Images of Venice

I'm taking a class at the Vero Beach Museum of Art entitled Images of Venice (teacher is the wonderful watercolorist Joel Johnson!) so I have been obsessed with images of canals, buildings, light and shadow, and boats.

This particular canal reflection scene was taken from one of Joel's photographs, and everyone in the class was required to paint it. I am not very happy with the dullness of the scene and plan to revisit this scene (once the class is over) with my own take on it - I have played with the photo in Photoshop and made it into a sunny day with lots bright brights and dark darks - should be fun!

The first painting in this post is one I did at home while taking this class. It is from one of my own photos, and Joel chuckled when I told him where I had taken the shot - in Epcot!

I painted this image of gondolas at rest from the cover of the Viking River Cruises catalog (changing it a bit here and there). I hope to go to Italy in the fall of 2013 (saving my pennies!!!!). I want to visit northern Italy, perhaps begin in Tuscany and move across to Venice - want to go with me?!

Hope your day is going well and filled with happy times,
Chris

A Shot in the Dark

"I think every work of art is an act of faith or we wouldn't bother to do it. It is a message in a bottle, a shot in the dark. It's saying, 'I'm here and I believe that you are somewhere, and you will answer if necessary across time, not necessarily in my lifetime.'"    ---Jeanette Winterson

The above painting is a bit of creative mischief - it began its life as an abstract of colors, shape, and lines - I began to view this piece as it grew as a map of my artistic journey, a journey in which "I shall not cease from exploration/And the end of all our exploring/Will be to arrive where we started/And know the place for the first time." (from "Little Giddings" by T.S.Eliot)

I haven't visited my blog for almost 2 months as I have been so busy painting, painting, painting, and quilting (a new lapquilt for Dan and a new tablerunner for our spring table (oh yes, it is azalea (spring) time in Florida), watching movies (so loved Midnight in Paris and The Artist), reading 18 books(fiction), trading books on The Paperback Book Swap, sketching, cooking, doing yoga, enjoying the beauty of the beach, taking a class in which we are painting the beauties of Venice (check back to see some of my works), volunteering at the Art Museum library and the Used Book Depot, and living life to the brim. What a joy it is to be Alive - my heart is full of gratitude for all the abundance that has been given to me.

If you live in or around Vero Beach, be sure to check out the Art Walk tonight, Friday, March 2. Sharon Sandel is showing her paintings (oil, acrylic, and watercolor) at the Tropic Frame Shop, and I know that all of the other galleries have some great pieces of art.

Thanks for reading and see you tomorrow,
Chris

Art by the Sea Jan 21 & 22

If you live in the area of Vero Beach/Melbourne/Fort Pierce, Florida,

be sure to come to the Art by the Sea exhibit 

at the Vero Beach Museum of Art

My painting Cactus Flowers will be in the show

along with many other fabulous creations.

We have a great art community in this area so don't miss out.

See you there,

Chris

Happy New Year

Thanks for joining me this past year in my flights of creative mischief

and hope to see you again in the coming year

May your new year be filled with joy and light!

Chris