Citta Colori Show

Tonight was the Citta Colori show at the Ponshop. My mom and I dropped in quickly for the gallery talk. There weren't a ton of pieces, but the ones that were there were amazing. Instead of a juried show, this one is people's choice with voting throughout the month of September. I decided that I would vote only for one of my own pieces if mine were actually my favorites, and they definitely weren't!

Me at the Ponshop reception.

My submissions to the City Colors show.

Come and vote for your favorites!

City Colors

I just dropped off my two pieces for the City Colors exhibit at the Ponshop, for which there will be an opening reception on Friday. Having finished my second painting, a self portrait (the practice Birth of Venus didn't work out), just before leaving, I had to stop at Michaels and buy a frame (and borrow their screwdriver) on the way to the gallery. After the stressful delivery, I was finally calming down on my drive home when a thought suddenly struck me and I bolted upright in my seat and screamed "THE TOES!!!"

I forgot to put feet on the crow.

Will anyone else notice? Probably not. Does that make me feel better? Not really.

I just can't believe that I framed a painting and delivered it to a gallery without realizing that I didn't put any legs on the bird. That ever happen to anyone else?

It's really not that noticeable...

Ahh!

There is just too much to do and never enough time. At this point I really would have to be a full time artist to get everything done that I need to. Not sure I'd make enough money even then though... There are so many show and fairs coming up, back to back, that I think I will have to start to pick and choose. April food show is fast approaching! Who knows what the heck is after that. X)

Cupcakes

Cupcakes are finally finished! Here they are. :) I will be doing a couple individual ones in different shades for the April Food Art show at Liberty Town, and I am starting my sushi paintings tonight. Enjoy!

February's First Friday

Well First Friday at Liberty Town was this past week and I entered 5 paintings that I just had lying around into the Young Fredericksburg exhibit. I was all amped up all week waiting for Friday, thinking about winning awards and selling hundreds of dollars worth of art and all that. I suppose that because my first gallery experience was so awesome that I just expected it would be like that every time. Not so. I didn't sell anything on opening day, and don't expect that I will in this show either. Nor did they give out any awards in order to not hurt any young kids' feelings. I'm pretty dissapointed, but I know that I shouldn't be. The show was very small, and only one fairly cheaply priced photograph sold, which is the norm for Liberty Town. I think that it was the subject matter--it was almost all people, and normal people don't want buy expensive paintings of random people to put in their home. I understand this, but I still feel like I kind of let myself down because, if I were really awesome enough, I could overcome that. Oh well. It was a lesson that had to be learned I suppose. Having said that, the painting WILL still be up in the gallery all month for sale, so you never know... ;)

5 paintings entered into February's Young Fredericksburg show.

Venus of Sebastiano Ricci, all matted, framed, and beautified!

Update: I just got notified that Frederick Douglass did in fact sell! Yay! :D

Life at the beginning of the new year...

Back from Christmas and already full into the swing of things again. The spring semester started this past week and I couldn't afford to take a 'for fun' art class this time. That means I have to make time for myself to be able to do art. To be honest, I've been pretty sick of painting for a while since I had to do it for class, but after a little break I'm almost itching to get back into it. I have a ton of nearly finished paintings that just need a little touch-up or a frame, which I really, really hope to get up here soon!
April is the annual food-themed exhibit at Liberty Town and I am planning on having around 10-20 pieces to submit to the gallery. I have a set of 3 pink cupcake paintings that say 'Suger', 'Spice', and 'And Everything Nice'. Those turned out so great that I think they will sell really quickly, so I may also do a blue and green set. I also want to do oil paintings of 3 small plates and 1 large spread of sushi/sashimi. Maybe a couple simple little fruit paintings as well. The other part of this exhibit has to do with art made of food. I would really love to recreate a life-size bust of Marie Antoinette completely out of different foods, lacy bodice, elaborate powdered hair, and all! The issue with this has to do with costs however. The first place prize is only $100, and these pieces are not for sale. I feel as though the materials would exceed any possible winnings. We'll see.
The other exhibit coming up soon is of figure drawings, taking place at Headquarters Library. There is a group of local artists meeting every Wednesday at $12 a person that is working on pieces specifically for this exhibit, but unfortunately the meeting falls on the same time as my Calculus class. I don't think I'll be doing any big paintings, but hopefully I'll have some time to do a few charcoals for this. Its too bad they aren't accepting any nudes, or else I'd have a few to submit already, haha!

First Friday

Tonight was absolutely perfect! As well as hanging out with some great friends and eating some delicious food, the 6 x 6 exhibition at Liberty Town opened today. The reception started at 5pm, and I was really nervous to see what it would be like. 1st place went to one of Bill Harris's students, second went to the praying mantis Ed King painted in class one day, and third place I could not find (obviously was not me). I was, however, greeted excitedly as I walked into the door of the gallery. My octopus sold! My first non-commission piece sold! And better than that--there were several people fighting over it, waiting until the moment the clock struck 5pm to buy it! AHHH! I'm like a REAL artist now! :O

Everyone was just so incredibly encouraging and excited for me tonight. No one is seen as competition, and that is what I really love about the Fredericksburg downtown art scene. It's more like one big happy family. Can't wait to get more pieces out and about and start selling more! Getting started has been really hard and expensive, with no pay off. Finally all the effort I am putting in is beginning to be validated. Looking towards a brighter and brighter future every day. :)