Friday, May 22, 2020

Missing the North River Arts Festival - May 2020



"Street Party" oil by Jody Regan
The North River Arts Society reluctantly cancelled its 44th Annual Festival of the Arts this year: a block-party-style celebration of our creative community. Local artists, including Girls Just Wanna Paint, do plein air demonstrations of their work on the street. We miss the joy of painting together at this wonderful celebration, and the North River Arts Society is missing its biggest fundraising event of the year.
We hope you can support the organization, and we look forward to seeing you there next Memorial Day weekend.
"That's Entertainment" North River Arts Festival poster 2011 by Jody Regan

I love painting on the street each year at this weekend-long party, especially talking with the children who are curious about what is happening on my easel.  I hope to be back together with them next year.

 Jeannie, Kelley, Sally and Mary having fun painting at Festival.

My painting from 2 years ago of a little girl at the festival, and one of my pieces that got in the juried show last year.  There is such an ache for the camaraderie and wonderful work, food, music and crafts that we saw every year! - Kelley MacDonald


"Boats"
Cheers to NRAS.... Festival Spirit and Joy lives on in  our hearts
Page Pearson Railsback



"South River Marsh"
12x16

"Cleaning the Catch"
18x24
I received awards for both of these paintings at The North River Arts Festival. Very pleased and proud to be recognized by this stalwart organization. 
Please support our group if you can.




      Festival Memories!
                    Nancy Howell doing a demo, me selling my clocks in the artisan area 
and the first puppet parade!   
Sally Dean

"Missing the Puppet Project" by Pamela Copeman
I am missing the NRAS Arts Festival this year because my granddaughters are living just up the street now and I was so excited to introduce them to this artful tradition.  With that said, I will donate to North River Arts Society this year with the high hopes of attending next year with my family. xo


Moonlit Hydrangeas-Margaret Farrell Bruno


My granddaughter critiquing the art and near my painting 1st on left.



I was honored to wear many hats at the North River Arts Society over the last 30 years, including President for two years, which entailed directing traffic for art work drop off one year. Festival holds a special place in my heart. I was poster artist for Festival when expecting my 2nd child 28 years ago, which gave Jeannie Horan heart palpitations worrying I may go into labor before I got all those posters signed. And now my grandchildren enjoy the music, fun, art, activities and food at Festival. My whole family will miss it dearly this year. Keep NRAS in your hearts and if you can donate to help the Society through this difficult time, I know it will be greatly appreciated. Let's help NRAS live on. It has given so many cherished friendships, great memories and of course, artful enrichment for young and old.  
           
   
This painting, "Lilacs and Clementine" by Jeanne MacFarland  won the Katherine M. Wolfe Memorial Award for Floral Composition at the 2017 North River Festival of the Arts.              


My first entry into the North River Arts Society Festival in 2008, "Edward Hopper's House in Truro" was accepted and won the Katherine M. Wolfe Award. What a fond memory during an otherwise wonderful weekend at the Festival. This event is always inspiring and a happy time, and I am grateful that we have this great resource each year. Looking forward to next year's!

"Festival Colors" from Tori Brega's jewelry booth

"Face Paint Ninja" work in progress by Tori Brega




Friday, May 1, 2020

April 2020 Challenge: "Fish"

We discussed using a theme relating to the current COVID-19 virus but opted to avoid it instead.
For this month anyway.

By Pamela Copeman
Watercolor title Goal Fish
I adore painting birds, shoes, faces, sunsets and lipsticks! But not Fish! 

"Eye Test" 9"x12" gouache on board by Paula Villanova
To try something a little different, I went back to a solid black fish design I drew in art school some 45 years ago in ink with a compass, ruling pen and flexicurve. This time, I freehanded the curves but used a compass to define the exterior shape (in light pencil), and drew two grids, one for the fish to portray her in color and a larger one for the ocean.


"Koi" 10x10 oil by Jeanne MacFarland
No social distancing in the lily pond!


"Swimming down stream" 5"x7" Acrylic Poured Paint and digital art by Margaret Farrell Bruno
Playing with poured paint and digital art.
The fish was doing really well until I came back to it the next day and realized it had headed down stream and almost off the board. I guess my surface was not level. So I scanned and placed a border on it. Always learning. Make a smaller fish next time. Was still fun playing digitally.


"Fish Flight" Acrylic 8"x10" by Victoria Chesley Brega


"Pick Me, Pick Me!" 12x12 Acrylic by Kelley Carey MacDonald
For a long time I have loved the pink fish they sell at Whole Foods.  Not brave enough to BUY and COOK them, I just like to look at them.  IRL the pink is a brighter, rosier color. Fish on ice.  Loved doing this!

"Lionfish" ink, watercolor, and watercolor pencil by Jody Regan


Seen at the New England Aquarium a few months ago when we could see these beautiful creatures there.  I long for those times again.
"Hope Fish"by Sally Dean Mello
I've been making fish pendants out of clay since the world shut down. I am inspired by Sadakos 1000 cranes of peace. Not sure I'll make 1000 of these, but going to number them to see how far I get. I plan to give them away at the reveal of the 3 year long fish mosaic project scheduled for this fall at The Art Complex Museum.
HOPE it is still happening- but if not then- it will at some point!


"Down Under" 6x6 acrylic by Page Pearson Railsback


"Swimming Against the Tide"
8x8 ink and watercolor by Mary Sheehan Winn

February Challenge: "Norwell"

"Winter" 12x8 inches by Page Railsback "Flower Farm Greenhouse" 9"X12" oil by Margaret Farrell Bruno The beaut...