We've been receiving Special Requests for commissions on our Botanicals. These photographs feature bouquets, often with a pair of Wedding Rings emerging from a bud or blossom. This Signature print is custom designed to reflect a sentimental flower arrangement of choice with artful objects (jewelry, rosaries, books) in Still Life. Fine Art Botanicals make a gorgeous gift or Heirloom art piece.

http://www.SerantoniPhotography.com

STillife on canvas done in oils. 8"×10" I love to do these small peices. If you don't have a lot of time to work and want to work from life this is a great way to express yourself, just grab some fruit from the fridge and paint. In just a couple of hours you feel like you accomplished something.

I have opened a new gallery called Arlene's clowns. I created 12 clowns to make a calendar to raise money for St. Jude Childrens Research Hosptial.

Just wanted to let you all know that my prices ARE NEGOTIABLE, so if you really like a piece let me know and I'll see what i can swing. And if you'd like to see some of my other work I am on deviantart.com as "Chaingolem". I also really appreciate comments with something more than "this is awesome!" or "this sucks." gimme the reasons why you think so, otherwise nobody benefits. Correction is the essence of art.

P.S. - if you are also an artid member and have suggestions for my page or pieces, PLZ let me know because i am a QUANTUM NOOB at this.

thanks

Jose Acosta will be exhibiting his paintings at the Union City Art Gallery at City Hall

Mayor Brian P. Stack and the Board of Commissioners invite you to the next exhibition at the Union City Art Gallery at City Hall. The exhibition of over 20 paintings by Cuban-American Artist Jose Acosta at the Union City Art Gallery at City Hall will have an opening event on April 8, 2010 at 6:00 pm the gallery is located at 3715 Palisade Avenue in Union City, NJ. Gallery is located on the 1st Floor. Free Admission & Refreshments. The Exhibit will be on display until May 10, 2010. The Curator for this event is Amado Mora.

I am now well into my new and ongoing "Burnt Orange" series of paintings, photographs and installation. This is the most ambitious project I have tackled since I quit practicing law to pursue full-time my career as a contemporary artist. I do not think that I have ever enjoyed more a series of paintings or project for that matter. The series is inspired in part by the color of my undergraduated college and is nine paintings strong and growing. Yesterday, I completed the first photo sessions of the series with two models. After a preliminary view of the raw photos, the sessions were a great success. The paintings, photos and installation interweave the color burnt orange along with the images of the paintings and models. I change the images of the paintings via transitions which provides a compelling backdrop in the photo sessions and ties the paintings aspect with the photographs. More to come. www.jimlivelyart.com.

Blocking in rocks and adding to lighthouse. When working with blue and yellow colors you need to be careful and not mix into green tints if green is not wanted in picture. Develop a light touch when applying color or waiting in between colors will keep the green out.

Check out previous blogs on progress of this painting.

It has been a month since I have added a post. I didn't realize that much time had gone by. Have I been busy painting? No. I have been busy working my day job and feeling sorry for myself. The time change here in the US and the daylight earlier in the morning has made all the difference in my outlook and energy. Of course, 10 hours of sleep didn't hurt me either.

I ordered some more art supplies last week. I "needed" them. I am learning to paint portraits in watercolor. The photo with this blog is the latest attempt. A bad angle, poor lighting and not the right paints for the job. Most of what I used was jaune brilliant and opaque. It feathered and back bled like none other, hence I ordered new paint!

This order comes UPS which means it will arrive about 3 p.m. on my day off, tomorrow. I am excited, not just to have the art supplies, but to experience them as I unpack them. I will smell the woody odor of the Turner box I bought. I will whiff the paint tubes and run my fingers on the edges of the butcher tray (I have 2 others) and appreciate the cool enamel coating. There is a new half Imperial Gatorboard in there too, which I will measure and cut in half for double the fun. The packing materials, the way things were wrapped and placed, the thought of future endeavors...these are the joys of an order of treasures from the online art candy store.

This experience always lights my artist fires and I am counting on that right now. I have a painting on my table that is nearly done, although I miscalculated the balance I was striving for, nothing that cannot be fixed. The composition is fine. The colors are interesting, but the balance of color and form is not quite working...yet. I'll work on it until my spiritual experience arrives with a knock at the front door. The dog will spring into action and me right behind her, as I call a thanks to the man in the brown shirt and bring my haul in the house.

I cannot wait.

We have just added a new gallery called Carl's Stained Glass. Carl Correll is the master stained glass artist and stained glass and abrasive etching instructor at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center and has been my friend for 62 years. His work is beautiful, functional and much sort after.

Carl is availble for commission work and does things as small as a business card holder to restoring antique doors and windows.

We invite you to check out his new gallery.

Original oil on panel, framed in a beautiful hardwood frame.

This is an example of my traditional landscapes...... Many more not shown here. Contact me if you would like to see more.

Commissions available.

A few weeks from now, I'll need to varnish Young Lion. I made a decorative edge around the canvas, but since then I've handled the work and touched the edge many times. Before I varnish it, the sides of the canvas must be degreased. But how? Soap could leave a foamy residue. Perhaps I should use a 10% alcohol solution.

***

Yesterday, I also experimented with the easiest way to photograph the drawings in my sketchbook. I was most successful when I photographed outdoors between noon and 1:00, so that my shadow was cast away from the page at a slight angle. Feet apart, standing over the drawing, I photographed it straight on, with the camera set on "full sun." The paper came out slightly gray, but much brighter than with other methods I've tried. I used PhotoSuite to "enhance" the photograph.

As the sun moved across the sky, the resulting photos grayed. When these images were "enhanced," the entire image turned blue.

Paintings are photographed in my studio. I position the painting between the northern and eastern windows and turn off the overhead. I get the best sun between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. I turn the flash off, and set my camera on a makeshift tripod--a heavy box on top of my work table. Zooming in as much as possible, I click the photo. It usually takes five shots to get a good one. There's always one that's a little sharper than the rest.

All of this trial and error seems like a lot of work, but in the long run it should save me money. If I use a photographer, I'm essentially paying for his experience. Since I don't plan to sell any work until the end of next year, I have time to experiment and gain my own experience. Right now, the results are often frustrating, but in the long run I'll acquire a skill that will pay for itself.

Excerpted from An Artist's Path, pp. 12-13, http://bit.ly/7TKrSu

Women's Vision - A Celebration of International Women's day Show dates : from March 01 through March 31.

Ward- Nasse Gallery

178 Prince Street, New York ,NY.

As a member of Artid I would like to invite you to see this exhibition that celebrates the international women's day and shows works from eight female artists from different parts of the world. Thank you!
Adrianne Moro

Collage on canvas of Christine de Pisan, a 15th century European writer, often cited as the first female Western novelist. Note that she is shown reading a book and is dressed in blue to show her purity.

Let me add that there is a slight glare in the photo you are viewing. I am dealing with new equipment and have not yet mastered all the details of editing.

Judy Chicago is well known for her installation piece The Dinner Party, in which 39 illustrious women of history are invited to the table. Each woman is represented by a table place setting consisting of sculpted plate, goblet, tableware and handworked table runner. Chicago created this piece with the help of over 200 assistants, mostly women, over the course of five years.

Chicago has always been an advocate for the accomplishments of women. For this reason, I chose to make this female image strong and resolute, facing forward with confidence and courage.

Collage on canvas, handmade and other papers,clear acrylic finish needs no glass.

This piece honors American artist Judy Chicago who has created work calling attention to the accomplishments of women. She is well known for her 1979 installation piece, The Dinner Party in which 39 illustrious women of history are invited to the table.

This collage alludes to Chicago's work with its central core imagery and butterfly in the figure's hand (a symbol of transcendence).