Marion Peck's Exhibition "What You Are, So Once Were We" and Book Signing at Sloan Fine Art

Hello Beautiful Readers,
So sorry for the lack of updates and leaving this blog a bit lonely. I'm still busy preparing my sketchbook for Sketchbook Project due Jan. 15th, and paint in between. I'll post more about it other time. I think I haven't been outside for weeks:)

If you're like me, you'll understand that most of the time you'll be so immersed into your artwork that you don't have time going out for fun exploration. However, every once in a while I make sure (or someone else pushes me) to get out from my studio for art excursion time and other fun things. It keeps my spirit fresh and happy. It's important to cultivate your good spirit and sprinkle it to your artwork:

The opening was actually on Thursday, but we went to view it on Saturday since I couldn't go on Thursday. It was my first experience going to Sloan Fine Art Gallery, and I was really glad I could make it there. Everyone there, from the staff to the owner, Alix Sloan, was so friendly and helpful. You would feel like you just walked into a friend's place who happened to have a very nice art collection. There was a book signing today, so I made sure I bought Marion's book, Animal Love Summer, at the gallery. Marion Peck arrived along with Mark Ryden. I met them briefly last May at Mark's show at Paul Kasmin Gallery and it was nice to meet and talk to them again in a more casual environment. One art magazine named them the “royal couple of the art world,” a title that may make you feel uncertain of how to act around them, but once you talk to them you can tell that they're nice, sweet, humble, and warm people. It was a happy experience for me to talk to those great artists and I got a personalized signed book by Marion Peck..yayyy! We spent quite sometime at the gallery and I was completely mesmerized by each artwork. You can feel how Marion really poured her heart into them. Each portrait seemed to have a different story to tell, and I couldn't help but wonder what their story was. It gave me a sense of nostalgic feeling when I saw each of them. I stared at each of them as if they could actually talk to me, perhaps offer me a cup of tea, and we would sit while they were telling me their life stories. I wanted to know what they were thinking at that moment when somebody captured their image. Each of Marion Peck's artwork was so captivating and I just couldn't help but wonder how others would think when they see our photos in a hundred years. Are they going to wonder the meaning behind our smile? Can they understand a bit of our feeling just by looking into our eyes? Can they see our sadness and longing? That's the feeling I always have whenever I see old photographs. I'm always intrigued to know more of their stories even though I know I will never get that answer. Here are some of the photos from Marion Peck's show and book signing.  If you're in the area, you can stop by  to experience Marion Peck's beautiful works at Sloan Fine Art.

 "Abner"

Zachary

Elma

Good Christian Children

Marge

Jeremiah

Yamada

Good Christian Children

Old Souls 1 through 5

Solve et Coagula

 Solve et Coagula

Solve et Coagula - Detail

Solve et Coagula - Detail

Solve et Coagula - Detail

Next to "Darla". She's one of my favorites.

Vladimir

Gretchen

Lady Elizabeth

Laura

Edna

Charles

Those two votive in the middle are ours

Colette

Hubert

 A closer look of Old Soul

Marion Peck is about to sign my book ^_^

Marion is really sweet:)

Mark Ryden

With Marion Peck and Mark Ryden. They're sooo nice

A Closer Look of Darla

Gretchen and I

Beautiful Alix Sloan and I. She's so awesome and friendly.

Also in the project room is "The Strangers", new oil on panel paintings by Brad Woodfin. The gallery is located at 128 Rivington Street on the Lower East side of New York City. Hours are Wednesday-Sunday, 12 PM-6 PM, and by appointment.  The exhibition runs from December 16^th, 2010 to February 5^th, 2011 (viewing is by appointment only from Dec 20^th to Jan 4^th for the holidays).

Brad Woodfin "Egyptian Vulture"

Gerenuk

Cattle Egret

Woodcock (top); Curlew (bottom)

The nice thing of visiting a gallery in Lower East Side of NYC is the interesting choices of places to eat and shops around there. DH wrote everything down to make sure we had a fun exploration. Our first stop for lunch is Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop across Sloan Fine Art. Yummy, fresh and filling sandwiches, and so affordable. After the show and book signing, we went to Vanessa's Dumpling for some snacks. That place was packed. DH waited in line to order while I was hunting for seat...good teamwork, I suppose..haha. We got two huge scallion pancakes and a dozen of pork and chive dumpling. There was an Asian Bakery next to the dumpling place. I just couldn't resist the temptation of chubby fluffy bun, so I got some coconut buns and spongy fluffy cake from that store.  We continued our adventure by visiting Kee's Chocolate and CeciCela Pattisserie. Ooh all those pastries lining up on the store's window display looking so pretty and tasty. We just had to adopt some of them. We ended our NYC adventure for that day by having dinner at Pho Grand. Filling and tasty dinner for the two of us for $20. I had been craving for beef ball pho for a while and I was so glad DH found this place. All in all, it was a very happy day for us.

Some pictures from our adventure

Interesting Mural

She looks like she wants to sail away using her fancy tub

CeciCela Pattisserie

Happy DH with his yummy Pho

All Photos but the last one by DH ^_^

New Painting with Pablo

I posted a peek of this painting a while ago on my facebook. It was almost done that time, but as it happened to most of my paintings, the tiny final touch didn't happen right away. I always need to work on different one until I feel inspired again to finish up the previous painting. That's my weird rhythm:) DH took photo of this painting in my studio. He actually built a temporary photo studio, set the equipment, checked the result on his computer, and repeated it again until the photo really represented the real painting. Pretty tedious:)
There's actually another painting that I should call newer than this one, but it still needs that tiny final touch..hehe

Title: I Wish I Had Known You Earlier, Pablo

oil on linen. 18"x24". 2010

I had the idea for this painting for a while. Remember my previous post about Pablo's introduction?. Well, it gives a little bit of insight for this painting *wink*.The pose on  Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun's painting fit with the idea I had. I made a simple ugly doodle on my moleskine just so I wouldn't forget that idea since I was still working on other painting at that time. The painting is done now and it always brings me joy whenever I've finished a piece because I just feel soooo extremely lucky to be able to paint what I really want:)
Okay, I have to go back tackling my sketchbook project again:)

December is Here!

Christmas is coming soon! I can't believe this. It's just too fast..hehe.
Sorry for the lack of update. Things got a bit hectic around here after my opening. I got invited by ChimMaya Art  Gallery in Los Angeles to participate in this cool show "The Art of Fashion". I contributed one painting since, unfortunately, most of my other artworks that will be suitable with the theme of the show are currently being hung at David Apuzzo Gallery.  After taking care of with the arrangement of that, DH and I were off to Ohio to spend Thanksgiving with his family. We didn't go anywhere else while we were there. Mostly just spending time with family and eating lots and lots of yummy food that my Mom-in-law cooked.
When we returned home, it was like all my artistic rhythm so messed up. Laundry was piling up, house was dirty, fridge was almost empty, and so on and so on the boring chores.
I need to get back on my routine. There are so many things I need to tackle. First of all, I need to finish this sketchbook for Sketchbook Project, then there's this drawing I need to refine before transferring on canvas, one of my paintings still need touch up, there, and there's this current painting that I'm dying to work on it soon!
We haven't decorated the house at all for Christmas. We still even need to pick a tree..haha craziness.
I hope everything will be back in track soon.

My Sketch from last night session

Some Photos from Heidi Alamanda's Beautiful Little World of My Solitude Opening

Hello beautiful readers,
If you follow my twitter, you may have read that the opening went well. I really had good times hanging out with all of people who made it to the show. I'm basically a hermit and social situation sometimes makes me weirdo, so I totally meant it when I said I had great times...hehehe. This show wouldn't happen without help and participation from so many people. DH has been so awesome, helpful, and supportive during the whole preparation. I don't know what I would do without his help and his skill as my personal photographer..haha. I'm thankful to David Apuzzo for inviting me to his beautiful gallery.
I was really nervous before the show started, but all of those people were so nice and fun to talk to. The presence of some good friends like Michael Shapcott and his beautiful fiancee, Melissa, Rob Ingellis aka OsirisOrion, and Mark Elliot, also made things even easier.
A bit of surprise that night was meeting with  Connecticut WTNH-TV 8 news anchor Ann Nyberg that night. She was really sweet, friendly and super nice, which made it easier for me to talk..hehe. She took some photos around, talked to DH, and recorded me for a bit. Ann is also a blogger. Check out her blog at http://www.anniemame.com/

Some photos from the opening. You can check out the rests on my Facebook Art Page

Eva, Namrata, and Iram

.Nina Salazar and Husband

Mark and Cindy

Michael Shapcott and Melissa Therrien

 Mark Elliott. I've been meaning to get his signature on my Spectrum book for a while and I finally got one that night. Yaaayy!!!

 With the beautiful Ann Nyberg from WTNH-TV 8


Rob (OsirisOrion) made me this cool video. Thank you Rob!

Heidi Alamanda's "Beautiful Little World of My Solitude" @ David Apuzzo Gallery 11/19/10 Hamden, CT from OsirisOrion on Vimeo.

Gallery Hanging for Friday (Nov.19th) Show

Hello lovely readers,
We went to David Apuzzo gallery on Monday to hang my paintings. Phewww one thing will be checked from my list. Yup, I made a list of things to do, stuff to bring, etc. I don't know if I ever mentioned that I couldn't work things last minute...it'll make me panic..hehe. DH helped me hanging those paintings, in fact, I was so glad he was there to adjust all of those hangers, and aligned them.
I just wanted to share some pics from last Monday:)

See you on Friday!

Heidi Alamanda's Solo Show "Beautiful Little World of My Solitude"

Hello beautiful readers,
I wrote last month about my solo show. It's getting close! Next week, DH and I will hang the paintings at the gallery. I made a checklist of things that I shouldn't forget for before and at the opening.
There will be some small works in the show besides my larger oil paintings. I haven't shared them in this blog because we haven't taken photos of them. I will post them soon.
One very special thing that I made only for this show is secret (and signed) postcards in hand painted envelopes. Each little painting on the envelope is a one of a kind painting, and there will be postcard printed in fine art paper inside that envelope.
Here's a snap shot of the envelopes minus postcards and individual handwritten tag that will go around each envelope.

In case, you miss reading my invitation for my show. Here it is

"Beautiful Little World of My Solitude"
Location: David Apuzzo Gallery
                4133 Whitney Ave. Hamden, CT 06518Date/Time: November 19th, 2010/ 5pm-10pm

It's free admission. Just stop by and enjoy the artwork and the atmosphere.
Have Ginger beer, Baklava, Macaroons, Dimsum and an assortment of cheese while looking into  Heidi Alamanda's world.

I will update more after we hang the paintings:)
Hope to see you there

Studio Pics

I wrote a couple days ago about taking some short video of the process for my own documentation. Just something to keep:) DH took some studio pics while working on a painting. It's very loose at the beginning...anything can happen afterward. Just wait ^_^
Gotta go for more drawing or painting:)

My New Facebook Art Page

Hello hello,
I just created a facebook art (fan) page. I've added the link on the right hand side of this blog. I prefer to call it art page instead of fan page. Anyway, it's just basically a place on facebook where I can post images of new works. I will try to do my best to respond to any comments that you may have, or if you just want to say hello:) I'm actually kind of sad to see so many people's pages are just filled with promotional things with small involvement of the pages' creators. All those people are trying to say hello and they're completely ignored. I understand that hectic schedule may be a big part of it, but it isn't hard to type "thank you". Anyway, here is the link to my art page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/HeidiAlamandaArt/120437794683596.

Little Oil Painting on Paper

I showed you the rough sketch of my little painting on paper. Well,  I just painted it today. It's 5" by 7"

Artsy Things in Progress

Just wanted to share really quick of things in the making. My current painting is still in progress and I'm not happy at all with the way it looks. I still need to keep working on it, but thought you may want to have a little peek.
I just started laying rough oil sketch on linen tonight for my next painting. DH took a bit video of it. It was weird working on something knowing you were being watched *loner mentality*
The other one is a little oil painting. This one should be really fast (I think)

Night night, I have to get back to work