Christmas and Holiday Greetings 2015

Christmas Ornaments
Original painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

I'd like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy holidays.  This is a hectic time of year.  But it's also a time to reflect what we are thankful for.  I am thankful that I was blessed with great parents, a wonderful brother (although I didn't think so when we were little), a loving husband, 3 fabulous sons and a multitude of supportive friends.  Some of my friends are ones I've know since diapers (Beth Huley, Toby Twining, Joan Smith) , some of them I met through work (Chris Bury, Laura Twining) and others through marriage to friends (Eileen and Rich Regen).  Some from my neighborhood ( Rich and Kathy Gathro, Maria  and Van Meredith). Some I've met through teaching art classes- people who started off as students and later became friends.  I've also made new friends who were students on the cruise ships.  I am thankful for all of you, even if I didn't list you. The love of friends and family is the greatest gift a person can receive.  Thanks to all of you for being my friend.  It means everything to me.  I am truly blessed.

Dec 2015 Art Reception at Gallery Underground

Remains of the Day
by Jane McElvany Coonce

If you are looking forward to doing something tonight, stop by the Gallery Underground in Crystal City.  We are having our opening reception for the December show.  I have several paintings in the show, one of them being "Remains of the Day."  Hopefully, you will be doing some celebrating this season like the painting shows.  We'd love for you to come and celebrate with us tonight.  I will be there with some pulled pork barbecue from King Street Blues. The reception is from 5 to 7 pm.  Afterwards, enjoy some of the fabulous restaurants in the neighborhood.  There is free parking in the garage on 20th street between Crystal Drive and Jefferson Davis Highway(Route 1).

The show will hang until the end of the month, so stop by anytime if you can't make it tonight.

December 2015 Show at The Art League

Fish at the Market
watercolor by Jane McElvany Coonce

One of the hardest things for artists is entering juried shows.  In this area, competition is very stiff.  There are a lot of artists!  The Art League at the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria has 1,000 members.  Although not every artists enters the monthly juried shows, many of them do.  So when you enter a juried show, you have to realize that there are lots of artists doing the same thing.  The juror also has his or her own personal taste, and he may or may not like your work.  I've seen many a good painting get rejected and wonder why the judge didn't pick it.  Some of them that get rejected are so good that if I had been the judge, I would have given the artist a prize.  But art is in the eye of the beholder.  When you enter juried shows, you have to remember that.

It's hard for beginning artist, who just start entering juried shows, get up enough courage to enter.  And then when their piece is rejected, they feel that maybe they aren't as good an artist as they thought they were.  But that's the wrong attitude.  It's one day and one judge.  On another day and with a different judge, the paintings that are picked for a show might be totally different.

I've had my fair share of rejection.  But that doesn't keep me from stopping entering juried shows.  I entered the December show this month at The Art League. An artist is allowed to enter two pieces, but only one can be picked.  I entered the painting that I won the award with, "Approaching the Equinox", and also the "Fish at the Market."  My prize winning painting didn't get selected!  But I was thrilled that the judge picked the fish painting.

One can never guess what a judge will like.  One judge gives a painting a prize, and the next day a different judge rejects it!  But at least my Fish painting will hang this month at The Art League.
If you get a chance, go see the show.

I guess the moral of the story is:  Never give up.

2nd Day of Hollin Hills Watercolor Show

Approaching the Equinox
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Hollin Hills Art Show opened yesterday, and the awards ceremony took place at 5:30.  I was thrilled to learn that I won an award for my watercolor painting, "Approaching the Equinox."   It was selected for the Carriage House Award which was a cash prize.!

The show goes on today until 4 pm.  It is a magnificent show.  I've never seen so many beautiful watercolors under one roof.

Hollin Hills is right off of Ft. Hunt Rd.  The address is 1500 Shenandoah Rd. , Alexandria, VA. If you come down GW Parkway, it's south of Old Town Alexandria.

Hope to see you there.

2015 Watercolor Art Show at Hollin Hall in Alexandria

Chinese Take Out and Beer
watercolor by Jane McElvany Coonce

For those of you who live near Alexandria, Virginia, there is a wonderful watercolor show this weekend at Hollin Hills.  All of the paintings in the show are watercolor, and there are probably 40 artists who are showing their work including me!

I'll be there with a few of my newest watercolors.  "Chinese Take Out and Beer" was just finished yesterday.  I'm always amazed at the fabulous paintings that are in this show.  Gwen Bragg has organized the show.  And she always does a fabulous job.  I hope you will stop by Saturday or Sunday to see it.

Hollin Hills is located at 1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria , VA.  It's right off the GW Parkway, just south of Old Town.  The hours are:

         Saturday, Dec 5th  from  4 pm to 7 pm
          Sunday, Dec 6th from noon to 4 pm

It's a great way to do some holiday shopping.  An original painting would make a great gift!  It's one of a kind, and no one on the face of the earth will ever have that painting but you!  Hope to see you there.

Artregeous 2015

Walking in the Rain
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Arlington Artists Alliance is having its annual fundraiser this Friday evening at the Gallery Underground in Crystal City.  If you haven't been before, it's a MUST!  It's a silent auction where artists donate a painting or a service , and people can bid on them.  All of the money goes to the organization to help us to accomplish our goals.
Many artists donated paintings.   Agnes Yackshaw will donate her skills to do the state bird of your choice.  George Bowles has donated a basket full of wine, chocolate, olive oil and other wonderful goodies.  Tony Neville donated an art lesson in watercolor.  So there is something for everyone.

I hope you will join us for a night of artwork, sculpture, pottery and jewelry.  There will be live music, and the refreshments will be donated by the restaurants of Crystal City.

It's always a fun event.  You can see the art work ahead of time this week.  You can actually bid on work throughout the week.

On Friday, the festivities will begin from 6 - 9 pm.  It's at the Gallery Underground at The Shops at 2100 Crystal Dr. in Arlington.  There is free parking in the garage.  

So come party with me!  See you Friday.