5 Paintings in Monterey County Show!

I was delighted to learn today that one of my 5 paintings which had been juried into the Art Council of Monterey County's "Celebrating Artist of Monterey County" show has won an Honorable Mention!  We enjoyed the reception for the artists at the government office buildings.
The show is beautifully hung and 3 of my paintings are displayed right under the sign!

All paintings are for sale and the show will be up for one year in the Government Center Administration Building,  168 W. Alisal, Salinas, CA.  

"Carmel Mission Sanctuary"
pastels

I saw this lady walking down the aisle at Carmel Mission one rainy day.  She had a very large umbrella which she was using as a cane.  I was captivated by the warm glow in the mission and the refections on the well worn tile.  

Salinas Valley Lettuce Farm  -  oil,  9 x 12

< Also accepted to this show

Harvesting Radicchio   oil  12" x 16"

It is interesting to see these hard workers in the lettuce fields. 

Monterey Rec Trail  oil  20" x 16"

Above the Salinas Valley   oil   12" x 16"


See more work on my website:  www.RhettsStudio.com

I painted the trail along the beach in Monterey standing in a parking lot.  The eucalyptus trees are so beautiful along this path.  

New Paper Crane Ornaments

I have been folding origami paper cranes for many years.  I do not consider myself to be an origami folder, but a folder of Paper Cranes.  The tradition of folding cranes has been around in Japan for many years.  It is said that if you fold 1,000 cranes you will have a wish come true.  The story of Sadako Sasaki's folding cranes when she came down with cancer is well known.  I fell in love with the idea that paper cranes have become an international symbol of peace when she wrote in her diary: 

"I will write Peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world"

I love that quote and in this chaotic world we live in we certainly need PEACE.  I have folded well over 3,000 cranes, and not only folded them, but embellished them.  I love playing with various media and have been playing with ways to embellish my paper cranes.   I inherited a large number of vintage and antique beads from my mother who loved to collect them.  So I started using some of them in my crane embellishments.   

< I have had a booth at the Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival for 8 years now showing my paper cranes.

This year I decided to try some new designs.  These include a tassel at the bottom and some new shorter crane ornaments with some pretty exotic beads.  I have new earrings to show as well.   I search high and low for beads, and washi paper to fold my cranes.  I only use the finest of hand silkscreened Japanese washi paper for my designs.  

Please visit me at the  Sandhill Crane Festival  again this year 
Nov. 5th and 6th 2016  at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi, CA. 

New Crane Ornaments

Some of my earring designs

Multiple Crane Mobiles

 These are some of my crane family groups with various size cranes on a single strand.


















I do commissions for paper crane earrings, ornaments, mobiles, etc.  
Send me an email to ask about the design you would like. 

thegoldenpapercrane@earthlink.net

Tracy Grand Theater Art Gallery

Today a friend and I braved the stormy weather to drive to Tracy to enter new work for a show there. To my delight, William said he wanted to keep two of my paintings from the previous show.  He said he liked them so much and the colors are beautiful in the display.  What a nice surprise.  And he took 6 more paintings as well for the next show which will continue through December.   This is such a lovely art galley in the Tracy Grand Theater complex.  I hope you can get a chance to visit and see my work.  William is also going to display 6 of my paper cranes, so that will be nice to see.  Below are photos of some of the work which will be on display.

23rd Fine Arts Festival Nov. 18 & 19th 2016

I am delighted to have been accepted to 

the San Joaquin Potters Guild's

23rd Fine Arts Festival   

Fri. Nov. 18th  4 pm-8 pm  and  Sat. Nov. 19th  10 am - 4 pm

Spanos Community Center at St. Basil's Greek Orthodox Church

920 W. March Lane, Stockton, CA

This event is free to the public.

www.sanjoaquinpottersguild.org 

I will have paintings, note cards, paper cranes and earrings for sale.

Come get some unique and fine art gifts.   

Monterey Artists Open Studio Tour Sept 24 & 25th 2016

My friend, Tamara Keiper, and I had a great time displaying our art at the Monterey County Arts Open Studio Tour.  We were at a beautiful house above Monterey Bay and I was lucky to be located in the dining room and kitchen.  I set up my display with my new paintings, cranes, note cards and a few prints.  In one corner I had my easel and incredibly I was actually able to work on a small painting on Sunday.  

Tamara worked so hard to the signs ready to direct folks to our studio and her husband and a friend helped by getting them put up. 

Carolyn was our greeter and helped us by getting folks to sign the guest book.  Tamara had a beautiful display of her work as well.  Be sure and click on the link to her website.   We had refreshments and a friendly group of people stop by and visit with us.  

A little of Tamara's display of wonderful paintings!

On Sunday it was really hot for the coast and we only had a few visitors.  We think they all went to the beach!  Not really a bad idea.  I want to thank all those who did stop by and visit with us.  It was a lovely weekend.   

I had my decorated paper lanterns on display too!

Just look at those Daily Paintings!

My easel set up in the corner!  Even got a painting started!

 

My Gift Box Note Card display

Some of my paintings on easels next to my multiple crane display rack.

I tried out my new display A frame.  I am happy with it.

More Daily Paintings on the other side. 

 Check out my website at:
www.RhettsStudio.com

My next events.... 
 Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival ... Nov. 5th and 6th at Hutchings Square, Lodi, CA
 and 
 the 23rd Fine Arts Festival, sponsored by the San Joaquin Potters Guild
  at St. Basil's Greek Orthodox Church  920 W. March Lane, Stockton, CA
  Fri. Nov. 18th  4pm - 8pm  and Sat Nov. 19  10am - 4pm

Hollyhocks Inspire Me

Red Hollyhocks  6" x 6"  oil on ampersand panel

We stopped at a restaurant in San Juan Bautista for lunch.  This restaurant has a lovely garden area in the back.  I photographed the hollyhocks which were the inspiration for these DAILY PAINTINGS.

I will be showing these at the Monterey County Artists Open Studio Tour this weekend ... Sept. 24th and 25th.  We are at #15 on the map!  Come see me!

Pink Hollyhocks   6" x 6"  oil on ampersand panel

Hollyhock  6" x 6"  oil on ampersand panel

Hollyhocks in the Sunshine  6" x 6"  oil on ampersand panel

Painting Great Old Cars

Painting Great Old Cars

 I have been having fun painting old cars, trucks and tractors when I can find them.  My friend and I were driving around Pacifc Grove (CA) looking for a restaurant for dinner when we turned down this road and discovered this great car!  It was about a week before the 4th of July so the car and house were all decorated up!  I took photos and eventually painted the first three paintings.  My friend went to the parade and took the photo of the car in the parade, thus the 4th painting.
Each painting took me 6 hours to paint, but it was fun to try and capture the flags, reflections and shadows.  I like them all and can't figure which I like best.  Let me know which one YOU like best!

Ready for the Parade 6" x 6"  oil on ampersand panel framed in 8" x 8" frame

American Pride  6" x 6"  oil on ampersand panel framed in 8" x 8" frame

Celebrate the 4th 6" x 6"  oil on ampersand panel framed in 8" x 8" frame

In the Parade 6" x 6"  oil on ampersand panel framed in 8" x 8" frame

See the originals on display at the                                                     

Monterey County Artists Open Studio Tour
Sept. 24th and 25th  - 2016    -  11 am - 5 pm
I will be at #15 on the map
Maps are available at www.bit.ly/mcoast.ArtsHabitat.org
and will be published in the Monterey Herald on Sept. 15th.
For more information go to   ArtsHabitat.org
 or call  (831)624-6111
also on Facebook

Monterey, California

Tracy Art Walk - 10 June 2016

The City of Tracy, CA is hosting an Art Walk for artists and I will be displaying & selling my Daily Paintings.  I built a display using recycled wood bed slats which were given to me.  It was quite an adventure building this "A" Frame display, since I have little carpentry experience.  It am amazed that it holds over 25 small paintings! It is light enough for me to carry and will fit in the back of my Subaru Outback. 

  Here are some photos of my dry run setup.  I don't want any surprises at the Art Walk!

There is more room on one side, so I may add a few more paintings.  Still working on the arrangement.  
 
I hope to take this display to other events!

I will be at 53 W. 10th Street in Tracy from 6 - 8 pm.  Drop by and see me! 

Kitty Portraits

Painting one of my favorite animals -  CATS

 

Orange Kitten   6" x 6"  oil on gessoboard

  
 I have always had cats in my life as long as I can remember.  They are the best friends in the world!  They cuddle with you and love you as long as you are good to them.  So I decided it was time to do some kitty portraits.  I have been working from a calendar given to me from Friends of Turlock Animal Shelter.  This is a great group that helps find homes for cats and dogs.  

Here are my first 6 portraits.  You might notice that I enjoy painting orange kitties!  Carrying on my exploration of ORANGE.

 

Orange Kitty with Blue Eyes   6" x 6"  oil on gessoboard

Paintings are $125 framed and $95 without a frame.   $40 from the sale of each painting will be donated to this dedicated group.


Send me a really good, close-up photo of your cat and I will consider doing a portrait of YOUR loving kitty.   

 

Little Cutie   6" x 6"  oil on gessoboard

Lucinda   6" x 6"  oil on gessoboard

Susie   6" x 6"  oil on gessoboard

Blue-eyed Beauty   6" x 6"  oil on gessoboard

What a sweetheart!



















"Lucinda" seemed like a good name for this pretty cat with green eyes. 
SOLD!  THIS PAINTING SOLD AT THE MONTEREY COUNTY ARTISTS OPEN STUDIO TOUR!  GONE TO A GOOD HOME!















And this little sweetie looked like a "Susie" to me! 

















This handsome cat looks a lot like my own cat  Lacy.  I have yet to paint Lacy, but that is on my list of things to do... soon!














Check out my website at: www.RhettsStudio.com