The Coral Reef Menu Commission for Epcot Walt Disney World is Finished

I have neglected the blog because this is the week I needed to finish the Coral Reef Restaurant, Epcot, menu project. If you’re new to the blog, I was commissioned to do the cover art for the lunch, dinner and dessert menus as well as the menu interiors.   I’m happy to say I turned it all in yesterday to Walt Disney Imagineering and they were very happy with it, as was I!  They will present it to the folks at Epcot and then it will go to print sometime in April and then I can share what I have been working on since November!

Paris Passy Gate... where I left off...

I will be getting back to the other painting on my easel, Paris Passy Gate and some small works I’ve designed and have been in the queue to paint.

Happy Spring, Azaleas are blooming!

Also want to wish everyone a happy spring and hopefully all of you up north have had a break in the weather and are enjoying some more pleasant conditions!  What a rough winter it has been for you all!!! I know some of you have been down my way for spring breaks.  It seems a lot of people are flocking down here, but I can’t say I blame them!

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Acceptance into the 44th Annual Juried International Louisiana Watercolor Society Exhibition

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. 

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I'm thrilled and honored to share that Mayan Gate has been chosen to be in the 44th Annual International Louisiana Watercolor Society Exhibition.  This one is very special because I am a huge fan of juror, Anne Abgott.  Thanks Anne!

The show will be at the Garden District Gallery in New Orleans, Louisiana from  May 2-May 25, 2014.  I'm hoping my schedule will allow me to go see the show.  I am embarrassed to  say I have never been to New Orleans.  I think this is the perfect excuse to go!

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More Work in Progress of Paris Passy Gate

Today I’m sharing some more work in progress photos of one of my latest paintings Paris Passy Gate.  The focal point of this piece will be the gate itself which I decided to mask out so I could just do the background and not have to worry about painting around everything.

I’m working on a softer paper which I can work in more textural techniques, but have to be very careful.  This paper is not for those who like to glaze multiple layers.  The paint moves around very easily if it is re-wet.  It’s great for softening edges but it’s more of a get in and get it done process while working on it.

Since I was  going to be working on the Coral Reef Menu project for a while I wanted to get the background finished so I could remove the masking.  I didn’t want the masking sitting on the paper very long and take the chance of it ruining it or not coming off! It’s happened before. :-(

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Acceptance into the Annual Central Florida Watercolor Exhibition

Bird's Eye View

$1,750.00

Watercolor, Framed

11.5" x 30," (29 cm x 76 cm)

Framed Size "19.5 x 37.75," price includes frame

Selected for the 2nd Annual Women Painters of the Southeast Exhibition, 2013, at the Imagine Gallery of Fine Art, Franklin Tennessee

Selected for the 2014 Annual Central Florida Watercolor Society Exhibition

When I lived in California I had a persimmon tree in my backyard and I have been enamored with this fruit ever since.  I loved in the winter when all the leaves had fallen from the tree and these bright orange fruits where dangling from all the branches. That is the inspiration for this painting.

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I'm feeling honored and blessed to be able to do what I love to do and it's just icing on the cake when my work is recognized by jurors to be included into exhibitions with other talented artists.  Found out this weekend that my painting Bird's Eye View which is the header for my blog and Facebook page, was selected by juror Karlyn Holman for the Annual Central Florida Watercolor Society Exhibition.  Karlyn is a nationally recognized watercolor artist, teacher and author. If you are in the central Florida area, the exhibition will be at the Sanford Welcome Center, Sanford, Florida, March 28-April 22.

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My Current Commission, Cover Art for Menus at Coral Reef Restaurant at Epcot, Walt Disney World

I’ve been working on a commission since last November and haven’t been able to share the details.  I can now share what it is, but not any images, sketches, or work in progress photos yet.  I’m thrilled to be working with Walt Disney Imagineering again on a design and illustration project! The graphics group initially commissioned me to design and paint in watercolor the cover for lunch menu for the Coral Reef Restaurant at Epcot.  If you have never been, it is one of the nicest dining rooms at Walt Disney World featuring a panoramic view of the aquarium that is also part of The Seas with Nemo & Friends attraction, formally knows asthe Living Seas Pavilion. When if first opened in 1986,  it had the largest salt water tank in the world at 5.7 million gallons.  However, in 2005 when the Georgia Aquarium opened it became the second largest.

Entrance Hall Looking Back Toward Lobby

First I had to do quite a bit of research to become familiar with the sea life that was in the tank.  One morning I went and photographed the tank from inside the restaurant before guests arrived.  Since I was there, I couldn’t help myself and rode The Seas with Nemo & Friends ride, :-), which put me on the other side of the attraction with more views of the big tank and smaller exhibits with aquariums featuring coral, smaller fish, eels, and sea horses.  There is also a manatee tank in this area as well.  I took well over 500 photos so that I would have plenty of reference material.

Glass Accent Light Fixture on Wall in Dining Area

I worked out the overall design for the menu cover from all the reference material I gathered doing a number of sketches until I was happy with the composition.   I then did a tighter pencil sketch, value study,  watercolor color swatches and a half size color comp that was presented to get approval for design.  Thegroup at Epcot like it so much, they want to incorporate the painting on, not only the lunch menu, but the dinner and dessert menu too!  Now that the design has been approved I will start on the actual painting.  I’m putting some other studio work on hold to get back to this project.  It has been so much fun doing the research and design and I’m really looking forward to the actual painting part to see it come to life!

Unfortunately I won’t be able to share any images until the menus go to print, which should be some time in April.... so stay tuned!

Door Pull on Front Door to Coral Reef Restaurant

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Thanks to Everyone... and the Winner is...

I want to personally thank everyone who made a comment on my blog post to celebrate it’s one year anniversary!!!  Many of you I haven’t been in touch with for a while so it was wonderful to hear from you, and it makes me feel thrilled and honored that you all are reading and enjoying the blog!

I did a random drawing through random.org and the winner is....drum roll... Yolanda Garnier!  The Poppies are going to Paris!  Yolanda, please send me the mailing address you would like it sent to.  :-)

I will also be sending a print to Lisa, her comment warmed my heart and I love that she is sending the note cards she has with my art to Alzheimer patients!!

Hugs to all and thanks again for commenting!

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Accepted into the 35th National Georgia Watercolor Society Exhibition

I’m thrilled, my painting Waiting in the Wings was chosen for the 35th National Georgia Watercolor Society’s Exhibition!  This is my second year in the show.  Last year my painting Hong Kong Happy Hour was chosen.  It’s always a great honor for me to be juried into shows, and to have my work included with some of the most talented watercolorists in the nation for national shows and from all over the world for international shows.

If you enter a few shows a year whichI do, the logistics of keeping track of it all can be tricky!  Some show dates conflict with each other.   Therefore a careful review of your inventory is necessary to decide which paintings will be submitted where.  Some will accept three paintings for the judge to see, some accept two, and some only accept one.  But usually only one paintingis juried into the show.  Many shows are going on at the same time, therefore if you submit three paintings for one judge to review for a particular show, those can not be submitted for other shows because any one of the three could be chosen and you don’t know which one it will be!

You always want to submit your best work, but usually out of the two or three you submit, you have a personal favorite that you feel is the strongest.  But, your favorite may not be the favorite of the judge, and he or she will choose their preference!  Judges are different from show to show.  Therefore, if a piece is rejected one year, from one organization, doesn’t mean it will be another time from a different judge!

If you are interested in submitting work to juried shows, keep your brushes moving so that you have a good inventory to choose from.  Only submit you strongest work that you are most proud of.  Keep careful records so that you don’t submit the same painting that may be tied up in another show, sold, or not be shipped back to you in time for the other deadline.  Most of all don’t give up!!! Rejection is all part of the process which doesn’t mean you are a bad painter or your work is bad either.  The way I look at rejection from shows is, the judge’s taste just didn’t lean toward my work, and now I have a painting that is available as consideration for another show, where the judge’s taste might lean in my direction!

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My Newsletter for January 2014

Bird's Eye View

$1,750.00

Watercolor, Framed

11.5" x 30," (29 cm x 76 cm)

Framed Size "19.5 x 37.75," price includes frame

Selected for the 2nd Annual Women Painters of the Southeast Exhibition, 2013, at the Imagine Gallery of Fine Art, Franklin Tennessee

Selected for the 2014 Annual Central Florida Watercolor Society Exhibition

When I lived in California I had a persimmon tree in my backyard and I have been enamored with this fruit ever since.  I loved in the winter when all the leaves had fallen from the tree and these bright orange fruits where dangling from all the branches. That is the inspiration for this painting.

Email me for purchase information.

Purchase

Those that follow my blog, may or may not know that I publish a newsletter every month too! Thank you to those that follow by blog and subscribe to the Newsletter!  If you don't have time to visit the blog, it's a great re-cap of all of the new scoop relating to my art and what was featured on the blog. You can subscribe to receive it by clicking on the gray box at the top of my side bar.  You can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here .  If you would like to read the January 2014 Newsletter click here.

I really appreciate your support and would love to grow my audience this year.  If you have any friends, family or colleagues,  that you know that would be interested in my work please forward with the share links at the bottom of this post or share via email too!

You can still enter a comment here to be eligible to win the Limited Edition Giclée print of my painting Poppies. I will be drawing a winner the end of the week. Gook Luck!

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Happy Chinese New Year... Year of the Horse

After living in Hong Kong, I’m always aware of the Chinese New Year!  So, Happy New Year... Year of the Horse!  I lived there during two Chinese New Years and they were my favorite holidays observed there.  Based on the lunar calendar, the fifteen day celebration started yesterday and ushers out the year of the water snake and in the year of the wooden horse.  Feng shui masters say the year of the horse may be tough for any negotiating because people stand firm in their beliefs and convictions. If this is true, I guess Congress won’t be getting much work done this year either!

Reward, Watercolor on Archival Paper, 6" x 6"

The decorations are spectacular,  we always had the most beautiful pink flowering plum trees in the lobby of our apartment building. Flowers are an important part of the New Year Celebration.  Plum blossoms symbolize courage and hope, narcissus, good luck and fortune, and tangerines and oranges are displayed as a sign of wealth and luck.  Flowering plum and mandarin trees adorn many homes, businesses and temples throughout Hong Kong.

Everyone is the the holiday spirit similar to the Christmas spirit here.  The celebration lasts for many days and has different phases, where different customs are observed.   One is the ever popular Lie See envelopes.  These small red envelopes you tuck money inside are adorned with symbols for good fortune and luck, and sometimes have cartoon characters because it is a tradition to give them to children.   Work colleagues or people in business relationships give them to each other too.  As is the custom, to not forget all the service people that help you throughout the year.

The parades, Lion Dance and acrobatic performances and fireworks are spectacular, and are not to be missed!  All around a beautiful, festive, fun time of year.

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My Paris Apartment and Chinese Fans For the Dining Room

The building I lived in, in Paris,  was built in 1865 and was the quintessential older Paris apartment featuring wood floors, crown and fine decorative moldings on the walls,  fireplaces in every room, and mirrors above each fireplace that had exquisite patina from age.  I often wondered whose face had gazed in those mirrors.

You may not know that when you lease an apartment in Paris, you are literally starting from scratch.  Nothing is left behind, including the entire kitchen (cabinets included), every single light fixture, (bare bulbs hang from the ceiling), towel rods, toilet paper holders, curtain rods, you get the idea.  If it can be removed, it will be.  It’s just the way.

With a corporate relocation the whole process begins working with a local agency to help youfind a place to live.  After finding the apartment which is a job in itself.  The real work begins.  Usually floors are re-sanded and finished, and walls are painted.  You are blessed if there is no other renovation work to be done which is rare.  Luckily we were shown only apartments that didn’t have to have their insides torn out. You still have to design and choose your kitchen cabinets, counter tops and appliances. Usually the budgets are very tight for the furnishings. Given the budget constraints, your choices are IKEA and whatever is similar to IKEA.  Between Hong Kong and Paris, I poured through the IKEA catalogue so much I felt like I had the darn thing memorized!  I had those wacky Swedish names going through my head for months! A late 1800‘s Paris apartment and IKEA furniture, seemed to me like the ultimate dichotomy. We did have a few pieces of furniture we bought in Hong Kong to add to the mix.

Persimmon Fan

I won’t bore you with all the shenanigans involved in putting it all together.  Suffice it to say that it took a better part of six months and a few nervous breakdowns.  But in the end it all came together and we loved it.  I ran all over Paris and environs to find the furniture, rugs, chandeliers, curtains, all curtain hardware, all the linens, bathroom hardware, dishes, pots pans, etc.  The chandeliers were actually plastic made to look like crystal, well sort of,  and I aged them to look like antique glass.  My neighbor’s mother who was from Italy, saw them across the courtyard, and thought they were Murano glass! :-)

The dining room had two built in china cabinets with large arched openings above them.  They were screaming for a piece of art, but I didn’t have any large ceramic or glass pieces that would have been nice there.  One day while out runningaround I found some inexpensive Chinese fans that were perfect in size.    They were bright red so I covered them with some Chinese papers, and designed paintings to go on each.  I did a mock-up painting on paper before actually painting the fans.  I was inspired to paint persimmons and horse chestnut trees.  Both are asian motifs which I thought would be great on the fans, and I could buy persimmons in the local markets.  Horse chestnut trees lined the boulevard at my local park.  So there was an Asian and French connection!

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