Oh September2012. We are a busy one, aren't we?
I took last week off from the old day job to paint (and I acknowledge and appreciate how lucky I am to be able to do so, thank you office work for PTO). Here's how it went...
Tuesday we drove to NH (by way of Salem and the Peabody Essex Museum) to pick up plants from my dad and to have dinner with my mom and stepdad (and see their new in-progress home).
Wednesday - Friday were spent, as I've mentioned before, hunched over the dining room table painting.
Also, framing.
Saturday evening was the Dream Team show opening!
The Washington Street Art Center was the show-place for our happy little group exhibit. Megan Mary Creamer, Alex Feinstein, Lauren Leone and I have our work up through the end of the month.
Alex
Megan
Lauren
Me
This is the show I've been drawing all of the medicinal botanicals for. I picked three helpful plants and painted them full, painted/inked portraits of some details, displayed a specimen of the plant and, on tiny shelves (made by Megan!), had samples of the finished product. My dad preserved two of the plants for me and gave me samples of the finished medicines he makes from them (St. John's Wort oil and Boneset tincture). I harvested the Rose Hips myself and found some Rose Hip tea to show.
It was incredibly satisfying to hang the show and see my vision come together just as I had hoped. Usually what I have in mind for a body of work changes over time and the end result, although good, isn't exactly in-line with my original idea - BUT this time it looked in the real world just as I had seen it in my head. I am very happy with this little collection.
It was great planning and plotting with Lauren, Alex and Megan and I'm super honored they asked me to be a part of this show! (more photos
here)
Sunday was an art-free day. Curtis and I did the
Jimmy Fund Walk with
Jen and
Amy (and a few thousand other people). It's a long day of walking/strolling/trudging and it's so rewarding. We had perfect overcast breezy weather and we all made it through in good shape.
Monday I slept and watched tv with my feet up. The cats appreciated that and kept me good company. Tuesday, my last official day of vacation was punctuated with a delicious lunch out with Curtis at
Trident on Newbury Street.
And that's the story of my Art-Cation. I have one more full weekend before
Open Studios and should finish lots of new things before the big event. I've been planning a new display and my 2013 calendar is THIS CLOSE to being fully realized. I'm so excited!
xo
Sarah
I was so lucky to secure a spot at the Eliot School. The whole event was very well organized and ran so smoothly. It was great to get to know some of the other instructors there as the screen printing class I will be teaching is swiftly approaching.
The response to my work was positive and I had some wonderful discussions with a few local art-appreciators.
These birds got a lot of attention (most folks tried their hand at IDing each species) and the Arboretum tree was popular as well (a young couple recognized it as the place they had recently taken their engagement photos!).
This was my view of the event:
During both days I painted while sitting behind my table. I had a few kids come by and ask if they were "real paints" and I chatted with them about their own art adventures.
I can't wait for next year and have plans to bring more cards featuring my watercolors (the animal postcards were a big hit) and maybe a few more 'product-y' items (stationery, animal toys, another calendar).
Thank you JP Arts Council and everyone who came out!
xo
Sarah
