Lauren Adams Art

Holiday Exhibit Announcement

2011-11-04T11:05:00.000-04:00

May 19th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 10 x 8.5" available

November 11th - January 2012, you can find my work at Annex Gallery in Charleston, WV as part of their group Holiday exhibition!

The end of the month has come and gone, so that means that this will be the last post here on my Blogger blog. It's kind of sad, I have enjoyed this format, but having my blog integrated with my website is too good to pass up! Thank you so much for reading and commenting, it has really meant the world to me. I hope you will join me over at my brand new blog/website!

New Painting - Portrait

2011-10-26T08:10:00.001-04:00

Yellow Poplar- Portrait. oil, acrylic and crayon on canvas.

This is the first work in a new series that is inspired by the trees along a walking path that I frequent a lot that runs along Prickett's Creek in Marion County, WV. There are nine trees (that are labeled) along the trail and I will be doing a "portrait" of each one. The first is of the last tree on the trail (just to mix it up!), the yellow poplar. This is also the largest painting I have done since university, and it feels great!

For a larger image of the painting, please check out my new website blog! Don't forget to begin following me there :)

Congratulations!

2011-10-24T13:30:00.002-04:00

Man with Infant 26 x 30" graphite, latex paint, acrylic paint and photo transfer

Major congrats are in order! Derek has not only been accepted into the 2011 West Virginia State Juried Exhibition(for Man with infant), he has received an Award of Excellence, which is a purchase award for $2,000 and a spot in the State Museum's permanent collection! I also want to extend congratulations to Tiera Floyd for also taking home a $500 merit award for Self, II. Tiera is an outstanding student from West Virginia Wesleyan's art department. I'm so happy for you both and to all the other artists who were juried into the show or won an award! If you are in Wheeling, WV be sure to stop by the Stifel Fine Arts Center and check out the exhibition. It is up through January 2012.

*I meant to write a post about it, but neither of my works were selected for the exhibition. You win some, you lose some right? I don't want to take away from the celebratory nature of this post, but I thought I should let you guys know the results :)

Thank you!

2011-10-17T16:15:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to say a quick "thank you!" to everyone who stopped out at the Arts Walk on Saturday. It was a great time and I truly appreciate all the people who came to visit all the artists showing. I even made the local news!

Art Walk this evening!

2011-10-15T11:00:00.006-04:00

Don't forget! If you are in the area - I will be participating in the Alan B. Mollohan Gateway Connector Art Walk from 4:00-7:00 pm in Fairmont, WV. There has been a change of plans due to our windy weather. You will be able to find the Arts Walk inside the new Marion County Visitors Center, which is the new stone building on the Gateway. Be sure to come out and view my new paintings in person and also pick up some Art notecards!

Work in Progress...

2011-10-12T12:40:00.000-04:00

New studies Preview

2011-10-07T16:00:00.001-04:00

"Study 50" acrylic and crayon on canvas. 6 x 4.5"

"Study 43" acrylic and crayon on canvas. 6 x 4.5"

"Study 48" acrylic and crayon on canvas. 6 x 4.5"

"Study 51" acrylic and crayon on canvas. 6 x 4.5"

This is just a sampling of new work! To view more new studies, be sure to view my new blog at my website. Remember, this is the last month for posting at this address - please follow me over. Happy Friday everyone!

Arts Walk

2011-10-04T08:50:00.000-04:00

If you are signed up with my mailing list, you will be receiving an invitation to the Arts Walk in my hometown of Fairmont, WV to commemorate the opening of the Alan B. Mollohan Gateway Connector! I am thrilled to have been invited to be one of the artists representing Marion County. You can find me there from 4:00-6:00 pm at the Gateway on Saturday, October 15, 2011. There will also be numerous other artists, musicians, actors, and vendors celebrating, too! The Gateway will be commemorated also with a special ceremony, the opening of the new Marion County Visitors Center, a 5-K Night Glow Run, and a huge fireworks show. So if you are in the area, come out and join us!

New Painting!

2011-09-27T09:25:00.000-04:00

Creek Flowers - August 27th. oil, crayon and acrylic on canvas. 17 x 20" $450

Notecards

2011-09-27T08:00:00.001-04:00

Now for sale through my etsy shop! 4 for $6 or 8 for $10

These little notecards are blank on the inside, and can be used for any occasion or given as a gift. I use them to write out my thank you's to gallery owners, etc. They are professionally printed on cardstock, measure 4.5 x 5", and feature a different painting on each card. Each card comes with a white envelope. On the front of the card, the title of the painting is listed underneath the image, and on the back at the bottom in small print are the painting's details: my name, the title, medium, size and date.

Weekend Anniversary

2011-09-23T09:23:00.015-04:00

At Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson

At Cooper's Rock State Forest, where we were married

For more pics, including Avett Bros. show pictures, check out my main blog over @ my website!

A year ago today...

2011-09-18T09:00:00.001-04:00

Derek and I said our vows at Coopers Rock State Forest. Happy Anniversary, my love.

"February 28th"

2011-09-14T14:19:00.006-04:00

You can find my piece February 28th listed online now with Gray Blush Gallery - exciting! I'm hearing that their official website will be up and running soon...

New Painting!

2011-09-08T13:39:00.005-04:00

August 27th - Upshur County. oil and acrylic on canvas.

I want to give everyone a heads up. Soon, I will be switching completely over to my new blog that is housed on my brand new website. I hope you will join me over at the new url. If you are a follower, please update your reader or bookmark with my new address: http://www.laurenadamsart.com/blog.html.

I hope to see you there!

Sleeth Gallery Reception

2011-08-31T21:17:00.009-04:00

So much thanks to everyone who attended the reception, spent time with the work, asked questions, or purchased paintings! Derek and I totally appreciate it - we especially love sharing our work with students. Thanks everybody!

Monday's Front Page!

2011-08-31T13:09:00.010-04:00

I'm late to post, but it was too cool not to mention. On Monday, my sister, Chelsey Adams of cla contemporary created a treasury featuring one of my little studies. Because of her awesome curatorial skills, it made it the front page of Etsy! To those of you who aren't familiar with Etsy, this is really awesome and brings lots of people to your shop. I had over a 1,000 page views that day alone - Thanks, Chelsey! Also be sure to check out her amazing shop full of handmade contemporary jewellery!

Reception and Gallery Talk Tonight!

2011-08-30T10:26:00.004-04:00

Tonight there will be an opening reception for the 3 person show I am participating in along with Martha Neaves and Derek Overfield. It is at the Sleeth Gallery at WV Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV. If you have never been to the Sleeth Gallery and are in the area, be sure to stop by (it really is a lovely space). The reception is from 4:30-6:00 followed by a Gallery Talk by all three artists. If you love power point presentations (who doesn't?), both Martha and I will be including one in our talk - I promise not to bored you! And there will be refreshments. We would love to see you there!

New Website!

2011-08-29T14:00:00.000-04:00

About 2 weeks in to my training on Dreamweaver, I threw my hands up in aggravation! I was learning a lot, but I could tell this would be a long, loooong road to new-website-dom. Like, maybe a year from now, I could potentially build the website of my dreams. Then I was tipped off to Weebly.com (thanks Chris! You are the best!). After the first 10 minutes using the site, I was giddy. I am still giddy. It is the absolute best for people like me, who are...hmm, what's a nice way to put this...not very computer savy. It has a fantastic website editor that lets you work very intuitively (as in, drag and drop), while also offering you access to your code and css. Perfect!

So I give you the new and very much improved www.laurenadamsart.com!

Upcoming exhibit @ Sleeth Gallery

2011-08-24T13:59:00.004-04:00

The work will be delivered tomorrow - yay!

Gray Blush Gallery

2011-08-22T09:01:00.015-04:00

January 8th I. oil and acrylic on canvas. 20 x 17" $450

I have exciting news! I have waited to share it with my readers until it was online. Two of my works will be carried by the newly formed Gray Blush Gallery. They have a preview site up right now, so check that out - I am currently on the front page! Also make sure to view my introductory Artist Profile page.

You may remember one of the jury panelists, Ryan Schultz, from Bravo's TV series Work of Art, which I know has been renewed for a second season, but I don't know when it will air?

Work in Progress...

2011-08-18T16:31:00.004-04:00

The view in my little studio as of now....working on a new 48 x 30". It's nice to be painting this large again, that's for sure!

Hopefully I will have this painting completed by the end of the weekend for a New Painting post. Won't be in the studio tomorrow - as I am taking a much needed trip to Ikea. Derek and I need a new bookcase for the office. Anyway, it would be great if this piece would turn out, as I could include a very new painting in my upcoming 3 person exhibit at the Sleeth Gallery. This Wednesday is the delivery date!

New Painting

2011-08-11T12:30:00.011-04:00

Mon River - August 5th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 14 x 17" $300

"I can't bear to have it there in front of me...[When] I've finished something I discover it's just a basis for what I've got to do next. It's never anything more than a point of departure." - Miro

New and Improved!

2011-08-09T21:30:00.001-04:00

Banner, that is. Today, in my ongoing effort to freshen up the look of my blog, I am changing the header and background color to reflect the changes in my work. This change will slowly be implemented throughout my marketing materials as well. So new brochure, newsletter, business cards, and maybe (hopefully) new website are around the corner! I am trying to learn very basic Dreamweaver to create my own website and have complete control over the look and feel. This is proving even harder than I imagined (and trust me, I imagined it to be very difficult), so wish me luck - I really need it!

In Banner history:

(yikes! this is getting embarrassing.)

New Painting

2011-08-08T08:00:00.005-04:00

Oak - July 29th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 34 x 28"

Donation!

2011-08-03T08:30:00.001-04:00

Prickett's Creek. oil and acrylic on canvas. 20 x 17". Donation.

Remember the Loyalhanna Watershed Association's Annual Dinner and Art Auction Benefit that I mentioned many months ago? Well, I have settled on donating Prickett's Creek (above) for the silent auction. I really wish I was able to attend the event as I have heard that their decorator is doing a 3-D re-creation of my Valley Falls- October 9th painting as a water feature, and also coordinating the decor for the evening with the color palette of the piece! I really can't believe it...I am so excited and honored, I am sad to miss it. At that time in September, Derek and I will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary for an extended weekend. (We are both huge Avett Brothers fans and will be attending their back-to-back shows in Virginia that weekend.) Hopefully I will have pictures of the event sent to me so I can share.

Tomatoes, everywhere!

2011-08-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

Our garden is in full swing, and we have lots of tomatoes on hand lately (no complaints here)!
If you are wondering what to do with an overabundance of them, I highly recommend the Vegan Yum Yum recipe for Eggplant and Basil Stuffed Tomatoes. It is killer. This is the way to go if you love tomatoes or are looking for something slightly fancier (but super easy) as a side dish. It features juicy tomatoes stuffed with toasted bread that is a little crunchy on top, nicely cooked eggplant that absorbs the olive oil flavor, topped with some caramelized, tangy balsamic reduction! Delicious.

*I will say to watch out with the salt, maybe start out with a bit less than the recipe calls for - also I think whole wheat bread would work just as well as the white, for a bit more of a nutrtional punch.

Prickett's Fort photos

2011-07-29T08:30:00.003-04:00

The area that I paint a lot (Prickett's Creek) has a nearby log fort (and original house circa 1859) that has recreated a representation of forts and a lifestyle common at the time, with demonstrations by artisans, blacksmiths, etc. These are a few pictures that I took on a recent visit with Derek's parents.

As one of West Virginia's most unique living history museums, Pricketts Fort invites visitors to relive the pioneering spirit of Captain Jacob Prickett and his family.

Perched on a small rise overlooking the confluence of Prickett's Creek and the Monongahela River, this rustic log fort is a re-creation of the original Prickett's Fort of 1774, which served as a refuge from Native American war parties on the western frontier of Colonial Virginia. Built in 1976 by the Prickett's Fort Memorial Foundation, the "new" fort serves as a living history site where interpreters recreate late 18th century lifestyle through period attire and demonstrations of a variety of colonial crafts. Throughout the season, visitors may find blacksmiths, spinners, weavers and other traditional artisans at work, and a gun shop which features the only public demonstrations of 18th century firearm manufacturing in the state.

The fort covers a 100 by 100 foot square, with 12-foot-high log walls and blockhouses at each corner. Lining the weathered stockade walls are 16 tiny cabins, some with earthen floors. A meetinghouse and a storehouse fill the common.

When the threat of Native American uprisings occurred, up to 80 families from the surrounding countryside would hurry to the fort. They would stay as long as the threat existed, from days to weeks.

"Forting up" was simply tolerated by settlers, as life in the cramped quarters could be unpleasant. Such sacrifices were necessary for survival on the dangerous frontier of the late 1700s. Today's fort, just north of Fairmont, still portrays that life and time.

Formatting

2011-07-28T11:30:00.000-04:00

I am changing how images appear on this blog ( along with a few other small things), as you can tell from the previous post - as this is of course a blog about painting and images are too important to have them as small as I have previously had. Through some simple html tinkering I will now have much larger images of my paintings appearing! This new format puts the emphasis where it should have been all along. It was so much easier than I thought it would be, I should have searched for help earlier. I'm feeling a bit ridiculous now...

Also, in painting (and format?) news, I have a new canvas size that I have been working on recently, a larger stretcher - 34"H x 28"W. Right now I am working on completing my first one. I will be displaying the new piece in my August Studio newsletter first, so be sure to sign up! These are especially intended for my upcoming group show at West Virginia Wesleyan in August and September.

New Painting!

2011-07-25T08:00:00.020-04:00

Oak- July 22nd. oil and acrylic on canvas. 24 x 20" $650

Lately I have been embracing a process that I've admired in some of my favorite historical artists, as a means to furthur abstract my work. I have been painting on the ground more and more for my acrylic underpaintings. With this piece, I am still working on the ground, but instead of applying with a brush, I'm pouring thinned paint onto the canvas, letting it soak in. The sort of rectangular blocks of color are where the oil paint is coming into play, describing the "trunk" of the tree. The piece is based off of a plein air foliage study of our neighbor's old oak. This direction is something I plan on pursuing more and more, I'm very excited about the possibilites...

In Remembrance...

2011-07-22T08:59:00.004-04:00

"The longer you look at an object, the more abstract it becomes, and, ironically, the more real."

"The picture in order to move us must never merely remind us of life, but must acquire a life of its own, precisely in order to reflect life."

Lucian Freud, 1922 - 2011

Ripening tomatoes...

2011-07-21T10:15:00.001-04:00

So our little garden is coming along nicely. We did have a mishap where a deer ate our first ripe grape tomato! After the initial disappointment, Derek corrected the fence we put around the garden and now I think our tomatoes may be safe. Also we planted some romaine lettuce (somewhat late) - I hope we don't have any rabbits getting in it...

New Painting!

2011-07-19T08:45:00.000-04:00

Prickett's Creek. 20 x 17" oil and acrylic on canvas.

West Virginia Juried Exhibition Picks

2011-07-13T10:00:00.001-04:00

April 21st - Marion County. 20 x 17" oil and acrylic on canvas $450

February 26th - Prickett's Creek. 20 x 17" oil and acrylic on canvas. $450

Exhibition Announcement!

2011-07-12T08:00:00.003-04:00

February 11th - Marion County. 12 x 9" oil and acrylic on canvas.

on display now at Annex Gallery

I am pleased to announce that my solo exhibition will be displayed at Annex Gallery in Charleston, WV during September and October 2012. It's always great to show my work in our state's capital and I'm very happy to be exhibiting at Annex Gallery in particular!

New Painting!

2011-07-08T15:15:00.002-04:00

July 7th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 20 x 17" $450

July 8th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 20 x 17" $450

Sad news

2011-07-06T13:24:00.003-04:00

I just wanted to check in and apologize for how slow things have been around here lately. As I have mentioned, Derek and I had been tending to Louis, our new kitten, who was very sick. We found out last week that he had a fatal heart/lung condition and we had to say goodbye to our little guy. It's been very hard lately and I miss his little face. Just wanted to let everyone know why I am away and that I will be back soon with new works on canvas.

In remembrance...

2011-07-05T17:10:00.002-04:00

Derek with a Twombly in Philly.

Cy Twombly, 1928-2011

New Paintings - Foliage Studies

2011-06-29T08:00:00.002-04:00

Study 28. acrylic and graphite on canvas paper. 6 x 4" $25

Study 29. acrylic and graphite on canvas paper. 6 x 4" $25

Study 30. acrylic and graphite on canvas paper. 6 x 4" $25

Study 31. acrylic and graphite on canvas paper. 6 x 4" $25

New Painting - Black and White Series

2011-06-27T08:00:00.004-04:00

Painting 5 - The Valley. 8 1/2 x 10" acrylic and gesso on canvas. $75

I haven't been in the studio much at all lately. Derek and I have been taking care of our little Louis, who has been extremely sick this past week. Please send some positive thoughts his way.

For now, I will leave you with the fifth work in the Black and White series.

West Virginia Juried Exhibition 2011

2011-06-22T09:00:00.004-04:00

April 22nd. oil and acrylic on canvas. 20 x 17"

For all West Virginia artists, it's time for the WV Juried Exhibition. Entries are due by July 18th, 2011. I am not sure what two pieces I will enter (opinions, anyone?), but I am going to try my luck again this year. Stifel Fine Arts Center at Oglebay Institute in Wheeling, WV is hosting the exhibit this year. Here is the Prospectus and Artist Register Form.

For more info, check out the article from the WV Division of Culture and History.

Garden update...

2011-06-21T12:00:00.001-04:00

more tomatoes on the way...

We have tomatoes! Six! Six tomatoes that I have yet to kill...and our herbs aren't doing half bad either. Except for the basil, poor poor basil. Earlier it was being eaten by who knows what insect, now it is starting to look a bit hardier and trying to make a small comeback. Come on basil, you can do it!

baby cherry tomatoes!

New Painting(s)!

2011-06-16T08:40:00.002-04:00

June 4th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 20 x 17" $450

June 4th- Valley Falls. oil and acrylic on canvas. 10 x 8 1/2" $100

Our new friend has a name...

2011-06-15T20:18:00.003-04:00

After much struggle and debate, we have settled on "Louis" as our little guy's name. Our tabby cat Luna went about 2 weeks without a name when we adopted her - poor girl! So we beat that by an entire week :)

Louis is a big Steinbeck fan already.

New friend...

2011-06-09T11:44:00.005-04:00

I've been away from painting and this blog lately due to our new little guy. (No name for him yet!)

We picked him up yesterday from the Humane Society even though he's a bit too young, as he has a cold and needed to see the vet. He's already perked up and is quite a handful!

Snippets from West Virginia

2011-06-06T09:00:00.001-04:00

I was catching up on some overdue blog-reading and surprisingly came across this post, Snippets from West Virginia from Tara of In this Instance. It is a Chicago-based Lifestyle and Photography blog that I lurk around weekly. Really wanted to share this little post, because her photography is always great and it is a nice snapshot of my home state. She traveled to Berkeley Springs for a relaxing long weekend and has some beautiful photographs to prove it - Enjoy!

SAMA at Ligonier Valley Garden Party

2011-06-03T16:49:00.004-04:00

February 11th. oil, gesso and acrylic on canvas. 10 x 8 1/2"

Just a little note that Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley in Ligonier, PA is having it's Garden Party Fundraiser tomorrow, June 4th. I have donated February 11th in support of the museum. This piece will be included in the Silent Auction that night. The Garden Party is one of the main fundraisers which provides enough funds to keep all four SAMA museum facilities open free of charge - no admission fee. How great is that?

A Look Back...

2011-05-31T11:31:00.021-04:00

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!

2011-05-26T16:50:00.005-04:00

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!

2011-05-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Reception tomorrow!

2011-05-20T09:45:00.005-04:00

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)!

2011-05-19T08:30:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-05-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-05-17T16:45:00.001-04:00

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

2011-05-11T14:36:00.000-04:00

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...

2011-05-06T14:38:00.006-04:00

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

2011-05-05T14:24:00.008-04:00

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!

Announcement - Loyalhanna Watershed Association

2011-04-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

I am thrilled to announce that I have been invited to participate in this year's Loyalhanna Watershed Association's Annual Dinner and Benefit Art Auction on Saturday, September 17, 2011. I will have a piece included in the Silent Auction that evening. I am so very happy to be able to help out this organization, they do wonderful work to conserve, protect, and restore the environment in that area. The event has been the Association's largest fundraiser and has a 26 year history - pretty impressive!

About the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed:

"The 298 square-mile Loyalhanna Creek Watershed is located in Westmoreland County in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Loyalhanna Creek originates on the western slope of Laurel Ridge, south of Ligonier Township, and flows northwest through Ligonier, Latrobe, New Alexandria, and finally on to Saltsburg where it meets the Conemaugh River. Together, they form the Kiskiminetas, which flows into the Allegheny River.
The Loyalhanna Creek Watershed is comprised of 2,500 miles of stream, each varying in origin, size, and quality. Despite abundant forests in the headwaters and natural areas throughout its middle section, the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed is impacted by a series of challenges including abandoned mine drainage (AMD), sedimentation as a result of erosion, and nutrient loading. The combination of historic coal mining, farming, and development threaten the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed and its quality."

For more information check out the Association's website!

New Painting

2011-04-25T08:25:00.004-04:00

April 22nd. oil and acrylic on canvas. 20 x 17"

FSU Article and New Paintings!

2011-04-22T09:30:00.002-04:00

April 21st. oil and acrylic on canvas. 10 x 8 1/2"

April 15th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 10 x 8 1/2"

Right now there is a little article on Fairmont State University's news page that I am featured in! FSU is the university where I earned my BA in studio art. It is a small school, but I am very proud to have studied art there at the time that I did. I owe almost everything that is important to me today to Fairmont State. Even my husband (we met in a drawing course)! So thank you to FSU and to Bradley Omanson for this article. He also writes for the Fine Arts Tatler blog.

Artist Conversation and "Stealing Like an Artist..."

2011-04-20T11:30:00.002-04:00

October 16th. oil and acrylic on canvas. sold.

I wanted to pass along two things today, the first being a new Artist Conversation over at the Finding Fine Art blog. This interview is between Martha Marshall (who everyone will remember inspired my new studies) and Rebecca Dresser of Knee Deep Originals on Etsy. The post features an interesting conversation that touches on a variety of things, from their painting practices to rural living and nature. A great read, so stop by.

Also a nice post that is definitely worth checking out is from Austin Kleon with "How to Steal Like an Artist and 9 Other Things Nobody Told Me" He states that it's "a simple list of 10 things I wish I’d heard when I was in college". I really enjoyed points #2, 4, 9, and 10. Oh heck, I liked them all!

Announcement - Group Exhibition

2011-04-19T08:55:00.002-04:00

October 9th - Valley Falls. oil and acrylic on canvas.

I am pleased to announce that I have been invited to participate in a group exhibition at Annex Gallery that will take place during FestivALL located in Charleston, WV. It is a 10 day festival that includes music, dance, theater, and visual art. This year, FestivALL runs from June 17- 26th, so make sure you stop by if you are in the area! I will have 5-6 pieces on display and the exhibition will run through the end of June.

New Paintings - studies

2011-04-18T08:25:00.002-04:00

Study 20. acrylic and graphite on paper.

Study 19. acrylic and graphite on paper.

Study 18. acrylic and graphite on paper.

Study 17. acrylic on paper.

Study 16. acrylic and graphite on paper.

Study 15. acrylic on paper.

These studies are really starting to add up - and my Etsy shop has grown very small due to most of my work being on display at The Slingluff Gallery. So I am offering these works for a discounted price in my shop; they ship for free in the US!

Soon, I will be back with an annoucement and new works on canvas...hope everyone had a great weekend!

New Paintings - studies

2011-04-15T08:45:00.001-04:00

Study 14. acrylic on paper

Study 13. acrylic on paper.

Study 12. acrylic and graphite on paper.

Study 11. acrylic on paper

Study 10. acrylic on paper

the Magnolia

2011-04-14T09:30:00.000-04:00

Our magnolia tree is beginning to bloom - I'm so excited! When we first bought our house in 2009, I was thrilled to find that there was a small magnolia tree in the backyard. Always have loved them. Growing up, I used to play under my grandmothers tall, beautiful magnolia. So fragrant and gorgeous in the spring!

Also, they provide wonderful inspiration for pink in a piece! I will use any reason to mix up some pink for a painting :) New works to come...

Finding Fine Art Blog

2011-04-12T09:39:00.004-04:00

Just wanted to mention that Etsy's Finding Fine Art team has a nice blog up and running. There is an ongoing series titled "Artist Conversations", where two artists pair up and have a chat about their art. Up first is Sonya Johnson and Scott Price discussing their work!

New Paintings - Works on paper - studies

2011-04-11T09:30:00.004-04:00

Study 2. acrylic on canvas.

Last week, artist Martha Marshall wrote a post titled Art for the In Between Times, where she discusses an art journal. I have never been the kind of artist to keep one. I paint in a very direct way and I don't do a lot of sketching, planning, etc. But lately, I've found myself needing not just to explore, but to explore quickly. This is hard to do when you are confined to a canvas all the time. A canvas takes a lot of time and preparation - building a stretcher, stretching it and priming it. So this weekend, with the art journal idea in my head, I picked up some canvas paper. It's easy. It's primed and ready to go, for oil paint or acrylic. Yesterday I cut it to size (4 1/2 x 6") and created 8 little acrylic works. Eight! It was wonderful. While technically not an art journal, it is the closest I think I will get to one. I hope to do many more studies in the future. Thanks, Martha!

Here are a selection of the works:

Study 4. acrylic on canvas.

Study 6. acrylic on canvas.

Study 8. acrylic on canvas.

Study 7. acrylic on canvas.

Study 1. acrylic on canvas.

I will pose the same question that Martha did - to my fab artist readers - Do you keep an art journal? Or create preparatory works?

New Painting(s)!

2011-04-08T08:45:00.000-04:00

March 26th- Prickett's Creek. oil and acrylic on canvas. 20 x 17"

March 27th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 10 x 8 1/2"

Philadelphia Part II

2011-04-07T13:38:00.001-04:00

More pictures from our weekend in Philly...

Also, you can see all the work that is part of the exhibition Recent Works by Lauren Adams on the gallery's website right here!
From The Slingluff Gallery's Facebook page: "Tim Pervious said it perfectly: 'Her work was beautiful, like nature seen through a dream; off focus but brilliant with color and emotional impact'".

Recent Works by Lauren Adams

2011-04-05T08:41:00.018-04:00

Recent Works by Lauren Adams at The Slingluff Gallery

I'm back - we had a wonderful time in Philadelphia this weekend! The exhibit looks great, if I do say so myself. Jonathan and Leigh did a fantastic job installing the work and were so wonderful all around. They couldn't be any nicer. Big thanks to them!

The reception went well, everyone was very receptive and I met some great people. Thank you to everyone that stopped by and visited. The exhibition will be up though May 1st at the Slingluff Gallery. Below are some pictures from the weekend, I will post more soon....

at the reception Olivia supervising the installation

Reception Tonight!

2011-04-02T08:00:00.001-04:00

February 18th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 10 x 8 1/2"

For anyone that is in the area - tonight is the reception for Lauren Adams : Recent Works from 6-9 pm at The Slingluff Gallery -Stop by! If you can't, the exhibition runs the entire month of April.

Finished. whew!

2011-03-31T10:55:00.003-04:00

some of the paintings, packed up in the studio...and my cat, weaseling under the box...

Everything is ready to go for the weekend - Derek and I leave tomorrow morning for Philadelphia to deliver the work for my solo exhibition at The Slingluff Gallery. Click here for a preview of the paintings. So now I have a really messy studio and a car packed with several boxes of work (no cat in the boxes, I checked). Now I just need to get myself packed. So excited! Wish me luck!

New Painting - Black and White Series

2011-03-28T15:32:00.003-04:00

Painting 4 - The Shadow Cloud. acrylic and gesso on canvas. 10 x 8 1/2"

Drawing demo

2011-03-25T10:07:00.004-04:00

Congrats to Derek for a doing such a great job at West Virginia Wesleyan College last night! The students did well and achieved a lot in one night with a new technique, picking up quickly and working hard. For more pics and info, see Derek's blog!

Photos

2011-03-24T09:00:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday, Derek and I went out to enjoy the nice weather (almost 70 degrees!) and I began a few paintings. While I was setting up to work, we were almost attacked by geese and I wished that we had brought snacks to appease them. Those were some very demanding geese! I managed to get a few pictures of them, as they swam away after squawking around at us. Here are some other shots from around a trail that we like to walk, near the creek (which was unusually low). A few of the spring flowers were out, along with little fresh patches of bright grass.

one of the culprits...swimming away...

All in all, a good day.

Good luck to Derek tonight - He is teaching a drawing class at WV Wesleyan College and will be posting about it!

Upcoming Opportunities

2011-03-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

Just passing this along for interested artists:

The deadline for Tamarack's 2011 "The Best of West Virginia Juried Exhibition" Fine Craft and Fine Art entries is April 11, 2011. You may obtain an application from http://www.tamarackwv.com/ under the Gallery link. Ifyou have any questions, please call Christine Humphrey at 1.888.262.7227,ext. 157.

The deadline for the 2011 Beckley Art Group Juried Exhibition is April 4,2011. You may find an application @ beckleyartgroup.com. Please sende-mail entries to beckleyartgroup@gmail.com or mail to Cynthia Bickey ArtGroup, 600 Johnstown Road, Beckley, WV 25801, ATT: Karen Lilly

Etsy update

2011-03-22T12:49:00.009-04:00

February 11th - Marion County. oil and acrylic on canvas. 9 x 12"

An update on my Etsy shop - I will be taking down most paintings from my shop on Sunday, March 27th due to my upcoming exhibition (the one I can't stop talking about!) at the Slingluff Gallery. They will be for sale through the gallery from April 2nd - May 1st, 2011. After that, most of the paintings will move on to Redbrick Gallery in Martinsburg, WV.

Etsy Treasury - Finding Fine Art team

2011-03-18T10:43:00.006-04:00

As you know, I have my own little shop on Etsy. I am also part of the Finding Fine Art "team" which is the subject of today's post. People may not immediately think of original fine art when they think of Etsy, but it is certainly there! There is so much great work to browse through, favorite, or purchase.

Here is a treasury promoting those team members that I have curated - please check it out. Even my cat likes it. You can see her checking out last week's treasury above. (And yes, I own a computer so old that my cat can sit on top of it and browse the interwebs). You can find FFA team members work also by searching the phrase "findingfineart" too!

'the travel bug' by laurenadamsart

featuring finding find art members only :)

Time Travel - Original ... colorpoetry $55.00	Island Storm Painting dhjonesdesign $725.00
Red and Yellow Oyster S... ArtGoods $40.00	Sacre Coeur Basilica - ... Scully107 $120.00
GREEN BICYCLE eeliethel $35.00	Boots dragonsappetit... $50.00
Alhambra breeree $25.00	Puffin and Caribou Wood... jpopstudios $95.00
Kayak taxi, conversatio... olechkodotorg $89.00	Escape Fine Art Photogr... KSHull3 $20.00
Garden104 Original Art ... ElisCooke $60.00	Hang On naokosstoop $
oil painting of horseba... larryhilman $650.00	Outlaw - original drawi... NovemberStudio... $75.00
sunset with birds fiddleheadart $61.45	La montee - "climb... jmcouffin $60.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

New Painting!

2011-03-17T16:47:00.002-04:00

March 3rd. oil and acrylic on canvas. 17 x 20"

Announcement

2011-03-10T08:27:00.014-05:00

Calais and His Brother

I wanted to let everyone know that the most wonderful Derek Overfield (my husband, for newcomers) has just begun a blog! He is a figure painter with excruciatingly good work, so please check out his brand new baby blog : http://derekoverfieldart.blogspot.com.
For more info you can also see www.derekoverfield.com!

I also want to say congrats also, because Derek has had his piece Zetes and His Brother featured in a Crozier Fine Art advertisement that has ran recently in both "Modern Painters" and Art+Auction". It looks fantastic. I'm so proud!

1-20-10

Postcards and Mailing List

2011-03-09T08:04:00.008-05:00

One goal met! My postcards are ordered and delivered as of yesterday for my upcoming solo show at the Slingluff Gallery in April. I hope everyone on my mailing list likes theirs :) If you aren't on my mailing list and would like a postcard, just shoot me an email with your name and address to mailinglist@laurenadamsart.com. This also signs you up for my monthly newsletter and other freebies! The sidebar to the right subscribes you to my newsletter only, but if you want snail mail like postcards (like I do), I will need your physical address too.

Anyway, I do love a good postcard - Here are some favorites that are for sale on Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67688619/clouds-of-calm-post-card-gift-set

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68621435/orginal-christo-umbrella-program-and

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62700619/subway-postcard

I'm featured!

2011-03-08T09:00:00.001-05:00

You can find my work featured on the Best of Etsy blog, here: http://bestofetsy.wordpress.com/ along with many other fabulous artists of Etsy.

A big thank you to Ryan James for including me on the blog! Thank you!

New Paintings!

2011-03-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

February 26th - Prickett's Creek. oil and acrylic on canvas. 17 x 20"

February 26th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 8 1/2 x 10"

Black and White Series

2011-03-04T08:05:00.000-05:00

Painting 2. oil, acrylic and gesso on canvas. 17 x 20"

Lately, I've been playing around with a slightly new idea - to create abstract landscape paintings in black and white. I've always loved black and white work, even my husband has fantastic figurative black and white pieces. See here: http://www.derekoverfield.com . But I have decided to explore this idea. Two have been created already and I am working on a third today. The first one was not very good, but I really enjoyed making it. The second was better - much better and I really liked making it even more, it is featured above.

Already they have become more abstract in nature. The process is much longer than I am used to, no part of the painting is done plein air. First I begin with acrylic paint. Then I incorporate thick spills of gesso onto the stretched canvas, and let that dry overnight. The next day I can begin again with acrylic and then finish it with oil, or put down more gesso and start again. It's all very improvisational and intuitive, more so than my regular work. That's when I can make the most progress with these, it seems.

It's been a long time since I made something just to mess around - no real goals for the work in mind. No certainty that I will show it. I'm allowing myself to do this (in part) with the hope that I will learn something to apply to my main body of work. I'm not sure what it will be, but I have a gut feeling it may work out...

New Painting!

2011-03-02T08:05:00.000-05:00

February 24th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 20 x 24"

Progress

2011-03-01T09:31:00.011-05:00

So far in 2011, I have created 19 new works! Some are good, some are not, but that is expected and I am okay with it. 19 is oh-so-close to meeting my monthly and therefore, yearly, goal of 130 new paintings. To achieve this goal, I aim for about 10 new pieces a month, so I am one short. Grr.

Here is a short, top three list of my favorite recent paintings:

New painting post tomorrow!

New Painting!

2011-02-24T12:35:00.004-05:00

February 18th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 8 1/2 x 10"

Update

2011-02-21T02:40:00.001-05:00

I have an update on the West Virginia Wesleyan Sleeth Gallery exhibition. It will be a three person show, including North Carolina artist Martha Neaves, and Derek Overfield (http://www.derekoverfield.com/). The reception will be Tuesday August 30, 2011 and refreshments will be provided. Also, I believe that the three of us will be in attendance and giving a short talk about our work. Can't wait!

Studio chair!

2011-02-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I scored an awesome new (but vintage) chair for our studio. A steal for $25 - and it's in great condition and super comfortable too. I love it so much, I had to share! I don't think I have ever been this excited about a chair...it really is all about the small things in life. Our cat likes it too.

New Painting(s)!

2011-02-14T10:17:00.007-05:00

February 11th - Marion County. oil and acrylic on canvas. 9 x 12"

February 10th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 8 1/2 x 10"

Above are the best of several paintings completed over the past few days - only about 6 more painting days to prepare for April's solo show, it truly feels like just yesterday I was offered the opportunity for the exhibit!

Also, Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Dreaming...

2011-02-10T22:40:00.000-05:00

While catching up on some of my favorite artist blogs before a day of painting, I have taken a side trip to Budapest, courtesy of the fabulous Julia and Yuriy of Mr and Mrs. Globe Trot. The couple are both wonderful photographers who are taking time to travel the world and blog about it along the way, which you can find here:

http://mrmrsglobetrot.blogspot.com/2011/02/budapest-hungary-ii.html.

Lately they have posted many entries of Budapest, Hungary and now I really must go there one day. Add that to my ever growing list of places to visit! I love to travel, but money is tight and international travel is expensive. Oh well - one day I may make it to Budapest...

New Painting!

2011-02-04T12:27:00.006-05:00

February 3rd. oil and acrylic on canvas. 17 x 20"

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67765895/february-3rd-winter-original-oil-and

Gary Leib, Artist in Residence at FSU

2011-02-03T10:00:00.002-05:00

*picture from Fine Arts Tatler blog, follow the link below for more!

Tonight from 7-9 there will be an opening reception held for Gary Lieb's new exhibition at Jim Brooks Gallery at Fairmont State University. Anyone in the area should stop in and check it out, it's a wonderful opportunity to see his work. On display will also be his collaborative ceramic pieces, completed with Jeff Greenham - which I am particularyly interested in seeing.

Lieb's illustrations and cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker, Musician Magazine, The New York Observer, Raw, Blab and as weekly features in The New York Press.

Here is a very nice post with great pics of installation from the Fine Arts Tatler: http://fineartsfsu.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/artist-in-residence-gary-leib-to-exhibit-new-work/

Happy Groundhog Day!

2011-02-02T14:43:00.008-05:00

(wow, that is one grumpy groundhog)

Apparently, no shadow was to be seen - so an early spring is around the corner? I suppose I can rely on a groundhog as my weather predictor, although I am not quite ready to give up painting snow!

New Painting!

2011-01-26T08:53:00.000-05:00

January 22nd. oil and acrylic on canvas. 17 x 20"

Exhibition Announcement

2011-01-24T11:53:00.002-05:00

Last week was a strange but wonderful week. On my first official "painting" day, the first day where I was off from my day job (last Thursday), I received a phone call about an invitation for a solo exhibition at Redbrick Gallery in Martinsburg, WV! I was completely thrilled that:

1. I was able to take that call from the owner (and not have to play phone tag due to the day job hours!) and
2. I was able to accept the invitation for the solo exhibit, because I now have much more time to produce the work.

So I am very happy to announce that after the solo exhibition in April at the Slingluff Gallery, a revised version of that show will be on display May 21st - June 25th at Redbrick Gallery, with an opening reception Saturday, May 21st! I'm already feeling better about this decision...

Goals 2011

2011-01-17T10:01:00.000-05:00

For some reason I have had difficulty writing this post, preferring to paint or do any number of other things first (watch 30 Rock reruns - That's important, right?). In other words, procrastinate. Usually I love love love writing up goals and lists (!) but for some reason, this year is different.

A bit of fear seems to be hanging out like a little cartoon cloud over my head, and I've felt anxious. Change can do that to you, it seems. With switching my day job and cutting my hours, comes the voice. Lots of people have that small voice of self doubt that creeps up and tells you that no matter what it is you want to do, there is no way you can succeed. That it's impossible and you can't have *insert hearts desire here*. Lately, every day I need to prop myself up and get rid of the negative voice telling me every sort of pessimistic thing. They are always super melodramatic things like: I will never sell another painting in my life, or I will never have another solo show, and on and on. With much effort, I have quit eating my weight in cookies, gathered my determination, replaced the negative with a positive outlook, and have prepared my goals for the upcoming year. They are as follows:

Art-Related

Create:

small paintings - 65

medium paintings - 45

large paintings - 20

extra large - 5

My goal is to basically triple last years number. I would like to create 130 new paintings for 2011. I'm not going to get too hung up on the exact number of what size paintings I create, these are just some guidelines for reference.

Business-Related

Send out a large (researched) mailing of brochure/cover letter packets

Send out emailed submissions from researched list

Update mailing list quarterly

Schedule at least 1 solo show for 2012

Have at least 100 large postcards ordered for April

Have new brochure designed

Have new brochure printed quarterly, as needed

Have 50 business cards printed, more as needed

Update website at least once a week with new paintings and current events

Update blog at least once a week

Update Etsy site weekly

Enter 2 "good" juried shows within the year

Overhaul my record-keeping system for inventory

My focus this year will be mostly on production of new work and finding a gallery. I want to push my art-making as much as possible. It would be nice to see a quicker progression in the work, and the only way to improve is to paint, paint, paint!

New Painting(s)!

2011-01-10T14:47:00.008-05:00

January 8th II. oil and acrylic on canvas. 17 x 20"

January 8th I, oil and acrylic on canvas. 8 1/2 x 10"

New Painting for Friday

2011-01-07T09:08:00.008-05:00

December 28th. 8 1/2 x 10" oil and acrylic on canvas.

Another version from December 28th! Actually I have three. I also completed my first 17 x 20" that day too. I like the 17 x 20" size okay so far, hope it will be a good substitute for my old "medium" canvas size. So finicky about sizes!

I hope everyone had a great holiday season - I'm bummed it's over (sort-of), but looking forward to progress in this new year. Also, to add to the bummed feeling is the fact that I am still working full-time. One more week to go, and I will be switching to half time employment, which when added to my old painting regimen, will feel like full-time painting. At least here's hoping it does!

New Year, New Painting!

2011-01-01T10:26:00.005-05:00

December 28th II. oil and acrylic on canvas. 8 1/2 x 20"

Happy New Year everyone - Best wishes for 2011!

Year in Review - 2010

2010-12-30T20:00:00.000-05:00

I feel like lots has been accomplished this year, but that I also have so much undone stuff from this list that embarrassment is heading my way. So here you have it, my year in review!

Art-Related

I set out to create:

5 new 7 x 6" paintings

20 new 16 x 13" paintings

20 new 18 x 14" paintings

15 new 24 x 20" paintings

This is difficult to review, because of the fluctuations in my sizes, which I can never seem to get under control. I will put it like this:

small paintings - 26

medium paintings - 11

large paintings - 5

extra large - 1

So that brings me to a total of 43 paintings in 2010. The only problem with that figure is that it only accounts for paintings that got to stick around to see the light of day, it doesn't take into account for the...ahem, not-so-great paintings. My goal was 60 works and I think I may have hit 50-55 if I had counted the scrapped pieces. So not bad. I suppose I will give myself a pat on the back for that number.

Business-Related

Send out a large (researched) mailing of brochure/cover letter packets

Major fail here.

Send out 3 larger packets each season

Fail here as well. I think I sent out packets to a grand total of 4 galleries. I can and will do better than that. Which brings me up to the next point which is...

Receive representation at one gallery

As mentioned above, I only sent out 4 packets, which to no one's surprise, brought me no galleries.

Update mailing list quarterly

Check!

Schedule 2 solo shows for 2010

Yes, I am counting this item as a major success. At the beginning of the year, I had the exhibit at the Federal Building and the fall show at Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley (which, due to the fact that I displayed 44 paintings - my largest show ever, will be counted for this category, even though it wasn't a solo exhibit)

Have 30 brochures printed quarterly

I had one printing of my brochure done, and have recently run out. There will be a new brochure coming soon!

Have 100 business cards printed

Check!

Update website at least once a week with new paintings and current events

Check!

Update blog at least once a week

This one isn't 100%, but I would give myself a solid B

Enter at least 3 juried shows within the year

Check. Fingers crossed for New American Paintings....I would need all the luck in the world for that to ever happen! I can't believe I even entered.

Improve upon my record-keeping system for inventory

Fail. This is definitely going at the top of my list for 2011, no doubt about it.

So there you have it, my 2010. Soon I will post my 2011 goals and a new painting(s) post, so check back soon. Happy New Year!