Over the moon happy.....in gratitude

Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving Day, full of gratitude, acceptance, love and blessings! I hope you will be spending the day in the way that brings you the most joy. And for those who are suffering this year, I hope your suffering is lessened a little by love.



Joe & Kate



Christine & Chris

We'll be celebrating Thanksgiving this year with our children and I'm so happy to be doing so! One of these years we hope to have Jessica join us for a full house. But whether or not loved ones are with us physically, they are always in our hearts, right?



Christine at her intimate tea party/bridal shower

 

AND we're finishing up the final touches for Christine and Chris' wedding, too. For those who follow along regularly, you will recognize Christine from the many times I've cross-posted from her fabulous blog unspeakablevisions.com. There will be a small family wedding on Saturday, with a large newlywed party/reception to follow in January. My heart really is brimming over for these two amazing people.

 

I wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving!

 

xoxoxo

Susan

What if you just knew....

It's funny how things turn out. A few months ago a number of things seemed pretty up in the air for me. I was out of a job and job hunting, trying to decide whether to stay where we are in the Berkshires or move back to upstate New York where George is employed. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with my art either. While I was actively looking at options, job hunting, weighing pros and cons, I was also looking for a sign from the universe that things would turn out for the best.

Then George and I took a road trip, as we love to do. I was telling him about the mish-mash of things on my mind and how peace seemed to be eluding me. After a while we stopped for a cup of tea and to walk around for a bit. George picked up this magnet in one of the shops we visited.

WHAT IF YOU JUST KNEW EVERYTHING WAS WORKING OUT PERFECTLY?

trust.....

This really spoke to me in that moment and in several moments since. When all seems a bit chaotic around you and solutions are not in sight, just take a deep breath.....and trust...that things will work out perfectly. Maybe things don't turn out the way you imagined them, but nonetheless they can be pretty perfect in the big picture.

So now I have a job I love, we are staying in the Berkshires (yay!), I had two art shows in three months and I've rejoined the artists at 311 North Street again. I'll be moving into my new studio December 1st, joining 18 other wonderful artists. I feel recharged artistically. AND there is really great news to share, my daughter, Christine, is marrying a wonderful young man in two weeks! What if you just knew...

413 Glassworks Gallery

Tomorrow I'll be delivering ten paintings to a new gallery, 413 Glassworks Gallery in Cheshire, Mass. I am particularly impressed with gallery owner, Brittany Gabel, who is an incredible glass artist. Her work is amazing and she is a delight to work with. It is fortuitous that Brittany contacted me right now. I was thinking about putting painting on the back shelf with a new job starting in a week or so. I see this serendipitous opportunity as all the confirmation I need to find a way to continue making art on a daily basis....and that makes me very happy. It's the beginning of a very exciting next chapter...and it's all good.

In addition to the gallery opening, 413 Glassworks is hosting its first Fall Arts Festival on October 13th. There will be all kinds of original art including Brittany's gorgeous glass pumpkins. This will be a wonderful stop on your fall foliage drive!

 

 



Friday night during the Artswalk

Thank you friends and family for making this month's First Fridays Artswalk such fun! My only regret is that I didn't have more photos that turned out well, but I hope to get some others to include later.

There is a lot of wonderful art spread throughout the city and I'm glad that exhibits will remain up for the entire month, because now that the opening is over, I look forward to seeing everyone else's work. The First Fridays Artswalk is so valuable to our community. A big shout out to all our art lovers and artists.





Photo by Leo Mazzeo - Susan, Jackie and Sara

Artswalk Invitational

"Bloom Where You're Planted" is the title of the painting I've chosen to donate to the "Artswalk Invitational" next week. It's one of my favorites and it has evolved over the course of a year. I worked on it, set it aside and worked on it some more. You know how some paintings are like that. So now that I'm satisfied with it, out it goes. If /when someone purchases it, the proceeds will go to support our community artswalk.



Bloom Where You're Planted - mixed media on paper

"The August 3rd opening night will feature a benefit show for the “Artswalk” at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue. The show, entitled “Artswalk Invitational”, is curated by Leo Mazzeo, FFA organizer, and will display over 30 pieces of artwork by prominent regional artists as well as showcase a silent auction of goods and services donated by well-known downtown businesses. Refreshments, including delectable treats from Spice Dragon, will be served and musical entertainment by Aimee Gelinas, Dan Cohen, and friends will also be a part of the lively gathering." - Leo Mazzeo

It will be a fun evening - lots to look at, great music and food, so if you're in the area, stop by and say hello. I'll be back and forth between there and TREEHOUSE Gallery, where our exhibit is also having an opening reception. You know you want to come, so please do....

Sara's paintings - another sneak peek

Sara Markel Altman is a wonderful watercolorist and new friend, who will be exhibiting her paintings along with Jackie and I later this week at the TREEHOUSE Gallery in Pittsfield. Sara paints gorgeous abstracts, as well as, representational paintings. Here is a sneak peek of what you'll see at TREEHOUSE. Amazing, right?!!!!

 

Our exhibit runs for the month of August, with an opening reception on Friday, August 3rd from 5:00 to 8:00P PM, as part of Pittsfield's First Fridays Artwalk. If you're in the area, I hope you'll drop by for a wonderful evening of art, conversation, merriment and refreshments.

Jackie's work - sneak peak for August show at Treehouse

My dear friend, Jackie Del Rossi, will be showing her work along with Sara Markel Altman and I at Treehouse Gallery for the month of August. Jackie is an amazing artist who works primarily in oil with an emphasis on portraiture. I love her work!

 

Albert on my mind

One of my favorite quotes from Albert...

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

  ― Albert Einstein

art show next month

The First Fridays Artswalk in downtown Pittsfield that I've been raving about, held its third event last Friday. From all accounts the Artswalk is a huge success! Sidewalks, businesses, galleries and restaurants were filled with arts-loving folks. It's a great time to be out mingling, exploring and chatting with folks one might not have met otherwise. The energy is palpable. It's proof-positive that art really does impact our communites and lives for the better. Thank you, Leo Mazzeo and Mary McGinnis for leading this effort!

I'm really excited to be working on an exhibit to be held at Treehouse Gallery for the month of August. I'll be showing my work with two other artists/friends - Jackie Del Rossi, an oil painter and Sara Markel Altman, a watercolorist. Stay tuned for a sneek peek as to what we'll be exhibiting in the days ahead. I am SUPER excited to be showing with these women!

The Berkshire Salon, Eclipse Mill Gallery

Photo Credit - The Eclipse Mill http://www.eclipsemill.com/userPage_6_Directions.htm

While the list is long of dreamy places to live/work as an artist, the Eclipse Mill in North Adams, Mass. has made it to the short list. Since moving there any time soon is totally out of the question, I decided to participate in their Fifth Annual Berkshire Salon. And yes, I'm exhibiting another river rock painting there. I've recently sold half of the latest River Rock Series, so I'm busy creating more for an exhibit this August. That may very well be my last river rock exhbition.

I'm craving working on a mixed media piece to break things up a bit. I love the juxtaposition of representational work side by side some very abstract pieces. It keeps me balanced in some way that I can't explain.

a wonderful evening of art

It was just one week ago today that First Fridays Artswalk in Pittsfield, Mass. had its inaugural event. After months of planning led by Leo Mazzeo and Mary McGinnis,  Friday May 4th arrived. The rain stopped, the sun came out and a beautiful evening of art, friends and life in the city unfolded. Armed with a camera, George captured many wonderful moments that evening. And this is just the first of many Artswalk evenings to come. The first Friday of each month we will hold an Artswalk in downtown Pittsfield, so if you live near by or are visiting the area, we hope you'll stop by.

Pittsfield is Alive with ART - Come see what all the excitement is about!

happy new year

I wanted to give you a little head's up - I'm taking some time off to refocus my art efforts. We all have those moments when we need to draw inward to work out some creative challenge, right?
I'd like to leave you with this quote from The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown:

"The only unique contribution that we will ever make in this world will be born of our creativity. If we want to make meaning, we need to make art....As long as we're creating, we're cultivating meaning."

Wishing you all a wonderful, creative and inspiring new year!

Hugs,
Susan