Paintings, Shows and Happenings

Hi Everyone.  I'm back from an unintended blogging break.  Hope all of you are doing well.  I did not mean to take a blogging vacation.  Things just got crazy here, but in a very good way.  First, my paintings have been accepted into three more shows!  I can't tell you how excited I am about this.  I've had paintings in shows before, but never on a regular basis, so this makes me really happy.  There is nothing like validation from your peers to make you feel good about what you are doing.

My painting, Peonies In A Blue And White Vase, was accepted into the American Artists Professional League's 85th Grand National Online Exhibition.   I won the Colonel George J. Morales Memorial Award for the painting as well.

Peonies In A Blue And White Vase

I will also have a painting in the Chelsea Mansion on Long Island (scroll down to the end of the page for exhibit info).  The mansion is having the exhibition in conjunction with the Nassau County (NY) Fall Concert Series.  The opening reception for this show is Thursday, October 17th, from 5-7pm and will run through October 24th.  My painting, Peonies In A Glass Vase, will be included in the show.  The mansion was built by Mr and Mrs. Benjamin Moore and is beautiful.  I'm so pleased that my painting will be shown there.

Peonies In A Glass Vase

The third show (!) that I will be in is taking place at the Huntington Arts Council on Long Island.  The peonies above as well as my still life, Brass Pot With A Glass Vase, will be shown from November 8 to December 16.  I have never had two paintings in a show before, so this is very exciting.

Brass Pot With A Glass Vase

In addition to the shows, I've done quite a bit of painting.  Unfortunately, last weeks painting ended up being a wipe out, but I did work on two others.

 

This painting was a two day quickie that I did years ago.  It was ok, but I've always felt that it could be better.  In fact, if I'm completely honest, I felt like it was mocking me (crazy, I know).  I finally decided to do something about it and I'm very happy with the way it turned out.

 I'm not sure if anyone other than me can see the changes, but I'm now very happy with it.  I put another coat of grey on the background and brought that color into the top of the bowl on the right.  Losing edges is very important in painting and now the top of the bowl is not so glaringly obvious.  I also softened the highlight on the left side of the bowl.

I then integrated the shadows on the lemons and pumped up the grapes.  The secret to doing grapes is to highlight one or two and leave the rest.  These are iphone photos from my studio, but in a week or so I can varnish the painting and take a proper photo of it.

I also began this still life, but in my painting haze, forgot to take a picture of the painting!  I'll get one tomorrow, but in the mean time, here is the set up.

So that is a quick recap of what has been going on here painting wise.  As always, thank you for following along on my art adventures.

Xo,
Frances