Made it!

Hi Friends,

I am writing to you from an internet cafe in a huge seven story mall in Bangkok. I'm surrounded by little Thai kids playing computer games. I am very tall. I spent the last 32 hours either sitting on a plane or in a terminal so I was very happy to land at 12:45pm today. I don't know how often I will be blogging, and when I do there probably won't be pictures, but I figure this is an okay way to let people know what I am up to.

Highlights So Far:

Met two girls from WPI (where my brother and my best friend went to college) in the airport in Bahrain.

Saw a woman in a full burqa talking on a smart phone and using a public computer to check her Facebook page. Also, a mom and daughter in full burqa and their husband/dad in jeans and flannel. An interesting meet up of traditional and modern practices.

Figured out how to take the train system to my hotel from the airport with only mild awkwardness.

Saw some amazing, amazing architecture and neighborhoods from the train.  It's really interesting how the water is integrated into the layout of neighborhoods here. Lots of ponds and rivers and streams with houses all around.

Tonight I will search out a restaurant my brother suggested and tomorrow I apply for my Myanmar visa, buy train tickets to Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai, and explore Chinatown. I've got three days here in Bangkok before heading North to Chiang Mai, Pai and Mae Hong Son and plan to do a nighttime river cruise to see the temples lit up, and visit the Imperial Palace before leaving.

When I was on my road trip a few years ago I met up with my mother's cousin in Boulder. I had never met her before, but we had lunch and got along great. Turns out that we'll both be in Chiang Mai, Thailand at the same time a few days from now, so we'll be meeting up for dinner. Small world.

Okay, time is running up on my internet access and I need some ice cream and more weather appropriate clothing.

I love you guys,
Bea

Remember...

...when I did this? Next up is this:

I'll be backpacking all over Southeast Asia for the next two months hitting up Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar. I can't guarantee any consistent posting on here, but I am sure I'll pop in once in a while to give an update and share some photos.

I am really excited about where my paintings are going right now, so it's tough to leave them alone for two months - but I know this trip will refill my inspiration tank and I'm looking forward to the impact it will have on my paintings. I'll be doing small ink drawings while away as it's compact and easy to carry.

So that's that. You're cool. Thanks for reading. Let me know if you have any suggestions on places to visit.

New Painting

A Solid Spire, 20" x 16". Oil on Canvas.

I really want to go to China. I'm leaving my studio in 9 days. I'm not going to China, but I am going somewhere really cool. I think the deadline is making me take risks and do things I may not normally do. See above.

Love,

Bea

Practicing Making Progress

Here is what I have been spending my days working on as of late. 

I have a deadline of December 21st to finish these pieces. I'll tell you why soon.

Work in New Media: Fresh Paint

I currently have two paintings included in New Media| Fresh Paint, an exhibition featuring the work of members of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum Corporate Art Loan Program on display at the New Art Center in Newton, MA. Jurors Leonie Bradbury of the Galleries at Montserrat College of Art, Joe Wardell of deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, and Maria Lockheardt of Wellesely College selected the following two paintings for inclusion in this exhibition. 

 A Bird in the Hand, oil on canvas, 24" x 30"

Flat Rock, Red Rock, oil on canvas, 24" x 30"

The opening reception was fantastic and I was flattered to be included in such a beautiful exhibition. You can click here for images from the event, including a number with my paintings in the background. 

See you soon,

Bea

Visit My Studio!

My studio will be open to the public as part of the larger Holiday Open Studios at Porter Mill event this Saturday, December 1st. I have two of my bigger, new paintings in an exhibit at the New Art Center but you will be able to see my smaller works in progress and what I have been working on lately (though not posting on this here blog.) I hope to see you this Saturday! See below for a schedule of the day. 

10:00am - 4:00pm: Explore the studios of fifty ceramists, painters, photographers, jewelers, musicians, printmakers and more! Meet the artists, ask questions, and purchase original works of art from the people who make them, where they make them. Pick up something for everyone on your holiday shopping list! 

4:00pm - 7:00pm: Join us in the gallery for a festive evening celebration and the opening reception of the 2nd Annual Small Works Exhibition featuring artists from around the region. Enjoy art, music and seasonal refreshments while mingling with the artists. 

Both events are free and open to the public. 

Find this event on Facebook.

Days Past

Hi All,
I never shared a "proper" photo of this painting. 

A Cairn Out West II, Oil on canvas, 24" x 30" 2012

 Detail

Detail

I have been a bit distracted lately. Thinking about friends, other artists, traveling, what I am doing with my life. You know, those things. What do you think about? My thoughts, thankfully, are mostly positive...but still distracting. Gottapaintgottapaintgottapaint.

Thanks for stopping by. Ear tug. 

Rocks and cairns and mountains and deserts.

That's all I think about when I paint. That and how amazing oil paint is. And color. And traveling. 

Flatrock, redrock. Oil on canvas. 24" x 30". 

Maybe I'll post some detail shots soon. This is all you get for now...it's really hot. 

Love,
Bea

Alive and Painting

 

I am working away. The painting in the foreground is finished, but I haven't taken a decent photo of it yet.

I've been staying up really late painting - like 5:00am late. Good things happen during those hours, I think a mixture of sleep deprivation and knowing no one is going to knock on my door or call me helps me relax and frees me of inhibitions. 

Happy Friday dear friends. 

Come by and visit the studio!

Come on by on Saturday, June 16th to check out (in person) all of the work I have been posting and a few pieces I haven't. Close to fifty other artists will have their studios open as well! Come on by and check them out, then stay late for live music, food, and drinks in the gallery to celebrate the day. 

Find this on Facebook! 

(Porter Mill is where I work as Studio Manager and Gallery Director so you can see what I am doing when I am not painting!)

PS - Pick up the latest issue of the North Shore Art*Throb to read an interview I did with editor in chief Dinah Cardin! 

New Work

Two more 11" x 14" acrylic on canvas paintings. 

They're better in person, come visit. 

New Paintings

Continuing with the 11" x 14" canvases, here are three more. All are currently untitled and acrylic. I'm still working on larger oil paintings, and bringing a lot of the lessons from these smaller paintings in. Working quickly on these small canvases gives me a lot of patience with the larger ones.

Working. Working. Working. 

The Last Two Weeks

It's hard to say what order these all came in since I work them all at the same time. The paintings below did come before the paintings in the last post though. All are acrylic on canvas, 13" x 11". 

I like some more than others. 

New This Week

These paintings are smaller than what I typically work on. 13" x 11" is a good size. Working on fifteen of these at a time is liberating. All of these are acrylic on canvas, and as of now, untitled. 

You should come see them in person. 

And Just Like That.

Ups and downs my friends. That's what's been happening. Also, a few things I've made recently:

 24" x 24" Oil on Canvas

 13" x 11" Oil on Canvas

  13" x 11" Oil on Canvas

 12" x 9.75" Acrylic on paper.

 12" x 9.75" Acrylic on paper.

It never seems like I have enough time. I just want time. I need to make more work. I miss the mountains and the desert. I miss camping. Short post. Off to paint. I'm on to something. EDIT: I think I'm on to something. 

A New Home

I am very happy that my painting "Beyond the Garden" (which I painted while at Hambidge and previously had the word "Just" in the title) has found a new, permanent home at CBIZ Tofias in Boston, MA.  Wrapping a painting, renting a U-Haul and driving a painting in to Boston is a fun way to spend a morning. 

Beyond the Garden, acrylic on canvas, 45" x 57". 2010

This sale came about as a direct result of being involved in the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum's Corporate Art Loan Program. If you don't already participate in the program you can find more information here.