Small Works Competition

By the way, I haven’t spent all of the New Year pondering and pontificating! I’ve actually been working like a mad woman on some new Poppy Paintings. I’m hoping to present three new pieces for submission to the National Association of Women Artist’s 2009 “National Small Works Exhibition” competition.

Accepted works will be shown at:
N.A.W.A. Gallery
80 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1405
New York, NY 10011
February 26 – March 20, 2009

The Top Award is a Solo show at N.A.W.A.’s Fifth Avenue Gallery. 4 Runners up will receive a copy of “An Artist’s Handbook – Materials and Techniques” by Margaret Krug and a Cash Prize.

While winning the solo exhibition at the Fifth Avenue Gallery would be a dream, I would be happy just to be awarded a place in the show! Last year’s small works submission was rejected so I’m feeling the pressure! The competition is fierce (open to all U.S. women, 18 and older) and the clock is ticking! The mail-in deadline is THIS Saturday, January 10th!

Stay tuned! I’ll need your help choosing the three pieces to submit. I’ll post the new paintings as they are completed and photographed. I can't wait to hear your picks! Wish me luck!

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Penn State Exhibition

I am thrilled to announce that “Textured Poppy 1” has been selected by Gallery Director/Curator Ann Shields for the upcoming National Association of Women Artists’ “N.A.W.A. 120th Anniversary Exhibition” at the HUB-Robeson Galleries at Penn State University!



Title: “Textured Poppy 1”
Artist: Amy E. Fraser
Medium: Mixed Media and Acrylic Paint on 140#, Acid Free, Archival Watercolor Paper.
Size: 11” x 14”

Here is the Artist Statement for “Textured Poppy 1”: “The diversely expressive Poppy was the muse for this painting series. There is something very human about the countenance of a Poppy; they convey the power of beauty while also alluding to physical fragility. In the Textured Poppy series, I chose to contrast patterns and textures while keeping the colors subtle as a means to express a more tactile sense of the bloom’s emotionality. Time is fleeting for the Poppy; its lifespan is a precarious thing dependant on weather. One heavy rainstorm will quickly diminish the Poppy’s beauty, forcing it to shed its petals, leading to a premature death. They stand to express the things we fear but accept as inevitable. I believe it’s this unknowing; the unpredictability and preciousness of the Poppy that creates vulnerability, and emotionalism that expresses a very soulful take on both human and nature.”

The “N.A.W.A. 120th Anniversary Exhibition” runs from February 19th – April 26th 2009.

Artists’ Reception: Thursday, April 2, 2009 5-8 p.m.

HUB-Robeson Galleries
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802

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Textured Poppies

I just completed this set of six Textured Poppy paintings:



Textured Poppy 1



Textured Poppy 2



Textured Poppy 3



Textured Poppy 4



Textured Poppy 5



Textured Poppy 6

Here is a closer look at some of the textural details:














All 6 Textured Poppy paintings measure 11” x 14” in size. The pieces were painted with Acrylic Paint (as well as some sand and glitter in the background spirals) on 140#, Acid Free, Archival Watercolor Paper.

I started the drawings for the Textured Poppies on October 10th, and spent an average of 10-12 hours a day working on them until last night. I’m not sure how I feel about the finished pieces just yet but I think it has been a worth while experiment/experience. I was inspired to create texture with purpose, with true *intent* based on some reviews of my work at the recent Cornish art exhibition. Comments tended to focus primarily on my textures and backgrounds (rather then the image content); one woman was so intrigued by my painting texture that she felt that my work had to have been embossed! Interesting, right? So in this set, I kept thinking about *embossing* and built each bump, swirl and petal with layers and layers of heavy paint as if creating a low relief sculpture, and then I completed the images using watered down stains and washes with the intention of the darkest shades layering deeply in the crevices. What do you think?

Anyway, the real NEWS is that I actually made the competition deadlines! I’m thrilled to announce that I have submitted two of these works to The National Association of Women Artists’ “120th Anniversary Exhibition” competition at the Hub-Robeson Galleries at Penn State University and two more were submitted to the “N.A.W.A. at 120” exhibition competition at The Noyes Museum of Art in New Jersey. I opted not to submit to the third N.A.W.A. competition and instead have chosen to submit the final two Textured Poppies to the upcoming holiday exhibition at our local AVA Gallery and Art Center on November 15th.

I will post more information about the AVA exhibition soon, but in the meantime I have a little boy in desperate need of a Halloween costume (as well as some Halloween crafts and domestic goodness). Caden has a big Halloween party and performance at his pre-school and I’ll be helping to get the kids costumed and ready, should be lots of fun. Later that evening we will be bringing the monster madness on tour with a visit to the fire house and some trick or treating.

The next morning will be back to business as I’ll be participating in the Blow-Me-Down Grange #234 Christmas Bazaar (Saturday November 1, 2008 9 AM -3 PM). My beautiful and hilarious cousin Shana will be amusing/assisting me for the day so you won’t want to miss out on that! I’ll post a reminder about the Plainfield Bazaar next week. And don’t forget that Lisa J’s medallion party is coming up on November 14th! The vivacious Julie B., the marvelous Nancy C., and the exquisite Julie L. all have potential medallion parties on the way before Christmas as well! Lots going on! I’ll keep you posted!

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