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 We tried to only go places we haven't been before while visiting NYC this year. We did pretty well, only going to Washington Square Park and the Salmagundi Club as revisits. But my favorite thing we did on this trip (besides the obvious) was to visit the Morgan Library and Museum. We chose to visit this time because they are having an exhibit on J. R. R. Tolkien. It was spectacular! What tiny handwriting he had! But by far the highlight were his original watercolors for the trilogy. If you have a chance, I highly recommend it. I will warn you to go early. It gets quite crowded, and the room the exhibit is in does not have a lot of air movement. So the stillness and the crowd is not the best scenario. But it is worth the trip. The rest of the museum is very enjoyable, and open (ahhh, breathe). The house/library is surprisingly scaled, but luxurious, as you would imagine. We ate a wonderful lunch while there and visited the gift shop and purchased an appropriate gift for a Jane Austen fan. I missed the exhibit here several years ago featuring The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and I have kicked myself ever since. I cried copious tears when my teacher finished reading it to our class when I was in fifth grade. Wherever you are, dearest lady, thank you. Back to my brushes.
"I must be a mermaid. I have no fear of depths, and a great fear of shallow living." - Anais Nin  It has always been a pleasure to visit NYC, but it is fantastic to have the excuse of being in the American Watercolor Society's 152nd International Exhibition! (If you would like to see the painting, press this link, then click my name.) I got to the Salmagundi Club this year in time to participate in the meeting. No, I did not get caught in traffic by Columbia again - lesson learned. This gave my plus-one a chance to meet artists one-on-one in the gallery and downstairs. It gave me the opportunity to meet some new signature members in a more intimate setting. If you know me, I'm sure you'll agree that my voice does not adapt well to crowds. Understatement. Nevertheless, I met many artists I have long admired and some who were attending for the first time during cocktails and at dinner. It was a charming evening. Except for the walk back to our hotel in the pouring rain. A special shout-out to Linda Gramatky Smith and Irena Roman...you two make life special.
"This is the power of gathering; it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful; in a word, more alive." - Alice Waters
The reception for the Arkansas Territorial Collection Exhibition was held last Thursday by the Heart of America Artists Association (HOAA). I think everyone there would agree that it was a fun reception, quite crowded, and the food was great. (Those coated pretzels were my favorites. Two thumbs up!) I am pleased to share that my painting titled Losing Traction won a merchandise award. This is a traveling exhibition and I hope that you will have the opportunity to see the show when it is near your area. It is exceptional.
Other good news, I learned today that I have received signature status in the Watercolor Honor Society! Spent a great day yesterday in Springfield, enjoying spectacular weather. Dropped off a painting and spent some time enjoying the school exhibit at the art museum. Stopped by a local restaurant and had a late lunch or early dinner. Whatever you call it, it was enough calories for an entire day. Delicious. Hopefully I will soon have time to sit down and paint again. Back to my brushes. "Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." - Melody Beattie  I received notification today that my painting titled "Daily" has been accepted in the Watercolor USA 2019 exhibition. Located at the Springfield Art Museum in Missouri, the exhibition will be on display June 7 through September 1st, 2019. My thanks to the judge, Dean Mitchell for choosing to include this painting.
As it has been awhile since I posted I can tell you I have remained busy. I have completed one painting and about to finish another. Spring has definitely arrived and I have been loving the view of my tree in the backyard which has blossomed beautifully this year. And the fragrance, I wish I knew the words to describe the smell but, alas, I am not a perfumer. For me though, it is the glorious fragrance of spring. I continue to fill my spare hours (!?!) reading and enjoyed tremendously The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton. And I admit upfront that I did not catch on for quite some time. Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore was right up there in my faves, quite fun. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick was good. Had some of the qualities of a book I read earlier, but I liked it just the same. I tend to like books in a series (sort of like paintings) and I completed two murder mysteries that are in separate series and liked them both. I added a couple of books to recommend to young readers, one being The House with a Clock in the Walls by John Bellairs. Did they make a movie based on this book? Don't know, but the book is intriguing. Also, Vincent & Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman. This was really informative look at the relationship between the two brothers using their letters to each other. I really enjoyed it and it gave me a whole new perspective. You can't beat that. But, my favorite, bar none, was a book by Jason Fagone about Elizabeth Friedman titled "The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine who Outwitted America's Enemies". Let me just say I have a new hero. Back to my brushes. "Human beings can lose their lives in libraries. They ought to be warned." - Saul Bellow My painting "Tooling Around" will be included in the American Watercolor Society's Traveling Exhibition (2019/2020) which will exhibit at the following galleries:
Blowing Rock Art & History Museum May 3 – July 21, 2019 https://blowingrockmuseum.org/ 159 Ginny Stevens Lane Blowing Rock, NC 28605 Pryor Art Gallery August 2 – September 22, 2019 https://www.columbiastate.edu/PryorGallery 1665 Hampshire Pike Columbia, TN 38401 Eastern Shore Art Center October 4 – November 24, 2019 https://esartcenter.org/ 401 Oak Street Fairhope. AL 36532 The Next Picture Show December 6 – January 1, 2020 http://www.thenextpictureshow.com/ 113 West First Street Dixon, IL 61021 Wassenberg Art Center February 7 – March 8, 2020 https://wassenbergartcenter.org/ 214 South Washington St. Van Wert, OH 45891 Plymouth Center for the Arts March 13 – April 20, 2020 https://plymouthguild.org/ 11 North Street Plymouth, MA 02360 I hope you have the opportunity to view these works if you are in the area. You can also find this information on my Events page. Back to my brushes. "The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surrounding." - Okakura Kakuzo I'm pleased to share that my painting "Tooling Around" has been awarded a High Winds Medal in the
American Watercolor Society's 152nd Annual International Exhibition. My thanks to the Jury of Awards, Frederick Wong, Carole McDermott, and Chris Krupinski for honoring my work. The exhibit is on display in April at the Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. If you are in the area I hope you will take the opportunity to see it. Congratulations to all the award winners and exhibitors! Back to my brushes. "Make an empty space in any corner of your mind, and creativity will instantly fill it." - Dee Hock I'm pleased to share that my painting "Losing Traction" has been accepted in the Arkansas Territory Bicentennial Art Exhibition which will tour the states of Arkansas and Oklahoma during 2019 and 2020. This exhibition celebrates, through the medium of fine art, 200 years of history of the geographical area referred to as the Arkansas Territory of 1819. I hope that you will be able to see the exhibit at one of the locations listed on my Events page.
Starting the year off right, I have read a few books (postponing some earlier picks) starting with Rivals by Sebastian Smee, Broad Strokes by Bridget Quinn (a reread) , Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton, and rounding it out with a nice little mystery. My stack of reading continues to grow and I have even received some books from friends, which is always nice and appreciated. And I continue to paint on my latest work. Both the last piece I finished (on its way to Italy) and this current piece have been different and educational. A time vortex to be sure, but fun and invigorating. I will add that I am finally getting better health wise. I have been sick (except for a couple of weeks) since November. So it has really been a difficult winter for me. With improved health, things are looking up! Back to my brushes. "Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts." - Alan Cohen |
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