A Big Thank You to Michael Perchard and to Susan Roux!

Ballerina #16 / oil on linen panel / 18x14 / available at the Roux and Cyr Gallery

One of my most enthusiastic blog follower/ art buddy friends Michael Perchard and his wife took the time and effort to attend the Boston International Fine Art Show earlier this month where Ballerina #16 was displayed. Susan Roux of the Roux and Cyr International Fine Art Gallery in Portland, Maine included it in her exhibit booth.  Michael was able to meet Susan while he was there and was kind enough to write all about it on his blog.

Michael at Boston Show in front of my work and the work of fellow blogger Martine Alison!

Michael is a wonderful artist whose joy of life comes through in every brushstroke that he places on canvas - an amazing quality! You can find his work here: Art by Michael Perchard. I am so grateful to Michael for going to the show and sharing his photos and his thoughts with me. Thank you, Michael! And  I am grateful to Susan Roux at the Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery for representing me and for providing me with the opportunity to participate in this event. Thank you, Susan (and Paul Cyr), and I am looking forward to the Small Works Show in December and to my solo (or semi solo) show in February. You are wonderful!

One of the paintings that I have shipped off to Maine for the December show is this one that I am so happy with and had a hard time parting with:

The White Pony / 12x9 / oil on Arches oil paper

Ballerina #37

Ballerina #37 / oil on canvas / 18x14

A chilly, windy, rainy day - perfect for painting!

Some of This and Some of That

Ballerina #35 / oil on canvas / 20x16

Ballerina #36 / oil on canvas panel / 20x16

Michael Pennington / life portrait / oil on canvas panel / 14x11

Two ballerinas done and I am ready to move on to something else. During Wednesdays life session, Michael sat so still and never changed his expression for the entire 3 hour portrait session. We also had a short demonstration from a representative of Prismacolor on their product line of colored pencils, markers and pastels.

Darcy - Red Haired Woman!

Darcy Kathleen / 16x12 / oil on canvas board

I just LOVE painting red hair and Darcy has it in abundance! I arrived late to the portrait session this morning - only by about 5 minutes - but there were so many eager artists in attendance that I had to squeeze into the corner and attempt a profile portrait once again. Perhaps this will teach me to arrive earlier! Darcy is a striking beauty who sings blues and jazz in local clubs here in Reno and at Lake Tahoe. She had her hair swept to one side and was wearing a pale gray vintage dress with lots of shiny bead-work. I was heartened when she told me she loves the portrait and even took a photo to show her mother!

In my studio, I have 3 unfinished larger paintings in different stages of completion. I don't like going back to a partially completed painting unless I know I have a good amount of uninterrupted time in front of me. This week was filled with chores - changing tires on the cars, dentist appointments, banking and on and on...... Now that they are all out of the way, my intention is to finish at least one painting this weekend. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Sukhjit Life Portrait

Sukhjit aka Serj / 14x11 / oil on canvas

What an interesting and challenging model we had at the Portrait Society Wednesday. He has lived in the US for over 20 years but is originally from India. He was elegant, charming and totally likable and I was so excited to paint him. His face was quite handsome with glorious skin tones and wonderful angles and shapes. He held his pose beautifully for the entire session and was a complete joy to paint. As always, I had trouble fitting him on the canvas but decided to go with the flow and am not unhappy with the result.

Boston International Fine Art Show and Portrait of Dutch

Dutch / oil on gessoed cardboard / 12x9

Finally a portrait I am pleased with after several weeks of struggling for a likeness and a painterly result.

I got a big surprise in my email this week when I learned that the Roux & Cyr Gallery has taken a booth at the Boston International Fine Art Show November 13 - 16th at The Boston Center for the Arts. Susan Roux and Paul Cyr have included some of my ballerina paintings in their display along with the work of the other exceptional artists in the gallery. I am thrilled to have this opportunity and to be included in this group of extraordinary artists. And congratulations to Martine Alison whose lyrical figurative work is also included in this show and whose work many of you may recognize. Here is a link to her site: Ma dollhouse joue un grand air du peinture.

Thank you Susan and thank you Paul! If anyone who follows my blog has the chance to attend, I would love to hear your thoughts.