"Going Green" going on Traveling Exhibition in Shanghai!

I received a very special present on Christmas Eve this year from the Shanghai Zhujiajiao International Watercolour Biennial Exhibition.  I was requested to have my painting be part of a traveling exhibition in Shanghai!

From 1.19.2013--1.27.2013 it will be on display at the CWI Children's Palace Shanghai.

And from there it will travel to the Oriental Pearl Tower Shanghai.

It will be on display from 2.7.2013--2.17.2013

My painting is currently doing more traveling than I am at this moment.What an incredibly interesting opportunity!

NYC Deli

I have been working on a series of paintings of scenes and places in NYC. This one was something that attracted my attention not only for the large chocolate chip cookies in the window of a deli but also for the figure of this  man starring out the window.  The marquees were running their daily news stories and I imagine he was watching the news go by from his spot at this deli.  The reflections in the window show the news going by.  Let me know

you think.

Up to 25,000

Views that is! I am able to track the countries that view my blog the most.  Germany held the most views for many months this year.  The tiny island of Malta must love watercolors.  Spain!  There are a lot of watercolor fans there.  Everybody is interested in the Shanghai Biennial being held this year.  I was lucky to be a part of it.  I love seeing people from Italy and France especially looking at my blog as I love visiting there. Did I mention Belgium??  I should as both of my grandparents came from there and settled in the Detroit area in the early 1900's.  And of course the USA, my fellow American artists and friends across the country taking a look from time to time to see what I have been up to.

 I will try to add going forward not only my art but other things of interest connected with watercolor painting and will let you know what becomes of the Shanghai Show due to start at the end of November.  I would like very much to travel to all of these countries.  They are all in my bucket list of things to do.

"Going Green" made it

Received word today that "Going Green" will be part of the 2012 Shanghai Biennial! Another accomplishment only to make me more determined to do better in the years to come.  I have not been able to devote my time to painting as some of the masters have been able to do but I see that there is nothing holding me back now.  I have been off to a good start.

Artists are their own worse critics at least I am.  I guess that is what makes you continue to press on.  Anyway, I look forward to seeing all the works of art accepted into the show.  I hear that the catalog is well done and am honored to be a part of it.  To think that 4000 entries were submitted and mine was one of the ones chosen.  That is stiff competition.

Typhoon Haikui

I know that watercolor artists from around the world have been anxiously awaiting the results of the exhibit for the 2012 Shanghai Biennial along with myself.  Well here are excerpts from a recent email received from Shanghai as to why the selection process and show has been slightly delayed:

"We understand that you have been waiting for the results of the stage 2 and/or awards selection. Thank you very much for your patience.

However, we have experienced some very severe weather in Shanghai during the past month, as the result, all schedules have now been delayed. We have been trying very hard to keep the opening on time; however, as of today, many paintings have still not been delivered; and the re-scheduling of all the events prove to be extremely difficult. We are aiming to do the stage 2 and awards selection on 25th and 26th September. Hence delaying the opening to around 13th October. Paintings will still be returned within the previously proposed time frame.

This decision has just been made, we are still working out all the details, and hope to have everything confirmed as soon as posible. I will keep you updated.

We understand this change must be extremely difficult and inconvenient for you, and we will try our best to make amends. It is very unfortunate that the opening have to be delayed, but we are determined to put on a stunning show. Your understanding would be greatly appreciated.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you."

Thank you very much.

Typhoon Haikui hit!  Thank god that "Going Green" made it in early safe and sound.  Hopefully the ones missing will show up soon.

New Painting

Have a new painting to add to collection.  This one entitled "Blue Bowl", is from a still life that I put together some time ago.  It is 23x30 done on Kilamanjaro watercolor paper from Cheap Joe's Artist Supply.  When I had won the Gold Medal back in 2007, Joe whom I had met at the reception for the AWS Awards Ceremony had sent me some watercolor supplies.  In the packet that I received, which I was thrilled to get, were different grades of Kilamanjaro Watercolor paper which is Cheap Joe's signature brand.  I have to say that I really like it!   It gives some surprising textural qualities. What attracted me to doing this subject was the color in the cloth and the text printed on it.  It added to an interesting composition. Lighting, to me, is everything and the shadows created by the whisk and the folds in the cloth added to a unique design.  I'll put a link to Cheap Joe's under interesting websites on my blog.

Shanghai Zhujiajiao International Watercolour Biennial Exhibition

My painting, "Going Green" has made it through Stage I of the selection process for Shanghai, China Biennial Exhibition at the end of September!  I am thrilled! The show will have a collection of 200 to 250 paintings open to the world to participate.  From what I gather, the competition has been stiff because of 4000 entries from around the world.  To have made it this far and to be asked to send it to China for them to judge is an honor.  This is not a done deal yet as to whether it is a definite to be added to the show.  It has to pass stage II.  My thinking on it is this: they probably want to see if the real painting lives up to the digital images that were originally submitted.  With Photoshop enhancements available to everyone, an image could be worked on to look more of what it actually is.

After passing stage II, a select group with than determine the 15 awards to be given out.  All in all an extremely interesting event.  I will keep you all posted as to the progress.  Now to figure out how to wrap this baby up and send it to China!

Painting a Picture of Mom

Ok, This is so not easy.  It is not suppose to be.  My Mom past away last Sunday evening at the age of 96. A good long life this is true.  And when you think that she was born in the year of 1915,how monumental can it be to have experienced and seen all that she has seen in the changes to the world up to 2012.  This new age was not neccessarily to her liking not so much because of all the technology which senior citizens have a problem with but more to the change in people.  She was part of a golden generation in which it was common to make friends easily with neighbors, co-workers, and to be understanding and concerned about each other's problems and to try to help out.  That generation knew the importance of having each other's backs.  She was beginning to see a lack of that in the new and upcoming generations simply because now it is possible to communicate without coming face to face so how can you truly develop the deep emotional bonds with others.  She knew something about communicating.  In fact, I would call her an expert as everyone close to her knew.  And she had something to say.  She kept up with current affairs, politics, and was an avid reader.  Albeit, it was mostly romance novels which could transport her to another world while not leaving her apartment.  And being the  home body that she was, that was just fine with her.

Her company was enjoyed by many because of her lively sense of humor something that her children benefited from and learned to develop at an early age.  She encouraged it!  She worked up to the age of 80 and her "boys" that she worked with were very important to her as they enjoyed her as well.  Quite a statement for a company that was willing to keep an 80 year on their payroll.

She drove her 1990 Ford Escort up to the age of 93.  It only had 35,000 on it.  She missed that car when she recently had to give it up.

The most spectacular aspect that has left us all amazed was her mental agility even up to her last days.  She was smart even though she would never label her self as being smart with finances, paperwork or math, but her street smarts were right on.  Her ability to size up people was remarkable and 9 times out of 10 she was right on.  I depended on her wisdom more times than I care to say.

I guess I am on my own now to fend for myself.  But I have been trained well and the beneficiary of a very wise woman.  She was an exception to the rule.  I love you Mom and I will miss  you till the end of my days.  With love Paula.

The Year Of The Dragon

It is finished!

First one of the New Year!

Hope this year holds happiness

and prosperity for 

everyone.
Opinions and reactions
to this piece will be welcome.
It should read "The Year of the Dragon
Reduced"

The Year of the Dragon

2012 is the year of the Dragon!  Here is a painting that I am currently working on to celebrate.  Again on a recent trip to NYC, (I should just move there I think) going through the SOHO area there is a store called "Pearl River".  Love this store for the color explosion and intriguing items from the Orient.  They have paper dragons hanging from the ceiling, lanterns all over and bamboo bird cages.  I have been harboring some photos that I took and am now bringing it to create my first painting of the new year.  What better than to start off with a dragon theme in honor of the Chinese New Year.  Here so far is my step by step progress on developing the painting.

Discover & Download Revisited

I started this painting last year. Liked it but was not satisfied with it.  I put it aside for a few months and got it out again during my time off in December.  It was a good thing that I did not scrap it, because looking at it again, I made some adjustments to it that seemed to suit me better.  This is the result.  A little background on the painting...took a trip to NYC what is now a couple of years ago and took some pictures while in Times Square.  Just the place for someone who like a lot of 'eye candy' in their paintings. What I adjusted were the people in the foreground.  I put them more in the shadows. I enhanced some shadowing and some reflections.  All in all, I will now have it part of my new collection for the new year.