Month: July 2012

Featured Artist… Tony D’Amico!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“Deep Shadow at Dudley Farm” by Tony D’Amico

Image: TonyDAmicoFineArt.com

I first saw this painting on Tony’s Facebook page and I was instantly captivated. What a wonderful old building with the most beautiful dappled light showing through. I love how it’s imperfect as an old farm should be, where everything isn’t perfectly straight, it gives it so much character! The fabulous color of the sunlight on the roof is amazing, not one tone, but many all blended just perfectly. The sky and  trees look like they’re out of an old painting, just beautiful… and the grass! Ahh, the lights, the darks, all so nicely placed, and oowieee, that gorgeous light at the bottom of the door!

Tony’s work is fabulous and I urge you to check it out! He has a great website, so give it a peek!

Here’s a blip about Tony from his website, read “About The Artist” to see more:

Tony D’Amico is a Connecticut based artist. He is a visual journalist capturing scenes of everyday life too often overlooked. His work conveys an idealized yet representational interpretation of the countryside, city or seascape.

Beginning his employment as a commercial artist/illustrator, Tony enjoyed a successful career in the corporate world holding management positions and developing campaigns for such companies as American Home Products, Playtex, and the Pepsi-Cola Company. He then founded his own promotional marketing agency, Creative Alliance based in Southport CT. The client roster included, The Pepsi-Cola Company, AT&T, Tiffany & Company, ebay and the Guinness Importing Company. Evolving into one of the top promotion and event marketing agencies in the US, he later sold the company to the Publicis Group, an international advertising and media services conglomerate. 

Tony has studied with a number of nationally recognized artists such as Gabor Svagrik, Hodges Soileau, David Dunlop and John Traynor.  Most recently, he is associated with a group of painters who are led and inspired by his good friend and noted artist, Donald Demers. Tony’s paintings have won numerous awards and are in a number of municipal and private collections.  He is a member of the CT Plein Air Painters, Lyme Art Association, Salmagundi Club in NYC, Rowayton Arts Center, Oil Painters of America, is a featured artist on Lori Woodward’s Collectors Showcase and is represented by The Geary Gallery in Darien, CT.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: Gorgeous Old Building, Used To Be Saracen Restaurant

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment

This building has always been a stunner. Look at the detail! This is the perfect example of exquisite architecture, back when they built buildings to look gorgeous and to last for generations! A restaurant used to fill this space, it was called SARACEN. We never made it to that restaurant, but it was always on our list. I hope one day soon this place gets renovated and turned back into a happening building!

Have a good weekend, try to stay cool! And I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Trifexis Toxicity in Dogs – Charlie had a scare!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME54 Comments

Charlie… our beast!

We had a scare this past week. It was time for Charlie’s Trifexis dose, a combination heart worm and flea preventative. I gave him food, then the pill and as usual he didn’t feel too good during the day. Normal, it can cause stomach upset, vomiting, etc. I always time the dose so I make sure he makes it past the one hour point without vomiting. He did. Whew, I thought, coast is clear. Not. About six hours later he started to stumble. He was disoriented. He was stretching his neck back and his eyes were partly closed. He had tremors. I felt his heart. Not knowing what “normal” was I did know that his chest felt quite like an explosion over and over. We took him to an emergency vet clinic in Mount Pleasant, SC called Veterinary Specialty Care. These people were nothing short of amazing. They acted promptly. They took him in the back to be seen by the doctor. Then we were called into a room where the doctor told us that his heart rate was dangerously high, 220. After trying to rule out everything in the world, his diagnosis, as she suspected was Trifexis toxicity. Trifexis works on fleas by messing with their neurological system. Sometimes it can do the same in dogs which would explain the odd behavior, the tremors… he stayed overnight so that he could be monitored, he was sedated so he could sleep through this reaction. They’ve seen it many times. UGH! Ever since Sentinel disappeared off the market we’ve all been steered toward Trifexis, in part because the darn fleas have gotten clever and are starting to not respond to the older meds. I can tell you it was a scary time. It took a few days before he was fully himself again, now he’s left with nothing but a shaved leg :) – so he’s fine, and all is well! We did take him to our regular vet for a follow up, and this was the second Trifexis Toxicity case in three days… I don’t want to alarm you, I just want to make you aware.

If you have any questions about giving Trifexis I would research it thoroughly, I thought I did, but…

Sentinel is back on the market (YAY!), so I have updated this post…

IF YOUR DOG IS HAVING ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS, (not acting normally, arching head up oddly, difficulty walking, stumbling, if their heart rate feels strangely fast, drooling (other than normal), tremors, vomiting and more…) GET THEM TO THE VET OR EMERGENCY VET IF YOU CAN. 

UPDATE: Charlie’s latest regimen is Sentinel for fleas and heart worm prevention. He’s been on that over a year, and so far, so good!

NOTE: TRIFEXIS contains SPINOSAD (combat fleas) + milbemycin oxime (heartworm prevention) – 

****COMFORTIS also contains SPINOSAD as the key ingredient! So, if you’re dog is having symptoms from Trifexis they can experience the same from Comfortis since it’s essentially the same drug. Trifexis just has heart worm prevention in addition to flea protection. I am not a vet. Check with your vet after your dog has a reaction. LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU GAVE THEM so they don’t get it (or anything like it) again…

Like people, some medications react differently to some animals. So if there was a reaction once, I (me, being the non-vetirinarian expert, sigh) would steer clear…

This is from the Trifexis website:

For technical assistance or to report a suspected adverse drug reaction, contact Elanco Animal Health at 1-888-545-5973. Additional information can be found at www.trifexis.com. Alternatively, suspected adverse drug reactions may be reported to FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS or http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm055305.htm    

Thank you to my many Facebook friends who sent well wishes and prayers, it made all the difference! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Shannon Runquist and the Palette and Palate Stroll!

On By Barbara StroudIn ARTLeave a comment

“Butter Me Up” by Shannon Runquist – Image: HortonHayes.com

Shannon Runquist paints the coolest paintings. Other than landscapes and figures I always look forward to her still lifes. They are often whimsical, or reminiscent of days gone by, one I remember a cool old typewriter… They have character. This collection of paintings was done for the Palatte and Palate Stroll, where local chefs are paired with galleries for some fabulous art and tasty food (see information below)… it’s TONIGHT! (Check out the painting entitled “Pigs in a Blanket” – how creative!) I wish them much success! If you don’t have tickets for this event, then check out the Horton Hayes website to see more of Shannon’s paintings. Head on down to the gallery if you’re in town. (Note: you must have tickets for the Palatte and Palate Stroll). Horton Hayes Gallery is full of fabulous artists… every single one of them is beyond amazing and worth any effort to get there and check out their work!

I recently heard Shannon being interviewed on public radio, it was like listening to an old friend talk. Very good interview!

“Summertime” by Shannon Runquist – Image: HortonHayes.com

Don’t you just love this painting? “Summertime” epitomizes summer in Charleston… You need tea and cool air to survive!

Here’s a blip about Shannon from the Horton Hayes website (click link to read more):

Shannon Runquist was born is Savannah, Georgia and has spent most of her life in the South. She has lived on St. Simons Island, Georgia and currently resides in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and spends summers on Cape Cod. Spending time near the shore, she has developed a great love for coastal regions and the elements that define them. She has painted and studied in Europe, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Runquist has participated in many national and international exhibitions including consecutive years at the Salmagundi Club in New York City and the Salon International. She enjoys traveling and painting en plein air as well as working in her home studio. Her paintings hang in both corporate and private collections in the United States and abroad.

Artist’s Statement: “I would like for my paintings to convey a timeless aesthetic. They are often an extension of an emotion at the time I am painting but I hope my work remains ambiguous. I paint what is familiar to me, what I have collected or a place I have been. My favorite paintings are ones that tell a story but leave a little mystery for the viewer.”

Here’s a blip from CharlestonFineArtDealersAssociation.com

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Roasted Shrimp and Tomato Orzo with Feta… Cool on a hot day!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe3 Comments

I am about to make you a very happy camper… I’m going to share with you a recipe that is OUT OF THIS WORLD DIVINE! This salad is refreshing on a hot summer day (hot is an understatement, I do believe the tires on my car are melting as I type this)… You can throw this together in the morning and have it for lunch or dinner… it’s a great light dinner. You know what health experts say… Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper. Meaning to eat your biggest meal first and lighten up from there. I know. I don’t like to eat breakfast either… but…! We try to do that when we can, it’s not always possible, but once in a while we get it right…

Continue reading “Roasted Shrimp and Tomato Orzo with Feta… Cool on a hot day!” →

Featured Artist… Sara Jane Doberstein!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

“Hangin In There” by Sara Jane Doberstein

Image: Sandpiper Gallery

Sandpiper Gallery, located on Sullivan’s Island has been a place that I love to take people who come to visit… they always find a cool piece of jewelry there. Sandpiper recently moved down the street, across from the infamous POE’S TAVERN (wonderful hamburgers, fish tacos, cool atmosphere, busy and happening place!). They now reside in a larger space. I look forward to getting out there to visit!

I thought this was an interesting piece by artist Sara Jane Doberstein. A different perspective, I like that. They way she captured the water, the rope and the crab, whoa! Very nice! If you get a chance, pop in the gallery to check out Sara’s work! If you aren’t in the area be sure to give her website a look! Here’s a blip about Sara from her website:

Sara Jane Doberstein was born in 1976 in Hamilton, Ontario, and has spent most of her life in Owen Sound, Ontario on beautiful Georgian Bay. She moved to British Columbia in 1996 to study at the Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design, and has been a full-time artist since 2000. Her interest in the arts began at an early age, when she developed a passion for the American coastline during family trips to the Carolinas. She continues to visit the United States as often as possible, finding inspiration in the beauty of its coastal areas for her vivid paintings of seashells, sandpipers, and crabs.
 
Sara Jane’s diverse painting styles range from traditional representational to contemporary realism, and her work reflects a fascination with the natural world and its transformations. Whether her subject is a glossy cluster of cherries, the chipped paint of an antique, or the colorful jumble of seashells on a beach, her paintings capture the larger-than-life essence of everyday objects and scenes. Her playful, whimsical approach to her subjects is balanced by a technical mastery of paint, which combines to create detailed, thoughtful, and energetic compositions. 
 

Sara Jane is a member of the Oil Painters of America, CAC, and Muskoka Arts & Crafts. Her work has been included in many prominent juried exhibitions across North America, and has won a number of awards, including an Award of Excellence at the Oil Painters of America’s 14th Annual National Juried Exhibition. She has been featured in several publications, including Southwest Art’s “21 Under 31”, and “Start Your Collection”.  Sara Jane currently lives and works in Owen Sound and Muskoka, Ontario.

Ahhh, Sara lives on Georgian Bay in Canada… lucky girl! When I was a kid my parents would take our sailboat cruising Georgian Bay… great memories and a stunningly beautiful location! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Recipe for fabulous Mediterranean Bowtie Pasta Salad – Perfect for hot weather!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HEALTH, RecipeLeave a comment

Ahhh, another cold salad that is to-die-for-good and is perfect for this oh-so-hot-weather we’re all having! (What’s with me and all the hyphens I wonder?) This is something you can whip up in the morning and have in the fridge for dinner later in the day. You can customize it to what you’ve got or what sounds good to you. Same with the quantities. Since there are just two of us I only used a half of a box of pasta, but if you have a gaggle at home for dinner, then by all means, double the recipe, no worries!

This is what I had in my pasta salad, remember, there are no rules! I only used a little red onion because I didn’t want it to be too strong. I happened to have 3/4 of a banana pepper left and let me tell you it was tasty in this pasta salad!

This is what I had in the dressing… I’ve also made it with just olive oil, and with olive oil/balsamic vinegar… I have to say I like today’s recipe the best!

This is what the tomatoes should like like when you’re done roasting. Just until one starts to burst or get wrinkly. At this point they’ve achieved the sweetness that you oh so desire (trust me, you do!).

M E D I T E R R A N E A N    P A S T A   S A L A D

1 container grape tomatoes (or tomatoes of your choice)

Pasta of your choice, I used the mini bowtie pasta. I used 1/2 box. If you use a full box, double the recipe for the olive

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

Pepper

Vegetables to add to salad – anything goes! Whatever quantity you like.

I used 3/4 of a banana pepper and about 1/4 cup (or less) minced red onion

Feta cheese 2-4 oz.

Basil (fresh or dry), washed, chopped, I used a few sprigs (maybe 15 leaves).

Olives! (Forgot those in the photos) – I used Kalamata, the big dark black olives, you can use a teaspoon or two of juice as well.

Preheat oven to 400 F

Boil water for the pasta. While the water is boiling wash and dry the grape tomatoes. (Yep, dry em… wash them well, then gently place on a clean towel, roll them around and they will be dry!)

BIG NOTE: Often times I SKIP ROASTING THE TOMATOES (especially when it’s hot outside) and simply slice, and place in the large bowl with olive oil/vinegar/mustard – then dump the hot pasta on top and let it sit a few minutes before stirring to incorporate. But it IS delish, so if you want to roast, here are the directions: Toss the grape tomatoes into a bowl with about a teaspoon or so of olive oil. Using your hands stir them around so that they’re all coated with the olive oil. Now using your olive oil hand, grease the cookie sheet (I use one with a lip so that they don’t go rolling off into your oven!), if you need a wee bit more olive oil go ahead and get some, but you only want to LIGHTLY oil the cookie sheet, otherwise you will have stinky deep fried smelling tomatoes and who wants that? Once tomatoes are coated slide them onto the cookie sheet.

By now your pasta water should be boiling, toss in the pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain in a colander once pasta is cooked.

Check your tomatoes, you just want them to start to get crinkly. It’s not horrible if they totally fall apart, but then you’ll have little tomato pieces instead of more sturdy pieces. Roasting the tomato gives it sweetness you cannot begin to fathom. Seriously! When they’re done, cut them in half. You don’t have to but sometimes they can be kind of big in a salad.

Mix together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk and then pour over cooked pasta that you have placed in a large bowl. Stir it until pasta is coated well.

Now for the fun part… I added banana pepper and red onion. Add what you like, as much or as little as you like! Add it to the pasta, stir it in.

Add 4 oz. of feta and mix it in. Remember you can always add it on top, so don’t add too much. Been there. Done that.

Add fresh chopped (or in my case snipped with scissors) basil and thyme (again, stripped from the stalk).

Chill (but go ahead and try some now… try to leave some for everyone else. It’s that good, yep! – Yield approximately 4 servings.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Jerome Greene!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist3 Comments

Painting by Jerome Greene – Image: Jereome Greene Facebook page

One year, while renting a neat cottage in Port Clyde, Maine, we ran into Colin Page, a fabulous artist with such a great style… he was part of a group of artists from all over the country who got together and painted PAINTAPALOOZA. I don’t mean they painted on occasion, these guys painted their tails off! Colin invited us all to their cottage on the last day before they left. There. Were. Paintings. EVERYWHERE. Such a fabulous group of accomplished artists all in one big cottage all doing their own thing and doing it so well! One of the guys we met was Jerome Greene. What a nice guy. Great paintings. Saw this one on Jerome’s Facebook page… love the loose airy strokes! Go check him out!

Here’s a blip about Jerome from Addison Art Gallery:

Jerome Greene has been involved in the arts since childhood. His father was a commercial artist and professor of art at Central Connecticut State University. Jerome’s older brother was an artist and sculptor. Regular family outings involved museum trips and participation in art and American craft shows.

Jerome left a career in the trades to pursue his life-long ambition to be a fine artist. He has developed a unique style of painting by immersing himself in the arts, visiting museums and galleries and working with established, award-winning artists. His range of work includes figure study, studio landscape painting, still life and, his current focus, painting en Plein Aire— capturing the immediacy of the day.

Since 2001, Jerome has been active in the vibrant Cape Cod art scene. He has shown in multiple galleries, has owned a gallery for three years, and has generously donated some of his intriguing oils to auctions in support of various charities.

In 2008, his work was featured at the Cape Cod Museum of Art’s “Painting New England Together” show.

Jerome and his work have been featured in :

  • Cape Arts Review
  • Cape Cod Magazine
  • Prime Time Magazine
  • The Cape Cod View Magazine

Jerome’s work can be found in corporate and private collections; his extensive base of collectors spans the country. A resident of Eastham, Jerome maintains a Provincetown studio.

Bob Spohn, Docent at the Cape Cod Museum of Art:

 “Jerome grew up in New Britain, Connecticut, where his father was a professor of art at Central Connecticut State University. New Britain is also the home of the New Britain Museum of American Art, where Jerome was impressed by the work of Thomas Hart Benton.

An avid baseball fan, Jerome’s secret ambition is to do “plein stadium” painting at Fenway Park. It’s fitting that one of his favorite artists is Aldro Hibbard, who gave up a promising baseball career to become an artist.

Jerome, an engaging painter with studios in Eastham and Provincetown, has the uncanny ability to capture the moment, and the skill and eye for integrating frame and painting. Like many plein air painters, he thrives on the camaraderie and energy generated by group painting expeditions.”

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Maine Photo: Home away from home… a cottage in Port Clyde, Maine!

On By Barbara StroudIn TRAVEL1 Comment

We have stayed at this cottage in Port Clyde, Maine a few times. Each time has been a delight. There is nothing like it! The great windows with a view to die for, the ocean literally a stones throw away. Chilly nights, no heat, big fireplace, ahhh heaven! We’ve had some great times here! I went to the Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum and found a photo of it from long ago (the lighthouse is just down the street). How interesting! If I had unlimited funds I would build this exact house (if I couldn’t buy it first)…

Is there a special place you visit? Tell me about it! Where is it? Why do you like it so much?! What do you do while you’re there? Enjoy your summer!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: Farmers Market Bounty is Plentiful!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD2 Comments

Just didn’t want you to forget about the Charleston Farmers Market today at Marion Square in Charleston, SC. Even if it’s blistering hot I promise you it is SO worth it! Head out early if the heat concerns you… we can zip in and out in no time flat and we fill up a few bags of heavenly goods… Last week we bought butter beans, butter peas, corn on the cob, fresh juicy tomatoes that are UNBELIEVABLE this year, zucchini, banana pepper, cantaloupe and some grape tomatoes… I’m sure I’m forgetting something, but whoa, you can stock up and prices are so much cheaper than the grocery store and the quality cannot be beat!

Ahhh, one fruit I forgot to mention… the freshest, juiciest peaches EVER! Ooooh! I had one on my cereal and it made it dessert! Speaking of… would be super tasty over ice cream ;)

What do YOU make with your farmers market bounty? Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Connie Hayes!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

“Blue Scooter 1” by Connie Hayes

Image: Dowling Walsh

Connie Hayes is an icon. She is a wicked good painter. I would LOVE one of her interiors, they are beyond stunning… or any of the landscapes that she’s so known for, the way she can paint a house, dock or a winding road, WOW! This show is a departure from her normal painting subjects, this show entitled “Abandon, Absorption, and Entrancement” is at the Dowling Walsh Gallery located in Rockland, Maine (across the street from the Farnsworth Museum). If you haven’t been to the Dowling Walsh Gallery before, let me tell you what you are missing. A state of the art gorgeous gallery with some of the most famous names in the art business. Dowling Walsh is a high end gallery that spares no expense in promoting their artists. It’s one of my very favorite galleries, and I truly look forward to spending time there each and every year! (It’s a nice plus that you can walk next door for a fabulous lunch, treat, coffee or tea at the bakery, and walk across the street to the Farnsworth Museum and Gift Shop, or to dinner at Rustica just down the street…) I guess what I’m trying to say is that Dowling Walsh is in THE perfect location… Don’t miss Connie’s show, trust me, it’s one you won’t soon forget! Lucky you! Tonight is Connie’s opening reception!

The painting above “Blue Scooter 1” shows such determination in the child’s face. Connie’s use of bright colors and bold brushstrokes is what she is known for. The dramatic shadows from the scooter really sets it all off. Brilliant!

Information (and photo) from the Dowling Walsh website:

Upcoming Exhibition: July 6 – July 29, 2012

Connie Hayes will be exhibiting her new collection of paintings, “Abandon, Absorption, and Entrancement,” at Dowling Walsh Gallery in July 2012. The show will examine portraits, people and interactions. The opening reception will be held on Friday, July 6, 2012 from 5-8 pm.

Preview the show here: Connie Hayes July 2012.

Connie will be giving an illustrated talk at The Strand Theater, “Photography as Sketchbook: Exploring Gesture”, on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 from 4-5pm.

Connie’s show is highlighted in Maine Home + Design’s April 2012 art issue. To download a copy of the article, click here: Show Stoppers.

Biography

Connie Hayes is a painter living in Rockland, Maine. She received her M.F.A. from Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia, and Rome; her B.F.A. from the Maine College of Art in Portland; and her B.A. from the University of Maine. She received a fellowship to attend the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 1989. Born in Gardiner, Maine she taught at the Maine College of Art for 10 years, also participating in arts administration there for 15 years, including serving as their interim Dean of Faculty. In 2003 she was awarded an honorary doctorate in fine arts from the Maine College of Art. From 1992-1998 she lived in New York City and since 1990 her pursuit has been “borrowed views”, as she lives and paints in others’ homes as an artist-in-residence. While she continues that work, she has recently been developing a new group of figure paintings, exploring gesture and color.

Connie Hayes held an exhibition, “A Decade of Views” at Dowling Walsh Gallery in the fall of 2009. To view a copy of this show catalog, click on the following link: Connie Hayes Web Catalog

Connie Hayes gave a presentation, titled “Up Close”, at the Strand Theatre in Rockland, Maine on September 18th, 2010. To view the presentation, please click here.

Her work was featured in Maine Home + Designmagazine August 2010 Issue. Following is a link to a PDF copy of the article feature: Hayes Article Feature- Maine Home and Design August 2010 Issue.

I want to leave you with one more image… isn’t this fabulous?

“Green Table, Vinalhaven” by Connie Hayes – Image: Dowling Walsh

Did I mention her use of light? Fabulous! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Purity… you just may not have found the right one yet…

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS1 Comment

Philosophy PURITY MADE SIMPLE

Image: Nordstrom

If you don’t absolutely LOVE your facial cleanser have I got news for you! A while back I bought the small sample size cleanser by Philosophy called PURITY. I had read a lot of great things about it, it consistently got 4.5-5 stars on every site I checked. How could that many people be wrong? They weren’t, and that’s why I’m a big fan of researching things before I buy. I read the reviews and if they seem pretty consistent I’ll give it a shot, and am I glad I ever did!

Here’s a blip about the cleanser from the Philosophy website:

our award-winning daily facial skin cleanser is formulated to gently cleanse, tone and melt away all face and eye makeup in one simple step, while lightly hydrating the skin.

features & benefits

  • deep cleans pores and eliminates makeup build-up
  • natural oil extracts help condition skin
  • fragrance-free formula

I have to agree, it removes makeup effortlessly and when you’re done your face doesn’t feel tight or dry. It’s perfect! It says fragrance free formula, but there are natural oil extracts that have a clean fresh smell that I absolutely love. Also… you only need a small amount, so it will last a while! Share this with anyone you know of who may not be too happy with their current product. This stuff is awesome. If you don’t have a store close by, you can order from Nordstrom.com and it’s FREE shipping… you just can’t beat that!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Michael Baum!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

“Manitou Meadow” by Michael Baum

Image: MichaelBaum.com

Michael Baum is an extremely talented artist located in the Manitou Springs area of Colorado. I was happy to find Michael on Facebook. Another artist had commented on one of his paintings, which is how I saw his work. Ahhh, the magic of Facebook, eh? I later saw photos that Michael posted of the fires in Colorado. It broke my heart… so much devastation. Evacuating, coming home, evacuating… some not coming home to anything at all… Can. You. Imagine? Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone dealing with this and to those who are fighting it… As I write this (Friday, June 29) I see that there was a break in the heat (down to the 90 degree temps and the wind was down to 10mph, which allowed firefighters to begin to get an edge up on this massive fire. I pray that continues. HERE is the link to Michael’s photos and first hand account of what’s happening in his area. So far, his house is OK…

Here’s a blip about Michael from his website – you can tell he’s a nice guy by his bio alone!

“Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1950, my first home was a trailer traveling from Oklahoma to Ohio, where my family settled. I was always drawing or painting (dinosaurs mainly). Most years, we would take driving vacations to Florida or Michigan, or go camping at the local parks. These experiences are among my fondest memories and set the course my life would take.

 In the late 1960s and early ’70s, I attended Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, studying psychology, anthropology, and art. In 1973 I earned a BFA in fine art. 

I came to the West over 30 years ago, drawn by its spectacular landscapes. I pursued thelandscape in art through a variety of styles and media, now working exclusively in oil. 

 I love getting out on the road and exploring the country, being overwhelmed by its grandeur and amazed by its subtlety. I love painting the landscape, whether I do it right there on the spot or
later back in the studio. It is a wonderful challenge to try to recreate the essence of a place with paint and canvas.”

Michael Baum specializes in contemporary representational paintings of the western and southwestern landscape. 
He is represented in many private, corporate, and public collections nationally and internationally.

Michael lives and works in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Marc Dalessio!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist3 Comments

A sketch by Marc Dalessio – Image: Marc Dalessio Facebook

What a fabulously loose painting. It’s got so many features that I absolutely adore… the masts against a cloudy sky painted thickly, the loosely painted buildings in the distance, the shadows on the dock, the bright white of the boat deck. This “sketch” was done in Bergen (Norway). The pictures of Bergen are stunning, it looks like a great place to paint! Marc has a great website, so check it out… I enjoyed reading “about” Marc. I’m always pleasantly surprised when I read about an artist and it’s creative and interesting. Personally I think that  “About” the artist should contain either thoughts on the way they paint or their subjects or who their inspiration comes from or something personal, and not just a bulleted list of achievements (I never read those, especially the really long ones, sigh). Those are ok too, at the end, but I like to hear where the artist lives, and it’s nice if they mention family, pets, places, other artists, that’s very cool… Here is a blip about Marc from his website (actually his blog, which is a good read), and I think you’ll have to agree:

Welcome to my blog. I’m 37 years old as I write this, and I’ve been drawing and painting ever since I can remember.

I was born in Los Angeles in 1972. From the age of 6 to 10 I lived in the Fiji Islands where my father was a regional director of the Peace Corps. The beauty of Fiji and my native California instilled in me a love of the natural world.

For the last 17 years I’ve lived in Florence, Italy, though I spend a few months every year painting in the US. At present I have a beautiful 19th-century painting studio in Piazza Donatello and the use of a farmhouse near Tavarnelle val di Pesa in Tuscany which I use as a base for landscape work, as well as teaching small workshops in the summers. I also teach a plein air landscape course at the Florence Academy of Art in the spring.

Every winter I travel with a group of like-minded plein air painters to warmer climates to keep working outside. Past destinations have included Kenya, India, Greece and Albania, the Caribbean, Morocco, and this year, Myanmar.

I created this blog to share information about techniques and materials as well as to keep people updated on my paintings and exhibitions. Your comments are appreciated.

Thanks for visiting,

Marc

Catch you back here tomorrow!