Wednesday, February 11, 2009

From the Vineyard, With Love.

This painting is yet to be named, but it's finished! It might get a little bit of tweaking later on tonight, but it's just going to be a couple of tiny adjustments. It's acrylic on canvas, 15" x 30".

I took photos of grapes last year in the summer while visiting the Chicago Botanic Garden with the intention of doing a painting of grapes, but I've decided to do a series and already have another canvas sketched out (this same size) ready for another grape painting. Last year I decided to branch out from my usual subject matter (tropical things) and work more on something that can be enjoyed universally, since the mid-atlantic area isn't so much on tropical.

This painting was also a BIG challenge because I've never had to paint shadows like this before. In my photography class in college, we learned to take pictures outside on an overcast day to avoid harsh shadows, so that's what I always did. I didn't have that luxury at the Botanic Garden since there was only one day we could fit it into our schedule. Shadows are funny, because you're sitting in front of the canvas painting them and they just look like sharply contrasting weird blobby shapes that don't make any sense (especially when you haven't colored in all of the things around them). But then you walk across the room and take it all in after you've been working on the painting for 4+ hours from 6 inches away, and it all comes together and ends up making sense.

I am pleased. And this one only took about a month and a half- and that even includes a 2 week hiatus during the holidays.


Friday, February 6, 2009

Earth Day 2009!!


Earth Day is always easy for me to remember, because it's my wedding anniversary! :)

This year, I found a local festival going on in Mechanicsburg, PA. It's April 25-26 and it must be a pretty big deal because it even has its own website!
http://mechanicsburgearthdayfestival.com/

And I'm really excited, because Providence Boutique has chosen me as one of the artists with "Green-Themed Art" for the Earth Day Art Show! I figured that meant I'd be outside with my tent and setting everything up... but I was happy to find out that the art show is in the art gallery right in their store... which means I have no worries about rain.

I'm really looking forward to the show this year because the pictures from last year look like there is so much to see and to do. They also need volunteers for a few different shifts, which will probably be fun as well.

There is even a parade that weekend, and anyone can participate! From a recent Mechanicsburg Earth Day email update,

"All species great and small are needed for the Mechanicsburg Earth Day Festival parade. Dress-up and participate in the "Make Everyday Earth Day" procession! Flowers, bugs, turtles and more, of all ages, are needed. Make your own costume at home and walk with us around the event showing your green side! Parade begins at 10:00."

I thought that sounded like so much fun, and I have a bee costume from Halloween a few years ago that hasn't quite gotten its money's worth... However, when I half-jokingly mentioned this to my husband, he responded with "Just because you can be in a parade doesn't necessarily mean you should."

Hmmmm.... I guess he's right. Oh well! They need volunteers for the event, so I guess I'll just sign up for that instead.

Just don't be surprised if I am sporting my bee costume anyway! Hmph! ;)