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!

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!