A little Open Studio Weekend preview...

Want to do the tour? Click here for maps & directions. 

May 28 & 29, 2016 

There's quite a bit of blue in the studio these days, but it's not the blues of sadness, it's the blue of dreams. The more I read about rabbits in mythology, the more excited I'm getting about what I find that connects with this series. (One discovery is the blog Myth & Moor. Here's an excellent post which you might enjoy... I wish I could own every single piece of art that she shared there.)
I'm having a blast painting many different pieces all at once, as usual. My Inktober drawing project from last year is also getting framed, along with some other fun projects.
Can't wait to share them with visitors. You can also follow me on Instagram to see what I'm up to. 

 

Lots of bears AND foxes AND rabbits about the studio these days

details from Harlequin Rabbit (left) and Napping Fox (right)

Nice choice of accent color for the maps this year...and look! I have an ad.

A whole bunch of 8x10" panel paintings, with a little 6x6" up top

I woulda' if I coulda'

Vay Cay Shun!
AndreZero and Science Girl welcomed us to their digs near the capitol for a wonderful visit, and for four days we enjoyed a lovely balance of touristy stuff and just chilling.
Here are a few pages from our National History Museum visit, with later additions.  

THE BEST BIT, though, is what AndreZero overheard a little kid say to his dad while I was crouched drawing the pink fairy armadillo*:
"Dad, every single animal in this museum, she's drawing it!"
If I coulda, I woulda.  He must have seen me a few times, impressive memory what with the sea of people.  I thought I only got a piddling few!

Arkonbey already did a really nice post, re-capping some highlights of the trip.  I think I would benefit by sitting and thinking on such a list myself.  Well, I did at least sketch one event before I forgot about it:

That's one cool daddy.


*I would just like to say, sure it was easy drawing from taxidermy as opposed to something moving, but I'm raawther proud of how my sketch of the pink fairy armadillo turned out.  At most I think I had 60 seconds to do it in.

Another action-packed week, and April is up and running.

Father loves good ale... from Granfa Grig by Wallace Tripp, image from http://simchafisher.files.wordpress.com

KW and I made it to the Wallace Tripp exhibit at Lyndon State College on Monday, despite the sleet storm that we followed all the way there.  After a brown-bag lunch in the student lounge, we tried finding a.) the bathrooms and b.) the gallery.

If you saw the same two women going up and down the hall past your office, oh, I don't know... maybe eight times?  That was us.

But we did find the gallery.  However, it was dark & locked up!  Ahh, college galleries.  Fortunately one of the staff happened by as he was touching up paint, and kindly let us in.  The look of panic on our faces when he asked if we'd be "about ten minutes?" probably tipped him off that he'd best give us a good deal longer.

Wallace Tripp's Wurst Seller; image from http://characterdesignnotes.blogspot.com

It's in a very small room, with only some pieces titled and few dates if any, but we could easily have stayed for an hour or two.  Of course I left my camera behind.  But to give you a refresher on his work, don't forget this blog.  Some of the pieces were from books, some from his greeting card company "PawPrints Press" and some were personal works.  All were wonderful.  It was hard to choose just one favorite, I would have gladly brought them all home, had they been for sale (and had I the money!)


Since our visit had to be quick, we went to the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, just 20 minutes away, which I highly recommend.  KW had been before and seen the art exhibit, but alas, when we arrived the Athenaeum where the exhibit is housed was closed for renovations.  The library itself was certainly worth the trip, however, and the sweetest most earnest docent in the world gave us every ounce of information she could muster regarding the collection, and the renovation, and more and more.  KW said she learned more in this visit than in her previous three!  Take a digital tour here, but try to get up there this Fall!

Today I spent mostly soaking up more art marketing information, at the VT Crafts Council Open Studio Weekend Seminar.  whew.  And another seminar next week.  Ai!  Now it's time to get back to that drawing I started last night...

Wrap it up and plant that garden!

Another Open Studio weekend has come and gone.  Before too long, I'll have some new progress shots of new work.  But first, it's time to say thank you.

Thank you one and all, those of you who came to find me specifically, and those of you who just followed signs and happened upon our house.

All in all, I believe we had almost sixty visitors.  Whew!

Special shouts out to:

Mister Brunelle (and many others of you) for describing my work as: 

"Illustrations for a story that doesn't yet exist"

Lorrie, for bringing freshly baked cookies (they were lovingly devoured)

Theresa, for loaning me her display panels, thus saving my walls.

The fearless ladies who conquered our rocky hill on their road bikes, you were awesome!

Marcia & Skip, who saved the eight-foot-tall monster dress drawing after it came loose from the side of the house...

Those of you who came from afar:  Richford, Plainfield & Newport, Vermont;  Connecticut, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, even an artist from New Zealand!

Rick, for helping me with all the last minute set-ups and keeping me sane.  

(And for letting people visit your studio space and see your work too!)

You all gave me great ideas to pursue, other artists to look up, and you all shared some wonderful stories.  THIS, not to mention your wonderful encouragement, is what makes these events worthwhile!

As Sunday drew to a close, we celebrated with home-made sangria, local pizza, and Big Trouble in Little China.  Bernie--our new cat--celebrated his release from the bedroom.  Next year, perhaps he'll be brave enough to greet the guests.

Studio Visit! Open Studio 2010

It's been a long slow start-up to Spring, but here we are:  Memorial Day is right around the corner.
That means it's time for an Open Studio tour!

Our Jericho-Underhill group once again has its hub at the Emile Gruppe Gallery in Jericho Center.  This is a good spot to pick up your maps (both the local and the state-wide) and to view samples of work by our group as you plan your tour.  Also on display at the gallery are photography by Bruce Gilbert-Smith, and watercolors by Kathleen Bergeron. The yellow maps for our local group are very handy, if you need good driving directions.

In previous years, I exhibited my "studio" off-site.  This time, I invite you to visit the studio itself.
Come and see what I keep on hand to inspire me, what materials I use, and more.  Try your hand drawing with walnut ink, or charcoal, or who knows...
Here's a typical painting day for me:  everything at hand!  Everything!!!!

The last few months have been an interesting "germination" period.  Most recently, the week I spent at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson yielded new work:  more "Monster Fashion" drawings (bigger and bigger!) and a self-portrait diptych that is in the very early stages.  These are just two of the many things I've started recently, but yes, there are a few finished pieces as well.  I am looking forward to sharing them with you.

To get you started, here's the map for the local tour!

 

Offler, my new art trip companion

We adopted Offler* this September during the local Harvest Market, a great traveling companion, and a bargain at 15 cents!

*he's named after Offler the Crocodile God, resident of Discworld. Need I say more?