I got home from LA at the end of last week then packed the car over the weekend and headed to Atlanta! I have been looking forward to this trip for quite some time! I'm here to see the Georgia Watercolor Society's Annual National Exhibition. I'm honored to have been selected into the show by an artists whose work I have been a fan of for quite some time, Iain Stewart. Since he juried the show, he is also teaching a 5 day workshop which I am also taking. Since I have been doing more plein air painting, I hope to gain a lot of takeaways that will improve that endeavor! At the reception on Wednesday night I will be accepting signature status in the Georgia Watercolor Society since I have been juried in to this show three years in a row. I'm so honored! This has been an incredible painting journey for me and then to top it off, I found out Sunday night when I arrived Iain had given my painting in the show, Mayan Gate, an Honorable Mention Award!!! The week just can't get any better!!! Well maybe it can, I get to paint with Iain again tomorrow!
Greetings From Los Angeles
The Rose Garden on the University of Southern California Campus
If you subscribe to my monthly newsletter you man know I was headed out to LA last week. (If you would like to, you can by clicking here.) I used to live here when I worked for Walt Disney Imagineering in California and moved to Florida about fifteen years ago. Wow, has time flown! It's been great visiting places I used to go often and seeing old friends and meeting new friends, more on that in a future post!
Every trip I take, if I can help it, involves art! I always check out what shows and exhibitions are at the museums in the area. I am a museum junkie! I also like to make time for sketching or painting. This trip has been no exception. I started off my week at the Gene Autry Museum or as it is referred to now as the Museum of the American West, to see a current exhibition, Floral Journey: Native North American Beadwork. I am a descendent from the Miami Nation and was pleasantly surprised to see a vest by Katrina Mitten also from the Miami Nation. The Miamis are not as well-known as other Native American Nations so it was nice to see them represented.
The Museum of the American West at the Autry National Center
At the Pasadena Museum of California Art there is a wonderful exhibition on painter Armin Hansen. I was not that familiar with his work prior to seeing the show and now I am big a fan! His color sense and brushwork are incredible. More on this show in a future post.
The Fisher Museum of Art on the USC Campus
As luck would have it the California Art Club Gold Medal Show opened last Sunday at the Fishers Museum of Art on the USC campus. What an amazing show. If you are in the area I would highly recommend seeing it.
Painting in Crystal Cove, Laguna, California
From the Hill Overlooking the Japanese Garden
Monday, I spent the afternoon plein air painting in the lovely Japanese Garden at the Huntington Gardens and Library. I adore this place and used to go often when I lived here.
I'm winding up my trip and have a few more art happenings planned before I go home. Stay tuned. I will expand on a few things in more detailed posts in the next few weeks.
New Work... Secret Hiding Place
After Painting, my last mushroom painting, Finders Keeper, I decided to so a series. I'm not sure what kind of mushrooms these are or even if they are edible. I wanted to create a sense of mystery in the background and really liked the diagonal line of the moss where the mushrooms are growing. They look they are hanging on for dear life.
These small paintings I like to mount on an archival board and seal them with acrylic UV sealer, therefore they don't need to be framed with a mat behind glass. They look lovely in gold plain air frame. I will post them framed in the future when I have better photos.
This painting will be in the April Exhibition at the 127 SoBo gallery, "Birds, Bees, Flowers & Trees."
New Work... Finders Keeper
Finders Keeper
$35.00
Price Includes Shipping
Limited Edition Archival Giclée Print Signed and Numbered, Edition of 300
Original painting is SOLD.
Image Size: 6” x 6,” (15 cm x 15 cm)
Quantity:
All through my childhood every spring I would forage for mushrooms with my mother and grandfather. Even though we were hunting for Morels, I have had a fascination with all kinds of mushrooms. I always loved eating the morels, but ironically I absolutely detested button mushrooms! Now, my taste has changed and I love to eat mushrooms of all kinds, except of course the poisonous ones and those that make your mind...well you know what I mean!
This painting will be available at the March Exhibition, "Going Deeper," at the 127 SoBo Gallery in Winter Garden, Florida.
More Good News!
Bourbon Street Encounter
$318.00
Price Includes Shipping
Limited Edition Archival Giclée Print Signed and Numbered, Edition of 300
Original painting is SOLD.
Image Size: 17" x 29," (43 cm x 73 cm)
Shipped flat with backing board
Quantity:
I am thrilled to be accepted into the 45th Annual International Exhibition of the Louisiana Watercolor Society. While I attended last years exhibition, I wondered around the French Quarter and was really inspired by the architecture and metal work, which was the inspiration for this painting. I'm so happy that is going to the place where it was inspired, New Orleans! Thank you to juror Chris Krupinski for including my work in this prestigious show. If you are in the area the show will be at the New Orleans Academy of Fine At, 5256 Magazine Street, April 18 - May 8. Then the exhibition will move to Place St. Charles May 9 - 23.
The Red Head for a Paint Around
Red Head, 18" x 22", Watercolor
Tomorrow night is the Winter Garden Art Association's First "Splash" 2015 Gala at the 127 SoBo Gallery! I am participating in a Paint Around, with three other watercolor artists. The way it works is everyone designs a painting or uses a painting they have painted before. We have an hour to do all four paintings, the kicker is we all paint on each others. We start with our own, then after fifteen minutes the paintings are passed around counter-clockwise. I have 10 minutes, to work on the one to my left, then after 10 minutes, they get passed again and so on. The last 15 minutes of the hour, I get mine back to finish it. While we are doing this, guests will be arriving, milling around and drinking martinis and wine. Which maybe I should have before I start!
When they are finished we will all sign each one, back mat, and protect it. Throughout the evening volunteers will be selling raffle tickets to win a chance to take home the four paintings. All proceeds will go to the Winter Garden Art Association.
I have volunteered to help at an event like this at the Florida Watercolor Society Convention, but have never participated in one. It should be very interesting and a hoot to do. I'm looking forward to it!
I'm doing a rooster, because I love the bold color and Winter Garden in its hey day was a very rural area, with a produce and citrus industry. So wish me luck, or break a leg!
Good News!
It has been a great week for good news! Lion Dance has been accepted into the Southern Watercolor Society's Annual Exhibition which will be at the Customs House Museum in Clarksville, TN. May 8-July 5. Thank you to juror Kathleen Conover for adding this piece to the show!
Mayan Gate
$1,500.00
Watercolor, Framed
14.5” x 21.5,” (37 cm x 54.5 cm)
Framed Size 21.5" x 28.5," price includes frame
Selected for the Louisiana Watercolor Society 44th International Juried Exhibition 2014
Selected for theFlorida Watercolor Society's On Line Exhibition, 2014
Selected for Pennsylvania Watercolor Society's 34th Annual Juried International Competition, 2013
Selected for the Annual Central Florida Watercolor Society Exhibition 2013 at the Terrace Gallery, City Hall, Orlando Florida
This painting was inspired by the wonderful Mayan Revival Architecture at the Maitland Art Center, Maitland Florida, designed by J. Andre Smith.
Also got word this week that Mayan Gate was accepted by juror Iain Stewart, for the 2015 Georgia Watercolor Society National Exhibition. This will be my third year (in a row) in a GWS National Exhibition, which means I will be a Signature Member. Woo Hoo! Show will be at the Ogelthorpe University Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA, March 14-April 26. I'm very honored to be in the show, and to be a Signature Member with GWS!
On an artists note, I just wanted to mention once again, if you enter competitions or have an interest to, keep trying! Lion Dance was passed over a few times, to finally land a spot in a show. It's never a good idea to try to second guess the taste or preference of the judge because you just never know. It is a good idea to submit the best work that you have in your inventory at the time. Make sure you read the prospectus carefully for size restrictions, and other criteria for EACH show. They vary from show to show. Keep those brushes wet and good luck!
New Work... A Splash of Red
www.kimminichiello.com
Splash of Red
$500.00
Watercolor
Mounted on Archival Board with 2" Wood Edge
12" x 12" x 2," (30.5 cm x 30.5 cm x 5cm)
Accepted into the Women Painters of the Southeast 5th Annual Juried Exhibition 2016, The Art Depot, Abingdon, VA
Inspired by the light and cast shadows on a bromeliad.
Sometime you are at the right place at the right time. That's how I felt when I came across some bromeliads while visiting a local garden show. The light was hitting them creating some really interesting shadow patterns. That, plus their beautiful color and just the design of these beautiful plants is what drew me to paint them. I have a collection of bromeliads in my home garden here in Florida. This may be the start of a continuing series. However the light has to be just right!
Day 3 of the Three Paintings in Five Days Facebook Challenge
Pak Tai Guardian
$3,500.00
Watercolor, Framed
30” x 22.,5” (76 cm x 57 cm)
Framed Size 42.5" x 35," price includes frame
Selected for the 41st Annual Florida Watercolor Society Exhibition 2012 at the Mennello Museum of American Art .
Selected for the 2nd Annual Women Painters of the Southeast Exhibition, 2013, at the Imagine Gallery of Fine Art, Franklin Tennessee.
This painting was inspired by an intriguing statue I saw on my many visits to the Pak Tai Temple in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island.
Pak Tai Guardian Lion
$3,500.00
Watercolor, Framed
30” x 22.5,” (76 cm x 57 cm)
Framed Size 42.75" x 34.75"
This is the second painting in a series of temple pieces inspired by a Chinese Lion statue I saw on my many visits to the Pak Tai Temple in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island.
DAY 3 of three paintings in five days Facebook challenge... When I lived in Hong Kong one of my favorite things to do was visit and sketch at the myriad of temples. The two dragon paintings evolved from sketches I did at the Pak Tai Temple in the Wan Chai district. One was my first try, and acceptance into a major exhibition, The Florida Watercolor Society. Thanks to juror, Nicholas Simmons for choosing it!
Since we moved to Hong Kong during Chinese New Year, I wanted to commemorate that time with "Lion Dance". It’s my largest painting 36” sq. and I wanted to capture the excitement of the acrobatic dance with a colorful, “in your face,” statement!
Good News for the New Year
Star Struck
$500.00
Watercolor
Mounted on Archival Board with 2" Wood Edge
12" x 12" x 2," (30.5 cm x 30.5 cm x 5cm)
Accepted into the 2015 Women Painters of the Southeast Annual Exhibition at the Blue Ridge Arts Association, Blue Ridge, Georgia
Inspired by the light and cast shadows on a bromeliad.
Quantity:
Happy New Year! The year has gotten off to a great start! I received word that Star Struck has been accepted to the 4th Annual Juried Exhibition of The Women Painters of the Southeast. So honored to be in the show with so many fabulous artists who do representational work in a variety of media. This year the show will be at the Blue Ridge Arts Association, 420 West Main Street, Blue Ridge, Georgia. Dates are April 3-May 1. This is the third year in a row I have been in this show!
I'm teaching my "Bold & Dynamic Watercolor Workshop" at the 127 SoBo Gallery/Winter Garden Art Association. Sat. & Sun. Feb. 7 & 8. This 2 day workshop is packed with information on planning, designing, and composing a painting, all the nuances of painting in watercolor; papers, brushes, pigments, and lot's of helpful tips. The painting we will be painting, is Star Struck! For more information and to register click here.
Lately I have broken away from my monogamous painting practice and am working on several paintings at once. I've got a few plein air starts I want to continue to develop, one new larger work, and a 12" x 12" painting. Will share with you all when they are completed.
In the mean time, I hope everyone's year is also off to a great start. If you set resolutions or goals, I hope you have had a chance to contemplate what you would like to accomplish this year. Last year I set a few goals and didn't write them down. Some I accomplished and some I didn't. This year I've written them down and hope to integrate them in my calendar for the year by keeping them in my face!
I would also like to thank all my family, friends, and followers of my blog, for all your support! Your kind words and comments are greatly appreciated and mean a lot!