The Art Dept

       So what makes it a harmonious blend?      Harmony is a combination of units which are similar in one or more respects. Units are harmonious when one or more of their elements or qualities, such as shape, size, or color, are alike.      In this sketch, done by my husband in preparation for a painting commission of a Chilean vineyard, I am struck by the harmonious blend of the directional lines that lead the eye through the painting. Design in art is not random, it is planned by the use of the elements of design, such as line tone, color and form. In this drawing, the lines of the vineyard rows lead the eye of the viewer toward the distance and then back toward the front. Harmony is achieved by the variegated, yet similar, lines that form the rows of planted vines.       In 2019, I am going to explore all aspects of visual harmony. Whether it is fashion, art jewelry design, mixed media, or just different asp...

 Yep there’s something to that. Santa, because he’s Santa, has to be extremely organized. He’s actually a genius of planning and preparation! Imagine all that he has to do and keep track of all year long, not to mention on the big night!  His to-do list must be a million pages long. Hopefully Santa takes advantage of technology to stay organized So, in light of making the best of the most wonderful time of the year, here are three simple tips for effective list making: 1. Keep it simple      Santa’s list is long, but he’s had a long time to practice and perfect it. Your to-do list needs only the most important tasks that MUST be completed that day. This will prevent you from being overwhelmed. A short list will allow you to prioritize and focus on the essentials.  2. Plan ahead       While you are most likely not managing a village of elves or magically making reindeer fly, it is important to be prepar...

This has always been one of my very favorite shows. I was in it twice, then not invited back for whatever reason. Juried art shows are very competitive, and that’s all I can say about it! So after many years, and after moving far far away, I decided to apply. I figured, hey, I’ve quit my job, so I can travel, and it would be amazing to be in Florida right about now. So hallelujah, I got accepted. So I am heading south tomorrow morning and I must say, I can’t wait to be back. I love this show for many reasons. 1. First, they feed us. Yes indeed, they serve hot, home cooked breakfast and lunch to their artists, and then they give us a party, complete with dinner, beer and wine. What’s not to love? 2. Second, the quality of the art is top notch. Check out the video that shows the artist lineup and you’l see what I mean. Where I’ll be this weekend    Wait for it on the video- the categories are shown in alphabetical order, so of course I being a W am at the end! B...

How does Wine and Art Night sound to you?                                                  Click for more info

Here’s another satisfied customer!  Mom says: "Meara did most of the work herself (I bent the wire for her to connect the findings). She had a good time piecing it together. What a fantastic idea to sell the kits at your shows. ” Before I started selling the kits at shows, I “tried it out” on two 11 year old twins. They did great! With very little instruction, they each produced a pair of unique and artful earrings. Since then I have sold many many kits, not only for 11 year old girls, but to women who wanted a fun craft for ladies night out, for birthday parties, for stocking stuffers, for grandmas to make with her grandkids, for jewelry makers to add to their repertoire with new materials, and to jewelry lovers of all ages. At a recent show, one of my customers came by who had purchased a kit the year before. She was wearing the pair of earrings she had made from the kit, and was ready to purchase again. I loved seeing how she took the contents of the ...

       In this festive holiday workshop we will focus on designing and producing the components of mixed media collage. By the end of the session, guests will be able to take home pieces of wearable or frameable art that can be given as gifts.   Materials will include handmade textured paper, acrylic paint skins, canvas remnants, polymer clay beads, paper beads, and various painted and textured surfaces. All tools and materials will be provided to guests. Holiday snacks, coffee and cold drinks will also be available.  Santa’s Mixed Media Workshop takes place on  Saturday, December 1 Schedule for the workshop:  10 AM introduction and demonstration  10:15-11 design and build parts of parts of art 11 coffee & snack extravaganza 11:15-12 put all the parts of art together The workshop will take place in my inspiring and peaceful country studio outside Alexandria Indiana. Once your registration is completed...

       Now that autumn is officially here, and the natural color palette of the landscape is warm and muted, I am focusing on the beautiful muted green called sage. Here’s  a description and recipe from Bustanoby’s Color Manual, 1939: Sage green Grayish green of  dull character, resembling the undried narrow, wrinkled leaves of the sage plant, used as a seasoning in cooking. Sage Green was recorded as a color name as early as 1596. In the reign of King Henry VIII, when the enjoyment of food was a high art, it was customary to have kitchen gardens growing sage and other plants, used as subtle seasonings for foods. This practice is still followed today in some rural localities. 16 parts Zinc White 8 parts Yellow Ochre 1 part Ultramarine Blue Speaking of the autumn palette, here is what I have recently pulled from mine:  Always looking for harmonious blends, I find that sage green pairs well with lavender and black. ...