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.

2 Paintings Sold Yesterday! Thanks Theresa!

RowBoat
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Yesterday was a great day!  Not only did I start a painting that will become my Christmas card this year, I also sold 2 paintings!  I have a studio in Falls Church at Stifel and Capra, 260 West Broad St. Theresa Stifel, the owner, emailed me and said she had a customer that was looking for a beach scene.  She asked me if I had anything. The people needed it as soon as possible.  I emailed some images to the couple.  They emailed me back and asked if I also had any garden paintings, especially sunflowers.

Garden of Shadows
by Jane McElvany Coonce

One of my favorite paintings, "Garden of Shadows" came to mind.  It's one I did a couple of years ago.  It's never sold, but frankly, I didn't care because it's one of my favorites.  So I sent  images of all my garden scenes.  The woman decided to buy two of my paintings, "Row Boat" to give as a present to her parents who just bought a beach house, and  "Garden of Shadows" to give as a present to her grandmother who loves sunflowers.

I delivered them to the buyer at 4 pm and at 5 pm they left for New Jersey to be delivered  to their new owners.  I'm glad two of my favorite paintings found a good home.  I will miss hanging them in my house, but now I have an excuse to paint more.

"Celebration of Color" Show

Remains of the Day
by Jane McElvany Coonce

While I was in Italy, the Arlington Artists Alliance had a juried show called the Celebration of Color.  I knew I would be gone when artists had to submit paintings, so I left them with a friend to turn in for me.  The juror was Daniel Wise, and he picked 41 paintings from about 75 entries.  My painting, "Remains of the Day" was selected.  This was a still life I did from a set up of empty bottles and glasses that I've been collecting.  I knew I wanted to do an"after the party" painting.  I got balloons at the store and dug through my closets to find a mask, party horns and Mardi Gras beads.  Once the still life was set up, I painted nonstop for 3 days because I knew I couldn't keep this "mess" set up forever.  It's a large painting (30x40 inches) done in oil.  I think it's a happy painting.  Although the party is over, it looks like a good time was had by all.  The colors are bright and cheerful. Who knows; maybe someone is under the table sleeping off their good time.

The Celebration of Color show is at the Northern Virginia Art Center in Crystal City.  I hope you can get over there and see the show.  It's definitely a colorful show!

Returning from Italy

Along the Amalfi Coast
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I just got back from Italy after a 12 day vacation.  We were in Rome for 3 days and then headed out to Umbria where we stayed in a villa with 4 of our friends.  It was a fabulous vacation.  Umbria is like Tuscany but without the crowds.  It's an artist's dream.  Hopefully, my photos will turn out, and I'll have an Umbrian series starting soon.

I'm still trying to adjust to the time change, and catch up on emails.  Going away is great; it's coming back that is tough.

The painting here is one I did from a previous Italy trip.  We didn't go to the Amalfi coast this time.  But it's also a beautiful area of Italy.

I'll be writing more about my trip in future blogs and hopefully have some paintings to go with them.

Georgetown Scene

Key Bridge in the Morning
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Here's another Georgetown scene with Key Bridge that is hanging at the Northern Virginia Art Center this month.  The gallery is going to have their big owning reception this month, and I'd like to invite you.  I won't be there because I'll be in Italy.  But I'd still love for you to come and see our beautiful space.  I'm hoping to take lots of photos of Umbria and the countryside of Italy.  Who knows - maybe that will be my next series.  I did a series on Venice when I went there.  So Umbria may be the next inspiration.



Reception:  Friday,  Sept 14 from 5-8 pm
Where:  At the Northern Virginia Art Center located in the Crystal City Shops
Address:  2120 -A Crystal Plaza Arcade (20th St. and Crystal Drive)
Parking:  free in the garage on 20th St. between Jefferson Davis Hwy and Crystal Dr.

Food and wine will be served.  Open to all.  Bring your friends and family.  There are a lot of good restaurants in the area.  Come see the show, have some free wine and appetizers, and then go out and have a nice dinner.