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Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Ardens Artists Studio Tour
I will be participating in the 4th Annual Ardens Artists Studio Tour in December.
The tour will be launched on Friday, December 7, as part of Wilmington’s Art on the Town. Visitors are encouraged to join the participating artists for a reception Friday December 7th 6-9 pm at the Buzz Ware Village Center in Arden.
Visitors to Arden undoubtedly notice that no two houses look alike. Maybe that’s why artists are so attracted to it. Since the founding of Arden in 1900 by sculptor Frank Stephens and architect William Price, this unique community has been a haven for visual artists, crafts people, musicians and actors. The three Ardens, consisting of Arden, Ardentown and Ardencroft, are Single Tax as well as Arts & Crafts communities. The Single Tax is an economic theory proposed by Henry George, an American economist and philosopher in the late nineteenth-century. George felt that a land value tax was the most fair and equitable tax and that any income tax was unfair by nature. The Ardens also were founded on the ideals of William Morris, as an Arts and Crafts community. The Arts & Crafts movement was a reaction against the industrial revolution and valued handcrafted goods and the incorporation of individualistic design.
The Arden Craft Shop Museum supports this idea today and hosts Afternoon with the Artist: One Sunday every month, a local artist displays their work.
The Annual Ardens Artists Studio Tour is the only opportunity to meet and see the artists in their studios, where they create their work. 20 plus artists are participating in this year’s tour, although not all are opening their studios. A group show will be mounted at the Buzz Ware Village Center; maps can be picked up at all locations for the self-guided tour. Lots of work will be for sale and you’ll have the opportunity to learn what went into the making of the work. 100% of the artist's sales benefit the artist. Shop locally for unique holiday gifts and support the arts.
In the Water, acrylic and oil on paper, 9 x 12 inches
This is the piece I will have in the art raffle. Each artist has donated a piece of art for a raffle. All proceeds will be used to finance future art events showcasing the talents of the many artists who live, work, and thrive in our villages. Tickets may be purchased at the Buzz Ware Village Center as well as all participating studios throughout the weekend. The prize drawing will be Sunday afternoon, December 9, at 5 p.m. Winners will be contacted by the artists.
“There is a resurgence of the visual arts in Arden as we artists become more aware of each other. The history of Arden as an artist colony is perhaps the reason that our residents and artists alike have been drawn here to live and work. It's as if the town itself and all of its creative activities have bred a mystical place in which to nurture creativity. Just as our own art that we produce could probably be made anywhere, it’s the acceptance and interest of what we do by the community at large and the contacts that we have with our own community of artists which really allows us to more freely be creative in our own private utopia.” said David Burslem.
Burslem grew up in Arden and cites among his influences well known Arden artists: Aurelius Renzetti, Bunni Hurlong and Ash and Mary Burslem.
“When I moved to Arden 19 years ago from Center City Philadelphia I wondered if I would fit in,” I found that my new surroundings influenced a return to nature themed work and I found myself stopping in on friends in their studios regularly something that never happened in the city.
“I love working in the "village" and being surrounded by so many artists and talented people. I walk into my studio and immediately get lost and totally absorbed in designing and making my jewelry.” said Joy Davis. Davis has shared a sun-drenched studio in Ardentown with Dolores Pye Josey since 1993.
“I don’t know if it’s because I feel so at home here or what, the shoots I do in Arden always turn out great.” photographer Joe del Tufo said.
Meet the Artists Reception
Buzz Ware Village Center
2119 The Highway, Arden, DE
Participating artists: Alan Burslem - Ceramics,
David Burslem – Sculptural Paintings
Kim Brainard Celis - Watercolor Paintings,
Linda Celestian – Paintings and Fiber Sculptures
Joy Davis – “Art to Wear” Jewelry
Joe delTufo - Photography
Pamela Dennis – Fiber Arts
Tom Dulin – Oil Paintings
Phil Fisher – Sculpture and Art Collection
Dolores Pye Josey – Ceramics and Paintings
Dick Lebeis – SilverWear Jewelry
Rhys McClure – Paintings and Drawings
Russ McKinney – Copper Embossings
Ashley Messatzzia - Photography
Eleanore Morrow – Paintings and Silk Scarves
Mary Mosaic – Jewelry and Clothing
Erica Orr – Ink and Watercolor
Jeanne Orr - Paintings
Marge Roberts - Paintings
Jen Saemann – Acrylic and Watercolor Paintings
Dotty Verne - Paintings
The tour will be launched on Friday, December 7, as part of Wilmington’s Art on the Town. Visitors are encouraged to join the participating artists for a reception Friday December 7th 6-9 pm at the Buzz Ware Village Center in Arden.
Visitors to Arden undoubtedly notice that no two houses look alike. Maybe that’s why artists are so attracted to it. Since the founding of Arden in 1900 by sculptor Frank Stephens and architect William Price, this unique community has been a haven for visual artists, crafts people, musicians and actors. The three Ardens, consisting of Arden, Ardentown and Ardencroft, are Single Tax as well as Arts & Crafts communities. The Single Tax is an economic theory proposed by Henry George, an American economist and philosopher in the late nineteenth-century. George felt that a land value tax was the most fair and equitable tax and that any income tax was unfair by nature. The Ardens also were founded on the ideals of William Morris, as an Arts and Crafts community. The Arts & Crafts movement was a reaction against the industrial revolution and valued handcrafted goods and the incorporation of individualistic design.
The Arden Craft Shop Museum supports this idea today and hosts Afternoon with the Artist: One Sunday every month, a local artist displays their work.
The Annual Ardens Artists Studio Tour is the only opportunity to meet and see the artists in their studios, where they create their work. 20 plus artists are participating in this year’s tour, although not all are opening their studios. A group show will be mounted at the Buzz Ware Village Center; maps can be picked up at all locations for the self-guided tour. Lots of work will be for sale and you’ll have the opportunity to learn what went into the making of the work. 100% of the artist's sales benefit the artist. Shop locally for unique holiday gifts and support the arts.
In the Water, acrylic and oil on paper, 9 x 12 inches
This is the piece I will have in the art raffle. Each artist has donated a piece of art for a raffle. All proceeds will be used to finance future art events showcasing the talents of the many artists who live, work, and thrive in our villages. Tickets may be purchased at the Buzz Ware Village Center as well as all participating studios throughout the weekend. The prize drawing will be Sunday afternoon, December 9, at 5 p.m. Winners will be contacted by the artists.
“There is a resurgence of the visual arts in Arden as we artists become more aware of each other. The history of Arden as an artist colony is perhaps the reason that our residents and artists alike have been drawn here to live and work. It's as if the town itself and all of its creative activities have bred a mystical place in which to nurture creativity. Just as our own art that we produce could probably be made anywhere, it’s the acceptance and interest of what we do by the community at large and the contacts that we have with our own community of artists which really allows us to more freely be creative in our own private utopia.” said David Burslem.
Burslem grew up in Arden and cites among his influences well known Arden artists: Aurelius Renzetti, Bunni Hurlong and Ash and Mary Burslem.
“When I moved to Arden 19 years ago from Center City Philadelphia I wondered if I would fit in,” I found that my new surroundings influenced a return to nature themed work and I found myself stopping in on friends in their studios regularly something that never happened in the city.
“I love working in the "village" and being surrounded by so many artists and talented people. I walk into my studio and immediately get lost and totally absorbed in designing and making my jewelry.” said Joy Davis. Davis has shared a sun-drenched studio in Ardentown with Dolores Pye Josey since 1993.
“I don’t know if it’s because I feel so at home here or what, the shoots I do in Arden always turn out great.” photographer Joe del Tufo said.
Meet the Artists Reception
Buzz Ware Village Center
2119 The Highway, Arden, DE
Participating artists: Alan Burslem - Ceramics,
David Burslem – Sculptural Paintings
Kim Brainard Celis - Watercolor Paintings,
Linda Celestian – Paintings and Fiber Sculptures
Joy Davis – “Art to Wear” Jewelry
Joe delTufo - Photography
Pamela Dennis – Fiber Arts
Tom Dulin – Oil Paintings
Phil Fisher – Sculpture and Art Collection
Dolores Pye Josey – Ceramics and Paintings
Dick Lebeis – SilverWear Jewelry
Rhys McClure – Paintings and Drawings
Russ McKinney – Copper Embossings
Ashley Messatzzia - Photography
Eleanore Morrow – Paintings and Silk Scarves
Mary Mosaic – Jewelry and Clothing
Erica Orr – Ink and Watercolor
Jeanne Orr - Paintings
Marge Roberts - Paintings
Jen Saemann – Acrylic and Watercolor Paintings
Dotty Verne - Paintings
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Inspiring Artist
The artwork and life of Jim Denevan are awe-inspiring. His paper is the earth and his pencil a rake. The photographic images are beautiful. I would love to meet him and see what a day is like making one of his sand drawings.
He is also known for his series of dinners called Outstanding in the Field
This video shows both his art and his work with farmers presenting incredible dinners from their produce alone.
He is also known for his series of dinners called Outstanding in the Field
This video shows both his art and his work with farmers presenting incredible dinners from their produce alone.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Inspiration
I was at the beach two weekends ago and the waves were awesome; great inspiration for new paintings.
The beach was empty and I got some footage of my muse Delaney.
The beach was empty and I got some footage of my muse Delaney.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Arden Fair, Art Show
Arden, Delaware is a special place to live. Once a year the center of the village is transformed by many volunteers into a Fair grounds for the Arden Fair and Antiques Market held the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. The Fair features children’s games and rides, handmade crafts by over 100 vendors, an Antiques Market, used books, plants, live music in the Shady Grove, food and drink, an art exhibit, and more. Proceeds from the Fair help maintain the Arden Gild Hall, where the public can enjoy concerts, musicals, plays, dances, suppers, and programs throughout the year.
The role I play is curation of the Art Show in the Backstage Gallery of the Gild Hall. It is always someone who lives in Arden, Adentown or Ardencroft,and often it is one featured artist. This year I sent out a call for entries to all women artists. The gallery which is used as a green room for Shakespeare productions and musical performers throughout the year, needed to be painted, thanks Shari Phalan for helping! Then Barbara Henry and I installed 37 pieces of artwork that coincidentally was the exactly right amount of artwork for the space. The mediums and techniques ran the gamut and included metal piercing, quilting, traditional rug hooking, oil painting, watercolor painting, nuno felting, shibori dying, restoration of leather chaps, pastel drawing, colored pencil drawing and ceramic and metal sculpting. Women Artists of the Ardens are a group of pretty talented individuals. But I have to give one shout out to a man. Alton Dahl does the machine stitching on Bev's beautiful quilts and he installed the ceiling lights Friday morning that made the show the success it was. Without him I don't know how anyone would have seen anything. The feedback was great and many stories were shared in typical Arden fashion. Thanks to everyone that participated. My photos aren't great. Sorry, Rhys I didn't get your work in the pictures and Shari, sorry your's is cropped.
Participating Artists:
Beverley Barnett, quilting,
Naomi Clark, metal piercing,
Hunter Clarke, painting,
Linda Celestian, painting and silk sculpture,
Ellen Dolmetsch, traditional hooked rugs,
Barbara Henry, nuno felted wearables,
Bunni Hurlong, pastel drawing,
Judith Kay, photography,
Rhys McClure, colored pencil,
Eleanore Morrow, oil painting,
Betty O’Regan, hand-made paper and collage,
Jeanne Orr, watercolor,
Erica Orr, pen and watercolor,
Linda Parks, ceramic and metal sculpture,
Shari Phalan, restoration of leather chaps and wreath,
Toby Ridings, cyanotypes,
Marjorie Roberts, oil painting,
Jeanne Stigler, oil painting and appliqued quilt,
Dorothy Verne, oil painting.
The role I play is curation of the Art Show in the Backstage Gallery of the Gild Hall. It is always someone who lives in Arden, Adentown or Ardencroft,and often it is one featured artist. This year I sent out a call for entries to all women artists. The gallery which is used as a green room for Shakespeare productions and musical performers throughout the year, needed to be painted, thanks Shari Phalan for helping! Then Barbara Henry and I installed 37 pieces of artwork that coincidentally was the exactly right amount of artwork for the space. The mediums and techniques ran the gamut and included metal piercing, quilting, traditional rug hooking, oil painting, watercolor painting, nuno felting, shibori dying, restoration of leather chaps, pastel drawing, colored pencil drawing and ceramic and metal sculpting. Women Artists of the Ardens are a group of pretty talented individuals. But I have to give one shout out to a man. Alton Dahl does the machine stitching on Bev's beautiful quilts and he installed the ceiling lights Friday morning that made the show the success it was. Without him I don't know how anyone would have seen anything. The feedback was great and many stories were shared in typical Arden fashion. Thanks to everyone that participated. My photos aren't great. Sorry, Rhys I didn't get your work in the pictures and Shari, sorry your's is cropped.
Participating Artists:
Beverley Barnett, quilting,
Naomi Clark, metal piercing,
Hunter Clarke, painting,
Linda Celestian, painting and silk sculpture,
Ellen Dolmetsch, traditional hooked rugs,
Barbara Henry, nuno felted wearables,
Bunni Hurlong, pastel drawing,
Judith Kay, photography,
Rhys McClure, colored pencil,
Eleanore Morrow, oil painting,
Betty O’Regan, hand-made paper and collage,
Jeanne Orr, watercolor,
Erica Orr, pen and watercolor,
Linda Parks, ceramic and metal sculpture,
Shari Phalan, restoration of leather chaps and wreath,
Toby Ridings, cyanotypes,
Marjorie Roberts, oil painting,
Jeanne Stigler, oil painting and appliqued quilt,
Dorothy Verne, oil painting.
Friday, August 3, 2012
New Painting
Summer is flying by. I was in Boston, Massachusetts for 3 days, great city. We took the ferry to Provincetown located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod for 1 day. Here's a new painting I just finished in the nick of time for a grant proposal. 
Fenland, oil on canvas, 36 x 60 inches
It reminds me of the marshland in Provincetown where the ocean meets the land.
I'm preparing to teach my first ever Summer Art Program in my home studio. I'm so excited. I'll be teaching kids some fun, easy printmaking projects that you don't need a printing press for.
Fenland, oil on canvas, 36 x 60 inches
It reminds me of the marshland in Provincetown where the ocean meets the land.
I'm preparing to teach my first ever Summer Art Program in my home studio. I'm so excited. I'll be teaching kids some fun, easy printmaking projects that you don't need a printing press for.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Silk and Painting Pendants
I've recently stocked my etsy shop with NEW pendants. Some are made from painted papers from my workshop on Star Island.
One of a kind, looks like stained glass., reversible. These are original paintings not prints.
Or the plastic tablecloth that was too pretty to throw away.
2 original acrylic paintings on paper captured between 2 panes of glass that are soldered together. Solder is silver and can be polished with silver cloth or polish. Sold with a 16 inch black leather cord necklace
Here's a few that are made from canvas with a layer of silk.
One of a kind, looks like stained glass., reversible. These are original paintings not prints.
Or the plastic tablecloth that was too pretty to throw away.
2 original acrylic paintings on paper captured between 2 panes of glass that are soldered together. Solder is silver and can be polished with silver cloth or polish. Sold with a 16 inch black leather cord necklace
Here's a few that are made from canvas with a layer of silk.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Inspiring Artist
Naoko Serino 
Aroused
Naoko Serino is a Japanese artists sculpting jute fiber into beautiful forms. Her website calls her work "Three-dimensional expression using jute that contains light and air." I call it, wow!
The Ball You Blow
Generating 5-B
Generating 8-A
Aroused
Naoko Serino is a Japanese artists sculpting jute fiber into beautiful forms. Her website calls her work "Three-dimensional expression using jute that contains light and air." I call it, wow!
The Ball You Blow
Generating 5-B
Generating 8-A
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Star Island Arts Conference
After a long journey from Star Island in the Isles of Shoales to Wilmington, Delaware I woke up Sunday morning in my own bed, a little sad. My body was home but my heart was still there. 
Photo by Barry Simon
I will have a hard time teaching Expressive Painting in a new environment because I know nothing will ever come close to what happened on Star Island. I'm going to try to recap the experience for myself and the many new friends I made.
I opened with an exercise from Betty Edwards book Drawing on the Artist Within. Drawing Out Insight exercise: Drawing with marks alone, no pictures the emotions 1. Anger, 2. Joy, 3. Peacefulness (Tranquility), 4. Depression, 5. Human Energy, 6. Femininity, 7. Illness, 8. Your Choice.
Draw how the emotion makes you feel, I instructed. We discussed the similarities and differences in the drawings.
Then they chose one emotion to do an ink painting of with some really beautiful results.
For homework I instructed everyone to look at colors, here are a few photos I took that day.
Day 2: Color
I shared color poems, and we wrote color poems, how a color smells, sounds, feels, tastes, looks, makes you feel and other associations.
Painting with large sponge brushes we painted color fields of one or two colors per page.
I had fun photographing them in different arrangements.
Homework was to look at texture. Photos I took that day.
Day 3: Texture - Using tools to create texture in the paint. Painting over dried color paintings to create layers.
Art imitates nature. Look at the similarities.
Homework was to look at shapes. Here are some photos I took.
After a while everything looked like a painting to me.
Day 4: Mono Printing Shapes
We did a fun exercise with shapes and their meanings that everyone seemed to enjoy.
I demonstrated additive and subtractive painting techniques on palette paper to make prints on dried paintings from color and texture explorations.
Elizabeth's monoprint
Day 5: Collage with painted papers created on days 2, 3 and 4
Bettie's Work
Day 6: Collage with some instruction on composition and negative space.
Look at all the finished work on the walls.
Finished work in order by Betsy, Bettie, Christine, Darby, Holly, Cynthia, Jean, Joan, Kathy and others
Samantha's finished collage mimicked her ink painting from the first day. She had 2 others I didn't get photos of that looked like the island in ocean blue waves.
Fred loved painting and gave me the best testimonial. He said "You gave me permission to put emotion in my art."
Here are some of Fred's paintings I wish I would have photographed more, he was very prolific.
I read daily excerpts from Eric Maisel's book Fearless Creating:
Hushing Exercise- page 5,
Holding - page 6,
Wildness Rules - page 14,
Thought for Food - page 28,
Surrender to Order Chaos - page 144,
Hating the Work - page 156
And I meant to share Criteria for Completion - page 173
Ask yourself is it Alive, is it Powerful, is it Suggestive, is it Resonant, is it Wild and I added is it Sublime? You can add your own as you continue down the path of creating expressive visual art.
Photo by Barry Simon
I will have a hard time teaching Expressive Painting in a new environment because I know nothing will ever come close to what happened on Star Island. I'm going to try to recap the experience for myself and the many new friends I made.
I opened with an exercise from Betty Edwards book Drawing on the Artist Within. Drawing Out Insight exercise: Drawing with marks alone, no pictures the emotions 1. Anger, 2. Joy, 3. Peacefulness (Tranquility), 4. Depression, 5. Human Energy, 6. Femininity, 7. Illness, 8. Your Choice.
Draw how the emotion makes you feel, I instructed. We discussed the similarities and differences in the drawings.
Then they chose one emotion to do an ink painting of with some really beautiful results.
For homework I instructed everyone to look at colors, here are a few photos I took that day.
Day 2: Color
I shared color poems, and we wrote color poems, how a color smells, sounds, feels, tastes, looks, makes you feel and other associations.
Painting with large sponge brushes we painted color fields of one or two colors per page.
I had fun photographing them in different arrangements.
Homework was to look at texture. Photos I took that day.
Day 3: Texture - Using tools to create texture in the paint. Painting over dried color paintings to create layers.
Art imitates nature. Look at the similarities.
Homework was to look at shapes. Here are some photos I took.
After a while everything looked like a painting to me.
Day 4: Mono Printing Shapes
We did a fun exercise with shapes and their meanings that everyone seemed to enjoy.
I demonstrated additive and subtractive painting techniques on palette paper to make prints on dried paintings from color and texture explorations.
Elizabeth's monoprint
Day 5: Collage with painted papers created on days 2, 3 and 4
Bettie's Work
Day 6: Collage with some instruction on composition and negative space.
Look at all the finished work on the walls.
Finished work in order by Betsy, Bettie, Christine, Darby, Holly, Cynthia, Jean, Joan, Kathy and others
Samantha's finished collage mimicked her ink painting from the first day. She had 2 others I didn't get photos of that looked like the island in ocean blue waves.
Fred loved painting and gave me the best testimonial. He said "You gave me permission to put emotion in my art."
Here are some of Fred's paintings I wish I would have photographed more, he was very prolific.
I read daily excerpts from Eric Maisel's book Fearless Creating:
Hushing Exercise- page 5,
Holding - page 6,
Wildness Rules - page 14,
Thought for Food - page 28,
Surrender to Order Chaos - page 144,
Hating the Work - page 156
And I meant to share Criteria for Completion - page 173
Ask yourself is it Alive, is it Powerful, is it Suggestive, is it Resonant, is it Wild and I added is it Sublime? You can add your own as you continue down the path of creating expressive visual art.
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