Longwood Viewsframed in 14x18

All my projects are completed and framed
and packed!
Tomorrow night I am setting up for my
Rittenhouse Square show and then showing
all weekend.  Hope to see you there.

Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show
Held at 135 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA
Fri. & Sat. 11 to 7 and Sun. 11 to 5
My space is #97 on Rittenhouse Street
Rain or shine!
This is an "all originals" show (no prints allowed!)

New painting finished...

Just finished this one over the weekend.
Framing it tonight in a 17x21" walnut frame.
Title needed! 

Here is my booth at the New Paltz, NY show.
I am demonstrating the above painting.

Got home this afternoon and unpacked.

Tomorrow I repack for the "Rittenhouse Show"
in Philadelphia, PA.
Set  up is Thursday and it is an all original
show.



Packed and on the road, using today to set up the
camper, Friday is show set up and then 3 days of
exhibiting and demonstrating. 
Happy Memorial Weekend.

May 26 to May 28

Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Craft ShowHeld at the Ulster County Fairgrounds,
New Paltz, N.Y.   (Exit 18 NYS Thruway).
Sat. & Sun. 5/26 & 5/27 from 10 am - 6 pm
Mon. 5/28 from 10 am - 4 pm

You can find me in the demonstration tent
$8 admission with a coupon on the event website

FYI: I will NOT be attending Rhinebeck, NY
this year due to a scheduling conflict so you
need to come here to see me!!

Tuesday...

14"x 18" untitled...
I finished this over the weekend and it looks
fabulous! Strong color and shadows.  Love the
sky.  Open to title suggestions.

I finished getting the camper ready, went to market,
ran a few errands, made chicken on the grill...
no painting again today.

This weekend:

Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Craft Show
Held at the Ulster County Fairgrounds, New Paltz, N.Y.
(Exit 18 NYS Thruway). Sat. & Sun. 5/26 & 5/27 from 10 am - 6 pm
Mon. 5/28 from 10 am - 4 pm
You can find me in the demonstration tent
$8 admission with a coupon on the event website

FYI: I will NOT be attending Rhinebeck this year due to a scheduling conflict so you need to come here to see me!!

Mondays Observation...

We spent 4 long days in Wilkes-Barre and got in at 10pm last
night.  Its that time of year where there is little time home.
The housesitter is there more than we are.  Don't get excited,
I am not announcing an empty house, far from it.  There is a
housesitter, my brother in law is doing some remodling work
and my in laws live with us.  So there are more people there
than when we are actully home!  We are home for 3 days then
off again.  The next show is in New Paltz, NY and we are camping.
I did not have any time to paint today.  We are working with a
new frame company and needed to drive a 3 hour round trip to
pick up the first order.  When we got back home I needed to get
the pop-up camper ready to use this weekend.  A little first time
out maintenance, a scrubbing and a bug bomb.  No way Linda is
sleeping in it without killing off any winter spiders or bugs.

I wanted to chat about something Linda and I observed
this weekend.
Perfect weekend, beautiful weather.  66 artist, photographers
and craftsman were displaying their "Arts".  I was
demonstrating for 4 days.  Music and dancing the whole weekend. 
FREE!   This to me is the perfect way to introduce your
children and grandchildren to "The Arts" or just have a nice
time out.   My observation... the constant use of electronics. 
Phones glued to ears, talking into the phone, constant
messaging and reading. Leaves no room for human interaction.
Families walking while Dad is looking at a screen.
It felt almost rude to me.  Here I am trying to talk to you about
my paintings, you are in my booth, and not paying any attention. 
Why even waste your time.  I say disconnect the electronics
and use your eyes to become inspired, use your ears to hear
the music that is there for your enjoyment, interact with your
family and share with your kids.  I vote to unplug...
at least for the weekend.

Steeple

                          

4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor
Contact the Studio...

This is the same church I painted last Tuesday
but I concentrated on the steeple and changed to
night with a full moon.

Packed!  I am leaving at 4:30AM... have a 2 hr drive.
Quickly set up and then show till 8pm!!  Long day.

THE SHOW:
The Artist Market ~ Fine Art Fiesta
Starts tomorrow... May 17 to May 20
Held at Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre, PA
Thurs.-Sat. 10am to 8pm and Sun. 10am to 5pm
My space is #64 in the center
FREE! ~ rain or shine!

Frog

6"x 4" Original Miniature Watercolor
SOLD!

OK, I grumbled a bit, might have said
"who is going to buy a frog" under my
breath a few times... but about half way
through  I was actually enjoying the
process.  This is a lot of greens to shade
and not get all muddy.  I will say Linda
does stretch my artistic comfort zone and
I try my best to live up to her faith in my
skills!

One good show and there is a flurry of
activity in the studio.  I heard a frame order
being placed, there are mats being cut and
framing going on.  Boxing for shipping two
orders.  All good sounds to my ears.



Message:
Hi Andy and Linda - I LIKE the Frog.  I'm not in to frogs - however, I think the painting is fantastic - very life like with all of the shading that you had to insert to duplicate the picture  thatLinda  gave you as a challenged.  I would have liked seeing the picture next to the painting.

2012 Still Life #17

4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor

Contact the Studio...

Sometime you need to get down at floor level!

Linda gave me a frog to paint tomorrow, thanks to
some clients who insist on sharing garden photos!
Really... is it necessary to give Linda ideas???

My booth at Byers Choice over the weekend.

I am sitting out front demonstrating.
Don't worry, this was before the doors opened,
the show was full.

If you are near Wilkes-Barre, PA you should
join me at the Fine Arts Fiesta between
Thursday 5/17 through Sunday 5/20.
From this point on I just pack and unpack!

2012 Still Life #16

4"x 6" original watercolor
SOLD!

Again... parts of a room, I like that nothing
is completely painted.  But you get a sense
of a whole room.

Off to set up at the Byers Choice Show.
If you are in the Lansdale area come see me.
This show has very good artists and craftsmen.

Byers Choice Craft Show4355 County Line Rd, Chalfont, PA
Sat. 10-5 and Sun. 10-4:30
$5 admission with a coupon on their website
www.byerschoicecraftshow.com

Last night was our big final Jr. Hi.track meet.
There were  21 teams. 
Warwick Boys took 4th and the Girls 5th.
I was pleased with that.
Now I can concentrate on painting, after the
wrap up coaches dinner and a banquet!

Still Life #15

4"x 6" original watercolor
$200.00 Contact the Studio

There is something about parts of things
that interest me.  I have said this several times
before but it intrigues me.  I know your eye
will finish the still life.  Love the Shaker crocks. 
These were tall ones setting on the floor.

I managed to mow the lawn, visit my Mom
and have my final track practice plus paint!
Tomorrow is the coaches invitational with lots
of teams we did not run against.  Should be fun!!

Upstate New York

24"x 18" Original watercolor
"Upstate New York"  $1600.    SOLD!!

I had this on my work board for way to long
and I was determined to get it finished so I
can move on.  I finished most of it at the show
on Sunday and a bit yesterday and final touches
today. It is all about the sky, the day was actually
overcast but I wanted it to be dramatic.  I found
this old church while driving around the
New Paltz, NY area.  I am very happy with the
way this painting turned out.
Open to title suggestions...

Wet track meet today with Reynolds (Lancaster).
My kids first experience on a cinder track...
made no difference, boys and girls won!
Thursday is the League meet and then its all
over.

2012 Still Life #14

4"x 6" original watercolor
SOLD
I am in a shaker still life mood.

Track practice in the drizzle today. 
This is our last week.

Make plans to see me at the Byers Choice Craft
Show in Chalfont, PA this weekend. 
It is a new show with really good exhibitors.
I have some free passes if you email me I will
send them to you.

Friday check in

My show this weekend is on Sunday, May 6
Held on Sycamore Street in Newtown, PA
My space is #36 between Bill Marsh Ford
and Jefferson St.
11am to 4pm ~ rain or shine!

Track update:
We had two meets this week.
Tuesday was Garden Spot ~ Both boys and girls won!
Thursday was Wheatland ~ Both boys and girls won!
Our boys are undefeated and Girls lost one.
We have one more meet and then the final Coaches
Invitational.  The season flew by.

Also I am pleased to report I managed my bachelorhood
with no issues and Linda came home last night.
Happy to have her back... really happy!

No Fish Today

Chat in progress... No Fish Today.
This is about inspiration.

I think there are building blocks to my inspiration.
First my wife makes sure we take time to
sight see.  Everywhere, all subjects and often.
I take photos for reference everywhere we go, even
if it is just a drive in the country.  I have shoe boxes
of photos and lots more on the computer.  We talk
constantly in our house about what we are seeing. 
For instance, while we are outside Linda will look up
and comment on the shape of clouds and the color of the sky. 
While driving we often  "look" at all the shades of green
in our landscape.  So we make a point to be open to the
inspiration and have a running dialog about it.

Linda often cuts my watercolor paper in the sizes I usually
work in and we will spend a few hours picking out my
next few paintings.  So the are ready for me.  I can walk past
the photo taped to my board and study it, think about it.
Let it get into my head. There is rarely a time my next one
is not setting here ready for me to start.  So I have no dry
times.  I do not wait till one is done to think about what is
next, next is always ready.  I may even have several started
at one time.   I move around in subjects, that keeps me
inspired. 

Another part of the building block is my miniature
Painting A Day.  This has forced me to paint daily and study
subjects and practice and work on pieces that I enjoy not for
their saleability but because I want to.  They may never
turn into large paintings but it helps with my creative
spirit.

Yes, occasionally I wake up and am uninspired,  but
a quick bike ride, a good breakfast and good old fashion
discipline makes me sit at my desk and simply start.
Within a short time I am wrapped up in my painting,

Sunrise

4"x 6" miniature watercolor
SOLD!
I enjoy scenes over the water where you can
trace the line of the sun from the horizon to
the beachline.