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Library Mural

Sheila

Just finished! The new mural I painted at the Children’s Room at the Swampscott Public Library is ready to go. It was so much fun to paint while listening to the happy voices of so many little children, loving parents, and dedicated librarians!

The theme for the mural is the ocean, perfect for our little seaside community. The mural was a collaboration of my ideas and those of the Library Director Jonathan Nichols, and the Children’s Room Librarian Lisa Julien Hayes. I sketched 5 variations on the theme, creating a world of colorful smiling sea life; then Jonathan and Lisa gave me their suggestions. I am pleased to say that everything found its place on the library wall!

So many fish and jellies, the Swampscott sea serpent, a giant purple octopus reading 3 books at once, a family of seahorses, so many fish and jellies and clam and sea stars! And that’s just the start. There are so many things for children to look at, and think about, and start their own stories. I feel honored to have my work in such a warm welcoming place.

The Swampscott Library is located at 61 Burrell Street, Swampscott, MA 01907. You will find plenty of parking along the street.

www.swampscottlibrary.org

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Holiday Member Showcase

Sheila

For this last show of 2024, the Salem Arts Association invited all member artists to submit our best work in celebration of a creative year well done.  Salem Arts Association is excited to close the 2024 exhibition schedule with a showcase of member artists. It’s a great opportunity to consider the gift of art for your friends, family, or to treat yourself to something beautiful. Current Salem Arts members are exhibiting our best work showing the community what we have to offer in all of our diverse styles and artistic disciplines.

My entry in the Holiday Member Showcase is my original painting, Pickering Wharf Panorama, acrylic, 10″ x 20″ framed. This was painted on site, and I couldn’t stand looking at the poor Friendship without its masts STILL under repair. So I painted them in. LOL. I’ll admit it! That is one of the best things about painting. I can easily change the world with a quick brushstroke. If only everything were that easy!

The Holiday Member Showcase will be on display from November 16 until December 15, 2024 at our beautiful sea side galleries at 159 Derby Street, Salem, MA. Please visit www.salemarts.org to discover our expanded hours. When you stop by to see the gallery show, don’t forget to check out our lovely art shop full of the creations of our members: jewelry, textiles, paintings, prints, cards, ceramics and more. Everything you could want for a loved one for for yourself!

Wake Up Call
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MAA Winter Show

Sheila

What better way to end the year than with the Marblehead Arts Association annual Winter Member Exhibit! The works of MAA Artist members will be spread throughout all galleries of the King Hooper Mansion. The exhibit can also be viewed online at www.marbleheadarts.org !

Marblehead Arts Association Artist Members Winter Exhibit, Nov. 9 – Dec. 24, 2024. My entry: Wake Up Call, mixed media, 10″ x20″ framed. The show will be spread throughout all the galleries of the King Hooper Mansion, Marblehead. The home of the Marblehead Arts Association, the King Hooper Mansion, was originally built in 1728 (enlarged c. 1745) and will be 300 years old in 2028. A visit to the MAA is a treat whether you are there for the art, the architecture and history, or the lovely artisan shop which is chock full of delightful one-of-a-kind creations made by the members.

My entry accepted into the show is a mixed media piece which recently won Best of Show at the Salem Arts Association in August 2024. It is titled Wake Up Call and combines cut paper and pen and ink drawing in a bold, graphic style. The boldness of the piece echoes the boldness of the message which is to alert humanity to the need to work to change the world for the better.

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DAA Fall Show — 2nd Prize

Sheila

The Danvers Art Association is proud to present its Fall Art Show featuring the creations of its members. The exhibit will take place for two days only on Saturday and Sunday November 1 & 2 at the DAA Gallery 62 located at 105 Elliot Street, Danvers, MA — right on Route 62. The opening reception will be held from 7-9 p.m. on 11/1/24. It is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served. The show features work in many mediums including: oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolors, drawing, mixed media, photography, and crafts. Awards will be presented in each category.

My painting in the show is titled Gloucester Shore Garden, and I was delighted to be the recipient of Second Prize for Acrylic Painting! This painting was created en plein air on location at the Gloucester MA Shore Walk. Each year a group of avid gardeners plants the gardens all along the Shore Walk with hundreds and hundreds of gorgeous dahlias in every color of the rainbow. The effect is stunning, a big draw for flower lovers and honey bees alike. My painting was done looking at Ten Pound Island looking through the tall colorful garden. Eastern Point Light can be seen way in the distance.

I hope you can stop by to enjoy the artwork and to have a tour of our beautiful antique schoolhouse gallery. The building was made in 1908 and had become very run-down. The DAA brought it back to its former glory and now uses the two rooms for our art shows, open studio time, art lessons, and even gallery space for rent in the cellar. Talk about meaningful recycling!

@GloucesterMA #dahlias #GloucesterDahlias @DanversArtAssociation #DanversArtAssociation

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GALA Member Show

Sheila

GALA (The Galleries at LynnArts) is sponsoring an Autumn Member Show at their beautiful downtown Lynn Galleries, and my painting has been juried in! Come down to the Opening Reception on Friday evening November 1, 2024 and it is open to the public. As always, there will be lovely refreshments and music. A donation is requested to help GALA continue its work of showcasing the work of local artists. This exhibit will run until December 13, 2024.

My painting, Pumpkin Delivery (acrylic on canvas, 8″ x 10″) was painted on location at Russell Orchards, Ipswich, MA. Shown is a picture of me taken by a professional photographer passing through (probably on his way to nab a delicious cider donut!). I belong to a group of plein air painters who gather weekly at various lovely Cape Ann locations to enjoy the fresh air and paint the scene. We were so engaged with Russell Orchards that we went there three weeks in a row. And I painted this adorable red truck every time! I couldn’t get enough of it filled to the brim with ripe orange pumpkins.

The Galleries at LynnArts (GALA) is a Collaborative Nonprofit Art Gallery led by local artists and creatives. GALA supports artists at all career stages, offering artistic practice development, professional presentation, and exhibition opportunities. Our organization promotes and sells artwork, honors diverse makers, and supports the whole artist through skills growth, well-being, and fostering a healthy art community. We feature group and solo exhibitions as well as a gallery shop showcasing North Shore artists and makers. By providing safe spaces, economic opportunities, engaging receptions and events, and partnering with local organizations, GALA brings people together to connect and grow.

I hope you can come by the GALA at 25 Exchange St., Lynn, MA to enjoy the work of local member artists!

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Topsfield Fair 2024

Sheila

Hurray! I was able to not only have my artwork juried in to the Topsfield Fair Professional Artist division, but also to be one of the artists demonstrating at the fair! The artwork is exhibited in the Coolidge Building on the fairgrounds with the other professional artwork, as well as the Amateur division, and the beautiful Crafts (including crochet, quilting, sewing, and more). The exhibit also offers a Shop with smaller paintings, prints, and cards by the professional artists; and I hope you will stop by to see my work.

There is nothing more fun to do on an autumn day in New England than to visit this long-time tradition! I had the fun of roaming the fairgrounds, and eating the yummy offerings of the many food vendors. Then I enjoyed the exhibits of farm animals, floral creations, bees, and more before setting up my easel and painting. It is great to have a chance to do two of my favorite things: painting and chatting. So many people stopped by to talk with me and give me their ideas for my painting.

I was working on a large, 24″ x 36″ canvas with a child-themed subject. As a child Pippi Longstocking and Mary Poppins were two of my favorite books. When my granddaughter was a baby, I made a treasure box for her with paintings on every side. One side featured those two characters in one painting. For the fair, I decided to expand upon that idea and the result has the working title of Pippi and Poppins. So many people stopped to talk with me that I did not have time to finish the painting yet, so I’ve taken it back to my studio to complete it.

Here’s hoping you have a chance to do yourself a favor and visit the fair this year.

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Let Us Remember

Sheila

My newest utility box is finished and you can see it at the corner of Essex Street and Danvers Road in Swampscott, MA. The box is located at a beautiful monument to the memory of Jared Raymond, a native son of Swampscott, who perished in battle in Iraq at the age of 20 years old. He gave his life for his country and made the ultimate sacrifice.

The design for the utility box mural was inspired by the World War I poem, In Flanders Fields by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. He was inspired to write it on May 3, 1915 after presiding over the funeral of a fallen soldier. I was deeply touched by this poem when I first heard it from my grandfather, a World War I veteran. The red poppies were everywhere when I was a girl, worn by people to remember those who died to help keep our country safe for democracy.

The utility box was on the grounds of a beautiful monument that was built in memory of Jared Raymond, and I felt it did not do the sacred and solemn location justice with its plain beige exterior. I wanted to do more, and the Town of Swampscott okayed my plan. The design shows rolling hills of poppies with the ocean in the background, a nod to Swampscott’s seaside location where Jared grew up. The U.S. flag flies proudly on both sides of the box, flying over the flags representing the branches of the U.S. military: Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, and also the POW/MIA flag. Thus, it honors not only Jared, but also all the brave veterans who gave their all to protect us.

Crustacean Celebration
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Artoberfest 2024!

Sheila

Wow! Want to have a great time? Come down to Artoberfest 2024, hosted by the Salem Arts Association. You will enjoy an afternoon of outstanding live bands, dancers, food trucks, activities, and relaxation by the beautiful oceanfront part on Derby Street, Salem, MA.

I will be setting up my easel, along with other local artist-members of the Salem Arts Association to be live painting demonstrators all afternoon. My painting is inspired by a utility box I painted in Swampscott MA this summer — Lucky the Blue Lobster. Lucky and his happy little crew made lots of people happy when I painted them, and I decided to keep the fun going. My painting is titled Crustacean Celebration and it is done in acrylic and latex paint on a stretched 24″ x 36″ canvas — perfect for any child’s room!

If you come to the festival, I hope you will come over to my tent and say hello!

@Artoberfest2024

@Artoberfest

#SalemArts

@SalemMA

@SalemArts

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Swampscott Arts Assoc

Sheila

The Swampscott Art Association is hosting an exhibition of members’ art work. The show will take place at the Demakes YMCA, 40 Neptune Boulevard, Lynn, MA. It will offer an opening reception from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m on Sunday, September 15. Come by, enjoy viewing the beautiful work, meeting the artists, and snacking on light refreshments.

Member artists have entered work into the show in a wide variety of mediums including oil and acrylic paints, watercolor paints, drawings, photography, etc. This is an unthemed show which gives the artists an opportunity to share work in a huge array of styles and subjects.

My painting in the exhibit is titled Devereux Beach Umbrellas and was painted en plein air at the beach in Marblehead on very hot, sunny summer afternoon — thus all the umbrellas! The beach was chock full of happy people enjoying the sand, waves, and each other. People were splashing in the water, reading on their blankets, playing frisbee, and even having birthday parties! I stood and painted, and I believe my painting captures the feel of the day.

Show runs 9/16-10/17/2024, and it is open during regular YMCA hours. Please come by and see!

@Demakes YMCA

@LynnMA

@DevereuxBeach

#beachumbrellas

#DevereuxBeach

#MarbleheadMA

@MarbleheadMA

Salem-Willows-Closing-Time_acrylic_11x14
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October Exhibit

Sheila

Join us for the grand opening of the Artoberfest Exhibition Friday, September 13, 2024 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The theme of the exhibit is all things Halloween and Autumn, and the exhibition dates are September 14 through November 9. The show will feature local artists’ individual takes on the theme from macabre & spooky to beautiful Autumn in New England. Many varied mediums will be on display: paintings, drawings, collage, assemblage, photography, etc.

My artwork which has been juried into the exhibition is titled Salem Willows Closing Time. It is an acrylic painting on gallery wrapped canvas, 11″ x 14″ x 1.5″ deep. I love Salem Willows! In the daytime, it is a lovely place to enjoy the beaches and gorgeous ocean views. And, of course, the Arcades are full of fun for all ages. I created this painting from a night time photograph I took because I like the way the colorful lights glow in the evening, giving the place a more mysterious look than in the daytime. I believe the colors lend themselves to the Halloween theme, and October is closing time for The Willows, not just for the evening, but until the following springtime.

The deep canvas makes the artwork very light and gives you the chance to hang it anywhere without the need for a stud. It also makes the painting less expensive, while still offering you the option of choosing your own frame according to your taste if you wish.

Salem Arts Association is located at 159 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970. There is plenty of parking at the public garage nearby! I hope you will take the opportunity to also visit our wonderful Gallery Shop while you are at the exhibit

@SalemArts

@HauntedHappenings

@SalemMainStreets

@SalemMA

@SalemWillows

@peabodyessex

@witchcitywalkingtours

@creativecollectivema

@salemmainstreets

@destinationsalem

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#Halloween

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