My April Newsletter

I tried to take a screenshot of my latest newsletter but evidently it's too long. So here's a URL link that's hosted on my newsletter service. Please take a look. It's pretty and takes me much longer to create than I think it should.

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs062/1101419473500/archive/1109798646500.html

My big news, of course, is the Steeplechase Festival in Saratoga and being chosen to create the program cover artwork.  I also announce my yearly show at the High Hope Steeplechase in Lexington, Kentucky on May 20th and also about participating in the American Academy of Equine Art's Spring Invitational Exhibit.

If anyone knows how to post the image of my newsletter to this blog, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd share the knowledge!

Humor me,
Sharon

Steeplechase at Saratoga!

I've been chosen to create the artwork that will grace the program and posters of the Inaugural Steeplechase Festival at Saratoga on September 15th! Honored and thrilled, I'm on Cloud 10 (like Volume 11).

Last weeks press conference at the National Museum of Racing was attended by several VIPs of horse racing. The Festival will be held at Saratoga Race Track about a week and a half after the main meet has concluded and will follow the tradition of family-oriented events and activities featured at other steeplechase venues on the circuit. Only ours will be held at...Saratoga. Okay, I'm extremely biased but I've made no secret of my love for this place. And it is this sense of place I experience on many levels.

Here's their new logo:

 It's been requested that we spread the word which I will do gladly. And often.

Jumping for joy!
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

EPCOT 2012

After delivering the first three greyhounds last week to my client in West Virginia, we headed down to Florida. Green and warm, we enjoyed perfect weather. One week was not nearly long enough, especially when trying to connect with so many great friends that I dearly miss. I also pined for the river and will plan mightily for two weeks next year. Unfortunately, there are no alligators in upstate New York.

The week concluded with plein air painting at EPCOT. I'm so honored to be invited and this was my third year. Assigned to Italy, I readily pulled out my oils and got to work.

Friday's effort produced a strong painting that sold. Many thanks to a couple of wonderful new collectors, Barbara and Bruce!

Saturday was an equally great day and the piece also sold! Hugs for Cheryl Anne who was visiting from the west coast.

Although sales are a an amazing bonus to painting in the park, we're really there to engage with the guests, especially children. Most people never have the opportunity to observe the process of art-making or converse with artists at work. I find this friendly banter great fun and the day flies by with laughter.

Sunday's painting is still available for only $150. plus shipping. It's an 11"x14" oil on canvas and you'll be getting a piece of Italy!

Ciao!
Sharon

Blanket Finish is Finished

Even though the dogs are much smaller that the horses, painting the forms remains a physical undertaking. Because the dogs are waist high the view from above must be constantly checked from where it will be observed most. Up and down the step ladder, on my knees and 'round and 'round the table I go.

Lo and behold...another delivery!

Here's the design submitted to the client. Only eight greyhounds can run in a race (think twenty horses in the Kentucky Derby). The green and white striped #7 is often referred to as "the candy stripe".

The finished "Blanket Finish". He's pretty and colorful as the blankets cascade over his form...referring back to my first Horse Fever design "Champ" depicting the jockey silks of fourteen prominent Marion County (Ocala) thoroughbred breeders.

Onward to greyhound three. This one illustrates deep sea fishing in a more painterly style.

Dogfish?
Sharkingly,
Sharon

Jacksonville Jaguar-Greyhound

Here's the finished "Waguar", my first of the greyhound painting project. The design is quite graphic with lots of steady-handed hard lines that took me much longer than expected.

 Logos galore...

Next greyhound: "Blanket Finish." The numbered cloths the hounds wear in a race are called blankets. The design will depict blankets cascading over the form. I cut out a paper template resembling a flattened blanket and used it to draw my outlines so the sizes would be consistent. Lines quickly got complex as they weaved in and out of each other and to keep from getting too confused, I indicated where the numbers will be.

Back to the dog house,

Sharon

Help Me Get This

Recently, Michael and I visited MASS MoCA. It's contemporary art on steroids and I'm sheepishly admitting that I just didn't "get" most of the installations even after reading the accompanying literature. Guiltily, that little voice in my head whispered "is this art?" As an artist I'm old enough, experienced enough and should be open to alternative perspectives and sensitive to nuance. A video installation of a person in a self car wash hosing down a non-existent vehicle elicited a silent "huh" and made me feel disconnected and, well...stupid. As a working artist I should get this stuff.

I belong to the school that believes art should tell a story and engage the viewer. Call me old fashion but I love the immediate emotional connection.

Emotion + skill + experience = great art (in my opinion). I want to be blown away by a piece and unable to take my eyes off it. And that includes abstract painting, sculpture and yes, installations that are intellectually accessible and provide relevance.

So, imagine my relieved joy when we discovered The Arkell Museum in Canajoharie, about an hour drive west from the studio. A small and unassuming building, it houses the painting collection of Bartlett Arkell who founded the Beech-Nut Company.  Paintings of beauty, luscious color, light, form and provocative subjects. Wow. Amongst the Homers, the Bentons, the Wyeths and the O'Keefes were some amazing artists I'm not familiar with.

For example: the stunning snowscapes of Walter Launt Palmer:

 I thought this was masterful...

...as well as this special exhibit by artist Jay Connaway:

I've stood on the stormy shore and nervously felt these ominous waves:

Powerful and compelling, these paintings inspire me to become a be a better painter.

Call me a boring traditionalist,
Sharon

Greyhound Turns into a Jaguar

One of the perks to painting these smaller dogs as opposed to the much bigger horses is being able to make them lie down (pun intended). They only weigh about 45 lbs. and I can handle them myself.

 

But please understand that it's still quite a physical undertaking. Kneel down, climb a step ladder and walk around and around the table countless times a day. And with these acrylic paints, the water must be changed 900 times a day (it seems) to keep all the colors pure. 

I'm pleased with the jaguar "tatoo" running down the front leg.

Here, "Waguar" is beginning to look like a Jacksonville Jaguar mascot of sorts.

My dear friend and designer extraordinaire Julie K. (she's shy) composed this amazing ad for a special issue of Homes & Land in Ocala, Florida using two of my paintings. Julie also designed my beautiful website www.sharoncrute.com.

Happy Leap Day!
Sharon

Waguar Progresses

I've chosen five logos to paint around the greyhound form. As a painter who constantly nags myself to remain loose and expressive, the logos are excruciatingly time-consuming. And knowing that this type of design entered the realm of technology long, long ago - hand detailing with plastic paint is challenging both my eyesight and motor coordination. At least the hands and eyes still speak to each other even if the dialog often veers into an argument!

Tiny brushes...ugh.

A jaguar stalks down the extended front leg. The "Y" on the paw is a color note to help me stay organized and check on the "feel" of the design as it develops. In the background on the table is the original design conceived onto the template.

The logos are laid in. The acrylic paint requires two coats to fully cover the form.

And in between: my entry into the American Academy of Equine Art's Spring Invitational.

"Last Set" oil on canvas, 18" x 24" (click here for more info)

Blessed to be busy,
Sharon

Waguar

I'm running very, very behind in this documentary. Spending an inordinate amount of time researching on the laptop, I've gleaned lots of interesting facts about a wide variety of subjects. This is the part of creating specific artwork that people don't normally see - the time-consuming preparation. And this is even before the sketching begins. Also, my wireless internet connection is not working in the evening when I usually do all of my computer work. Sigh. Still working on it.

"Waguar" is my first greyhound to paint. Designed for a Jacksonville Jaguars fan, I've researched the team, the colors, the star players and the logos both present and historical.

However, before the drawing begins...grime, dust and fingerprints are scrubbed away.

A coat of gesso is then applied.

Finally, the drawing begins. I'll make several changes as the design evolves and takes on a life of it's own. Notice the reference material on the tabletop that will continue to grow into an unmanageable mess!

 Fast-forward to blocking in the main design.

 
NOTE: My apologies for having to implement comment moderation thanks to these stupid spammers who somehow figure a way past Blogger's own spam detection. Spamming is such an ineffective way to sell goods or services that no one wants to begin with.

Grrrrr,
Sharon