Pictures from the Art Gala

As you can see from the top picture, my paintings from the series "Dancing in the Light" are by the door to the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery!  They look truly fabulous (no bias) in the lighting!!  The gold metal leaf really glows and the reds and greens are so vibrant.  The paintings in the lower photo are on the wall to the right of the entrance--truly prime placement.  See more of the party pictures HERE.

If you go to the gallery, you will be greeted warmly by Ruthie Tucker, co-owner, or one of her fabulous assistants.  You might even meet her husband, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Alton Louis Amsterdam III. 

I'm sorry I missed the excitement of the Gala but our new grandson is adorable and well worth missing anything.

My brief visit in New York City included viewing the gallery and lunch with an artist friend, Cynthia Crier, who lives there.  We met last year while she was doing an art residence program in Tularosa, NM, with Mano y Mente.  We enjoyed talking art for hours!  Check out her art here.

Our new grandson is thriving in Stony Brook, NY, while I am back in New Mexico, hugely missing him, his sister, mom and dad.  That's life!

New York Art Show

I found out today that my six paintings at Amsterdam Whitney Gallery are in their "prime exhibition space" at the front of the gallery!! What a great honor. The big gala affair in New York City (Chelsea)went on without me last night. I would have loved being there but I was on Long Island assisting in the birth of our grandson. Amazing!! I certainly could not miss THAT gala event!!

I hope lots of people get to view the exhibit during December. I will try to post pictures of it in the next few days. I'll be going into the City soon to see the show. I can't wait!!

December Show in NYC!

I am excited to report that I will be participating in a group exhibit at Amsterdam Whitney Gallery for the month of December!  The show runs Dec. 3-Jan. 4, 2011.  The "opening reception and holiday party" will be Dec. 9th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Here is the gallery card for the show:

I've never considered being an "Apotheosis" before, but it sounds like FUN! The definition is "ideal: model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal."  That sounds very impressive to me.  I wish NYC were closer so more of my buddies could come!

I plan to attend the opening, as I'll be visiting our daughter and her family on Long Island at the time.  We currently await the birth of our grandson, who is causing his mother a bit of a challenge by prolonging his arrival!  He may be born as early as tonight!  We know he'll arrive when he's darn well ready!

Dances del Oro 30x24 oil/gold metal leaf/canvas

The cover for my publicity card for the show is one of the series of "Dancing in the Light" paintings of poppies.  This one has gold metal leaf background, which is truly challenging to photograph well!  The painting and its companion are dynamite!

Crazy Horse

For Your Glory 20x16 pastel on board

This week, I went back to pastel.  The challenge was to paint a horse in the same palette as some of my oil horses, with abstract background.  The result is not dull.

I find working in these large color blocks in pastel less interesting than with palette knife and oil paint.  But fun, all the same!

Experiment with Open Acrylics

Spicy 14x11 acrylic

Friday, I borrowed some Golden Open Acrylic paints from my friend and partner in crime, Sue Parry.  This poppy was the result, after a bit of fiddling with the paint and learning the "feel" of it.

I chose to paint a familiar subject, with lots of color, using a black-gessoed board.  I am rather pleased with the result, but the jury's not in on the paint, yet.  I think I still need to know more and use it more before I decide.

The advantage of the Open Acrylics is that they are workable much longer than traditional acrylics.  They are also a bit more blendable.  The paint doesn't dry out on the palette, even after being uncovered for two days (which I did to thicken it up a bit).  The paint on the board does not dry completely for one to several days, but then is just like regular acrylic paint.

Stay posted for more research on the paints.

Creative Composition Class

Much has happened in my life since my last post.  The most important event was losing my mother, Patricia Jacobs, on June 29th.  Our dad is doing well in the face of the loss of his wife of 64 years.  He cared for her almost 24/7 for the last five years.  We will miss her very much.

Meanwhile, I have continued plans for my class:

"Creative Composition for Stronger Paintings"

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., August 2-4, 2010 (an hour break for lunch)

Sara Chambers Studio, High Rolls, NM

Cost $180

• Learn how to put structure into paintings/drawings in order to make good art even better.  
• Learn the most common compositional problems that can cause paintings to fail or to be "not quite right".  
• Bring the painting or drawing mediums you prefer, in order to employ your lessons while creating works that you enjoy.  

I will provide some materials to facilitate our explorations.  I can also provide easels and drawing boards.

You may also bring existing paintings that you would like to have critiqued or that seem less successful than you would like.

Additional info:  You will need to bring a lunch, as there are no good places to go that are nearby.  I will have drinks available.

I have a few slots left for the class, in case you discover that you have time and inclination.  To register by e-mail:  sarajchambers@yahoo.com.  To register by phone: 575-430-6148

We will be using my demos and your paintings to learn approaches to stronger and more effective compositions.

4B Or Not 4B

I have been participating in David Barranti's drawing class all this week in Cloudcroft, New Mexico.  His challenge to us is to find out how many marks are in a 4B pencil, alone, for the whole week.  We have done modified contour, free style drawing, blind contour, vase-face, combinations of all and varieties of tonal drawing, all with one 4B pencil.  It's really liberating and informing!  Can't wait to see what else I can do with a 4B pencil!

I'll try to post a drawing or two in the next day or so.

Wild Roses

The wild roses have been fabulous this year in the mountains!  Here is a study that I did last week in an effort to express the *pow* of pink that they give me!  (6x6 oil/canvas)


Mark Overby says, “Love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm, but willing to draw blood in its defense.”

Working in Series

I've created a series of irises in the last month, progressing from "real" to more wild interpretations.  Yesterday's was among the wildest.  These small pieces were among the more conventional ones, when I was exploring a combination of ultramine blues and burnt sienna as the background, in a tonal approach.

Voltaire also said, "The secret of being a bore is to tell everything."  I'm not sure if they qualify for Voltaire's definition of "boring," because I like them.  They are "pretty", but definitely far more traditional than many of my interpretations.

Correcting Nature

Voltaire once said, "The secret of the arts is to correct nature."  At the very least, this applies most especially to painting landscape.  This painting of irises may not correct nature, but it certainly interprets freely! ("Crazy" 16x20 oil)

More Enchantment

The Land of Enchantment--sometimes I think that means all the airborne parts!  The wind has been pretty persistent this year--maybe even more than usual?

This is a 24x18 oil stick and palette knife that I painted plein air at the Hondo Iris Farm last week.  I finally repainted and finished it yesterday.  The composition was hopelessly busy--a limitation of being onsite, as I am tempted to put in too much information.  I've painted out the buildings above the garden.  The foreground irises also made a switch from violet to yellow (!), as I couldn't get them to "pop" with the violets.  I'm much happier now.

Iris Inspiration

The Hondo Iris Farm has been especially inspirational this year!  The garden has only recently reached its peak of color.  The blooms are fabulous and prolific, in spite of the wicked winds we have had this year.

I have been to visit three times already, twice to paint.  This 7"x5" oil was my first burst from the fairyland!  It captures the "feel" of the garden without being photo-representational.

The farm is open 10-5 every single day in May, so you still have time to go.

Catching Up

I seem to wander off and forget about posting new images.  Here are a couple more daffodils that I played with recently. The one on the right is only 5"x5".  I under painted in quinacridone gold and only had magenta as the red.  It's pleasing but doesn't have the feeling of completeness that this other one on the left does 10"x8").  I tried to paint an intimate feel with not too many brush strokes.

I hope to publish some images from my recent forays to paint the Mexican poppies in El Paso--two trips in all, despite the wind!

Signs of Spring!

Daffodils offer a glowing spark in the gloom of even the cloudiest day.  My heart sings when I see them.  "Hooray!  Signs of spring are at hand!"


These little daffys are my tribute to the hope of spring arriving.  "Signs of Spring," 7x5 oil on board.  These were purchased and didn't last long.  My own garden will soon be a celebration of yellow.

Steinway Piano Galleries Exhibit

I am on my way to Atlanta to participate in a two person exhibit opening with fellow artist David Barranti.  We will share the stage with Barry Tognolini, the Australian concert pianist, and with Jason Mercado, who will do a poetry reading with music.  We will be presenting "Piano and Palette" from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Steinway Piano Galleries Recital Hall in Alpharetta on Saturday evening.  (5950 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30022-3114, (770) 777-1300) This invitation-only event is a terrific way to welcome Spring 2010!!

Several of my newest paintings will be exhibited for the next two months, along with some more recent of my oil-stick paintings and even some pastels.  I love this pastel painting of irises that will be shown! (Lovely Ladies, 36x24 pastel)

Another Iris!

I have painted another iris in the experimental smooth brush painting approach--still lots of color but maybe less dramatic than the geranium?

The drawing was dramatic enough--color on black always good for excitement!

Stage two had lots of color but little finesse:

The final painting seems more subtle, less drama ("Andante," 16x20 oil).  Couldn't get the colors in the photo quite right with a phone pic, but it's close and you get the idea.

Experimentation

I have been playing with a different approach to painting, using a brush and more medium than I usually do, with a smoother application and a few more lost edges.

Here are some pics of the stages, plus a couple of details, to give an idea of what it looks like.  The one on the left is an early stage, with some of the "drawing" still showing.  I'd intended to add palette knife paint, but was too charmed by what was happening.

 Here are some details:

The final product, "Allegro," (14x11 oil on canvas) pleases me very much. Let me know what you think.

Hope Rising

This is the painting that I created for the Casa Esperanza 8th Annual Art for Hope Auction, March 20, 2010, called "Hope Rising," in honor of their theme of Hope.  Hope  rises from the darkness and chaos into light, just as those who undergo cancer treatment must do.  I painted the entire image while listening to Barry Tognolini's soaring rendition of the "Theme from Time: the Musical," by Dave Clark, from his album Treasure Road.

The words that accompany the actual musical performance of this amazing piece of music are profound:

Stand before me on the Sign of Infinity all you of the Earth.
With the granting of "The Law of Provenation" comes the application of change.
I will give you the key.
And with this knowledge, please realize, comes
the responsibility of sharing it.
I will show you the way:
It's very simple.
Throughout the Universe there is order.
In the movement of the planets ...
in nature ...
and in the functioning of the human mind.
A mind that is in its natural state of order is
in harmony with the Universe,
and such a mind is
timeless.
Your life is an expression of your mind.
You are a creator of your own Universe,
for as a human being you are "free to will" whatever state of being you desire
through the use of your thoughts and words.

There is great Power there.

It can be a blessing or a curse.

It's entirely up to you,
for the quality of your life is brought about by the quality of your thinking.
Think about that.
Thoughts produce actions.
See the pettiness and the envy and the greed and the fear
and all the other attitudes that cause you pain and discomfort.
Realize that the one thing you have absolute control over is your attitude.
See the effect that it has on those around you,
for each life is linked to all Life and
your words carry with them chain reactions
like a stone that has been thrown into a pond.
If your thinking is in order, your words will flow directly from the heart,
creating ripples of love.
If you truly want to change your world, my friends,
you must change your thinking.
Reason is your greatest tool.
It creates an atmosphere of understanding
which leads to caring
which is Love.
Choose your words with care.
Go forth ... with Love.

"The Theme From Time" from Time: the Musical, by Dave Clark

You can hear Sir Laurence Olivier perform his original role with this music on YouTube by going HERE.  Fabulous and life-changing!

This auction will generate funding for the programs and upkeep of the "home away from home" for cancer patients, so I hope that the bidders are generous and not just looking for a bargain in art work by nationally known artists.

The event begins at 5 p.m. with drinks and heavy hors d'ouevres served throughout the evening.  The Silent Auction is 5-7 p.m. and the live auction is 7:15-8:30 p.m.  It's always exciting and the art is spectacular, with original art, custom hope chests and artist enhanced furniture featured.  Please come join the artists and bidders for a fun evening with a purpose!

Activities and Art

We have been gone much of last month, first to Ft. Lauderdale for the exhibit opening at Artists Haven Gallery.  The gallery opening was great fun!  You can see the pictures of the reception HERE.  Next, we went on a cruise of the western Caribbean, ostensibly to be warm and to snorkel.  We snorkeled plenty but we didn't get warm until we got to Belize!  Record cold in Florida was a big surprise for us.  But the fish and the reefs were terrific!

Since returning home, I've been catching up and creating a painting for the Casa Esperanza annual Art for Hope Auction fundraiser, which takes place March 20, at the Embassy Suites in Albuquerque, NM.  Stay tuned for details and to see my painting!

Casa Esperanza is a low-cost retreat house for cancer patients undergoing treatment in Albuquerque.  It's funded largely by donations and fundraisers.  This is my fifth year to participate.  You may remember my hope chests in 2005, 2007, and 2008 and can see them online on the Casa Esperanza website in their past events links.  I've also contributed several paintings for their auctions. 

In the midst of creating a larger painting, which took me way longer than I hoped to tweak, I created some small paintings (as in 2.5 x 3.5 inches!) with the leftover paint on several days.  This is one of a New Mexico mesa.  I had a lot of fun palette knife painting this from my memory, using the colors at hand!

Are You Ready to Die?

These words by Pablo Picasso are a sobering beginning to a new year:
"Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone."

The beginning of a new year always stimulates thoughts and resolutions about what has been and what might be. We must approach each day with the knowledge that we have only THIS MOMENT and no other guarantees.

What are you "willing to die having left undone?" Better yet, what MUST you do before you die?

Here is my latest painting, done with new alkyd based oil paints that I received the day before Christmas. What a marvelous magnet to get back into my studio! This one is 24"x18", palette knife on white gessoed board--a bit of a departure for me.