License Plate Art

This year for Christmas I opted to make meaningful gifts. They all turned out great but this one by far is my favorite. My brother, Brandon, is a crew member for NHRA's Professional Funny Car Driver, Courtney Force. He travels 30 weeks out of the year across the United States doing what he loves: racing. I decided to make a board honoring the states he has lived in since he has planted his roots in Indiana.

One day this idea came to me when I was at a flea market (my most favorite thing to do next to my art). The NJ plate came from a moving sale down the street from me, the North Carolina plate was given to me by a nice lady on a Facebook yard sale site when I posted an "in search of", and the Ohio and Indiana plates came from Cowtown.

I chose a 16" x 48" pine board from Home Depot which my mom, an extraordinary wood finisher, gel stained for me. (Check out mom's blog by clicking here). I opted for the classic quote about home because there really is no place like New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio or Indiana. Brandon enjoyed it and will be taking it home eventually as this is the first year he flew home instead of driving. Until then, I get to admire it a little longer.

Reflecting and Looking Ahead

This week in October marks the anniversary of starting my maternity leave. It's funny to reflect that this time last year I was 36 weeks pregnant and half of our home was being dry walled. As most people know, I was a public school art teacher. Last year I had my daughter, Courtney, and was lucky enough to have a district that granted a year of maternity leave. For many reasons, I decided not to return to teaching this September and to stay home to best care for my family. I have since ventured into starting my own business, one that I have been working on building for years (If you are or ever were a teacher you know that not much time is left for extracurricular activities or businesses).

I LOVE to teach. Plain and simple. There is something about inspiring others and empowering them with art. I began offering painting workshops in September at A Whole New Light to continue teaching. I have had such a positive response from the community! It has been so wonderful to meet so many women from my town and all over South Jersey who are interested in learning and trying new things. The conversations are priceless and there is a guarantee of laughter.

If you have attended one of my painting workshops already, thank you for your support! If you haven't, I'd love to meet you and paint something together. I will be adding winter painting workshops very soon. To browse current classes and to register online, click here.

Volunteer

This painting began as a photograph that I took on my iPhone. Just as the name describes it, this pumpkin is our volunteer who decided to grow on it's own (my guess is from a seed that came from the pumpkin I threw there last year after it got all funky). I was really intrigued with how the pumpkin was hidden and shaded behind the leaves and vines. I thought it created an interesting composition and nice metaphor for the work of volunteers. Most of the time volunteers are never seen but hidden in the background of an event or task. The same is true for this pumpkin. You wouldn't know it was there if you didn't look behind the leaves. What do you think of this painting? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Volunteer - Acrylics on Panel - 5" x 5"

Painting Workshops

This fall I am offering painting workshops at A Whole New Light. The adult workshops are one day events where participants create a work of art and take it home that day. To register online, click here.

Pumpkin Plate Painting Workshop
Saturday, September 20th, 2014 - SOLD OUT
Saturday, September 27th, 2014 – SOLD OUT
Saturday, October 4th, 2014 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $20

Join me for an exciting make and take painting workshop! You will learn how to paint pumpkins with acrylic paints to create a beautiful display plate for your home. Emphasis will be placed upon shading to create a realistic look.
All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.


Candy Corn Painting Workshop
Friday, September 26th, 2014 – SOLD OUT

Friday, October 3rd, 2014 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $20

Who doesn't love Halloween? Shading and highlighting will be used to create the iconic candy of the Halloween season. Lettering will be added to complete the composition. All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.


Birds of a Feather Painting Workshop
Friday, October 10th, 2014 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $20

Need a girls night out? Come paint with me and relax with a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate! Represent your family in this symbolic 11" x 14" canvas painting. Each bird can represent a person in your family or your group of friends! Color relationships will be discussed and the choice of background colors is left up to you. Brushwork and line weight will be explored to create realistic branches and birds. All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.


Give Thanks Painting Workshop
Saturday October 25th, 2014 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $20

Learn to paint a primitive saltbox house with folk art hills and weeping willow. Colors and details are your choice! All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.


Laurel Burch Inspired Cat Canvas
Saturday, November 8th, 2014 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $20

Love Cats? Come paint a colorful, whimsical cat inspired by artist Laurel Burch! Examples of Burch's work will be studied for style and serve as a starting point for your own cat painting. Color theory will be discussed to help you choose the colors for your 8” x 10” canvas masterpiece. All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.


Snowman Plate Painting Workshop
Saturday, November 15th, 2014 – SOLD OUT
Saturday, November 22nd, 2014 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Cost $20

Get in the spirit of winter with this painting workshop for a primitive snowman plate! Many different styles and techniques will be demonstrated with the final choice up to you. All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.


Candy Cane Painting Workshop
Saturday, December 6th, 2014 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Cost: $20

Learn how to draw and paint a candy cane with holly accents on a wooden plaque. Shading and brush work will be used to create a rustic appearance. All supplies are included in the price of the workshop


Mittens Painting Workshop
Saturday, December 20th, 2014 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: 20

Come get cozy with this mitten painting workshop! Participants will create their own mitten design and decide of the color choice. Each painting will be one-of-a-kind! All supplies are included in the price of the workshop.

Ragged Island Street

My newest painting, Ragged Island Street Greenwich, NJ,  is dedicated in loving memory of Gram English. She was one of my biggest fans. After I finished a painting I would bring it over to the farm for her to see and and comment on. I always enjoyed watching her look at it for a long while before we talked about it. Unfortunately, she passed away on August 11th. I finished this painting on the 14th, a day before her funeral. I am so grateful for the time I had with her and all that she has given to our family.

Sharing Another Artist: Lina Ferrara

I am currently taking an online class with Alyson B. Stanfield, author of I'd Rather Be In The Studio to enhance my understanding of the business aspect of being an artist. We're currently halfway through the class and I have met some wonderful, like minded artists. One of them that I'd like to share with you is Lina Ferrara. She is an oil painter from Lewisburg, PA and is the author of Easy Fresco. I was drawn to her still life paintings because they are so meticulously rendered. After liking her Facebook page and exploring her website I found that we share some similar subject matters: landscapes and animals of the farm. Another element that we have in common is that we both paint on furniture, how cool? Be sure to check out her website for her amazing paintings by clicking here.

Honorable Mention

Out of 89 entries, I received The Honorable Mention Award in Gallery 50's "Petite Moments" an International Juried Miniature Art Competition with "Sunday Stars II". I was completely surprised and very excited to be recognized among so many outstanding artists! One of my great friends, Janice Chassier, was there to share the moment with me and also snapped the photo of me with painting and ribbon.