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12/2/2016 0 Comments

I wish you a peaceful and joyful holiday season...

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As we fast approach the end of 2016, it is a great time to look back on the year to consider what we have accomplished and what goals we have for the future.  For me, every year gets better and better.

I continue to grow in my printing business.  Thank you to every one of you who have become clients.  I am honored to create prints of your artwork!

 I am growing in my painting  through workshops and trying new things.  Thank you  to Robert O'Brien for his workshops in portraits and Plein Aire.  They have broadened my horizons and encouraged me to paint things I used to think were too hard.  And thanks to the many artists on Facebook that share their work- I am so inspired by your passion, and the beauty that you capture.

My family is growing too,  with a new granddaughter- Mia.  There will be so many adventures and fun to be had with her.  It is so exciting!

I am actively working on living in the moment as much of the time as possible. I find that this awareness brings me to constant awe and appreciation of the beauty of the world around us.  It is so inspiring.  A painter sees the world differently: colors, shapes and values, hard and soft edges, etc. take over the minds eye. Thanks for the beautiful images on Facebook, @Hartland Wildlife, @Tom Cruickshanks and @Judy Clark.
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So for goals in 2017- to name just a few of mine: Paint more.  Print more. Take more photos. Live in the moment.  Enjoy every minute I can with Mia.  Actively try to see everything in its best light, both visually and emotionally.  Continue trying new subject matter and new techniques for my watercolors.  Begin working with the Academic Artists group as part of their board.  Participate in more local shows and keep working for acceptance into the American Watercolor Society. 
What about you?
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9/22/2016 0 Comments

Try something new...

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​Many of our local artists paint outside onsite or “En Plein Aire”, creating lovely landscape paintings.  Typically these are oil and acrylic painters, but there are pastel artists, and a few watercolorists.   Having always worked from a photo and taking weeks or even months to complete a painting, to me this seemed like an impossible task.  I have tried it with the Granby Artists Association when they have their annual Granby Land Trust Paint Out day.  It is a challenge with watercolors.  The drying time changes, the colors never seem bright enough, the light changes, the palette dries out,  sitting on the ground is awkward and uncomfortable, etc.  I said to myself  “ This is not for me.”    That was several years ago.
 
I find that if I am going to grow as an artist, I need to continue to step outside of my comfort zone and try new and challenging  things.  And so I tried plein air painting again, only this time in a workshop with Robert O’Brien.
I was better prepared this time- bringing a chair and an easel, a view finder, smaller paper and larger brushes.    Robert’s demo emphasized choosing your topic, composition and color, drawing minimally and working quickly.  Learning to ‘see’ is key to creating a painting.  Preparing larger puddles of the needed colors also lets you paint without the interruption of having to mix paint.  Because everything dries so much faster than in the studio, once you are working on the painting,you have to work more quickly.  The goal is to capture the essense of the place and your feelings about it.  Let the details go and only "suggest" the less important portions.  You might not finish your painting, or you might just be doing sketches to work from later.  Taking some photos will also be a helpful reference if you will work on it later in the studio.  This time I was better able to enjoy the experience and learned alot about working in a much different manner than I am accustomed to. I will definitely have to try it again on my own.  Nothing ventured nothing gained, right?


 
 

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7/25/2016 0 Comments

Thanksgiving

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So what do you have to be thankful for this year?  Of course there are the usual sentiments- family, friends, health, employment, you know that kind of stuff.  Do you remember to be thankful your gifts and talents?  What about our ability to see and appreciate the many colors and the beauty in our world?  What about the world itself? It is a pretty amazing place. Let's not forget to be grateful for artists' skill in interpreting and capturing all that beauty and all those amazing images,  for all of us.   You know the expression about taking time to stop and smell the roses.. for me as an artist I think of it as "Have the awareness to look for and really see all the beauty in everyday life".  Happy Thanksgiving to you.
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7/25/2016 1 Comment

The days are getting shorter...

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The days are getting shorter, the locusts sing their songs, and the back to school sales are upon us, reminding us to enjoy each remaining minute of the summer season.   It is not too late to paint  (or eat, or both!)  summer's treasures.   I’m still gathering in the special things about summer-  I’ve decided that for me summer isn’t over until the end of September.  Did you know that August is peach season ?  That apple picking begins in August?  There are fall raspberries,  and the grapes are ripening.  Local spots to savor some of these include Lost Acres Farm in Granby, CT,   Bushy Hill Farm in Granby,  Kuras Farm in Suffield,  the 4H Farm in Bloomfield, the Appleberry Farm in West Suffield or the Sweet Wind Farm in East Hartland. Farmer’s markets will have these and much more, many  markets end in mid- late September,  so don’t wait.
 
For the artist, the changing light provides fresh inspiration for painting whether en plein air, or shooting photos to be savored in the studio all winter.  Fall is when the vineyards are harvesting, but who really needs a reason to visit a vineyard.. try these local vintners:   Lost Acres Vineyard in Granby, CT; Rosedale Farms and Vineyards, and the newly opened  Brignole Vineyard in East Granby.

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7/24/2016 1 Comment

It’s Farmer’s Market Season!

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It’s Farmer’s Market Season, have you been to one yet?  Most of the local towns have them.  In our area there are many:  East Granby Farmer’s Market at the East Granby Library, as well as in Granby, Simsbury, Suffield, Windsor, Bloomfield, even the Old State House in Hartford- all have markets to visit.  Summer season brings wonderful fresh vegetables and fruits, all locally grown. 
Summer brings yummy things to eat,  but for the artist it is a feast for the eyes and ideas as well.  There is an amazing variety of colors and  textures.  It is a challenge to capture all that, but can you also evoke the aromas and flavors, the crispness, the juiciness, the anticipation of the that first taste?   Once you have a vibrant painting, it is a simple step to reproduce it  and make various size prints and cards to take to shows, workshops, and local venues.  Make buying your art even easier for your customers
For the art lover, you can have this summer beauty all year long hanging on a wall in your house, support the arts and purchase a painting from a local artist.  Keep an image of summer in your kitchen or dining room,  even  the porch, bathroom, mudroom,  or wherever it makes you smile.  Start a collection!
And how about “Pick your Own”?  Get out in nature and pick your own summer treasure- go early before it’s too hot.  Sample the goods and you’ll be hooked.  Don’t forget to look around you and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings, we live in a beautiful area of hills and valleys, ponds and fields.  My personal favorite is blueberries and raspberries at Kuras Farm in Suffield, CT.   But don’t forget the Pickin’ Patch in Avon for a wide variety of items, or Lost Acres Farm in North Granby, CT for apples! 
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12/15/2015 0 Comments

Peace and Joy

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Another amazing year is coming to a close.  I wish for all of my friends and customers a joyous and peaceful holiday season and a wonderful New Year. Hopefully some snow too.  It has been a great year for both the printing business and for my painting- thanks for all of your support.   I love working with all of you and your wonderful artwork!  I hope to see you again in the new year.
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8/20/2015 1 Comment

Paint something that you love!  Part 2

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Here it is!- my cat having a nap on the back of the couch in the sun.  I tried to capture the warmth, and peaceful contentment she showed.  It made me want to have a catnap too.  While having a heartfelt connection to this kitty made it a bit more challenging to work on because I wanted to capture her perfectly, it also inspired me to push myself and it made the process of painting alot of fun.  
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8/12/2015 2 Comments

Paint something that you love!  (or even better- that someone else loves)

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Have you ever felt short on inspiration?  I was in between ideas when a coworker asked me to paint a portrait of her family's beloved Cockapoo named "Sam".  When I asked for some pictures to work from, she was so excited about having a painting done, I looked forward to working on it.  And when I showed her the drawing,  she loved it, said it captured him perfectly and that she couldn't wait to see it.  Her enthusiasm was so contagious that I got excited about it too.  It was really fun to work on it and turned out great. 

I was so inspired, I pulled out a photo of my own cat sleeping in the sun.  It was a picture that I had taken a while ago with the intention of painting it "someday".  "Some day" became now and I jumped at the chance to work on something that I love.  It has been a challenge, but lots of fun too. When it's done, I'll add it to this post.  

Go find something that you love to inspire you!  Person, place or thing it doesn't matter- what matters is your connection to it.
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7/10/2015 1 Comment

It's summertime- Be Inspired

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Summer time doesn't last as long as many of us would like, so make the best of it.  Be inspired in your art!  Get outside and paint or take reference photos.  Beautiful images are all around us at this time of year.  Try plein air painting.  Or you can see some of the many shows, fairs, and festivals that are going on.  Check out the @Granby Artists Association show at the Simsbury Library, July 6-31st.  Better still be part of a show or have your own. Try something new.  Take that class you've been thinking about.  So many ways and so little time.  Have an art summer!
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4/21/2015 2 Comments

Jump into Spring

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Can't wait for spring and summer to arrive? Go there in your painting while you are waiting.  

I recently attended a spring and summer landscape painting workshop with Robert O'brien where we all painted scenes from warmer days. It was inspiring both for the painting and for the anticipation of those nice days. 

Robert is a gifted painter from Vermont, and a great instructor.  If you ever get the chance I highly recommend his work and his workshops.  

Definitely, try this at home and jump into spring.
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    Lori Rapuano

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Lori's Art and Printmaking
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