Where did the time go?

Things have been so busy lately that I’ve not been able to keep up with blogging.   Art Gallery of Viera’s move and getting settled in, followed by my search, as Central Brevard Art Assoc.’s scholarship chair, for a recipient for the 2012 Youth Scholarship Award has thrown me way behind.  But here is a pic of our new gallery location.  It is so nice now to have all of our artists able to present their work in their own individual space.  Tomorrow, I’ll be removing my work from the Cocoa Library, and I’ll be bringing new work to the gallery next week.  My recent 1st Place Award at Titusville Art League’s show has me totally excited to get busy creating some new work and I just found out that Paula Steere will be starting her Life Drawing classes at the Satellite Beach Rec. Center this coming Tuesday.

Vision 2012 – Strawbridge Art League show

 I’m inviting everyone to like my artist page on facebook and also to like my page on the Abstract Artist website.  (Of course that’s if you actually find you do like them.)   You can do it by simply going to www.facebook.com/HelenWheatley.Artist  and  www.abstractartistgallery.org/Helen-Wheatley/  and clicking the like button.  Feel free to share my pages with whoever you think might like to see them as well.  My book, “Driven to Abstraction”, is supposed to arrive on Friday and the waiting is driving me crazy.  Why didn’t I spring for the express delivery?  I guess I thought I’d save a buck or two, which I’d much more happily spend on art supplies.  Oh well.

I’ll be heading down to the Henegar Center on Saturday bringing artwork to submit for Strawbridge Art League’s annual Vision Show.  Vision 2012 promises to be an exciting show with lots of talented artists entering their best works.  You must be a member to enter, but you can join at the take-in.  The Henegar Center for the Arts is located at 625 E. New Haven Ave. in Melbourne, Florida.  Take-in is scheduled for this Friday 2-6 pm & Saturday 10 am – 2 pm.

New artwork on display now.

Night Tide

Masquerade Ball

My latest series of paintings is on display now at Art Gallery of Viera, located at The Avenue, Viera.

The Celebration Series includes “Masquerade Ball” (at right), “Opening Night”, and “Bon Voyage”.  Mingled in with these larger paintings are some of my smaller acrylic abstracts including my latest works, “Humanity Sea”, “The Crossing”, and ”Awaiting the Storm”.

Last weekend, one of my small abstracts, “Night Tide” above left, received a Merit Award at Strawbridge Art League’s juried show, Water.  It can be seen at the Henegar Center for the Arts, located at 625 E. New Haven Ave. in Melbourne, Florida through January 22nd, 2012.

This weekend, I am exhibiting with the Central Brevard Art Association at their 6th annual Heritage Isle Holiday Art Show.  The show is at the Heritage Isle Community Clubhouse, (a beautiful ballroom setting) at 6800 Legacy Boulevard, Viera, Florida. To get there, take the Wickham Rd. exit from I-95 and go west past the traffic circle. Continue west and you’ll find the Heritage Isle community on the right side of Wickham. The show will be open Saturday, November 12th from 10:00 am till 5:00 pm and on Sunday the 13th from noon till 4:00 pm. 

 

 

Finally

Bon Voyage

I think the thing I like best about doing a series of paintings is that you can set a goal and (hopefully) achieve it.  The feeling of accomplishment helps me get through whatever other stuff I have to do.  This is a short series, but it seemed like it took forever.  I guess that makes the taste of being finished even sweeter.  Bon Voyage completes my series that has included Opening Night and Masquerade Ball.  All bright and festive and so different from the work I’m doing the rest of the time.  For some reason, I feel like having a glass of wine.

Calling it a Painting

Masquerade Ball

 

Finally, after many, many long hours, layer after layer of paint, I’m finally ready to call this one done.  It’s a fun painting, full of bright colors, and a feeling of jubilation.  Can you feel the excitement, the beat of the music?  I always feel like celebrating after completing a new piece.  Especially one that challenged my imagination as much as this one has.  Why is it that the creativity simply flows some days (or weeks) and other times you have to dig so deep to get it down on paper?  Perhaps it was the difficulty of changing gears.  The abstract acrylics I have been doing have been more spontaneous, less labored.  Working on this piece, while using the bright colors was fun, I found capturing the feeling, the movement and euphoria of a party was, well, exhausting.  After all that, I sure hope you like it.  Feel free to leave a comment and let me know if you’ve encountered such difficulty and how you overcame it. 

Halloweird A Celebration of the Strange

Black Cat Rescue

Making some new friends

Halloweird Bunch

If you couldn’t make it to Art Gallery of Viera last night because you couldn’t get to your boat or your waders weren’t high enough to keep you dry, fear not!  The exhibit will be there throughout the month of October.  Odd art of all kinds are on display and you will marvel at the creativity and perhaps wonder “what were they thinking?”   The folks from the South Brevard Humane Society were on hand to dispel myths about black cats and raise awareness of their particular difficulty in getting adopted.  Donations of canned cat food, paper towels, cleaning products, etc. gratefully accepted.

Limited progress and scattered attention

Small portion of new painting

So here I go off in another direction for a short while.  I can’t seem to get away from my love of geometric shapes and bright, bold colors.  I’m not loving this piece yet, but that’s part of the process.  Like I learned in watercolors, the painting doesn’t come alive until the final touches are added.  However, working on it at this point is…frustrating at best, annoying at worst.  The only thing to do is to keep on keeping on and as the dedicated professional I strive to be, that is exactly what I’m doing today.  Hopefully my limited progress will have the painting starting to turn the corner to becoming a work of art instead of just the art of work.  And remember, this is just a part of the painting.

Accepted by Abstract Artist Gallery

Tempest

 

 

I’m so excited!  I have applied and been accepted to the Abstract Artist Gallery.

This gallery features the finest abstract artists’ work from all over the world.

Check out the website at www.abstractartistgallery.org    You’ll find a broad selection of abstract works that are exciting and unique.  I am so honored to be included among them.  When they sent my acceptance, they said my work is expressive, spontaneous, and executed with passion.  I agree!  What do you think?

Up-sizing?

Nothing I can use here

When I began my new series of paintings last year, I started small.  I worked on 10″x10″ illustration boards which resulted in framed pieces where the image size was 9″x9″.   They have been very well received.  They have sold well and have been accepted into juried shows and even won an award.  All the while, it seemed everyone wanted to see bigger works.  So now I’m working on 20″x20″ canvases.   (I know, I know, that’s not very big either) I had to switch to canvas because illustration board bowed.  The new surface is not the issue, as I have done some of my small pieces on canvas.  (And they have sold well, too.)  The problem I encounter, unlike when I was painting watercolors and just used larger brushes to create larger works, is that it’s hard to translate the random tools I use, into a larger version.  Each item is unique, mostly salvaged from the trash.  So I guess it’s back to the trash to try to find larger items that will give me similar effects.  So, if you see me rummaging around in a trash can, please be kind and don’t laugh and point.

Tropical Daze

Bamboo Moon

 

 Be sure to stop by Art Gallery of Viera this Saturday night, August 13th, from 6-9 pm. for an island experience at our Tropical Daze art show’s opening reception.

My paintings, Bamboo Moon, seen at left, Bamboo, Man Over Board, and a framed (#1)  giclee print of Beach Baby are included among artwork by Art Gallery of Viera artists, as well as several guest artists.  There will be live steel drum music, live tropical birds, refreshments and more!  Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy art that suits our Florida lifestyle.  Mediums from acrylic to watercolor and silk to jewelry will be available for purchase.  Meet the artists who create this lovely work and learn more about the talents that surround you here in Brevard County.