Miami Watercolor Society 46th Annual Fall Exhibition

It is always an honor to be juried into an art exhibition. It is even a bigger deal when you are up against the great talent of the Miami Watercolor Society members and the juror is the amazing, Paul Jackson.

I submitted two entries and the one below was chosen. It was painted from a photograph by my friend, Niki Simon Blacker. Niki lives in Miami Beach and has a morning routine, which entails feeding all of the stray cats in the area. She also takes great photos as she walks past the art deco buildings, storefronts on Lincoln Road and out to the sand, sea and birds. I have been inspired by many of her photos.

If you are in the area, please join us for a fun evening of beautiful art and a little wine.

"Deco Drive" - Watercolor

Bird Watch

My environment inspires me daily. The lighting and the colors, the shapes of the clouds,  the movement of the ocean bring inspiration to any creative person.  I always enjoy watching the tropical birds and have painted a few small pelicans. In April, I was spending days at my sisters where my Mom lives.  In order to entertain her, I decided to paint a larger pelican from a photo I had. My Mom is biased, of course, and a fan of my art. Her "oohs and aahs", and continual praises, were  the encouragement and support I needed. I then decided to work on a series. I went on to do a second and a third. A recent short trip to Sanibel Island was just the inspiration I needed to work on a fourth one.

Below are the ones I painted recently. Stay tuned for one more

"Fluffing my Feathers" - watercolor (available)

"Nest Hair" - watercolor (available)

"Sandy White" - watercolor (available)

Capri Restaurant Exhibit

Homestead Center for the Arts is partnering with the owner of Capri Restaurant which has an area designated for art exhibitions. I was fortunate to find out about having my art displayed for the first time in this community. The opening reception had to be moved from September to October 13th, but all that matters is that most of us survived Hurricane Irma with minimal damage.

We are all ready to move on and see some interesting and wonderful art instead of the piles of debris at the curbside.  The new opening reception info is as follows:

Place: Capri Restaurant
Address: 935 S Krome Ave, 
                 Florida City, FL 33034
Date: October 13, 2017
Time: 6 - 9 pm

"Diver's Paradise" - watercolor

Deering Estates Exhibition

It is always exciting to participate on an exhibit taking place at the Deering Estates here in Miami. It is a a beautiful setting on the bay that represents a bit of Miami history. This year's exhibit is bittersweet. It is the last exhibition there by the GroveHouse Artists. 

There will be an opening reception on Wednesday, September 13th, 7-9 pm. The piece below will be part of this exhibit. It is a watercolor batik on rice paper. Hope you can make it to see it in person.

"Tropical Greens" - watercolor batik on rice paper

Beach Therapy

Having always lived by the ocean, going to the beach has always been a part of my life. My first trip to Sanibel Island, Florida, about 35 years ago, started me on shelling. There is nothing more relaxing than walking the seashore and finding treasures from the sea. I always pick them up, some because I think of a project and others because of their beauty.  I have glass jars full of shells displaying the treasured ones in the house and a storage bin in the garage with the ones waiting to be used.

Last year I bought a Zentangle book and started doodling designs on paper. I soon started doing this on everything and anything; dried maple leaves in Georgia, followed by my plain white shells waiting for a project. It quickly became an obsession. I made lots of them for the holidays as Christmas ornaments. I then discovered some people wanted them to display on a table, glass bowl, etc. The orders for painted shells started to come sooner than I could fill them.

This summer, I will again walk the seashore, pick up shells and when I sit on my chair to rest I will be decorating the shells with endless designs.  How fun.....and therapeutic!

Zentangle Shells

I live in Miami so the beach is just 20 minutes away. Before that,  I lived in a tropical island, Cuba. The sea, and all its treasures,  has always been a part of my life. One of my favorite things to do at the beach is not sitting around and getting a tan, but walking the seashore and picking up its treasures, primarily shells.  My shell collection is huge and just keeps growing. 

Recently I was working on another passion of mine, Zentangle. I decided to get my Prismacolor marker and doodle on some of the shells that have enough drawing space on them. The result has been addictive. It is also a way to sketch at the beach and all I need to take with me is a marker. 

The question now is what to do with all these little pieces of art. The business side of me will not allow for these to just sit here......they must find a new home. I have decided to put a ribbon on them so they can be hung anywhere. I will definitely have a few of these on my Christmas tree. How about you?

FEC - Federacion de Estudiantes Cubanos

The FEC is an organization, founded in 1967,  at the University of Miami dedicated to keeping the Cuban culture alive in the UM community. My fellow Cuban artist, and MWS member, Marilyn Valiente, asked me to join their yearly event  "A Week of Cuban Culture". During the week from February 27th to March 5th,  the FEC invites the student body to enjoy Cuban food, music, and art. 

I am happy to represent my culture and speak to students that may want to find out more about my people, and more specifically my art.

Marilyn Valiente, Elizabet Chacon and I will be exhibiting on March 5th from 12 -3 pm. Join us at Carnaval Cubano, an explosion of Cuban flavor, with traditional food and Cuban art.

http://www.rosiebrowncreations.com/.

Florida Focus Exhibition - GCWS

I have recently joined the Gold Coast Watercolor Society GCWS. It is not very easy to take my art to another County, but felt that it was time to have my art travel out of the 305.

My watercolor  "Dinner Key Stroll" is now part of their Florida Focus Exhibition.

Florida Focus Show at Gold Coast Watercolor Society!

December 13 - January 17, 2015

Awards and Reception Presentation

Wednesday, December 17 

from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at City Furniture 

(3501 N. Federal Hwy., Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33308.)

"Dinner Key Stroll" - watercolor
Available for Purchase

Florida Focus Exhibition

Hello Summer!

Summer is here! What it means to me may not be what it does for others. Yes, I enjoy going to the beach, sitting in the sand and going in the water for a swim. Lying in the sand tanning is not for me, but I tan anyway as I go about my activities at the beach. For one, I always walk the seashore and look for the treasures of the sea......... coral, rocks, shells, driftwood and more. I paint on shells and driftwood and just enjoy the texture of the rocks and coral. I am always thinking that I will make something with these treasures, but the collection is growing. Sometimes I do, but the hunt for the treasures, the beauty of my finds and the peace I feel as I walk the beach is enough for me. As I walk, I also look around and try to capture, in photos,  the beauty that surrounds me, down to the sea foam in between my toes. 

I am twenty minutes away from the beach and from feeling like I am in paradise. Others live in places that a seashore may be a long car drive or even a flight away. I have found a way to share some of these photos in a couple of sites that make prints and products for others to enjoy. 

Contact Artist

" Sea Oat Garden" -
 http://society6.com/RosieBrown/Sea-Oat-Garden_Print#1=45

Contact Artist

"Rain Clouds" -
http://displate.com/rosiebrowncreations/galleries/ 

Metal Wall art: http://displate.com/rosiebrowncreations/galleries/
Art Prints: http://society6.com/RosieBrown/prints?show=new
Art prints: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/rosie-brown.html

Twelve (12) Days of Christmas Sale.................................

Art is always a great gift. It inspires, it evokes emotions in the giver and and receiver, and best of all, it lasts.

My licensed products are being reduced each day during this holiday season. I will post what can be purchased at a reduced price from now until Christmas.

All of my art print with Society6 are reduced $10 from their original very affordable price. Click HERE to view the entire collection.

DENY Designs has so many home decor, pet products and accessories to choose and are doing the 12 days of the holiday season.  Today the Bling/Jewelry Boxes/Wall art are $100 OFF. Take a look at my entire collection by clicking HERE.

 Come check daily for special sales! Enjoy!

" Good Morning, Sunshine"

Love to see a sunrise, but don’t like waking up that early? You can now enjoy it with my seascape sunrise, “Good Morning Sunshine’, on home décor items by my licensing partner DENY Designs. You can have it in the shower in the bed office and more.

To view this entire collection, click HERE.

Spruce it in Spring!

There is something about Spring that makes us want to clean the house and make changes all around us. We step outside into our gardens, plant flowers and just enjoy the newness the season brings. Just in time, I have created new collections of pillow covers to just give your rooms an updated look and make you feel that you are outdoors.

Society6 has added this new product at a very affordable price. Below are some of the new ones available, Click on them to see them larger. Click HERE to view the entire collection.

***Throw Pillow Cover made from 100% spun polyester poplin fabric, a stylish statement that will liven up any room. Individually cut and sewn by hand, the pillow cover measures 16" x 16", features a double-sided print and is finished with a concealed zipper for ease of care. Does not include pillow insert.

Peace & Love in 2013

It is hard to believe that the year is coming to an end.  It has been a year of great accomplishments and happiness. It has also been a year of hardship and sorrow.  The recent shooting in Sandy Hook Elementary makes us realize that our lives can change in seconds and leave us with pain that lasts a lifetime.

Let us start the new year with peace in our hearts and love towards those around us.  Make it your goal to do random acts of kindness all year long and see what a better world it will be at the end of 2013.

Those of us in the art world are always creating things that have an effect on feelings. Our art makes you think, reflect, smile or maybe even cry. I appreciate and thank you for your comments, encouragements and compliments. They play a major role in my creative process.  

I leave you with  a link to the Florida Watercolor Society online exhibition. My piece below was selected to be part of this exhibition. Enjoy!

Click here to view.

"Tropical Greens" - Watercolor Batik

http://www.rosiebrowncreations.com/

Introducing Pillow Covers by Society6

Great news! Society6  has now introduced pillow covers at very affordable prices. This company carries the collection I call, “Flower Power", with bright, colorful florals and shapes.  It also carries my photographic images of tropical plants, flowers and seascapes.

Just in time to update your décor…………………….

Click HERE to view the entire collection!

http://www.rosiebrowncreations.com/

Miami Watercolor Society - 39th Annual Fall Exhibition

It is always fun to enter the Miami Watercolor Society Exhibitions. It gets even better when my art gets juried into the show. It seems that the level of talent in this organization just gets better and better. Lots of competition for an artist, but also lots of motivation....and the winner is the art collector.

I invite to join us this Friday (details below). There will be wine and live music........Enjoy!

"Diver's Paradise"

October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It seems that we are hearing more and more each day of someone diagnosed with cancer. I, for one, have lost members of my family to this disease. For women, breast cancer seems to be the common one. Whenever I am with a group of women, there are always a few in the group that are breast cancer survivors.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. My licensing partner DENY Designs has decided to help to fight for a cure. They challenged their artists to come up with a design regarding breast cancer awareness in our own artistic style. I thought this was a great way to help and designed  “Step On Cancer”.

 Here’s a way to get a beautiful piece of functional art and, at the same time,  20% of the purchase price will be donated to the Denver Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 

http://denydesigns.com/collections/rosie-brown-step-on-cancer/products/rosie-brown-step-on-cancer-throw-pillow

http://denydesigns.com/collections/rosie-brown-step-on-cancer/products/rosie-brown-step-on-cancer-shower-curtain

http://denydesigns.com/collections/rosie-brown-step-on-cancer/products/rosie-brown-step-on-cancer-modern-clock

Colorful Coleus

"Colorful Coleus" - Watercolor on Yupo

Ever noticed a coleus? Maybe you don’t know it by name, but it is that small bush with leaves that looks like  God just threw in the entire color palette. The leaves can be green, yellow, burgundy and sometimes a mixture of all of those and more.  Here in South Florida, we are fortunate to be able to grow these year-round as long as they get some shade in the summer. My friends up north are able to enjoy them in the summer. In fact, this past June I saw the most beautiful ones throughout Chicago.

I have always been so inspired by these that I figured the only way to capture their beauty was to let the watercolors go wild on a piece of yupo paper. For those not familiar with my art, yupo is a synthetic paper that allows you time to manipulate watercolor on the surface of the paper (no absorption) until you like what you see.

You may think that I am only looking up at the sky because of my fascination with clouds, but I also have to check that my feet are on the ground, from time to time, and get inspired by what is below.

What has inspired you this summer?

Links to my products (cards, prints, shower curtains, duvets, pillows, IPhone skins):
http://society6.com/RosieBrown/cases
http://www.denydesigns.com/pages/rosie-brown  
http://society6.com/RosieBrown/laptop-skins
http://www.envelop.eu/shop/designers/p/detail/rosie-brown

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/rosie-brown.html
http://www.zazzle.com/artworksinmind
http://www.artistamundo.com/rosiesart
http://www.rosiebrownartworks.com/ 

Mosaic Sun Clock

I guess it must be difficult to live with a creative person; always taking photos, painting, knitting, blogging and planning the next project. My poor husband has been dealing with my “super active” personality for 38 years. How does he cope? He joins me in the process. He is creative and expresses himself with photography and videos. Many of you have enjoyed his creative talent documenting events.

Ever since I took a mosaic workshop with Mary Ponchio, he has decided to take on this art form. A while back I blogged about the house numbers he made for our mountain house. He has now decided to make a clock for our Florida patio. This project is much bigger and required some sketching and planning. 

It is fun to see someone creating and I can just sit back and watch. His clock has a tropical feel with a blazing sun in the center. In the fall, I plan to get together with my sisters and a couple of friends and have a mosaic day in the patio. I have a feeling he will be joining us with another project in mind.

Good job, Phil!

P.S. - See what you started, Mary? Thanks!

http://www.denydesigns.com/pages/rosie-brown  

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/rosie-brown.html
http://www.zazzle.com/artworksinmind
http://www.artistamundo.com/rosiesart
http://www.rosiebrownartworks.com/ 

Come Fly With Me

Living in South Florida gives me lots of material to paint. The tropical environment provides us with vivid colors and beautiful images. Having always lived in a state (or country) with the water nearby, the beach has always been a big influence on my works. What can be more beautiful in South Florida than the beach? How about the Everglades! Many of you are familiar with great artists that have been able to capture its beauty. Lately, I have had the urge to paint this wonderful "sea of grass". The plans right now are to do a series that would show the bird life, the plants, the alligators and the beautiful Florida skies.

This piece is the first in the series. Artists can be temperamental so I am hoping to complete the series before something else captures my attention. Let's see what I feel like doing next week.

www.artistamundo.com/rosiesart
http://www.redbubble.com/people/rosiebrown