The Studio Expands

My new work space is larger. I now have room to exhibit and help promote a few special artists whose work I admire. I'm very excited about this new direction as I now get to play the role of gallery director.

Let me introduce "my" new artists!

Robert Stebleton

Fresh Snow, acrylic on panel, 11"x14"

I have tremendous admiration for artists who are adept with acrylic paints. Bob's masterful control of the medium creates an exclusive style of fluid brushwork that builds on multiple layers of transparent glazes. With a wide range of subjects, he skillfully documents his observations. This is the artist that mentored me this past year as I diffidently stepped out of my equine-only paint box. So there you are. Check out Bob's website here.

Sue Clark

I Can Read! print photograph, 12"x18"

Sue is a multiple award-winning photographer (really). In this series, she examines the macabre world of dolls and mannequins...those plastic objects that are meant to mimic humans, mostly female. These strange effigies become subject for her exploration that creates an edgy and provocative exhibit: "Valley of the Dolls." To visit her website, click here.

Jools René

Forest Fire, oil on canvas, 11"x14"

Jools lives in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas. We met several years ago when I was exhibiting in Hot Springs. Over the years, we've stayed in touch as Jools' paintings have evolved into abstractions of harmonious, sumptuous color and painterly form. His compositions appeal to my sense of movement and intensity. Oh yes they do.


Welcome to my gallery dahhhlink,
Sharon

Dogfish

He thought I did and I thought he did. Photograph the latest greyhound, that is. It was a crazy week finishing up projects, preparing for the Florida trip and getting the completed greyhounds ready for delivery. Sigh. Here are two meager photos that Michael took while I was devilishly dealing with the details.

Is it easier to view upside down?

Gulls...

Not getting finished artwork photographed before it leaves for its final destination is the bane of busy artists. Especially for this unconventional project. Well, I'm disappointed too.

Oh poop,
Sharon

Misty Morning Foxhounds Re-Visited

Elegant, traditional and exquisitely visual. Great fun, what's not to love? These are my peeps and we share a love of animals and...dare I say...fortifying drinks. Yesterday morning, artist friend Bob Stebleton and his wife and my hubby plus moi braved the cold morning temps to bug the very hospitable members of the Misty Morning Foxhounds.

Master of Foxhounds (Mistress?) Alexis Macaulay and her pack of happy hounds.

Foxhunting Florida-style.

 This could be a future painting. So attracted to the dappled light in shade.

 Long-time readers of my blog will remember Montana the Thoroughbred. Two years later and he's still fit and healthy thanks to his devoted owner Susan.

 Jumping for the shear joy of it.

 

Heading back.

 

Last night two tigers visited me in my dreams. Double dose of passion and power and how good it feels to reclaim it.

"O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!" - William Shakespeare

Why You Should Collect Art (from a collector's viewpoint - not mine)

Rarely does a show excite me as did "The Unseen Eye - Photography from the W.M. Hunt Collection" currently on exhibit at the Appleton Museum of Art here in Ocala. Why? The collector, W.M. Hunt has written a transcript accompanying the exhibit that illustrates his passion for collecting in an intensely personal and accessible narrative. I'm not easily impressed but this is a must see show.

My fellow artists would do well to recognize the importance of describing and speaking about their own artwork as well as Mr. Hunt depicts his emotional connection to his collection.

No gallery labels, only numbers which are listed on a photocopied checklist describe the photographs. Purposely ignoring these, I wanted to experience the images without bias to Mapplethorpe, Arbus, Weston and other well-named photographers. Interspersed throughout the images is signage containing the honest, forthright and engaging feelings of Hunt written in the first person. This open invitation into the psyche of an obsessive collector makes the show absolutely extraordinary. We get to be voyeurs.

Here are a few of his quotes:

"I was a very unhappy child, full of melancholy and depression, full of dread and sadness. I was capable of great good humor and generosity, socially skilled, but I was fraught with anxiety and feelings of loss. I can’t get over how collecting offered me insight into so much of this. One of the successes of the collection is its consistency in terms how the images relate to me. When you look at this collection you don’t, in fact, need to know anything about me, but there is a through line that is amazingly consistent. It is my unconscious."

"I have always felt that I have been an enigma in need of sorting out. Collecting did that."

"Collecting photographs is a completely visceral experience, an epiphany. You know you have found a great one when the hair on the back of your hands stands on end, your heart pounds, and you can’t move your feet."

"Collectors are obsessed, ravenous for this one and then the next one. People who do not collect, won’t. They don’t connect with this intense, obsessive force. Too bad. It is huge fun."

"Great art is insistent. It demands a visceral response: unease, awe, relief, and it calls for contemplation. It resonates like a primal chord. The earliest mark making strikes me as a spiritual response to living, a primitive attempt to find or create meaning."

"Insist on engagement. Wrestle with what’s difficult. Pretty is boring. Seek intensity."

"Escape, intensity, pleasure, I like those things so I have to remind myself that my reaction or reading of a photographic image is mine alone. But as I have said, it is only my truth."

These quotes are only a few excerpts barely scratching the surface of Hunt's fearless openness. These are the people we create art for. At least we'd wish for them if we had a choice. The passionate who wear their hearts on their sleeve. I'm buying that painting because I love it and it speaks to me.

“Look, look, look. You have to look. It's the way to educate your eyes. Stare. Pry, listen eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long”. - Walker Evans

I Really Don't Know Clouds, At All

I took these photos of storm clouds gathering. It finally rained Saturday night after over a month of drought. As my good friend Jim said, "it's been dryer than a popcorn fart".

Absence of blog posts means I'm busy. Very good thing at this time in my history. Apologies to subscribers. We did some road trips, clutter clearing and bookkeeping. Also back on track planning upcoming shows. An immensely appreciated blessing after my winter of discontent.

Last week I received an invitation to exhibit at the University of Florida's Clinical Equine Studies. Who knew there was space for rotating shows there? In fact, besides the current exhibit, the two buildings I was escorted through had equine artwork everywhere.


Drove up to Aiken, SC over the weekend to pick up my originals at Equine Divine. Drove down to Stuart, FL yesterday, to pick up artwork from the Elliott Museum exhibit. Lots of miles and time to think, brainstorm and listen to The Secret...again.

Our accountant is strongly urging the formation of a LLC. We spent the entire trip back from Stuart trying to come up with a name for Michael's new business venture. Some faves:
Voilart!
The Art Firm
Meditchy - (Michael's favorite)
Creative Process
Eargone Art
Slideshow Mike - (my favorite)
Becoming punchy from the hours on the road, there were a few more too ridiculous to list. Like this one...

Pull My Finger Art

Museum Exhibits and More

Yesterday we headed down to Deland early to deliver my paintings to the Museum of Florida Art for their Equus IV exhibit next month. The opening reception is Friday, April 10th from 5-7pm if you happen to be in the area. I thought the museum was part of Stetson University but no, just very close neighbors. Anywho, the museum has expanded and updated and looks terrific.

We also loaded the canoe in the van and on the way home put in at DeLeon Springs. Odd place, very shallow water, only saw one small gator in the water. However, there was a huge and healthy population of birds.

Osprey with fresh catch.

Coots were in abundance such as these flying/paddling away from our approach.

Michael says I must get back in the studio Monday. The time away has provided an opportunity to be introspective of my current affairs, heal my body and fall in love with my garden. It's okay to have goals and desires, but not to the extent of my over-the-top obsessiveness. Being this driven has proven to be unhealthy - it's stolen the joy of painting and the joy of living. Many sleepless nights have paid the price of my ambition. Because there are no accidents, I happened to pick up a copy of Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" after hearing Oprah touting it. Illuminating, thought-provoking and life-changing. If you're restless and uneasy as I have been, I highly recommend it.

Florida Thoroughbred Charities

Last weekend hosted the annual Florida Thoroughbred Charities fundraiser. It was held at the Ocala Hilton providing elegant surroundings and delicious food. As an artist, this organization tops my list for donating.

The following photos were provided by my dear friend, photographer extraordinaire Cindy Mikell.

Dick Hancock, Executive Vice President of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association gives a hug to daughter Ellie.

Gene Stevens, (Post Time U.S.A.), Carolyn Hine and Frank Stronach.

Todd Pletcher.

Moi's large giclee reproduction "Harrowing" slated for the live auction.

The artist with partner V.P. in charge of marketing, sales, research and debt collection.

Canoeing Instead Of Pontooning

Morning brought dense fog, cool temps and a strong breeze so we shifted plans to rent a pontoon boat out at Cedar Key. Instead, we headed back to the Ocklawaha River and put in at the Outpost. The river was a bit busy on a Sunday but the weather turned out gorgeous. My friend Lynn came with and as I've stated before, she is photographer extraordinaire.

We only saw a few gators due to the boat traffic. This was the biggest we spotted, about a four footer.

Juvenile ibis were plentiful. Lynn didn't see the gator behind them until she edited the photos back at home. One of those rare, lucky events.

Turtells abound.


When we we got back to the boat ramp, we met Capt. Natural-Lee who had rigged his canoe out quite creatively. A self-described author, adventurer, philosopher and all around nice guy, which he is, it was a hoot to spend some time talking with him. Moments like these are what make life so fascinating.



<---This kills me.

Snow Ponies

Apparently I've b-o-r-e-d some of you with lengthy ruminations of my Year in Review posts. Yawn. Allow me to make amends: these pictures are worthy of Christmas Card status. They're from the lovely photographic blog of Andrea J. Anderson who graciously gave me permission to post.

The thought of snow+cold+horses generally makes me cringe due to frigid years of over wintering at racetracks in the north east. But these photos brought back pleasant memories of my childhood in New England.

On weekends I worked at a local riding stable. Inclement weather was the only time us kids could could go for "free" rides through the woods in Lincoln, R.I. We were wild and reckless, the horses were full of themselves and somehow, all of us were impervious to the cold.

Bareback was the norm, and some of us took terrific falls only to jump back on with passionate abandon. I'll bet there were more than a few unreported concussions.

Now old and warm in Florida, I look forward to my pontoon boat ride at Cedar Key tomorrow.

Lovely and Peaceful

Photography is not my forte. Perhaps because my approach is utilitarian. I photograph mainly for reference material and don't perceive it as the art medium it deserves. Thankfully there are those who do recognize the art form and create beautiful pictures. These artists use all the same elements of shape, light, color, contrast, composition, etc. that a painter does.

My dear friend Lynn, who is an extraordinary web designer, took these photos at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville. We walked off the huge holiday dinner while she went on a mission to capture the quiet splendor around us.

Enjoy...

Cat sculpture.

Real garden cat.

Giant lily pads.

Aromatic and exotic. Manna for butterflies.

Fairy stuff.

Bees! There's still some left...

No, I'm not inspired to paint any of this. For me to simply savor.