Tea for Two

It's been a long time since I blogged but I'm back and happy to say hoping you like the latest painting I've done. It's titled "Tea Time." I spent most of last year painting still life that included reflective images. This really taught me about paint, perspective, how to really see the objects and how to paint about them without being too reportive. I loved the soft cloth against the hard surface of the silver and the organic nature of the fruit in the mix.

This painting is 24 x 30 and is the culmination of my silver series. I plan to start a new series but have as yet not been able to come up with a plan. Any ideas? Comments are welcome.

Since I completed this painting, my husband Joe Mayer and I moved to Santa Fe, NM where we bought a house and are building a studio on our property.

We thought it would be good to have an adventure so we moved 2000 miles away in January (I don't recommend it) from a Lovely little town on Maryland's Eastern Shore to a high desert area near Santa Fe, NM. We lived in town where we could walk to everything and moved to a community in a "wilderness area," filled with other Artists, wild grasses, pinons, coyotes and snakes. I haven't seen any snakes yet but then, I do not turn over any rocks either. The earth feels so different here and both Joe and I are loving our adventure.

I'll write more about my paintings and Santa Fe so stay tuned.

Tidewater Center for the Arts

Easton, Maryland now has an Art Studio Center where 10 artist work and display their Art. It was started in February 09 when my husband Joe Mayer and I moved into the 2nd and third floors of the building on the corner of Dover and Harrison Streets in Easton. We invited other artist to Join us and in two weeks the place was full to brim of great art and artists.

It is very exciting to have a studio to create art that is surrounded by other studios where other artists are working. We have had open houses and are planning a grand opening soon. We hang art in the halls and open our studios to visitors whenever we are in our studios working.
The Center will be open until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday from noon until 3pm. Visitors to our "Art Town" will now be able to watch artists work as well as have the opportunity to buy great art.

More on the Art Center to come.

Elaine de Kooning and Me

Elaine de Kooning

In 1938, Elaine was introduced to a Dutch immigrant artist, Willem de Kooning. She soon began studying with him, and approximately five years later, on December 9, 1943, they married. While her artistic reputation was eclipsed to some degree by his fame, she was able to forge a name as an artist and as a critic for ARTnew

I recently ran across a painting by Elaine de Kooning and wondered how her husband influenced her. It is quite evident in her work but she also holds onto her own ideas and style. While most artists are influenced by another artist they admire I find many of the women in Art who make a name for themselves and were influenced by their spouse still find a way to create their own style. See a painting by Elaine de Kooning below.

My greatist influence is Joe Mayer, my husband. Although his style is different then mine his influence has been his example of dedication, hard work and a joy in the process of painting. You can see some of his work on our web site at www.sharpmayergallery.com. Yes, he encouraged me to put my name first and I think it was a loving gesture of a man who knows how to make his wife happy.

Joe is the best.

Art is where the heart is

This is my first time posting and I find it mystifying. I will be posting some recent art work and some thoughts on why it was created. I also might let you know what is going on in my art world and with whom I am interacting.

Stay tuned.