Festival of Arts, Artist Wendy Wirth

It was a year ago that my dear artist friend Wendy Wirth encouraged me to enter Festival of Arts.  I just realized I had yet to post a picture of Wendy (a third year particpant) at her booth this year.  It's been a great joy to share this fantastic experieince with her.    www.wendywirth.com

 Amanda and Wendy

Festival Days

It's 18 days into the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts with many activities happening every day.  Here is a look at some fellow artist friends along with great music events.

 

Tony Salvo in front of his fun paintings at the Festival of Arts.

 Tony painting one of his fabulous dessert paintings. www.salvofineart.com

Josh Corbin is across from my space, he paints wonderful scenic golf vistas! www.corbinarts.com

Marie Tippits, also a first-time juried artist like myself has her space one row over from me.  I am very happy to have met a new lovely artist friend.  She is an award winning pastel artist.  www.marietippets.com 

Groov'in to the music of Poncho Sanchez.

Amanda and Marie enjoying the sights and sounds.

Weekend music events are a big hit.

Amanda with artist Larry Bates.

Beatles music is played every Sunday.  Love it!!

Here is a painting I worked on for a demonstration at the Festival.

Finding Inspiration

"Walnuts and Porcelain," oil on linen, 10" x 14" - (Update, Sold)

Finding new inspiration along with the desire to paint something different or unusual can be found in many ways.  About 5 years ago I saw a painting that captured my attention.  It was a painting of walnuts on a long rustic table, absolutely fabulous.  The artist created a painting with drama and interest with only walnuts arranged on a table at eye level.  I have thought about creating a still life composition with walnuts ever since.   Here is my recently completed, "Walnuts and Porcelain."  The colors along with the movement of the composition give the painting a quiet elegance.

Jean-Simeon Chardin, one of my favorite artists, often placed walnuts in his compositions.  I found this example from photographs I took at the Louvre last year.

Festival of Arts Laguna Beach

This past weekend was the opening of the Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach (open daily 10:00am - 11:30pm, through August 31).  It's now time to recover from 6 months of prepartion.  Time to celebrate, meet new artist friends (there are 140 of us), volunteer to give painting demonstrations, and greet the visitors who stop by my space.  They all come to enjoy the art, music, wide-range of activities on the Festival grounds, and go to the nightly performance Pageant of the Masters.  I plan to enjoy and will no doubt have the most amazing experience as an exhibiting artist.  Come visit!  www.foapom.org

The night before the opening, hanging paintings.

Space #42 is finished!

It's a bit quiet on the grounds the night before the preview party.

Saturday, June 30th, Opening Night Preview Party, artist Greg LaRock.

Amanda Fish - the happy artist! The guests are arriving, the party has begun.

Coffee Cups Oil Painting

"Coffee Cups," oil on linen, 6"x12" - Sold

One of my favorite subject matters, along with the challenges of painting objects in white.

Amanda's Festival Space

Just a quick post. That's me having just finished up painting the color on my wall today.  I am across from Greg LaRock (fabulous plein air landscape painter and fellow artist friend...who was painting his baseboard), and to the left of my space is a long-time Festival exhibitor, Walter Reiss (seen in the back) will display ceramics. One week countdown to Opening Night Festivities, Saturday, June 30th.  It opens to the public the following day, Sunday, July 1st.  Open daily 10am - 11:00pm through August 31, 2012.  www.foapom.com

Oranges in Majolica Bowl

"Majolica Bowl with Mandarins" oil on wood panel, 8"x10"

I grew up with this bowl, or dish (?) it was always sitting on the coffee table.  I love the inside with the painted Florentine Medici Family Crest.  I'll have to figure out a still life composition where I can show the colorful inside.

Plums with Silver

"Plums with Silver," oil on hardboard, 6"x8" - SOLD.

Festival of Arts, artists begin space construction

I got my space assignment for this summer's Festival of Arts, very exciting!  Construction on the Festival grounds has begun.  I was able to see my 16 foot long "wall" framed out today.  It is still somewhat quiet on the grounds, but it will get very busy by next weekend.  For those of you who visit the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters, I thought you might find it interesting to see some pictures as we prepare for the opening June 30th.  The Festival as well as the Pageant theater, is located at base of Laguna Canyon on a six-acre site.

Paris Cafe

"Paris Cafe," oil on hardboard, 6"x6" - Sold

Working from photographs I took in Paris last year, here is a new little cafe painting.

(Update...I brought this painting (still a bit wet) to the Balboa Island Artwalk yesterday.  It sold to a wonderful lady who went to Paris this past January to celebrate her birthday with her husband.  She had a very happy emotional response when she saw this painting.  It's that kind of connection we artists love to hear and hope for!)

New Painting of Pears

"Spring Pears" oil on linen, 9"x12" (update, painting has sold)

Segil Fine Art Gallery

"Ginger Jar with Mandarins" oil on linen,  9"x12"

I gave a painting demonstration yesterday at Segil Fine Art Gallery.  We had a full house (ran out of chairs) for this wonderful fun event.  Laura Segil hosted this special event along with a reception.  Here I am pictured with "Ginger Jar with Mandarins" the finished painting.

Pears on Red Silk

"Pears on Red Silk" oil on board 6"x8" - SOLD.

Small Works

"Clementines" oil on board, 6"x8" - SOLD.

Laguna Beach Festival of Arts

Last summer I made a big decision as an artist, I wanted to apply to become an exhibitor in the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts.  The application process began in September with digitally submitting three of my still life oil paintings.  I got through to the 2nd round where I then brought three of my paintings to be physically juried in December.  Along with the paintings, they required a very long detailed artist statement and bio information.  It turned out to be a very merry December for me!  I was accepted into the Festival of Arts.  This is a very exciting opportunity for me, for which I am thrilled and honored. 

The Festival, celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, is located in Laguna Beach, California and runs for two months during the summer, July 1 - August 31.   In the coming months I will share more information about the Festival. Until then, please take a look at their website http://www.foapom.com/