Promises, promises

For the longest time, I have been trying to get a monthly newsletter going for those on my mailing list. Well the time has come. I have overcome the technical difficulties and am finally beginning the newsletter today! I've tried to keep it simple, but informative and I'm pretty happy with the results, so sign up now to see what I've come up with!

Email mailinglist@laurenadamsart.com - include your name (and address, if you'd like postcards, etc via mail)

Stop by for a new painting update on Monday!

For now, here's an old painting, one that is on display at Buswater -

February 21st 24x20" oil an acrylic on canvas

Thank you!

I am tired today - it was a hot weekend in Morgantown, WV at Arts on the River. So much thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth and took the time to view work, chat and/or sign up for our mailing lists!

Now I will dive back into painting and preparing for the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art exhibit. The work is done, the paperwork is in and all I have left to do is take care of presentation. It's coming up so quickly...

Our Booth

Updates

Finally...a new post! With some new updates, I'm not sure where to begin. I'll start with this weekend - which is Arts on the River in Morgantown, WV at the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park on the banks of the Monongahela River and along the Caperton Trail . This year I will be teaming up under one tent with Derek Overfield (http://www.derekoverfield.com/) for the weekend. The festival runs from June 19-20th. Hours are 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m on Saturday and noon - 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, so stop by and visit. For more info see here: http://www.wvarts.net/index.html

Also, I have had a piece (see below) accepted into the juried show at the WV Culture Center, West Virginia Landscapes. That exhibit will be up beginning June 28th, 2010 with a reception that evening as well.

November 15th. oil and acrylic on canvas. 15 x13"

Another upcoming event is Buswater, an exhibition in conjunction with Festivall in Charleston, WV. Derek and I are both participating (once again, much thanks to Betty Gay - you're the best!) with a few pieces each on display. It is free and open to the public, for more info see here: http://www.festivallcharleston.com/event/buswater-boulevard

New Painting

May 1st. oil and acrylic on canvas. 12" x 9"

A bit of a recap post today, I have my favorite newer painting included above. Also, the reception for the Lynn and Jennifer Boggess show was really nice. I can't say again how wonderful it is for them to be given the spotlight in this way. That night Derek Overfield took a few minutes to say a few words about Mr. and Mrs. Boggess, I enjoyed them a lot and just wanted to include a bit of it here with his permission:

"Lauren and I had similar experiences at FSU, though I graduated in 2003 and she in 2006. But, we can agree that we owe much of our success to our time there. We had a number of excellent instructors, some that introduced us to what it it was to be an art student, but the Boggesses showed us what it was to be artists. Lynn Boggess reinforced the fact that artists are just as learned, thorough, dedicated, intense and valuable as any profession out there. He instilled in us a love of the artistic trade and a confidence in our decisions to be artists, as well as a confidence in our own work. He felt the artist should never cover his tracks, but boldy show his work to the world, which he puncuated by urging us to compete. He showed us, by his own example what hard work is, and this was a valuable experience just to glimpse his immense energy and drive. We'd like to thank the Boggesses for their contributions to our education and their continued support in our professional careers."

If you haven't seen the show and will be in Charleston soon, don't forget to check it out. Plus, congratulations to Mr. Boggess for receiving the Governor’s Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement! I certainly couldn't think of anyone more deserving.

New Painting and Reception tonight!

Marion County - May 1st. oil and acrylic on canvas.

Just a reminder, tonight is the reception for the Lynn and Jennifer Boggess: Teaching Artists exhibition at the Culture Center in Charleston, WV. The schedule looks like this:

6 p.m. Program Starts in Great Hall
Welcome by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith
Secretary of Education and the Arts Kay Goodwin
Governor Joe Manchin
President of Fairmont State University Tom Krepel introduces Jennifer and Lynn Boggess
Lynn Boggess invites everyone to the Balcony Gallery
Gallery talk by Jennifer, Lynn and Students
Reception in Great Hall

I'm a bit nervous but excited all at once.

Also, above is a new painting I'm fairly proud of, due to it's enormous size (for me, anyway). Taking a canvas about four feet tall outside certainly presents a new set of challenges, especially since it's been windy lately. Ugh, wind, my sworn enemy. I almost had the painting topple onto me at one point.

"Lynn and Jennifer Boggess: Teaching Artists"

As was hinted at in my "Upcoming Events" section, I have a new show on the horizon. I'm completely honored to be included in the upcoming exhibition to be on display at the Culture Center in Charleston, Lynn and Jennifer Boggess: Teaching Artists. There will be a gallery talk and reception on Monday, May 17th. Derek (who is also a contributing artist) and I will be in attendance, we generally don't miss any opportunity to hear either artist speak about their work.

As an undergraduate student at Fairmont State University, I was very lucky to have studied with Professor Lynn Boggess. Anyone familiar with his work knows exactly what a wonderful opportunity that was and I couldn't be in better company showing with him and his wife (also a fantastic artist, see earlier post). Mr. Boggess has become a full-time professional artist since leaving FSU several years ago. So I'm very excited that this idea has been selected for the exhibition (and not just because it means I get to show, although that doesn't hurt!) because he (and Jennifer still) was an amazing instructor. A million thanks go out to them. Also while I'm on a roll thanking people, I'd also like to thank Betty Gay, Exhibits Coordinator at the Culture Center and the Dean of Fine Arts at FSU, Peter Lach.

For more info on the exhibition and contributors, see here: http://fineartsfsu.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/lynn-jennifer-boggess-teaching-artists-exhibition-to-open-in-charleston-at-the-culture-center-on-may-17/

New Painting and Upcoming Opportunities

Above is a new work, titled April 12th, (9 x 12") done with oil and acrylic. I'm developing a growing interest in using the acrylic paint as a nice way to begin to explore gesture in a piece and then continuing with oil paint. I'm really enjoying the combination and can see this approach becoming a mainstay in my work - the opportunities seem endless.

Also, here are some upcoming opportunities through the West Virginia State Museum. They are hosting 4 separate Juried Exhibits named "Inspired: A West Virginia Series of Juried Exhibitions". If interested, see here for the application: http://www.wvculture.org/museum/images/application.pdf