I know you want to come to NASHVILLE!

Art-Is-You Art Retreats is coming to Nashville! 

 I am so excited to be one of the faculty teaching at this event.  My good friend and art sister, loretta benedetto marvel is co-teaching a very special class with me.  Together, we make The Poet and The Painter Sisters and our class is called the Art of Food. 

 Join us in making a mixed media book of food memories.  

It can be a cookbook with recipes, a memoir of your childhood favorites or simply a food journal.  You are only limited to your imagination!!  We will play with painting backgrounds, collaging, learn how to do an image transfer, make hidden pocket pull-outs and even learn how to create a double sliding mechanism which will all be bound with a super simple binding technique. 

 Oh, and don't forget about playing with words, washi tape and all kinds of embellishments!  And as a bonus, there will definitely be chocolate!! So start gathering up your recipes, memories and photos....it's going to be a foot-stompin' kicking up our heels kinda fun (and i'll wear my new cowboy boots)!!! Registration is open..sign up now...ART IS...NASHVILLE 

what i did today...

I'm having some fun in the studio today after being down with the 'crud' the entire weekend.  I thought I was going to get so much creating done over the weekend.  I had plans of making this and that only to spend my entire 3 day weekend flat on my back sipping ginger ale and eating saltines!

When I finally became vertical I finished this little project that was on my table.  This is a fun quirky little doll.  I was trying to make a mini dixie so my girls can take her with them to school.  I will be making more and companion winston dolls too!  stay tuned!!

New Ro Rocks! closing

Tonight was the closing reception for New Ro Rocks!  It was a nice night and a nice turnout.  More importantly to celebrate, a few of us from the New Rochelle Art Association gathered at the Black Whale for a 'kitchen sink'.  The kitchen sink consists of 12 25? scoops of ice cream, various toppings and whipped cream.  It is served up in one huge bowl.  Spoons in hand, it was attacked with mucho gusto and enjoyed by all!  What a fun way to spend a cold fall evening...

After Sandy...New Ro Rocks!

Lisa Post is curating a show titled, New Ro Rocks!  An exhibit of New Rochelle artists being presented at the Focal Point Gallery in City Island. The intent is to bridge the gap between the two neighboring communities by bringing the artwork of New Rochelle to the Bronx, and expose the New Rochelleans to the wonderful rich, maritime community.

After Superstorm Sandy hit, we emerged from a powerless house on Wednesday to deliver my piece for the show.  Yes, the Focal Point Gallery had power!  It was very surprising to me.  So my husband decided to drive me to this little island.  Turns out that was not as easy as it seemed.  Normally we just go down Shore Road.  Shore Road was closed due to fallen wires and downed trees.  As well as many other routes.  I was so glad my husband was navigating.  Born and bred here sure helped!  My painting was delivered and the reception was being held as planned.

On Friday evening even though artists and attendees were facing powerless houses, roadblocks and gas shortages, there was a surprising turnout.  My friend and number one fan Penny came with me to the reception.  We had a lovely dinner at one of the sponsors' restaurants, The Snug.  Go there for a delicious burger and beer on tap at a VERY reasonable price.  It is an Irish pub serving full meals as well. We attended the opening and had a wonderful time.  One of the pieces sold at the gallery and everyone cheered. It was a much needed night out. 

Lisa did a fantastic job organizing and curating this show.  It runs until Friday November 30.  There will be a closing reception to "Meet the Artists" from 7-8pm.  I plan on attending. 

The piece I entered is called Sea Kaleidoscope.  It was a purely intuitive painting and a perfect fit for this maritime community.  It is 24"x24"acrylic.

   

Faces of America

As part of the ongoing celebration of New Rochelle Art Association's 100th anniversary, current members created portraits of present day servicemen.  The portraits were inspired from photographs taken on Memorial Day 2011.  After the show, the art will be sent to family members as directed by the military personnel. Also at the show are copies of portraits made in 1945 by past members and they are very moving. The show is at the Br. Kenneth Chapman Gallery at Iona College.  The reception is Sunday November 11, 2012 1-3pm.  The address is 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY.  It runs November 1-December 6, 2012.

Here is my contribution:

Please come by.

artists living in generosity

Art is You Art Retreats have summoned their art family and created a donation page.  Please help in the relief effort.  Donate what you can and you'll be entered in a raffle to win fabulous artwork.  All is explained here - Art is You Hurricane Relief

 and for giveaways after you donate, be sure to visit:

http://flatwoodsfolkart.typepad.com/lesley_venable/2012/11/hurricane-sandy-relief-giveaway.html

another option - Seth Apter of the Altered Page is running an auction...lots of great artwork and a copy of his book signed by the contributing artists is the prize to the highest bidder!

ART IS...You days 2,3,4,and 5

where to begin?  Friday night I had class with one of my very favorite artists/friends.  Miss Linda Willis of Rhode Island inspired us to make zombies

and monsters and witches!  i just love the randomness of these!!!

this one was my favorite and Linda abandoned her art into the arms of this lovely lady.

I am making my own version.  it is a work in progress

some of my friends

betti, marlene and loretta

Day 3 - Saturday brought a morning session with mrs. pom aka loretta marvel 

she spoke of the connectiveness between women and friends that dates back years and reminds us of  Victorian days when women bonded over embroidery hoops.  mrs. pom had us wrap embroidery hoops with fibers and make tags for each other to attach.

anne and loey busy making tags

elizabeth and her lovely hoop

after our creative jumpstart i was off to my class of the day, titled my soldered muse with kecia deveney

 kecia's work is lovely and eclectic

we learned how to solder (my favorite part was learning how to make those little soldered dots) and add embellishments to make a dimensional doll of our muse.  the student work turned out unique and fun!

and look who was in the same classroom creating a doll of a different sort 

my friend Linda Willis!

Saturday Night was ART TRUNK AND TUTU night

there were so many vendors with so many beautiful things...if only i didn't have two kids in college *sigh*

Sunday was bittersweet.  It was PJ day

Ellen, Sal, Loretta, Me
Patricia, Elizabeth, Betti, Kecia

 and started off with Breakfast of the Brave.  Artists Melissa Bolton, Jodi Ohl, Tracy Verdugo, Kecia Devaney and Seth Apter shared experiences outside their comfort zones that made them who they are today.  Patty Dineen also presented Ellen Legare with a quilt of squares made by many of the ART IS family.  The picture here doesn't do it justice.

Then it was off to class with Tracy Verdugo. This class was called Sacred Marks and was based on the Aboriginal word, Dadirri which is a special quality and unique gift of the Aboriginal people. It is an inner deep listening and quiet still awarness.  The class was a two day class.

we started with personal symbols and their meanings.

At this point during class, Loretta got word that her mother had passed away.  It was terribly upsetting and I just couldn't continue until I took care of my friend.  After bringing her home and regrouping, I went back to class, but missed a few steps.  It didn't really matter though as this is a process of layering.

After wrapping up day one of sacred marks the PJ party continued into the night and we had a chocolate fountain and made the bracelets mrs. pom had planned on having us create.  

day two of sacred marks was more layering and learning to let go...

tracy's finished piece.

one of tracy's pieces still in progress

My piece is still a work in progress...more on that later.

ART IS...You is always my favorite time of year.  I get to see my old 'art friends' and make new.  Like minds gathering together, sharing ideas, connecting and getting inspired carries me through another year.  I can't wait for ART IS...2013!