Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Remembering Louis Tedesco-1947-2007

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Mixed Fruit in a Blue Bowl, oil on linen




The very first time that I saw Louis Tedesco I was surprised. He didn’t look at all like what I’d expected he’d look like. I suppose I expected a dignified, orderly-looking man in long creased trousers and a white button-down shirt because Tedesco’s still life paintings were so orderly and majestically dignified. They were also incredibly beautiful, with a mysterious luminous quality to them that is very difficult to describe, unless you have seen them for yourself. It was one of Louis’s still life paintings displayed at Art Center Sarasota that caught my eye one day, and filled me with a fervent desire to learn to paint just like that!-although I’d never painted a still life in my entire life before that moment. So I signed up for a 3 day workshop with Louis last spring, and the small, soft-spoken man that I was introduced to as I walked into the class was not at all as I’d imagined he’d be. His arms were covered with the most intrinsically patterned tattoos I’d ever seen, a little chaotic in my mind’s eye but nevertheless orderly in artistic design. His smile saddened me a little, for it was obvious that he certainly needed some costly dental work, but it was his beautiful deep, dark luminous eyes that matched that same mesmerizing quality I’d noticed in his paintings, and captured the viewer’s attention almost immediately.

Louis Tedesco died just a few months after that workshop, and although I only had the honor of learning from him for 3 short days, I still see his influence in many of my still life paintings today. Louis is a classic example of everything that is sad about talent that goes unrewarded financially during the artist’s life time. I called the art center in late August to schedule myself for Louis’s fall workshop, and it was then that I was told that he had just died unexpectedly. I was also told that when he finally went for medical attention, he was told that the hospital could really not help him because he was not covered with the health insurance required. He died soon afterwards, and an artistic community is left saddened by that sudden loss, and wondering if anything could have changed the outcome. I’ll never forget that during my workshop with Louis, someone in class mentioned that they were stopping at Whole Foods on the way home to pick up some groceries. Louis only smiled and remarked that he’d need to mortgage his house (if he had one) in order to shop there.

When I think about Louis and his beautiful still life paintings, I can only wonder why the term "Starving Artist" should immediately come to mind and be associated with someone of such talent.In my opinion, although this gentle, talented man painted his dramatic chiaroscuro still lifes as competently and majestically as his teachers David Leffel and Sherri McGraw, he died practically penniless, unable to afford any medical treatments that might have prolonged his life, and never receiving the financial reward for a talent that was richly deserving. So goes the starving artist syndrome, and alas it is unfortunate that in America people will pay enormous amounts of money tickets to sporting events, big screen TVs and electronic equipment, the amount of money that most people are willing to shell out for original art is usually a tragedy.

One of the piece’s I did in Louis workshop is on exhibit at Sarasota’s City Hall, another has sold, but the piece above that I did recently is a good example of the unique way in which Louis has influenced my own painting. I’ll never forget some of his words to me spoken with a twinkle in his eye as he watched me paint, “You didn’t really just put pink on that table cloth did you? This is North Light! You don’t need to slavishly copy every detail, but you must approach every single brushstroke with reverence and make it meaningful!” Then as he watched me struggling to mix the color of one of his favorite still life bottles he said to me, “What in the world are you doing?” When I explained that I was trying to mix the color of that bottle he just smiled, went over to his own paint box, and handed me a tube of Rembrandt phthalo turquoise blue. “My dear,” he said, “there are some colors that you simply cannot mix! Help yourself!”

Although I’ll never truly be a competent realism painter in the style of Louis Tedesco, I definitely know that I need to make every single brushstroke a work of art in and of itself.

If only for Louis.

If you ever knew or studied with Louis, there will be a posthumous exhibit at Imperial Fine Art, in Sarasota Florida during the month of December. The exhibit opens this Friday and if you would like more information about this exhibit, please contact Imperial Fine Art here.

In addition to the piece by Louis below, if you would like to see more examples of Louis Tedesco’s work and read more about him, please go here.



Thursday, November 29, 2007

Paint-Out Event to benefit Alzheimer Assoc.

SOLD


"Dappled Garden" -Unfinished version of one of the paintings that I did for the paint-out on Thursday .



Yesterday was Summerville, an assisted living facility in Venice, Florida's first annual paint-out to benefit the Alzheimer Foundation.



I started painting at 9 in the morning and by 3pm I had completed 2 paintings of the same scene- one in morning light and one in afternoon light. A friend of mine was nice enough to snap a picture of one of the paintings while I was working on it, and I'm grateful that he did that because I never had a chance to take a photo of the finished paintings as they looked in the beautiful sunshine. I had just enough time to run home, frame the paintings, change my clothes and get back to Summerville by 5:30, which is when the cocktail party began. There was a wet paint sale held on the veranda under the moonlight, with art proceeds to benefit the Alzheimer foundation.



Happily, both of my paintings sold, and I am looking forward to next year's event, which will probably be even more fun and profitable for the foundation!

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Friday, November 23, 2007

Plein air hibiscus

SOLD "Towards the Light", 8x10, oil on canvas panel


This pretty hibiscus was painted en plein air from this cutie in my garden. I used a palette knife for everything but the thingie sticking out of the flower-whatever that's called.





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Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Simple Gifts, 16x20, oil on linen

"Simple Gifts"- 16x 20, oil on linen


Simple gifts seemed an appropriate name for this painting, which I thankfully finally finished today! The fruit basket, eggs, wine and orchids all seemed to indicate the sense of bounty and overall prosperity that we as a nation sometimes take for granted in these United States. I do hope the painting imparts a sense of thankfulness to viewers as well. We are truly fortunate to have what we have, despite rising gas prices and a falling dollar.


May everyone have a thankful, joyful and peaceful Thanksgiving!


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Thursday, November 01, 2007

Mixed Roses in a Blue Vase, 16x2o

SOLD

Mixed Roses in a Blue Vase, 16x20, oil on linen


For those of you who have reminded me that I haven't done a floral in quite a while- here goes.

The mixed roses and scattered daisies are complimented by the luscious fruits and the blue vase is enhanced by the complimentary colors in the roses and peaches.





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Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Historic Buildings in Pennsylvania, Inn at Yellow Springs

SOLD Inn at Yellow Springs, (the Washington Building), 18x24, oil on linen



I worked on this a bit more today, and I'm pretty satisfied with it now. I still haven't decided whether or not to take the long drive up to Chester Springs next week, for the jurying of the Annual Yellow Springs art show, which is in May of 2008. But if I decide to do it, this is one of the paintings that I'll take with me, though it certainly is not a good example of my best work. Since they would have to retire regular artists in order to accept new ones, I think my chances of getting into the show are pretty remote. Also, since the hubby and I put about 6000 miles on our car this summer road-tripping, I'm definitely not in the mood for another road trip. Sigh. I do need to make up my mind in the next day or two, but for now, I'm just happy I finished this sucker.


For more info on the fascinating history of the Village of Yellow Springs, in Chester Springs, Pa. just click on this link.

Historic Yellow Springs





Monday, September 24, 2007

Inn at Yellow Springs, Washington Bldg.

Inn at Yellow Springs/ Washington Building, 18x24, oil on linen I decided to paint this building, even though I suck at painting buildings. (Note: finished product is better than photo! Click on the picture for more detail.)

Please let me know what you think of the final product. I painted it from the photo below, which is a picture of the Washington Building in historic Yellow Springs, Pa. where I lived before moving to Florida.

If you would like to learn more about the village of Yellow Springs, in Chester County, Pa., please click on this link:

Historic Yellow Springs




Thursday, August 09, 2007

After Argenteuil- remembering Monet

SOLD


"After Argenteuil", 8x10, oil on canvas


I think the hubby and I are done road-tripping for a while and after returning home last night I was anxious to paint. It's funny, but having been away from daily painting for over a month- I felt LOST today when I took out my paints!


I hardly knew where to begin. Finally, in desperation, I focused on what I think I know best- the French Impressionists. Their time at Argenteuil was fruitful. This painting was for me as well , as it marked the very first time in my history that I felt that I'd actually done a true IMPRESSIONIST painting. Most of my paintings are a cross between, impressionism, realism and expressionism. My artist friends have called my work New Age art, though I don't consider that a compliment. I've been painting now since the Spring of 2005- a little more than 2 years, and just about a year and a half with oils, so I shouldn't be too hard on myself. But having had the opportunity to travel to different galleries lately and see the works of other artists, I do find that I envy artists who began their careers at an early age and had the benefit of extensive training. I know I need to continue to work on my technique.


In the end, I would like to think that It's all coming out the way I suppose it was meant to come out, my art included!

I'd like to thank all the wonderful people who began collecting my paintings this year. It was a good year for me- and proved to me that I should continue to paint as people obviously enjoy the work that I produce. With a miserable economy here in the US, I only hope that people will continue to collect art which makes them feel happy, and I for one will endeavor to keep my prices low to permit middle class collectors to own an original oil painting composed by a person who only has a small number of good years to produce works that she and her collectors can be proud of.





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Monday, July 30, 2007

Picking Poppies, 18x24

SOLD "Picking Poppies" 18 by24, oil on gallery-wrapped canvas




I enjoyed painting a smaller version of this scene a few weeks back, so I decided to do a larger one over the weekend. The little girl has been placed to help lead the eye up into the European seaside village and finally to the sailboat in the distance. This time I used more brushwork than knife so although it's less painterly, it's more refined. If it doesn't sell, I'll keep it for my family room because it really is a cheery piece!


This painting can be purchased for $500.00 with free shipping and handling. Many people emailed me back in May and June about commissioning a larger poppy painting than the ones I had been doing. Unfortunately, my email folder was accidently deleted last month so I no longer have the email addresses of those who contacted me. My paintings are sold on a first come, first serve basis, so if you are interested in this one, please use the Paypal button below. If you are not interested in this one, but have contacted me before, please email me again so I'll have your name and email address once more.

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Friday, June 29, 2007

Summer Day Salt Marsh, en plein air


SOLD



Summer Day Salt Marsh, 8x10, oil on canvas


This week's rain has thankfully put a little more water into our Florida eco system, though much more is needed than what we've received. I hope this post qualifies as a weed or wildflower post for today's Daily Painter's challenge. A marsh in Florida after all, is pretty darned full of everything- including weeds, flowers and gators.

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Friday, June 22, 2007

The Peaceful Kingdom, Final Version

SOLD
"A Peaceful Kingdom", final version, 24 x24, oil on masonite, (Note: you can click on the image to see more detail)

Being me, I couldn't let this alone today, because I knew there were spots that needed additional development. The problem is that the more you mess with a painting, the less spontaneous it becomes. In this case, I'm glad I worked it a little more. I worked on the water, the sky, the distant mountains, and a bit of the foreground. I may wait until it's completely dry and add a final glaze to unify it overall, but other than that I'm definitely done with this one.


The painting has a really lovely ethereal quality throughout the water and sky patterns, that just can't be captured with a camera or seen with a computer monitor. In spite of all the color, it definitely has a peaceful feel to it, and I may save it for a show, if it doesn't sell.



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Thursday, June 21, 2007

A Peaceful Kingdom

"A Peaceful Kingdom", oil on masonite, 24x24



I finished this today, in spite of a miserable backache. I decided to title it "A Peacful Kingdom", because it just looks like it IS!


Wednesday, June 20, 2007

untitled, a work in progress


Untitled and unfinished, 24x24

I started working on this a few days ago. It's turning into a bit of a phantasy piece-a combination of some of my favorite paintings I've done and places that I've seen. There's elements of Provence, Sardinia, Tuscany and Big Sur in this painting, as anyone who has been following my work can probably see. It was dark when I photographed it. The color in the water is actually very interesting, though it's pretty hard to tell from this photo.

The foreground is looking pretty good to me now. The middle and background still need a lot of development, which I'll be doing in the next few days. Overall, I like the way it's coming together though. I just need to figure out how to unify it, so it doesn't look like a menage a quatre, or cinq.... or six....

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

A Man Crucified

NFS

"A Man Crucified", oil on canvas


A while back someone emailed me and asked me to please paint my own interpretation of Jesus crucified. I told the person that I really wasn't up to the task, and would hardly know how to begin. Yesterday, I was very depressed , but knew I needed to fill up the time. Unable to concentrate, I just let the spirit decide what I should paint. This was the result. And although I held the paintbrush, I really don't feel as though I actually painted this myself. As one of the other daily painters remarked recently on her blog, "When you allow yourself to be a vessel, you will be filled."


Thank-you Jesus, for getting me through a rough day.


Monday, June 04, 2007

A Good Year, a painting of wine and roses

SOLD "A Good Year", 12x16, oil on Claussens linen panel
Back in March, the hubby and I took a fun trip up the coast of California, which included a visit of course to wine country! There were so many wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valley that it became difficult to determine which to visit and which ones to pass over. We found 2 fabulous finds that day, but I'll save #2 for another day. We thoroughly enjoyed the winery of August Briggs in Calistoga and have wine in our rack to prove it. This is one of the very few wineries in California that does not charge a tasting fee, and yet the education that accompanied our journey into that very special wine cellar was almost as stellar as the samplings that we enjoyed. Although I prefer white wine over red, the robust and fragrant reds that I experienced that day could convert me into a cross-drinker! I highly recommend this winery for many reasons, and that is why I decided to include one of the August Briggs bottles in one of my very rare realism paintings.

This past weekend I determined that it was high time that I invested another effort into my realism painting. Although I find colorist impressionism much more fun to do than realism, I truly appreciate the paintstaking efforts that go into realistic still life paintings. One of my biggest problems in attempting believable still life paintings, is a total lack of north light indoor lighting inside my home. So, instead of fighting against confusing light sources in my studio, I finally decided to take the setting out to my front porch, where I was able to catch a very nice north light (albeit outdoor) on my bottle of August Briggs cabernet. I also pulled out a tablecloth that I'd purchased in Heidelburg, Germany, and a lovely hand-painted carafe that I'd purchased in Strasbourg, France, and the overall composition seemed as ripe and lively as the grapes that most certainly went into that cabernet sauvignon.

I titled this painting "A Good Year" after Peter Mayle's book and the delightful movie starring Russell Crowe, (which incidently had little resemblance to the novel itself). The title also serves as a swan song to my endless drivel about the benefits of living in Pennsylvania over Florida. Yes, for me, it's been a very good year.

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Sunday, June 03, 2007

A Good Year

SOLD
"A Good Year", 12x16, oil on Raymar panel

I realize that I haven't made any entries in this blog for a very long time, but that hasn't precluded me from thinking about my friends that I once had here. I hope that almost everyone's doing well (though I do know that some of you are not) and blogging away happily still. Today, I decided that I could probably still write better than a 5th grader, so here I am back on my old blog, where I once incessantly wrote my heart out. If you have ever wondered what happened to the Globetrotter, she's been painting her heart out and posting regularly over on her paint blog at PaintDance.


Hopefully an old friend or two will still remember me and possibly drop a line to say hello.

Back in March, the hubby and I took a fun trip up the coast of California, which included a visit of course to wine country! There were so many wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valley that it became difficult to determine which to visit and which ones to pass over. We found 2 fabulous finds that day, but I'll save #2 for another day. We totally enjoyed the winery of August Briggs in Calistoga and have wine in our rack to prove it. This is one of the very few wineries in California that does not charge a tasting fee, and the education that accompanied our journey into that very special wine cellar was almost as stellar as the samplings we enjoyed. I highly recommend this winery for many reasons, and that is why I decided to include one of the August bottles in one of my very rare realism paintings.

Over the weekend I determined that it was high time to invest another effort into my realism painting. Although I find colorist impressionism much more fun to do than realism, I truly appreciate the paintstaking efforts that go into realistic still life paintings. One of my biggest problems in attempting realistic still life paintings, is a total lack of north light indoor lighting in my home. So, instead of fighting against confusing light sources, I finally decided to take the setting out to my front porch, where I was able to catch a very nice north light (albeit outdoor) on my bottle of August Briggs cabernet. I also pulled out a tablecloth that I'd purchased in Heidelburg, Germany, and a lovely ceramic carafe that I'd purchased in Strasbourg, France, and the overall composition seemed as ripe and lively as the grapes that most certainly went into that cabernet sauvignon.

I titled this painting "A Good Year" after Peter Mayle's book and the delightful movie starring Russell Crowe, (which incidently had little resemblance to the novel itself). The title also serves as a swan song to my endless drivel about the benefits of living in Pennsylvania over Florida. Yes, for me, it's been a very good year.

If you'd like to see what I've been up to for the past 6 months, just check out my art website here. Otherwise drop me any email (as some of you still do), and let me know what's going on in your lives.


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Saturday, June 02, 2007

Congratulation bouquet,8x10

SOLD Congratulation Bouquet, 8x10, oil on gallery-wrapped canvas



This beautiful bouquet of roses in a glass vase would make a lovely gift. I painted it in subtle shades of red and peach, and the roses are enhanced with little sprays of baby's breath throughout. If you need something lovely to present to a special ballerina after her recital, or a gift for the graduate or even father's day, this painting is quite attractive in person and would also look appropriate in most any decor.


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Friday, June 01, 2007

An afternoon in Venice- watercolor

SOLD


An afternoon in Venice, watercolor on Arches full sheet




This was one of my very, very first paintings- a rare watercolor. It was on exhibit at an area Italian restaurant and it sold yesterday. I'm glad it sold but I'll miss it because it took me many painstaking weeks to complete it-obviously in the days when I had no idea what the term "painterly" meant. I hope the nice lady who bought it enjoys it as much as I had fun painting it.




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Thursday, May 31, 2007

Dave and Kylie, oil on linen

Not for sale David and Kylie, 8x10, oil on Belgian linen



I painted this one to give as a gift to my son's lovely significant other, Sara. The man in the picture is my son, and the baby is Sara's little niece Kylie. I painted it from a picture that was taken at Sara's graduation celebration recently. Sara received her Master's degree from Boston University. She hasn't seen the painting yet since it has been drying, but hopefully she'll enjoy getting a painting of two of her very favorite people!

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Happy Valley, 12x24

SOLD "Happy Valley"- 12x24, oil on masonite panel



I titled this new painting Happy Valley because I think it would be impossible to be unhappy if one lived in such a pretty place!



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Friday, May 25, 2007

The Nook, Pennsylvania landscape, 16x20



"The Nook", oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 16x20

This is a painting I did last winter of a scene from the backyard of my old house in Chester Springs, Pa. I was never happy with how the painting came out, so I pulled it out this week and worked on it some more. I added some glazes, falling leaves and a sunbeam and it looks really pretty now. I also just discovered that my old house has gone on the market recently. I'd always thought I'd try to buy it back if it ever came on the market, but now I realize that I'm totally hooked on the blue skies and eternal sunshine that we have 95% of the time here in Southwest Florida. So I'll keep my lovely memories of Pennsylvania tucked away in my brain, and stay put here in the Sunshine state.



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Thursday, May 24, 2007

Old boat on the Intracoastal, plein air



"Tethered", 12x16, oil on masonite


This painting of a little boat on the Florida Intracoastal was painted en plein air last spring, when I'd first began painting. It has very soft colors throughout and broken color in the water.





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Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Breathtaking, bold impasto

SOLD
"Breathtaking", 12x16, oil on Raymar panel

I'd painted this a few weeks back, but wasn't totally happy with it. So I added the baby's breath to break up the intensity of the blue and redcolors and it finally came to life!

This is an example of what is hard about daily painting. In order ot get a piece just right, it often takes days and even weeks to perfect a work. To paint a piece in one day and post it as well, is difficult for me , and I know other artists who share my feelings.

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Friday, April 27, 2007

The Poppy Field, Impressionist oil painting

SOLD
"The Poppy Field", 7x9, oil on canvas - Note:) Please click on the painting to see more detail.)
This was one of those cool paintings that painted itself.I love when that happens!

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Saturday, April 21, 2007

"Side Entrance", A Glimpse of Spring

SOLD
"Side Entrance", 14x18, oil on canvas

Tired of Old Man Winter? Spring is here, but who'd know it? When I lived in Chester Springs, Penna. I would take a daily three mile walk that included a stretch of the old historic Horseshoe Trail hiking path. Along that road there was a lovely old house that would look rather drab all winter and then suddenly come to life with the arrival of Spring and her May azaleas. The side entrance to the house had a little meandering path that was flanked by azaleas and rhododendren. An old lamp post completed the picture postcard scene. I decided to paint the scene shortly after moving to Florida in order to keep the beauty of that little town alive in my memory forever.


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Monday, April 16, 2007

Tea and Lemon, a study in blue & yellow

SOLD "Tea with Lemon", 12x16 , oil on Raymar panel
This still life begs to ask the question, "Where's the biscotti?" Indeed, I had to take the biscotti jar and its contents away as I painted this picture, because I simply cannot resist dipping stick after stick of delicious biscotti into my tea. Normally, it's not much of a problem, but when painting it's best to just keep a paintbrush in the hands!

The tablecloth has a nice feeling of rough starched linen to it, and the grouping of the plain blue cup, bottle of water, biscotti jar lid and yellow lemons, make a statement of simplicity that is both soothing and elegant at exactly the same time.



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Friday, April 13, 2007

Blue and Pink, still life realism

"Blue and Pink"- oil on linen, 9X12

This painting was a great deal of fun for me to do-probably because I enjoyed painting the flowers so much. Although the majority of the painting was based on the chiaroscuro school of realism, I delved somewhere between impressionism and realism when I painted the flowers, and the result is that the brushstrokes are really quite lovely in person.
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