Poinsettias Gone Wild!

For the past two years I have painted a poinsettia for the holidays, so I guess I have just begun a series!!
Last year's painting (the 2010 version) was used as the cover for our family Christmas/Holiday card. The 2011 poinsettia painting will be used as the cover for someone else' holiday card. I'm not at liberty to say who....you will just have to wait and see. Meanwhile, here's a peek at Poinsettia! 2011.

Paintings on display through December 30

My paintings are on display at the May Memorial Art Gallery through December 30. Acrylic paintings, watercolors and pastels are all part of the show, which includes old and new pieces; primarily landscapes and a few watercolor and acrylic florals.
The gallery is located at 3800 East Genesee St. in Syracuse. It's always a good idea to call before going to the show; the gallery space gets used for several different functions during the week including Yoga and Toddler Tango! Here's the number 446-8920.
Pictured here is a seasonal floral: Poinsettia! 2010

And now for something completely different....Pottery!

Pictured here is the bowl I painted for Alexandria High School's Empty Bowls Fundraiser, held recently. The bowl was made by Ann Donovan of Dragonfly Pottery, just down the road from our camp. After the bowl was bisque fired I painted the designs using brightly colored underglazes. I didn't get to see the bowl after it was glaze fired, but I did hear that the bowl is now on it's way to Arizona with an air traffic controller and that the high school raised about $3000 for the "Backpack Club". The Backpack Club was organized to help combat hunger in the North Country.

To Honor the Veteran

When I painted this in 2008 I had two intentions: to honor the Veterans and to capture the excitement of a parade through color and the illusion of movement. I was thinking of my Dad, uncles and other WWII Vets; the Greatest Generation. They were really the only Vets I knew. Not too many of my generation felt the call to serve. Fast forward now to 2011 and I have two sons in the Military; one in the Marines and one in the Army.I could never have guessed back in 2008 that we would become a Military family.On Veterans Day we fly the Army, Marines and US Flags!(and by the way they are surrounded by the Halloween pumpkins and scarecrows still on the front porch).
The painting itself is based on a photograph of the Veterans Day Parade in Syracuse. Two ladder trucks (but only one is visible in the painting) from the Syracuse Fire Department hold up an enormous American Flag which hangs over Salina St. High school marching bands pass by, in the background the Gridley Building and the old Syracuse Savings Bank Building.

3 art shows coming up!

Busy weeks ahead. I have three art shows coming up; one is a solo show; the other two are group shows. The solo show is at May Memorial, and will run Nov. 20 - Dec. 30. The group shows are with the National League of American Pen Women at Petit Library, starting Dec. 10 and Associated Artists "Off the Wall" show, starting Nov. 20. More information coming as we get closer to show time. For now...just keep painting, just keep painting. Also, still have Christmas and Hannukkah cards and "Art-to-Wear" scarves and bags at Hartsville Hollow.

Jump into the Water...color

Last chance to register for Watercolor classes at Y Arts Studio. Classes start next week. Advanced/Intermediate on Tuesday night 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm and Intro to Watercolors on Wednesdays 9:30 am - 11:30 am. Classes are open to YMCA members and non-members; all supplies are include in fee. Watercolor classes begin next week, Nov. 8 and 9.
For more information go to www.ymcaofgreatersyracuse.org