Gold Coast Watercolor Society - Wet Paint Exhibition

It is close to the holidays and what a great way to get ready, and maybe even do a little holiday shopping, than to attend an opening reception. Looking at art, having a glass of wine and seeing friends is a great way to relax during these busy days. The Wet Paint exhibit has its opening tonight, December 12th, but the exhibition continues until January 11th.

Stop by and enjoy!

"Art Deco" - watercolor

Understanding Diago

This week I went to an opening reception of two Cuban artists at the Lowe Art Museum. I must say that I went home that night having enjoyed one of the best openings I have attended, but not too thrilled about one of the artists, Juan Robert Diago's work. The following day there was a gallery talk with the artist and the curator of the show, Dr. Alejandro de la Fuente. I went because this artist is not only Cuban, but still lives in Habana. Also, he is black and his works reflect the racism existing in Cuba. I had pre-conceived ideas about him. First, he must be communist and secondly, what racism? I wanted to hear what he had to say. Assuming I was going to come back disappointed in his message.

This experience was not only informative, but a life lesson for me; the fact that you don't understand what you don't know. This young man was soft-spoken, but as he explained his life, his career and his pieces, it was as if he was screaming his message. I understood his struggle and perseverance to create, although lacking materials. I related to his fight against racism through his art and his desire to make it better for the next generation of black Cubans. 

I came to the USA, as a child, and was not aware of racism, since I went to school with blacks and even had them as neighbors. His explanation of how racism happens in a communist country that has preached equality since 1959 was incredible. He is an artist with a purpose, hoping to help the next generation and very decisive about not selling his soul as he sells his art. Thank you, Diago!

Miami Watercolor Society 46th Annual Fall Exhibition

It seems that the bar to exhibit with the Miami Watercolor Society gets higher each year. So much talent in this group and the art they produce is outstanding. This is the reason why I am so happy to be part of this exhibition and to have been judged by the great Soon Y. Warren.

Below is the piece I will be exhibiting, along with the detail of the upcoming opening reception.
See you there!

Date: November 2, 2019
Time: 6-8 pm
Place:  Coconut Grove Art Festival Gallery
            3390 Mary Street
            Coconut Grove, Florida

Painting Pleasures

Painting has provided me lots of pleasure. I enjoy the process and I enjoy the result.....sometimes. There is always pleasure when you make a sale. It means someone likes the painting enough to buy it and look at it in their home.  Another pleasure is when you enter a show and the juror selects your painting to be part of the exhibition. Friends and family attend  and enjoy your piece. The icing on the exhibition cake is being awarded a prize. That may not happen often, but one keeps striving.

I have found another modern day pleasure to painting and it is art licensing. This step adds functionality to your pieces and allows people worldwide to see your work. It also makes it possible to enjoy art in places other than on a wall. I have been fortunate to have a few companies that license my art. It is through these companies that I arrive at yet another pleasure; selling my art at retail stores. It is great to have seen my art available at Macy's, Bloomingdale, Wayfair, Amazon, Overstock,  and Bed Bath and Beyond. Enjoy a few below!

Macy's.com

Curtains and wall mural.
https://www.macys.com/shop/product/deny-designs-rosie-brown-color-my-world-8x8-wall-mural?ID=6960419&CategoryID=190361

Bed, Bath and Beyond.com

Shower curtains, wallpaper, mirrors, tapestry and wall art.
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/s/rosie-brown?ta=typeahead

Amazon.com

Coasters, duvet covers, shower curtains and more.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rosie+brown+deny+designs&ref=nb_sb_noss

Wayfair.com

Duvet covers, mugs, mirrors and more.
https://www.wayfair.com/filters/keyword.php?keyword=rosie+brown&filters=colorList~Brown&new_keyword_search=1

Overstock.com

Curtains, duvet covers and more.
https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Rosie-Brown-Dots-And-Dots-Single-Panel-Sheer-Curtain-50-X-84/22042940/product.html?refccid=7CSQXYO6V5FLWDCCYRFN4QBGDQ&searchidx=49&kwds=rosie%20brown%20deny%20design&rfmt=

Oceania Marina

Traveling is not only fun, but an inspiration for my art and photography. Our last trip was a Baltic Sea cruise. I was very much looking forward to visiting those countries. Little did I know that the ship, Oceania Marina, was just what I would love. It was like a floating gallery. As soon as you walk in, you can't help, but be in awe of the grand staircase and tables.  It was Lalique!!

It was also impressive to look around and see art on the walls from some very well known artists. As I read the labels, I noticed that there seemed to be an art tour available. The information desk supplied us with the head pieces and we enjoyed an afternoon of looking and learning about the art and the artists. It was  surprising to even see pieces from a local Miami artist.

The ship also has an artist loft with an artist in residence. She held classes on board, which I was happy to attend. It was relaxing, a way to meet other  artists or just people interested in art.

All in all, a fabulous inspiring trip!

Pattern Design Vs Fine Art

Art has always been a  part of my life. As a kid, I enjoyed coloring. As I got older I enjoyed sketching, but never planning on it being a career so I never took art classes in school or college. It was always something I did in my spare time, as a hobby. It came naturally. 

Once I retired, I decided to paint full time, take some workshops and give selling a shot. I found that my hobby became a part-time job that benefited me with my anxiety.   I then became familiar with pattern designs. I love creating art for home decor products and patterns work best.  The problem is that pattern design is learned and most of the work is done via a computer. I can no longer pick up a brush and do what has come naturally. 

I believe many artists are like me, curious about working with different mediums, with different objects and with a desire to create. As much as I love pattern design, it is something I need to learn.. I took an online course and created the two below. Since I  have forgotten all that I learned,  any pattern I create now will need to be done by hand. If in the future, I have time, I will definitely enroll in a course. 

Click HERE to view my web page.

Art On Fire

Living in South Florida gives us the opportunity to leave Miami and exhibit at a neighboring city. The Gold Coast Watercolor Society has a current exhibit - Art on Fire - Just Add Water in Pembroke Pines. This was a juried exhibition and I am proud to have two pieces in this show.

If you missed the opening reception, there is still time to see these works of art.

Location: Studio 18 in the Pines

Address: 1101 Poinciana Drive

Pembroke Pines, Fla. 33025

January 18-2019 - February 20, 2019

"Wash Day' - watercolor  (available)

"Funky Feathers" - watercolor (available)

National League of American Pen Women

You may ask what is the National League of American Pen Women?

It is the oldest women's arts organization in the United States (1897).  It is made up of professional writers, journalists, painters, sculptors, dancers, musicians, choreographers, art teachers and directors. I am proud to say that I am now a new member of this prestigious organization.

This Saturday is our exhibition. Hope you can attend and enjoy the talent of all of these women.

"Starry Night" - Acrylic on Canvas

"In the Distance" - Acrylic on canvas

My Style? Don't Have One.

I always admire artists that you can definitely tell who they are by their art. It may be because of their subject matter, style or palette. This is great for marketing and business. I could do that since I have been told that seascapes are my "thing" and I love painting them.

I have given it great thought because I know people are right, my beaches seem to sell faster than anything else and will identify me. However, I find that I am inspired by the world around me and that is what makes me paint.I also get inspired by various mediums. Although, oils were my first love, I moved on to acrylics, watercolors and, most recently, alcohol inks. My subjects are varied, the only common source is that I love color, but it is mostly about my surroundings or inspirations from friends and their photos.

Here are a few samples of what I have painted lately...........

Florida Focus on Art 2018

You are invited to  the Gold Coast Watercolor Society - Florida Focus Art  on 2018 at Art Serve.

Details below

The following pieces will be on Exhibit.

"Wash Day" - watercolor

"La Calle" - watercolor

Emotional Purchase

If you are anywhere as old as I am, you may remember the time when most people bought art to match their sofa. Times have changed and we are always told not to do that. What I have found about people purchasing my art is that it is an emotional connection to the piece. 

The reasons vary; soothing colors, great location, etc. Abstracts are especially great at stirring up emotions. People see things that only they can and, therefore, the piece "speaks" to them. On a landscape piece they may feel happiness from a vacation taken, a place they used to live or a place that they would love to live.

I personally enjoy painting landscapes and abstracts so my experience on what triggers a sale is mainly on these two categories. The reason for writing about this is for that very same reason. I rarely paint humans. However, on a vacation to Halifax, I sat eating an ice cream on the deck of the ice cream shop. I suddenly saw the cutest little boy exit the place eating an ice cream cone. As all artists seem to do, I noticed  that the lighting was perfect with beautiful shadows on the deck floor. I took the photo thinking I may paint it one day, even if I had to leave the little boy out. Being that it was only a side view of the boy, I figured I could take on this human. 

Last month, I exhibited this piece at a gallery at Nova University during a Gold Coast watercolor exhibit. To my surprise, I had a call from a man wanting to purchase the piece and wanting to know more about it. He questioned me as to where I took this photograph and then went on to tell me that this looked exactly like his son. He said even the clothing, down to the Crocs and sunglasses.  He even texted photos to me and, sure enough, there was a great resemblance. Needless to say,  this nice family now has my little boy.....and theirs.

Original photograph.

"Hello Summer" - Watercolor

MWS Signature Members Exhibit 2015

Every watercolor society has requirements on how to become  a signature member. No matter the process, it usually indicates that you have been juried into various shows and/or have received some awards.

In the case of the Miami Watercolor Society, signature members are members who have been juried into three continuous years of exhibition (both Spring and Fall).  It is a prestige to be one and one of its rewards is our yearly exhibition. 

This year the exhibit will take place at:

Location: Pinecrest Garden Hibiscus Room
Address:   5855 SW 111 St.,
                 Pinecrest Fla. 33156
Date:  Sunday, June 28th
Time:   Noon-2:00 pm

Pinecrest Gardens is a 20-acre park in Pinecrest, Florida on the corner of Southwest 111th Street and Southwest 57th Avenue

While there, enjoy the best Farmer's market in Miami.
Every Sunday - Year Round
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Admission: Free

These are my two pieces on exhibit!

"Garden Greens" -Watercolor batik on rice paper

"Wild Thing" - Watercolor on yupo paper

I'm in Heaven

How does an artist get to heaven without dying? Take a flight to the city of lights........Paris!!

Paris is a city that  pleases all of your senses. It is not just about the art museums. It is the architecture, the food, the wine, the pastries and the beautiful sound of French language in your ears. I had visited about 23 years ago, but it was only a two day stay which is only a peek at what the city has to offer. This time, I did not want to visit any other city in France.....just Paris.

On this trip, my priority was to visit a few museums that I had never visited and re-visit the Louvre. It also included just taking in the city at a slow pace by picnicking on the banks of the river Seine. Although I did not take any paints or sketchbook, I tried to capture every moment with my eyes.....and of course, my camera.  Here's a collage of photos around the city. More stories to come.

What a beautiful City!

Click to enlarge the collage

Serendipity

Many of you know that I paint in many mediums, but I  have been into photography for many years capturing images to paint. Recently, I have been taking more and more photos, and not just for painting. While in Dahlonega this Spring, I decided to enter a fun photography contest sponsored by the Dahlonega Downtown Development Authority. I fell in love with one of my photos and decided to paint it. I needed a hard copy print of it to get started. 

In a small town, you can't run down to the corner Kinko's to have a copy made. We drove down to a print shop outside of town and it was closed due to family emergency. We went to the Walmart copy center and I refused to pay the outrageous price for a copy (5 X that of Kinkos). As we walked out of Walmart, there was a van with a Pirone Printer sign. It seemed to be parked there just for me. I knocked on the window and the man actually offered to do my print for free. He works out of his home which is actually down the street from my house.

It turns out that this lovely couple, Carl and Pattie Pirone, is from Miami and know another Miami artist I met in town. Here we had Miami in common and now a new community in common. He and his wife are very creative. She is a graphic artist/jewelry designer and he paints and carves.  I was able to see his watercolors and wood carvings. He is also involved with a local artist group Chestate Artists. He printed my photograph for free and now I know someone else in this beautiful place.  What a small world!

Below is the photo he printed for me. It did not win in the photo contest, but it will be a future painting and who knows........................

Plein Air in the Mountains

Even if you are not an artist, you may have heard the term "plein air". It is a French expression which means "in the open air" and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.

On my recent trip to Dahlonega, Georgia, we went to find Loganberry Heritage Farms. As we drove up,  we saw that the fence was closed, but we could see some people from afar. I was able to walk in on the side and decided to find out if there was another entrance to this farm.  As I got closer, I was able to see that these people were artists, with their easels set up and painting outdoors. Needless to say, my family waited outside the gate while I started talking to these artists and snapping photos; forgetting their wait. To my surprise, Anita Elder, a local artist I had met on a previous visit,  was part of the group. I learned that had I known, I could have signed up for this 3 day paint out.  I have done "plein air" in the past, but not as often as I would like. This definitely inspired me to go out and do it. A goal for the upcoming months!

Please take a look at what I saw and get inspired! (click photo to enlarge)

When Water Comes Alive with Color!

The following is an article in the South Miami Community Newspaper regarding the exhibit at Frames USA.  The opening reception is on April 21 from 6-9 p.m. The exhibit runs through May 3rd,

Want to see our tropical landscape through the eyes of creative artists?

Twenty members of Miami Watercolor Society are exhibiting of their talents through May 3 at Frames USA & Art Gallery, sponsor of the special event at 6822 S.W. 40 St..

The contributing artists use such familiar locations as Fairchild Gardens, Barnacle State Park, Montgomery Botanic Gardens and other parks and beach areas near South Miami to express their appreciation of South Florida’s exotic beauty. Frames USA & Art Gallery proprietor, Adam Brand, has invited the public to stop by the gallery to enjoy the work of “these passionate artists whose works reflect tropical living.”

Among the participants, Terry Arroyo Mulrooney is a frequent award winner for her exquisite paintings of banyan trees, tropical landscapes and exotic plants that appear at the Society’s on-line show, along with those of Bettyann Pober, Elizabet Chacon, and Rosie Brown.

Being color blind has not stopped Ruth Karp from winning over 100 art awards for vibrant color impressions that earned her membership in the prestigious National Watercolor Society.

The talented Miami artists regularly participate in community events such as the Coconut Grove Peacock Tour (where Brown’s painted bird can be seen on Grand Ave.), the South Miami Manatee Fest, and elsewhere to raise awareness of South Florida’s natural resources.

“It’s the most pure way of communication,”explains Perla Gonzalez. “When I paint, I am sharing my thoughts as well as receiving people’s interpretation of what they see in my paintings. This giving and receiving becomes particularly rich when the whole community participates in the process, either by creating art or by receiving and enjoying it.”

Vivian Gomez, specialist in water and floral scenes, adds:  “I am thrilled to be a part of this exhibition and look forward to meeting other art lovers.”

A culturally-diverse, non-profit organization, Miami Watercolor Society has continued to provide inspiration and networking for its water media artists for over 30 years.  Many of the artists’ works are available from national art resources, including Amazon, Sears and Urban Outfitters. Members range from professionals, teachers and patrons to those who simply paint for the joy of it and providing an education of their media and talents through exhibitions, student and senior citizen activities, demonstrations, publications and community educational events.

The Society annually sponsors a juried art show for Miami-Dade public school students of all ages, “Impressions in Watercolor” and the annual Dade County Public School Art Teachers’ Event at Fairchild Gardens. Member meetings typically feature an art demonstration, held the second Sunday of the month, September through May, at 1:30 pm at the Pinecrest Community Center.

During an April 21 reception from 6-9 p.m., artists will visit the Frames USA & Art Gallery, corner of Bird and Ludlam Rd. For information contact us at 305-666-3355.

Gourds Galore at the MWS Spring 2015 Exhibition

Last Fall I went to Georgia, as I have done for the past few years. The colors were beautiful, but something else caught my eye. This time a box full of colorful gourds also caught my eye. In the past I have brought back gourds, dried, hard and beautifully shaped. I have painted ON these. I thought of actually turning this box of gourds into a painting. I took a photo in preparation.

Once I started, I realized it was not easy to sketch these. I ran into the problem of keeping these colors separate, since one image seemed to be on top of the other. I still kept going because the colors were so brilliant and it looked to me like an abstract from nature.

My husband kept asking how long was I going to continue with this piece. The colors kept me going. Once finished, I debated whether I should submit it to the Miami Watercolor Society Spring 2015 exhibit. After all,  who wants to see fall colors when we are in Spring. I went ahead and submitted it and, to my surprise, it was juried into the show.

Join us on Friday, April 10th, from 6-9 pm for the Opening Reception of this exhibit and to get a close look at this piece.
The Wirtz Gallery.
5750 Sunset Drive, South Miami, Fla. 
Exhibition runs
Wednesday, April 2 through Thursday, April 30, 2015

Lincoln Road and Me

Back in 1962, I arrived from Cuba with my family and we moved to Miami Beach. It was quite different than the young hip place it is today. Lincoln Road was then new, shiny and a place to shop at high end stores or go to a movie. Back in those days, we could not do much of that, but I do remember looking at the pretty things I could not afford and knowing I had to "make" it in order to have them one day. My goal was only to learn to speak English and excel in school. Drawing was just a past time that did not seem to fit in the life of newly arrived foreigner.

Fast forward now to 2015, and Lincoln Road and I have grown and evolved. The high end shops and small theaters are gone, replaced with many restaurants, sidewalk eating and young hip residents and tourists. I, too,  have changed. I am now a retired grandmother, painting full time and able to buy anything I want. 

The new Lincoln Road and I are coming together once again in our new ways. The Art Center of South Florida is located on Lincoln Road, The Miami watercolor Society, of which I am a member, recently had a show juried to be exhibited there. My piece "Spring Rain" has been selected. On February 18th, we will have an opening reception from 6-9 pm and I will be there to toast the new me and the new Lincoln Road

We have both had  our ups and downs................but we made it!

"Spring Rain" - Watercolor

Art Center of South Florida - Lincoln Road, Miami Beach