Art and Writing Can Make a Good Match

Sometimes I wonder about the merit of being an artist and an author. Both demand a great deal of time. And, although it's a poor fit for my artistic persona, I've found that both require considerable marketing skills.

Opening Night - MMSikes

In the exhibition currently on view at the Art Education Center of This Century Art Gallery in Williamsburg, I've enjoyed the opportunity to combine my work as both an artist and author by showing the original art created for my book, Hotels to Remember. At the opening events, it was fascinating to hear stories of people's experiences with the hotels I have documented in my book and in the paintings from that book.

Many people related events from stays at the Hotel Roanoke. Several had fond memories of attending Beta Club conventions there. People who enjoy visiting hotels built near old train stations pointed out that at one time the station was visible from Hotel Roanoke. Gallery visitors recognized  many of the classic hotels including The Jefferson, The Homestead, St. Louis Union Station and even The Empress in Victoria BC. I was intrigued by their comments and memories.

London provides musical entertainment. - MMSikes

It's fun to show along with two other painters, Juliet Kirby and Elaine Abbott, a jeweler, Jason Hillegas, and a book and box craftsman, Devon Rawson. The show continues with open houses, Feb. 8, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 9, 1 to 4 p.m.

Sometimes art and writing make a good match.

Signing Hotels to Remember (Elaine Abbott paintings on the wall)

--Mary Montague Sikes









 Pastels - Bright and Free
   ASP-153-1  Saturday, May 4, 2013
            Times: 9 AM to 4 PM   /   Course Fee: $78    Members $69
Instructor: Mary Montague Sikes
Pastels Bright and Free is a workshop celebrating the joy of color that this vibrant medium brings to artists of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. Sikes will offer demonstrations and also work individually with participants. With more than 30 years experience teaching students of all ages, she has found pastels to be a most versatile art medium. Bring your lunch and enjoy a happy, colorful experience!

Tides Inn Makes an Inspiring Setting for Art and Writing

Monti painting at Tides Inn

The setting at Tides Inn on the Chesapeake Bay is serene, scenic, and inspiring for both artists and writers. Throughout the year, the Inn has Art Shows three different times--Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Christmas season (usually the first Saturday of December). The Memorial Day and Labor Day events are two days each--the Saturday and Sunday preceding the Monday holiday.

During this year's Memorial Day event, I watched the many jewelry-makers who participate put their time to good use by creating bracelets and necklaces during times when few people were inside browsing. I was envious and considered becoming a jewelry-maker, not that I need something else to do.

When I got the invitation to participate in the Labor Day Art Show, I considered not going. After all I wasn't ready to make jewelry and I wanted to do something productive while I was there. Then, it struck me. I did some plein air painting in Williamsburg one day last September, enjoyed it, and produced two paintings that I really like. So I suggested painting at Tides Inn. However, they were concerned that I wanted to use water media including acrylic paints. Then I thought about my pastels, a dry medium I love and have used for years. To my delight, pastel painting met with approval.

Since I like to stand and work on an easel, I gessoed two canvas panels ahead of time and experimented from there. Over the weekend, people stopped to watch me work. Some of the jewelry-makers and other artisans watched, too. It was fun and productive. I wound up with two virtually completed paintings.

Boats at Tides Inn - MMSikes

As a writer and photographer as well as an artist, two days at Tides Inn is time well spent. People come in from their boats. I love to chat with them and tell them about my books, many of which are set on islands they may have visited. Although I hoped for some book sales, I didn't make many. I was encouraged when I learned from a manager that jewelry sales were the first to go down when the recession hit. Now those sales have been the first to come back. The jewelry-makers did well at the show. I learned a lot, enjoyed the delicious free ice cream on Sunday afternoon, and I created two new works of art.

As an added bonus, I used a photograph I took at Tides Inn on Memorial Day weekend as the source material for one of the paintings. The dramatic setting on the Chesapeake Bay is indeed inspiring for both art and writing.

Mary Montague Sikes