GALA, the Galleries at Lynn Arts, www.galleriesatlynnarts.org, has selected the paintings for their Small Works Exhibit and 2 of mine will be included! The show will run from February 3 until March 16, 2023 at their beautiful galleries, 25 Exchange Street, Lynn, MA 01901. The opening reception happens on Friday, February 3 from 5:30 till 7:30. The event is free and open to the public and donations are gratefully accepted to help support the organization.
One of my paintings is Writer’s Block, acrylic, 6″ x 6″ x 1.5″. This one was inspired by painter’s block! I was thinking about “What to Paint?” and was doodling on a piece of paper, using the Op Art style I love. The wavy lines and pools of ink reminded me of penmanship lessons when I was in grade 4.
If you can believe it, we actually used old fashioned writing pens with nibs which we dipped in an inkwell built into the top of our school desks. The biggest, strongest eighth grade boys (never girls — it was back in the bad old days— got to walk up and down the aisles with glass gallon jugs of ink; then they would pour that blue-black ink into those tiny inkwells. No wonder we had dark tiled floors and very ink-stained desks. The cool hues in my painting were inspired by those blue stains.
The size of Writers’ Block makes it a fun addition to any decor; it is wired to hang, and the depth of the canvas allows it to stand unsupported on a shelf — or on your writing desk.
The second painting in the show is Snow Penguins, acrylic, 8″ x 10″. It was inspired by an animal documentary I watched on Netflix. I guess that elevates “Netflix and Chill” to kind of a nerdy yet creative place.
Looking at all those penguins standing around with absolutely nothing but snow and ice as far as their bright little shoe-button eyes could see, all cooperating with each other to stay warm and mind their babies ……. I started to think about them having a little non-Netflix fun and working together to build snowmen. No! Snow Penguins! I know, I have to get out more.
As a former kindergarten teacher and the illustrator of a few children’s books, I love to paint in a fun, happy, colorful style. Snow Penguins would be fun in any child’s room. Or let it warm up your winter decor. I hope that my little painting warms your heart!
Please visit my website for a peek at some of my other creations.
Facebook — @ Sheila Farren Billings: Artist
Instagram — @ Sheila F Billings
www.galleriesatlynnarts.org