Raices Femeninas

I am thrilled to announce my upcoming feature exhibit Raices Femeninas (Femenine Roots) at Feathered Serpent Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida. The show focuses on my "Mujeres" work and honors the women I was raised by and femininity, which continues to inspire me. It also celebrates my Hispanic heritage.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, March 28 from 6-9 pm.
Mark your calendars and please let everyone you know in the Tampa area.
Visit and share the Facebook event page.

A Great Start to 2014!

If you wondered where my gals "La Sonora" and "La Ofrenda" were flying off to yesterday...

I am thrilled to share with you that I am now being represented by Feathered Serpent Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida. The gallery specializes in Latino/Latin American art, film and much more.
Stay tuned for details on an upcoming featured exhibition of my work there. Be sure to like their page on Facebook.

Vote for Studio 4, Old Town: BEST GALLERY 2013

I am super-thrilled and proud to announce that Studio 4, Old Town has been nominated for BEST GALLERY in Washington Post Express' Best of 2013 list! Please vote for Studio 4, Old Town by clicking here or on the logo below.
Choose ARTS in the left column to find our category.
You can vote as often as you like!
Winners will be announced October 17.

As one of the newer art spaces in the DC/VA/MD scene, we are extremely excited about this nomination. We hope this comes as a result of the community connecting with our belief that ART IS FOR EVERYBODY and that it can be a vehicle for social change. Studio 4, Old Town is committed to producing projects and exhibits that range from whimsical to impactful. We strive to cultivate creativity in the community with all we do. Keep an eye out for our 2014 exhibit calendar.

Thank you!

"Piano & Sax" featured on Literacyhead.com

From the Literacyhead website:

What is a Literacyhead?

A Literacyhead is someone who is intensely serious about exercising creative literacy, making connections across multiple literacies, pursuing thoughtful literacy as an individual and as a teacher, and constantly searching for ideas. Literacyheads may have expertise in different areas of literacy, but all are committed to children's literacy, passionate about the arts, incessant thinkers, and display a propensity for having fun.

My work is being used as a teaching tool (to teach the word "practice") in the article Visual Vocabulary .

The original Piano & Sax painting is currently available through Singing Stone Gallery in Tampa, FL.

Find Me in Del Ray!

As of this weekend, you can find my work (small to medium originals as well as hand painted pendants) in Del Ray, Alexandria at A Show of Hands.



A Show of Hands is an eclectic space filled with colorful art, jewelry and eye-catching crafts.

Just as eclectic, is the town of Del Ray, where, as its catch phrase states, Main Street still lives. You will find a variety of galleries, boutiques, sidewalk cafes and restaurants clustered along Mount Vernon Avenue.



A Show of Hands
2301 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
703-683-2905

Hours:
Tuesday through Friday
11am to 6pm
Saturday 10am to 6pm
Sunday 12 noon to 5pm

Sales vs. Sales

I just heard from a dear friend. She told me she'd just purchased (we say "adopted") one of my Va-Va-Voom! Girls from Raw Style Gallery.
I was telling her how happy I am that "Vanessa" is going to live with her and be a part of her collection (If I'm not mistaken, this will be her 5th Gascot).

All sales are a good thing. They afford you the opportunity to continue doing what you love. The words "That'll look great over my couch. I'll take it!" or "I just painted my bedroom that color, it'll go perfect!" are music to just about any artist's ears.
But there are sales, that are particularly exciting for the mere fact that you know the person is purchasing because they have a true love, appreciation and unique personal connection to your work.

Have fun at your new Chicago home, Vanessa!

Va-Va-Voom! Girl "Vanessa"
Acrylic on canvas/10x30"

Carmen's Gallery: Pt 2

Paintings just delivered to Carmen's Gallery:


Backyard Martini
Acrylic on canvas/8x10"


Strong!
Acrylic on canvas/24x36"


Platanos (Plantains)
Acrylic on canvas/24x30"


Portrait of Cake
Acrylic on canvas/18x24"

Carmen's Gallery

You can now also find my work at Carmen's Gallery in Solomons MD.
Carmen's is enjoying it's 27th year in Solomons Island and was recently voted "Best Gallery in the Chesapeake Bay" for the second year in a row.

Nancies

Chocolate and Strawberry...





Nancy images for Raw Style, in California and Artiszenarts, in New Jersey. Both galleries carry my "Strictly Pop" paintings.

Painting...not the kind I had in mind.

I've gotten absolutely nothing done in the studio this week.

The past two days (and nights) have been spent giving Artworks@7th, the North Beach coop I belong to, a much-needed "facelift".
I joined in September because I fell in love with the location and the immense potential of the gallery. The space, however looked a bit drab and tired and lacked style. Being steps from the beach and boardwalk, I suggested we are better off capitalizing on the "charm" of the gallery, rather than fighting the architecture (a beach house) in an attempt to make it a white-walled museum-like space.
I proposed a "Beach Gallery" style and got the green light on the project.
Here are some of the results so far:

Key West, Here I Come!

Well, not me (I wish!), my artwork.

I have to gallery sit at the coop today so I won't be in the studio. I will miss my paints and canvases, but I will bring my sketchpad and hopefully jot down an idea or two.
On my way to the gallery I have to stop by the post office to ship a few paintings to Key West Art Bar. They will now be representing me in Key West and I couldn't be happier about it!
I love what owner, Barb Grob, has going down there (watch the video on their site). She is an artist (sculptress) herself and full of ideas and creative energy! I hope to visit in person at some point.

The following pieces are being shipped today:


Pueblo Dormido (Sleeping Town)
Acrylic on canvas/24x30"


Green Lounge
Acrylic on canvas/16x20"


Reclining Red
Acrylic on canvas/18x24"

Looking Ahead (with fingers crossed)

On Monday, I had a meeting with the Gallery Manager at Harmony Hall Regional Center in Fort Washington, MD. I had submitted images via email back in June and he called me in to show a few samples in person and for me to view the actual space.
I was thoroughly impressed!
The gallery space was beyond anything I could've imagined when I first submitted. I envisioned a theater/symphony hall lobby space. Instead, it stands up, in scale and layout, to most "high-end" gallery spaces I've visited. I continue to be pleasantly surprised (and impressed) by the amount and quality of art spaces in this region. Perhaps it has something to do with being so close to our nation's capital.
The space is huge! The current show consists of 40 paintings. The full-on gallery is located directly across (in the same building) from the theater/concert hall. I am absolutely in love with the layout. It's so often that art galleries are one big open area where you basically see the entire show (not in detail of course) upon entering the space. This space is open, but twists and turns, allowing the artist to build narrative (or at least I would) within the show and strategically place some visual surprises around corners. My mind is brimming with ideas.
A solo show would not come without it's challenges, that's for sure. If granted a slot, I anticipate countless hours at the easel (and floor and wall and table... depending on the piece). I would have to operate on a clear and rigid schedule and set the show's pieces aside, until late '09/early '10, no matter how tempting it may be to sell any of them prematurely.

But with challenge comes opportunity. I would finally get to work on some over sized pieces knowing they will be displayed. This would be an important show in my career as an emerging artist. It would mark my most significant show (in sheer quantity and scale of work alone) to date. I had a 30 painting showing in Belgium, but have never exhibited that amount in one single show in the US. In addition, everything (and I do mean everything from transport, installation, promotion, reception, catering...) is handled entirely by the gallery. A nice break for any artist! This show would truly allow me to concentrate solely on the artwork, giving me the freedom to make the type of strong statement I wish to make as an artist.

The Gallery Director still has to bring my submission before a panel. All I can do is cross my fingers for now. What will be will be.
The verdict should be in by early November.

Below is the Harmony Hall Gallery layout:



From my Belgium show at Rollebeek Gallery 28:

I'm in...again!

I met my submission deadline yesterday and the verdict is in...I'm in.

I don't usually seek out co-ops. Perhaps wrongly so, I've always felt there was a certain degree of unnecessary cliquishness associated with them (based on the ones I was familiar with).
We owned and ran one some years back, but did so a bit differently. While the artists we represented held memberships, there were no meetings or sittings involved. We did all of the work (including monthly receptions, classes and events) for them. This is the first time I've ventured into a cooperative situation as an applicant. All of the other galleries that represent my work are individually owned and run.

So what happened to all my cynicism?
I'm not really sure. Something about this cute little Chesapeake bay beach town and the way Artworks@7th sits right across the street from the public beach and boardwalk...felt right.

Not to mention that I've been wanting to do some old-fashioned-with-a-twist beach scenes for some time now and at long last, I have no excuse to put the series off any longer.

I'm in!

As of today, another gallery will be representing my work...abstracts, to be exact.
At the moment, of the galleries which represent me, it is the only one dealing strictly with my abstract work. Other galleries show a variety of my styles; either in combination, or in turns. It's a bit silly, but I have to admit that I like the way, "...and Art Expressions handles my abstract work." sounds.

I met with the gallery owner today. I brought him 9 initial pieces to choose from. He kept 8 and I got a year-long consignment contract.

Meanwhile I'm trying to spend any free minute of this Labor Day weekend (we have a houseguest) completing a trio of bathing suit-clad Va-Va-Voom! Girls in hopes of meeting a Tuesday submission deadline for yet another gallery.

Here's an abstract painted last year.
It is a collaborative piece between myself and Mike Trovato.


"F Train"
Mixed media on canvas/9x12"
Now available through Art Expressions Gallery, Gaithersburg MD 301-216-1388/Gallery website coming soon!