The Gallery recently moved into a new space

Many thanks to the Art Gallery of Viera for inviting me to judge this years annual juried exhibit. Yesterday morning I hit the highway around 8:30 am out of Orlando and headed South on 95 down the coast of FL about an hour until I arrived in Viera. It was really nice to see Susan, Helen, and Jerry again. 

Art Gallery of Viera hosted a Paper Paintings workshop about two years ago, it was a very well attended class and we had an excellent weekend. Ironically, Amanda from that class popped up in my Houston class again this year! You just never know...

The new gallery space is stunning, as is the plaza in which they are located

Jerry told me that this year they turned away 35 pieces and kept 48, much higher numbers than they had in last year's show, and the quality of the work represented this. 

I took my time looking at every piece individually and making notes on my favorites in no particular order. I revisited my favorites and intently considered what it was that I liked about each and every one of them, it's a very difficult decision to narrow things down.

some examples of the work in the show

As a juror and a viewer, it is impossible to disregard the personal experience and preference that you bring with you to a piece of art. I am someone who appreciates unique technique and bright colors, as a result, work of this genre is most interesting and appealing to me. I was drawn to the liberal use of color in some of the landscapes as well as the creativity of technique in some of the photos and mixed media pieces. Making art is much about honoring creativity, conceptual thinking, and technique; some of the most creative pieces in this show were the ones that pushed their medium and execution way outside of the typical “box.” 

Check out The Gallery online if you are in the area and are interested in showing your work or taking a class, this is a great group of people. 

I know who won, but I can't say anything! Winners will be announced on Sunday, stay tuned and in the mean time, visit the Gallery on Facebook.

After a nice lunch with Susan, I hit the road another hour South to visit Cherie in Vero Beach. Only to witness her in a STANDING FRAME upright and vertical. She's doing amazingly well and in her new room (she moved to a bigger house!) are framed Art Cards from her days in the spinal cord rehab center. For all of you who sent notes and cards, she still talks about how much it meant to her.

Cherie and I posing for the camera, pulled out all the family jewels this morning!

Learn more about Cherie's Story Here

Thank You
for being a part of my
Art Journey

A Day of Reflection on Alcatraz Island

An inmate cell at Alcatraz prison featuring paintings, art supplies, a bed and a toilet. Proof that tight quarters are no match for an artistic spirit. ©DouglasNelsonPhotography

Today I spent a good part of the day on Alcatraz Island visiting this historic prison site and National Park. Alcatraz was probably the most famous federal prison in US history, it housed some of America's most notorious offenders from 1934 to 1963. Alcatraz offered a virtually escape-proof environment on a rocky island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. 

Inmates of Alcatraz had access to a library of 15,00 books and 75 popular magazine subscriptions. They could do artwork, write letters, and play stringed instruments in their cells. There was even an inmate band. There were several talented artists, including James Widner and John Paul Chase. 

Alcatraz Island as seen from Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco Bay ©DouglasNelsonPhotography

As I walked around the cell block, I noticed some amazing photographic opportunities as well as some very artistic architectural touches. This made me think that current styles in art and design have always had an influence on every day life. My Art History professor Michael Sickler at Syracuse University would be proud. :)

A very nice art deco style spiral staircase served as a way for the officers to access three floors of cell blocks inside the cell house ©DouglasNelsonPhotography

This simple but beautiful spiral staircase was how officers and staff accessed the three floors of prison cells within the Alcatraz cell house. The black color of the stairs offerers a total contrast to everything else in the building which was painted white, cream or neutral. 

Something that lent the cell house to some wonderful photographic images was the presence of natural light. ©DouglasNelsonPhotography

The cell house offered an amazing amount of natural light. The windows in the ceiling allowed daylight to flow into the building and illuminate it completely without lamp lighting at all today. Doug's photos came out amazing and he said that the lighting was just perfect. How important is natural light to us as painters? When I used to paint in the solitary confinement of my garage, I never really knew what I was missing. Now that I have an art studio with plentiful natural light (especially northern light) I truly appreciate the difference it makes. 

Light filters into the prisoner dining area and illuminates the floor. ©DouglasNelsonPhotography 

The dining hall was a very cool wide open space in comparison to the individual prison cells. Alcatraz was knows as a "maximum security, minimum privilege" prison. Food and medical care, however, were not considered privileges. They were necessities provided to all inmates. The food was prepared by inmate workers, under the supervision of correctional officers trained in food service management. I'd say that natural light was also a privilege for these inmates.

Yours Truly standing in a solitary confinement cell, demonstrating just how small each prisoner's space actually was. This cell had an additional door that closed over the front, making it completely black and devoid of light.  ©DouglasNelsonPhotography 

Even the solitary confinement cell was larger than the studio space I had in my garage when I first started painting. I was so excited to have my own space, with AC and a door that closed my mess off from the rest of the house, that size and lack of natural light didn't matter. I produced a LOT of work in the garage studio. 

An artistic photographic impression of me considering what it must have been like to be confined to such a small space for so long. ©DouglasNelsonPhotography 

I can't imagine living and working in such small quarters, even though I can collage on my seat back tray table in flight. I do know a local Orlando artist who rents a storage locker to paint in, no kidding. She has no AC, no heat, no running water there BUT she does have an overhead door, that lets in a LOT of natural light. Fern Matthews creates amazing and beautiful artwork in her storage space because she is passionate, and her desire to create art over rules any limitation her physical surroundings offer. 

The fire inside us as an artists cannot be put out by physical surroundings or limitations. Many artists I know don't even have a studio space they can call their own. Many mornings my brain races with thoughts, ideas, and visuals that cannot be contained, I'm up and out of bed by 4:30 or 5:00am in order to execute new ideas. Even the soft, comfortable, warm bed cannot envelope my creativity. 

What do you have to be artistically thankful for?

For more amazing photos of Alcatraz, visit Doug Nelson Photography's Facebook Page

Holiday Gift Ideas

Lang is offering gift items, including 2012 calendars, on their website and in stores near you featuring Paper Pantings. Click Here to learn more 

Looking for the perfect gift for the budding artist in your life? Why not try my Collage Process Overview DVD. I take you through the process of collage from sketch to completion with a portfolio of images at the end. Click Here to learn more.

A good companion to the DVD is the Collage Process Overview Book. Professionally designed with amazing full color photos, this book leads you through techniques for painting your own papers and applying them to wood panel. Click Here to learn more  Click Here for info on a PDF Download

Details is a new coffee table book for gift giving, it's oversized at 12x12 will full page photos of detailed sections of my bird collage work. This book is on premium photo paper and is available along with a selection of other books from my Lulu store. Click Here to learn more

iPhone Cases make great gifts and the good news is that the 4 case also fits the new 4S!
Click Here to learn  more

Note Cards are available in two new sets, Dogs and Birds. Each set is two each of five designs and comes in a clear plastic box with silver ribbon. Click Here for Dogs.   Click Here for Birds

Giclée prints are available on almost all of my work. Email me for information on your favorite image as a paper or gallery wrapped canvas print.

Flashbags are neat totes that sport my artwork from cows to birds to dancing feet! They are a woman owned company in Burlington, VT and all bags are made there, by hand. Click Here to learn more

New Book, Now Available for the Holidays!

This 12x12 case-wrap hardcover book is printed on premium paper in full color. The book showcases LARGE full page color detailed areas of my birds collages. Book One is Birds, and I just may do a Book Two on Cows!

Now through November 30th you can use coupon code: Thanks355 and save 15%

Click here for more info

Poetry by McCrae T. Harrison

Birch Keys #2, 24x24, collage on panel, 

Grand Bohemian Gallery, Asheville NC

©St.Hilaire Nelson

Chopin
i have listened to chopin
19th century musical genius
on a rainy new england afternoon
i just came from the river
my skin is red and burning for warmth
i have listented to chopin
as i draw treble clefs on the condensation
watch the heavier bits begin to tumble
roll down the face of the bus window
growing and growing
until they reach the sill
i have listened to chopin
and i wonder that life must be the same way
we begin from a bit of sheet music
some divine symphony
traced into condensation
on the windows of time and existence
i have listened to chopin.

I just love this poem. Ironically, McCrae is another New Englander (from CT) who has been transplanted to the South, she now lives in Alabama and is a Vessel Inspector with the US Coast Guard. I met McCrae through Israel J. Parker, author of The Anne Marie. You can read more of her poetry on Israel's blog.

McCrae T. Harrison, poet

Guest Blogger: Israel Parker

Cover art for The Anne Marie, collage on panel, ©St.Hilaire Nelson

Friends of Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson,

I know that you are all familiar with Elizabeth's work. She is a super talented and I am proud to call her my friend. Some of you are aware that she has recently constructed the cover of a book for a young up and coming writer. It just so happens -that I am that writer. New writers have it tough, just as any new artist does. With that said I feel an obligation to explain the details that led to the construction of my book "The Anne Marie" and why you should own a copy.

Well, the truth is, I have been a closet writer for the past nine years. Only those who are really close to me have known this. I hid this fact, and in the quiet solitude of each night I wrote my little stories.
Last year I awoke in the middle of the night with one of my old stories rolling around in my head. So I went to my computer and found this old short story about a dog and the sinking of a fishing boat.
I had written this story shortly after a Search and Rescue case I had been on when I used to be a Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer in New Orleans. Without going into intimate detail of the event -We responded to a boat in distress and I was deployed to the boat, and there were a couple of moments where I thought that I might lose my life. I survived that night -but several mariners did not.
After that night I did what any other writer would do after an event like that. I wrote a fictional short story- I guess this was part of my coping process.

A year ago and that night I stared down this story in the middle of the darkness. I re-read the story - it was raw, but powerful. That night I saw beyond that short story in my mind and wondered what happened to the dog in the story? So again I began to write.

While I wrote beyond the short story, the tide of both that fateful night on the water and my time flying into the devastating storm Katrina and its aftermath waded over me in a blanket of devilish familiarity. As I typed onto my computer that feeling of life and loss, the kind that is brought by catastrophic life changing events, breathed its essence on my pages. When I was done I had built a story of depth and inspiration, to which I named, “The Anne Marie."

If you do decide to pick up "The Anne Marie", prepare yourselves for a ride you will not forget and a story with more heart than you can possibly imagine.

On May 20, 2011 - I will release the first chapter of my book on my website (in conjunction with a reading I will do at Auburn Junior School in Auburn, Alabama)


I encourage you to please Pre-Order a signed copy of “The Anne Marie" Today

Israel J. Parker, Author of The Anne Marie

Winter Park Autumn Art Festival Poster Artist

Bird of a Different Feather, 20x24 collage on panel, ©St.Hilaire Nelson

It's Official! I have been chosen as the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival Poster Artist!

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am! This is a wonderful festival on Park Avenue in Winter Park, FL.

The 38th Annual Festival will be held Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9 in Central Park along beautiful Park Avenue. The festival is open from 9am to 5pm on both days and admission is free. Newly renovated Central Park is located at 111 N. Park Avenue and offers a spacious venue for artists, food vendors and entertainment.

The Winter Park Autumn Art Festival is the only juried festival to feature Florida artists exclusively. Art Categories include: Painting (all media), Ceramics, Fine Crafts, Drawing and Graphics, Fibers, Sculpture, Jewelry and Photography.

Official Winter Park Autumn Art Festival Posters, t-shirts, tote bags and note cards featuring my collage "Bird of a Different Feather" will be available at three merchandise booths during festival hours!

I am super proud to be the official artist for this festival.

Not So Black Lab Commission

the sketch on wood panel

The CEO of Full Sail University here in Orlando was taken with my art when "Poised Peacock" appeared on the cover of Winter Park Magazine (that's my cover art you see on their home page) this year. His assistant contacted me about "Over The Moon" but it was already sold.

About a month ago the CEO's wife contacted me about doing a portrait of her husband's dog Mario as a birthday gift. I asked for some good photos but could not get any that really portrayed Mario's facial features. We arranged for me to meet Mario in person and my husband Doug Nelson took reference photos for me to work from. We worked hard to get Mario to sit still!

Doug's photo of Mario

Doug got several good shots and I decided to use this 3/4 view but to turn his eyes to be more facing and engaging the viewer. I loved the way his red collar looked against his dark fur and so I decided to make the background red as well and to frame the final piece in black reclaimed barn wood.

One thing my friend and fellow artist Kim Santini has taught me is how to portray black dogs in blue so that they have more character and more color. After all, her blog is "A Dog A Day" so if anyone knows about not so black labs, it's her. Kim was so generous, even sharing the suggestion of prussian blue and other colors on her palette with me. 

Mario in the under-painting stage

The client was thrilled with this under-painting photo which I sent for approval. Once I get a thumbs up at this phase I dive right into collage. I try to stick to the guides of color and shading I have established in my under-painting with the papers. Luckily I had a lot of blue/purple/gray hand painted papers on hand.

Mario completed 

I pumped up the red in the finished piece and gave it some texture by mark making with Derwent InkTense pencils. When I delivered the work to the client she said that it looked just like Mario and that her husband just loved that dog and she was sure he would love this portrait. 

I'm always happy to have a happy client and a happy ending. Mario the not so black lab was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed working in alternate colors to black and trying to highlight the blue/purple tones.

Creative Catalyst Productions

Featured Artist Interview
Creative Catalyst Productions, producers of art instructional DVDs, have asked me to be featured on their blog on March 9. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have been chosen to be highlighted on this amazingly professional blog/website! I have purchased their Carrie Burns Brown workshop as a streaming video on their sister site artworkshops.tv and really enjoyed the INSTANT gratification streaming video offers. The video was top quality with multiple camera angles and call-out lists of useful information.

In addition to offering video workshops online and on DVD media, CCP also offers a paid listing service on their site for artists teaching workshops around the country, you can look at their schedule here

I have been interviewed by Kelly Powers. Kelly works with artists to develop their DVDs, directs video shoots, and edits, a duty she shares with her husband Zach. CCP is a family business, she also works with her parents Lynn and Jim Powers.

After Kelly interviewed me, I asked her what she thought about being featured on MY very professional blog :) Kelly was totally open to the idea of being interviewed about working in the art industry and even sharing some of her own work here on Paper Paintings.

Look for my two part Kelly Powers interview on March 9th!

For The Birds

Exotic Bird Head Series for reproduction by Pier One Imports

These Paper Paintings were created for reproduction by Pier One Imports. I experimented with some splattered, scratched, painted backgrounds that would allow the collage technique to be as much the focus as the subject matter. I have been using dripping, white gesso mixed with fluid acrylic, and Derwent InkTense pencils on these backgrounds.

If you are interested in owning a signed original from the Exotic Bird Series (which may be available in giclée reproduction nationwide) on 10x12 wood panel, unframed, for $250 email me and I'll ship yours out today!

Original artwork makes a great gift, I will sign a dedication on the back if you like.

Fiddle Head Ferns Finds a Home

Fiddle Head Ferns, 18x18, mixed media collage on cradled birch panel ©St. Hilaire Nelson

Many thanks to Kim Santini of Painting A Dog A Day for purchasing my Fiddle Head Ferns from the Exquisite Harmony Music Series. She told me when I shipped this piece that she already had a wall ready and waiting in her kitchen. I guess we could not have planned a more perfect match!

The green in the fern really looks lovely on the wall. Kim's husband actually asked her how I knew what color their kitchen was!

Kim made my day with her quote:
"I think it is my most favorite possession right now - the one thing I'd grab on my way out the door were the house on fire and all the kids and pets safely out. Along with my Susan Leyland drawing, which is conveniently also on the way out." 

I don't think I could have asked for a better testimonial, or to be in better company!

Holiday Cow Note Cards

Over The Moon has had a holiday hat added and she's ready to send Season's Greetings to your family and friends!

Note card is 4x6 on glossy white card stock with matching white envelopes.

Inside Greeting:
Wishing you the Special Gifts of this Holiday Season - Peace, Joy and Lasting Happiness.

Quantities

10 Cards $25.00 25 Cards $40.00 50 Cards $76.00 100 Cards $132.00