Catching up & a teaser...

Hip Hop Bebop

watercolor, 12" x 12"

Chris Beck

I've been doing the happy dance here on a regular basis lately.  Hip Hop Bebop was recently selected for the Northwest Watercolor Society's upcoming international exhibition on Mercer Island, WA by juror Mark Mehaffey. The show dates are April 15 to May 31.

Then, yesterday, I heard that Hip Hop Bebop was also chosen for publication in Splash 15: Creative Solutions, part of the ongoing series published by North Light Books.  Publication date is set for Summer 2014.

 Waiting in the Wings

watercolor, 12" x 12"

Chris Beck

And a few weeks ago, I learned that Waiting in the Wings will be included in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America's exhibition (May 4 to August 4) at the Kenosha Public Museum in Kenosha, WI.  Jurors were Robin Berry and Paul Jackson.

  

And please keep an eye out for these little guys! >>>

I'm joining with my friends Jelaine Faunce, Pablo Villicaña Lara, Kathleen Ballard, and Geraud Staton in the Fourth Annual Spring Peeps Challenge!!  We plan to post by Sunday morning.

TWSA Auction Donation: Old Salt...

Old Salt

watercolor, 6" x 6"

Chris Beck

Each year in connection with their annual awards banquet, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America holds a silent auction featuring small paintings created for the event by signature members. Proceeds from the auction benefit the Awards Fund for the next year's exhibition, and over the years, it has become a very popular part of the festivities.  

I am very pleased to have been invited to donate a painting this year. In keeping with my fascination with vintage salt shakers and other bits of vintage ceramics, I've done a portrait of this recently acquired cutie. Just love her topknot and the coy look in her eye!! 

So if you're planning to attend the reception and awards dinner for TWSA this year, keep your eye out for this wee painting. With a little luck, you might be the winner of this fun piece.

I'm also happy to share the good news that my painting "Hip Hop Bebop" was selected for the annual TWSA exhibition. The show runs from May 5 to August 5 at the Kenosha (Wisconsin) Public Museum. The awards dinner will be on June 16. I'm hoping to be there!!

Transparent Watercolor Society exhibit...

my painting "Heirlooms"

Well, the TWSA show is wonderful and, as always, the reception and dinner was an opportunity to visit with many of the artists -- both old and new acquaintances. After many years of admiring her work, I was very pleased to meet juror Judy Morris, following her virtual "gallery walk-through" presentation. I had most enjoyable visits with Tom Francesconi and with Kathleen Conover, both of whom received their Master signatures this year (bestowed on artists who have been accepted into 10 exhibits), the chance to chat briefly once again with both John Salminen and Ratindra Das, and the pleasure of meeting Ted Nuttall. I always enjoy my conversations with Donna Jill Witty, limited as they are to my occasional attendance at these events, and I met some new artists as well -- Angela Chang and Kaaren Oreck. Although she was not at the reception, fellow blogger Katharine Cartwright also had a painting in the show, as you can see on the left side of my photo.

I'm visiting my family for a few days and then on to Madison, Wisconsin for a few more days. I'll post again whenever....

Captain Hook...

Captain Hook, watercolor, 4" x 4"

I'm getting ready to go back to Wisconsin for another visit with my parents. This visit was planned some months ago, long before my last-minute trip about 5 weeks ago. Anyway, I've been running around trying to get everything finished up before I leave. I squeezed in time for the little salt shaker painting too.

I hope to post once in a while during my trip. Included in my itinerary is a stop at the Transparent Watercolor Society of America exhibit -- my painting "Heirlooms" is hanging in the show -- and I'm also planning to visit some dear old friends in Madison, where I lived for many years.

Ciao for now...

Doing the happy dance...

Fe Fi Faux Fowl, acrylic, 30" x 30"

I went a little off-the-path last year and did a few paintings in acrylic. This one turned out so well that I just had to enter it in The Artist's Magazine's first All-Media Online Competition. I heard about a week ago that I'd won an honorable mention for this painting, but I didn't realize it would be displayed in the online exhibit. Check out the other great paintings in their show too!!

In other news, I will have paintings in several watercolor shows around the country between now and mid-summer. My painting "Moonlit Cactus" will be showing at the Western Colorado Watercolor Society's exhibit at the Center for the Arts in Grand Junction, CO. "Morning Glorious" will be hanging in the Watercolor Missouri 2009 exhibit at the Winston Churchill Memorial & Library in Fulton, MO. I will have a painting in the exhibition book for the Richeson 75: Small Works 2009 show. And last but not least, "Heirlooms" will be hanging in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America's show at the Kenosha Public Museum in Kenosha, WI. Stop in for a look if you're nearby.

Living proof...

Several good things have happened since I submitted my resignation from the gallery a few weeks ago. I got yet another show acceptance -- this time to Watercolor West, based in Los Angeles and the west coast counterpart to the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. I earned signature status in TWSA about 5 years ago and have been working toward the same in WW. This show marks my third acceptance which is one of the requirements for the signature. So I'm basking in the good feelings that come with this success. The painting that was accepted is one you've seen on this blog already, but here it is again:

"Heirlooms"
10" x 10"
transparent watercolor

Second, I've had feedback from a couple of other bloggers and just feel great about being connected. I've had Jeff Hayes on my blog roll for a while now, but I haven't had the opportunity to chat with him until recently. Thanks, Jeff, for the technical help as well as the encouragement on my art. (Be sure to check out both of his blogs.) I also heard from Jennifer Phillips today. I didn't have time to take more than a brief look at her website and blog, but I like her work and her writing too. I'll definitely stop back for a longer look.

And last, I sold a painting off my website a couple of weeks ago and tried Paypal's invoice setup for the first time. I couldn't be more pleased -- it was easy to use and my buyer had the choice of paying with either a credit card or a debit card without signing up for Paypal. Plus, she didn't have to reveal her financial data to me and I didn't have to worry about keeping information like that secure. Now I'm looking forward to trying their virtual terminal when I do Open Studios next spring. One of my big concerns with leaving the gallery was the loss of credit card processing. I don't have enough sales volume right now to support my own credit card account, but Paypal will let me sidestep that. Loud cheers all around!!!!