Taking Stock

In order to complete my paintings for this new show, opening in a month, I needed to see what materials I had on hand. Being unemployed, I must make do with what I have on hand. As far as blank canvas, I have two 2-1/2" deep gallery mounted canvases, a 22" x 28" and a 30" x 40". I have three 16" x 20", and twenty smaller sizes. I have a bucket of acrylic gesso. I also have ten older paintingsI can finish or rework to correct problems I see in them. I also have watercolor paper with which I can make some work. I have a large stock of photos I have taken. So, potentially, using all of the canvases on hand, I could create 40 new pieces or 6200 square inches of paint to push. I am potentially, at a low $1 a square inch, creating @ $6,000 of inventory.

My next step is to inventory my photos and ideas and mate those to the canvases and create the sketches for the new paintings. That's today's work. It's raining, so I won't be disturbed by too many people walking in from Main Street.

Inn Ste Gemme Beauvais

This is a commissioned piece which was started en plein air in October. I had sketched the composition in oil one afternoon and had it standing very unfinished in my Studio de Michel. A buyer came in and saw it and asked, "Is this finished?" I told her it was not. She commissioned me to finish it. It is a 16" x 20" oil painting of the Inn Ste Gemme Beauvais, now being restored after a fire in February. This Ste Genevieve landmark sits across the street from my Studio de Michel. SOLD.

Five Paintings Sold Today!

"The Main Street Inn" 11" x 14" oils, SOLD.

A woman came in and bought 2 finished paintings, "The Hotel Entrance" and "The Main Street Inn". Then she asked me to finish 2 that were in process, "The Inn Ste Gemme Beauvais" and the "Old Academy". Then she commissioned me to paint the Southern Hotel. Thank you for your support (pictures of the new work will be posted soon).

"Menard Porch" Best of Show

"Menard Porch" This painting, along with "Inn St. Gemme" (below), were entered into the 2008 Ste Genevieve Plein Air Event competition and won 2nd Place in the category "oils and acrylics", and Best of Show! Thank you, to the judges, for the recognition. This is a view from under my table umbrella, outside my Studio in Ste Genevieve, looking north on Main Street. The sun hits the porch beautifully in the later morning. The challenge is catching it in paint. Desc: 16" x 20", plein air painted outdoors, in the late morning, over a 3 day period, oils on canvas board, $225 unframed. SOLD on 10/15/08

"Inn St Gemme Beauvais"

"Inn St. Gemme Beauvais" This painting was done over a three day period during the annual Ste Genevieve Plein Air event, October 3-10, 2008. After I got started, I noticed how much foreground I had! I decided, instead of changing the composition too much, to try and make the foreground more interesting. That was my challenge on this one. This is the view from the front of the Studio de Michel, looking across the street. Click to enlarge. Desc: Plein air painted over a 3 day period, in the late afternoon sun, 16" x 20", oils on canvas board. $225 unframed. SOLD on 10/15/08

INSIDER 573 Highlights Ste Genevieve

INSIDER 573 was in Ste Genevieve, from what I understand, doing a story on the 200th anniversary of The Academy, Frank and Annette Rolfe's home. While they were here, they became interested in the growing Art Scene. So, look for Ste Genevieve to be highlighted soon on the pages of the INSIDER 573.

Hanging a New Exhibit

On Friday, July 25, a new exhibit opens in the Gallery of Studio de Michel. The featured artist is James F. Wilson, Artist in Residence at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri. Through the Studio window, I took this picture of his oil painting, Colonial Still Life. This (approx) 18" x 24" unframed piece is priced at $600. He paints large, so I have three framed landscapes, 30" x 36" oils, which will take up most of a wall. I will be showing some of his other large oils and some watercolors.

Another artist I am proud to show, is Pamela Wickard from St Louis. Her latest works are large acrylic collages, in muted pallets, of females in various moods. She has a series of brightly painted florals in oil; another series of women in acrylic and some landscapes.

Rounding out the exhibit, this month will be paintings by various members of the Ste Genevieve Art Guild, Adrienne Rosen and Jack Tandy.

August Exhibit being Formed

I am overwhelmed by the response and support of the artists to the gallery space at Studio de Michel! A sincere thanks to all who are involved.

An unexpected visit, today, from native artist Leon Basler (currently living in N Dakota) was welcomed. He was referred by Judy Sexhauer of Galleria Ste Genevieve (another well established, artist owned, Ste Genevieve art venue). Leon gave me some insight into the Ste Genevieve artist community of the 1960s and 70s which cements the city of Ste Genevieve with art since the 1930 - 40s artist colony. He had never viewed the wonderful art book written on the Ste Genevieve Art Colony and Summer School of Art, and was amazed by it as I am.

This week I have accepted work by three new artists. Jim Wilson, Adrienne Rosen and Jack Tandy have all accepted invitations to exhibit in Ste Genevieve at the Studio.

Jim Wilson, of Farmington, an art professor and "artist-in-residence" at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, will have oils and watercolors exhibited. He is my first "featured artist", an idea I am trying out for August. Adrienne Rosen of St Louis is a juried member of Best of Missouri Hands and brings watercolors, colored pencil and oils. Jack Tandy of St Louis is well recommended by Adrienne and he is exhibiting acrylic paintings. Another artist invited to return is Lulu who has an exhibit in Cape Giradeau in July and Memphis in August. The Ste Genevieve Art Guild is represented well by Juanita Rapp-Wyman who is exhibiting her pastels, mixed media and oils both here and in Cape Girardeau this month; and by Matthew Fels who brings brilliant colors and a unique style (including mice) to his oils. Other Art Guild-ers are Betty Joggerst, Anita Alsup, Iris Vincent, Mary Ann Roth, Pat Ferguson, Cloice Lindwedel, Jacque Brillos and Jane Naeger. (I will add more as I remember.)

Returning artists invited for August are Barbara Olson and Nikita Wors of St Louis and Sara Best of Biehle.

All I need is more wall space or more discernment. Don't be surprised if I can't hang every artwork received for August. I will be adding more "wall" space by utilizing four antique single panel doors donated by Ken Kulberg (whose wife Karen is opening her own studio space with Bev Baker this month at Main Street Inn).

August's exhibit will open, as usual, on the Last Friday of the Month (which is also the very first Ste Genevieve Fourth Friday Art Walk) with a preview at 6 pm and a "Meet the Artists Reception" from 7 - 9 PM. During this time, participating artists will be available, on and off as they choose, to meet patrons and discuss their work (Jim Wilson will not be available until August since he is on vacation).

Blog from Studio on Nokia N800

Earlier this year, I bought a Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, a blue tooth keyboard and unlimited data on my ATT blue tooth phone. I have been using this setup to check email, browse and other things. This is the first time I have posted to my blog with this setup. First, I took pictures with my Samsung Digimax D53 and moved the SD memory card to the Nokia N800. Now I am posting the new picture of the painting I finished yesterday.

This is a 16¨ x 20¨ oil painting on canvas board of a photo I took last summer of Inn St Gemme Beauvais´ front porch in the afternoon sun. In February of this year, the Inn suffered a devastating electrical fire. It sits across the street from Studio de Michel with all of its windows boarded and construction guys going in and out. The owners told me that the Inn will reopen next year.

Meanwhile, enjoy the memory from last summer. The painting is priced at $225.

Sign Painting Two

If you have no idea what you might want to paint on a $50, 30" x 40" gallery canvas...paint a SIGN! Geeze, what was I thinking? Mixed turp with blue and brown and outlined the lettering. Mixed some violet and painted the background. Worked on the lettering. Added flowers with a palette knife. They were too bold and overpowered the lettering. Scratched them out with the end of a brush. The thing is drying in my Studio window. Hmmm. What a way to waste an expensive canvas (luckily, I only spent $5 for it!).

Ste Genevieve Arts Forum

Inkeeper, and artist, Karen Kulberg (who will opening her own art studio with Bev Baker soon) has conceived the web log at www.stegenarts.blogspot.com to promote interaction among artists and art enthusiasts involved with the Ste Genevieve arts scene. The newest addition to the Ste Genevieve art scene is a monthly gallery and open studio walk on the fourth Friday evening of each month (beginning in July on the 25th). A map with the various venues participating will be published and available at locations throughout Ste Genevieve. For more information on this event, and other art news in Ste Genevieve, sign up at the blog Ste Genevieve Arts Forum (www.stegenarts.blogspot.com) or request to be placed on the Ste Genevieve Art Guild email list at http://sgag.typetching.com

Colored pencil painting

This new painting measures approximately 5" x 7" and is framed in an 8" x 10" frame. The subject is the Ste Genevieve Hotel entrance on Merchant Street painted from a photo taken one morning last summer. This is priced at $75.

"Shaw House"...the Art Colony Studio

In the 1930's, in Ste Genevieve, there was an artist colony. Their communal studio was located at the corner of Second and Merchant. I took a photo of it one morning last year, and made a small 8 x 10 inch oil study of it. I started it last week and finished it up this weekend. Look for a better photo of it in the future. This is priced at $125 framed.

Oil monoprint with ink

These two oil mono prints were taken from the mono print published in a recent post. When the paint was still wet on the original mono print...two light impressions were taken. These impressions were treated with ink and brush to define the composition. The designs were too subtle for me without the ink.

These images measure approx 14" x 18" and are priced at $75 each unframed.

Sign Painting

One of the projects at Studio de Michel that keeps me busy is signage! When I was a teenager, I earned a little money painting signs here and there. This is a throwback to that time. My technique? Thank God for computer fonts! I picked Matisse ITC for my logo and enlarged it to 590 for the window and the small outside lettering; enlarged it by graph for the large outside and inside lettering. Inside I transferred the large font to the wall with graphite paper; outside I cut the lettering into outline stencils and patted paint over the paper for letter outlines. The rest is painting. Oh, the window? I used the stencil taped to the outside of the window, and painted on the inside. Picture coming! It's 6am...and I must make the signage!

A watercolor from last weekend

The weekend before last, I made several paintings. I was inspired by some photos of Ste Genevieve I had taken last year. One of them, because of the large amount of light and white space, I decided to paint in watercolor and detail with ink. The final painting is about 12" x 14" and priced at $125 unframed.

The photo is of a side entrance of The Jean Baptiste Valle House taken in the morning light. This house belonged to the last commandant of Ste. Genevieve and was a center for government activity during the final days of Spanish rule before the French took back the territory and sold it to the Americans. Jean Baptiste Valle, its owner, came from colonial Ste. Genevieve's leading family, which had prospered in mining and mercantile business.

Tonite

I visited my new Studio tonite, and sat inside on my adjustable chair with the lights off. The reflected setting sun was filtering in from the east and I was listening to the wind chime moved by the window air conditioner. As I looked at last weekend's art, I felt like this was the place I always need to be.

Welcome to my new art blog! Studio de Michel is the name of my working art studio and small art gallery in beautiful Ste Genevieve, Missouri.