Friday, May 26, 2017

Making Selections - ALL MEDIA SHOW MAY 2017

CROSSROADS ALL MEDIA SHOW MAY 2017



If you were on the walls at Crossroads All Media Show last Friday night, it was an achievement all in itself. CONGRATULATIONS!!! 

Space abounds here but there were many, many applicants eager to fill it. This is a clear testament to the quality and stature of Crossroads Art Center in our Richmond art community and its artists today. Crossroads has grown over the years under the artful guide of Jenni Kirby.

I’m always IN AWE at how Jenni Kirby, owner of Crossroads masterfully assembles an unrelated body of work into cohesive groups allowing the eye to move though an exhibit with a natural rhythm we saw Friday night.  Jenni makes us all look good!! 

Artists at every level have the opportunity to expand their talent, with art instruction, walls and gallery space to show and sell from, juried art exhibits without reservation, only the anticipation of advancing each artists own goal.

MAKING SELECTIONS

It was my honor to make the May 2017 selections. When I look at art, I do it more as a designer than an artist or a judge, judging an art exhibit. My first thought is how I would use it and where! I want it compelling at 30 feet and touchable close up.  

Great consideration is given during the selection process to where an artist is in their own development…..not another.

My rules can be broad based or a simple detail that gets my attention or a colour combination – even a word like a title.  Once it has my attention, I move at a fast and deliberate pace looking for good design, good punctuation, good shadows, good light and above all, mood in art with cohesive quality and good workmanship.

BEST IN SHOW
1.         Danny Trent’s “HAVANA NIGHT” is a statement, a designers dream, meant to hold a wall and a room.

 
 

SECOND PLACE
2.       Nancy Brittle’s “FAMILY CONFERENCE” tells a story with a great title. What got my attention beyond the title was a combination of brush marks on the right figure.


THIRD PLACE
3.       Malinda Rhodes “POLO & THE START” is spontaneous and shows confidence in herself and her work.



Honorable Mention


"If I had a shopping cart all these works and many more would be in it"

1.         Binford Harrell’s “IN HOMAGE TO MATISSE & DALI’S DOLLS”





2.         Pat McNamera’s pastel “MARINA AT PERAST, MONTENEGRO”

3.         Katya Lesher’s “PRAYER”


4.         Kelly Johnston’s “ANKA GODDESS OF FERTILITY”


5.         Janet Priddy’s “MAJESTIC ONE”
 
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
 
TO ALL THE ARTISTS FOR A JOB WELL DONE
 
Stop by, take a peek or better yet give one a good wall to hang around on.
 

Monday, May 22, 2017

Canvas 1149 to the WALL

ROSE ON BLUE SKIES
ROSE ON BLUE SKIES 44x40 oil on linen (5-10-17)

QUICK LINES

SPRING LILY PADS




FIRST CHAIN - CONNECTED

SECOND CHAIN CONNECTED TO FIRST


SPRING LILY PADS

A TURTLE

A TURTLE AND LILY PADS CONNECTED
(added signature wet in wet)

A KOI - CLOSE IT UP

SOME BUBBLES TO BALANCE
ROSE ON BLUE SKIES 44x40 oil on linen (5-10-17)
A FLOATER FRAME

TO A GALLEY WALL


ROSE ON BLUE SKIES and many other new works will be on display in the Chuck Larivey gallery at Crossroads Art Center thru July 20th 2017.

Stop by, take a peek or better yet give one a good wall to hang around on.

Friday, May 12, 2017

APRIL'S "WOW" PAINTINGS


This is my favorite part of coaching, seeing the teams work properly presented on walls. Over the last year in addition to our weekend studio at Crossroads Art Center, they earned good proper walls to fill. So, each month paintings are selected to share and delight the many art lovers that frequent Crossroads each month. This month is special because we have a bi-monthly opening to celebrate. 


The Swimming-in-Paint walls are meant to show the team what is required to make "Best wall" paintings. Paintings meant to sell, leave and find their own destiny. Plus, it adds a bit of additional pressure, because making art is a competitive game second to none when it comes to sales, winning prizes, winning stature via juried exhibition or securing a gallery representation slot to sell our work. Marketing is a big deal all working artists have to deal with. 

GOOD PAINTINGS ALWAYS FIND WALLS TO HANG ON!

Knowing how to paint is the first thing we have to come to grip with. The second, capturing the "essence of our subject", a must! Both take time....perhaps a lifetime. As a working artist, knowing what to paint is another challenge......obviously it has to fit within your nature. The art we make has to speak to others. When it does, our course is set in one direction or another....all we have to do is move with it and enjoy the ride.

Always protect the value of your art, your galleries and those who cherish and collect your work.

COACHES APRIL TEAM
"WOW AWARDS"

BONNIE JORDAN'S MAGNIFICENT - MOONLIGHT SONATA 
Moonlight Sonata by Bonnie Jordon 36x30 oil on linen

Bonnie, as an added treat, had a professional colour corrected digital capture  made of her wonderful lily painting, above, to share..... limited edition Giclee will be available.

SUSAN PAVVOLA for her VENICE SERIES
Treasures by Susan Pavvola  24x30 oil on linen April 2017


LONGSTREET, for capturing THE ESSENCE OF HER SUBJECT
Prelude by Longstreet 24x36 oil on linen April 2017

This time she had more than one who wanted her March James River painting.....a special request also.... another James River! The perfect reason to paint the river again in the April studio...:=)

SOLD!
MARCH JAMES RIVER
Solitude by Longstreet 24x36 oil on linen
A big shout-out goes to Elizabeth Longstreet. Her March James River painting, above, not only captured the essence of our local treasure well, it quickly found an admirer and another wall to hang on...we wish it well.

LEA EMORY for her WINNING BALLET SERIES 
Young Dance in Yellow & Red  by Lea Emory 20x16 oil on linen April 2016


PEGGY M. DAVIS for FLOWERS IN LANDSCAPE
Mountain Thistle  by Peggy M. Davis 24x30 oil on linen May 2017


THE "WOW PAINTINGS" will be on display in the Chuck Larivey gallery at Crossroads through May. This month is special, because we have a bi-monthly opening to celebrate on May19th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Stop by, take a peek or better yet give one a good wall to hang around on. 

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

TO ALL THE APRIL TEAM FOR A JOB WELL DONE!