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. 

These Times They Are A-changin'

Well friends, I have some very excited news to share with you -- actually A LOT of exciting news, but let's focus on one thing at a time.   As those of you who follow my blog already know, I recently attended a five week residency at the Hambidge Center in Georgia.  This was a life changing experience.  NOT to sound corny, but really -- it brought many things in to absolute clear focus.   I found real happiness while in the woods of Georgia painting my life away.  I know painting is what I need to spend my life doing, and my current situation is not allowing me the time I need to pursue it with the focus that I'd like. So, I'm taking a plunge:  I have given my notice and as of August 6th, 2010 I will no longer be employed as an Admissions Counselor at Montserrat College of Art.  It feels good. Actually, after three years it feels really good. Working 40+ hours a week is exhausting and although I have managed to continue my studio practice I need more time (don't we all.) So - this Fall I will be teaching painting and drawing classes at the Maud Morgan Visual Art Center in Cambridge, MA two days a week.  This frees up a huge amount of time for me to paint, and work harder at making a larger part of my income from the sales of my artwork (stay tuned for an etsy page...yes, even I will have an etsy page.)  I am also very enthusiastic to take all that I have learned from previous teachers and mentors and pass it on to others who are just as passionate about making art as I am. I am thankful that the wonderful people at MMVAC have created a space and a program for students of all ages to have an opportunity to create. 

Classes begin September 16th, so in the weeks between my leaving Admissions and joining the Maud Morgan family, I will be traveling to NYC, DC and the family beach cottage (shack) for some R&R&P (rest, relaxation and painting...corny? yes.) 

The semester ends on November 20th and on November 21st I take off on a much bigger adventure - one of the bigger plunges I have taken. Planning is in full swing - and actually almost complete - but I don't want to let the cat out of the bag quite yet.  I'll give you a very cheesy hint though...right here. 

So there you have it friends. Hambidge gave me time to paint and an opportunity to meet new friends - but it also gave me the courage to take a leap and work towards my goal of painting full time to make a living.  I'm excited about this new adventure and I'll be sure to keep you all updated. 

And hey, the fact that you read my blog makes me feel like a million bucks...a million bucks my friends. So thanks. 

Studio Update

Hi Friends, 

Things are going well and I am really enjoying working with paint again.  I think I mentioned it before, but I am very aware that some of the things I am doing with paint this time around couldn't have happened with out my two year love affair with pastel.  No new finished paintings to report but below are a few shots of my studio as it stands. 

When I came back from Hambidge I overhauled my studio trying to get it up to par with what I had in the Fischer Studio. It's not quite as clean, and no where near as huge, but taking these photos tonight made me realize how much I really do love my space. I'm lucky to have a studio that allows me to work (somewhat) large and to "spread out" as they say -- and I'm okay with not having a living room.  I'm very excited about the painting I'm working on which you can see in the first image.  Being at Hambidge gave me the time, solitude and confidence I needed to really explore and push through to new places in my work, I am happy to say that this has continued since my return and the reason I think I am so excited to get in the studio every night after work. 

The view from my studio stoop, it's even better at sunset. 

So that's that for now my friends.  I'll be back, and thanks for reading! 

Unloading the kiln.

Guess what? This is my 100th post! 
Below are photos from the much awaited Anagama Kiln Unloading -- this happened the final Saturday of my time at Hambidge so I only stayed for a short period of time since I wanted to be painting up until my final hour. This was a very collaborative and communal undertaking and if any of you have a chance to be a a part of an Anagama firing I would say to definitely, DEFINITELY, participate. If for no other reason than to drink beer at 2:00 in the morning next to a giant contained fire pit that is around twelve hundred degrees.  

So there you have it folks.  This was really cool to watch and some really awesome vessels were pulled out of the kiln. Some objects looked so much different than the artist expected that they didn't even recognize it as their own! Things also blew up and fused together forcing two artists to discuss who was the rightful owner of the piece! I won't be doing any more posts about my time at Hambidge, though I could do many, many more...and who knows, pictures from Hambidge might pop up now and again, but it is time to concentrate on the here and now. I am hoping to resume posting on a regular basis regarding the condition of my condition.  

Three cheers for you my friends, thanks for reading, and here's to another hundred more! 

Just Beyond the Garden

Hi Friends, 

Here is an image of Just Beyond the Garden, the last finished painting I created while at Hambidge (my studio at Hambidge [Fisher] was located just beyond another studio by the name of Garden, hence the title). You may recognize this painting from such posts as In Case You Were Wondering. I made a decent amount of progress on another painting after the completion of Garden, though time did not allow for it's completion. I have yet to decide to finish it or let it be since it would become a totally different beast now that I am back in Beverly.  I am thankful for both of these paintings as they led to what I am currently working on and all revved up about.  Also, Just Beyond the Garden is hanging in the lobby of Raymond James Financial Services in the plaza right next to Casa de Moda.  They are very friendly, go have a look see! 

Just Beyond the Garden, 42" x 60". Acrylic on canvas. 2010.

Also, I'm done messing around. Operation: Find a Photographer Friend to Photograph My Work has COMMENCED! Know anyone? 

You're oh so kind for reading.  I'll be back soon!

I know, I know...

...I am a total slacker (not really though.)  I haven't posted since leaving Hambidge on May 9th.  My re-entry into the real world has been tougher than I thought it would be. I really found happiness at Hambidge, and now know what I need and want to do with my life, having had this experience makes it tough to come back to oil changes, bills, email, returning phone calls, etc. I was spoiled with the Fischer Studio, so upon my return I needed to overhaul my studio space at home (again) to make is a bit more suitable for painting.  Having used the space for charcoal and pastel for the past two years, everything (everything, really) was covered in dust, and that dust was getting in my paint. I had to do a lot of sweeping and vacuuming to get things in to better shape.  I have been painting and drawing since my return, but have found it tough to get back on a regular blogging schedule.  I will get a post up about the unloading of the Anagama kiln and then get back to posting regularly about studio work.  I promise...just give me a few more days. Rest assured my friends, all is well and good and things are happening! Oh, things are happening! 

A Fond Farewell.

Well friends, the time has come for me to bid adieu to the Hambidge Center.  My time here has been meaningful and fruitful. I created a number of works that I can say I am happy with (and sold a few too!) but I also made an amazing move forward as I made the jump back into painting after years of working with pastel.  I also formed strong friendships here,  people from all over the country with a strong passion for their art, I hope to stay in touch with all of them.  I must say I am a bit sad leaving my beautiful studio and this wonderful environment but I am ready to bring the momentum and energy I gained here back North (where I'm not the one with the accent) and I am excited to see what comes next.  Of course it is a beautiful, sunny day here making my departure that much harder. A few images:

Mr. Big the Hambidge Kitty, helped to see me off, and an image of the Fischer Studio returned (almost) to it's original state, with one addition.  I'm proud to join the hundreds of other Fellows that have passed through the Hambidge Center, it's signing the stairs that makes me an official Hambidge Fellow for life!

My trip home includes stops in D.C and Rhode Island and I will be posting along the way. I will also do another few posts once I am back North to update you on my last week at Hambidge (including the unloading of the Anagama kiln...) So stay tuned friends, and thanks for listening! 

Up next: Bea goes to DC! ETA: 6:00pm

Well I Did Something Really Cool This Weekend...

...I got to help fire an Anagama Kiln! An Anagama Kiln is a beast.  It is a wood firing kiln that originates from Korea and China and takes 48 hours to fire and a week to cool down.  This is not one of those electric kilns that you press a few buttons and come back the next day to your finished wares. The beautiful thing about an Anagama kiln is that unexpected things happen. The temperature is controlled by the amount of wood loaded and the amount of air allowed in to the kiln. Since most people can't stay up for forty-eight hours, four hour shifts are assigned to couples that may or may not have vessels in the kiln. I was lucky enough to assist Chase with his 1:00AM to 4:00AM shift...it was great! We sat around talking with other people watching the kiln.  The heat was immense, but the glow the kiln had was beautiful.  Below are a few photos taken of the firing, the kiln is cooling off until Saturday so I will update you with images from the unloading and the treasures that result from this amazing process!

That last photo is the team that came before Chase and I. The woman on the right is opening up the door to the kiln and the man on the right is loading the wood in.  It's a dance, and it takes rhythm and synchronization since the temperature can change drastically if the door is open for more than a second or two. 

I will update you all with studio images tomorrow.  I am very excited about the painting I just finished!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!! 

In Case You Were Wondering...

Hi Friends, 
Here it is...the studio as it stands as of 5:37 PM EST on April 29th, 2010. 

Oh my, I have got a lot going on.  Today begins the ten day countdown...and that my friends, is sad, very sad indeed.  It also means that I am kicking it up a notch, and I currently have four paintings going right now.  I wish I could stay here another three months, it's amazing the progress I feel I have made in the past four weeks...what could another twelve do?!  So, the painting in the photo right above this little paragraph is what got the brunt of my energy today.  I am really happy with the complexity of the composition, and the space that is being created, I would like to push the color a bit more, though not as far as in Tree Shrine which I feel was on the brink of...too much?  As it moves along I will post a better image.  The process for this painting has been a bit different, I began with washes to give the canvas more "history." I guess I should have taken photos of that. I also have been a bit more methodical in my approach after another painting that I kind of got a little carried away with...Jackson Pollock style. And that's all I have to say about that.  I have two other small paintings going right now as well, about 13" x 20" which helps to balance out working on the larger paintings.  I know I said I would talk about the weekend in this post, and I promise I will...next time. Besides, wasn't this one just riveting?

Hey you! Thanks for listening! 

Studio Update

Hi Friends, 

A quick update to let you know I am still alive! Below is an image of the finished painting which I previously posted while it was still in progress. I titled it Tree Shrine.  A lot happened over the weekend, but I am going to write about all of that tomorrow...I'm exhausted today and would like to go paint and read.  

The painting is 44" x 60" and is the first painting I have done in about two years, aside from some small explorations.  There were multiple times throughout the process where I thought "yea that could be done," but I wanted to push it until I really learned something, and I'm glad I did! I feel I made a lot of headway in this piece and have started two more paintings of similar size since completing this one.  So....we'll see! Again, more tomorrow, I'm exhausted.  

Thanks for listening!

As promised...and then some.

Hi Friends!

I am going to make this quick as dinner starts in twenty minutes! Below  is a photo of my studio from today, again see the difference from when I first arrived? Let's hope I can bring back up to par before my departure.  

And a close up of the painting on the left, which is almost done.  A few adjustments were made since this photo was taken, and I have a few more to make.  I really want to think and look for a while before making them though, and as always, I love feedback / criticism. You can get a sense of scale from the photo above but the painting is about 40" x 44".

Oh oh! And I have five new neighbors!! They showed up about a week ago, but I didn't want to freak them out by taking their picture until today. 

Mama Bird has certainly has been busy.  I keep bringing spiders outside from my studio and have a feeling they wind up in the mouths of these little guys. And if you have forgotten what I look like, here's a nice little photo of me on the deck before dinner. I think I'm looking at the wasps flying around, but also smiling because this places makes me happy. 

You're the best, thanks for listening! 

But I Will Save That Post for Tomorrow...

Hi Friends,

Happy Earth Day!! In salute to such a glorious holiday, I went on yet another hike! I actually didn't remember it was Earth Day until after the hike...but, "whatever." I still did it. I thought I would write endlessly about how beautiful this place is, but I'll just let you see it in the photos. The trails here are wonderful, long and meandering. The weather is consistently beautiful and all of the gorgeous greens are out! Chase and I had a great talk along the way, until it got too uphill to really say much. Enjoy!

The lilacs are taking over, and they look and smell beautiful! Also, I was going to post tonight about what has been going on in the studio, but I will save that post for tomorrow. Stay tuned my friends, stay tuned! 

And hey, thanks for listening.

NOTE:  I was informed after this post that those flowers are actually wisteria.  A very close friend of lilacs. 

Do a little turn on the catwalk...yea...the catwalk. A 360 degree day.

Hi Friends!

Today started off with a wonderful email from a friend who has made a big exciting decision, so I got off on a great foot! Then I started to paint...and I became so totally frustrated I couldn't believe it!!! Every time I think I'm on to something, I get totally pumped about it...then I step back and say "what the hell is that?!" Some great advice from a friend reminded me to just let things happen, and to stop thinking so much. We got into a discussion about "depth" and what it really means...I decided I will let someone else figure that out while I enjoy my time in the mountains of Georgia making things that may or may not change the world, but certainly make me happy, and hopefully a few of you along the way. So things really turned around for me around 12:30 today and I didn't stop painting until around 5:00.  I now write to you from my sunny (and as of yesterday, wasp free, porch) where I am sipping my Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier (I don't recommend it) and enjoying the sun and the mountains.  I am going to try and start blogging from home before dinner, because last night walking home was a wee bit scary at 10:30, especially after Chase read to me the fact that mountain lions can pounce fifteen feet.  Anyways, here are some new photos of my space, looking more and more like my studio at home each day.  

Oh, and another reason my day really turned around? Because at 12:30 I got a call in my studio that I had a package waiting for me.  I went to get said package and inside were...

...tulips, my favorite flower! So thank you to Dany for a wonderful WONDERFUL surprise. They now grace my studio and bring some color to the areas that I haven't yet splattered with paint. 

Hope you all had a fabulous day, and that you can hear the birds chirping wherever you are as I can from my porch here at the Hambidge Center! 

A Walk in the Woods

 Hi Friends, 

Today officially marks a week of being at Hambidge, I am so glad I have another four left! I feel like I am really just getting going. I did a few drawings this week that were completely new to me. At first I was really excited about them, but then realized I wasn't having as much fun doing them as when I was painting, or using color...more on that tomorrow. I have done so much since my last post and I was going to try and cram it all in to one post.  Now that I'm looking at my images though, I think it might be a bit too much for just one. So, I will continue to keep you all on the edge of your seats until tomorrow night. For now I will share with you a few more images of my surroundings. I went on a wonderful hike today, it was so nice being all alone in the woods. I could hear all of the noises that nature has to offer, until I started singing the theme song to the Dukes of Hazzard...which was nice in it's own right. I've been overthinking a lot of things (as I tend to do) and a walk in the woods was just what I needed to try and let all of those thoughts go. 

The last photo is of the bird I mentioned in my last post that is nesting outside my house, the photo doesn't show it, but he's pretty big! After my walk/hike I felt great! I went back to the studio and began a large painting that I'm pretty excited about. More on that tomorrow. 

Also, Hambidge has a pretty intense and diverse environment. Check here to read all about what the mountains of Georgia have to offer, and why I'm a little afraid to walk home right now (it's 10:30, extremely dark, and there are BEARS in these parts!)  

I hope you are all doing well, and thanks for reading! 

Je suis arrivé!

I have arrived! Actually I arrived two days ago. BUT I AM HERE! I HAVE MADE IT TO HAMBIDGE! I received the news back in November that my application had been accepted for a fellowship to the Hambidge Center, and now I am finally here!  I don't think I need to say too much, I'll let the images explain why I (and the Subaru) are so, so, so, so happy here. I will say that things are different here. Cell phone service doesn't exist and internet is half an hour away from my studio.  I love, love, love it here. 

So there you have it...that's my studio/home for the next five weeks! It's all mine and it's incredible! My bedroom is up those stairs, but it's no where near as cool as the studio. These photos were taken right upon arrival, so the cleanliness and order of the place has dissolved quite a bit in the past forty-eight hours. The previous occupant left me a note with advice to "follow my passion", as well as a small drawing, a phone card, and a grocery discount card. I will post new photos of the space, as well as works in progress soon. I am really enjoying being alone. I wake up early and have the entire day to myself, with no outside distractions, and I work all day. I have been painting and haven't even touched my pastels. I'm working mostly on paper but have  a large amount of canvas I plan to work on.  I haven't left the mountains yet for town, but may have to do so soon...I need sandpaper and milk.   My fellow fellows (hah!) are quite a wonderful group as well. I am the youngest here, but have made friends with Chase, a sculptor who is only a few years older than me.  He has plans to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder this coming Fall. More on my new friends soon. 

Well, boo yea. I'm psyched. I love it here. Right now I am writing from the Rock House, literally made of rocks. The frogs are chirping and the stars are brilliant. This morning I went on a hike but it started to pour half way through, it rained all day until about five.  I saw a bird I didn't recognize, I watched a bird that nests outside my window, I thought about Obama, I listened to the radio, I ironed some canvas, I gessoed some paper, I ate some oatmeal and I painted all day.  

See you tomorrow, and thanks for listening!