Review of the Home Tour Studio

The 2nd Annual Studio Tour, sponsored by the Arlington Artists Alliance, was a huge success despite hurricane Sandy's impending presence.  I was afraid the coming of the storm would keep people away.  (The news reporters were trying their best to get everyone to go to the grocery stores.)  
However, I had 40 people come by on Saturday and 17 people on Sunday.    
Five of my paintings found new homes.  I got several commissions.  But the most popular item was my notecards.  The Key Bridge notecards were the biggest seller, but coming in 2nd was my crab series of notecards.

I took a tally to see where most people heard about the show.  By in large, most people came because of my efforts to send a personal invitation that I hand delivered to 150 houses in my neighborhood.  I took the dog with me

We delivered the letters over the course of 3 days.  The poor dog slept the rest of the afternoon because our neighborhood is so hilly.
So although it was a lot of work to hand deliver the invitations, it did help to bring people to the tour and it gave me (and the dog) some exercise.

Thanks to all of you that came by and kept me company.  I had 2 friends from high school that stopped by, and I got to have a glass of wine and a long chat with Karen.  We probably haven't talked that much since lunch in the Yorktown cafeteria!

Last Day of the Home Studio Tour

Christmas Day Parade in Middleburg
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Today was the first day of the Home Studio Tour.  I opened up my house from 10 am until 5 pm.  I had over 40 people stop by.  I sold 3 paintings and tons of notecards.   The painting, "Christmas Day Parade in Middleburg", was a painting that I just completed a couple of weeks ago.  It will be my Christmas card this year.  Every year I paint a painting that I turn into a Christmas card.  Today, someone who came to the open house bought the painting!  I haven't owned it very long, but I know it's going to a good home.

Tomorrow will be the last day of the tour.  Again the hours are from 10 am-5 pm.

I hope you can stop by and do some Christmas shopping.  There are notecards, paintings and sculpture.

The Nanny
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Notecards: The Crab Series
10 cards/10 envelopes
5 different images

This Saturday and Sunday-Home Tour

A Place Within
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I have been experimenting with abstract collage.  I recently did about 13 pieces over the course of a week.  Abstract isn't really my thing, but every once in a while I make myself stretch and get out of my comfort zone.  I focus on color and value and also design.  Abstracts aren't as easy as you may think.  They really take a lot of work.

I will have my pieces at the home studio tour this weekend.  This is the first time they have been seen by the public.  You'll have to tell me if you think they work or not, or if I should stick to my day job!

Rejuvenation
by Jane McElvany Coonce

                                                                    The studio tour is in conjunction with the Arlington Artists Alliance's 2nd annual studio tour.  It is on Saturday. Oct 27 and Sunday, Oct 28 from 10 am- 5 pm.
I hope you'll stop by and give me a critique.  My address is 4057 N. 27th St. Arlington, Va.  I'll have maps if the other studios that you can visit on the tour.  Hope to see you.

Haunting Melody
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Home Studio Tour This Weekend

Key Bridge in the Morning
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I hope everyone has put this weekend on their calendar to attend the 2nd annual Studio Tour and Sale.  It's Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28 from 10 am until 5 pm, both days.

That's a long time for me to sit around and I need company.  Please stop by and have some refreshments and see some art work.

Key Bridge in the Evening
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I have 3 Key Bridge paintings on display and lots of other paintings of still life and landscapes.
                                                                           
The tour begins at my house at 4057 N. 27th St. in Arlington.  Here's your chance to see lots of McElvany-Coonce paintings all at one time.  Hope to see you this weekend.

2nd Annual Studio Tour and Sale This Weekend

Key Bridge and M St.
by Jane McElvany Coonce

This weekend on Saturday, Oct 27 and Sunday, Oct 28 from    10 am until 5 pm, the Arlington Artists Alliance is having the 2nd Annual Studio Tour.  I didn't participate last year because my son, who goes to the University of Delaware, was diving at a meet at George Mason University.  However, this year I am able to join the tour.

I would like to invite you and your friends to my house to view art, including painting and sculpture. There will be refreshments.  I will be working on a painting, so you can see me in action.

My address is 4057 N. 27th St.  Arlington, VA.  You can "Map Quest" it or email me for directions.  (Jane.Coonce@verizon.net)
There are 12 other homes and studios that you can tour, too.

If you go to the Arlington Artists Alliance website, you can print off a map of all the houses on the tour. The web site address is:  www.arlingtonartistsalliance.org


I hope you will come by and say hi, have something to eat, and see what I've been up to for the past year.

Cassatt's Show for Oct-Nov 2012

Remains of the Day
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Celebration of Color show came down at the Northern Virginia Art Center and has now traveled to Cassatt's Cafe.  If you didn't get to see the juried show at the gallery, now is the time to see it at Cassatt's.  It will hang from October 15 until November 18.  There is a reception next Sunday evening, October 21 from 6 - 7:30 pm, and I'd like to invite everyone to come and see this colorful show.
Cassatt's is located at 4536 Lee Highway in Arlington, VA.  I'll be there, so stop by and say hi.  Maybe we can party like the painting!

The piece that I have in the show "Remains of the Day" is a very large painting.  It's 30 inches by 40 inches.  It was so much fun to paint.  I especially love the cake.  Originally, I had a slice of cake on the plate.  A friend told me I should take a bite out of it to make it more realistic.  It was great advice.  That's my favorite part of the whole painting!

The Art League Show - October 2012

The Home Stretch
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Art League, which is housed at the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, has a monthly juried show.  Entering juried shows isn't for the faint of heart.  You have to develop nerves of steel.  Rejection is a big part of an artist's life.  I always equate entering juried shows to playing the lottery.  You hope you'll get into the show, but so do 500 other artists. And there is limited space so the judge can only pick a certain number.   However, today was my lucky day.  My painting, The Home Stretch, was selected by the juror.

This painting is a pastel.  I used to do a lot of pastels, but it's expensive to frame them, much more so than an oil painting.  An in the hierarchy of art, oil reigns supreme, and therefore, sells better.  I'm not sure why since oil and pastel use the exact same pigments.  Some people feel that pastels aren't as stable.  But if they are behind glass, they are just as lasting as an oil painting.

Every once in a while , I miss doing pastel and so I pull out my set of pastels and paint.  For some reason, I love doing horse racing in pastels.  I've done at least 10 horse racing scenes - all in pastels.  I've never done one in oil.  Don't think I'll try either.  I like how the pastels look with the animals fur and with the jockeys' clothing.

If you get a chance, go down to The Art League and see the show.  It's a good one.