Reception for "Travels in France" This Sunday, Oct 30, 2016

Boats Along the Canal of the Aude River
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

The art show, "Travels in France," was hung 2 weeks ago.  It's a beautiful show that has gotten rave reviews!  6 paintings have sold by 5 different artists so far.  And we haven't even had the reception.  We have filled the empty spaces on the wall with more French paintings, so there is plenty to see and buy.  Initially, we couldn't hang all the paintings that we created, so as painting sells, we put another one in its place.  So the show is continually changing.

I hope you will come on Sunday, Oct 30 , from 5 to 8 pm.  It's at Cassatt's Cafe 

4536 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA.

If you can't make it to the reception, you can visit Cassatt's 

Monday - Friday : 8 am - 9 pm

Saturday:  9 am - 9 pm

Sunday:  9 am - 3 pm

The show will end on Sunday,November 13

so you have 2 more weeks to see it.  

Vineyard Overlooking Saint Anselme
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

Travels in France: A Show of the Paintings of Our Trip to Limoux

Blue Door of Camon
watercolor painting by Jane McElvany Coonce


Yesterday, we hung the show at Cassatt's.  The paintings we hung were a culmination of the work we did in France this summer.  I took a group of 10 artists and 3 non artists over to France.  We spent several days in Paris touring the city and eating great French food.  Then we took the train down to Montfalcon.  We traveled each day to a small town, vineyard or a canal to paint our hearts out.  We had a fabulous time and ate wonderful French food.  After we came home, we finished up work and framed our pieces for this wonderful show.

I hope you will go and see the show.  It's at Cassatt's Cafe,  4536 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA.  It's open from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday.  Saturday it is open from 9 am- 8pm and Sunday, it's open from 9 am to 3 pm.

The show will hang from Sunday Oct. 16 until Sunday, November 13,2016.

There will be a reception where you can meet all of the artists on Sunday, October 30 from 5 to 8 pm.
Hope you can make it and see all the beautiful art that we did.

Market Day
watercolor by Jane McElvany Coonce

3rd Annual Art Auction: Artrageous!

Morning Light on Key Bridge
by Jane McElvany Coonce

For a third year in a row, the Arlington Artists Alliance is having its annual fundraiser  this coming Friday, Oct 7 from 6 to 8 pm at the Gallery Underground in Crystal City.  This year, I painted "Morning Light on Key Bridge" especially for the event.  The fundraiser called Artrageous is a silent art auction and over 75 paintings will be in the show. There will be paintings, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics and some other fun items including my brother's beach house for a weekend.

The show will be hung on Monday, Oct 3, and you can preview the work from Oct 3 through the 7th.
The art auction admission is free, and it's a way to acquire art at a very reasonable price.  I hope everyone will come for a fun evening of food, beverage, music and of course, ART!

I will be there and would love to party with you.  So put it on your calendar and come this Friday.
Parking is free in the garage on 20th St between Rt. 1 and Crystal Drive.

Drop by next week at Gallery Underground for an in-person preview of all the great art to be auctioned, on view from October 3-7, 10am-6pm.  Or view artwork you can bid on at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/126919361@N04/sets/72157671268913426

See something you love? Can’t attend this year? NEW feature, “BUY IT NOW,” allows you to buy art right off the wall at great prices without waiting for the auction competition.

The Gallery is located at The Shops at 2100 Crystal Drive in Arlington.

Reception at 1st Stage This Sunday, September 11, 2016

Remains of the Day
 oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

In case you missed my last post, I have a solo show at 1st Stage!  (Thanks to Debby Conn for arranging it!)  The reception is this Sunday, September 11 from 4:30 to 6:30 and you are invited!
I really hope you'll stop by.  I have 20 oil paintings in the show.  They really look great with the warm mustard colored walls.  Stop by and have some wine and snacks.

1st Stage is located at 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons , Va.  If you are on Route 7, turn when you see Container Store ( on the other side of Route 7 from Marshalls, Sports Authority) .  Go up one block and turn left into a small strip mall.  When you see the big sports gym, park there.  1st Stage is right there although I think you really have to search for the signage.  There is plenty of  free parking.

Hope to see you this Sunday!

Hydrangeas, Roses and Sargent
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

My Solo Show at 1st Stage, Tysons Corner, VA

A Piggy Bank's Dream
by Jane McElvany Coonce

This week, I hung a show of 20 of my paintings at 1st Stage Theatre.  The show will be there from August 25 until October 9, 2016.  One way to see my show is to also buy tickets to their first play of the season, "Lobby Hero."

I will also have a reception on Sunday, September 11 and would like to invite all of my fans to come.  The reception will be from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.  Please feel free to drop by.  You don't need tickets to come to the reception.

If you haven't heard of 1st Stage before, please feel free to check them out on their website.
They are located at Tyson's Corner and there is plenty of parking.

The address for 1st Stage is:

1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons, Va. 22102.

The theatre is right off Route 7.  When you see the Container Store, turn at that corner and the theatre is located about a block up on the left in a small shopping center.  Hope to see you at the reception.

The Audition
by Jane McElvany Coonce

A Sculpture Named Sheila

Sheila
Terra Cotta by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Art League, located in the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, is having 2  juried shows this month.  One is the landscape show that they have every August and the other is a sculpture show called "Taking Shape."  I was thrilled when my sculpture, "Sheila," was accepted.

I started doing sculpture when my youngest son was just born.  I needed a break from motherhood, so once a week I hired a babysitter and would go to The Art League and take a sculpture class.

One thing about sculpture is that you really need to work from a model.  A photograph doesn't show you the person except from one view point.  In sculpture, ever view point is important.

I captured a woman who had beautiful features, and I put her in a simple garment and head scarf.  She reminded me of a woman from my childhood.  Elnora was a cleaning lady who cleaned many of the houses in my neighborhood.  Although, she didn't clean my parent's house, I knew her because she was always at one of the neighborhood kids' houses.  She was like a 2nd mother, always fussing at us and fixing us food.  I know everyone in our neighborhood had a special place in our hearts for Elnora.  Even in her simple clothes, Elnora was memoriable. This sculpture celebrates all those special people who touch our lives in some small way but who have a special quality that makes them last in our memories until the day we die.  Sometimes, it's just a little incident that triggers a memory and makes you remember someone who made a lasting impression in your life.

Finishing Touches on My France Paintings

Vineyard Overlooking the Village of Saint Anselme
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

During the heat wave, I finished up a few paintings that I had started in France, but they needed a few touch ups.  This is one of the paintings I did in France.  We painted in a vineyard with this tiny town just down the hill.  It was a beautiful day, and all of my students did a fantastic job.

Boats on the Aude River in Carcassone
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce



Another day we went to the new city of Carcassonne (instead of the medieval part) and painted along the Aude River.  It was a lovely spot.  Some boat owner had the nerve to move his boat in the middle of the painting session,. Luckily I had taken some photos.  Again, everyone did a fabulous job!  The only mishap we had on this day was one of my students was sitting very close to the river and somehow her little tray tipped over and all of her tubes of paint went into the river.  For an artist, that's one of the worst things that could happen to you  Maybe a thousand years from now, some archeologist will find the paints at the bottom of the Aude and write an ode about it.