Is it Winter or Summer?  It depends on which side of the clouds the Sun woke up on...

But it's February now, and very soon it will be our Florida version of Spring.  This season starts well into what everyone else on the planet calls Winter.  Confusing, but so nice to live in.

I've been painting with Plein Aire Flagler, and now this group has morphed into a varied group from as far away as Georgia, Hello Mary O!, to the wonderful group of painters in Palm Coast.  Radon Eddy has started her Tuesday get together, On the Road Painters, with some interesting sites. Last Sunday was not Sunny as promised, but it was still a great day to paint.  The Shrimp fleet of St. Augustine was the subject.  I even met a fisherman who worked in colored pencils in his spare time.  I can't say my attempt to paint a shrimp boat was a success but maybe with a few corrections it won't embarrass a sailor. 

I've nothing to show at the moment, a lot of not quite finished canvases, and much work painted over for a new beginning.  I've not really painted in the outdoors much.  I've only had one or two successes.  But I have painted a lot from my outdoor attempts and from numerous photos of places I've come to know by visiting often.  So I will keep working plein aire until I've succeed with a good painting I can show. So please forgive my long silence.  I promise I will show some completed work within a month or so.

But just to keep you interested, here's a drawing I put in last month's Black & White show at the StA Art Association.

Spring is wonderful!

It's cool and delicious.  The evenings are magic, and the days need to be bottled for a tonic.  Even the cloudy days are short lived and usually end with a lovely afternoon.

It was fabulous to be out painting.  I attended the annual convention of the Oil Painters of America, here in StA.  The artists were enthralled with the beauty and variety of our town and area.  We even had a whole day at Washington Oaks Park, in Flagler County.  Then we came back for a reception at the Art Association with a show of their permanent collection.  After Friday's painting trip, all the finished work went to Gallery del Mar.  We went to the Brilliance in Color gallery for the 1st Friday opening and awards ceremony for the annual exhibit.  Those paintings are available to see until the end of May, while the plein aire works went home with the buyers or artists.  It was great to meet so many wonderful painters who were generous with their time and advise. 

And I'm back in the studio refreshed and alive with so many ideas and projects.  Here is the beginning of a painting of a magical little corner I found at the end of Oneida Street.  I've blocked in the warms and darks. This spot had such wonderful views.  I will be back for other pictures.

It's almost Christmas...

The show Artomatic Takes Flight at National Airport will be coming to a close in January.  I have sold the painting of the Canal to a very nice person who has been to the area depicted in the work.  They have felt the same curiosity at what is that glow around the bend.  I'm so glad the work is going to a home where it will always be a reminder of a magic place of peace and wonder.

A Show in New York City!

I have sent the Monotype print, Canal Spot, to the Studio 26 Gallery, 179 E. 3rd St, NYC, 212-300-4725.  This will be a 2 month show.  The image of the work is below.  I showed it at the Art Association's Nature & Wildlife Show in August.  If you are interest in purchasing this work, pleases contact, Marina Reiter, at the Studio 26 Galley.

Have a peaceful, warm Holiday Season, and a happy and safe New Year.
Goodbye 2014!

Fall is just starting to show up in Northeast Florida.  

The nights are in the seventies and sometimes sixty degrees.  The sun is still strong and you can get a burn standing in one spot for too long.  No matter what they say the daytime temperature will be, it's still hot in the afternoon, thanks to the big yellow ball up there.  And for some weird reason it's warmer when it rains.

The St. Augustine Art Association will close for two months or more to finish up the construction work on the new tactile garden.  This just after the Tactile show closes.  For those not familiar with StA, the Florida Deaf and Blind School is a large part of this small city.  One of the projects of the 450th Anniversary of the founding of StA, is to have all historic and meaningful sites open to all.  So every statute, building or area of significance will have an updated plate with Braille as well as English text.  I'm not sure if other languages are include, but I'm sure of the English and Braille.

At the last show exhibition show of the StAAA, I included one of my larger monotypes.  It was of trees in Indiana.  There were so few trees, because every inch of land was used to plant the "industrial" corn they make a living from.  Those few and usually far apart trees are massive in height and width.  I found one spot where there was 6 to 8 trees in various shapes, sizes and health.  Some near, and massive, and some far, but still taking over the sky around it.  I call them statues.  Tall, silent, each with it's own personality and shape.  The print I showed was a tribute to their strength and longevity. 

Sorry, too much chatting and not enough art work!

This print is 6 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches.

Another Show...      

Nature and Wildlife Exhibition

This is the StA Art Association's annual open call show.  Opening Gala, Zen Garden Party, is Saturday, July 26, 5:00 to 8:00 PM.  

Not only were two Monotypes accepted, but, I won a prize, Honorable Mention & $50!  I do so like my art works to earn their reputation(!!).  And I will be able to attend this opening, so I hope some interested viewers will say Hello.  The show is open until August 31st.

Here are images of the two prints submitted.  Both are Monotypes, 5x7, framed, $500.

And, Yes, I have even more prints to show in the Sept. 2015 StA Art Assoc. show!

ARTOMATIC Takes Flight  

I was invited to submit work for this 5 month exhibit held at the Ronald Reagan National Airport, Terminal A.  
Or National Airport to those of us who remember the Reagan and Air Traffic Controllers dust up way back when.  A lot of people lost their jobs standing up for their rights.  But that's another story.

The painting I submitted was the C & O Canal, (Acrylic, 24x24, 2013, $1,200 (framed)) that I just showed in the St. Augustine Art Association's Honorers show during June.

Here is a picture of the work being hung.

And here is a image of the painting.  

This is from a series of drawings and photos of the C & O Canal in Washington.  Actually I think the area is Maryland at this point.  I was on a Canal Boat ride, and we just started back toward the docks.  How many of you take a trip backwards.  I was sitting at the back of the boat, with Wonderful, uninterrupted views of a canal all to myself.  I've always wondered what was beyond the tree cover.  

Here is the link to the show:  http://www.airport.artomatic.org/

The show Opens on Friday, July 25, 6:30 to 8:30 PM.  And every day that the Terminal A is open. However I will not be there for the opening.  I believe it closes January 2nd, 2015, or a few days later. 

As always, ARTOMATIC shows are unjuried, but these are some of the best artists in Washington, so just go as see the work!  I think there's a bar in the Terminal too!

    

Best of Show & $$!!

The first time I enter work in St Augustine's Art Association, Miniature Marks show, and I won Best of Show.  I submitted two Monotypes, 2013.  The new images of Horsebarn Hill, CT, and Indiana Byways, previously called Indiana Roads.  The funds for the BoS award were donated by Jean Wagner Troemel, and I'm Very Grateful!  I've spent many hours on Horse Barn Hill, and many drawing and paintings later, I have only begun to explore that imagery.

Miniature Marks is currently on display until May 31st, 2014.

And thanks to this Award, I will be submitting two works for the StAAA Honors Show, opening on Friday (First Friday) June 6th.  

I will post those works next week. 

Paradise Found

I've been living in St Augustine for just over a year now.  It's such a wonderful feeling to have found a beautiful and vibrant place to live and work.  This little bit of paradise has so much to offer.  I'm taking one day at a time, savoring each and every thing.  I have wonderful, interesting new, and some old, friends to spend time with, and share a meal at the dozens of delicious restaurants available to us.  I've been exploring the nooks and crannies of St John's County.  I will never run out of something to draw, paint or photograph. I've been having fun taking closeups of flowers, mostly roses, camellias, and the magnolias blooming on the tree in front of my home. 

As everyone I meet here says, we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place!

80 degrees and it's 2 days before Christmas!  Oh the bliss of getting outside without a half dozen layers of clothing!!!

I've had a drawing accepted for the Flor500.  Artwork of native Florida plants by artists living in Florida.  My little drawing is of the Sweet Pinxter Azalea.  

I have some native azaleas just outside my front door, here in Florida, which I've never seen in bloom.  The 2 native azaleas I had in Virgina were moved to a friends garden, but did not live after the first bloom.  At least I have photos of them.  

These are some of the Montype prints I made this spring. Except the triptych, which is Drypoint.

 All, but the triptych, are 5x7 inches.

This triptych was fun to create but awful to try to wipe and print.

I have to stop the details thing.

An image from the C & O Canal

 a

Sorry for the very bad shot, but I just wanted this and the others up on the Blog.  This image won Best in Show, at the St. Augustine Art Association's Miniature show in May 2014.

Some of these are similar to the images I showed, and sold, at Artomatic 2012. They come out different very time, which, of course, is why they are Monotypes. 

if you are interested in purchasing any of these prints, please contact me at my email, katart3485@gmail.com.  Each print is $500, framed or unframed.



I'm nearing the final push.  And I'm really pushing it.  Working on drypoints, want to do more aquatints, and painting big with acylics.  Every time I work with acylics, I am reminded of why I love oil!
January is ending, and my Bellehaven Marina monotype will soon be coming out of the current show at the Art League Gallery.  Next month is the Patron's Show, the Art Leagues fabulous fund, and fun, raiser.  If I have time, and $, I will try to put in a couple of prints.  I will definite have a piece in the Leagues' "Student Show" at the end of Feb. 
After a quick trip to StA, I will be posting everything I've finished. 

After a restful trip to my home in StA Florida, I am ready to face the Fall!

To begin with, a new show, Signals at DCAC, were I have been invited to show a new monotype.  It's a version of a smaller print I showed and sold at Artomatic.  This one has a very different mood.  Some of that is because I am working larger, 7x8, and also using oil based inks.  Bone black & Graphite.  With monotype, each creation has it's own vision.  Ink and the press give the works a new language.  JW Mahoney is the curator.    

Here is a photo of the print I will be showing:

 Indiana Haze 2, is framed at 16x20, $425.
Please contact the DCAC, 202-462-7833, if you are interested.

There are one or two other versions in this image which I will post tomorrow or Saturday.  Sorry, I'm not much of salesperson.  But I will start posting all my monotypes.  I've got to find that "widget" again!

More August News

In addition to being one of 49 prints selected, out of 500+, for the National Small Works show at this years Washington Printmakers Gallery, my print won an award!  The juror, Brian Garner, of the Litho Shop, awarded the new Tran Van-Dinh prise to Indiana Statues.

More News!  Another print, from the Artomatic show, Lake Bruce was accepted into the Art League Gallery's annual Scapes show.  

I like this little print (5x7).  I hope to make more work from the drawings and photo I took at this small cove on Lake Bruce in Indiana.

Working again!    

Back in the Studio for the first time in a while.  Starting with a new medium, gouache, and working with an old one, ink. 


I will be showing at the Art League Gallery and posting new work to this blog.  


August Alert!  Indiana Statues was selected for the Washington Printmakers Gallery's National Small Works show.  The show runs through August.  The Gallery is located in Silver Spring, MD, in the same building as Pyramid Atlantic. 
         

Artomatic is coming to a close. It’s been a resounding
success with so many visitors, who came to see the art, or hear the music, or watch a performance, or film, and stayed to enjoy the other offerings.

In some way I really pity New York, LA, London or anywhere else that does not have a community of artists who can pull off this gargantuan event, consistently, with an all-volunteer ensemble. Artists are so very skillful, ingenious, and resourceful people. Just think of what could be possible if AOM had a solid financial base!
 By artists, for everyone.
I am so amazed with all the excellent feedback and comments I have received. That so many of them are from fellow artists, has truly made all the years of work to get to this point valuable to me. All the work I have sold has been to artists. That’s both wonderful and downright scary!

Oh I’m going to have to work soooo much harder! I have to go back to scratch and translate the sense and atmosphere I’m able to get manipulating one color, black, with more color. I’m talking oil paint here, so much easier to work with. But I do love ink and can never move to far away from it. And to do this all with Florida sunshine. Oh, this will be a fun challenge!
Special thanks to
Lenny Campello, Daily Campello Art News and
John Anderson, City Paper ArtsDesk blog.

Hello Artomatic visitors!

I hope you are having a wonderful time exploring Washington's best Art extravaganza.  I feel very privileged to be able to live in an area that supports, and so enthusiastically, an all volunteer, non-juried presentation of all the local artists have to offer.   

My contribution to the show is on the 9th floor, wayfiner 09-252.  

I've hung a group of Monotypes, see the link below for an explaination of this print method, that I have created over the past several years. Each print image is 5 x 7 inches. As you can see I work with landscapes. My principle medium is oil, but I have been work with prints, on and off for many years. I like working with black, light and grays the ink gives me. And although this may seem like a limited pallet, in reality, it actual area is a variation of greens and greys, with the odd yellow or white area. So I prefer to limit the color to focus on the design and texture of an image.


Part of the wonderful freedon Artomatic allows an artist is to show work that would never make it to a gallery wall. It's very rare that a small group of Monotypes by any artist would be shown unless they were VERY famous, think Dega, Diebenkorn, Johns. 

Here is the price list for the works shown:
1. Horse Barn Hill, $350 SOLD

2. Indiana Roads, $375  SOLD

3. Hunting Creek,* $400

4. Lake Bruce, $400

5. Belle Haven Marina, $400

6. Indiana Haze, $350  SOLD

7. Beacon Hill, ** $385  SOLD

8. C & O Canal, $400

9. Indiana Statues, $375  SOLD

Accepted in Juried Shows:

* Washington Printmakers Gallery, National Small Works 2010; Art League Gallery, 2010, Crisp-Ellert Art Museum, 2011

** Art League Gallery 2010

The price list is now posted on the wall at Artomatic.  So if you are really interested in these prints, please let me know soon, so I can put a little red dot next to the image.  As you know, the art work can not be removed from Artomatic until the end of the show.

ARTOMATIC opens May 18th, in Crystal City

My work can be seen on the 9th Floor, as you head to the area where the PEEPs dioramas are displayed.


I will be showing Monotypes that I have created over the past few years, 2007 to 2012.  Most images are 5x7, black ink on cream papers. These will, of course, be landscapes.


I will have images shortly.

Spring is soooo close!

And I'm getting very close to the final transition.  I have a wonder new home, and someone is about to acquire my dear little first home and garden.  I have no regrets leaving, just that the whole project has taken a toll on me.  But the new life will repair the damage and energize me.  A perpetual Spring.

Working on drawings I hope to show at the 2012 Artomatic.  If you haven't heard of it, Google the name.  It's a wonderful experience for an artist.  75,000 will see my art! 

A year without making art

Talk about a bad itch!  I can't even look at art, it hurts so bad.  But after 60+ years of living, I know this wasted time will seem like nothing soon.  Even though an artist is not working, they are thinking about work. They are always creating in their head and heart.  


A new direction.  In January I will start slowly, going back to my basics.  My drawing.  Like my life, it will be a transition.     

Ahhh....I've been neglecting this blog a bit...

Many things are changing in my life.  And art is not the priority at this time.  But it will soon be, and at the top of the "list." 
I've done a lot of monotype work lately, and continue to show it at the Art Leagues' Gallery as well as in their Bin Gallery.  Unfortunately I forget to photograph it before I frame it, and it never looks decent with a reflection across the front.  One can check out the Art Leagues Flicker site for the latest show.  My current piece is another C & O Canal view.  I can't seem to get the place out of my head!