Women Making Marks, Venus Rising!

March is International Women's History Month.

WOMAN ON THE EASEL SINGING AT DAWN IM-PRESS-IVE WOMEN VENUS RECLAIMED A FRESH START

OF MARK & MEANING

I returned home from three weeks in Honduras to a pile of mail, including a packet containing the gorgeous catalogue published by American Women Artists for Of Mark & Meaning. This is the tenth museum exhibition presented as part of AWA's landmark "25 IN 25" initiative: 25 museum shows for women artists in 25 years, meant to increase the visibility, recognition and support of women artists. Historically, women have NOT been included prominently in museum collections and art history. Hey, 13% of works in USA art museums are by women! Of course, that number was just a pitiful 5% ten years ago. Things are changing very, very slowly.

This is my third museum show with AWA. The exhibit is up through the end of April at the Customs House Museum in Clarksville, Tennessee. I am, as always, so impressed and inspired by the fabulous work of my fellow artists. As the catalogue, says, "Of Mark & Meaning celebrates the very human drive to make a mark in this world, whether literally through the creative act, or figuratively through the legacy we leave behind."

WOMAN ON THE EASEL: SINGING AT DUSK

Singing at Dusk, oil on wood. 48" x 36". Painting in progress.

I began the sketch for this 48" x 36" oil painting back in August. Have I mentioned that I am a slow painter? But the end is in sight! The title comes from a Terry Tempest Williams quote: She writes: "Once upon a time, when women were birds, there was the simple understanding that to sing at dawn, and to sing at dusk, was to heal the world with joy." Joy is certainly something we all need right now. There is also a sense of peace, of endless time, in this painting.

Singing at Dawn, oil on wood. 11 x 14 inches.

SINGING AT DAWN

First, I had to make her sing! This is the small (11" x 14") painting that tested the actual visual concept of open-mouthed singing, but against a dawn sky. This version is available through 33 Contemporary Gallery. Both skies started with a solid cadmium red base, which gives them that glowing translucency.

This young woman has been my muse for five paintings so far. I have completed a series of five short videos about working with my models on YouTube, and I suspect Haley will be the sixth.

Lake Effects I at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking

IM-PRESS-IVE WOMEN!

My background is in printmaking, and my first NYC solo show featured my monotypes. Lake Effects I, pictured here, is on view at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk Connecticut through the end of March. It is 18" x 24", printed on 22" x 30" paper. I won Honorable Mention in this show, which was sponsored by the National Association of Women Artists. See the exhibit here and read more about my monotypes here.

My monotypes are all one-of-a-kind originals, and an affordable way to start collecting my work.

"VENUS RECLAIMED" AT 33 CONTEMPORARY GALLERY

Beach and Disco on the easel in my studio

Reimagining the timeless symbol of the goddess Venus, this exhibition moves beyond traditional ideals of beauty to explore themes of strength, transformation, and self-definition. It honors the modern woman - unapologetic, dynamic, and deeply rooted in her own narrative.

The tete-a-tete bench, the book cover and the sky give this painting its luminosity. The model's platinum hair, stripes and tattoos lend a "disco" accent to the salt marsh setting. The tents provide mystery. Beach and Disco (the title of her book) is an oil painting on linen, 40" x 52", available online through the gallery.

Relaxation in Roatan

A FRESH START

A month away from the studio gives one breathing room, perspective, and much-needed outdoor time. February is a short but tough month. It's the perfect time to find someplace warm, quiet, and remote to recharge your batteries. This was my second visit to Roatan, a small island off the coast of Honduras. It's a skinny spit of land with both the Caribbean and Atlantic visible at once from the higher points. There are mountains, beaches, jungles, and a very large and active coral reef. I brought a sketchpad and pencils along, and I hardly used them at all.

But I was ready to return to my easel at the end!

Thank you for reading this extremely long blog post - I haven't written one in over two months, so there's a lot to share. Feel free to pass it along to friends or colleagues. If you don't get my emails, which are as infrequent as these posts, please sign up here.

Cheers,