Sunday, January 25, 2009

Announcing My Second Blog

Some of you have recently noticed it, and I am very pleased today to officially announce that my second blog is now officially underway:  Grander Joy of Spirit in Portraiture.

Although it begins with one miniature, it grows even bigger in scale as it goes forward in this second blog which follows my journey in creating a series of large spiritual portraits.  I am very grateful to the models who have posed for these portraits so far.  Arlynne and Kimberly were enthusiastic and willing subjects and I appreciated their help very much.  "The 'Mary' in Karen" was done from a photograph, but Karen was a good sport about it too. 

More material will unfold as it goes forward on Grander Joy of Spirit in Portraiture, and of course I will continue to post miniatures here on The Ruby Slippers.  I have many things to say in portraiture too, so I hope it's going to be even more fun to follow both blogs as this new one unveils itself.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

MASF Miniature Show Opening Weekend

Dear family friends, Donna, David, and Ilda Littell attended the opening (Donna & David are pictured with me here).  Ilda brought two enthusiastic friends along, and it was great to see all of them at the show.

Late nite fun at Bon Apetit on Saturday after a lovely party for the artists at Dunedin Fine Art Center. ( l-r) Wes Siegrist, Bill Mundy, Herb Weed, Helen Hause, me, Carol Curtiss, Rachelle Siegrist

The mini-ribbon cutting ceremony officially opens the show, & always brings smiles!


The miniature paintings are displayed in groups on panels that fill two large gallery rooms. This is the panel that holds my three miniatures.  Hanging beside each panel is a magnifying 
glass with which to admire the detail in each miniature painting.  The MASF permanent collection is also on display in a separate corridor adjoining the two gallery rooms.

standing here with five talented artists whose work I admire (see their miniatures via the links on my list at right), l-r, Roz Pierson, Wes and Rachelle Siegrist, Bill Mundy, & Dana Thompson. 
 Roz and Bill came all the way from England for the festivities.

President Emeritus, Social Chair, and volunteer who never quits, Carol Curtiss, is my dear friend standing with me here.

It is always a great pleasure for me whenever I have the opportunity to go down to Florida for the opening weekend of the Miniature Art Society of Florida show.  Here are some photos to provide you a birdseye view of the fabulous time I had there!  A special note of thanks to all of you from MASF who work so very hard all year long to make it so special for the artists in attendance!

This year's show includes 823 miniature paintings by 240 participating artists from all over the world.  An Iranian artist, Hossen Fallahi, even submitted his five entries on camel bone.  It's the traditional Persian surface for miniature painting.







Thursday, January 15, 2009

Accepting an Award in Florida

Just a note to say I am heading out on a business trip to Florida, partly to accept an award at the Miniature Art Society of Florida Annual International Show.  If you live in the area of Dunedin, Florida, I hope to see you there!  The show opening is at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center on Jan. 18 and more information is here.

If I can get a decent photo of the awards ceremony, I'll post it when I return, and I'm back in action on Tuesday in Brooklyn.

Monday, January 12, 2009

"Pink Lady Pair"


(two views of one painting, enlarged, and approx. same-size)

"Pink Lady Pair" 1 3/16 inches x 15/16 inches, SOLD
egg tempera on vellum

I love the subtle pinks, oranges and pale yellows in Pink Lady apples.  They are fun to paint!


Sunday, January 11, 2009

"Pink Star-Gazer Lily"


"Pink Star-Gazer Lily"  SOLD
(click on image for a larger view)
1 1/4 inches x  1 1/2 inches, egg tempera on vellum






Saturday, January 3, 2009

Happy New Year!


"Basket of Red Flowers," 3" x 3", egg tempera, framed, (for purchase info., please inquire via the contact page of my website)

Happy New Year! I have several plans for the new year in progress. I am planning a trip to Florida for the MASF show opening in two weeks, I am working on rolling out a second blog, and I am developing a series of large paintings for a gallery show. Look for updates on these plans in future posts. While I am working on these things, here is an older miniature I am posting for sale.