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.

 

For the Love of Cards

There is something about unique art cards and note cards that has always attracted me - creating them and collecting them. I guess it started when I was somewhere around 8 years of age. I designed a series of "all occasion cards" using crayons and folded paper. I packaged them in recylced card boxes covered in construction paper. And then I hit the neighborhood to sell them. Fifty cents for a box of six - what a deal!

 

When my mom got wind of what I was doing, my little enterprise came to a screeching halt. I didn't think I was pestering the neighbors. I thought I was offering a unique opportunity for them to have handcrafted note cards - who doesn't love that? So I'm again selling cards, but now they are created from my original paintings.

 

 

There are around 30 different designs currently. I'm slowly building up a little card shop on Etsy and have been sellling cards locally for several years. And this time I'm not pestering the neighbors!

 

I appreciate the immediacy of email and it's become an integral part of my work and social life, but I will always treasure art cards, lovely papers and being able to take pen to paper. Might it be time to send a thoughtful note to someone you're thinking of? 

 



Staying Focused

My daughter, Christine, is running her first marathon tomorrow and it has made me think about celebrating strengths, staying focused and persevering to reach our goals. She has run a few half marathons, but never a full marathon. Below is a photo of her this spring at her latest half marathon. Christine is one of the most focused people I've ever come across. When she sets her mind to doing something, she'll give it 110%.

 

stolen photo from Christine's blog at unspeakablevisions.com

I'm taking this moment to send out positive energy for us all to stay focused and persevere to reach whatever goals or challenges we choose to work on. For me that means to keep stretching as an artist and to continue my morning walks despite the weather. I've found a walking meditation awaits me each time I head out the door for a walk before I leave for work in the morning. And the painting feeds my spirit in ways I can't describe.

So, here's to you, Christine, and a wonderful run! xo

The most important part of living the dream

If you know me at all, you know how important family is to me. It's with much love and gratitude that I hold my husband George, my amazing daughters, their spouses and my extended family members close in my heart. I include all those who are part of the circle of love whether or not there is a legal tie. And the circle is expanding...

My heart is overflowing waiting for the birth of my first grandbaby due in early January. I could never imagine what this would be like. I would listen to friends speaking about their grandchildren, see their eyes sparkle and their soft smiles, sometimes wild laughs and occasionally tears as they told me their stories. Welcoming the next generation into our own families - what could be better than that?





Kate 

I never knew a grandmother of my own, but when I was 29 my former husband's grandmother came to live with us. And what a blessing that was - the sun was always shining in Grandma Keefe's heart. Kate was three years old and Christine was about to be born. I never heard Grandma say a bad word about anyone, unless it was the opposing team of the Syracuse basketball team - "her boys" as she called them. She loved the kids, her great grandchildren and left us with beautiful memories.

My mother was known to my children as Gram and my former husband's mom was known as Nana. Nana was an amazing woman, someone I will always love and aspire to be like when I'm a Nana. She taught me much, loved us all so wildly and made family get togethers so special whether it was just chatting over a cup of coffee or a holiday extravaganza. The ordinary was extraordinary. I was also blessed to have a loving, energetic and fun Aunt in my life who provided the girls with another Grandmother figure - Aunt Mil. All these women were in my life and my children's lives to love and guide them. They are all gone now, and it's my turn to be grandmother.

I wonder how I will fill these very large shoes, be the kind of grandmother who will help bring out the best in my own grandchildren. What an incredible opportunity and privilege. I'm awaiting the birth of Kate's baby to show me the way, to fill my heart with her own special brand of love. And I have to say, I am enjoying every anticipatory moment and can't wait to meet the little one.

Side by Side Art Opening

SIDE BY SIDE
Art Opening & Reception
September 6th 5-8:00 PM during       First Fridays Artswalk

New Works by
Susan Himmel &
Sally Tiska Rice

NUarts Gallery + Studios
311 North Street, Pittsfield, MA

25% of Proceeds to Berkshire Art Association Fellowship Fund to support art field trips for Berkshire County high school students.

Another Peak

As promised, here's another peak at what I'm finishing up for the "Side by Side" art exhibit that will open next Friday, September 6th at NUarts Gallery in Pittsfield. Stay tuned for all the details.

Back to painting....

New Works

I've been painting up a storm lately and want to share one of my new works. It's still untitled, but I will have a title for it soon.

This painting was inspired by one of the photographs my husband took at Smith College's greenhouse. It's an amazing place with a number of rooms, each one hosting more exotic plants than the previous room. It's one of my favorite winter haunts when everything outside is a shade of brown, gray or white. It's a treat, a wonderful sensory experience to transport one out of the ordinary into the extraordinary.

You can see this painting in the "Side by Side" exhibit at the NUarts Gallery next month. I'm showing with fellow artist and friend, Sally Tiska Rice. When we got together to discuss collaborating on “Side by Side”, the idea of donating a portion of our proceeds surfaced as an important part of our mission. Sally and I are both passionate about art and our community. As we feel strongly about the benefit of art in our children’s lives, we are donating 25% of all show sales to Berkshire Arts Association’s Fellowship Fund targeted for art field trips for high school students.

I'll post another sneak peek next week.

413 Glassworks Gallery

Over the past few months I had been working on a series of mixed media paintings to exhibit at 413 Glassworks Gallery along with art cards and mini journals. I delivered five paintings at the beginning of June, two of which are shown here. I wanted to create something entirely different from the River Rocks series which were featured in the Gallery last Fall and these sure are! Paintings will be at 413 Glassworks through the end of this month. 

Gallery owner, Brittany Gabel, has curated a gorgeous collection of fine art and artisan works. Brittany is a skilled and talented glass artist herself whose studio adjoins the gallery. So if you're in the area, this is definitely worth checking out. I have my eye on some gorgeous necklaces and glass work.

"Untethered"

"Atmosphere"

I've moved on to a new series of paintings for an exhibit in September at NUarts Gallery with my friend and fellow artist, Sally Tiska Rice. I may exhibit watercolors, acrylics, and mixed mixed paintings in this show - that's still undetermined. We plan to donate a percentage of our sales to benefit local school children's art field trips through the Berkshire Art Association. Stay tuned for more information about this.

So far this has been a really wonderful summer here in the Berkshires - hot and steamy - but so beautiful.