Uploading Some New Work ... After A Long Covid Layover!

 As the Covid crisis begins to wind down, artists are starting to crawl out of their cocoons, myself included, although I emerged sooner than many.  In November 2020, and against all odds, me and my dear friend Camy DeMario developed a show, "Keeping the Arts Alive," at Raw Space Gallery in Vero Beach.  We curated a month-long fine art show featuring over 200 works of art by over 100 artists, and the show included 17 different themes and events throughout the month.  The agenda included honoring our civic leaders, fire, police, military and medical heroes, and I presented portraits to several of our Leaders and Heroes. Other nights were dedicated to Jazz, Ghosts & Hauntings, book signings, Music, poetry, graffiti, and more. Ribbons were awarded, wine and refreshments were served, and a good time was had by all. However, as Covid loomed throughout the month we decided to slow down some of the other events we had planned. In spite of all the odds against us, we were able to make a generous donation to Little Birthday Angels, our chosen charity.  Below are the portraits that were presented:

"Amelia Earhart" Pastel, 11x14 by Judy Burgarella

Amelia Earhart, famous American aviator - presented to the City's Vero Beach Municipal Airport

"Portrait of a Hero," oil on linen by Judy Burgarella

"Portrait of a Hero," presented to Dr. Marcelin of Cleveland Clinic, Vero Beach

"Alma Lee Loy" Acrylic, 11"x14" by Judy Burgarella

"Alma Lee Loy," presented to the Mayor of Vero Beach. Alma Lee, who passed away in April of 2020, was a tireless promotor and philanthropist of Vero Beach and beyond, beloved by all who knew her. 

"Sheriff Daryl Loar" Acrylic, 11"x14" by Judy Burgarella

Symbolic to our Police, and in recognition of Sheriff Loar's service.

"Fire!" Acrylic by Judy Burgarella

 Presented to Indian River County Fire and Rescue.

We created a wonderful show featuring many wonderful works, helped a charity, and honored those who helped bring us through this awful pandemic--God bless them all.  The show closed, and that was the end of "Keeping the Arts Alive," for us.

When time permits, I will post more of the artwork I created just before the Pandemic, during, and after.  But for now, new art shows and art projects loom on the horizon which I must attend to ... so, more to come! 

Judy Burgarella

Blogger

Sebastian, Florida

Fantastic Discovery!

Christopher Chang, in his studio

 I rediscovered Christopher Chang today.  He is one of the most extraordinary artists I have ever met.  He was part of the protest at Tianamen Square in Beijing China on June 4th, 1989, called the Tianamen Square Massacre, which China forbids its people to talk of, and has conveniently eliminated the incident from its history books.  It was a sad situation which we in America watched unfold, this crushing of a democratic movement by young students.  They even erected a "Goddess of Democracy," curiously resembling our Statue of Liberty, which they formed out of styrofoam and plaster.  One young man stood in front of a line of tanks to stop the madness.  In the end hundreds died, some say thousands, and nothing came of it except a burning desire for some to escape that madness.  Christapher's art was sometimes used as propaganda in China, and so somehow he got to the United States, where eventually I was to meet him in the art world.

This was about the year 2000, years after the Tianamen tragedy, but Chris's perception of the world through his life experiences was evident in his passion for his new life, and art life, in the USA.  And so I happened upon his workshop in the Granite Street Gallery in New London, Connecticut.  It was a quaint eclectic group of artists whom I painted with and exhibited with for a couple of years, taking the few workshops with Christopher.  His portraits were extraordinary, rich with texture, stroke and color.  His use of green enchanted my sense of color and to this day when I load my brush with green to apply it to a portrait I think of him.  An interesting legacy--green paint--Christopher Zhang.  But I always tried to paint directly in back of him so that I could see every stroke, every loaded brush, every bodily nuance.  His painting process was dab--jump back--dab again--jump back, stop and stare.  I thought this behavior quite strange and did not understand it at the time, but now I do, as the whole of the painting must be constantly observed for its composition based on the gathering of strokes of color.  And one must not be too judgmental with oneself, but forgiving else the painting will look too labored over and lose its freshness and liveliness.  It's a delicate balance, the seeds of which I learned from Christopher.  I was just one of probably thousands of students by now, but this was my first portrait in oil, and I think my first attempt at the medium, having been mostly a watercolor painter, and new to painting at that.

And so can you imagine that when I visited his website, being curious about him after mentioning his name in a bio I am doing for a teaching job, that right there on his studio wall was his version of the portrait I have in my studio, which I painted at the New London Gallery with him!  I quickly went to my "stash" of unfinished or "unloved" paintings (dogs I call them) and pulled out my "Mustachiod Man" like Chris's.  The model was interesting, but I always hated his open shirt and thought that someday I would change that, update his face to the level of expertise I possess now, frame it and add it to my show collection.  Now I am inspired to do that ... it's on my "todo" list with the hundred other things.  Anyway, here is Chris's and here is mine.  What a world. You can visit his website at www.chriszhangstudio.com

Christopher Zhang's Studio in East Lyme, CT

Christopher Zhang's "Man with Mustache"

Judy Burgarella's "Man with Mustache"

As I look back on this painting which I hate every time I came across it, it's really not too bad.  A little void of contrast, color and values, but I think I will put other clothes on him, darken the background like Chris's, and put a little more color on his hair and mustache.  Maybe.  Someday.  But other shows are calling so I'd better get cracking on some interesting paintings.  Stay tuned, and happy New Year to all!

Below is the latest version of my show schedule:

Ongoing

• Sebastian River Art Club's Art Center, 1245 Main Street, Sebastian. Open Tuesday, Thursday and most Saturdays, 11:00am-3:00pm (Featured Artist for January 2015)
• Sebastian City Hall, 1225 Main Street, Sebastian
• Indian River County Main Library, 1600 21st Street, Vero Beach  772-770-5060
• My art studio (by appointment only)

Future Shows
(As of 1/1/2015)

• Jan 1-30 - Artist of the Month, Dale Sorensen Realty, 1961 14th Ave 772-492-5300 
• Jan 1- 30 - Artist of the Month, Sebastian River Art Club, 1245 Main St., Sebastian
• Jan 6 - 11:00-4:00 Plein Air Paintout on Veteran's Island, Vero Beach
• Jan 9 - April 9 - Indian River County Courthouse, 2000 16th Avenue, Vero Beach
• Jan 17-18 - Sebastian Fine Art & Music Festival (www.sebastianartshow.com), Riverview Park, Sebastian.  Tent Show, over 120 exhibitors, food, music.
• Jan 23-25 - Vero Beach Art Club's "Art By The Sea" at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, 3001 Riverside Dr, Vero Beach. Jan 23 5-8pm (Opening Reception), Jan 24 10-5pm, Jan 25 10-4pm
• Jan 24 - Sebastian River Art Club Park Show, Riverview Park, Sebastian. Tent show, 10am-4pm
• Feb 7 - Sebastian Art Studio Tour.  One of 13 Sebastian Artists whose studio will be open to the public. 9-5 pm  www.SebastianArtStudioTour.com ~ www.SebastianArtStudioTour.blogspot.com
• Feb 13-14 - Vero Beach Art Club's "Art on the Island" at the Marsh Island Club, 9155 Marsh Island Drive, Vero Beach.
• Feb 14-15 - Sebastian River Art Club's Competitive Show, Riverside Park, Sebastian. Tent show, 10am-4pm
• March 13, 14, 15 - Vero Beach Art Club's "Under the Oaks" fine art and craft show, Riverside Park, Vero Beach. An award-winning tent show with over 250 exhibitors. www.verobeachartclub.org
• March 20 - Treasure Coast Art Association's "Essence of a Woman" 223 Avenue A, Ft. Pierce info to come
• May - Florida's Finest en Plein Air info to come

Judy Burgarella

Blogger

New Paintings, New Blog!

 . . . Here, chickie chickie!

I had a lot of fun painting this one. When I got to the Sebastian River Art Center this morning to teach a class, this wooden painter's box was still sitting on the counter, where I had donated it to be sold for our Scholarship Fund.  So in a last-ditch effort to get it sold and out of the Art Center I painted this rooster on it in oils, then hung it in one of the gallery spaces as if it was a regular painting, it looked charming.  Turned out pretty good for a painting which took me about an hour, in between chatting and teaching.  Here's hoping it's gone by the next time I'm at the Art Center.  NOTE: Got a call from Peni Baker, Club member and wonderful artist herself, who purchased the paintbox.  The $35 price goes to our Scholarship Fund.
. . . And FOOTNOTE:  This box was given to me by the family of Ruth Steer, a long-time student of mine and wonderful friend, who passed away recently.  She would be thrilled to know what I did with it, where it went and the money it brought for a cause she believed in--she so loved painting, and was such a strong supporter of the arts.  The box was one of many things which I passed on to the Club from Ruth.  I will finish her great-granddaughter Lucy's portrait for her, one that she started before her passing; Need to get it to her family before Christmas, and I will post it on this blog when done.

 
PRETTY BRITTANY ~
Below is a nice little painting I did of my niece Brittany Preble.  I started it over a year ago and just finished it.  I hope it still looks like her.  Wrapping it up tonight to ship it out tomorrow.

Painting "en plein air"
I participated in the Cultural Council's Bird Show in October, and my White Egret in Flight won 3rd place and went home with some lucky buyer.  Didn't get to take a pic of it.  Last week I joined a dozen or so other plein air painters for a day of painting at the Vero Beach Yacht Club, and painted in oil a tallish picture (below), which sold that night at the reception.  It was a beautiful sunny day and I thoroughly loved it.  There' is a certain comfort level in painting outdoors with other artists.  This painting took under 5 hours and started out really rough but I tweaked it till it was presentable.  I really hate to frame a wet oil painting but that's part of the deal.  I forgot to sign it, so I took it home, signed it, and later delivered it.

"Red Sail Cover" 30"x18" oil by Judy Burgarella

Tomorrow morning at 9 is my class in oils and acrylics at the Sebastian River Art Club, after which I will drop off 3 paintings at Gallery 14 for their Beautiful Waters show, then off to teach Cork & Canvas at the museum with Christine.  It will be a full, rich artsy day.  A good day for me.

Getting a frame ready for Art by the Sea, a great show at the Vero Beach Museum put on by the Vero Beach Art Club. The painting I'm putting in was started back last summer as a demo for the Micco Art Club. Had lots of problems with it, but in the end it turned out OK, good enough for this show.




"Healthy Pleasures" oil, 16"x20" by Judy Burgarella