10x10 RAP (Real Art Party)

Throughout the Berkshires the excitement is growing for Pittsfield's 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival  running from February 13th - 23rd. One of the highlights that George and I particularly love is Berkshire Art Association's 10x10 RAP (Real Art Party). I was at the Berkshire Museum yesterday with some fellow BAA board members receiving artist's works and am so impressed by the quality and generosity of artists here. (impressed, but not surprised!)
 
Today I will drop off George's block print. There's still time to submit your work from 3:00-5:00PM at the Berkshire Museum.


Castlerigg by George Himmel
 

Details Feb 15 - 20:  10X10 RAP EXHIBIT on view at the Berkshire Museum
Feb 20:  10x10 RAP and PechaKucha FREE ADMISSION

5:30 pm Doors open to the 10x10 Real Art Party
7 pm ARTIX drawn: Each $25 ARTIX guarantees a piece of original art to take home
8 pm PechaKucha

This is really a fun evening for a great cause. Proceeds will benefit Berkshire County art students: BAA Fellowships for college art majors • Art field trip grants for high school art classes • Free admission for art students to the Berkshire Museum

Acrylic Obsession

I am a watercolorist who also creates mixed media paintings, but over the last week I've become OBSESSED with acrylic paint on canvas. I started thinking weeks ago about paintings I wanted to create for the Berkshire Art Association's 10x10 RAP (Real Art Party) and at least one painting for the "10x10 Show" at the NUarts Gallery - all due this month. Still things were very slow in the creation department. Then a couple of weekends ago I dove into a bag full of heavy body acrylics and I haven't been able to stop painting ever since. Why had I never tried acrylics like this before? I really love them.  

  

 

I'm halfway through a great resource, New Acrylics Essential Sourcebook by Rheni Tauchid. It's a wonderful guide that delves into the alchemy and science of working with acrylics. I've used fluid acrylics in my mixed media art, but I have only scratched the surface of all that's possible with this versatile medium. The bold colors and high viscosity have hooked me.

 

I've painted three cloudscapes, all 10"x10" for February events - First Fridays Artswalk (2/7) and BAA's 10x10 RAP (Real Art Party) which is 2/20.

 

 

Sweet Baby Samantha

One month ago today Kate brought this sweet child into the world. Welcome Samantha Catherine! She is loved by so many people already and has changed us all by her presence. We're a large family, with steps and blends...and the thing that ties us together is love - love for each other and now love for this new little one.

I am a grandmother now; a whole new chapter has begun. I am full of gratitude and awe....pretty much speechless. Thank you universe.