Today's Art Rant

I can't believe what I just read!
It was yet another call for art where a charity organization was asking local artists to donate a piece of their artwork to be auctioned off at their fundraiser.

Don't get me wrong; I understand the concept that charities need to ask for donations in order to raise funds. As a matter of fact, just this past month one of my pieces sold at a similar type auction. I do give away some of my art to certain organizations, although I need to keep most of my hard-earned product for paying customers so that I can put food on my table. I also like to see that there is a minimum bid required in the auction. This means that if the minimum is not reached during bidding, the artist may retain his or her art, so as not to devalue it. I think that is an important factor, which respects the artist AND the artist's current collectors who paid an appropriate price for their piece.(Another acceptable situation is when the organization only asks the artist to donate a portion of the sale.)

What got me ticked off was that this organization, after asking for artists to give their art for the auction, (with no mention of a minimum bid, by the way) had the nerve to ask for an image of the artwork if "you would like to be considered for the benefit". It's a juried show! Now, you get to ASK them if they'll accept your donation. Unbelievable.

I want to repeat, I'm a giver. But I'm also an artist who takes my career seriously and is trying to survive financially in this crazy world. It just doesn't seem right to me. It's hard enough for an artist to invest in the needed supplies, spend the time, money, physical and mental energy required to complete a work of art only to hand it over for donation, but now they need to go through a jury process in order to do it. If someone's art isn't of the highest caliber, then the free market will decide that; it won't get a million dollar bid. But at least give the artist the dignity and freedom to be allowed to turn the art into something good.

I'm not trying to be mean, but what's that old saying? Beggars can't be choosers?
What do you think? Am I off the mark on this one?

Blue Green Lake Acrylic Painting

This is the result of some loose play with Interactive Acrylics, using wet-in-wet technique. I am considering whether to add more layers, or maybe leave it alone.

Hmmmm....

Comments are welcomed....



Image: (c) 2010 Jeanne Guerin-Daley

A Sarah-less Tuesday

So, it's Tuesday, and I'm not driving to Crow Hollow Studio today as I have done for the past six Tuesdays. So sad it's over. Partly because I learned a lot about the medium of Chroma's Interactive Acrylic Paints, especially working "wet-in-wet" (which was the focus of the class). Also part of my sadness stems from my missing the drive. Although it was a long drive for me, it was always enjoyable, even on the many mornings that were damp. cloudy, rainy and/or cold. Driving through Pennsylvania's Chester county, the Chadds Ford area (Andrew Wyeth's world) and into northern Delaware was always such a treat for me. I got to watch the forsythia bushes change from bare branch stems to fiery yellow explosions of color. Large pastures went from brown to bright green, and the bare trees gradually woke up from their winter sleep to produce multiple varieties of pinks, purples and white blossoms, then displayed leafy spring greens.

So, although it's a little sad that the classes are over for me, my creative muse is abundantly recharged! I have been scrambling around, finding tidbits of time in my busy life to continue to explore these paints. So many possibilities! They are "endless" as Sarah comments in her description of the classes. If you are an artist who wants to feel like I do, I urge you to sign up for the next session of classes. You will need to check with Sarah to find out when they will be.
Her website is http://www.Sarahyeoman.com
She also holds watercolor classes also, AND, there is a special event coming up soon. She is partnering with artist Madeleine Kelly for a weekend workshop in mid-May. Details are on the workshop page of Sarah's website:
http://www.sarahyeoman.com/Asset.asp?AssetID=6022&AKey=MPEGM7X3
(Hurry! Last I checked it was filling up fast.)

*Ed. Note: I just learned Sarah will be doing the class again in the Fall! And May workshop has ONE SPACE LEFT!

Green Tips

The Nature Conservancy always has such an abundance of information concerning taking care of our little piece of this planet.

Click this link to learn...

-about reducing chemicals in your garden,
-how to garden in a greener and more efficient way,
-how to make your own compost,
-and even how to cook sustainable seafood!

Happy planting!

Everybody Hurts, Sometimes

This blog is about my adventures in art. Art is a big part of my life, so it is also about my life, too. Areas of my life affect other people's lives. Sometimes there are some things that I feel we should all be aware of. I just viewed a very powerful video. If it saves one life, that would be wonderful.

Please take four minutes out of your day and watch it.

Thank you.

Day Five at Crow Hollow Studio

Another productive day at Sarah Yeoman's class on Interactive Acrylics.

These are some of my results from her instruction.

I'm really loving this wet-on-wet technique. With these interactive acrylic paints you get the best of all worlds: the immediacy and instant gratification of watercolor, watching what wet pools of paint can do when manipulated, sprayed, tilted,... And you can have the permanence of acrylics along with the manageability and blending of oils... Fantastic.

I am also beginning to try combining these paints with cyanotypes.  In my mind, I'm adding some pastel,,, I'm becoming a mixed media fanatic!

So many possibilities...

Scarcity of Time

Never enough time to do it all. So,
I do what I can.

Narberth Beach Mural

Mural-making today. It was a long but productive day.

I had been working on the design for this small mural and today was the day I got to pick up a paint-loaded brush and attack the wall!
It is an interior mural in my client's apartment located in Narberth so I decided to call it "Narberth Beach"
What you see here is a combination of real and painted images. The white window trim around the perimeter of the image is actually, physically there. The closed and open windows, each with 6 panes of glass, are painted.

Within that outside trim framework, are two wooden, sliding pocket door panels that slide inside the wall when opened. When shut, they meet in the middle and now boast this scene. It is a window opening between the kitchen and living room in a Narberth apartment. 

This second photo shows what I mean. I slid open the windows partially to show the kitchen. Neat idea, huh?! My client had a carpenter create the doors and decided that when the doors were shut, they might as well be decorated.

It wasn't a large mural, but it was a complex enough design to keep me busy working on it. As usual, I had fun doing it!

I used acrylic paints for most of it; the white faux window is painted using the same white paint as the perimeter trim, tinting them with warm highlights and cool shadows.

Thoughts? Reactions are welcomed. Please leave a comment below.