Still a little room in our upcoming Still Life class!
I will be teaching a six-session class for intermediate to advanced watercolorists on painting still life in watercolor. There are still a few spaces available in the Thursday morning class (10-1pm) and the Tuesday and Wednesday evening classes (7-10pm). The class meets every other week, starting the week of January 24. Please email me if you would like more information:
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Dear ARThouse friends, I hope this new year finds you happy and healthy. We just got back from a trip to Florida to visit relatives and go to Disney World. While there, ironically one of my "Dreams came true"... I found out that I had been accepted as an elected member of the American Watercolor Society! I can't tell you how thrilled I was and I spent the rest of the trip pinching myself.
To become a member of the AWS, one of your paintings has to be accepted into the annual show in New York three times. This is my third acceptance, with a painting of construction rubble titled "Smoking Barrels", shown below. It seems that I may be the first person in Maryland to be accepted as a member within the last 10-15 years... There are many, many worthy artists out there, but it takes a lot of perseverance and a bit of luck to get in. The show takes place at the Salmagundi Club, at 47 Fifth Avenue, from April 3-22. Hours are limited, so if you are in New York and would like to go, be sure to check first. Here is a link for hours to the AWS website: www.americanwatercolorsociety.org . You will be rewarded by seeing some of the best watercolors in America today. --Thanks to so many of you for your support and encouragement over the years-- Sue
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My 2012 AWS painting, "Smoking Barrels, Smoking Sticks"
This is a large watercolor (image size 25x38") from my "urban archeology" series. I saw and photographed these barrels many years ago in a new housing development we lived in. I was attracted by the sunlight and dark, serious presence of the tar barrels. None of the stuff on the right was actually in my photo. I had to create that little scene from scratch using other photos and my imagination. The painting was done using my "rivulet" and lifting techniques this past fall.
The "smoking sticks" refers to the cigarette butts and Marlboro package strewn around down in the lower right. When my son Ben was only about 6, we were waiting for the bus at the end of our driveway. He reached down and picked up a cigarette butt that someone had thrown out of their car, and said, "Look, Mom, here's one of those smoking sticks"! I felt that his naivete and innocence were so charming, and I never forgot that little episode. He has always remained a virtuous and decent person...
I am not trying to say anything profound or political with this painting. I painted it really just because I liked the smoking barrels, repeating motifs of the bricks, and effect of the sunlight. If it has a little social commentary, that adds a little more meaning to the picture. Mostly it was just plain fun painting this scene, and I am very gratified that the five jurors of the AWS liked it!
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Special reward for buying one of my original paintings:
Much as we like to sell reproductions, it is important for artists to sell their original paintings. It helps inspire us to paint more! I know they are more expensive, but as an incentive for purchasing an original, I would like to offer you a special deal. You will receive a true 50% off any framing job you bring in after you purchase the original!
This will be 50% off for any framing job that is equal in value to the cost of the painting you bought. So if you buy an original for $400, you will get 50% off any framing with an original value of $400, ie, that framing job(s) will cost you only $200. This is an excellent deal, especially in view of the fact that our custom framing prices are reasonable to begin with, and in line with what Michaels would charge you after their "discount"! You can see a chart with our framing prices on the website at www.arthouseart.com/framing
This deal is only good on new art purchases from January 18 - March 31, 2012. Now that I am a member of the AWS, my prices might be going up, so better hurry on in!!!  Sue |
ARThouse is a unique studio and gallery located in Sandy Spring, Maryland, about 10 miles north of Washington, DC. It is the original studio of watercolorist Susan Avis Murphy, and has been expanded to also showcase and sell the work of other excellent artists from the Washington metropolitan area. Also adult classes in watercolor and drawing are taught at ARThouse.
ARThouse is open to the public almost daily and is the venue for special art shows several times per year. Join our mailing list by emailing us at susan@susanavismurphy.com and you will receive invitations to the shows and special announcements.
Contact information:
Susan Murphy, owner and manager
ARThouse is located near Olney, MD at:
17520 Doctor Bird Road
Sandy Spring, MD 20860
email: susan@susanavismurphy.com
phone: 301-774-3418
hours: Wed.- Sun. 10am-6pm
open Mon. & Tues. by appointment
open evenings by appointment |
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