New Doors Will Open Wide

Yesterday was spent moving my things down the hall into my new studio.  The overall space is a little smaller, but I have four walls to work with now, not one.

I love starting out with a blank slate, and the options for different set ups.  My main goal was to get things into the space and in order, so I could get back to work.  The studio was previously occupied by a very talented abstract painter, so the good energy is already in place.

I tried to make very short work of the transition, as I didn't want to lose more than a day's worth of painting.  Today, it's right back at it, and I will be making adjustments to the new set up as time goes on.  So far, so good!

My second guest post went up on the Wall Spin blog this morning.  It's a short piece about photography, and if you have a few seconds, please hop on over and take a look.  Like I said before, it's nice to have another outlet to write about other art topics, and I will let you know when a new post goes up.

Finally, I wanted to share the above photo with you.  It's not often that I get to see my work after it leaves my hands, so when I received this photo the other day, I was pleased beyond words.  Stine Grove is an incredible musician from Copenhagen that I have been following for some time now.  I had the opportunity to send her some small pieces, and when they arrived, she sent me this photo.  To me, this is what it's all about - sharing our artistic selves with one another.  Not necessarily always for profit, but just to extend our heart and soul.  That is a priceless feeling!  Thank you Stine!

Stine has a great web presence on Facebook and elsewhere.  Please check her out and show your support.

And with that, I leave you until next Thursday.  Welcome to all of my followers and thank you to all of my regular loyal blogfriends.  I couldn't do it without you!     

Market Activity and Looking Forward

The Burren 2010

The first market of the season can only mean one thing - that spring is right around the corner!  It has been a brutal, brutal winter here in Boston, and this past Saturday's market at the Burren was a welcome event.

After the market, I couldn't wait to get home and compare photos from last year to the current ones.  As you can see from the first photo, a lot has happened in a very short period of time.  Last year I was painting eyeballs and skulls, and now I think I have my brushes pointing me into the right direction.

What I am most happy for is that progress has been steady.  There is no magical formula behind it, it all boils down to steady consistent work - painting each and every day, making goals, and keeping a positive attitude even in one of the worst economies of our history.

Already, my mind is racing towards a year from now.  I can't wait to see what things look like then!

This week in the studio,  I finished up most of the work on the third canvas in the Illumination series.  I still need to do a little bit of touch up and varnishing on it, but for the most part, it's done.  I plan on doing two more in the series and then moving on.

I also did the above 8" x 8" canvas.  It's the first time I've used a red oxide in the mandalas, and I was very pleased with the end results.

There are lots of exciting things coming up in the very near future:

At the end of this month, I will be moving down the hall to a new studio.  It will be a slightly smaller space, but I won't be sharing it with anyone (except Miss G).  I will have four walls to display my work instead of the one that I have now.  Transition and change always help to shake things up, so I am really looking forward to the move.

There will be another market at the Burren on March 12th.  I hope to have my display refined a little more and have more smaller canvases to offer.

Somerville Open Studios is April 30 and May 1.  If you thought the open studios event that took place in November was big, then you haven't seen anything yet.  It's going to take every bit of time from here until now to prepare for it, and the fact that I have my new studio means that I can spread out and make it very much like a gallery setting.  I am looking forward to it!

Lastly, I continue to write posts for the Zatista Wall Spin blog every week.  Only one of my posts has gone up so far, and I will let you know as each new one gets published.

So, as you can see, there are a lot of irons in the fire right now.  My goal was to start the year off strong, and looking forward to the end of April, I think things are going well.

Until next Thursday, I wish each and every one of you a great weekend.  Thank you for taking the time to stop by here and be a part of my journey.  Take care, all!

Signs of Life and a Slow Thaw

As a follow up from last week's post, I am very happy to announce that my first appearance on the Wall Spin blog went up today.

 I was offered the amazing opportunity to guest blog, and my posts will be up from time to time.  The chance to step beyond my own blog is a welcomed one, and it will give me the chance to talk about topics that relate to the art world.

Last night was my 6th session at the Boston Figurative Art Center.  Up to this point I have been drawing, and while the progress has been gradual, I had a couple moments last night that made me feel like the training is paying off.  My lofty goal, is to be painting figuratively in oils by the end of the year.

The Center has a great Facebook Page, and photos from class will be posted on a regular basis.

The third canvas in the Illumination series is well under way, and while I didn't finish it this week,  I am pleased with it so far.  I'll have it wrapped up in a few days and get started on the fourth canvas.

The first market of the season is coming up this Saturday at The Burren.  I am excited to get back out there and get the reaction to my newest work.

I have a good selection of my Mini Mandalas this time around, and I can't wait to compare last year's photos of the market with this year's.  It should be interesting, as a lot has changed since then.  I will have a complete report next Thursday for you.

There is a lot going on, and it's been a very busy year so far.  Like I said above, progress at time seems slow, but no matter how you look at it, progress is progress.  I'll take it!

Until next week, I wish you all a very good weekend.  I appreciate the support that each and every one of you give to me.  Thank you!

Scenes From Winter and Into February

We are still in the depths of winter here in Boston, and to add insult to injury, we had another 10" inches of snow followed up by freezing rain.  Miss G and I were walking back from the studio last night, and she commented on how the landscape is starting to look surreal.

We have gotten so much snow, the streets are now lined with mounds that are at least 6 feet high.  I was out today, and the only thing that was standing higher than these mounds was my favorite tree.  I was looking at it and imagined it all flushed out in green foliage.

This week in the studio, I finished up the green Dahlia Dreams piece.  It's a slightly new direction for me, and I can't wait to see the design on a larger canvas.

All of the above canvases are 16" x 16", and I think they work well together.

As you can see, the first canvas of the Illumination series is back in the studio.  It was sold and made a very brief journey to Phoenix, Arizona and back.

For some reason or another, the client was not completely satisfied with it, so it's back in my hands.  I was disappointed, but at the same time pleased that it would have the opportunity to hang on the wall with the other canvases in the series.  I started on Illumination No. 3 this week and have decided to make it a 5-part series.

The market at the Burren is coming up on the 12th and will be the first market activity of the season.  This year, Miss G and I are having our own separate vending tables, so that's a good sign as to how far we have come along since last year.  It's been slow going, but we are both making headway in our artistic careers, and I remain grateful for the opportunity and look forward to what the rest of the year will bring.

I do have some other good news in the works, but until things come to fruition, I would strongly encourage you all to bookmark the Zatista Wall Spin Blog and check it daily.  It's a great site, and the posts are always lively and very relevant to the art world.  

Until next week, I leave you all with thoughts of spring.  For all of my friends living in more temperate climates, I leave you with opposite thoughts.  We have to keep the balance, right?

Wishing you all a very good weekend.  I will see you next Thursday.  Take care, all!