Happy New Year, Happy New Art

Posted on January 3, 2013 by LeahQuinn

Been busy this holiday season, hence why I haven’t posted in such a long time, but in no way does it mean that I have been not creating art when I had the time. In fact I quickly finished a few pieces for placement into Beacon’s annual The Big Draw Art Show which is full of fun with many different artists and mediums being represented. There is but one limitation for all artists – Your two dimensional medium must only be sized 6″ x 8″ – and well – that can limit some of us artists. A fun challenge indeed!

This annual fundraiser is for the Beacon Open Studios happening later this year in April. It is one of the actual events that made me decide in choosing to move to this wonderful city of Beacon!

The Beacon Arts Community Association (BACA) is a wonderful place where you can find many art events happening all year around and since Beacon is full of artists – it really is a great resource.

This Big Draw Gala Party will be held on January 26th. And let me tell you that this Gala Event should not be missed – it was loads of super fun last year! The event not only shows all artwork submitted by the many artists there is also a live drawing session, a silent auction on a few special works, music, food & drink along with many other festivities including having the chance in meeting many of your Beacon Neighboring Artists! Ticket prices are $15 each or 2 for $25. Proceeds from the evening’s event will benefit Beacon Open Studios and the participating artists.

What’s The Big Draw? The Big Draw Exhibition is hundreds of 6”x8” works on paper sold for $50 each. Artists from across the country and from our own Hudson Valley backyard hang their work side by side.

Here below are my three submissions I was able to drop off at the Hudson Beach Glass located at 162 Main St. in Beacon. If you are visiting Beacon for the first time, do check out the Hudson Beach Glass and see its many colorful glass art pieces!

Fortunately while I work at The Beacon Art Emporium, located at 500 Main St, I have a space in the back of the shop where my art studio is, so when I have a bit of down time I can create my mixed media digital art pieces. These few pieces were originally made from photographs I took on a cold foggy day in early December in 2012 and then re-worked digitally.

Many other artworks of mine are available in limited edition prints at the shop – so I hope to see you soon at the shop and then definitely at the Big Draw Gala Event January 26th!

Latest New Artwork

Posted on February 18, 2012 by LeahQuinn

I took the photos of these two pieces while the paint was still wet, and was especially concentrating on not concentrating nor worrying about their outcome as I started the painting process. I started these paintings as part of fun exercises with Flora Bowley’s latest e-course, Bloom True – I am sure there is still space for her next e-course starting this Spring at http://braveintuitiveyou.com/. I learned of Flora’s e-course through an Art of Surface Design Course by Rachael Taylor and Beth.

For those of you new to e-courses, they are not without effort in making time to get the most out of the classes. And if you are in the position to really work, and your heart is in the right place to learn, you will gain much more than ever anticipated. I greatly recommend all the people I have mentioned in this particular post.

I learned about Rachael Taylor through Tara Gentile and Scoutiegirl.com - two sites that as an artist of any medium, I highly suggest one follow to learn more and to encourage more of yourself in creating more art and a more successful version of yourself – and better yet, a more authentic version of yourself. Period.

Feel free to click on any image to see it larger…

This first painting is titled, ‘Healing Heart’

Healing Heart - Painting by Leah Quinn

While this Second one is called ‘Golden Steps’

Golden Steps Painting by Leah Quinn, Hudson Valley New York Artist

This one below is titled ‘Magical Forest’

Magical Forest by Leah Quinn

And lastly here’s one I did using a photograph I took the night after the large 2011 Storm Irena… the sunset was gorgeous as was the night – how often does that happen after a hard storm: It’s titled ‘Starless Night Over Newburgh on the Hudson River’ – my adage to Van Gough – I experimented by using string circled up and thrown into the paint to make the ‘swirls’ in the sky. With the left over paint, which I do often enough, I made another painting – the one you see above titled, ‘Magical Forest’. I also used the end of my painting brush and fingers to create ‘Magical Forest’ – it was a lot of fun going ‘out’ on a limb quite literally and allowing one to simply paint for painting’s sake.

Starless Night Over Newburgh on the Hudson River by Leah Quinn, Hudson Valley Artist

So how have you’ve been ‘arting’ – now don’t say that three times fast – else it’s going to be funnier sounding than expected – but at the very least- you will let out some air, and release what you have been holding onto for far too long – let me know, I would love to hear about it!

Namaste,

Leah Quinn

Back to Work which means new Art, Prints, & Designs Are Being Created

Posted on February 3, 2012 by LeahQuinn

There is one thing I do like about the winter months – we get to cook again – and while cooking on the stove, I also tend to cook up a storm on the canvas or in the other various mediums I work in. While my work is represented at the Beacon Art Emporium and elsewhere on the web, it has been a most interesting start to the winter.

I was able to attend and be a participant of Beacon, NY’s ‘The Big Draw” which had well over 100 artists provide 6″x8″ of their work. This event also helps support Beacon Open Studios which comes earlier this year than last. I will be an artist participant in that as well – but more about that come this spring.

These are the two images that sold – of course I have more limited edition and signed prints available at Beacon Art Emporium’s artisan boutique.

"Hudson River Sunset at The Cove by Leah Quinn"

Collecting Art

I feel fortunate that two out of three of my pieces sold. I even purchased a lovely piece too – and in fact I am finding my own ‘voice’ while I have been purchasing other artists’ work, all which is very new to me.

But I do notice a particular message coming through with the pieces I have been collecting. They show signs of peace, calm, or signs of whimsy and humor. They are all most definitely colorful- which is one grounding theme I realized recently about my own art.

One thing to remember that another artist Keli Bickman taught me was when someone invests in your art (or another’s art) they – the purchaser is also investing in you…

A point I make along with this one – only purchase art that moves you, takes you to a place you want to be- that draws you in.

I have been enjoying this new side of myself as I grow as an artist having the chance to fill my new home with art made by other artists… it’s incredibly inspiring!

Coming up next….my new online courses I have been taking: The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design and a new one -http://braveintuitiveyou.com/e-course/ which sold out only yesterday when first published via Rachael Taylor’s post on Facebook….

So without further adieu, I has got to get cooking on my surface pattern design homework – today’s homework features a client brief where we as the designers must come up with a stationary set design… now how fun is that!!!? One Word: Amazing!