Flowers in the water detail

A small detail of a much larger diptych, this painting started with dots of paint randomly splashed in a diagonal movement. Then areas and colors were built around those starts. This may be one for the Willow downtown... the entire painting is a vertical piece, 24x36 (two 12x36 panels side by side). The canvas frame is a deep profile with the image painted around the sides for added dimension on the wall. I love the earthy feel and tones... even though this is water. Enjoy.

Sometimes it starts with dots

When it's quiet, with no movement, no particular thought, no direction.... sometimes it all starts with dots.

Sagamore Creek

SOLD Marsh at Sagamore Creek. 24x48" diptych exhibited at the Willow Shop downtown Exeter. Someone has found this for their home.... I still don't know who... but I look forward to finding out what spoke to them. The scene is from a marsh area near Portsmouth, NH on Sagamore Creek. There are so many twists and turns here in seacoast New Hampshire... you can see a view like this on one side of the road and then turn your eyes to the other and see civilization. Maybe the new owners have a beach/marsh cottage... and they have put this beside a window? :-) Fun thought.

Flower Spray original painting by Rose Bryant

SOLD "Flower Spray" 11x14 acrylic on canvas. Speaking the same language... again, here I am talking about "speaking the same language"! I still don't know the reason, the why, the how it all works ... but people come together for the same music, the same food, the same color. Why is it that as humans we can essentially point at something and nod or raise our eyebrows... and the person that is with us can respond with turn of the mouth or a shoulder shrug... and we "know"? When I painted this, I was "in" the painting... it flowed through my hand, I was happy to be pushing the paint around and realizing the surprises with each color. When it was done, it still spoke to me. When it was put on the wall to find another home, it still spoke to me. Now, it has a wonderful new home. With a person who feels the joy that went into it. She has written me. And I can't really find the words to describe the connection that I feel. We don't have to see each other's faces, I know how she feels (or I like to think I do:-). I am glad it brings her to her own place of happiness... enjoying the same language. Thank you, AE.

Flower Field at The Willow

Flower Field. 12x12 acrylic on canvas. I'm trying a different style... one that looks more like tapestry or fabric. I started with a blue underpainting and then progressed to lighter colors. This painting was first shown at our Art on Union Street open house and is now at the Willow in downtown Exeter near the boathouse. I'm feelin' the urge to continue the style in yellow oxide, cream, and rich reds...
Thank you to everyone who visited for the open house... it was so great to see you. We love the party, the conversation and the energy. Thank you all for being a part of my art community... see you in 2012!

Business for artists

For some time I have wanted to share the talents of Lois Matheson with my fellow artists... She is my business guru, the energy that keeps me in a sane direction, and an all-round fabulous source for anything "business". Lois and I are preparing a business session specifically for artists to take place in early-to-mid February. She will be the business counselor and coach... I will have a few marketing and art show tips. The goal of the session will be to help you, the artist, form the beginnings to a structure for your year. We are limiting the meeting to five artists. The event will be here at my studio in Exeter. Please, feel free to pass this along to a friend. I will update you through this blog and through facebook with specifics. Looking ahead to new adventure is always fun.... but sometimes scary. If you have thought about forming a business plan, this may be a good opportunity to take a jump. :-) Best in health and happiness for 2012! Details to come.

Fusion at Art on Union Street

I have a friend who gets lost in the process... actually I have MORE than one friend that gets lost in the process... I guess that's the way it goes when you LOVE making stuff. Deb Wheeler-Bean is going to be here with these smart looking little things - handbags, clutches, and wallets. She and wool fiber artist Lesley Hansard made these just for fun. They are constructed of recycled plastic bags... a little funky folly for the holidays! Join us this Friday and Saturday.

Ready for fun! Holiday Open House Dec 2&3

The time is near... and I think we will be ready when the doors open, but there is always that last mad dash before we can settle in and enjoy the company of friends.

This year we have so many wonderful things in store... and my friend and interior designer, Renee Carman, is one of them. She is bringing her design "first-aid kit" to the open house. Got a sad little place in your home? Or need a fresh room "do"? Friday and Saturday only, you can get a free 20-minute design consult with her...

Bring your photos or your laptop and your questions. Sign-ups are required. See the schedule to the left or go to ART ON UNION STREET to see more. Spaces are filling up, so don't la-de-da-dah!
Another wonderful thing is a special painting give-away. Everyone who drops their name in the art hat at our Holiday Open House is entered into a free drawing for one of my original paintings... ANY painting, your choice, with a maximum price of $225. No purchase is necessary... just your friendly face :-) Be sure to take a look at ART ON UNION STREET artists... We are all excited to welcome you! See you soon and have a happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful start to the holidays. Best to you in color. Rose

New Signs

Adding some "splash" to a sign that will be at the end of our street for our big Art on Union Street. Above that is my studio sign... I'm repainting it as well for the show... and so it will last through the coming New England winter. But for today, no more thoughts of winter, I will enjoy the glorious sun!

Midnight oil

Actually, I am not burning the midnight oil... just can't do it. I get up too early to last that long. BUT, if there is a midnight oil for me, 6-9 pm would be it. Stuff on the table... getting ready for the Open House December 2 and 3. Next week I will concentrate on finishing larger works. Every time I make a mark in color, I am in awe... not because of the product or how I have done it, but because with each color stroke, I realize the possibilities are really and truly endless.. and that I absolutely love the color mark-making. I remember when I taught my art classes from my studio, and watched the children paint. I was in love with their marks in color and THEY were in love with their marks in color. What a happy bunch we were!

"Where are my scissors?" challenge results!

Boy, it was great to hear from all of you.... you sent stories of your children participating with you in this challenge, stories of experiences with scissors (some a little dangerous :-), stories of where your family always kept scissors when you were growing up. Some of you counted seven scissors in the photo.... and I became a little concerned :-). Most of you found all of them ... yes, the correct answer IS five. After a random pick of all the names in the hat, we have three winners. Ann Howland, Jeremy Townsend, and Nicole Scali. Congratulations! And thank you to all who joined in... I hope you enjoyed the visual challenge.

Have a very colorful day,

Rose

Where are my scissors? Give-away

When I set up for my art shows, I always take scissors... sometimes more than one pair... just so I have them when and where I need them. My "scissors" are somewhere in this photo. If you can find them, you could win a gift... or feel accomplished....or enjoy the fact that you have a good sense of humor. The question is HOW MANY SCISSORS are in the photograph? All correct answers will go into the art hat. Three winners will be picked and can choose one of the five art items in the photo at the top. My Exeter, NH bandstand print or one of four of my art card packs (10 cards with 10 envelopes). Send me an email with your answers. Contest is over and winners announced Tuesday morning, Nov. 8, 8am. Happy hunting! (Sidenotes... You may need to click to enlarge the photo ... and I posted the photo in black and white because the orange handles would have been too easy to spot :-). Good luck!!

Consider friending me on facebook. I love to share color (mine and others) and I love feedback. I'm the Rose Bryant with the black and white flower picture.

Updates on our upcoming Art on Union Street artists will be posted there.
Best in color to you all!

Rose

Seacoast Artisans, Nov 5, 10-4

Straight from my art table to Portsmouth this Saturday. Full production here at the studio... thank goodness for sunny days. Look for me at booth #27. Also, mark your calendar for December 2 and 3. My goal is to have 500 Tiny Paintings to exhibit at our Holiday Open House. I have about 250 now. That will mean 250 new ones... Oh my. I...must...keep....painting.

Clams in a car

Ok, sometimes you just HAVE TO. On one of my last visits to Virginia, my family and I piled into a smallish car. I turned the camera to the back of the car without viewing and snapped. This is not cropped, not framed, not manipulated, no preservatives and nasty food additives. I love it for so many reasons. There is symmetry, but not too much. There is movement and gesture even though they are squashed in like clams. I know who they are without the faces. To me it is a story... of life and what my family does. It's funny and I smile when I see it. I can hear their voices. These three people love each other so much. We have all been there in a little car... hoping that someone would NOT take this picture. I can't paint it. It would never have the same meaning. Why is it on my art blog? Because it is family art.

Running Bunnies

Ok, whimsy time. I am working on tiny paintings today. Our ART ON UNION STREET holiday open house is a little over a month away and to "prime the painting pump" I work small and get a lot of thoughts down. Sometimes something tiny really grabs me and I will paint it larger and in similar colors to the tiny ones. Right now, it's 3x3 inch "Running Bunnies"... will there be a larger version at the open house? I don't know :-)