Holiday Gift Fairs & Art Classes
I have some very good news to share with you.
First, if you haven't seen it yet, I have been working on a new series of Sicilian Oil Landscapes, which you can now view and purchase at Natur-Tyme.
View of Segesta II, oil on canvas by Maria Rizzo
Second, I am very excited to bring my paintings, prints, bookmarks, and magnets at two GREAT holiday events (where everything is 10% off!):
In addition, I've joined Michaels' team in DeWitt, NY, as their certified Grumbacher Art Instructor! From now on, I will be teaching various painting classes at the store. Check out the two painting classes that are coming up this November:
November 8, 2017
(6:30 PM - 8:30 PM)
November 29, 2017 (6:30 PM - 8:30 PM)
If you are interested, make sure to sign-up through the links above!
Also, at the end of the month, I am going to Italy (Roma-Napoli) for a special wedding. Yay! If you want to see photos of my short adventure, make sure to either follow me on Instagram or on my Facebook page !
Maria
Studio Visit with Artist Barbara Counte-Gaugel
Check out my visit with artist Barbara Conte-Gaugel in her fascinating art studio.
Barbara Conte-Gaugel knows my quirky husband well. In mid-May she sent me an email to let me know that she was getting rid of a male mannequin and she was wondering if Dan wanted it for his rock shows. The answer was a sound: "Yes!"
So on May 27 Dan and I drove down to the Delavan center in Syracuse, NY to pick up this mannequin from Barbara's art studio. But, once we got there, we ended up hanging out in Barbara's beautiful studio catching up on all things art, paint, and tools, and listening to the stories behind Barbara's fascinating collection of found-objects.
Lately, Barbara has been focusing on painting oil landscapes but she is also a mixed media artist and an impressive seamstress.
Barbara writes:
I want to be an oil painter when I grow up. There, I’ve said it. This is the gold ring that I have been after while pursuing “any art medium that takes my fancy.” As a multi-media artist, I work in painting and assemblage as well as photography. While it could sound like a lack of discipline for one to go from one medium to another, that is not necessarily true. For me, one medium fuels another. My mind explodes with new ideas. I have been told that there is a common thread that can be seen running through my work. I like that.
The assemblage series is called, “Remnants”. Old, rusty and ordinary things are given a new life, one quite different from the former one, but no less important.
My oil paintings, many done in plein air, along with studio still life works are slowly filling my studio walls at the Delavan Center.
You can learn more about Barbara Conte-Gaugel by visiting her website at http://barbaraconte-gaugel.com/
New Small Oil Paintings from the VELATURA Series
I am so happy to introduce you to some of my new small paintings from my new series called VELATURA.
I am so happy to introduce you to some of my new small paintings from my new series called VELATURA.
What does VELATURA mean?
The term velatura reflects my painting process, which consists of the fabrication, subtle layers upon layers of color, of dreamlike, and sometimes playful, realities.
I adore creating art based on the real world but vividly transformed by my infatuation for soothing colors like purples, greens, and blues.
I truly enjoy creating paintings that reflect my admiration for nature's creative force. With each brushstroke, I feel a connection with its whimsical energy.
My approach to painting depends on the complexity of the subject.
To add to the realism of the painting, I add the velatura, which are numerous glazes of color.
When I paint evocative nature scenes, I play with blue-brown washes and bold, bright marks which slowly morph into a suggestive landscape.
This creative process begins with a dynamic abstraction and ends into a believable, yet personal, reality.
You can find my paintings at Natur-Tyme, 3160 Erie Blvd. East
DeWitt, NY or on my online shop.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Maria
How to plan for a successful art show and opening reception.
After an art opening it is a good habit for artists (give yourself a couple of days!) to examine what factors contributed to your opening's success and what things could have been done differently to make it better. Read more to discover tips on how to plan for a successful art show and opening reception.
My recent opening for Velatura was on Tuesday, April 4th at SUNY Empire State College in East Syracuse, NY, and to my delight, a lot of acquaintances, friends, and family showed up and enjoyed my art.
[A lot of photos were taken by my artist-friend, Karen who wrote a great post about this exhibit! To read her post click here!]
Yet, I believe that after an art opening it is good that every artist (give yourself a couple of days!) examines what factors contributed to the opening's success and what things could have been done differently to make it better. So....
What contributed to my art exhibit's good attendance?
1) Good planning, which included answering these 5 questions:
- Where are you going to show our art?
- When are you going to show your exhibit, and when are you having a reception for it?
- What art are you exhibiting? Is it a series or a retrospective of your work? Is it a solo show or a group show?
- Who are you hoping to reach out to with your art? Who is your target audience besides family and friends? I would recommend inviting art collectors, past clients, and journalists.
- Why are you exhibiting your art? Is it for sharing you passion with the world or for sharing your point of view on a social issue? Is it free and open to the public?
Selected paintings for Velatura: Creating Trees and places with Subtle Layers of Purples, Greens, and Blues.
2) Writing an artist statement specifically for my upcoming exhibition. For tips on how to write your artist statement read my blog post here.
3) Writing a press release which must be sent out to local news contacts at least 2 weeks before the reception. Check out this page on how to write an effective PR.
4) Designing and printing a postcard, or an invitation, to send out to your target audience, friends and family, a week before the opening. Plus, it's important to share the same visual design on social media to keep your brand consistent.
5) Hanging-up the art a couple of days before the opening. Make sure to ask for help from a friend or a partner. Things will move much faster!
6) At the reception make sure to bring:
- refreshments,
- business cards,
- and fine art prints of your work to sell, if it relates with your type of art.
- Also, don't forget to bring your phone or camera. Make sure to take a lot of pictures or ask a friend to document the night. These photos can be later used for promotional purposes!
Yet, there are three things that, if I could go back in time, I would have done differently.
1) I didn't give an artist talk, and that was a mistake because every time I explain my process, I share my passion with the people who enjoy my art or want to learn more. So, the learned lesson is: give an artist's talk every time you have an art show. It will give people an opportunity to further connect with you and your work.
2) I didn't have a e-mail sign-up sheet to collect emails for my arts newsletter, which is one of the most effective and cheapest ways to inform my fan base about upcoming events, promotions and so forth.
3) In addition, another technique I used in the past to draw a bigger crowd and make some money was to have a raffle of my work, I would either give away a framed print or an original painting and sell tickets from $2 to $5 depending on the value of my work.
Maria Rizzo gives an artist talk for her first group art show at The RedHouse Arts Center in 2010.
So yes, I wish I taught of that, too!
I'll make sure to read this blog post again before planning my next art show!!
Maria
MARIA RIZZO
Trees, Lands & Dreams | Art Blogger #theartistspath | Art Educator | From Italy 🇮🇹🇺🇸 |