Happy New Year

“A writer - and, I believe, generally all persons - must think that whatever happens to him or her is a resource. All things have been given to us for a purpose, and an artist must feel this more intensely. All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments, all is given to us as raw material, as clay, so that we may shape our art.” (Jorge Luis Borges) http://artquotes.robertgenn.com/

There is so much good information online to access.  Please send appropriate links to us and we will post some of them from time to time.

Some tips for the new year from New Zealand artist Richard Robinson. www.livepaintinglessons.com This site also allows you to sign up for some free lessons.

"1. Re-evaluate. Look at your latest works and notes to see where you have come to and try to recapture your previous notions of where you were heading.

2. Absorb. Look at other artists' works on the web or printed media or galleries to spark the desire to create something that beautiful.

3. Play. Just PLAY with your paints until something starts to emerge. This can be lots of fun.

4. Set a Goal. Set a goal for learning or exploring a subject or technique which will generate its own inspiring thoughts.

5. Explore. Go exploring outside, by foot or vehicle, looking for things that grab your eye.

6. Feel. Start with a feeling or a piece of music or poetry - how would you paint that? Try to imbue everything you do with that feeling - from first sketch to mixing paint, to each brush stroke - let it all be an expression of one idea."

Please note that Friends of Art Manchester has some new venues for artists to display their artwork coming up in 2014.  Please consider joining us in the new year and learning where you can hang your work in downtown Manchester (commission free). We are also planning on some murals in the spring. We also hope to have a variety of projects going on in the downtown, perhaps even a plein air paint-in in one of the parks and an indoor pop-up gallery.

Since no one submitted a painting or photo for today’s post, you might enjoy looking at other  murals. To see a mosaic mural named “Trust”: http://www.muralmosaic.com/Cochrane.html  

May 2014 be a creative year for all of us.  Happy New Year.

Call for Artists - Public Art Project

Hello!

I am writing to invite you and any interested friends or art groups you know of to submit designs for this new public art project in downtown Manchester.  All artists from NH are invited to apply. Both individuals and groups are welcome to apply.  The deadline is March 7th, 2014. Here are the details:

This is a statewide call for artists to submit designs to paint 3-5 traffic signal boxes in the downtown Manchester. The winning artists will be given an award and a stipend to cover painting materials. They will actually paint the boxes when the good weather comes around in April. All the details are outlined in the call for entries form and application.

Link to the website with Calls for Entries at Studio 550 (there are several others in 2014 which you might be interested in):  http://www.550arts.com/opportunities/

Direct link to the PDF Application:
http://www.550arts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ThinkOutsideTheBox-CallForEntries1.pdf

Thank you so much for sharing this with any friends, colleagues, or artists groups you think might be interested. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

See you in the Studio!

Monica

--

Programs Director

Studio 550 - Community Art Center

www.550arts.com

603.232.5597

 

BELIEVE

The word means  "confidence". I chose this as the one word to add to my painting of David Ortiz. On the evening the Red Sox won the World Series we were watching the television as clip after clip of the festivities were broadcast. Before too many moments went by I grabbed my camera (as my husband, Steve just shook his head because he wasn't surprised at my thought process) and began taking photos of the images as they flashed by on the screen. This one of David Ortiz featured his signature sunglasses and speaking to the crowd from the heart. He is a great role model and I was happy to include this as part of Family in Transition's request of art work for the men's living area.

Post and painting by Debbie Curtin.

Deb's painting is part of our second project for Families in Transition and will be going into the men's residence.

Art at The Wine Studio

THE WINE STUDIO

Anthony Williams was the featured artist at a reception during the Wine Studio's Thursday evening wine tasting event. December 5 brought in friends and regulars to the showing of Anthony's watercolor paintings. The food provided by Maureen was fabulous and the wine tasting a hit with everyone as the evening progressed. The ambiance co-mingled with the flair of the artist as he brought panache (dashing elegance of manner; carefree, spirited self-confidence or style) to the occasion.

The artist poses for a dashing photograph in front of a jolly Frosty the Snowman painted on a piece of slate. His watercolor of a covered bridge is a masterpiece of fall colors.

Photos and text by guest blogger Debbie Curtin.

A Few Updates

The second project with Families in Transition is going forward.  We are painting canvases for their men’s residence.  All the canvases have been picked up and two of the proposals have been accepted. The other artists will be submitting their proposals soon and then can start painting.  There will be a reception for the artists who painted canvases for the women’s residence on December 17th.  If this sounds like something you would like to do, please consider becoming a member of Friends of Art Manchester and getting involved.

We have a location in Manchester (a restaurant downtown) that will host 3-4 paintings on a monthly basis.  We have already met with the owner.  Now we are looking for someone to chair this committee and be responsible for changing the artwork each month.

We also have a good possibility for a space for a pop-up gallery downtown, possibly for Valentine’s Day.  This space may continue for us to use in the future as well.

We are investigating a spring project, a mural on Union Street. The owner is definitely interested, now our intrepid crew will come up with some details.  This project will probably involve several artists working with the muralist, and possibly some students as well.

You may have noticed an earlier post about painting electric boxes.  We are on the list to be contacted for proposals.  This will also be a spring project. Initially there will be three boxes to be painted.

Hope all our readers had a wonderful holiday weekend and are looking forward to snow! Please send suggestions to us for future blog posts.  Thank you.

Acrylic painting, 16” X 20” by Linda H. Feinberg of snowmobile on the trail in Auburn, NH.