Monday, November 29, 2010

Facebook Page

Using a blog is great, I enjoy the chance to write here and to show my work but it's always been a bit difficult to feel that I was really connecting with buyers here so I've added a "Kathy's Gallery" page on Facebook,. This allows me to offer sales on my work for special occasions such as cyber week etc. I also think that people find it easier to follow me there.

I'm also on Twitter.com these days as @kathysgallery so if any of you would like to join me in either of my new ventures, I'd enjoy the company :) I almost always follow back!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Oooh shiny new toys!

Alright, so I've been told that I need to specialize in only one style and only one material. They have a valid point which I agree with completely: if someone enjoys one of my paintings they will naturally want to see (and hopefully purchase) others that are similar. If they don't find anything else even close to what they like, they will understandably find another artist who's a little more predictable.

It all makes sense....................................... but... I'm a painter of abstracts who has (through no fault of her own mind you) gotten hold of some professional video editing software. And it's cool...very cool. I also (through some fault of my own) have a son who wants to be a rock star. Sooo, this is what I did. I may have gone a little overboard.




11/14

Will helped with this one:



I guess mine was tame!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Somebody's watching me! Plein Aire Painting at the Tug Hill Paint Out

The Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust is an organization that helps protect over 5,000 acres here in upstate New York and among their fundraisers is the annual "Paint Out" in September. We set up our easels near the Salmon River Falls and spent a beautiful fall day painting and chatting with the hikers and one-another. At the end, the paintings were sold at auction with the proceeds going to help fund the organization.
There were a total of 16 professional Artists set up along the trail and at the fish hatchery that day. The quality and variety of the art was impressive. I had a wonderful time meeting these talented artists and "talking shop." Particularly fun was re-connecting with watercolor Artist Gail Marks. She and I went to art school together and even lived in the same dormitory suite. We had lost touch through the years and it was great to have the time to laugh about the old times and catch up on one another's lives. Gail took the above photo for me (I cropped it though, because after a full day in the woods, it was a really bad hair day!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Just for fun

Stephen Auslender, sculptor wrote this to the Yahoo group "Art Anonymous" I have a soft spot for humor than makes you groan, so here goes:

A thief in Paris planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre.
After careful planning, he got past security, stole the paintings, and made it safely to his van.However, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas.
When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and then make such anobvious error, he replied, "Monsieur, that is the reason I stole thepaintings.
'I had no Monet
to buy Degas
to make the Van Gogh."

Then he asked if I had De Gaulle to send this on to someone else. I posted it because I figured I had nothing Toulouse.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

2010 Regional Fine Arts Exhibition at the RACC



I hope all the serious artists will forgive me, but above is a photo of the absolute coolest part of the show (and a delicious part of the reception!) The artwork was of superior quality of course. It only seems to improve every year. Pat Besl's pastel piece "Jack" won the best of show prize and quite deservedly so, it was just beautiful!

I was also impressed by the variety of arts represented. Sculpture, painting and photography along with etchings, fiber arts and collage. All this in only 57 pieces. Mary Murray, contemporary art curator at the Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute did a fabulous job, not a 'dud' in the bunch!

Monday, July 5, 2010

RACC CNY Regional Art Show


An etching titled "Self-Portrait" abstract etching is my entry for this show. Another artist's proof was entered in an on-line show last month. I made a very limited edition of these - 20 total. Of these there are now only 5 left, probably because I'm selling them for only $225. I know that's not much for an original etching but with the economy as it is I thought it would be a good thing to price it lower. It's such a great feeling to be able to own an original piece of art and I really didn't want money to get in the way.
If you're interested in purchasing one. stop by at the RACC this month or e-mail me and I'll get it right out to you :)
If the price is still a deterrent, click on the image to purchase an inexpensive photographic print in a variety of sizes from a reputable printer.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Everson Museum's '60/60'

"The Dance" 11" x 14" Done as a continuation of the river series begun with the painting "Hope" This painting was created, donated and sold during the 60/60 event at the Everson. Museum

This past Friday, I took part in the '60/60' event at the Everson Museum in Syracuse. It was a great time and a wonderful opportunity to raise funds for upstate New York Art!

60 Artists were chosen and we each had 60 minutes to complete an artwork to be raffled, while patrons of the arts strolled through the museum grounds and offered encouragement, comments and generally chatted, watched and enjoyed the refreshments. Arriving an hour ahead of time to get set up and spend time getting to know the other artists added to the fun. I met such interesting people that evening!

The weather was perfect, the people were friendly and a wonderful museum got a little financial boost in these difficult economic times.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Self Portrait - No Really, I look just like this

"Self Portrait - No Really I look just like this" Etching on archival 100% Cotton paper.

I've recently joined "The Artist's Challenge - A Private Art Club" mostly for fun. This month's challenge was a self portrait. I'm fond of this one as it never fails to make it's viewer smile (and usually call me an idiot) It is, however a fair representation of what I look like first thing in the mornings :-P

Click on the image to purchase inexpensive but high quality photographic prints.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Another Abstract Landscape and some great news!


Another small 8 x 10 landscape painted with Golden Acrylics. I'm having a really good time with the colors!
Alright, now for the great news: A couple of months ago I wrote here on the subject of provenance. I was having trouble finding all the information on where my work had been years ago. I've given up on the search through dusty boxes and decided it was time to get back to exhibiting anyway. So I'm really happy to announce that I have gotten replies back from the Everson Museum in Syracuse, New York and from the Chapel Gallery in Ontario, Canada..... I'm in!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Tempest painting



Tempest Acrylic Painting and Monoprint combined. 8" x 10" on paper.
I've been thinking for some time about how much fun I have with intense colors in my realistic paintings, but I always end up dis-satisfied because they seem so still and dead when completed. My earlier abstracts don't really have more life to them but are lacking in the coloring aspect because I felt that strong and/or realistic coloring would distract from the mystery. The abstracts are much more difficult to do but I love the way that they never get old the way realistic paintings do. It seems to me that even a wonderful realistic painting when put on the wall sort of blends in and is largely ignored until it comes time to dust it. An abstract however stays interesting as it only gradually gives up it's secrets.
If you would like a print or greeting card with this image, just click on it. You will be sent to a website where you may purchase it or any of the others displayed here. Thanks.

Monday, April 5, 2010

New Abstract landscape



Partly painted with semi-opaque Golden Acrylics and part monoprint, I really enjoyed creating this intimate landscape piece. Small for me, only 8" x 10 1/2" it really seems to attract alot of attention with it's color.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Flower drawing

Graphite on cotton paper. This drawing was done quickly and was an awful lot of fun!



My artwork is for sale at MadArt Gallery in Hamilton, NY www.madartinc.org


Are you an artist too?
Do you go out on a date wearing your favorite cologne - eau de linseed oil?
When you say you have nothing to wear, do you mean "that doesn't have paint all over it"?
When you come back from your date, does he/she have paint on them too?
Do you judge a book by it's cover?
Have you bought CDs/albums solely because you liked the cover art?

Just some of my favorites paraphrased from about.com:painting

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Abstract Landscape monoprint

I really enjoyed the mysterious quality of the large abstracts but I missed the color. So with this piece I used the brightest and most vibrant colors available.
This piece was shown at the Rome Art and Community Center. Comments were extremely positive.........Thanks!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Provenance

As an artist, I have always had a rather simple plan. I went to College and studied art in an attempt to better my skills and learn from those who had come before. Since graduation, I've spent my time creating more artwork and then found ways to show it to as many people as possible in the hope that it will be enjoyed by at least some of those who see it. When it sells to someone who appreciates it, I have money (and space) for more artwork.

I never really thought at all about the provenance of the work, and certainly never mentioned the number of shows or the prestige of the places my work had been accepted to.

Then, the recession hit and sales became more hit and miss. To supplement my income I took a part time job with an Author and serious Art Collector. In the beginning, it was all about typing and secretarial work but lately the job's been a lot about his collection of art, and a real eye-opener to me about the "other side" of the art world. He is meticulous about the provenance of each of his works, keeping careful records and often lends to museums and galleries to increase their visibility.

I thought it rather odd and that no-one would care about where the art works had been, surely it's the quality of the image that matters...until he showed me the painting that he had acquired which had been shown at the New York Armory show. I must admit, I was seriously impressed and spent a lot more time really looking at it than I might have otherwise.

So maybe it's not so odd but serves the purpose of getting people to really look at the image rather than just allowing a cursory glance.

To that end, I'm now going back to some of my old posts and adding information about what has been seen and where.

For those who don't want to read them all, a synopsis:

The abstracts have the highest number of shows. All were in the two person shows at Oswego and at the CNYCAC gallery, I submitted one abstract to the Batavia International Exhibit where it was accepted and shown, one to the Everson Museum in Syracuse which was also accepted and shown. Knowing what I know now, I wish I'd sent more out, but there you go.
On line they can be seen at the Saatchi Gallery (London), Fine Art America and Absolute Arts sites.

The semi-abstracts have been shown at the RACC galleries and a few regional shows. The realistic work was all done either as a student or on commission.

Photography and pottery are just for fun!

Not sure if there's anything else I should add, any suggestions?

Monday, January 25, 2010

"Snowstorm" pastel painting, another hidden image landscape

When I made this one I thought I was being relatively realistic....... well I might have exaggerated the colors just a tiny bit. So it came as a surprize to me the first time I heard that people couldn't make out what it was.
In case you're having trouble with it, it's just a simple study of the trees off my back yard during a snowstorm. I just loved the lighting on that particular late evening and was trying to capture it in pastel.

This pastel painting has been exhibited at The RACC Gallery in Rome, NY and at MadArt Gallery, Hamilton, NY this piece is available for purchase.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Untitled watercolor abstract painting - another hidden picture



Hiding landscape images in abstract paintings was fun, but I felt that it was getting too much the same, so this watercolor is a more intimate scene. I think it's really obvious, but have also gotten feedback that it was of something completely different than my original intention. So I don't want to spell it out in words. Tell me.....what do you see?

This piece was exhibited at the Kallet and is in a private collection.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Engagement Photos


The challenge of portraiture is to show the personality of the subject or in this case the couple. Kaysie and Lee are fun and adventure seeking souls who love living in the Adirondak Mountains. So a very chilly outdoor shoot was definitely called for. Here are a couple of my favorite shots from that day.


Leaning against the tree where he proposed, verbally and graphically.




And in Black and White (and red) by a nearby stream.