Painting "En Plein Air"

 Classes at the Vero Beach Museum of Art

Just finished up two separate 5-week courses at the Museum, and it's time for a little break.  They were both fun and rewarding for me, and I hope very informative to my students. A lot of artsy learning was crammed into those 3-hour classes each week. One was "Photorealism" in multi-medias, and the other was Plein Air (painting outdoors). 

The Hearst Corporation funded supplies for the classes, which made it so nice for the students. We ordered sketching kits, technical tools, drawing & painting paper and Derwent pastel pencils, all of which they got to keep. We also provided stools and easels.  Most of the students continued using the pastels for all five weeks, although they were invited to use their medium of choice.  I demonstrated a different medium each week: pastel pencils, watercolor, acrylic, oil paints, and pastel sticks, which covered whatever medium was in their comfort zone. All but one had never painted out of doors, and luckily the weather was perfect. Except for the last day on the boardwalk near the Museum when the skies opened up for just five minutes. I throw a tarp over my setup and the rest ran for cover under a lovely pavilion. The view was spectacular as you can see below.

Judy Burgarella painting at a Boardwalk over the Indian River Lagoon

Artists set up  within view of my composition and watched as they painted along with me. It's a great way to learn, as they see the instructor (me!) make mistakes and correct them, have happy accidents, make best use of the weather, changing light, inconvenience, etc. But they also witness the joy I project in my painting process ... especially the joy of painting out of doors. We saw many birds, porpoises rolling in the water, fish jumping and fishermen fishing as the beautiful puffy clouds rolled by. There were tall mangroves to the left of me shading where they all sat and sketched with their pastel pencils.  We painted at five different locations, all very interesting, natural and beautiful.

I had hoped to finish at least one painting to bring to last class, but alas, life got in the way and I was too busy painting for several shows. It's a rich life here in Indian River county if you're in the arts! So many artsy things going on, and I try my best to do them all!

As for the Photorealism class, that one I also demonstrated different mediums each week, to cover the variety of mediums of my students. And I also did not finish one painting. However, I brought a couple of my finished realistic paintings for them to examine each week. This class's supplies were also funded by the Hearst Corporation, and subject matter was mostly also of nature. 

Some Recent New Paintings

"EMERGENCE"

T\he painting below was exhibited in the Patten Gallery of the Vero Beach Museum of Art. The show was at the invitation of the Museum to members of the Cultural Council of Indian River County. The theme was "Abstract," and boy did everyone bring their "A" Game!  It was a beautiful and exciting array of abstract work. Mine, of course, had to have a face in it. Just can't stop myself. Abstract was a stretch for me, but I ended up having such fun with it. Can't wait to do it again. There is even a secret message within the abstract background. Can you see it?

"Emergence" 24"x18" Acrylic by Judy Burgarella

"STILL LIFE WITH GREEN ONIONS"

This sweet little pastel piece I had actually started years ago, but I recently came upon it in my flat file just waiting to be finished. I was probably having trouble with it at the time, but it is amazing how much better you get with each passing year. I had no trouble finishing it, other than dozing off and smudging it with my arm while painting too late into the night. Happened twice. Had to repair it twice. I finally went to bed and finished with fresh eyes the next morning. 

"Still Life with Green Onions" Pastel 14"x17" by Judy Burgarella

STILL LIFE WITH ORANGES

An oldie but a goodie. This poor pastel has been schlepped around to so many shows, and I wonder why it hasn't sold yet. So I reframed it and cut a nice fillet (small silver bar against the mat) for it, and I think it looks so much better. It actually was my first attempt at pastel many years ago. I have used this painting so many times as a staging piece, which my daughter Robin Burgarella offers as a service to her real estate clients. Another outlet for my creative side, like playing with doll houses it is. Redesigning rooms, adding lamps, runners, flowers, rugs, curtains, etc., which we shop for at our own storage unit. The "Befores" and "Afters" are amazing, and the houses tend to sell fast because of our "beautification" skills. It's an honor working with my daughter, and now with my daughter's daughter! At 11 years old, Salem is better at the computer work than I am, and is gaining on me with her staging skills! 

"Still Life with Oranges" Pastel, 22"x26" by Judy Burgarella

Well, that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed or were inspired by my postings, and maybe enough that you'll pick up the brush yourself!

Judy Burgarella

Blogger

Three New 12" x 12" x 1-1/2" Acrylics!

 I whipped these up for the Environmental Learning Center's "Little Things" show.  All entries had to be 12" x 12" x 1-1/2", and nature-related.  Not having the required pieces, I was forced to paint them. Maximum entries for one price was three, so that's why I painted three.

First one I did was an Eagle. For this show, the title is, "Symbol of Hope." I named it that because of all the political chaos and bad decisions being made by our leaders as of late which is very concerning for America's future, and I was looking for something that would give us hope. 

"Symbol of Hope," Acrylic, 12"x12"x1-1/2" by Judy Burgarella

I had been wanting to paint a hummingbird lately.  These "flying flowers" often visit one of my flowering bushes in the yard, but I have yet to get a photograph of them.  This is a combination of several photos from a bird book of mine.  The clouds were from a snapshot I took just today from the Wabasso Bridge. Pink Hibiscus were from my garden.

"Hummingbird's Delight," Acrylic, 12"x12"x1-1/2" by Judy Burgarella

"On The Hunt" was a combination of photos of a Florida panther, however the scene is from a vacant lot down on my street that always intrigued me as it has an interesting little opening where you can peer into the dark underbrush.  On my walks with the dog many times I have taken photos of it, hoping that I could use it in a painting someday.

"On The Hunt," Acrylic, 12"x12"x1-1/2" by Judy Burgarella

Delivery due later today.  Enjoy the view!

Judy Burgarella

Blogger

Portrait of Mary

 A pretty woman, a fuzzy picture.  I was given a commission for a portrait to create from an old photograph, taken when "Mary" was much younger.  Her husband, Ray wanted it as a surprise for a future event.  I did the best I could, not having even met Mary, and using a very small, old, fuzzy faded photograph.  It got rave reviews and the customer was very happy and proud.  Mary is still very beautiful, as is her younger version shown below.

"Portrait of Mary" Oil, by Judy Burgarella

Aside from the difficulties of an image without a lot of information contained within it, the strange lighting and shadows also posed some problems.  What colors to use? How much contrast? What were the actual values?  And some forms and details happen to be missing within the photograph.

The customer asked me to frame it with a gilded frame, which I happened to have on hand, and I believe it was the best choice for this portrait.

What a joy it is to paint a portrait and get to know a person's face inch-by-inch, and have the challenge especially of bringing it to life again decades later in the future.  Yes, a joy and a challenge, but exhausting and I'm relieved it came out ok and it's finished.

Judy Burgarella
Portrait Blogger

 

Some More Recent Works ~ 

"Blue Heron and Orchids" is a watercolor rendition of a painting of the same name in Acrylics.  The Acrylic one was recently sold during my show at the Environmental Learning Center.  It was created for an upcoming workshop for the Orchid Island Art Club in March.  Two totally different mediums, but a lovely painting nonetheless.

"Blue Heron and Orchids" Watercolor
14"x11" Unframed, 23"x19" Frame by Judy Burgarella

"Blue Heron in the Reeds" was created in a pastel workshop at Orchid Island.  We all painted something different, and this image was snapped by me at the canal in my backyard.  When I put it in the oval mat it looked just perfect!  

"Blue Heron in the Reeds" Watercolor 14"x11" unframed, 20"x16" framed
By Judy Burgarella

Enjoy!

Judy Burgarella

Blogger

 What can an artist do??

"KATERYNA"

As the date to do this portrait in acrylics class drew near I was moved to design something to go along with our world in crisis, mainly the Ukraine.  After researching facial features of Ukrainian women a face gradually emerged from my pencil of a woman in Ukrainian native dress and wearing a floral garland.  All designs were taken from historical photos on the internet and so are truly based on authentic Ukrainian attire.

The name "Kateryna" according to a list of Ukrainian names means "Pure." Pure and innocent are those who are being killed, maimed and driven from their free country.  The atrocities that Putin has inflicted upon the Ukrainian people will be revisited by all those who survived for the rest of their lives.

So what could an older, powerless, not-so-well-off artist do to help?  Well one was to recognize the Ukrainian people's plight by designing a work of art to represent their people.  And gradually I came up with the idea of donating the proceeds of this painting to them also.  And so the idea was born.  But wait--I thought, "How can I expand upon that idea?"  So then I came up with publishing it on the internet in hopes that other artists see it, paint it, sell it, and donate the proceeds.

So here is beautiful Kateryna, with instructions below it.  Feel free to improve it, change it, or be inspired by it to do something yourself that will help the people in the Ukraine.  

(Click on Kateryna to enlarge)

Note - Keep mind that these instructions were drafted for a classroom where I explained various techniques of painting in acrylics. Please look up on the internet "scumbling" as that was a common technique used in the final skin layers.  This portrait can also be created in oil, watercolor, pastels, colored pencils, etc.  I used a limited palette and did not name the actual colors as I provided all the supplies and some people in class are not familiar with the actual names of the colors. But following are colors I used or suggest: titanium white, cadmium yellow, cadmium orange, cadmium red light, alizarin crimson, dioxazene purple, ultramarine blue, permanent green light, sap green, burnt umber, burnt sienna, ivory black.

Also, I considered "Kateryna" finished enough for my class, however not finished enough to sell.  In spite of that a student insisted on purchasing it from the class "as is."  So the proceeds will be donated to:

                            Samaritan's Purse

                            P.O. Box 3000

                           Boone, North Carolina 28607

                          Phone - 828-262-1980

If you do decide to paint it yourself, I hope you will donate at least something to either Samaritan's Purse or another charity that is helping the Ukrainian people in their struggle to protect their citizens, help those who have survivied, or help them in their fight for their freedom.

(Click on the below instructions to enlarge)

Visit again soon, as I will be uploading more paintings for you to try!

Judy Burgarella

Blogger

Solo Show at the Environmental Learning Center

 Wrapping up a 2-month Show!

Installed 35 paintings in the Environmental Learning Center on January 3rd, where they were on display until today, February 27th.  The ELC was very accommodating and great to deal with, and it was a nice venue for all my nature-related work.  I named it "Florida's Natural Treasures," and it was good to see a large body of my work all in one place. Several paintings found new homes, and I am always happy to know they will be appreciated and enjoyed for years to come. And now I have more money to buy more brushes.  He who has the most brushes wins!    

West Wall #1  

... More to come about this show when time.

Updating for New Works

NOTE ~ For a view of my studio, click on:    https://www.facebook.com/CCOVB.org/videos/611418863194541

Folk Art Show at the Vero Beach Museum of Art

Local artist members of the Cultural Council of Indian River County were invited to show Folk Art-related works in the Education Wing of the Vero Beach Art Club, in collaboration with their current Fold Art Exhibition.  Show ran October-November 2021, and I entered two pieces:  "Laundry Day" and "Six Rosters."

"Laundry Day"

I painted this a couple of years ago to enter into the Vero Beach Art Club's "New Dimensions" show on Orchid Island, Vero Beach.  I had named it "Laundry Day Wine Bar," and had included wine glasses with clotheslines painted on them, and a washboard cheese tray.  Someone bought the glasses only, and so I've had this odd art piece knocking around my garage ever since, showing it once or twice in the Sebastian River Art Club shows.  So I was happy to get it out of the garage and on display again.

"Laundry Day" Painted in acrylics on wooden ironing board.
By Judy Burgarella

"Six Roosters"

"Six Roosters" was painted specifically for the Vero Beach Museum of Art's Folk Art Show.  If I hadn't run out of time (painting right up to the last minute as usual!) I had planned to get some rusty old chicken wire and rusty old bent nails and nail it sloppily to the outside of the window, with the rooster portraits behind it.  This was such fun to paint and research.  Took me right out of my comfort zone.

"Six Roosters" Acrylic, 16"x20" by Judy Burgarella

"Jesus On Palette"

This palette painting was done as a demo on Faculty Day at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, where I have been teaching portraiture for seven years now.  It was not complete, but close enough to post here. This was the last demonstration we teachers did before the Pandemic Closedown.  Sadly, we had no idea what was to come.

"Jesus on Palette" Oil 11"x16" by Judy Burgarella

"Night-Blooming Cereus"

"Night-Blooming Cereus Cactus"
Acrylic by Judy Burgarella, 16"x20"

Perched high above my herb garden setting in a wire replica plant stand of the Eiffel Tower, sits this usually-ugly flat-leaved prickerless plant.  Don't know where I got it, but for years I've neglected it, and even threw it behind a big ixoria to see if it would die and get it over with. I have had this plant for about 15 years.

At some time later I saw it was struggling to survive, and like an orphaned pet I gently potted it in a nice pot to give it a chance to live--guilt being the driving force.  I don't remember when it happened, but I remember seeing a big long pointed snake-like bud emerging.  I kept watching it as it got bigger, excited to see what beautiful flower would emerge from this ugly plant.  It got bigger ... and bigger ... and bigger! Every morning I would run out to the herb garden to see it emerging!  Then one morning--finally--there it was ... a very large drooping dead white what shriveled whatchamacallit!  After all that time I had missed its bloom!  

After doing some research, I found that it is of the genre of a "Night Blooming Cereus," in the cactus family.  Look it up on the internet--they are spectacular and diverse.  Mine blooms as big as a dish.  I found out that the bats love it and do the pollinating, and I've seen that it peaks about midnight.  The aroma can compete any day--or night--with Gardenia.  A very strong yet soft aroma that permeates the night air all around it.  It blesses me with always having either an emerging flower or a flower bloom--sometimes more than one!  I try to catch its glory at midnight, but alas many times miss it by forgetting and going to bed.

And so I finally honored this spectacular flower by painting it and exhibiting the painting several shows.  It is mounted on a gallery-wrapped frame, with the painting continued all around the edges. Looks great on a white wall, and I hope it finds a good home some time soon. Note that I included a dying bloom behind the "perfect" bloom. Also note the bizarre pink and yellow stamen.

Plein Air Pait-Out at the Environmental Learning Center

October 2nd, 2021, joined some fellow artists for a paint-out on-site at the Environmental Learning Center in Vero Beach, FL, as part of the "Bird Show" there.  The rule is, you must complete and frame the painting all in one sitting, which I did. It's an unrefined work, which I will tweak to be finer at a later date.  It did pull a 3rd-place ribbon at the show though, and two of my other works won ribbons, pictures of which follow.

"Pond Scape" Acrylic, 11"x14" by Judy Burgarella

Egrets and Waterlilies on Palette

Painted on a lovely cloud-filled day in my backyard, with a group of plein-aire friends. February 10th, 2021.  Such fun to paint directly on your palette: squirt the paint on and dip/drag it into your creation.  Artists were scattered all around the yard, painting the canal, gardens, trees, flowers.  Afterwards we broke open the wine and toasted to a wonderful mask-free day outdoors.  Won First Place ribbon in the "Bird Show" at the Environmental Learning Center in October 2021.

"Egrets & Waterlilies on Palette" Oil on Palette, 16"x19" by Judy Burgarella

"Fencepost by the Meadow"

This cute little painting was done during a demonstration, and was later donated to charity.  A simple, sweet, peaceful gem.

"Fencepost by the Meadow" Oil, 17"x14" Framed by Judy Burgarella

Well, that's all for today, will post more works soon.

Judy Burgarella

Blogger for the Arts

And Now ... 5 more months of painting/creating ins spite of COVID!

"DRAGON"

"Dragon" took several months to paint because I hated doing it.  I blocked the darned thing in and let it sit out on our lanai for months. Finally, my granddaughter Salem's birthday was coming up quick in July so I HAD to get it done!  It was just yesterday she was loving unicorns and princesses ... and now, at 10, she loves Harry Potter!  Go figure.  I do miss my princess with the magical wand and tutu though.  And I hated everything Harry-Potter-ish and dark and gloomy stuff.  However, by the time I was almost finished with the dragon, I was watching movies about Harry Potter with her, biting my nails!  Loved him, and I certainly learned to "Love the Dragon!"

"Dragon" Oil on Stretched Canvas, 28"x36" by Judy Burgarella

"SPENSER"

"Spenser" was a delight to paint.  And upon pickup, my client brought his wife and other furry famly members.  Spenser wanted so badly to play with my Piper, but Spenser had just undergone surgery and was in no shape to romp, so I left Piper outside.  I was told that the painting really captured his spirit and personality.  I painted it from several referenced photographs.

"Spenser" Acrylic by Judy Burgarella. Painted surface 14"x11"

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

A few more creations of late

"PATIENCE" - DESTINY MADE HER MINE!

"Patience" below, is from another of my portrait classes for the Fall 2018 semester at the Vero Beach Museum of Art.  I teach there three semesters per year, in addition to a 3-day oil & acrylics Portrait Workshop from a live model during each semester.

"Prudence" (I am guessing a Puritan Woman) was inspired and painted from a painting I purchased at the St. Sebastian Church's Saturday Flea Market a few years ago.  It was a full-body, life-sized oil painting in really rough shape, that obviously was destined to be thrown in the trash heap had I not come along last minute just before closing. I purchased this lovely painting, frame and all, for  $5 or $10.  No signature or any indication on it to identify the artist.  Since the clothing from below the collar on down was rendered poorly, I held my breath and cut it off.  I then glued it onto a masonite board and framed it with a beautiful hand-carved ornate frame also purchased at the same time, also for $5. The frame was also in rough shape, and even had holes drilled in it on several areas.  With some filler and good gilding, sanding and painting, the frame was perfect for this painting.  It now sits in an easel on display on high kitchen shelving along with other items and paintings of interest I have collected over the years.  And so I recreated this painting, inspired by that which I purchased, only made her a bit more pretty, as seen below.  Below the painting is a sample of the step-by-step handout I give to my Museum students.  Lots of work for me, but makes it so much easier for students to understand or jump ahead.

"Prudence" Acrylic on canvas by Judy Burgarella

Class instruction hand-outs for my students

"KATE" - FROM A LIVE MODEL

Below is an oil portrait I started in October 2018 from a live model, friend and student Kate Russum, and finished six months later.  It was my first demo at a new location, Indian River Estates in Vero Beach, where I continue to teach.  This painting haunted me after I started it, as I promised it to Kate as a thank-you gift for posing for me that first day.  It was a very rough start, as all portraits of mine tend to be.  But I finished it and believed it was one of my best yet.  I actually feel that way about all my portraits, as the way of the life of an artist is that one gets better with each painting.  And so it always gets better, if one takes the extra time to make it that way.  However I am usually on the clock and on the run, trying to finish and document steps in a painting for a class, so those paintings are not usually my finest work.

"Kate" oil painting by Judy Burgarella

MONET'S "WILLOW TREE AND LILY POND"

Below is a finished painting, a copy of a work by Claude Monet, one of the impressionists (1840-1926).  I painted this in acrylics to get the feel of how he painted, in preparation for my demo/class at Indian River Estates.  This was a 2-week demo, wrought with the usual mistakes which I gladly announce and exhibit to my students so that they can learn how an artist corrects his/her mistakes and moves on. Mistakes often result in the creation of a great new technique, a so-called "Happy Mistake," and it happened several times in this oil painting. demo.  I hope to post this painting when it's finished.  But below is my acrylic rendition of Monet's oil painting.

"Monet's Willow tree and Lily Pond" acrylic by Judy Burgarella

I have many more I would love to post, but alas, they are on the self in my studio unfinished with the hundreds of other paintings needing my attention.   I need about 40 more years and maybe I'll finish them all ... but then what?

I hope you enjoyed my postings!

Judy Burgarella

Blogger

Orca Mural - Finally Finished!

ORCA Mural, "Florida Uplands" Acrylic on Canvas by Judy Burgarella

So happy to be a part of this project, and we completed it very quickly, about a month--with some finishing even before that.  So I delivered mine, which was the latest, on Tuesday, July 3rd.  I touched mine up on the outside perimeter with the paint they all used, repainted the gold band, and Dawn and I installed the hanging hardware and hung them all in the classroom of the Artists Guild Gallery in Vero Beach.

The Vero Beach Art Club provided the artists, who donated their time to this project: me, Dawn Mill (project manager), Carol Makris, Sue Dinenno, Judy Rixom and Rita Ziegler.  Dawn chose the round design and provided each artist with a rough idea, and we all created our own design based on the basic specifications, researching our individual habitat assignments ourselves and choosing the plants and animals to include.  There are six murals, all mounted with stretched canvas over a wood frame, with circular pattern outlined in gold paint.  All are painted in acrylic. As soon as I get photos of the others, I will post them here.

ORCA "Oceanic Research and Conservation Association" happened to see the Vero Beach History/Habitat Murals (www.verobeachmural.blogspot.com), at the Community Center on 14th Avenue, and felt they needed something like that for their organization, perhaps to use as an educational tool and in demonstrations.  And so they contacted the Vero Beach Art Club, and the rest is history.

A "Soft Opening" will be held Friday July 5th, 5:00-8:00 pm at the Artists Guild Gallery, 1974 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, with wine and hors doeuvres, and a grand opening will be held at the ORCA facility at VB Airport some time in the fall.

We are very proud to play a small part in prooting ORCA's environmental mission, and look forward to the public enjoying the fruits of our labor.

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There are many more paintings I have created since my last posting, and hopefully I will have time soon to post them here.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger

Many changes since my last post

AN APRON FOR CASS

Just finished this for my son-in-law's birthday (which will be given to him on Father's Day this Sunday).  He's such a good cook and so handy with tools, so it's perfect for him, and I had such a good time creating it.  Gathered together tools and utensils and just sketched them on with a small flat brush and acrylic raw umber paint.  No planning, just copied the shapes of what I saw.  The fun was in the coloring.  If you look close you'll see all different shades and temperatures of gray in the silver.  I printed out the lettering on my laser, vine-charcoaled the backs, positioned and taped them to the fabric, and just transferred the basic text shapes onto the apron.  For the text paint I used the liquid craft paints (gloss) in a jar--flows easier when painting fine lines.

(c) 2018 Judy Burgarella

(c) 2018 Judy Burgarella

MORE TIME FOR ME ~

Since I am now freed from serving as president of the Sebastian River Art Club, I once again have time for these wonderful creative projects, in addition to having more time to spend with family and friends ... and painting!  However I do miss the challenge of leadership, and seeing the fruits of my labor for the betterment of the Club and its members. 

Since my last posting I have completed many more paintings which when time I will post here.  I have so many ideas on how to spend my time now, my bucket list runneth over!  The wonderful thing about being an artist is that you are never bored.  There actually is not enough time in any day to do all the creative things that pop up in your mind.  And anything can set it off: a picture in a magazine, the sunset, a flower, cute cat, something on TV, an interesting face, and especially images on the internet that excite the creative juices.  I am also looking forward to sharing what I know via the internet, so stay tuned!

I hope you enjoy my blog.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger

Two Solo Shows! Oy Vey!!

Having trouble with my blogs, and somehow lost over a year's worth!  ...somewhere out there in cyberspace.  Oh well, carrying on ...


A COUPLE OF JUST-FINISHED PIECES

For my portrait show, "Portraits of the World ... And Beyond" (postcard and further info follows) I have a couple of new ones:

"Madonna" oil on canvas, with 24K gold leaf halo

This painting was done with only 4 colors, and is painted over another portrait I did as a demo of a wipe-out face.  The wipe-out base gave it the depth and mystery I was looking for.  Gold leafing went surprisingly well, as it is very difficult to work with, and one must not waste 24K gold!  It's in a fabulous frame too, displayed over my Jesus painting which has a crown of thorns hanging on it that I purchased from a Jerusalem supplier.


A Totally Portrait Show for all my friends and students who love portraits!

Worked like crazy putting this one together.  Never showed this many portraits at once, excepting for in my own home during the Sebastian Art Studio Tour.  Carole and Peter Coe, curators of the "Pres Galleries," and members of the First Presbyterian Church in Vero Beach, flawlessly installed the show, allowing me some input as to it's setup.  There was a great turnout and the show looked beautiful.  About 30 paintings in all mediums are on display.  They decided to add a mid-show reception I guess to allow the Snowbirds to view it.  It's up through December.


MY MOM, "MILDRED"

My mother was a jewel, and a really pretty one with a beautiful wad of red hair.  I guess this was about 1942, before I was born.  It was painted from a black-and-white photograph.

"Millie, 1942" oil on canvas by Judy Burgarella

PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Tonight at 9:00 pm I finally got around to entering something in the Portrait Society of America, which I am a member of.  Decided to enter my mom.  It would be such an honor if they accepted my entry.  First time entering a national competition.



AND NOW FOR MY NEXT ACT ...

Just delivered this show today.  Over 40 paintings of Florida-inspired works.  What a job putting all this together, repairing the frames, reframing where needed, cleaning and rematting.  I have too many paintings, so they're priced to go, to make room for more. Looking forward to the opening to see how the public receives them.  I revised a portrait I did of Osceola in 2014 which I have shown around here but it never received much attention.  So I took it apart (not an easy job with pastels) and redesigned the face, clothes, position, and values, contrast and background.  Basically it's all redone.  I am very happy with it now, and I am a better artist than I was in 2014.  That's what's amazing about this art thing, everyone gets better with each painting.  I teach so I see it happen right before my eyes to my students.  Below is Osceola, I love it now.

"Osceola" Pastel by Judy Burgarella

LADY OF ELCHE

Monday I had my first of five classes for the semester in the Vero Beach Museum of Art, and below is my subject lesson.  I brought her back from the 4th Century B.C.  Found her sculptured image in an old sculpture book I got at a thrift shop.  I opened the book and fell in love with her face.  So regal, strong, intelligent-looking and beautiful.  And that headdress!  Wow!  I later found out that the bust, which is hollow and presumed to have been used as a funerary urn, is in a museum in Madrid.

"Lady of Elche" Acrylic on Canvas by Judy Burgarella

Well, that's all for tonight ... I hope you enjoyed my images.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger

MIA Too long!

Where to start?  Just remembering why I hadn't posted in some time ... husband's multiple hospitalizations, my hospitalization, also my eye surgery which greatly impacted my eyesight, and lots of other of "life's interruptions."  Oh, and I am now serving as President of the Sebastian River Art Club which keeps me incredibly busy as I work to improve upon what past presidents and members have created.

 So now I'll post a few things, what I remember I've done since then, starting with most recent.

Below is a show I just installed Thursday.  All portraits, and several of the following portraits are in that show.  One down, one to go.  Have to get ready for the Emerson Center show to be installed November 1st, entitled "Florida - Paradise through the Eyes of an Artist"

"Madonna" Oil w/24K Gold Leafing  11"x14" w/5" ornate gold frame

 This one came so easy, and the gold leafing went surprisingly smoothly.  This one got me in the zone right away.  Divine intervention??

"Mildred" Oil

 This is my mother circa 1942?  Lovely rendition of her with all that hair.  We all (5 kids, mom & dad) had various shades of red hair, which came with freckles.  Wish I could have known her at that age.

"Girl in Victorian Dress" Acrylic, Adaptation of Da Vinci.

 Created for my portrait class in the Vero Beach Museum of Art.

"Girl with a Pearl Earring" Acrylic, Adaptation of Vermeer's

 Created for my portrait class in the Vero Beach Museum of Art.

"Monet"  Acrylic

 Created for my portrait class in the Vero Beach Museum of Art

"Wash Day" Wine Bar with Glasses, Acrylic

Antique ironing board, fun to do, and I made 6 glasses to match that had clotheslines painted on them.   It is supposed to serve as a wine bar.

"Red Sculpture at the Museum"  Acrylic

Created at the request of the Vero Beach Museum of Art for a special Faculty showing.

"Two White Pelicans" Acrylic. Available on metal or as print.

 Acrylic painting from a very lucky photo I took in Sebastian on a dock at the Indian River Lagoon.

"Sand Hill Crane"  Acrylic

 Created as an Art Party subject.

"Red Rose in Triangle Substrate" Acrylic

 Created for a special Faculty showing for the Vero Beach Museum of Art.  The Lily below too.

"Lily"  Acrylic

Pewter Ornament "Millenial Salute to our Protective Services"

Just threw this one in.  Created before I started to paint.  Part of a series of pewter ornaments I designed to be sold each Christmas as a fundraiser for the Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Committee, of which I was a member with my home business Document Magic Secretarial Service.

"David Leffel on my Palette" Oil on wood palette

 One of my favorite portraitists, and also a fantastic still life painter,.  He's a bit older now, but I liked this portrait of him I copied from his many self-portraits.

"After the bath" Oil 

 This is a nice little nude I wanted for myself, saw it in a magazine and painted it.  That's the wonderful part of being a representational artist, you can have it for yourself, almost as good if you're good enough. 

"Windy Day at the Marina" Oil

 Painted "en plein air" at the Vero Beach Yacht Club for the Cultural Council.

"At Rest"  Oil

Painted "en plein air" at the Vero Beach Yacht Club for the Cultural Council.


Well, that's all for now folks, getting late and it's been a long day.  I hope I did not repeat myself with any of these postings--did not check earlier ones.  Oh, and here's a little song I wrote for all you artists out there--sing it to the tune of "My Favorite Things":

Brush, paint and canvas, the odor of oil,
Scumbling and glazing as we artists toil
Painting on canvas a great work of art,
All of this beauty must come from the heart.

They'll be pretty, they'll be stunning, and surprising too;
When artists are working they get in the zone,
Their favorite thing, to do.

Portraits and landscapes and seascapes and abstract,
Sales and commissions and gallery contracts.
These are the things that an artist must do,
else he will starve and his family too!

He must paint, and, he must learn, and, he must suffer too;
He'd better be ready to get his hard knocks
And come up with something new.

Paint on his fingernails, paint on his clothes,
Paint on his loafers and paint on his nose,
Art books and ribbons and easels and lights,
painting most days and then into most nights.

There'll be art shows, and receptions, competitions too;
So painters must paint and create something nice,
or if they can't they'll be through.

I envision singing this song around a table with a glass of wine with a bunch of artist friends.  Just may do it at "Girls Night Out" tomorrow night at the Tiki Bar.
I also wrote a Halloween song to this tune years ago when my kids were little. They are in the 40's now, so I've been a frustrated songwriter for a long time.

It's really really late now. G'nite!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger