Let Summer 2014 Begin!

Horse Valley Camp +
Good Art Friends =
A wonderful way to begin the summer!





These gals take no prisoners!!

 

 

 What fun we had making things!!  Did you know caterpillars can paint?? 

It was a gorgeous day!  Every turn was a potential painting.

We tried our hand at kayaking in the lake and stream.

It was a very special Memorial Day!!

Hudson River Valley Art Workshop with Kim English

     On August 4, I drove to Greenville, NY for a week long oil painting adventure in the Catskill Mountain  region of New York.  The workshop was conducted by artist Kim English.  Kim's paintings are light filled and often figurative. He paints ala prima, all in one session, catching the immediacy and freshness of the subject. We had live models four of the five days with sessions both inside and outside the studio.  One day was spent at a local farm which had a wide variety of subject matter including cows, chickens, and great treasure filled barns. 

             

       

The workshop is housed in a glorious bed and breakfast and adjacent carriage house and cottages. My room in the carriage house was above the studio and had a shower, sink, and refrigerator. Excellent chef prepared meals were provided in the dining room of the bed and breakfast.  Meal times were also a treat because our lively class members shared painting stories and forged friendships. 

I truly can not say enough good things about my week at the Hudson Valley Art Workshop.   From the hand made chocolate to the friendly service and staff, I was treated like royalty.  To paint with this fine group of artists and learn from Kim English was life changing.  

New in the Studio (Sarah's old room)

 

This is a painting I've been working on of a canoe on Lake Jean, Rickett's Glenn.  "Miracle Morning", oil, 24 x 18.  There is going to be more of a shadow on the left side and I have to try to show the lily pads on the lake.

The one on the left is an experimental mixed media.

I took paper covered in encaustic and burned 
the pieces with an acetylene torch. I'm going
to add sewn stitches in gold thread and try

to play up the 

 embossed texture of the background.            

The one on the right is an oil of the Grand Central Terminal in NYC.  "Children of the Light".

Several weeks ago, I entered an online competition for the Creation Festival Art Gallery sponsored by White Stone Gallery, Philadelphia.  My painting, The Way, was accepted.  It symbolizes the many paths that life can take for each of us.  However, the way to eternal salvation is only through Jesus. I was so happy to meet Gallery owners, Susan and Darrel and to share this amazing experience with my dear sister.  Thank you so much to Creation Festival for having this show and to Susan and Darrel for their kindness and support!!

 

Fulton County girls do well!!  

Check this out:

Fulton County News Article 

History of Ricketts Glen

Colonel Robert Bruce Ricketts enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army at the beginning of the Civil War.  He bravely led Battery F during the Battle of Gettysburg.  Young Ricketts moved up through the ranks and was discharged as a Colonel.  At one time Col. Ricketts owned over 80,000 acres of land.  Through the 20's, 30's, and 40's the family sold land to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a state park.  The 13,050 acre state park which is in Luzerne, Sullivan, and Columbia Counties first opened in 1944.  Today the Glens Natural Area encompasses two branches of Kitchen Creek where 22 majestic waterfalls flow among ancient trees, many over 300 years old. Fishing, boating, and swimming on Lake Jean provide tranquil rest after a full day of hiking the 7.2 mile Falls Trail.

 

 

Just Around the Bend

This little pastel was accepted into the Miniature Show at the Arts Council in Chambersburg this winter and it sold.  I should be happy to  have sold a painting, but I will miss this baby.

Recent Work:

This is a pastel called
"Old Apple Tree"  

The Way, oil on canvas

Walking in the Light, oil on canvas

The Prayer, pencil drawing on paper

Maine Scene, miniature
acrylic on board

Living Water, oil on canvas

Oxford Harbor, pastel on Wallis paper

Abstract Forms, encaustic on wood

Chesapeake Scene, oil on canvas

 My favorite part of IceFest is ArtFest which happens on Saturday of festival weekend in the old warehouse behind the Public Opinion Office building.  Artists fill the space and paint and create all morning long.  In the afternoon the art they have created is auctioned off for charity.

 These are pictures from last year to give you a feel for this amazing experience.  I have done it for about 5 years and I love the exhilaration of being around so many creative, wonderful artists.  This year 35 artists will take part.  Please come by to see us work and to take part in the art auction later in the day.

  

Food is available for sale and live musical entertainment.  The artists will be creating and you can ask them questions and watch them work.  This is a great family event that may inspire your budding artist.

  

Most of the artists are painters, but you will also see some block printing, glass art, and multi-media creations.

The warehouse is unheated-----------

so bundle up!!!! 

Hope to see you at ArtFest 
on Saturday, February 3!!!!

The Ice Fest in Chambersburg is Thursday, January 31 through Sunday, February 3.   




 
The Penn's Woods Printmakers that I work with are having a show and sale in a storefront next to Olympia Candy Kitchen on Main Street.  It will be a fun weekend with lots of merriment and reasonably priced art for sale.  Come enjoy a good time downtown and stop in to say "Hello"!!!
Ice Fest Website Link

New York City Adventure

 My four day Manhattan adventure began last Thursday.  Amtrak brought me to Pennsylvania Station.   I had some time before my room was ready, so with suitcase in tow I walked to Bryant Park and enjoyed the lush, cool, greenery and lucked into "Broadway in the Park Thursday".  It was a great way to begin my stay.   

On Thursday afternoon, I walked to the Chelsea area of NYC and visited many contemporary art galleries.  It was very inspiring to see what artists are currently displaying in NYC galleries.  

One of my goals for this trip was to get over my unreasonable fear of traveling on the New York City subway by myself.  Armed with a great smartphone ap and the willingness to ask questions, I navigated the uptown and downtown routes with no problem. 

On Friday morning a short train ride and walk through Central Park brought me to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I wanted to see the completely finished American Wing, see the Durer exhibit, and see the Ellsworth Kelly drawing exhibit.  The Met did not disappoint.  My goals were met and lots of serendipitous events occurred also.  For example, while traveling through medieval art, I got to hear live period music from the balcony over the great hall. 

Van Gogh's shoes

Me in front of "Cloud City" ,a sculpture installation on the roof.

Durer-- the master of    drawing-- 6 studies of a pillow.

 I got to the Museum of Modern Art around 4 and was able to get a ticket to get in for free thanks to Free Fridays from Target.  The galleries were packed and my old favorite, Starry Night was swarmed with so many people that it was impossible to see it.  I still enjoyed MoMA and this was the perfect art ending to a perfect day.

 I had a small refrigerator in my room, so I was able to shop the local markets for fruit and yogurt.  I found a market on 8th and 26th street that was easy to get to and had what I needed. 







Here is a street vendor selling fruit also.

On Saturday, I decided to go to the Whitney rather than try to go to the Flea Market in Brooklyn.  Somehow getting off the subway, I went the wrong way, but even that was pleasant. 


The Whitney does not allow photography in its galleries.  The photo above shows part of the area beside the cafe.  The piece that will stay with me for years to come was the installation by Yayoi Kusama, "Fireflies on the Water".  This piece explores the idea of infinity.  You get one minute in a room that is covered with mirrors and has tiny colored lights suspended at different heights.  You stand on a small wooden platform above a pool of water.  Being in this space was like being part of a Hubble Space Telescope photograph.  I cried and prayed.     A....R.....T