As October Draws to a Close

 

October 2022 in Central PA

It's been a super busy year here. Lots of changes, additions, switches, flip-flops, and more. But things are settling down into a "normal" of some sort. The seasons are changing on time, life has patterns again, and all is well at our house in Central Pennsylvania.

I've added another location for my work to be exhibited and sold: The Gallery Shop in Lemont, PA. So there are three locations where one can purchase original art, including my paintings. Art a la Carte in Bellefonte and Twiga, The Bellefonte Art Museum's Gift Shop.

At this time of year, the Bellefonte Art Museum hosts an annual Holiday Art Show & Sale. I will have two pieces hanging in the exhibit - shown below. And my 8x10" prints will also be available for purchase at the show. "Meadowlark Singing" and "Raven in the Grass #2" - framed watercolors measuring 14" wide x 11" high.

I also have new work at both Art a la Carte (on-line sales available) and The Gallery Shop. Here are a few of the pieces available at these locations.

These last two have metallic watercolors added to them for a slightly different effect. I'm enjoying trying some new products and new ways of displaying my work. More on that next spring!

The next two month will be a little slow-down time for my artwork. Real life intrudes with holidays and so much more. But I'll be back after the new year to update my blog. Meanwhile, anyone interested in purchasing my artwork from me personally, can send me an email and we can go from there. I can mail things out via USPO Priority Mail in secure packaging, if requested.

Have a wonderful holiday season! See you again in 2023!

Busy, Busy, BUSY!

Greetings, all. Been so busy with family and creating watercolors for the three shops I supply with my work - I haven't even thought about my Blog!

Well, I'll offer some photos of recent work so you can see what I've been doing in the studio. And maybe a photo of who is keeping us so busy this summer! First, the paintings.

Last, but not least, a pair of Loons

At this time, most of these are in one of three shops: Art a la Carte in Bellefonte, PA; Twiga in the Bellefonte Art Museum in Bellefonte, PA.; and the Gallery Shop in Lemont, PA.

My watercolors sell for $88.00 for an 8x10" framed piece and $$138.00 for 11x14" framed pieces.

Art a la Carte accepts phoned in orders for their merchandise and will mail orders for addresses in the USA. Merchandise includes paintings, jewelry, quilted table runners, felted table toppers and cards, wood carvings, soaps, and so much more. Here is the website: https://www.artalacartepa.com/

The phone #:  814-355-1590

And our summer adventures involve our great-granddaughters who currently live with us and their mom. Since mom works and school is not in session, the girls are keeping us busy!

As you can see, we're having a delightful summer full of laughter, battery swimming fish, Pokémon, bubble-guns, and more! There are way more electronic games than we've ever even heard of, and when they are discussing them, we have no clue what they are saying! 

Hope you are enjoying your summer and creating fun times for yourself and your family, too!

 

Some Recent Watercolors! For the Love of Birds!!!

Great Blue Heron in Flight

As you might imagine, I've been super busy since the last posting. My art show at the Bellefonte Art Museum was a fantastic success - 1/3 of the paintings were sold! Then there was the museum's annual Christmas exhibit/sale... And then I joined a new location for selling my work, The Gallery Shop in Lemont, PA. I'm already a member of Art a la Carte, in downtown Bellefonte, and I still have a few pieces in the Bellefonte Art Museum's gift shop. Keeping new work at each location takes time, energy, and enthusiasm!

Here are a few of my latest watercolors. Most are currently out at the above sites.

Blue Jay

Rufus-sided Towhee

White Throated Sparrow

Winter Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Carolina Wren

Black-capped Chickadee

Goldfinch

Tuftet Titmouse

As you can see, I've been busy painting! There's also a new temporary location for some of my work, the Nittany Valley Chiropractic in State College, PA. I'll be hanging the exhibit tomorrow (weather allowing!) and the show will be up throughout March and April, 2022.

Meanwhile, one of our granddaughter's and her two daughters have temporarily moved in with us until she can find a good job and then a nice apartment. She is relocating to Centre County and we're delighted to have her with us!

2021 Update on My Artwork

Recent Watercolor Paintings

Just delivered to Art a la Carte in Bellefonte, PA

As it's been a long time since I've posted anything about my art, it's about time I remedy that situation. Watercolor has been my primary media for much of the past few years. It's always been my "favorite" medium to work with - I love that it can be either or both opaque and transparent, depending upon the paints used (some are made to be opaque, others are staining colors, and the rest are transparent colors that allow the paper to shine beneath the colors) and depending upon how an artist uses the paints. The majority of my work is done with transparent paints (Daniel Smith or Winsor Newton brands), but I'm now experimenting with the opaque colors to see just how I can incorporate them into my expressions of nature on paper.

Here is a recent example of a transparent watercolor painting. While the black appears to be black, it is actually a transparent paint named "Neutral Tint." The more water that is added to this paint, the paler the shade of blue gray. I painted quite heavily on the wings and parts of the head, but added more water the the gray areas which allows the paper to show through the paint.

Tufted Titmouse transparent watercolor painting

Here's another recent transparent wc - the background is quite transparent, made more-so by the addition of two different salts into the wet paint, creating the starlike effect as the salt absorbs both the water and the paint.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird (SOLD)

Once again, the red paint on the throat is painted with a thicker layer of different red paints. All red wc paints are staining, however. They can be transparent, but they canNOT be lifted off the paper, as fully transparent paints usually can.

And here is a painting with a touch or two of opaque paint - White watercolor paint. A dot for the white of the cardinal's eye, and a splash of white on the all red bird.

Cardinal watercolor painting with transparent, staining and opaque paints. SOLD

So while I've now found two different locations to sell my small framed watercolors, I'm also still playing around with fabric, sewing, collaging, and other fun projects. Neither of the two below are finished - just in process!

Childhood Memories

The Raven once again...

(watercolor on fabric, surrounded by patchwork)

But the little birds are selling quickly, so it's time to go back to work on more of them. No more are ready to replace any that sell in the near future. It behoves me to get back to work.

Hope you enjoyed the little explanations above. Here are some of the recently sold pieces and some that just left the studio today for two different stores in Bellefonte, PA.

Most SOLD

SOLD

Just delivered to the Twiga Gift Store at the Bellefonte Art Museum

Represented at the Art a la Carte shop!!!

There's a new art shop opening in our wonderful hometown of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania and I have been invited to have my work at the store! We delivered watercolor and acrylic paintings as well as some small fiber art pieces to the shop today and were delighted to see the space, right on one of the main streets of town - Art a la Carte, 107 South Allegheny Street, Bellefonte, PA. The store is owned/operated by Elizabeth Hay, artist @ https://www.elizabethhaydesigns.com/. Easy parking available behind the store in the city lot. The "soft opening" will be Thursday, May 8th, 2019.

Here are a few of the pieces I delivered today - just a little taste of what is available there. So many local artists have work there making it a must-stop for anyone interested in finding unique, original art, clothing, hand bags, jewelry, scarves, glassware, and more!

Above: a framed watercolor entitled "Paws" - for obvious reasons! - Pat Dolan

Below: a framed watercolor entitled "Little One" of a young African child. - Pat Dolan

Below: a collage entitled "Her Last Song" - honoring our elderly - Pat Dolan

Above: painted fiber art entitled "Little Red Bird" - Pat Dolan

Below: painted fiber art entitled "Raven" - Pat Dolan

And a few acrylic paintings of birds, of course! This one is "Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird."

Many of my friends are also displaying their work in Art a la Carte. Among them, Carol Korte @ https://www.facebook.com/carol.f.korte and Mary Beth Wiseman @ https://www.facebook.com/mbwiseman. And of course, Elizabeth Hay has her own botanical jewelry! And many other creative artists so do stop in for a visit when you are in the area!

Unfortunately, we will be out of town for the opening, but we are wishing Elizabeth Hay and all the artists a fantastic opening followed by a long, successful adventure together!