My philosophy has centered around feeling like there are no real accidents, that everything happens for a reason, yada yada yada...Especially as I've matured and realized that there is indeed a path given. Recently I was contacted to do a large commission on a nautical watercolor for a large wall in a large home. 8'x8' more or less and quite an undertaking considering that the chart needed to be printed on canvas and stretched before the watercolor was painted over the print. It was a technical problem but one that I could figure out. However, the commission fell through- my clients changed their mind but the sample chart I purchased of the West Indies remained in my studio, looking at me forlornly. "Do something with me!" it said. And so, after weeks of thinking and marinating my ideas, the nautical chart featured on the home page came to be. But the point of the story is more that I enjoyed painting it so much. That weekend I was lost at sea in my home studio, honing my drawing skills, choosing colors, working with pastels (much of the chart is pastel pencil). So thank you, lost commission, I had a wonderful time doing this chart. I have orders for it from two galleries and , one road DOES lead to another...............you just have to pay attention.
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As the years fly by, it will be my fourth year in the gallery biz soon, it's dizzying. how did this end up this way? I started out at RISD as an apparel design major, never thinking about painting. Here I am years later, painting most all the time, loving it and for the most part filled with inspiration and sometimes i can't wait to express what I've just seen, or what is in my mind. the hand and mind and brain coordination takes over, the conversation begins in my head and it could be days later before I'm up for air.
For all you watercolorists here's a tip: a beautiful rich emerald green can be made by mxing burnt sienna and thalo blue. You see it in all my watercolor work. That mixture does not work for acrylics, or at least I haven't found the formula yet! My largest sale to date happened yesterday , lots of work off the wall for one home. honored. Thrilled. My largest commission to date is on the books. more about that one soon. Another large commission from Colonial Life is finished and will be made into 34 giclees soon...more on that when I can talk about it under the contract regs. And I'm happy to say one of my latest paintings, Fishin Trips will be installed in the NEW Health City in the Cayman Islands. A brand new destination hospital with fabulous Dr's that perform heart, orthepedic and other surgeries and your loved one(s) can relax on the beach at the Ritz Carlton while you recover..it goes something like that. Best to you all. please let me know if I can help you out or paint something special for you- but not until after summer 2015. Enjoy, lb Merry and Happy to everyone! Getting ready for a busy season and things are looking very favorable for a great holiday Season. I have been able to produce several new watercolors lately and a few have already sold. My muse is with me right now, urging me to paint. some may wonder what is my definition of a muse. Well "she" is my creative spirit, she opens my eyes to the light, color and shapes around me. She relaxes me and infuses me with the desire to capture what i see, what I imagine. And lastly and most importantly, she guides me and keeps the conversation going between my head and my brush. and it flows! When she takes a leave of absence, I feel like i can not and will not paint again. but when she's here, its a wonder. I was fortunate to land a commission for Colonial Life insurance and that painting is now in the works. It must be finished by mid January or my contract becomes null and void and we don't want that to happen! I'm also please that the new Cayman Island Health Center has chosen my work to hang in the public areas of the new hospital. more on that soon. Thank you for checking in. i also welcome your comments..............
Fall is arriving in Florida believe it or not. We are expected to be in the 40's by Sunday night and that's a big deal here. So with the cool weather comes a renewed vitality, i.e. the lazy hazy days of summer are past and i am excited to be working in my studio. I recently finished two large watercolors of a nature preserve that I have been walking in lately with my brother who recently moved here. i paint what I see and being there at dusk has proved to be an unexpected inspiration. I've moved away from palm tress and beaches and into the woods and murky waters of the Everglades. Romantic, mysterious and filled with creatures. lovely. Last week I returned from the Abacos in the Bahamas, where a very generous client offered a beautiful condo for my use. i spent several days on a deserted beautiful white sand beach and biked through the island, taking photos from many locations. Those watercolors are already coming out of my studio. So, once again, I paint what I see and love every moment of that experience. come see the gallery. We have a new look,( more Pottery Barn than Key West- I say with a smile) are loading up with lot of new items and more of my work. i have two wonderful people working for me, my brother Dick who is retired from a long successful career with Marriott as a General Manager in several properties and Deb who recently moved back to South Florida after living out West.
Today is almost the beginning of Fall- well, i tyhink of October as Fall- and the gallery will be going into its third year in Delray Beach. The past two years have literally flown by. I'm amazed by the wonderful people, fans,, customers, clients, and everyone else who walks though the doors. If anyone had told me ten years ago that I'd be running a successful gallery in downtown Delray, my hometown, I would have thought they were crazy. so YEA!
Back to painting now. The gallery is sorely depleted of original works and i barely painted this summer due to stresses, vacations and just time to relax after a busy year. But now, the road is cleared and my mind is active, happy and filled with ideas. I've been in the Everglades in my work, never really approached the Everglades, the meadows, the wetlands, swamps and flora with any keen awarenees. Now I'm trying to capture the dark beauty of it the mystery and the grandness. I'll be posting new work soon. We are still hazy hot and humid in S Fl but no major storms so thankful for that. My mousekeeteers- Mick and Billy are the best kitties in the world, loyal, playful, affectionate and attuned to my many moods. We are a household that is into the rhythm of work, late nights in the studio, and thus morning feedings getting a little later looking forward to a busy year. We've had a terrific year so far but now I'm gearing up for the season and already we have giclee orders backed up. I'm LOVING PAINTING. and wish there was more time to devote in the studio. I am so grateful to be able to do what I love. I switch from watercolor to canvas effortlessly now, its taken years to be able to speak both languages.
Just in time for a break from all the craziness, here comes March, roaring in like a lion, is that the expression? We've had a very good run for being the new kid on the block and I am forever grateful! Not only have we art sales, but I've had a slew of free publicity which was totally unsolicited. Most people would kill for this media coverage and its all been very well written and excellent portrayals of my journey through the art maze. Paula Detwiller wrote an excellent article in the Pineapple News-our local paper, Sangita Chandra produced a fabulous TV segment on the Caymans for WCVB -Boston Chronicle show, and now the tony Palm Beach Illustrated magazine just featured me a "Forward Player" in their March issue. So they love the story of my mid life crisis and move to an island where I knew virtually no one and had no plan. So, I like to take chances! But I am also dedicated to painting and now putting quality imagery on products and promoting beautiful things. My life right now is crazy busy, I'm supplying cruise ship groups with my products, Little Palm Island in the Keys with my art and products, special orders for the Ritz Carlton in Grand Cayman, along with a few commissions and running the Gallery Store. I hope next time I write I will be sipping a pina colada- or two- or three- under a palm tree somewhere. But for now I am thankful that we are doing well and having a good time! ciao.
we had a busy January in the store, selling lots of gift items and over 7 original works of art I met a truly wonderful couple from North Palm Beach who have been searching for a few years for just the right art for their home. I am honored that they sought me out and chose several pieces of mine! This makes what I do so gratifying. Also installing two large original acrylic canvases in Boca Raton this week for a couple who fell in love with my new "abstract" work. I've so wanted to express myself from my memory. My mind is filled with images- material- from years and tears of observing and taking photographs. Now that imagination is coming forth in abstract work based solely on what I remember- not specific photos. This has been a challenge but a good one and now that that work is being so well received I am thrilled!
Just back from Cayman where I had a fun time filming for the upcoming show Chronicle from Bsoton. Photos on my NEWS page. the crew was warm and funny, and we enjoyed dinner and drinks courtesy of my old good friend and owner of the fabulous restaurant The Wharf iin Grand Cayman. I have been trulyt blessed in life to do what I love, and to be able to live what I love. more later. Its been a long time since I posted. I took some time off after moving out of West Palm Beach gallery I was exhausted and need some "me" time. But here I am back in my hometown of Delray beach with a new look, new items, and having lots of fun painting on everything I can get my hands on. I'm painting on mailboxes, glass, sisal rugs and who knows what else. The Colony Hotel , which the store is attached to, is a pride and joy of Delray and is a prefect fit with my love of "Old Florida". Everything oozes charm and warmth. Many of my products and gift items feature my watercolor of the Colony, including note cards, magnets, coasters and ornaments. Its the only store on Atlantic Ave that has gifts unique to Delray Beach and we take pride in the fact that 99% of the items in our store were made with love in the USA, and 98% were made locally. Now isn't that a unique fact these days. To see us is to support us. Thank you to all who "get" us and stay tuned, and more to come.
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