I'm Off to the Land of Enchantment

I'm Off to The Land of Enchantment

Gosh what an fun, exciting month this has been friends. My trip to Santa Fe, NM is just around the corner. I leave on May 4 for my two month painting residency. I will paint in the city and region that inspires my art. I've also been invited to do live painting on Canyon Road, the premiere art destination in Santa Fe. I can't tell you what a dream this is and how excited I will be to share my experience with you. 

I've never been gone for more than two weeks, so planning for two months away is a bit of a challenge for me. Just figuring out which art supplies and tools to pack and ship is enough to keep me up at night. Thankfully there's a wonderful art supply store in town for anything I forget.

I have managed to do some painting this month, exhibit in shows and sell some art. A very successful month in my book. Here are a few of the new paintings that I've just added to my website. The companion piece for Fire and Ice sold before the paint was even dry.  

Fire and Ice | 20 x 20 inches | acrylic on canvas

New to my online shop are a series of framed originals (painting are all 8 x 8 inches) and would look beautiful individually or as a set. 

And, last but not least, new designs are available in my VIDA collection. If you haven't had an opportunity to see my fashion collection, I invite you to pop over to check out the new Winter Whispers silky soft modal scarf and matching sheer wrap. Just click the photo below to visit my VIDA shop.

Thank you so much for being fans, patrons and collectors of my art. Your support means the world to me.

Blessings from your artist, Mary

“Everything you can imagine is real.”

— Pablo Picasso

A Dream Written Down

A Dream Written Down

My studio

In just 32 short days I'll be arriving in Santa Fe, NM to paint the dream I've had for the past year. What began as a "wouldn't it be nice" little dream last summer is now becoming reality. All that remains is figuring out the logistics for shipping my art supplies, confirming appointments with galleries and boarding the plane. I am excited and nervous both at the same time.

March was a busy month creating new small artwork for April's First Friday in the Heights event at Cleanse Apothecary in Tampa. I haven't even had time to add all the new work to my website. I'll also have three artworks at Scarfone-Hartley Gallery at the University of Tampa for Las Damas de Artes annual Sunday in the Arts event this weekend. 

In between I try to find time to design new items for my VIDA fashion collection. There are some lovely new items for Spring, especially the modal silk scarves. I'm just in love with these scarves. You can wear them as a wrap or tie them in multiple ways. This is just one of my new designs along with the painting that inspired the fashion.

Click photo to visit my VIDA collection

I'm working on new paintings, and hope to get them finished and ready for my website before I head off to Santa Fe for May and June. I treasure the time I get to actually paint in my studio versus the business side of art. Working on finding more creative time is a new goal.

Speaking of being more creative, I took off last week to focus on my garden. I've neglected it so badly the past year. It's still very much a work in progress, but I am very happy I was able to bring some whimsy back by replanting my fairy gardens like this one.

I hope Spring finds your neck of the woods soon friends. Here in sunny Florida it's in full swing, blooms, pollen and birds.

Thank you so much for being fans, patrons and collectors of my art. Your support means the world to me.

Blessings from your artist, Mary

“As long as we dare to dream and don’t get in the way of ourselves, anything is possible—-there’s truly no end to where our dreams can take us.”

— Hilary Swank, actress

Following My Inner Voice

Following My Inner Voice

Study, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas board

So I blinked and another month swooshed by. Even with February having pulled the short stick for days of the month, it has been a whirlwind. I was able to paint a few new pieces, but most of the month was spent on the "business side" of my art.  Online training, show/exhibition applications, researching galleries for representation and website tweaking. Not the glamorous side of being an artist.  

It wasn't all work though. There was fun to be had in February. I began playing with a black and white palette and the first painting completed (shown below) sold within days. Now that gets an artist excited!! Winter Whispers will be off to a lovely collector in Oklahoma. 

Winter Whispers, acrylic on canvas

The REALLY EXCITING news I want to share is that I'll be leaving in just 65 short days, headed to Santa Fe, NM for two months of painting, networking, painting, meeting with galleries and live painting outside Acosta-Strong Fine Art, one of Canyon Road's finest art galleries. Did I mention I will be painting?  And. where else to paint but in the third largest art city in the country? 

I invite you to learn more about this amazing opportunity friends. A Go Fund Me campaign has been established to help offset lodging and art supply expenses. I will auction one painting from my trip with 100% of proceeds going to charity to show my deepest appreciation for everyone's support. No contribution is too small. 

CLICK ABOVE FOR DETAILS

Thank you so much friends for being fans, patrons and collectors of my art. Your support means the world to me.

Blessings from your artist, Mary

“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way - things I had no words for.”

— Georgia O'Keeffe

Carmen Mandato Photography