It’s time for a show !
Category: News Flash !
Healing
A sunny crisp winter morning greets me here in the studio after a long quiet month of healing days. Slow and steady progress finds me able to negotiate the short commute across the lane to the studio yard and to catch up on the piles of paperwork and take short naps in the warming sunshine.
Now that the new body parts are settling in it is time to rouse the sleeping muses. It is a somewhat disconcerting phenomenon that the creative energy levels have been slow to resurface and I’m just going to have to try and trick those atrophied muscles back into gear. Perhaps just sitting in my easel chair will spark something. Or maybe aroma therapy ? sniffing an open jar of turpentine ?
Well, while my muses have been on vacation… some of my favorite artist friends have been working hard and I wanted to pass along news of these spectacular shows that are must sees…
Robert Jackson
Bob’s crazy quirky humor is on display in a group of stunning new works at the Gallery Henoch in NYC. This show was delayed due to flooding in the Chelsea Art District after Hurricane Sandy and it is winding up now but well worth a look to see the fun that his boxes have gotten up to lately.
Scott Fraser
Oh the pleasures of viewing new works by Scott. In a few days, Dec. 15, his solo show will open at the Jenkins Johnson Gallery in SF. Below is a photo of the invitation which was slightly bruised in transit by the US postal system but it will provide a link for you to see more of the current work.
Michael Allen and JD Wissler
A study in… studies. These two friends have been part of a group of plein air artists who have spent hours and indeed years together out in the wilds of central Pennsylvania capturing the atmospheres on canvas. Their work has been featured in an article in the current issue of Plein Air Magazine.
My idle brushes are lifted to them all and with a bit more
It’s been a while…
and the muses are calling…
calling me back to the studio…
the brushes are flirting with me as I walk by them from kitchen to office and back again… oh how the empty panels stacked up alongside the easel do tease.
I am listening, but there are a few more tasks to be swept away before I can return to my easel. Today, for instance, I have added some new prints to the website shop. Here’s a quick peek…
There are over 40 prints listed on the site now but if you have a particular favorite which you do not see there please contact me and I’ll let you know if it is available.
And remember…shipping and handling is… FREE !
Creative Maturity
An imaginative and beautifully designed magazine, Martha’s Vineyard Arts and Ideas, is the creative brainchild of Patrick Phillips. A few months ago we spoke about including my work as one of the featured artist profiles and it has been published in this month’s issue.
http://www.mvartsandideas.com/arts/artist-profiles/heather-neill
When I spoke to Patrick earlier this summer I was preparing to work on a painting which had the title, Aren’t we aging well…which I wrote about in the last blog entry.
The musings in MV Arts and Ideas, about “aging into creative maturity”, were in part a reflection on how I was going to interpret the title for this intimate portrait of myself and Pat…but were also part of a current dialogue that I have been having with the muses about how, even as a mid-career artist…read, she’s gone through enough sketchbooks and pencils to fill a spaceship…there are still daily moments of uncertainty as I sit in front of the easel.
I expect that most of you artists out there who are of a certain age are also still balancing the confidences of craft with the moments of dreadful doubt…especially since so much of what happens between the brush and the panel is a mystery. I’d love to hear how well all of you are “aging”.
On the road again…
Now this is sorta fun…
When this post hits the airwaves I hope to be somewhere around New London, Ct. in the car, hauling the trailer, headed for the island.
But today, as I write this while procrastinating instead of packing the trailer, I have two more paintings to wrap up and a whole lotta last minute packing to do so let’s get right down to it.
I’ve saved the biggest for the last two and today I give you….
#17 – Up Island Morning 40 x 90
A little slice of Chilmark heaven. Our destination this week is just over the hill from here and right on the edge of the planet. Zoe will not need the sheep whose internal music player lulls her to sleep with the sound of ocean waves…because they will be right out the window !
May you all find peace in whatever slice of heaven you wake up to this morning…
Lights in the sky…
What with all the fireworks last night it seems appropriate to show you…
#11 Bucket List 42 x 48
Top of my list is seeing the Northern Lights.
Top of Pat’s list is whale watching.
What’s at the top of your list ?
Museum of Realism Art
Turning this old Boston Library building into a brand new Museum dedicated to Realist Art is the dream project of Co-Founders, Pamela Sienna and George Kougeas. They are well on the way to making this a reality and have just launched the website which is a virtual platform to provide a look at their progress and for the growing list of artists and artwork which they have curated into the museum as “Inaugural Associated Artists”.
I am honored to be included in this group and will be providing milestone updates so blog readers can follow along as this important new venue comes to life. Here’s a blurb from their site and a link to read and learn more about the museum and the artists…
Welcome to the future Museum of Realist Art in East Boston.
The Mission of the Museum of Realist Art: Create a world-class cultural destination in the neighborhood of East Boston by exhibiting and collecting well-crafted painting, drawing, photography and sculpture with a specific focus on realist and narrative art.
Our focus is on contemporary realism, illusionism, magic realism, surrealism and visionary realism.
A planning team is working with Co-Founders George Kougeas and Pamela Sienna to develop this non-profit museum. See examples of art and follow our progress on Facebook as we establish relationships with a selected group of ‘Inaugural Associated Artists’ that we will exhibit in a future physical museum in East Boston.
Musuem of Realist Art
Group challenge
The new exhibition getting ready to open at Gallery 1261 in Denver, CO.
This new painting, Master Violet Ray #11, has been shipped out west for the show…which opens June 29th.
In case you are not familiar with exactly what a Master Violet Ray is… you might enjoy reading the Painter’s Notes for this one. Click HERE for the link.
The Mighty Blixa…
This sparkly smiling little boy is Blixa, the 3 yr. old son of an old friend of mine…Doug, aka Dug, and Lauren Cawley and younger brother to Dregen. Dug and I go all the way back to Harvard Square in the early 80’s when we worked together in the tiny closet of a frameroom at the Coop.
Now he and his wife own a frameshop in San Francisco and Dug tells me he’s some kind of famous in the screaming grundgy music world since he plays and sings in a band called The Grannies. Now…it’s a good thing for both of us that I’m not a music critic… and when we reconnected via facebook a while back I did take a quick tour of his site and listen to some of the music…and for an old folkie like myself it’s downright terrifying.
So consider yourselves forwarned if you dare to go down that road and look them up…although there are sure to be those among you who will be quick to challenge my narrow gereatric musical tastes and enlighten me to the intricacies of lyrics and costume…have at it.
What I can say, from the bottom of my heart, is that Dug is one of the finest, kindest and dearest humans on this planet. And so it was especially hard to hear the news that young Blixa has just been diagnosed with Leukemia. This is a family that has picked up more than their share of burdens, having been swept out of their home by the mortgage dementors. And, with their lives already out of balance, there is now a different focus to their needs.
I’ve followed along on his facebook page as he kept us all in the loop from Blixa’s hospital bed to his homecoming. That kid is smiling in every single photo and appears to have all the special powers he will need to battle this transformer. But the family could use some help.
The band is doing some fundraising gigs. Their website has some scary posters and gear for sale. And they have just put up a link on Paypal which lets people donate directly to Blixa’s medical fund. I tried that link today and Dug responded immediately so I know it’s up and running and it’s safe….
If you’re moved to want to pay forward some kindness that you were offered when you were in need of help…
I’m just sayin’…
here’s the info directly from Doug’s FB page…
Also a lot of folks have been asking about a donation site and we now have www.paypal.com set up – just use BlixaHeron@comcast.net as the recipient & it will go directly to a health account for Blixa. Thank you!
Ta,
H
The Circus is in Town…
The painting that keeps reminding me what a small world this is…
As I mentioned in a blog post way back in January of 2011, many members of the original Circus Kirk have contacted me after learning of this painting to share stories of their time in that circus, indeed on that very truck.
This week two more people wrote asking about the availability of prints, Ellie who went on to be a teacher and photographer and remembers the “hectic” schedule traveling with the circus, and Terry who actually painted the name on this very truck.
I wanted to update the information here that yes, the original of this painting has sold and YES, I do have prints available. They are discounted for Circus Alumnae and are $125 – printed on archival paper that is 17″ x 22″ and shipping is FREE. Please send a check or money order to my address (listed on the contact page of the website) and include the address to which it should be sent and off it will go.
Long may the circus live !