Big Changes Coming Up for Windy Hill Studio PART THREE

"Purple Iris"

NEW STUDIO PART THREE

If you have read my last two posts you know I'm in the process of moving to Lewes, Delaware. And that means Windy Hill Studio moves too. My new studio space is described in the two previous posts.

One of the best things about the new space is the large "countertop" made from a 7 foot long by 30 inch wide door coated with 4 layers of polyurethane. My new countertop and the lighting above it (not pictured here) provides me with a nice, clean, well-lit place to paint silk scarves.

A Productive Month

During the time I was in Delaware I completed 6 scarves:  2 Irises , 2 Poppies and 2 Water Lilies. Each scarf has slightly different colors.

"Iris" under construction

"Pink Iris"

"Poppies!" with green background under construction

"Poppies!" with yellow background

Yellow "Water Lily"

Pink "Water Lily" under construction

This photo shows the countertop and the storage space for paintings, mat board etc underneath

Future Plans

I have plans to add another countertop/storage space on the other side of the studio--maybe on my next trip down to Delaware. Meanwhile I need to keep on packing. 

Here are the links to the previous posts about me new studio -- just in case you need to catch up!

http://joanapplebaumart.blogspot.com/2018/02/big-changes-coming-up-for-windy-hill.html

http://joanapplebaumart.blogspot.com/2018/02/big-changes-coming-up-for-windy-hill_8.html

Big Changes Coming Up For Windy Hill Studio! PART TWO

PART TWO

Assuming you've read the last post which was Part One, you know that I'm in the process of moving Windy Hill Studio to my new home in Lewes, Delaware. Rich and I spent the month of January there working on various projects including my new studio space.

The new studio worked out well for me and January was a very productive month. I completed five watercolors. The Jefferson Memorial pictured above was a birthday gift for my daughter, to hang in her office in DC.

The other paintings were done in preparation for another season along the St. Lawrence River and Indian River Lakes. 

St. Lawrence River

The next two paintings were both started as poured watercolors. I filled small paper cups with water-y mixtures of color (3 colors in the first, 4 colors in the second) and just poured the paint over the wet surface of the watercolor paper, letting the colors mix naturally. I had lightly sketched the focal points of each painting before I poured. After the poured layer dried, I just used darker values of the existing colors to complete the details. No attempt was made at realistic color; I was more concerned with setting a mood than in creating a realistic rendering. Colors are soft and dreamy evoking a misty early morning feel to the paintings.

Indian River Lakes

The heron is a popular subject for me. I love the way they always seem to be hiding in plain sight all along the shoreline of the lake, blending in so naturally with their surroundings. Both of these pieces began with an experimental textured background. I painted over crinkled tissue paper on wet watercolor paper letting color seep through the paper and pool around the crinkles. The heron were added later, after I had let the pieces sit for a few days. Sometimes with this technique you have to wait for an image to start to emerge. Once you can see a possibility then you paint it in--or sometimes paint around it letting the shape emerge from the shadows.

In the second painting I added iridescent white paint to accentuate the moon and play up a few highlights on the heron.

Is there a Part Three? 

Yes of course--I completed 6 hand-painted silk scarves too. 😉

http://joanapplebaumart.blogspot.com/2018/02/big-changes-coming-up-for-windy-hill.html

Big Changes Coming Up for Windy Hill Studio! PART ONE

NEW STUDIO!

PART ONE

New House, New Studio

During the month of January my husband and I stayed at our new home in Lewes Delaware. I guess you could say that it was kind of like a trial run for when we actually move down there for good. We spent about half of our days working: Rich working remotely, connected to his engineering firm in Syracuse and me on artwork as I gear up for the summer tourist season along the St. Lawrence River.

Yes, although we are moving our primary residence to Delaware, we still plan to keep our camp in Northern New York., and spend summers there. And I am still planning on teaching at the Thousand Islands Arts Center and Sackets Harbor Arts Center, usually during July and August.

In our new (actually 16 year old) home my studio is located in what real estate agents would call the bonus room. I'm really lucky to have plenty of natural light streaming through large windows at one end of the studio. At the moment I have set up a temporary workspace for watercolor. At the other end of the studio Rich built a long worktable with storage space underneath. The space is perfect for working on long hand-painted scarves, or cutting matts. Lighting was added to brighten up that end of the room. 

A Door!!!

And the one thing I have not had here in my studio in East Syracuse is a DOOR! The studio here is a loft-type of space open to the upstairs. It makes for a nice light airy space, but with no doors its impossible to keep curious cats away from delicate projects. Now I can actually close a door---hooray! 

My cats are actually more interested in the door at the end of the room. That leads to an attic, where I can also store some large items.

This is actually the door to a crawlspace but you get the idea---cats hate to be on the wrong side of the door!

So When is Moving Day?

Not sure. Our house here in East Syracuse is going on the market soon. Let's hope for a speedy sale.

Anyone looking for a great home to raise a family? With an art studio/home office/hobby room? 

Links to my other studio designing adventures! Yup---I've done this a few times!
http://joanapplebaumart.blogspot.com/2015/02/designing-your-art-studio-natural-light.html

http://joanapplebaumart.blogspot.com/2012/08/windy-hill-studio-make-over-part-1.html

http://joanapplebaumart.blogspot.com/2012/08/windy-hill-studio-make-over-part-2.html

Loveletters to Upstate New York

Come one, come all to the reception for Loveletters to Upstate New York!

February 11, 2:00- 4:00 at the Manlius Library.

The landscape of Upstate New York has been my muse for as long as I have been a painter. The woods, water, trees and flowers have been a never-ending source of inspiration.

Now as I am getting ready to relocate to Lewes Delaware, I hope to find another source of inspiration at the seashore. But I'll never leave my Upstate New York roots behind; I'll still be spending my summers at our camp in Northern New York (aka: The North Country).

Thank you Associated Artists for giving me a chance to do a "last picture show" here in Central New York. 

I hope to see many of you at the reception!