Christmas Books and Art Shows Fill the Holiday Season

My latest book, Evening of the Dragonfly, will not be available until 2015, and that's a good thing. The holiday season is filled with many events, and I already have two Christmas-themed novels that are available on Amazon as print and as Kindle books. Daddy's Christmas Angel and A Rainbow for Christmas are both sweet romance stories that anyone in the family can enjoy. I just checked Amazon and discovered that those two books are priced at $2.99 each in Kindle for the holiday season. Both books are also available for sale in my gallery at Crossroads Art Center.

©Mary Montague Sikes

If you visit Crossroads, please go by and see the Metropolitan Richmond Artists Association show in Gallery One. My painting, "Dancing in the Trees", won third place in the juried exhibition. I used pastels, charcoal, and acrylics to create this painting on canvas board. Since I prefer working on stretched canvas, this is an unusual piece for me. It's also an unusual size, 30" x 15".

On December 13 and 14, Mary Jane Tolley, a dear friend of mine, is hosting an Art Open House in her home, featuring my paintings. Saturday, I will also create "Soul Song" paintings and poetry there for interested individuals. Anyone who would like an invitation to this special Art Open House event, please contact me by email.

 This is an especially busy art week. On Wednesday, I am teaching a workshop, "Creating with Texture and Color", for Arts Alive at the West Point Pamunkey Regional Library. I keep hoping that a building will suddenly materialize in our town where artists can gather once or twice a month to paint or craft together. We have a workshop at the library almost every month which is wonderful. But, in addition, having a chance to work locally with other artists in a dedicated studio space would be a real joy.

Combining Creativity with the Imagination of an Artist and the Skill of Many Writers

Chuck Scalin with work ©Mary Montague Sikes

When I saw the array of examples artist Chuck Scalin brought to show as part of his program for Metropolitan Richmond Artist Association, I realized he was truly a kindred spirit. Among the intriguing collages of paint, glass, paper, and rust, there was an amazing box featuring the collaboration of his work with that of 15 writers. How exciting.

Scalin, Professor Emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University and a current instructor at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Studio School, first discussed the making of some of his collages. One was created with rusty metal pieces supplied by friends from all over the country, including China Town in New York City.

He talked about walking the streets of Paris where he found portions of buildings and streets that interested him.  He took pictures that later became art photographs resembling images from outer space. Later, he showed a new limited edition coloring book featuring the work of 30 artists, a collaboration for which he was responsible. This man is a remarkable artist.

The limited edition box was the object that I found most fascinating. For a solo exhibition in Ghostprint Gallery in Richmond, Scalin created groups of evidence collages for cold cases. He used archival photo boxes and pieces of Plexiglas made to look aged and wiped away in the middle to reveal the "evidence." The work was so convincing that people believed the cases were real. However, they were actually developed completely from the imagination of the artist. Scalin got so many questions about the cases and the boxes of "evidence," pieces of crime stored away that he started to think about getting writers to create short stories of 600 words or less about the 15 cold cases he had made up. The project was a big success. He made 100 limited edition evidence boxes that contain the stories, photographs of the actual collages, and much more. Not only did he have a gallery art exhibition, but he had a "book" as well.

Creative minds are astonishing. Collaboration of artists and writers is truly a marvelous experience. Scalin's work is a Body of Evidence that demonstrates the possibilities.

Watching an Artist Explain His Painting Process

One of the things I like best about belonging to art and writing groups is the excellent programs they

Artist Christopher Wynn discusses paints ©Mary Montague Sikes

offer for members almost every month. The Virginia Romance Writers has an outstanding hands-on-event the second Saturday, and the Metropolitan Richmond Artists Association has a program on the second Saturday of each month as well. I belong to both groups, and, unfortunately,  the meetings are at the same time and usually on opposite sides of the city of Richmond. On a couple of occasions, I've talked my husband into attending the meeting of the artist group for me while I attended the writers event. However, in 2013 my personal pendulum has swung in the direction of art, so last Saturday I chose to attend the demonstration by watercolor artist Christopher Wynn at the MRAA meeting.

Drawing of a rusty truck on 300# Arches paper

Although I am not a big fan of watercolor paintings of old trucks and cars, I am a fan of the ones that Wynn creates. They are striking works of art that stand out in shows in a very poetic way. For his demo, Wynn brought in a photograph he took of a rusty old truck. This is a subject that fascinates him so much that he travels around looking for old vehicles to photograph and use for subjects of his future work. To save time on Saturday, Wynn had already sketched the truck on 300# Arches cold pressed paper and taped it on foam board. He also had masked a portion of the drawing.

As he worked, Wynn talked about the limited palette of colors he uses and his preference for Daniel Smith watercolors because of their more intense pigments. He also demonstrated how he creates black by mixing yellow ochre and cobalt blue, then adding "a touch" of alizarin crimson.
For Wynn, "the essence of watercolor is the fewest brushstrokes you can use."

For the audience of artists, it was a joy to watch Wynn work and explain his process.

Christopher Wynn working ©Mary Montague Sikes

An Artful Weekend

Sometimes choices must be made between art and writing. This weekend was one of those times.

The Virginia Romance Writers was holding an all-day workshop, "Writing Body Language and Dialogue Cues Like a Psychologist," presented by Margie Lawson, a psychotherapist and international presenter. What an outstanding opportunity for writers! However, it was an all-day commitment. Over many years, I have neglected my art in favor of writing. This year, I have resolved to spend more time painting and selling my artwork.

Jorge Diaz explains his method painting sunflowers ©MMSikes

The Metropolitan Richmond Artist Association had a demonstration by artist Jorge Diaz during that same time period. However, the time commitment was much less, only about two hours. I chose the art presentation.

It always amazes me how connected the two disciplines are--art and writing. Diaz started out talking about his connection with Joseph Campbell. Over the years, I've heard many writers speak of a similar connection. Diaz described the art we make as a "reflection of the light we have inside." How many authors have I known who sign books, "Light and Love"? Many.

I enjoyed watching the Diaz demonstration and learning that he often creates a painting with acrylics and completes it with oil paint. Years ago, I did the same thing.

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 Petersburg Regional Art Center also had its open house, and I took advantage of the opportunity to work on a painting. Recently, I've started several paintings using pastels as my medium, then I complete them with acrylic paints in my studio. I especially enjoy working with images that represent outer space to me--especially the circular forms of planets. This painting began as I looked at a portion of a fractal image and grew from there.

As Jorge Diaz noted, "Art is a reflection of the light we have inside." I hope my new paintings will be a reflection of that light.

Sometimes choices must be made. We can only hope, they are the correct ones.

--Mary Montague Sikes