Friday, September 24, 2010

Updated Artist Statement

I updated my Artist Statement on my website the other day. It reads:

"I am all about color and design. Big, bold, beautiful color and stylized design!

In 4th grade, I won 1st place for the fire awareness poster coloring contest throughout the entire school district. I worked really hard on the piece. I colored it with crayons on the hot concrete stairs leading up to our front door. Then I rubbed it smooth to blend the colors. The crayon lumps were gone and it was glossy from the waxy crayons.

In addition, my friends outside of school and I made a deal. They would draw pictures. I would take their drawings and color them with crayons, colored pencils and paints. I was teased I did not stay in the lines and cried over it.  I laugh over it now and think of it as a life lesson that would aid me in my artistic career. I am true to myself today with bright, bold color and still love the glitz of high gloss."
Blonde Ambition, © Susan Calvert, all rights reserved
Earlier this week, I mentioned my artist statement to someone and elaborated about another childhood incident.  Four of us girls were creating art using paint-by-number sets.  (Do they still make those anymore?)  I was painting a horse.  From the knees down, the color was bright white.  Well, I painted it bright white all right, all outside the lines (again)!  The horse looked like it was wearing go-go boots.  We broke out in song singing:  "These Boots Are Made For Walking" by Nancy Sinatra.

Yesterday, I heard the wife of a man at my husband's former employer trashed yours truly at a sales meeting.  She told everyone I was nothing but a weirdo and my art showed it.  Upon hearing that, I busted out laughing.  You see, words like weird, different, interesting, unique, strange are compliments to me.  I strive to be "outside the lines and box".  What's funny is I've never even met the woman. I had heard she read my blog while my husband was employed there.  Although the woman tried insulting me, she really doesn't have a clue how this "weirdo's" art has changed the lives of people who have purchased it.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Anatomy of a Painting--Hang In There

Collage

Sketch

Hang In There, © Susan Calvert, all rights reserved
Painting

Off the Wall: 1-2-3 Art Show
Opening night, Thurs, Sept 9, 2010
Through Fri, Sept 17, 2010
10am-5pm daily
at:

The Defoor Center
1710 Defoor Avenue
Atlanta, GA
404-591-3900

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Off The Wall: 1-2-3 Art Show

The Off The Wall: 1-2-3 Art Show is tomorrow, Thursday, September 9, 2010. Local artists will feature their art at three price points; $100, $200 and $300. This annual one night only show is from 7-9:30pm at:

The Defoor Center
1710 Defoor Avenue
Atlanta, GA
404-591-3900

The following three pieces of my art will be available for purchase:

Weathering The Storm
Oil
36x24"
$100

The Deep
Mixed Water Media
$200

The Deep
15x17"
(close-up)

Hang In There
Oil
20x16"
$300
I look forward to seeing you!!!

PS:  The sizes of the paintings are approximate.  I misplaced my paperwork.  Ugh!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Pancakes & Booze Art Show, Part 3

The Pancakes & Booze Art Show last Friday sure was a good time.  There was a huge turn out.  They ran out of pancake mix around 11:30pm.  (The show lasted 'til 2am.)  The 'cakes were delicious, especially being topped with fresh raspberries and strawberries.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing old and meeting new friends.  A big THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by and spoke with me about my new painting series entitled "Tipsy".

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Anatomy of a Painting--Black Devil

Sketch
Under Painting
Base coating
Development of shapes
Glazing
Color development
Outlines
Additional elements
Glazing

"Black Devil"
Acrylic
20x16"

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Pancakes & Booze Art Show, Part 2

The Pancakes & Booze Art Show is THIS Friday, September 3, 2010. What a fun way to start the holiday weekend! Click on the poster below to enlarge for details.


I'm excited to be debuting my cocktail drink series entitled "Tipsy" for this show. Here is a preview:

Blue Monday

Please join me and pass this post along to your friends for a night of Pancakes & Booze in Midtown:

Friday, September 3, 2010
8pm - 2am
$5 cover

The Goat Farm
1200 Foster St
Atlanta, GA 30318
(map below)
Yellow Rattler
Click here to see additional paintings in this series.  Looking forward to seeing you!

Wordless Wednesday, 9/1/2010