Announcing Maggie Siner's 2019 Workshop in France

"Les Bassacs Farmhouses"
8 x 12, Oil on Linen
(c) Lesley Powell 2018

Faithful readers know that one of my annual rituals is attending Maggie Siner's painting workshop in Provence. It's a highlight of my year. My husband asks how I can keep going back to the same place, with the same instructor, year after year--he thinks that would get boring. My reply: Au contraire!! I'm excited that the dates have been set for next year (details here).

"Fields near Ochre Woods"
12 x 16, Oil on Linen
(c) Lesley Powell 2018
Available at Huff Harrington Fine Art

Though we stay in the same little hamlet every year, Maggie always scouts out new painting locations. Each location is carefully chosen to help us understand and implement the lesson of the day. The "lessons" are a series of building blocks to help us learn to see and to paint.

I use the term "lessons", but actually the experiences far outstrip that meager word. The workshop is a total immersion

To Audio Guide or Not To...

Photo (c) Metropolitan Museum

The audioguide was first introduced in 1953, in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. As the old commercial used to say, "We've come a long way, Baby!" In one recent twist, IBM has even used its Watson artificial intelligence platform to allow paintings to "talk" to their viewers.

And yet. When I visit a museum, I am always torn as to whether or not I should use the audio guide. One one hand, I don't want to miss anything. On the other hand, I don't want a stranger to tell me what to see, or what to think about the works of art.

The Metropolitan Museum in New York did a comprehensive study of its audioguide program in 2015. The study found that

'Tis the Season!

"Les Astiers"
Oil on Linen, 8 x 16
(c) Lesley Powell 2018
Available at Dilworth Artisan Station Holiday Open House

Hard as it may be to believe, the holiday season is nigh! Like everybody else, art galleries and painters have their own rituals of the season. One of the rituals is the "small works" show -- a collection designed to showcase paintings that are small enough to fit under the Christmas tree, and affordable enough for gift-giving. After all, who wouldn't love a gift of art??

"Cyclamen, Winter"
8 x 8, Oil on Canvas
(c) Lesley Powell
Available at Dilworth Artisan Station Holiday Open House

Galleries often send out a call for small works as early as August or September. The early call gives painters time to plan and execute paintings that fit the bill. Many painters work in a very large scale, so producing small works is a diversion for them, something they do especially for the holidays. Some painters even paint Christmas-themed paintings just for these shows. 

"Fresh Mown Fields"
Oil on Linen, 8 x 16
(c) Lesley Powell 2018
Available at Huff Harrington

Lucky for me at this time of year, I often paint in a smaller format. As a result, I have plenty of paintings to consider for these events. And all of them have been created in the course of my ongoing approach to painting, throughout the year. I am illustrating this post with some of them.

"Gerbera and Lemon"
12 x 9, Oil on Linen
(c) Lesley Powell 2018
(SOLD)

If you'd like to see Small Works shows in person, here are a few that will include my paintings. The dates are for the opening receptions, which will feature yummy food and drinks. It's a fun way to kick off the holiday season! The shows themselves will be hanging for most of December. Click the links below for more details. Enjoy!

"Little Jewels"

Huff Harrington Fine Art

Atlanta

Reception: Saturday, December 1st, 10 AM to 5 PM

"Small Works Show"

Shain Gallery

Charlotte, NC

Reception: Friday, December 7th, 6 to 8 PM

"Holiday Open House"

Dilworth Artisan Station

Charlotte, NC

Reception: Friday, December 7th, 6 to 9 PM