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.”