It was so nice to be accepted into the annual SmallArt Show hosted by the Paseo Arts Association in December. My piece “Under the Sun” showed alongside some favorite local artists at the show opening at the PAA on December 1st. It is always a thrill to be a part of #FirstFridayPaseo…so being in two different Paseo spaces on one gorgeous night out was just amazing!
Putting together a solo art show exhilarates like no other experience. It offers a blank space all your own, a room to deck the halls with your own creations.
December was all mine, a chance to open my studio doors to the world on First Friday in The Paseo. As a resident artist at In Your Eye, it’s a dream to fill the back room of our gallery once a year. This year, like last, I opted to go solo without a guest artist. “These New Horizons” was my chance to share 2017’s heart and soul with the greater world: water, paint, symbols, words, marks, color (!!!), shape, all conspiring to tell a shared story.
I filled the walls with custom-framed work and the shelves in the nook with table top framed originals, baskets of unframed originals, and a handful of custom-framed canvases, too. Those and the cardboard pieces were big hits! It was a full room of consistent work across months, many layers of emotions and thought, and seeing it all together made me tear up with a mixture of pride, joy, and relief. (Anyone who has worked on a production or a show or a collaboration knows what I mean!)
As always, my friends and family, clients and cohorts filled the gallery for a private sneak peak (and some cheese and wine) the night before the 12/1 opening, honoring me with their hugs, love, and purchases. Seeing those beloved orange dots fill the wall will never stop wowing me. And I will never get over the awe of sharing these small pieces of my heart with the greater world that inspires me oh so much. Between that and the First Friday opening, my heart is full.
Enjoy some photos from the show. In 2018, I endeavor to be better about taking more pics slash hiring a photographer to capture the opening with people a-buzzing!
My first Pop Up go-round at West Elm was such a pleasure that I jumped at the opportunity to get back there for round two. Seriously, everyone on that team has been so lovely to work with. And it goes without saying that the space itself never ceases to impress and inspire. It provides the perfect fit and backdrop to my evocative abstracts! (I miss you, Bill and Shevaun! Nice to meet you, Macy.)
So I capped off September there with a whole new batch of tabletop originals: more #watercolorandink, more color, more hidden words, symbols, and special gems hidden, too. I brought some of my unframed originals and custom-framed pieces, too. Just like last time, friends and family and clients stopped by to say hi and grab a piece or two. The whole afternoon, noon to 4 pm, turned into a fun salon-type atmosphere, almost like a bubbling open house. It was sublime!
Special appearance by my parents who (very unusually) were unable to join for July’s first Pop Up. And shout out to sweet T who has now followed me from The Paseo to West Elm and purchased pieces of mine at three different shows. Where would I (or any artist) be without our supporters, buyers and clients?! I will never stop being grateful for the feedback and love from so many.
Big thanks again to all for making my second Pop Up so memorable! Like always, I am already looking forward to the next…
