didn't even gesso them. Say goodbye to close to the surface, wallow, and envelop.

last known photo

wallow was the weakest of the three. It was from the Anatomy of a Dream show. It was the piece that started the whole series, and the show, too. I was emotionally attached to it, but sometime around New Year's I was ready to let go. Then, I was too busy with the grantwork paintings. But now, now, I have finished those! And want to keep painting. And have lots of canvas and paint, but no more stretchers. So a reclamation happened. This one will be messy. 

and so it begins...

A lot of artists do this. Just in the last week, I've read three other artists reclaiming old canvases. Let this be a lesson: If you see a work of art you want, get it then. Don't wait. 

#art365: crete

My show at The Edge is coming to a close. I made another trip out on Friday for a late lunch with my husband. It's important to be supportive of the businesses and organizations which are supporting you. 

These first two images were from the delivery and installation days. The last is from Friday's lunch date.

2.6.13 morning, crete

2.7.13 the stand

3.3.13 corn fields, winter, crete

The last day to see America at The Edge is this Tuesday. I am deinstalling Wednesday morning.