Nancy's Plein Air paint box design

Russ and I had a busy 4th of July weekend creating a new paint box and panel holder to go out and use for plein air painting.

As Russ said "It's not pretty, but it works" - I'm happy, all my stuff fits in one neat box.
I think I'll paint something on it to make it "pretty".

Feel free to copy the design, I started with the size of my paint tubes and worked out from there.

Paint on,

Nancy

Paint box closed - still need to add a closure hook of some kind. 5/8" plywood

for sides and 1/4" plywood for bottoms. Glued and screwed together.

I started with the size of my paint tubes and worked out from there.
I can easily hold 7 tubes on each side.
Middle box for my palette and brushes. Piano hinges holding boxes together.
Angle iron - right angle corners - bent to hold onto easel.
Have to use the rubber bands to keep the paint tubes from falling when I close the box.
Need heavier elastic bands.

Panel holder box made from 1/4" foam core,
1/4"x1/4" square balsa wood
and duct tape.

Panel Box - open I can store 6 panels of 8x10 or 6x8
- used a piece of Velcro to hold the top closed

Close up showing the balsa wood placement - 1/2" apart. I can store 8 panels
if the outside ones have not been painted on yet or are completely dry.

Nancy's Plein Air Painting Adventure

I am thrilled that Mike Rooney and Ben Keys have joined our family of artists at Spectrum Art & Jewelry, and I mean that sincerely when I say "family" - it is rare to find a working environment as supportive as Spectrum.

Last week my husband, Russ and I were on vacation at Wrightsville Beach and I invited Mike and Ben to come join me in some plein air painting. We had a wonderful day - painting on the sound side of Banks Channel in the morning, going out for a delicious lunch at Baja K-38 (love their fish tacos!) and an afternoon painting a cute yellow cottage at Sprunt and Lumina.

Each artist sees something different and our afternoon session had us all painting the same cottage - but from different angles and viewpoints. There was an old Cadillac in the driveway and Mike and Ben loved adding it to their composition. I decided to do a close-up color blocking of the cottage - Ben said it reminded him of a Hopper - loved that comparison!

Last month Kristin Gibson, Ann Hair, Phil Meade and I went to Carolina Beach to paint from the north end's new boat ramp and park. It's great to get outside, have the fellowship and critique of other artists and change your surroundings. You see things in a totally new way. I normally paint in my studio, and braving the elements (especially this heat) is at times hard...but always rewarding.

After lunch with Mike and Ben I was thinking about going up for a nap...but the guys convinced me to join them for an afternoon painting session. Glad I did, I was happy with the results and Mike told me I passed the plein air test and could paint with him anytime...thanks Mike!

It was so much fun to spend time with Mike and Ben and get to know them better, I've added two new dear friends - and you can never have too many of them.

If you want to experience plein air painting at its' finest...join us October 12th & 13th for
"Loose and Colorful Plein Air Painting with Mike Rooney"

contact me at the gallery for more information
nancy@spectrumartandjewelry.com

Paint on,
Nancy Noel May

Below are photographs of each artist and their plein air paintings from the day. It is so interesting to see how different each artists painting of the cottage turned out!

Nancy Noel May

Morning plein air painting
across Banks Channel

Afternoon plein air painting
of Sprunt Cottage

Ben Keys

Morning plein air painting
at Hanover Seaside Club

Afternoon plein air painting
of Sprunt Cottage

Mike Rooney

Morning plein air painting
at Wrighstville beach

Afternoon plein air painting
of Sprunt Cottage

Taylor

Phil Meade: Sneak Peek

(In case you haven't heard...Spectrum Art and Jewelry has an open house and wine tasting the second Friday of every month with live music, artists, new artwork and wine!)

Local painter, Phil Meade, is going to be the featured artist for Spectrum's July open house and wine tasting! Phil will have fresh new work on display and will be available to speak with you and answer whatever questions you may have.

I have gotten the pleasure of seeing two of his new paintings!
They are amazing and like always Phil's ability to catch natural light in his work is absolutely breathtaking. I am so excited about these new paintings! I am going to share them with you too, but don't miss out on seeing the real thing, photo's just don't do the paintings justice!

Phil Meade "His Brothers Boat"

"While riding around coastal areas looking for possible subjects to paint, I came across this scene behind an old building on a river. To me it seemed perfect. The smaller boat was resting on the mud pointing right at me. The larger boat was in part shadow and at a right angle to the smaller boat. The lighting was perfect. I quickly did a small tonal sketch. When I was almost finished the owner of the shrimp boat appeared. He was very friendly. He noted what I was painting and said the small boat belonged to his brother. His brother used it for fishing and clamming. Although he doesn't use it too much anymore, he still takes care of it. It was a perfect story for my feelings about this subject."
-Phil Meade

Phil Meade "Port City"

"The river is always a place of inspiration for me" says Phil.
"The old historic buildings on the hill. Shops along the rivers edge.
Boat activity. The river itself racing with the tides.
The views and the light are always changing."

The Open House is Friday, July 8th. It will be from 5-7 pm, but get here early because Phil will be here doing an artist demonstration in the gallery from 3:30-5:30 pm. So mark your calendars, you don't want to miss this!

Live music will be furnished by husband and wife duo, Lisa and Galen.

Come and meet one of our favorite artists, enjoy live music, wine and light refreshments!


Taylor

Kristin Gibson's Story Behind the Painting

I love art, I always have.
I can spend hours in galleries and museums
looking in awe and wondering
what the artist was thinking and what inspired them.
I decided to start asking our artists at Spectrum
if they would share a few of their stories.
Here is what Kristin Gibson had to share...

Cezanne's Coutryside II
©Kristin Gibson
36X36
Linen
$1600

Cezanne's Birthday

©Kristin Gibson
16x20
$450

“For me, Cezanne has always been a favorite painter to study. Last summer I had the opportunity to see "Cezanne and American Modernism" at The Baltimore Museum of Art. A look at how Cezanne transformed American art alongside the work of 34 American artists who demonstrate the vital impact Cezanne had on modernism from 1907-1930 in the US.

That exhibition, in conjunction with an invite by Nancy Noel May at Spectrum to create small works inspired by locales outside the US, led up to painting a small study and then this 36x36 on linen. I have taken the perspective of painting a landscape Cezanne was immersed in, saw through his eyes, but in my style and color palette. As with my still life paintings, I focus on the play of shape and color with expressive thick brush work. I enjoy the white of the road and buildings that lead one through the composition.

As a further ode to Cezanne, on his birth date of January 19 this year I composed a still life with a nod to works I saw at the museum show. Take a look at the suggestion of landscape through the window. The blue band of color and green shapes of mountains is my "Cezanne's Countryside II" simplified! Thank you for your interest in my work. I hope you enjoy both of these paintings, and I invite you to see them in person at Spectrum.”

-Kristin Gibson

Taylor

A Flock of Pelicans has Landed at Spectrum...and we couldn't be more excited about it!

Larry Meyers and his "Flock"

Larry Meyers, Idaho-based sculptor and mixed media artist, is now represented by Spectrum Art and Jewelry. Humor has always been one of Larry's artistic muses. During a four year collaboration with another artist, their mission statement was “To create art with no message other than to amuse.” They aimed at creating pieces with a combination of conceptual strength, technical expertise and inventiveness. His most recent exploration combines lost foam aluminum casting with 1950's aluminum outboard motor cowlings. “The cowlings have an art deco look and I soon discovered pelicans lurking inside” said Meyers. His own love for fishing opened the door to these innovative works of art. He loves seeing peoples faces light up with childlike delight as they spot his pelicans for the first time.

"About eight years ago, I found some Vespa Scooter fenders that had a cool shape”, says Meyers. "I remember thinking, 'That would make a good bird.' Then I found some vintage outboard motor cowlings and it all just clicked." Larry uses vintage outboard motors as the bodies of his pelicans. The head and webbed feet are cast-aluminum. They are both witty and whimsy. "I'm lucky to have met many creative artists along the way who were willing to teach me," he says. "It has long been a dream of mine to be able to wake up each day and know exactly what I want to make and be able to make it."

Larry's experience as an artist has been one of generosity as well as creativity. Although busy creating both amazing and humorous sculptures, he has often found time to create important works for communities and art to donate for good causes . One of my personal favorites is the Barrett Admire Memorial Sculpture created for the playground of the Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum. The sculpture was commissioned to commemorate the life of a boy who had attended the school. The boy had passed away a few years previous in a car accident. Meyer's said, "I was asked to do three things with this piece of art, to celebrate the life of a young man, to create healing, and to involve the community." The artist employed a group of fourth-graders from the school to create a mural. Meyers then reproduced the mural in bronze and cut it into sections which he wrapped around a 12-foot column. At the top of the column was a multicolored, open cockpit biplane, inside the cockpit was a steel reproduction of the young man's dog, Rosie.

Larry Meyer's has also created some pieces of spiritual significance. He was asked to create a mechanism for turning a Tibetan prayer wheel. "I ended up working closely with Lama Tenzin on his particular needs and desires for the project, eventually overseeing the architects, engineers and carpenters who were needed to install it and build a pagoda around the wheel. The wheel was made of copper, brightly painted and filled with over one million prayer scrolls with the sacred words 'Om Mani Padme Hum,' written on them. I had this in my garage for two weeks." The prayer wheel eventually became part of the 'Garden of Infinite Compassion', a rock garden and waterfall complex in Ketchum. The Garden of Infinite Compassion honors the Dalai Lama's visit to the Wood River Valley. During a private ceremony on September 13, 2005, the Dalai Lama consecrated and blessed the Tibetan Prayer Wheel. The 400 pound, hand carved Prayer Wheel is one of only two prayer wheels in North America blessed by His Holiness.

Larry has had an exciting life and art career. We are so thrilled to partner with him as he continues on his exciting artistic journey. We love these humorous and brilliant birds and we know you will too!

Taylor

State of the Art/Art of the State Exhibit at Cameron Art Museum

State of the Art/Art of the State

EXHIBITION RUNS:

May 8 – October 30, 2011

Spectrum Art & Jewelry artists
Anne Cunningham, Jane Faudree, Ann Hair, Kristin Gibson, Nancy Noel-May & Phil Meade

are part of this exciting exhibition of contemporary NC artists.

Curated by CAM and top curators from

Tate Modern, London

Guggenheim, NYC

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
and

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Be sure to see this exhibit of Artists from all over North Carolina.
It has a wonderful variety of art forms and styles so everyone will get the chance to discover new artists and experience the many flavors of our state.

Visit CAM in Wilmington, NC
www.cameronartmuseum.com

Visit Spectrum Art & Jewelry to see more work by these artists

www.spectrumartandjewelry.com

"French Twist" by Nancy Noel May

Fishermen of Marseille 8x10Acrylic on Canvas

Nancy Noel May, local artist and painter is Spectrum Art & Jewelry's featured artist for the month of May. Nancy has recently returned from a trip to France. Inspired by the many flavors of Avignon, Marseille and Paris, Nancy has created some of her best work to date. These paintings are vibrant, exciting and bursting with color.

Nancy Noel May has always loved to paint and has been doing so now for over 50 years. Having grown up in a small community on the Chesapeake Bay, the coastal influences of color, light and scenery have been with her from the very start. Bright color and impressionistic lines are characteristic of her work. She enjoys painting in the plein-air style, which is pianting outdoors. Plein-air was a central feature of French Impressionist masters, another clearly seen influence in Nancy's work. In 2004 she returned to acrylics after a long stint with oils. She has found that the quicker drying time forces her to paint more spontaneously.

In addition to her first love, painting, she is also extremely passionate about traveling. She is never caught traveling without a sketch book and camera to record her experiences. She went to Paris, France for the first time three years ago and it was love at first sight. This second trip she was able to explore more of France extending her travels to Marseille, Avignon and Paris. She loved the glamor of Paris but found the quaint villages of Avignon and the coast and boating communities of Marseille to be equally charming. Each location offering a unique variety of aesthetic riches for her to translate into paint. The paintings for her “French Twist” Exhibit are acrylics on either 8x10 or 6x12 canvas of a variety of subjects and locations from across France. Her vision is to make paintings reminiscent of post cards and snapshots to inspire reflection and memories.

There is an artist reception during Spectrum Art & Jewelry's May Open House and Wine Tasting from 5 to 7 pm on Friday May 13 where Nancy will present her work. Music will be provided during the evening by local musician, Phillip Pennington.

Taylor