Touchstone show starts this weekend.  Feb 26th through April 30th. 
Works are hanging upstairs.  I've never been to a performance there, but I'll likely go to one of these nights listed below.  It's purely a donation based fee these nights, so a good night to stop by and see both my show and a performance.

Fresh Voices
Created and performed by the Touchstone Apprentices
 Original actor-created, ensemble-based works in progress. Touchstone hosts two apprentices for its 2009-10 season. Anne joins the company all the way from France and Zach came to us from Florida -- see what this year's class creates after training with the Touchstone ensemble. Always fresh, sometimes provocative, never ordinary.


Feb. 26 & 27

Tickets: Pay-What-You-Will at the door

Ceres and Penn State Altoona applications went out yesterday, as well as for the gallery above the Touchstone theater in Bethlehem.  Faith gallery work is due the week of the 13th.  Feb 22nd: Harrisburg and Pastel show are due...April 1st New Arts Program small works show (need 5).  So...what to do?  Well, how about some small portrait studies in pastel?  It will keep my theme going and (full self portrait show for Ceres if I get in) qualify for the upcoming show specs.  Honestly, I do want to focus on some detail work in the portraits, so it's perfect timing.  If I'm not happy with them for the NAP show, I've plenty of small color studies to send.   Looks like I'll schedule to take down the Fernwood work on Sunday, since I'm off.  Recent self portrait only needs some touch ups on the lips and possibly background darkening, but it was done enough to send out.  Sending applications isn't as nerve racking as I remember it to be, oddly enough.  So long ago, thank goodness for digital cameras and the outphasing of slides.  It used to be so costly and time consuming.  Anyway, today I'll finish the portrait up and set up for the small work.  Have to remember to frame up the Faith Gallery work too.  It's been a great journey since starting up again Summer of 08.     

Ceres gallery application goes out tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll get in.  Will be first time in a New York gallery.  I've always wanted to be there.  I'm very happy to be doing work and persuing my art again.  Can't beleive how long I went without it. 

Got in the local religious art show..all three pieces.  Very excited.  Just gotta whip em into some frames.  Latest self portrait is going better thatn expected.  Check out the WIP page for progress.

The new offering is a little late, so I'm going to keep it open until February this time.  I've been distracted with trying to complete the Kanzeon painting within a 2 week window.  Currently I am working on a series of self portraits, probably try to complete around 12 for a full show (at some point).  Still no word on if the Kanzeon piece was accepted yet.  They should have sent responses in the mail on the 10th, according to the site.  I'll just have to watch and wait.  Ceres Gallery open invitation application is due Jan 31 and I've chosen submissions.  However, I'd like to complete a second "submittable" self portrait by then.  Anyway, you can check on my most recent completed portrait's full progression as well as the Kanzeon piece on the WIP page.  Look for continued updates on the current portrait to follow. 

New show is up at Fernwood Resort.  First exhibition in nearly 10 years for me.  Life drawing class ended yesterday with a final "one on one" critique.  This class was a wonderful experience for me.  I learned a new type of drawing, battled my ego and won, did a successful self portrait from life (for the first time), was inspired to persue a whole new avenue of work, and most importantly got my confidence back.  Sadly/fortunately last month there where no requests for the bestowal....however, since I considered it my most successful figure gesture ever, I gave it to my professor Adrianno as a think you gift.  So I guess it all worked out the way it should have.  Today I wrote up the first draft on my application to Ceres gallery and actually just sent it to Adrianno for feedback.  He really has been an invaluable help to me.  Started looking into drawings and paintings of Prud'hon at his suggestion.  I may even start to work up some painted portraits in addition to the reductive drawings.  When I think about it, the new work isn't really all that different, it's still introspective, still communicates feeling and is still really about the human bond.  Thanks Adrianno.   

Need some feedback from site visitors on what type of work you'd like to see posted as an offering, figurative or abstract....or a particular piece?

     No word on the "eye" issue.  It's moved to the back of my mind, where it fits better in reference to my everyday life.  School is going well and we've just started reductive drawing.  I'm really falling in love with drawing the human figure again..more than I ever was before.  I never was one for realism, but there is a joy to capturing the form and making something beautiful in it's rendering that cannot be described.  I often feel tears of joy coming to the surface while drawing now and it is a truly beautiful experience.  
     Paintings lately have been a mess, so I guess I'm in an interem phase with that at the moment.  The studio is a disaster area, so cleaning it up may free me up some.  Its nice to be working from the figure to assuage my usual desire to administer internal beatings when things don't go right in the studio.  I can tell myself, no you don't suck, look at your drawings.  Its funny but when I'm doing abstract work, I worry that people won't think it's real art or it's easy.  But actually, it's harder than drawing the figure or working realistically in my opinion.  There's nothing to go on, nothing to "copy", no roadmap.
     I've pulled out an old life size self portrait called "Ophelia Rising" that was started and never finished when I lived in Philadelphia.  It is on the WIP page.  I think I am ready to finish it now.  It's just a matter of confidence and fighting off the feeling that I may ruin it.  Recently at work, my boss said to me that all I needed was more confidence and I think she was right.  It's almost as if I'm waiting to get in trouble for something.  What is that?  I just don't know, I'll leave it at that for now.     
     Currently in class, we are working on copying a master work.  I really enjoy this project and I am learning alot.  As much as my ego and authority issues fight each assignment, I have to admit that I am loving it, secretly.  More to tell in the coming days... 

No, it's not a riddle.  There's a slim chance that I may have eye cancer or retinal detachment issues at some unkown time in the future.  This week I went to the optomatrist to get my glasses "renewed" and they discovered I now have a choroidal nevus in both eyes rather than just one.  And of course they've no idea if it is only affecting the outer eye layer of if it runs deeper, then there's the question of location, malignancy etc.  In January I will go get an extensive exam to identify truly what they saw on the first exam.  I know I shouldn't worry "until there's something to worry about", but ...what will I do if I lose my sight?  It's kind of hard not to ask myself that.  I'm trying to look at it positively and tell myself, well make the most of what time you have in that case.  "you don't want to regret wasting the time you had by not painting", etc.  My husband says that I'll do what I do now in reference to the painting question.  I'm not sure how that is even possible.  So much of what I paint is a reaction to what I see developing on the canvas/paper in front of me.  What would I do?  I don't know.  I've time to explore it I suppose.  I'm still scared and at the same time attempting to at least get in the studio once a day until I really know.  And that's good to do in any case.  I really think that I'm just going to spend some time reflecting on what life would be like, how I would adjust, what are the benefits and the consequences?  What really matters?  Looks like it's time to start meditating more.     

Running out to mail October's bestowal and then off to the framer to pick up work for upcoming showing.  He's also ordered some archival storage materials for me.  I'm going to begin the clean and repair all work in storage and photograph for reference.  I'm sure the process will generate some ideas.  This month's piece is a small ink figure gesture that I've always had a special liking for.  As soon as I charge up the camera battery, It will be posted.  This week I am fortunate to have 3 days off from the day job and get some order/balance back in my life.