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

Christmas Commissions

I got a commission from my cousin Liz and her husband this Christmas to recreate some photos for her parents that they had taken on one of their many trips to their favorite places in Hawaii. I ended up doing a series of three 8 x 10 charcoal/pastel portraits in order to really capture the feel of Hawaii. I didn't get to talk to her parents for very long about them, but I think they were really happy with such a thoughtful gift and I was really thrilled to have the opportunity to help. :)

On the left an island shoreline, the middle is a tropical sunset, and the third is a waterfall into a cave with a palm tree (which you can't see very well). Please forgive the laundry on the the couch and bad glare on the photos!!! XD

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!

Rooster

I picked up my very first set of prints today of a colorful rooster painting I have been working on over the past semester. It was an interesting experience. I chose Creative Color on rt 2, which was the most expensive printing business but the only one that specialized in artwork. I had to wait a week longer than I was first told, got passed around between several different people, and had to pay a bit more than what I was quoted, but I will certainly be giving them a second chance. The people there were really very nice. I'm only sad I couldn't afford the Giclees!

I am marking these as limited edition out of 50, and have less than 40 available still. They are 11x14 in size and I will be selling them unmatted/unframed at $30 a piece. The originial 16x20 oil painting is still available as well. The colors of the prints are as vibrant as the original, but I'm still pretty happy with them. :)

Citizen of the Year

About 3 weeks ago Ed King recommended me to the March of Dimes as an artist to create a painting for Dr. Jane Ingall, the recipient of this year's Citizen of the Year award. I presented the painting to Dr. Ingall this morning at a ceremony at UMW's University Hall. I have to admit that at first it was all about how awesome I am for getting to do something that spiffy, but after the ceremony I really have to say that I am honored to been able to do a little something for such an amazing and deserving individual.

Hope House Art Tree

The 4 x 4 art Christmas tree got auctioned off for $1200, all going towards the Hope House of Fredericksburg. Mission success! :) Sorry there aren't more pics!

Hope House

The Hope House is a sanctuary for abused women and their children in Fredericksburg. This year they are doing a charity christmas tree auction. I donated a piece for an art tree. Mrs. Iishi put together this tree, and collected dozens of 4 x 4 paintings from local artists to hang as ornaments. The minimum bid for the tree will be $500. http://www.hopehouseva.org/fot.html  I would DIE to have this tree! If only I had $500+ lying around to spend on art... :( Here is the piece I donated: