Medal Received!

Certificate and Bronze Medal from the Academy of Arts, Letters, and Sciences (Paris June 2013)
for "body of works" submitted for jury  

I just received this photo from Benedicte Lecat of Com2Art. Benedicte is making sure I sweep the European continent with art and is representing me in those efforts! She has sold a few pieces in Brussels and is  planning the management of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts in the Carrousel du Louvre  for 2013....

"My Three Graces" is a 30" (76.2 cm) x 30" (76.2 cm) watercolor on canvas and certainly represents my work with the Ladies. It will be removed from the stretcher bars, rolled in a tube and shipped to Cannes where Benedicte will work with the framer to re-stretch and mount in the show December 15-18, 2013 in the Carrousel du Louvre.

I have prints available of this one too, so that those who have begun "the Paris collection," now have three to choose. (Available @ www.tombarnesfineart.com)

This one is spoken for as I have promised Tyler that I would add the first three pieces shown there into his private collection (quite an impressive grouping already!)

I am looking forward to the next show on King Street, Alexandria VA, September 7-8.
Then I'll be in the studio working on images for Stockley Gardens, Norfolk VA, October 19-20.

 

My Three Graces
30" (76.2 cm) x 30" (76.2cm)
Original Watercolor on Canvas
2013 Jury Selection Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts
Paris,  December 15-18


 

A WORD ABOUT CHICAGO 2013:

To all those who bought and admired and shared the two weeks of art in Chicago, I give my heartiest thanks! The time there was special and was so easy and rewarding... for a guy who seeks comfort, I was richly rewarded. I am ever grateful for the patronage. My friends, Bev and Bob Seiffert, opened their immense and warm home to me and the private showing they orchestrated brought many of their friends into my space. I was most appreciate for this extra effort. It was all very enchanted! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Another Award and on the road again!

 Got an email this week from the High Commisson of the Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters in Paris and I've been awarded a BRONZE MEDAL for the submission to the Louvre last year, Sadie and Sally. I won't be able to hop the pond to pick up the certificate or attend the awards dinner and exhibit, but I am honored. These prizes are given out each year from a group selected by the Academy during the National Society of Fine Arts' December exhibit. I had to send "a body of works" and even a criminal background check to be considered! On antoher note, my representative Benedicte Lecat has been showing four pieces traveling now to several galleries in Europe: Brussells (February), Barcelona (April), Cannes (July). She was delighted to be able to add this award to my tiny list of accomplishments...

The Three Muses



 Back in the studio and working with a passion. Life here in south Georgia has a smooth and mild pace; sunshine and just enough rain to keep the new plantings springing up. It has been a beautiful time. Looking forward to the next two shows, Stockley Gardens Art Festival in Norfolk VA (May 18-19) and Hilton Head Island Art Festival in SC (May 25-26)... A few new pieces are in the works and coming together. Here's a sampling... (Sizes and Prices available by calling 757.477.2599)

A Little Small Village

A Misty Morning

Another Pot of Flowers

And yet another...

Sunflowers in the Wind

Uppa Lazy Riva

Mavis

Jack and Sam hard at work in their weekly art class... we're studying the Fauves  (Vlamick)

Historic Yellow Springs Chester PA

Every year I send a submission for sale to the Historic Yellow Springs Art Sale. I'm attaching this year's image and encourage anyone interested to get there early... Opening Gala is Friday April 26 5:30 to 10 PM...Tickets have to be purchased...Show opens to public Saturday April 27 at 11 AM...

Yellow Springs Art Sale "My Little Friend"

April musings...

It's settling time here in the studio. I've finished most everything from the La Quinta show, paid the CA resale tax, and shipped out all the pieces remaining. I like this time back in the studio because I can reflect on the events of the past few weeks and do a few things to "nest" in my space. I am sharing some of the art work which has been completed and shipped. We are spending next week with Tyler and Grace in Ponte Vedra, FL and looking forward to our face to face time.

Savon Sinnette

Oh, Those Haughty Gals Again

Wonderful new colors



Glamor in the Museum



Mona's Sisters



More images coming from the studio hours

More Developments

As I work on a piece, I reflect, and look, and glance at, ignore, move around, turn on edges and look some more. This is a new process for me: to study the elements and move on a decision. This often takes a piece in an entirely different direction. Who can say where the process becomes "the best" results? Trying not to overwork is always a dynamic. But to shift and reconstruct seems to work well. Here's an example of a piece I did in September and observed for these months. I started yesterday at 7:30 AM and by 10PM (minus lunch and my nap!) I arrived at "I See the Moon." I have a tinge of American Indian in my blood from my mother's side and I think somewhere deep within, this image was lurking for centuries! What started as a free-form contemporary piece has morphed into a folk tale.

The beginnings of a form and structure

I See the Moon
(A work almost complete)
48 x 48 inch watercolor on canvas
$5000

The Process of the Painting

Today, I came into the studio and reworked a piece for the third time.
The first image was to be a contemporary form and function color and shape.
The second image came from washing the first with water and then rubbing (lifting) the colors out in more traditional form.
I liked what was happening, but had seen a form in the piece when I turned it on its side.
I started developing that form and the third image is what came out!

I am calling it "Encore!" I think I'm going to leave this one alone! Just a few more highlighting tweaks...

What a process. This has taken almost 6 months to arrive at!

It is a 4' x 4' watercolor on canvas.