Olive Tree Web Studio

I am excited to announce the launch of my website for my websites: "Olive Tree Web Studio".

I am a formally trained oil painter and a self-taught web maker -- you may wonder how this relates to Three Graces!? Well, my first site was for the gallery, and it has gracefully evolved from an embarrassment to a source of creativity and confidence.

... and of course, I couldn't resist the shameless opportunity for a plug!

Behind the Curtain!

We had a lovely night for the opening reception of the new show, "Behind the Curtain" featuring recent works by Chloë Feldman Emison, thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us!

I just posted a few pictures to our flickr, taken by Trisha and David. Above is Chloë, reluctant at having her photo taken at the end of the night...and below, Shiao-Ping Wang performing "Behind the Curtain"!

For those of you who didn't make it out, the show runs thru May 31st -- its a compelling body of work, featuring over 40 pieces!

And I am pleased to report that I am finally finished formatting all of the images, so all of the works from this show are also available thru our online shop!

the stage is set...

progress

To cover the brick or not to cover the brick...that was the question. And though I love it for its natural beauty, the color and busy pattern is not an ideal backdrop for paintings. So, the answer -- COVER THE BRICK! (at least some of it)

Three trips to the hardware store and we're finally making progress!

Still much to do...

Opening May 7th...

I am very excited to annouce our next show, "Behind the Curtain", an exhibition of new works by Chloë Feldman Emison, featuring three series of images...

Harlequin performers stand rather disconsolately in front of curtains with massive, sometimes surreal clasps holding them shut.

In a second series, girls sail over landscapes dotted by toy villages, held aloft by billowing red sheets.

And in the third, sad, sagging humans in simple grey shifts sprout wings, only to find themselves in chains.

Over forty images are included, ranging from 10 x 8" to 19 x 14" (framed).

"If the task of an artist today is to find an alternative to, on the one hand, the showmanship of a Saatchi artist, and on the other hand, the endless stream of pleasant but unchallenging pictures, watercolor is a daring medium to choose. These works on paper, with their relatively small scale, lend themselves to close looking rather than attempting the bold, big presence of much of modern art. Some of the images impinge on the naive; they feature girls with messy hair and quaint if slightly bizarre clothing. They may remind the viewer at times of children's book illustration. Yet in many cases their themes are quite adult: fear, frustration, pain." (Patricia Emison, Professor of Art History at the University of New Hampshire)

For many years Chloë was a self-taught artist, although she grew up in the company of artists at the University of New Hampshire and is now majoring in Fine Art at Williams College. She had her first solo show at age 16, and has always favored watercolor or pen and ink. In the fall of 2009, she was was awarded Best Mixed Media at the Cambridge Art Association by Joseph Ketner II of Emerson College.

"Behind the Curtain" opens May 7th, with an opening reception from 5-8pm in conjunction with the 1st Friday Gallery Walk.

hand-made by these beautiful people!

As my technical skills improve, I find myself improving our website!


About a year ago, I began adding photographs of the artists I work with to their bio/statements. The response has been great! Everything in the gallery is one-of-a-kind and hand-made, and I find it helps to engage with the piece when you know a little more about its maker...so I decided to add the pictures of the artists to our website:




The photographs were fantastic! Some are taken by professionals while others are candid shots -- here are some of my favorites...





Becky OH! (courtesy of Violet Marsh Photography)

Peter Donovan (courtesy of Michael Penney Photography)
Elsa Mora wearing hand-made paper necklace, portrait inspired by Frida Kahlo (courtesy of Elsa's blog "The Hidden Seed", a blog about personal style)


Double Parlour (a.k.a. Ernie + Cassandra Velasco)

Some of the photographs feature artists in their studios...


Rachel Paxton in her newly renovated studio in Jamaica Plain


An intimate portrait of Jessica Pisano working in her studio

Fleur Palau and one of her muses surrounded by paintings in the artist's studio

And I especially love these approaches as I HATE having my picture taken. I am inspired...




Allyssa Spry behind a bunch of daisies


Amanda Atkins behind a book, painted by the artist

and Samantha Wilcox wrapped in a soft pink scarf.

I am so grateful to be working with so many amazing artists -- not only talented but extremely supportive and inspiring. Now, you can see all of their smiling faces here!

Hmmm. I'm inspired to attempt a self-portrait, perhaps in the guise of a Saint...Lucy perhaps!?

Robin Beaty & Where Women Create...

I recently visited the very new and absolutely amazing studio of Robin Beaty, built by the artist herself along with master carpenter George Abetti. (Robin documented the entire process on her blog.)

During my visit, Robin showed me a wonderful magazine Where Women Create featuring "inspiring work spaces of extraordinary women". It is a lovely publication with beautiful photographs and represents a variety of spaces and styles...

I think Robin's studio is worthy of a profile -- this is where she creates:

Ventilation is very important when working with encaustic -- there is a trap door so that Robin can open and close her venting as needed.


And continuing upstairs to the office loft...



Complete with a bed she actually made out of old doors!


Wow. I cannot find the right words to communicate how much I LOVE this space. Well done Robin + George! I drove home with big ideas of how to transform my own studio space, which is in the attic of our new home....hmmm.

Oh, and I almost forgot -- Robin wrapped up a beautiful new painting for me to bring back with me...

Confluence #10 (36x36), now available.

George Beland @ Apartment Therapy!

I was delighted to read this post by Tanya Lacourse in Apartment Therapy today -- introducing George Beland to AT readers! Thanks Tanya ;)




Tanya is an amazing artist herself, she is a photographer based out of Manchester, NH. (it's a small world -- she actually took Becky OH's portrait that I recently uploaded to the new artist page on our website!) You can see Tanya's portfolio on her website.

Nominees: Robin Beaty and Fleur Palau

The 16th Spotlight on the Arts Awards is coming to the Music Hall on April 15th -- so as a follow up to announcing the nominees, I'd like to specially congratulate Robin Luciano Beaty and Fleur Palau as I have the pleasure of working with both of them!

Robin Luciano Beaty...

Robin has been nominated for "Outstanding Abstract Artist of 2009". She concentrates primarily on the ancient wax based medium of Encaustic paint, a molten beeswax mixed with resin and dry pigments, which she incorporates mixed media, vintage materials, textiles and found objects. Her work has been described as "beautifully conceptual, satisfying mind and spirit simultaneously" and "deliciously collectable". Robin has had an ongoing presence at Three Graces Gallery in Portsmouth - Her solo show this past August ('09) was a huge success, featuring an impressive body of work in her medium of encaustic. Last Spring ('09), Robin was awarded the Award for Excellence in Mixed Media at the NAA's 12th annual Regional juried show as well as the prestigious International Encaustic Painting "Conference Award" for Best in Show in the exhibition juried by Nicholas Capasso, chief curator of the Decordova Museum. *I'd like to also mention that she built her own studio, which is gorgeous and impressive in and of itself -- she's prolific, professional and a delight to work with.

Fleur Palau...

Fleur has been nominated for "Outstanding Narrative Artist of 2009". She was trained in both Florence and New York, she has lived and worked in Italy for over 20 years where she maintains a home and working studio. She is currently living in New Hampshire and has an ongoing presence at Three Graces. She is best known for her narrative paintings depicting a world of Rabbits. Her paintings are a whimsical, yet sometimes moody reflection of the human psyche set in the natural world. Fleur admits "The full meaning of these paintings is of course open to speculation and does not concern me, though I recognize the symbolism and irony that is the vehicle in which to reveal some useful message about ourselves. I would hope that in these rabbbit portraits we may recognize the better attributes of our own nature, that of love, friendship, loyalty, and that the renewed recognition of this will at once empower and inspire." Fleur recently finished a series of paintings to be published in a children's book!

Architectural Digest HOME DESIGN SHOW

The 9th Annual Architectural Digest Home Design Show in New York City opened yesterday! Our dear friend and fabulous furniture designer/maker extraordinaire, George Beland, is exhibiting work from his Foundation Line. "Acceptance into this juried show testifies to Beland’s artistry." (Andrew Lieb, Portsmouth Herald)

The show features a world of design inspiration...

• Exhibits from nearly 300 premium brands


• Antiques and mid-century section, presented by 1stdibs.com


• Design seminars presented by The New York Times and industry associations


• Cooking demonstrations and tastings by celebrity chefs
  
• Complimentary one-on-one consultations with design professionals


• Curated tours with members of the American Society of Interior Designers
  

Here are some photos of last year's event courtesy of Architectural Digest:

George has been working very hard preparing for this show! He has added two new pieces to his foundation line, a television console and a "not so small" small table...

Here is George in his studio - he was recently interviewed by Andrew Lieb for the Portsmouth Herald.

"In his workshop at the Button Factory, furniture builder George Beland is at
work on a custom kitchen set he’ll exhibit at the Architectural Digest Home
Design Show from March 18-21 at Pier 94 in New York City." more

The Architectural Digest Home Design Show is Thursday thru Sunday. For those of you who won't be able to make the big show, George's work is, of course, always on display at Three Graces. Congratulations George! Work it!!