A Look Back...

James Brooks Gallery

This past weekend, Derek and I attended our niece's high school graduation (congrats, Jessica!), which has got me thinking about my own university graduation and the work I was doing at that time. At my school, it was mandatory to put on a solo exhibition as a 2 credit hour course during your senior year. At FSU, I was very involved with drawing the figure from life - oh to have the luxury of a large studio and dependable model! These works are all charcoal and pastel on paper (some nice paper, some...not so nice) and are about lifesize. Anyway, just thought I would share the pictures of past work and my very first solo exhibit.

Leaning Man. 5 x 3' charcoal and pastel on paper. 2006.

La femme se penche. 5 x 3' charcoal and pastel on paper. 2006

Man. 4 x 3' charcoal and pastel on paper. 2006

Study of feet. 4 x 3' charcoal and pastel on paper. 2006.

Portrait of a young man. 4 x 3' charcoal and pastel on paper. 2006.

New Paintings!

May 20th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 10 x 8 1/2" $100

May 19th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 10 x 8 1/2" $100

May 18th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 10 x 8 1/2" $100

Reception at Redbrick Gallery!

Reception tomorrow!

Tomorrow, from 4-7 pm is the opening reception for my solo show, Abstract in Nature at Redbrick Gallery in Martinsburg. I'm excited and all ready to go! Except I still don't know what to wear- this is always a major challenge for me every time. Heels or flats? (I really really prefer flats for comfort.) Dress or skirt? Maybe pants? What about a nice pair of jeans? I never know. I'm just getting myself too worked up about it. Eh. Anyway, wish me luck (on the show and the picking out of outfit, I'm going to need it)!

New Painting(s)!

May 12th II. oil and acrylic on canvas. 12 x 9" $150

May 12th I. oil and acrylic on canvas. 10 x 8 1/2" $100

Honorary Iowan!

I know I promised new works today, but I would like to send you over to Discovering the World of Art. It's true that I am a West Virginia girl through and through, but I have to say, I am, well... honored to be an Honorary Iowan featured on the fab Mary Zeran's blog. You may know Mary from her other blog, Adventures in Art. So please head over and check out the interview!

Thank you, Mary!

Yay!

My marathon of dragging artwork around has ended! All of my paintings have been picked up from the last venue (although thankfully Jonathan and Leigh at Slingluff Gallery met me 1/2 way in Gettysburg, they really are awesome!). The exhibit is now in Martinsburg at Redbrick Gallery, which is such a nice place. Anyone that finds themselves in the area needs to stop in and check out Ms. Conrad's rotating exhibits. You can find mine, Abstract in Nature, up from May 21-June 25, 2011. The opening reception is this Saturday, May 21st from 4-7 pm.

How great is this sign? I was so excited when I saw it!

A few Gettysburg pics...

Clearly a picture of Honest Abe.

some guns and swords in a shop window...I think I'll pass, even if they are on sale.

New paintings tomorrow!

Weekend Adventure

A past due weekend update...
Last Sunday Derek and I tried to get a bit of relaxation in before some solid weeks of travel ahead of us. So we walked our favorite trail and spent some time out at the dock where I paint on occassion. I am so glad we went because luckily, we got to see some baby geese (goslings?). Since they were older, the babies were braver than usual and let us feed them. So adorable, I can't get over it!
Friday we are picking up my work from the Slingluff Gallery exhibition and Monday we will deliver the work for my next solo exhibit, Abstract in Nature at Redbrick Gallery in Martinsburg, WV. I'm going to try to fit some painting in tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes!

Playing around...

with more studies on paper...

Study 22. acrylic on canvas paper. 6 x 4"


Study 23. acrylic on canvas paper. 6 x 4"

Study 24. acrylic on canvas paper. 6 x 4"

You can find a few of these works featured in Finding Fine Art treasuries on Etsy here and here!

Weekend gardening

Lately I have had a small break from painting, and have shifted into gardening. Last weekend was so beautiful (at least Saturday was), Derek and I couldn't resist beginning our first garden! Growing up, my grandparents always had a very large garden, and my parents usually kept a smaller one. You would think I would know lots and lots about it, but of course, I don't. This year I am committed to learning. We have an incredibly small starter garden to begin with...we will plant 2 kinds of tomatoes, lettuce, and a few herbs (basil, thyme, chives, etc.). See how it goes...I don't have the best track record for keeping plants alive.

How about you? Anyone planning on keeping a garden this year? If you have some advice, I'd gladly take it!