December 28, 2009
My mini New York cityscape painting won a 3rd Place Award at the Colorado Watercolor Society Member Exhibit this month! The exhibit was at the Firehouse Art Center in Longmont, Colorado – it was a very good exhibit with lots of great paintings by CWS members. Leave me a comment or send me an email if you’d like to have it for your collection.
"New York Cityscape", watercolor on paper, matted/framed to 12 x 12 inches, $250.
December 26, 2009
I’ll be donating an original painting for the 2010 Artma charity art event coming up on February 6th, 2010. I donated a painting for this bi-annual event in 2008 and am happy to support them again with a donation. Artma is quite a premier event in Denver and proceeds benefit The Morgan Adams Foundation for pediatric oncology research.
But, I NEED YOUR HELP to choose which painting I should donate! Both of these are original watercolors on paper, mounted on stretched canvas. Please vote by December 29th to help me choose which painting will be auctioned at the 2010 Artma event.
"Jewels - 9", watercolor mounted on canvas, 30 x 30 inches.
"Sacred Heart", watercolor mounted on canvas, 24 x 24 inches.
December 16, 2009
Great news! My new large triptych painting, “Claudia’s Jewels” has been selected for Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe Best of 2009 Exhibition.
This special exhibition recognizes the best individual art works shown throughout the art district on Santa Fe Drive in Denver. My painting was chosen by Gwen Chanzit, curator at the Denver Art Museum and Michael Chavez, curator at the Foothills Art Center.
I have also been nominated for an award as “Best Studio Artist of 2009″ and would love your vote! It takes just a moment to visit http://artdistrictbestof2009.squarespace.com/ to add your vote for me. Feel free to forward this to your art-loving friends and ask them to vote for me, too!
"Claudia's Jewels", watercolor mounted on canvas panels (triptych). Selected for special "Best of 2009" exhibit at 910Arts Gallery in Denver.
To kick of this special exhibit and awards, the Best of 2009 – Awards Gala & Opening Night Reception will be held on December 18th and includes live music, holiday art vendors, and a cash bar in addition to the juried art exhibit.
Please join us for this special night at The Event Gallery at 910Arts on Friday, December 18th from 6 – 10 pm. Tickets to the special Opening are limited and may be purchased at http://artdistrict2009.eventbrite.com/.
The exhibition will run from December 18th until January 11th and may be seen with no admission fee during regular gallery open hours (Tuesday through Friday 11-6, Saturday 12-4). For more information, please visit http://www.910arts.com.
December 4, 2009
I’ll have my studio open as usual today for First Friday (5pm – 9pm). And while I won’t have hot chocolate, I’ll have lots of newly-framed flapjacks starting at just $45. Oh – and I’ll have some homemade mocha cupcakes!
I’ll also be open Saturday, December 5th from 10am – 4pm for all of you who will be out and about shopping. Please stop by!
Lots of newly-framed flapjacks in my studio!
December 1, 2009
I’ll have these framed flapjacks and more at my upcoming Open Studios:
Three flapjacks framed in silver, 18 x 10 inches, $150.
Two flapjacks framed in black, 20 x 20 inches, $150.
November 27, 2009
I tried some larger frames this week for two of my flapjacks and really like the results. I’ll keep posting more flapjacks as I create them… once I heat up my “griddle”, I can’t seem to stop making them!
Two Flapjacks - 15 x 15 inches framed; $125 each.
Detail - Blue and Green Flapjack
Detail - Pink and Orange Flapjack
November 24, 2009
I’ll soon be on my way to the stormy Oregon Coast for a month of creating art… my 2010 Winter Sojourn!
And since this is such a creative time for me, I’d like to share that by offering special original watercolors that I’ll paint while I soak up the inspirations of the rugged Oregon Coast between January 10 – February 13, 2010.
This year, I’m offering a pre-sale of two painting sizes at 1/2 of my regular prices:
Winter sunset over the Pacific from my painting spot in Oceanside, Oregon.
You will choose the style of your painting from my Elemental, Jewel or Fossil styles, as well as the color palette that I will create with. Each painting will be unmatted and unframed, but I can canvas-mount or frame your painting starting at just $75.
If you’ve been thinking about a larger original painting, I will also be able to create two or three larger commissioned paintings (30 x 30″ or larger) during my Winter Sojourn.
To take advantage of this special offer, please email or give me a call. But hurry, this offer will expire on January 10, 2010!
Here are more samples of my inspiration:
Cool, rainy, foggy, stormy... these are a few of my favorite things.
View from my painting spot in Oceanside, Oregon.
My painting table in the "turret" room.
Town of Oceanside from the beach.
Another January sunset over the Pacific... how do I get any painting done??
November 23, 2009
I’ve framed a few of my flapjack paintings for folks… here are two in the soft, brushed gold frame and the matte black frame. I think these look so great – perfect size (6×6″ framed) and price ($45) for gifts. Email me your color(s) and I’ll create one for you!
Framed flapjacks, 6x6 inches, $45 (one on the left is available).
November 11, 2009
I had a great time painting my “flapjack” mini paintings last First Friday to kick off Denver Arts Week and introduce folks to my art. I ran out on Friday, but I painted a few extra… there’s still time to add your name to the comments of my post here for the chance to get your own free flapjack!
I'll frame your flapjack in black, silver or gold for $20!
Flapjack painting in my studio on First Friday.
November 5, 2009
Well, I won’t actually “unveil” my new jewels painting (even I’m not that dramatic)… but, I now have it mounted on my triptych canvas panels and hung it in my studio today! So, if you’re coming by, you’ll be amoung the first to see it completed!
I’ll have my studio open Friday, November 6th from 5-9pm for First Friday to kick off Denver Arts Week. Directions to my studio are here on my website.
"Claudia's Jewels", watercolor mounted on canvas panels (triptych), 48 x 48 inches.
November 4, 2009
Denver Arts Week is November 6 – 14, 2009! Lots of different events are planned, all kicking off with First Friday in Denver’s art districts. This year’s theme is “Know Your Arts”. So, I invite all of you to get to know MY art… with a FREE “flapjack” mini-painting!
What’s a “flapjack” and how can you get one? Well, while creating some mini-sized paintings in my studio recently, I noticed that my stack of finished art looked like a stack of flapjacks – just the right size at 4 x 4 inches. So, for my First Friday Open Studio (November 6th, 5-9pm), I’ll be painting flapjack art “to order” for my studio visitors (while “batter” supplies last). So, come by my studio, pick a color or two and I’ll paint you a free flapjack… what a great way to get to know my art! Click here for directions to my studio.
And for those of you not able to make it to my studio, I have 10 flapjacks ready to mail out to 10 lucky folks. Just leave me a comment on this post by the end of Arts Week (November 14th). On November 15th, I’ll RANDOMLY draw 10 winners from everyone that left a comment, and then contact each to get them mailed out (so be sure to enter your email address). Here’s what one of my Facebook Fans had to say about my flapjacks:
“Flapjacks…what’s not to love? They’ve got fabulous texture, incredible color & awesome composition, the perfect piece of affordable art for your abstract art fans!” — Candy in California
I’ll also be selling additional flapjack original paintings for $20 each (or 3 for $50). These are perfect for a mini-sized frame or I can also mount them on canvas for you for an additional $20 (my regular price for these mini paintings is $65!).
November 3, 2009
Denver Arts Week kicks off with First Friday on November 6th! Lots of different events are planned, all kicking off with First Friday in many of Denver’s art districts. Visit the Denver Arts Week website for details on all of the events. Some highlights that caught my eye include:
I’ll be in my studio in the heart of Denver’s ArtDistrict on Santa Fe introducing my new “flapjack” mini-paintings on First Friday. Watch for more details and visit my website for a preview!
October 29, 2009
Looks like I won’t be making into my studio today… so, paperwork and Snickerdoodle-making for me!
View out our back door - about 21 inches since yesterday... and it's still snowing!
October 27, 2009
Well, it took more than a “snip”, but “Claudia’s Jewels” is now cut into 3 pieces and ready to be mounted on my stretched canvas panels. This painting is on 300lb. watercolor paper, so it’s a bit tough to cut through. I clamp my straightedge down and use a utility knife (with a fresh blade!) and carefully go for it.
I plan to mount the 3 pieces onto canvas tomorrow, unless the snowstorm we’re promised hits and I don’t make it in!
My latest "jewels" painting (about 44 x 45 inches), cut into 3 for mounting onto stretched canvas panels.
October 21, 2009
Have enough BFFs (Best Friends Forever)? Well, you can become one of my FBFs (FaceBook Fans)! Over at my FaceBook Fan page, I’m posting great art specials exclusively for my FBFs – study paintings, mini paintings, notecards and a few of my regular inventory paintings all at special prices. But, you have to be my Fan on Facebook (click here to become one)! Or, visit my website homepage to become a fan (click on the “Fan” button at the bottom).
I just posted this “study” original watercolor today on Facebook – check it out!
"Study - Winter Dark and White", original watercolor, about 18 x 18 inches.
October 19, 2009
So – here’s my latest jewels painting… “Claudia’s Jewels”. Can anyone figure out who Claudia might be? Pretty obscure reference, but it kept coming back to me as I finished this painting.
Now I’m just about ready to cut the painting into three pieces for mounting in triptych on canvas panels. The paper “canvas” is about 44 x 44 inches and I plan the final canvas-mounted size to be 48 x 48 inches.
"Claudia's Jewels"... ready for cutting up into 3 pieces!
October 10, 2009
Snowy and 17 degrees: I love snow, but wish the temperature was closer to my age today!
September 30, 2009
I’ve been working on a new, large jewels painting that I plan to mount on canvas panels as a triptych.
Large jewels in progress... working size is about 48x52".
My own de-coder card... or is it a "jewels" periodic table of sorts?
Squares awaiting my "jeweling" process with a palm brush.
September 28, 2009
I’ve been working on a new, large triptych in my studio and have painted a few autumn-colored shapes on one of my walls just for fun… I love autumn!
Triptych in progress (on my table) and some autumn shapes on my wall...
September 23, 2009
I’ve been busy in my studio lately working on “re-discovering” my feel and technique for mini cityscapes that I once painted many years ago. The technique for creating these mini paintings is a combo of wash, timing, perspective and a quick hand with scraping shapes.
I first lay down a wash that will give me some good contrasts in the shapes I’ll scrape out while also providing an overall mood to the painting (night/day, winter, foggy, Chicago or New York…). These go quickly since I have a short time before the wash becomes too dry to successfully scrape shapes.
I’m having a more difficult time re-discovering how to paint these with results I’m happy with than I expected. Most frustrating seems to be that the pieces of rigid plastic (like cut-up credit cards… take THAT Chase Bank!) aren’t scraping satisfactorily. And, it has taken many tries to remember what paper is best (I like 140lb. Fabriano hotpress). At least in this example, the John Hancock tower is recognizable and I love the rather monotone feel I captured for Chicago (uh, I LOVE Chicago – “monotone” isn’t a bad thing).
What do you think?
Chicagoscape, watercolor, 5 x 5 inches.
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