Gearing up for Ft. Smith

Afternoon Glow
by Jane McElvany Coonce

This week I've been getting ready for the Ft. Smith Show.  I just got "Afternoon Glow" back from the framers.  Rob Plati, of Underground Framing, is my framer, and I think he did a beautiful job.  I was so pleased how the painting looked in the frame.  A frame can make or break a painting.

This painting will be one of the paintings that I have a Ft. Smith.

Where:  2411 N. 24th St.  Arlington, VA. 22207
When:  Friday, Nov 30 is the Reception from 6-8.
             Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 am - 5 pm
             Sunday, Dec 2 from noon - 4 pm.

The reception is the most fun.  If you can't make , stop by Saturday or Sunday.  I will be there on Friday evening for the reception, and I will be working the sales desk on Sunday from 3-4.
Hope to see you.

Ft. Smith Show this Weekend

Cafe at Night
by Jane McElvany Coonce

This weekend is the Ft. Smith Show.  If you have never been to it, you are really missing something.  It's the premier show of the Arlington Artists Alliance.  The show's opening is this Friday evening with a reception.  It's like going to a very nice cocktail party.  There is beautiful art to look at and lots of interesting people to meet.

I will have several paintings in the show.  "Cafe at Night" is one of my small works that will be there.  It's 5 inches by 5 inches and is in a black floater frame with gold trim.

The show will continue all day Saturday and until 4 pm on Sunday.  Hope to see you there.  It's a great place to do some Christmas shopping.  Why not become an art collector and own original art?

Support Small Business Saturday

Cafe Light
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Saturday is "Support Small Business Saturday".  I hope all of you will come out and support the Northern Virginia Art Center.  We are located at Crystal City (20th St. between Crystal Drive and Jefferson Davis Highway).  Parking in the garage is free on Saturday.  I will be working at the gallery from 2 to 6 pm and would love the company.

We have several shows going on.  The 2 Sisters will be there with their glass works.  There is the "Small Works of Great Importance", and there is the show " Room with a View".  My painting, "Cafe Light", is in this last show.  It 's a view of 2 woman I saw in a cafe in Amsterdam.   When I saw them sitting there, I knew it would become a painting.

I hope you'll come by and see the show.  The show ends on Dec. 1, so you only have a week left to see it.  Come by and see me, too!

Black Friday 2012

Glow among the Sand Dunes
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Black Friday is a big shopping day as it is the kick off for the holiday season.  Northern Virginia Art Center is celebrating Black Friday by having a trunk show of 2 Sisters Glass.  Heide and Laurie make beautiful plates and serving platters with multi colored glass.  They will be there Friday and Saturday.  I will be there, too, in the afternoon,  from 2 - 6 pm.  I am working while our 2 co-directors are away for the Thanksgiving Holiday.    Come by and visit with me and see all the beautiful art.

The show this month at the gallery is "Small Works of Great Importance".  All the works in this show are 8x10 and under , a perfect size for a gift.  My piece, "Glow Among the Sand Dunes" is in the show.  It's 5 inches by 7 inches and framed in a dark brown frame.

The Northern Virginia Art Center is open Friday and Saturday 10 am - 6 pm.  I will be working both days in the afternoon.  Saturday has been declared small business day, so come out and support small businesses!

Name this Painting by Cupcake Jane

Cupcakes
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Twice a year, I leave town and head for the Shenandoah to an art retreat with my mentor Diane Tesler and paint with other artist-friends for 3 solid days.  Still lifes are set up and the painting begins.  It's great because I can really focus on the still life at hand with no interruptions.  No laundry, no telephone, no computer, no cooking, no grocery shopping. We paint all day and go out to dinner at night. It's amazing what you can get done when you don't have to take care of anyone else.  I look forward to my painting get-away and have been doing this for many years.

This Fall,  I did the cupcake painting.  I don't have a good title yet.  That's one thing I'm terrible at is naming paintings.  Please help me name this one.   This painting had many challenges.  One was the lamp that I put on the still life started melting the frosting, and cupcakes were sliding out of place. However,  the light is needed on the subject matter to create light areas and shadows.  Another problem was the striped towel. It gave me fits, and I repainted the towel 3 times.  But I finished "the bloody thing" that weekend and now I need a title.  So put your creative juices to work and help me out of this dilemna.

 Thanks from your friend, Cupcake Jane.

Triple Lottery!

View of Northwest Washington
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Two posts ago, I told you I felt like I had won the lottery, twice!  I had gotten into the juried show in the November show at The Art League, and that I had won honorable mention with my piece, "View of Northwest Washington."  I thought it couldn't get any better until today.  Now I have to say I won the triple lottery because the painting sold today!  Someone came into The Art League this morning and purchased it. Megan Fox, from the gallery called me and gave me the news, and it really lifted my spirits.  It is the ultimate compliment when someone is willing to put cold hard cash down on a painting.  Needless to say, I'm totally thrilled!

 The other exciting compliment I received was from the Northern Virginia Art Center. My piece, "Grand Canal in Venice" was chosen as the Gallery Staff favorites for the small works show.
The show will hang until Dec. 2.  This is a beautiful show.  If you are looking for a unique Christmas present, now is the time to visit the gallery.  There are a lot of small works that are very affordable.
The gallery is conveniently located in the Crystal City Shoppes  at 20th St. south and Crystal Drive.
I will be working there next Wednesday, Nov 21 from 2-6 pm and on Black Friday, November 23 from 2-6 pm.  Stop by and see me.  I'd love the company!

Grand Canal in Venice
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Seascape Project in my Art Classes

Path to the Beach
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Each semester, I give my students a theme that we will focus on.  I try to make it something that they will learn multiple things from.
This Fall, our theme was the seascape.  I wanted them to do something with clouds, sea, sand dunes, and sea oats.

Afternoon Glow on the Dune
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The first week, I demonstrated the sky and clouds and we also blocked in the sand, sand shadows and placement of the grasses.

We allowed the painting to dry for a week.

Day's End
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The next week, we focused on the thin grasses and the sea oats, added fences and birds.  We also went back and punched out the lightest lights and the darkest darks.  

All of my students did an amazing job.  For some of my students, it was the first painting they ever did. For my long time students, they painted like a pro.

My three demos all look like they could be Fall scenes at the beach.  Someone may ask why paint beach scenes in the Fall.  I think the Fall is the best time to go to the beach (less crowds, whether still nice) so why not paint the beach in the Fall, too.

November 2012 Show at The Art League

View of Northwest Washington
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Entering juried shows is part of the life of an artist.  It's like playing the lottery.  You never know if your work will be chosen or not.  If it is, you feel elated; if it is not, you can feel dejected.  However, I have a different attitude in entering juried shows.  I realize it's one person's opinion.  Depending on the judge, the piece can get in and win a prize whereas another judge will look at the same painting and give it the thumbs down.

Today was my lucky day.  I entered the juried show at The Art League located in the Torpedo Factory of Old Town Alexandria.  Not only was my painting juried into the show, it also won an honorable mention!  I was thrilled!  It was like winning the lottery twice!

The show will hang for the month of November.  The reception for the show is next Thursday evening, Nov 15.  Unfortunately, I teach that night, so I can't go down and receive my prize.  But I'm still thrilled that I was selected this month and honored that I won the award.

Potomac Valley Watercolorists Show

Secret Destination
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Shopping in the Rain
by Jane McElvany Coonce

This weekend there is another show that I am involved in.  It seems like the Fall is a busy time for artists!  This show is sponsored by Potomac Valley Watercolorists.  I am a member of the organization.  An artist has to be juried in to become a member.

I will have some of my acrylic night scenes in the show as well as some of my collages that I showed in a previous post. I will also have notecards there for sale.  Come by and see me!  I will be there on Saturday, Nov 3 from 4-5 at the card booth.  I will be selling notecards at the tiime.  But I will also be there before my work shift and afterwards.  I will also be there  on Sunday from 3 to 4 pm.

Lover's Lane
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The show runs for two days.  On Saturday, November 3, it's open from 3 - 7 pm.  The awards ceremony will be at 4 pm.  On Sunday, November 4, the show will be from noon to 4 pm.  Refreshments will be served both days.

St. Andrew's Episcopol Church is located at 4000 Lorcom Lane in Arlington.  It is located at Lorcom Lane and Military Rd.
There is plenty of parking on the side of the church and a huge parking lot in the back.

Hope to see everyone there!