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Watercolor Commission

Sheila

I meet the most thoughtful people! A woman was moved to commission a painting of her friend’s home when she learned her friend was moving. The photographs she gave me to work from showed a neat-as-a-pin home, obviously well-loved and cared-for. Against this canvas, I was asked by her to include some special surprises for her friend: a much-cherished pet dog, butterflies, special flowers and shrubs with meaning for the woman, and more.

The woman asked me to portray the home in a realistic style, in watercolor painted rather loosely, and both she and I were pleased with the result!

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Made In Quarantine — 7/20 to 9/20/2020

Sheila

The Galleries at Lynn Arts is proud to present a collection of artwork made during the Safer-At-Home shutdown for the global COVID19 pandemic. It has been an intense time, and it inspired me to make an intense painting.

My creation for the Made In Quarantine show was inspired by my anger at President Donald Trump’s almost complete lack of leadership during the pandemic and his intense politicization of the unprecedented disaster it has caused our country. So many people dead and suffering, so many jobs lost, so many businesses and schools shuttered, yet Trump treats it like an afterthought and dangerously confuses US citizens with daily lies about COVID19.

The painting is called Taking Note. It is painted in acrylics on a 12″ x 24″ gallery-wrapped canvas. The background of the canvas is white with orange type-font lettering. Superimposed on the “typing” is the word “LIES” written three times in stenography. The shorthand words are dripping with the blood of Covid’s many victims in the US — blood that could have been saved if he had done his job.

I payed for college by working as a secretary, taking shorthand and typing letters. Most secretaries were women, and stenography is basically a secret language of women. Donald Trump has been dangerous to all Americans, but he has been especially awful to women. I thought it was appropriate to remind him that I, and other women — certainly the millions that marched together the day after his inauguration — have been Taking Note of the mess he has made.

This painting is a stark contrast to most of my paintings. Usually, I try to reflect the beauty of the world that God has given us. I try very hard to see the good in life and not paint ugly or unhappy subjects, to leave the world better than I found it. But sometimes something happens that is so bad that it must be remembered and trumpeted. Trump’s careless handling of this health disaster moved me to do so.

New gallery hours: Fridays 5 – 8 PM, Saturdays 11AM – 5PM and the last Sunday of the month 11AM – 4PM. To accommodate the needs of safety of our community we will allow 10 people in the big gallery, 2 persons in the small community gallery and no more than 4 in the shop including cashier at any time. Masks are required inside the building of course.

 

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Salem Arts Assoc. Member Show

Sheila

 

The Grand Opening of the Salem Arts Association’s beautiful new gallery at 159 Derby Street, Salem, MA (right beside Derby Wharf and the Friendship) was postponed because of the global pandemic, but will finally happen on June 20 until August 28, 2020. Gallery hours are 12:00 noon until 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Masks and social distancing is required, of course.

My entry in the Salem Art Association Member Exhibit is Birch Mountain, acrylic, 12″x36″ vertical, $400. It was inspired by a beautiful drive through New Hampshire at the height of foliage season. I just love birch trees all year, but in the autumn with their bright yellow leaves, they are stunning.

SAA members have worked tirelessly to get all the items in the shop online as well, and I have lots of original art, prints, mini paintings, etc. there.

 

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Salem Arts Association — New Location! 2020

Sheila
During these challenging times and during the month of June, when we celebrate Pride and the LQBTQIA community, it is important that we reiterate our values of inclusivity and respect for all people! The doors of Salem Arts Association are open to everyone. We affirm that Black Lives Matter and welcome everyone to our galleries. So join us. Join us as a member. Join us as a visitor. Join us as a supporter. Come share your creativity – all the arts. Come share your thoughts. Come share you with us.
When we open on Saturday June 20 at our new location at 159 Derby Street, Salem, MA, we will offer weekend hours on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 to 6:00 PM.
With respect for our guests and volunteers we will require ALL who enter the galleries to wear face protection and follow social distancing best practices.
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Best of Show — DAA Virtual Spring Show 2020

Sheila

Check out The Danvers Art Association Virtual Spring Show 2020 website (www.thedanversart.org), on FaceBook (The Danvers Art Association), and on Instagram (@thedanversartassociation). Because of the global pandemic, we will not have in-person viewings of the show.

I was delighted that my painting, Summer Afternoon was awarded Best in Show! Acrylic, 12″ x 36″, $385.

My painting was done en plein air at Forest River Park in Salem in the late afternoon. I have always loved the way the light caresses the velvety green grass at the park in the late afternoons. And the glow from the sun through the leaves feels almost like sun through the stained glass windows of a church.

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Tiger King Virtual Gallery — 4/18/2020

Sheila

Because of the universal shut-down of all galleries, shows and festivals due to the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic, I have turned to virtual galleries to display my work. Here is the first!

Come to a virtual gallery where all the artwork is inspired by Tiger King! The Gallery is open!
https://www.artsteps.com/view/5e99c695c3c26576ffa8672b
My offering is Wax-resist watercolor on paper.
Original, matted 11″ x 14″ available for purchase, $65. Matted prints 11″x14″ available, $25.
Info: www.sheilafarrenbillings.com and @sheilafarrenbillings on Instagram, (or here on FB of course!).

Exhibitions

Mythology Exhibit Feb. 17 to Mar. 25, 2020

Sheila

Mythology is full of tales which are intended to teach a lesson, explain the many mysteries of life, phenomenon in nature or describe the customs, institutions, or religious rites of a people. Here we are, in the 21st century, and many of us still enjoy mythological tales. Mythological references can still be found in our discussions about science, art and literature…everywhere you turn, there is likely to be a reference to Mythology. What does it teach us? How did Mythology became modern?

My painting, Shell Selkie, was juried in to this exhibit. Shell Selkie is done in acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, 11″ x 14″. It was inspired by stories in Irish mythology of sea maidens who can transform into seals, and by the haunting folk song The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry.

Opening reception will be held on Friday, Feb. 21 at GALA. Meet and greet the artists, 5:30 to 6:00 p.m., suggested donation $10. Public reception 6:00 to 8:00, suggested donation $5. Lots of food and fun!

The Galleries at Lynn Arts are presenting the exhibit, Mythology, from February 17 to March 25, 2020. The show is on display at GALA, 25 Exchange St., Lynn, MA. Email: galleriesatlynnarts@gmail.com. Phone: 617-909-9211. Website: www.galleriesatlynnarts.org

Exhibitions

Ideas About Love — Feb. 13 to March 20, 2020

Sheila

Artists throughout the greater metropolitan Boston area, northeast of Boston and Southern New Hampshire have been invited by ArcWorks Peabody to share original art work interpreting their own ideas about love. I am happy to learn that three of my pieces of Celtic art have been juried into this exhibit.

My father was born in Ireland, and I have long been inspired by the richness of ancient Celtic art. The three hearts I have put in the show, Ideas About Love, each are embellished with Celtic knots and brilliant colors. Two of the hearts have Irish Gaelic titles; they are all signed with my birth name, Sheila Farren, in Irish ~ Sile O’Farachain.

A Chuisle Mo Chroi (Irish: Pulse of My Heart) is a heart filled with an intricate Celtic knot in shades of purple and blue. It is hung in an 11″ x 14″ frame.

Wee Flower Heart (shown in this post) is a heart-shaped Celtic knot in shades of green, surrounding pressed yellow and purple flowers from the hills of Normandy, France. The heart is mounted on a white paper doily which represents the lace-making tradition of Ireland. This artwork is presented in an 8″ x 10″ frame.

Chroi Seamroag (Irish: Shamrock Heart) is a heart filled with gracefully curving and entwining shamrocks done in green on a soft golden background. It is framed to 8″ x 10″.

The opening reception will be held at ArcWorks, 22 Foster Street, Peabody, MA 01960 on Thursday, February 13 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. ArcWorks is located in Peabody Square across the street from a municipal parking lot and there is also plenty of on street parking.

 

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Variations — Feb. 8 to March 8, 2020

Sheila

Here’s what the MAA has to say about their new exhibit!

“Variations…. it’s what keeps outlooks fresh and interesting.

For close to a century the Marblehead Arts Association has exhibited the works of artists from throughout New England in the six galleries of its historic 1728 mansion home. All works have been judged and prizes in Fine Arts, Photography and craft categories will be awarded at the opening reception. There will be ballots available for visitors to cast votes for their favorite piece with a People’s Choice Award to be announced at the close of the exhibit.

We were excited to have received a record number of entries this year with hundreds of submissions from artists throughout New England!”

I was thrilled to have my mixed media artwork, Seabreeze, chosen to be part of the Variations exhibit. Seabreeze incorporates my watercolor painting of Ten Pound Island in Gloucester, seen through the paper sculpture window of a seaside house. The paper sculpture is all done in white paper and was inspired by all the white houses I saw on a visit I made to the Greek Island of Mykonos with my daughter. We wondered what the blue Mediterranean would look like through the windows of those white homes. Seabreeze is framed in a shadow box, 14″ x 14″.

The Variations exhibit will be open to view from February 8 through March 8, 2020. The opening reception was held Sunday, Feb. 9, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at MAA’s Hooper Mansion, 8 Hooper St., Marblehead. Hours are Tuesdays through Fridays and Sundays, noon to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Mondays.

Exhibitions

Main Street Mural ~~ CuriousCity Museum

Sheila

It is with the greatest delight that I introduce my newest mural to the CuriousCity Children’s Museum! The mural is a stylized illustration of some of Peabody’s most iconic buildings arrayed along Main Street. It is wrapped around a corner in the museum’s temporary location at the Leather Museum at 205 Washington Street, Peabody, MA. This mural joins my other murals in the EpiCurious and Curious World exhibits.

The mural includes City Hall, the old Post Office (currently Arc Works) on Foster Street, the Fire Station, Civil War Monument, Public Library, and O’Shea Mansion. Along the bottom of the mural are an array of cars and trucks to inspire play.

Visit curiouscitypeabody.org for a list of exhibits and special events!