Art Across NC!

I've been busy spreading my artwork across North Carolina...

Four pieces are showing at Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery in Blowing Rock, NC:

I also now have four works at Little Art Gallery of Cameron Village in Raleigh, NC:

My painting, "Just Before Sunset," was accepted into a juried show with the Yadkin Arts Center in Yadkinville, NC. The show opens on July 13th with a reception at the Welborn Gallery and runs through September 17th.

"Just Before Sunset"
Yadkin Arts Center

The Apex Arts Council has a patriotic art show and silent auction at the Salem Street Promenade in Downtown Apex.  My painting, "Captain Bill's, Morehead City" will be on display now through July 9th.

"Captain Bill's, Morehead City"
Apex, NC

I've been busy with events and shows, but am excited to get back to work painting some new work and finishing up some commissions!

Stay tuned, and thank you for reading!
Bethany

A Call for Wine and Animal Lovers!

Just over a week until I have a booth at the Artists for Animals Faire at Cloer Vineyards in Apex: 

It will be a great event benefiting local animal groups.  See the Apex Arts Council website and this WRAL article for more information!

I'm busy getting ready for the show, working on a few commissions, and enjoying some beautiful Spring weather!

Let me know if you plan to attend this event on my Facebook event page.  I'll have some special pricing on my pet portrait commissions, some new cards and prints, and new work to show off!  If the weather cooperates, I will be painting en plein aire during the event!

Auction Preview Tonight at the NC Museum of Art!

Tonight is the Auction Preview at the NC Museum of Art!  It is a FREE event with live music and food (cash bar).  It runs from 5:30pm until around 8:30pm.  Come by and see the oil pastel painting that I donated for the 2012 Art of the Auction.   

Just off 64 from Jordan

All of the artists have donated their work, and proceeds from Art of the Auction benefit Museum exhibitions and education programs.  Today I was at the NCMA for their art program for preschool children, and I headed downstairs to see if all of the pieces were up.  I took a moment to snap a photo of my piece hanging in Section 2...

I was only there for a minute (try having a 2 year old in tow at an art museum), but the few pieces I saw were fantastic!   

I am going to be there tonight from 6-8:30pm, so I hope you'll stop by and see me!  It should be a beautiful evening to take a stroll around the museum grounds, too.  And if you haven't been to the museum in a while, be sure to head over to see main collection in the new West Wing.

See my Facebook event invite for more details or for the Museum website for directions/parking or more about the museum.

Hope to see you there!

NC Museum of Art Auction Showcase

The NC Museum of Art has all of the pieces up on their website for the 2012 Art of the Auction.  See the Auction Showcase here.

Look for my piece (shown below) on the website:

Just off 64 from Jordan

I am so honored to be among many talented artists accepted.  There are about 160 pieces in the auction.   Read more about the event on the NCMA website.

Very nice to have my piece on the second row...  guess it pays to have "B" as a last name!

I hope you can make it to the Auction Preview coming up on March 30th.  Many of the artists will be attending, and I hear it is a large event for the Museum. See the Facebook event invite I created for more information and to let me know if you'll be attending!

Accepted!! NC Museum of Art Auction

So excited to announce that one of my paintings has been juried into the NC Museum of Art's Art of the Auction!!!   It was a total whim to submit one of my paintings, but I thought "why not!?"

"East on 64 from Jordan"

I got the email today and was prepared for the line, "Thank you for your submission, HOWEVER..."   I was happy to find the following:

Dear Bethany,

Thank you for submitting your work for the North Carolina Museum of Art’s Art of the Auction. The jury panel was pleased to receive such high quality works from so many artists.

After careful consideration of all works submitted, we are happy to inform you that your work was selected by the jury for inclusion in the Auction. We know that it takes serious commitment and talent to create thoughtful works of art, and we again offer our thanks to you—both for your creativity and for your generosity in making this donation.

I will definitely be attending the Auction Preview on March 30th.  It is free and is a part of the NCMA's Art in the Evening Friday night series of events. There will be live music, food, and beverages during the preview of items available at the Auction, which is held on April 14th, 2012.  I hope you can make it!!

Just off the Easel: Blue Ridge Cows...and Sprinklers

Finished this oil pastel after it sat on the shelf since September!  

Blue Ridge Cows
11 x 14 oil pastel on Pastelbord
Available in my Shop

It was one of the pieces that I started during an outdoor art show that ended disastrously... I'm just now getting over the trauma and am willing to talk about it!  

Imagine a day long art show where you have a booth that you have meticulously prepared and created framed art for weeks. All day you have dodged rain showers and thankfully, it didn't rain.  Now it's 5pm, and you are tired and ready to break down.  

midday during the art show...
didn't know what was to come!

Others started packing up 30 minutes ago, but out of respect to everyone you hold out until the end of the day.   Then right at 5... BAM the industrial sprinklers come on (one is placed right in front of your booth) and SOAKS all of your precious art that you have framed and matted.

For what seems like an eternity the sprinklers poured water on my paintings.  I really thought a water main had broken because there was so much water erupting from the ground.  Finally someone figured out how to turn the water off.

And I hadn't sold anything all day. Did I mention that it was also my BIRTHDAY??  Yes, I cried.  And then I cleaned up, went to my birthday party, and drank beer.

So, yes, this painting has sat on the shelf for months because working on it reminded me of that art show.  But I was stuck the other day working on a pet portrait and had to take a break. I decided it was time to move on and finish the cows!

Did I mention yet that I have decided to have a booth at the Artists for Animals Faire on April 21st?  I know, I must be crazy!  Fingers crossed for no rain and NO SPRINKLERS!

Just off the Easel: Snowy Lane

I just finished this for the Apex Arts Council's Winter Holidays Art Show:

Snowy Lane
16" x 20" acrylic on canvas

I took photos along the way so you can see the progress of this painting from start to finish:

underpainting

lay down color & refine shapes

more detail and shadows

finished! added branches,
more highlights and adjusted colors

Snowy Lane will be on display and available for purchase via silent auction in the Salem Street Promenade/Common Grounds Coffeehouse Dec. 1-12.  Auction bid starts at $150.  I also have another piece in oil pastel, Blue Ridge Winter, in this show.  Come by and see some great local art in Downtown Apex!

Remember that I have four paintings on display at the Visual Art Exchange starting December 2 (see posts here).  The opening for these shows is during First Friday, tomorrow night, December 2nd from 6-9pm!  

Locally Grown / Sale for the Season

Two of my works have been accepted into a juried art exhibition, Locally Grown, at the Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh.   

And two others will be a part of the annual Sale for the Season, also at the Visual Art Exchange.

Locally Grown   December 2-23, 2011:  Locally Grown will feature 2D and 3D artwork that represents local places, food, and events.

Sale for the Season   December 2-23, 2011:  Sale for the Season is the best opportunity for VAE members to make their art available for purchase this holiday season and for shoppers to get original, thoughtful gifts!

There is an opening reception for both shows on Friday, December 2, 2011, 6-9 pm.   

I hope to see some familiar faces at the reception!

I'm busy preparing for a few more shows and painting holiday commissions!  Happy Thanksgiving! 


Bethany