Thursday, December 24, 2015

10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland, Day 10

"Winter Twilight"

Day 10 of Walking in the Winter Wonderland is finally here!

And we have yet to see even a tiny snowflake here in Central New York. But we know it's coming soon. So for now we'll sit outside on the deck and if we listen very closely we might hear the angels sing.

This painting was done a few years ago. The scene is from camp, looking over the lake from Dave and Cindy's place. We were returning from a winter hike. We had a heavy snow cover, the sun was setting and everything was so still. I immediately thought of the words to "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear". This image was our family holiday card a few years ago.

A happy, peaceful, blessed Christmas Eve to all!

Joan


Wednesday, December 23, 2015

10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland, Day 9

"Winter Sky"


It's Day 9 in my series of Walking in the Winter Wonderland: snowscapes and winter related paintings, for those people who can't get into the Christmas spirit unless the ground is covered in snow.

As we near the end of our 10 days there is nary a drop of snow in the area. In fact it looks more like November here. So instead of looking for snow let's look at a winter sky today.

"Winter Sky" is actually a banner painted on silk. I started with a random tie dye in two shades of blue, a purple and a pink-y magenta. After I completed the tie dye and it was dry I added the dried (dead) vegetation in purple and blue using a more solid layer of color over the the background tie dye. 

But before I panted the vegetation I had to do some prep work.

I had sketched the vegetation on a really large piece of paper, covering each pencil line with a black Sharpie pen. The I laid the sketch on the floor and placed the silk over it. Since the silk is transparent I was able to see my Sharpie darkened lines underneath. I then traced over those lines with Gutta masking fluid. When the Gutta dried I painted in the vegetation and the Gutta kept the silk dye from bleeding into the tie-dyed background.

When I had finished with the piece I sewed a rod pocket at the top for hanging the piece. I have recently added some sculptural elements to this piece: leaves made with sculpted polymer clay hanging from decorative yarns at either end of the banner giving it a more finished look. 

Painting on silk is very much like painting with watercolor. You can work wet-on-wet, letting your colors run, creating glorious combinations (if you know your color wheel). You can also work in a more controlled manner when you need to. I've only recently begun to really explore this medium but I do plan on painting more of these banners and combining sculptural elements for added texture.

Tomorrow is Day 10! But there might be a bonus day for Christmas! Stayed tuned.


Tuesday, December 22, 2015

10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland, Day 8

"Leave Only Footprints"

It's Day 8 of 10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland and we still don't have any snow here in Central New York!

The inspiration for today's painting comes from the trail around the lakes in Green Lakes State Park. As you can see I wasn't the first hiker on the trail that day; there is a well worn path through the snow. 

Once again I have chosen to paint the time of winter day that I find most interesting, late afternoon as the shadows deepen.

"Leave Only Footprints" was painted for the "Snowy Splendor 2014", Onondaga Historical Association's tribute to winter in Onondaga County. The painting was reproduced in the Syracuse Post Standard Stars Magazine and received a favorable review from Art Critic Katherine Rushworth.

"Along the Towpath", the watercolor pictured below was also in Snowy Splendor that year. I don't know about you but my cross country skis are feeling really neglected this winter!  



And tomorrow we'll look at the Winter Sky. See you then!



Monday, December 21, 2015

10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland, Day 7

"Grass Lake DPW"

It's Day 7 of 10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland. 

Yesterday we were in the woods and we still haven't gotten out of the woods yet! Grass Lake DPW was inspired by an old jeep sitting in the woods at camp. The jeep was just up the hill on an neighbor's property. Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, it never seemed to move and then one day to was gone. But not before I had a chance to paint it!

I really liked the way the jeep looked half buried in the snow. During the rest of the year it looked broken down and scary, and I'm pretty sure I saw a jeep just like it in one of those "Jason slasher" movies, but in the winter it just looked like it was taking a nap. The snow hides a host of evils!

Like many of my winter paintings I am trying to find the color in the snow. It's late in the day in this picture, the woods are turning shades of purple and blue and the snow in the foreground is mainly in shadow.

Although I had this painting in a few exhibits I never thought it would appeal to many people -unless they happened to have an old jeep in their woods! 

Of all of my paintings this was my brother's favorite. During the last year of his life he was nearly house-bound and spent much of his time on the computer. He frequently shared images from my website with his healthcare workers and with friends who stopped to visit. Two friends in particular who are husband and wife were a huge help to him and as luck would have it they actually have an old jeep in their woods. And they loved the painting. So two years ago today I surprised them with the painting. I think "Grass Lake DPW" has found a good home.

Tomorrow we head to Green Lakes. See you then!


Sunday, December 20, 2015

10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland, Day 6

"Winter Morning"

It's Day 6 of 10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland!

The 10 Days of snowscapes and other winter-related themes are dedicated to the folks who can't get into the Christmas spirit without a covering of snow on the ground.

Today we are in the woods, specifically in my backyard at camp. I woke up one morning to find the sunlight streaming through the trees and all sorts of gorgeous colors sparkling on the new fallen snow. I took a few reference photos and did a few sketches and a few days later began the painting.

I love finding the color in the winter; the long purple and blue shadows on the snow and bits of yellows and pinks sparkling in the sunlight. Unfortunately here in Central New York we seldom see the bright side of winter. We hardly ever get to ski with the sun on our backs. Instead we have low hanging gray clouds or no clouds at all just a dull sky and dead white snow. If we do see the sun, it is usually accompanied by frigid temperatures. And yes, this painting was inspired by one of those cold frigid North Country days.

This is one of my favorite winter paintings and it recently sold which makes me happy that someone else likes it enough to buy it.

A couple of years ago I posted a lesson to my painting students at the Y Arts Studio who had seen me begin this painting but did not get to see the finished piece as I was putting it in the Art of Winter Show at the Thousand Islands Arts Center. You can read more about the technical aspects of the piece at the  link below.

Related Link:
http://joanapplebaumart.blogspot.com/2013/01/for-my-painting-studentsfinishing.html

Saturday, December 19, 2015

10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland, Day 5

"Golden Moment"


It's Day 5 of Walking in the Winter Wonderland: 10 Days of snowscapes and winter related paintings.


Today we are hitting the slopes with Lindsey Vonn, who is in the news again after finishing second in a World Cup super-combined race in Val D'Isere, France.


This is a pastel painting  based on a photo of Lindsey after her Olympic triumph in 2010. I was preparing to teach a pastel class at the Y Arts Studio, and hadn't worked in pastel in a while, so this was my refresher piece. 

You can read more about it by clicking on the related post.


Related Posts:

Tomorrow we head for the woods. See you there!

Friday, December 18, 2015

10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland, Day 4

"Twosome"

It's Day 4 of 10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland!

So for those of you who can't get into the Christmas spirit without a covering of snow on the ground I am presenting 10 days of snowscapes. And as promised here are the Cardinals. 

I'll bet you were expecting this painting:


I have painted a few Cardinal paintings. I love the contrast of their bright red plumage against the heavy winter sky. Even the female with her brown coloring still has quite a bit of orange and red popping through, making these birds easy to spot as they perch in the trees. Last year I painted the grouping of Cardinals for the Art of Winter Show at the Thousand Islands Arts Center. The painting won a Staff Pick Award and sold before the end of the show.

"Twosome" was painted for Associated Artists Holiday Show "Off the Wall", which gives customers the opportunity to purchase a painting and take it home that day instead of waiting till the end of the show. "Twosome" sold during the first week of the show so I guess I am not the only person who like cardinals.

Both paintings were done in watercolor, using crinkled plastic wrap on the wet surface to create a texture. When the plastic wrap is removed it leaves behind a random textured pattern of lines and creases which can be used as is, or enhanced with more pigment to create a sense of depth. The sky in  "Twosome" has touches of yellow to add warmth and the feeling of a bit of sunlight peeking through the clouds. The sky in "Cardinals" is definitely a winter sky; much colder although there is a very small bit of yellow and alizarin crimson to warm it up here and there for contrast.

You can read more about this technique by clicking on the link to a related post below.

Related Posts:

http://joanapplebaumart.blogspot.com/2014/12/for-birds-adding-life-to-subtle.html

Tomorrow: We're going skiing! (in our painting) I'll meet you at the chair lift!





Thursday, December 17, 2015

Joan Applebaum Art: 10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland, Day 3

"On the Eagle Marsh Trail"

It's Day 3 of Walking in the Winter Wonderland!

So for all of you who can't get into the Christmas spirit unless the ground is covered in snow, Windy Hill Studio takes you "On the Eagle Marsh Trail". 

A few years ago my husband and I took a winter hike with the Indian River Lakes Conservancy in the area near Butterfield Lake and Lake of the Woods. It was a mild day with just enough snow to make the scenery interesting. Since the snow covering was sparse we were able to view moss and other hearty vegetation along the way. (The following year we hiked with the Conservancy in freezing cold weather and continuous snowfall which was a much different experience!)

The trail went through the woods, around some interesting rock formations and eventually led us to a spot where if you looked very closely you could spot an eagle's nest. 

After hiking back to the beginning of the trail we were treated to hot chocolate and s'mores as we gathered around the campfire.

Painting the Eagle Marsh Trail

One of the things I liked best about working on this painting is the opportunity to add other colors to the winter landscape. The warm colors of the green moss and red-brown dirt provide a nice contrast to the cool winter colors in the snow and in the background. The colors of the trees in the foreground were made by using all of the other colors in the painting in various amounts; sometimes mixing, sometimes using straight from the tube, creating a series of lively neutrals instead of pure brown or gray. 

The trees and sky in the background are painted in cool blues and purples which recede and create a sense of distance. 

What's in store for Day 4?  It's time for a touch of brilliant color so tomorrow I'll feature the Cardinals! 

I have 3 different cardinal paintings, so I'll keep you guessing as to which one will be spotlighted as we continue Walking in the Winter Wonderland.


Related Posts:




Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Joan Applebaum Art: 10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland, Day 2

"Wintering"

It's Day Two of 10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland! And still no snow in sight around here.

Today's painting "Wintering"comes from camp, and it's the second time I have used it in a blog post. 

While on a winter hike around the lake we came upon this camp nestled in the trees. The sunlight pouring through the trees and casting long purple and blue shadows convinced me that the scene needed to be painted. And I loved the pattern of snow on the dock and the big blue barrels holding it up! I took a few photo references and began the painting a few days later. 

While working on the painting I was fairly faithful to the color of the camp--mint green, but later changed the color to a red brown. The mint green was throwing off the color harmony and the composition by drawing your eyes directly to the camp instead of the foreground which I felt was much more interesting. I did leave a bit of the mint green color which glows through the red/brown here and there if you look closely at the painting.

Tomorrow we head to the Eagle Marsh Trail. See you then!


If you missed Day 1 you can click on the link below





Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Joan Applebaum Art Presents: 10 Days of Walking in the Winter Wonderland

"Winter"

Where's the Snow?

We're having a warm December here in Upstate New York, so for those of you who just can't get into the Christmas spirit unless the ground is covered with snow, I am presenting 10 days of winter landscapes. Or should I say Snowscapes?

Our first painting is titled "Winter". Yep. Real original. But the painting itself is an experimental watercolor.

I used salt create the starburst effect and cool colors to give a brittle winter-y look to the painting. The white-ness of the branches was enhanced with opaque white paint.

This painting reminds me of walking along the camp road on winter days so cold that the snow squeaks under foot. You can almost hear the branches creaking as they sway in the icy wind.

Come on back tomorrow for another Snowscape!





Thursday, December 3, 2015

Tis The Season for Everything Happening at Once!


It's December and Tis the Season for everything happening at once. 

I have back to back events this weekend starting with the Holiday Gift Fair at Nature-Tyme in Syracuse on Friday from noon to 7:00 pm, where I'll have an assortment of prints, cards, Woodlands and Waterways calendars, art-to-wear and Cardinal mugs. The mugs come with a surprise inside---ok it's chocolate and I just might eat it all to keep my energy up enough for my next event!

Which Is:

My show at Auburn Unitarian /Universalist Society!
I'll be hanging the show on Saturday; opening reception on Sunday after the service from 12:00 - 1:00 
Auburn UU is located at 607 Seward Ave. in Auburn NY.

And here is the artist statement and a preview of the show:







TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

If you are a painter, painting the seasons just seems like a natural thing to do in Upstate New York. Living here we are greeted with an ever-changing palette of colors as the seasons shift.

The year begins with wispy whites shimmering in the pale winter sun. Spring brings us delicate green tendrils curling up from the ground. At last!

Summer is glorious and filled with color. Flowers, fruits, blue skies and sunny days! Ah, we wish that it could last forever! Fall is glorious too as trees show off their “Sunday best”, their color rivaled only by the brilliant orange pumpkins.

And then the sky grows heavy and leaden, and the bare silhouettes of trees settle in for their long winter nap.


And the cycle begins again.


I hope to see you at once of these events this weekend!


Joan



Sunday, November 29, 2015

Not all Birds Head South for the Winter!



Not all birds head south for the winter

In fact this bird will be traveling east to his new home in Hull Mass. This is a commissioned piece, recently completed, approximately 24" x  30" with a wrap-around canvas. The painting is based on a stunning photo in which the play of light and dark in the shallow water create as much interest as the heron itself. In fact the background was just a little too interesting to transfer successfully from photo to painting.


Taming the background

When I began working on this painting I knew the biggest challenge would be in making the heron stand out from the water. In the photo the heron is nearly the same colors as the water, providing very little contrast, which is fine for the heron who is trying to blend into his surroundings. But we want something different in a painting. A painting needs contrast: opportunities for brilliant colors to glow against subtle colors, and light colors to shine against dark tones.

After sketching the heron and some of the major patterns in the water, I under-painted in complementary colors to give the painting more "life". Underpainting in complementary colors lends a fuller, richer look to the finished painting, especially when some of the under-painting is allowed to show through create a nice dynamic tension to the surface.

I painted the water first, then painted the heron adjusting colors and values to contrast with the water. The color of the heron in the painting is "amped up" and definitely darker in value compared to the heron in the photo. The lines around the feathers are more prominent than they are in the photo and are painted with high contrast to add definition and texture. I increased the orange-y rust color around the neck for contrast. The warm orange/rust comes forward and the cool blues recede. 

Glazing

When the painting was nearly finished I mixed a combination of glaze with soft blues and purples (very little color, mostly glaze) and painted it over the water to further subdue the background. It worked!

As I was working on this painting I kept finding so many "lessons" within the piece from start to finish and it made me wish I was still teaching. We'll see how long my teaching hiatus lasts!

Title?

I haven't thought of a title yet. any suggestions?


Related posts

If you are looking for more information on working with underpainting in complementary colors, check out this related post from a couple of years ago.






Thursday, October 29, 2015

Painting is for the Birds!

"Twosome"

Christmas "Card"


Last week I found myself returning to a familiar theme. Cardinals in a winter landscape. I have painted a grouping of cardinals sitting on a branch last year.  I love the contrast of their brilliant plumage against the somber winter sky.


Both paintings are watercolors in which I used crumpled cellophane layered over wet paint to create an abstract background. In this case I wanted the look of snowy branches crisscrossing against the sky. The paint was allowed to pool around the folds and creases, so that when the cellophane was removed there was a network of lines and shapes to work from.

Using those lines and shapes I added depth to the paintings by darkening some areas and keeping other areas untouched. The contrast of the dark and light and push/pull of warm and cool colors created the illusion of depth. The brilliantly colored cardinals stand out nicely against the cool winter sky.

And Now What????

Twosome is already matted and framed and in a couple off weeks (unless it sells) headed to the Associated Artist show "Off the Wall" at the Manlius Library. 

Gift Fair at Natur-Tyme

Twosome and Christmas "Card" will both be available as greeting cards and prints at the Holiday Gift Fair at Nature-Tyme Dec. 4, noon - 7:00 pm.   Address: 3160 Erie Blvd. East, Dewitt


Maybe I will see you there!



Sunday, October 11, 2015

Three Big Events Coming Up for Windy Hill Studio


Woodlands and Waterways 2016 Calendar

3 Big Events Coming Up!

Gift Fair at Natur-Tyme

Good news!
I will be part of the Annual Gift Fair at Natur-Tyme in Syracuse on Dec. 4, noon till 7:00 pm.

No large paintings in this event; I will have my assortment of greeting cards, prints, art-to-wear and the 2016 Woodlands and Waterways Calendar (which has been selling really well in Thousands Islands and Sackets Harbor!)
Put it on your calendar, it's going to be a fun event.
Hope to see you there! 
Cardinals! - available as a matted print 11x 14 or greeting cards

And here's a little info about Natur-Tyme
http://www.natur-tyme.com/about-us.html

National League of American Pen Women

The other big event is the Pen Women Exhibit at the Fayetteville Library, which will run through the month of November. Our CNY Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is celebrating its 90th anniversary. This exhibit of art and poetry/prose will be the kickoff event to our year-long celebration. Our National President Candace Long will be in town for two days and she will be speaking at our opening reception on November 18.

On display at the reception will also be a few artifacts from our CNY Branch. The handwritten minutes from our first meeting in 1926, as well as photographs and articles from the Syracuse newspapers of many prominent Pen Women will be part of the historic items on display.

To read more about the Nation League of American Pen Women go to the link below.
http://www.nlapw.org

The Healing Muse

And last but not least, on Wednesday I will be attending the launch party at Upstate Medical for Volume 15 of The Healing Muse. And guess what it will be my 15 launch party too! It's been an honor and privilege to have my work included in the Muse every year since 2001.Kudos to the staff at SUNY Upstate Medical Center for Bioethics and Humanities on another volume of this excellent literary and visual journal.

http://www.upstate.edu/bioethics/thehealingmuse/

"Leave Only Footprints" included in The Healing Muse volume 15






Wednesday, September 30, 2015

What's Next at Windy Hill Studio?


"Time Found"



What's Next at Windy Hill Studio?

The calendar says Fall and so does the weather, but this Fall is little different for me. I have always viewed fall as a time of new beginnings. I guess it is that I am a perennial student or teacher, so for me the new beginnings tend to start in September.

But for the first time in several years I will not be returning to teach at the Y Arts Studio. It was tough decision but it was time for a change. I've gotta say though, I miss my students already.

So what's next? Well for starters there were 3 commissions to complete this fall. Two have already been finished and delivered to happy customers. I'll be starting sketches for the third one next week.

Teaching???

And I'll still be teaching but probably not till 2016: time and dates to be announced. I am set on the locations: Sackets Harbor Arts Center and The Thousand Islands Arts Center. There is also a possibility that I will be teaching a class or workshop at the Arts Center in Hamilton.

Bay House Artisans

Meanwhile, we are still going strong at Bay House Artisans in Alexandria Bay. The Fall weather brings out plenty of tourists by bus, boat or cruise ship, so we still have a lot of activity in town. I will be dropping off a supply of holiday themed merchandise later this week.

The Lyric Coffeehouse and Bistro

The Lyric, in Clayton is carrying my Woodlands and Waterways 2016 Calendar, as well as a few small framed prints. The Lyric is a great place to have lunch, dinner or just coffee. If you stop in during the Fall try their pumpkin spiced latte!


Shows

The summer was a wonderful time for me for art events. The Artists Studio Tour in 1000 Islands was very successful and my show at the Sackets Harbor Arts Center received lots of attention. Sales were good too.

During the Fall I will be participating in a few group shows: Snowy Splendor at the Onondaga Historical Association, Associated Artists Fall Show at the Manlius Library and The North Country Arts Council Show in Watertown. 

I have just one solo show scheduled for early winter. It's at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Church in December. Since the artwork is hung in the sanctuary I'll most likely have several soft soothing winter scenes to carry the congregation past the holiday mayhem and into the bleak midwinter.




And last but not least..........

I've got to finish my homework from the art marketing class I took last Spring! 
Although I was able to implement many of the ideas from the class, I didn't have a chance to try everything. So now you know what's on my schedule!







Saturday, September 12, 2015

Many Thank You's

"Invitation"


Many, many, many thank you's to all who came to my Woodlands and Waterways show at the Sackets Harbor Arts Center. And even more thank you's to those who bought my artwork!

I was pleased and honored to be the featured artist for the month of August. The show actually ran 5 weeks due to Labor Day being a little later than usual, so I got even more exposure! I have been a member of the Arts Association of Northern New York in Sackets Harbor for about 3 years, but this was my first time as a featured artist in their lovely gallery.

Opening Reception







The opening reception way back on August 1, was attended by an assortment of friends from home, and Grass Lake, fellow artists, cousins and a steady stream of folks who were just touring around Sackets Harbor.

The fact that it was War of 1812 Re-enactment Weekend made the town even livelier than usual!




End of Show Reflections

The show came down this week and as I was putting away the paintings I couldn't help but reflect on my two biggest summer art endeavors: The Thousand Islands Studio Tour on Memorial Day Weekend and my Woodlands and Waterways show at the Sackets Harbor Gallery. Both took a huge chunk of time and effort but like most things that you really put your heart and energy into, they paid off in so many ways. I am so grateful to have had those opportunities.


"Daybreak"

Woodlands and Waterways, What's Next

Although the Sackets Harbor show was the first time I have used Woodlands and Waterways as a show title, I have been using the phrase for quite a while to describe the subject matter in my work.

Woodlands and Waterways is an ongoing series that I have been working on for nearly as long as I have been painting. I have always been drawn to land, water and sky. I've created images in watercolor, acrylic, pastel, torn paper and silk dyes all inspired by the shape of the land, dramatic skies or reflections on the water.

The group of paintings at Sackets were less specific in location than other parts of my series. Nesting birds, canoes resting by the water and Adirondack chairs are images we find in many of those places we go to escape from the hustle-bustle of everyday life. I thought this group was well suited to the laid-back location.

My next group of images for this series will be done with fabric dyes on silk.

I'm thinking --Water Lilies!













Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Tomorrow night The Boys of Summer: Art Meets Baseball opens at The Tech Garden in Syracuse.
And once again I find myself unable to attend an art reception due to another art commitment. But such is the life of a working artist. No offer to teach, or demonstrate my art form goes ignored if I can help it. Especially when much of my subject matter and sales revolve around summer along the woodlands and waterways of  Northern New York. The summer and tourist season here is roughly 10 weeks and I cram everything I can into that short time.

And when the season is over I'm back to teaching, marketing and preparing for the next summer.

So what does that have to do with "The Painter's Glove"? Well baseball is a big part of summer. But that's not why I chose this subject matter. Two reasons determined this choice: the baseball show (mentioned above) and I needed something different from my usual subject matter to use with my painting students at the Y Arts Studio. I was scheduled to teach an acrylic painting class in Spring 2015. I wanted to paint something from life, something I could set up in the studio at the Y and even drag back and forth to my home studio if I needed to. So the glove was just lying around in the garage and I thought why not give it a moment of glory!

Finding the Color

As a landscape painter I naturally gravitate toward specific subject matter: land, sky, water. But as a teacher I must approach many different types of subject matter and styles of painting and try to merge them with my own particular style.

For me, color, pure joyful color, is paramount. When working with students I try to encourage them to use color in an expressive mode, rather than being bound to reproducing an exact replica of the color of the object in front of them. Light, shadow, form and shape are defined by color values (lights, darks, neutrals) rather than mixing various shades of the local color.

So, with the baseball glove being primarily brown, brown and brown (hmmm sounds like a law firm) the joy in painting is in finding the values within the browns and painting them with colors which have the same value, not necessarily the same color.

Start With An Underpainting


When I work with acrylic paint I always start with an underpainting using complementary colors. Complements are colors which are opposite each other on the color wheel. Complements add a nice sense of depth when used underneath a color. They also lend a bit of dramatic surface tension when bits of the complement are visible under the local color.

It can be tricky trying to determine the complement for brown. I usually think of brown as being a darker version of orange and so go to blue as its opposite.

For the baseball glove underpainting I mixed 3 or 4 shades of blue in values ranging from dark to light. As the paint mixed on the canvas, more colors were created. The glove was painted roughly, with very little detail in the values of blue which corresponded to the light, medium and dark areas of the glove.

I also used a palette knife to add some thick rough textures in the paint to play up the beaten up quality of the glove.

When the local color was added by using various shades of orange, yellow, brown, purple and blue, I let the rough texture pick up bits of the colors as they hit the high spots within the roughness. I also used large brushes to keep me from getting too detailed.

When I was satisfied with the overall look of the glove I added the details of the laces with smaller brushes.


Finding a Title

How did I come up with the title? The glove had been my husband's when he was a kid. Each one of our three kids used the glove for short periods of time until they graduated to a new, better glove.

Since I have a small hand the glove fits me very well. For many years I used the glove when I would throw (badly) the baseball to my kids as they were learning to play America's Greatest Pastime. Evidently it didn't make much of an impression because they moved on to soccer, lacrosse and Irish Dance. The glove still sits in the garage and comes out to play ball (badly) once in a while.

 

And it's root, root, root for the Home Team

And...back to the baseball show-
I hope this show hits a home run and the opening reception is a success. I wish I could be there along with my painting.

But I'll be demonstrating watercolor in Alexandria Bay (not a bad gig).
Subject matter: Boldt Castle-of course!

 

 

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Lessons Learned at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park





What's Art Camp?

Every year that I teach YMCA Art Camp at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park I start with the same intention. To fill the half-day camp with art projects, games and a daily hike along the art trails, followed by snack and more art! We walk into the woods, over to the ponds, to the Secret Garden and to the place where it all started, the home of Bob and Dorothy Reister.

Each year I tell the kids the story of Bob and Dorothy and I can't believe how enchanted they are by it. They start taking notice of which sculptures are Dorothy's and ask if Bob was an artist too. And I answer, no he was not an artist but I think he built the house, and the A-frame studio and the barn (which we call the Art Barn).

The Art Barn



Then they start to notice the other names on the sculptures around the Art Park: Rodger Mack, David Harper. And the amazing thing is that they remember them! And tell their parents!

Many times at the Camp Art Show, parents comment on how they had been coming to the park for years with their kids, but didn't know much about the place.  But now after attending art camp the kids seem to feel a sense of ownership. They are the ones giving the tours to their parents and telling them the story of the Art Park. And where to find "Stacks", how to get to the Secret Garden, and the Spaceship in the woods, and which pond has the biggest frogs.

Owls and Snakes


Somehow without really planning it, a sense of stewardship comes into place. The Art Campers care about the art installed in the park and also about the park's natural resources. They become conservationists, explaining the composting toilets to their families and telling their siblings why they shouldn't pick the flowers, or leave the water running in the sink. One day several of the kids tried to work out a plan to send some of our excess rain to California. (By train, in milk tank cars.) I really hope someone can put that plan into action.

More Owls!

So every year, we start with art, but end with so much more. And every year the teacher learns just as much as the students.
Thanks Art Campers!

The Fenner Wind Farm

Watercolor Class at the Thousand Islands Arts Center August 10 and 12



Watercolor: the Basics

The best way to learn the beautiful luminous technique of transparent watercolor is to begin with the basics.

In my upcoming class at the Thousand Islands Arts Center in Clayton, you will learn the properties of watercolor, color mixing, wet-on-wet technique, dry brush and creating texture.

After experimenting with each of these techniques you will have the opportunity to create 2 - 3 simple watercolors. All supplies are included in the class fee: $72 for TIAC members and $80 for non-members. The class will be held on August 10 and 12 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.

We still have a few openings left in class, so why not join us? Call the Thousand Islands Arts Center 315 686-4123 to register.


Polymer Clay Jewelry Class at the Thousand Islands Arts Center, August 12



Why Not Try Something New???


I will be teaching at Polymer Clay jewelry class at the Thousand Islands Arts Center in Clayton on Thursday August 12, 2:00 - 4:00. 

Polymer Clay is easy, colorful and the possibilities are endless. Pendants, earrings, pins and more can be created in just a few minutes, baked in the Polymer Clay oven and be ready to wear when you leave. Or maybe later for a casual dockside dinner ;)

All supplies are included in the fee: $36 for TIAC members and $40 for non-members. You can call the TI Arts Center to register. 315 686-4123.


I hope to see you there!







Sunday, July 26, 2015

Joan Applebaum's Woodlands and Waterways at the Sackets Harbor Arts Center




Coming into the Home Stretch

Not much time for blogging now as I finish last minute details for Woodlands and Waterways and also prepare for a week of teaching art camp for the YMCA.

I'm really excited to be showing in the Sackets Harbor Arts Center.  I've been in a few shows there, but never as featured artist. The space is gorgeous: lots of white walls, an easy hanging system and good lighting.

And the building is a historic structure situated in a quaint historic town, with a cool ice cream stand, views of the harbor, and lots of good eateries and fun shopping. Who wouldn't want to be in Sackets!!!!

And to top it off there will be a War of 1812 Battle Re-enactment down in the park (walking distance from the gallery).

So it looks like there is something for everyone in Sackets Harbor next weekend and I do hope to see you at my artist reception 1:00 - 4:00. There will be food and WINE! N/A drinks too.

And you can check out my Pinterest page (Joan Applebaum) for some previews of paintings that just might be in the show, and I have a few of the local restaurants listed as well.




So c'mon out to the show!