Baseball Jar

Baseball Jar, Oil on Linen, 14x11

I love baseball and every summer I do a baseball themed painting.  "Baseball Jar" is this year's effort. I have been painting Ball jars recently, which are fun to do, and the play on words inspired the idea.   I am pleased to say it won an Honorable  Mention award last week at the Moore County Arts Council annual Fine Arts Festival in Southern Pines, NC.

The painting below is currently on exhibit at the Footlight  Players Theatre in Charleston as part of their French inspired theme for their production of the musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

The Blue Ribbon, Oil on Linen, 18x32

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Julie

Wedgewood And Wine

Wedgewood and Wine, Oil on Linen, 22x30

I am pleased to announce that this painting will be among several that will now be shown at The Gallery on Broad, 29 Broad Street in Charleston. I am very honored that owner, Kate Mullin, asked me to join her family of award winning artists, many of whom enjoy national reputations.  It has been my goal to have my work represented by a Charleston gallery for some time, and I am so excited by this wonderful opportunity!

Julie

Red Apple Box

Red Apple Box, Oil on Linen, 18x32

I hope 2015 is getting off to a great start for everyone!  

I found this old red box in an antique store in the fall, and fell in love with the color and  texture of the old wood showing through where the paint has worn off, and knew it would make a great still life "shelf".   I had so much fun painting all the different reds.  My paintings tend to be primarily in the gray tones, so to play around with so much color was a blast.

Julie

Announcing My New Website!

                                                     White Cloth and Garlic, 24x18

Now that I am once again able to focus on painting after a lengthy hiatus, it was time not only to update my website, but for a whole new design as well which I am excited to share with you. Please check it out at juliemesserschmidt.com and let me know what you think!  

"White Cloth and Garlic" is one of my favorite recently completed pieces, so I chose it as the  home page image.

Sox On The Rocks

                                         Oil on Linen, 10 x 10

Just two weeks until the end of the baseball season.  As a die hard Red Sox fan, it has been a long summer, too long.  This time last year they were playing their way to a World Series Championship. This year they will have the honor of becoming the first major league team to go from worst (2012) to first to worst in three seasons!  The Sox really are on the rocks this year, so what is a fan to do but drown their sorrows with a favorite tipple?  I know my friend and fellow Red Sox fan enjoys the occasional martini, so this one's for you, Ruth.  Happy Birthday!   As for the Sox, there's always next year......

Study In The Style of David Leffel

I did this 8x10 study today having been inspired by watching a new video by David Leffel posted on Brightlightfineart.com.  I set up a similar arrangement to the one in the demo, then played the video while painting my own set up.  It was kind of like having him watch over my shoulder guiding and inspiring me but without the nervousness really having him there would induce.  I listened as I painted and glanced over at the video from time to time.  I approached the painting process in the way he described and am pretty pleased with the way this turned out.  Even though ultimately my own painting style has a different feel and look, I love David's work, and the paint quality he achieves.  I think this was a helpful learning process, and if nothing more, I spent a fun afternoon logging some brush mileage.  

On View in Pinehurst, NC

                                          "Good Fortune" 8x8

                                           "Perfect Pear" 8x8

                               
These paintings will be included in the show "An Evening in France" at Hollyhocks Gallery, 905 Linden Road, in Pinehurst, NC  September 5, 2014 and continuing throughout the month.

Gallery owner, Jane Casnelli, graciously invited me to exhibit them at her gallery having seen them at the Moore County Fine Arts Festival in Southern Pines, where they were exhibited during the month of August.