Cupcakes @ Artomatic 2009 (7-8-C-C2... PEEPS 180)

Sweet Things in Life... Hangin' Out at Artomatic!

So I've been here for a while hanging out at Artomatic, up on the 7th floor. I've been sitting in the lounge area next to the PEEPS display, people-watching. It's fun to see the delight on the faces of people, young and old, as they explore all the PEEPS dioramas, appreciating the creativity.

About a half hour ago, the PEEPS artists began to arrive and the party is underway, including free PEEPS. I'm not sure I even knew what a PEEPS was before last year's Artomatic, and now I see them all the time, since my space is directly opposite the PEEPS display. And for the first time ever, I ate a chocolate covered PEEPS. Flavor-wise, not much to write home about, although the dark chocolate coating was good. And I've had other chocolate covered marshmallows before. And yet, I think it was the novelty of it... it tasted fun! It tasted like childhood. Not my childhood necessarily, as we didn't do a lot of candy, but generic childhood.

I've heard people say that they don't get the whole PEEPS thing. I think it's a throwback to childhood. Remember when you had to make a diorama for a class in school. Maybe it was a history class, or as an illustration of a book you had to read. So there's that component, with the adult twist of pun and humor. Plus, how often do you create art with candy. I know I don't do that very often, or more like never... I think it is wonderful that creative juices flow in all sorts of sweet ways. Stop by the PEEPS exhibit. Perhaps it'll inspire you to create some art, or maybe to just take the time to enjoy the sweet things in life.

I also love to watch as people engage with my art. Sitting here, in the lounge area, I have a great view of my space. It's fun to see people stop and look. I loved the guys who took pictures in front of my installation. They said they were "blown away by the colors!" Other people are intrigued by the way I used the corner, covered the pole, mounted my lights. I love all the feedback. It feels like a little lovefest. It reminds me of the times I taught in England and everyone told me I was "brilliant!" It was food for my soul. We all love positive affirmation. So thanks to all of you who've stopped by and signed my book so far. I appreciate your kind words. I think of them as some of the sweet things in life!

If you're coming to Artomatic tonight for the Meet the PEEPS Artists Party, have a look around and then do a 180. Stop by my space, directly across from the PEEPS. My contribution to the sweet things in life: CUPCAKES!

Evolution of Art: Rita Duck McCarn's acrylics are up at Beanetics!

"They really bring the outdoors in," said one Beanetics employee. "I really like them. How do I go about buying one?" asked a patron. And another Beanetics employee told us that of all the artists we've shown so far, Rita's work is his absolute favorite. He especially likes "Monticello Vista." We hadn't even finished hanging the show yet, and there's already a buzz.

Want to know what all the excitement is about? Come to Beanetics Coffee Roasters (7028 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Virginia 22003) to see Rita's landscape paintings. Rita's work is on dsplay through August 1st. Stop by for a great cup of coffee, and a "breath of fresh air!"

Here's the list of paintings and prices, in order from the door, as you enter Beanetics:

1. Vibrant Afternoon (acrylic on canvas) $400
2. Garden Sketch (acrylic on paper) $275
3. Sticks and Stones (acrylic on canvas) $350
4. Backyard in the Snow (acrylic on paper) $275
5. Shadow Play (acrylic on canvas) $450
6. Monterey (acrylic on canvas) $400
7. Monticello Vista (acrylic on paper) $275
8. Great Falls (acrylic on canvas) $400

Rita's work is classic and timeless, and a perfect additon for any decor. If you are looking for an artist to invest in, I suggest you consider Rita Duck McCarn. If you are interested in purchasing her work, contact me, Jennifer Judelsohn, at (703)256-0485, or jennifer@soulworksstudio.com.

We will be hosting an artist reception for Rita on Saturday evening, July 18, from 7-9pm. Bring your family! Bring your friends! Bring strangers off the street! Everyone is welcome!

Come and meet Rita, and chat with her about her work. She is fun to talk to!

CUPCAKES & PEEPS: The Perfect Marriage! Saturday night, JUNE 27, 6-9pm

PEEPS! PEEPS! PEEPS! 

One of the most visited attractions at Artomatic!

Wonder what all the fuss is about? Come this Saturday night, June 27th from 6-9pm to find out. Artomatic is having a "Meet the Artists PEEPS Party." You can see the amazing, creative dioramas made using PEEPS. You can meet the artists that created the PEEPS dioramas. You can even get the tasty treats free (compliments of Just Born, the manufacturers of PEEPS) to munch on, or maybe take home with you to create your own PEEPS diorama. Perhaps you'll be PEEPSpired.

After you've enjoyed the PEEPS festivities, do a 180, and come enjoy CUPCAKES! CUPCAKES! CUPCAKES! at my space (7-8-C-C2), affectionately known as "PEEPS 180." 

Cupcakes and Conversation: Meet the Artist at Artomatic!

Here we are for another exciting Saturday night at Artomatic! The place is abuzz with visitors, as tonight is Meet the Artists night. So far several friends and fellow artists (Michelle d. Parrish, Pat Steck, Sherill Ann Gross, Carlos Rodriguez, Jeanan Oxley, Katie Weaver, Adrienne Lynne Harris, Caren Quinn, Cindy Rentaria) have come by. Except for Michelle and Pat, all the other artists mentioned are at Artomatic this year. Be sure to stop by their spots, too.

Sherill Ann Gross (7-12)


Carlos Rodriguez (9-12)


Jeanan Oxley (9-08)


Katie Weaver (6-05)


Adrienne Lynne Harris (7-11)


Caren Quinn (3-07)


Cindy Rentaria (3-14)


Jim  Darling (8-04)

As promised, there are cupcakes. Come by and have a chat with me. I'm always happy to answer your questions about my art.

In fact, several of you have asked about the three pastel colored pieces with the red dots in the paintings. Here's the story behind them. It all began with a conversation with a friend about first thoughts in the morning. Most days, I wake up feeling more tired and achey than when I went to sleep the night before. So my first thought is "Oh my God, here I am again." And then I meditate, stretch, do yoga and muster up my energy and get on with my day.

My friend and I have had this conversation several times. Recently we had it again, and I said, "We always have this conversation, but it never goes any farther than acknowledging that I'm having this feeling. I wonder what it would look like to go somewhere with the conversation. " She responded by asking, "What would it mean to go deeper?" I said that I thought "it would need to be on the diagonal, like when my husband got a promotion at work... He didn't move straight up, but rather moved laterally and vertically into a job that was related to his previous one, but also was on a different track with different opportunities available to him. If I went deeper into the conversation it would have to be like (3,-3)."

What ????

Like math. If my starting conversation is (0,0), and I want to go deeper, I don't want to go straight down the Y-axis, as that might logically lead to death. And yes, everyone dies, but that's not the conversation I want to have. If I want to give meaning to this feeling, I think I need to move deeper by moving both laterally and vertically, hence, (3,-3).  I am not yet sure what the language of the conversation of (3,-3) is, but I have learned that the process of creating art affords me a symbolic language beyond that which words can express. If you look at the piece, it is pastel and subtle in color. It has an air of peacefulness about it. I look forward to delving more deeply into the meaning of (3,-3).

So as we continued the conversation, my friend suggested that this line of reasoning would be like an incline plane. I said that in reality is would be more like a decline plane, but I didn't want to paint that.  So I painted Incline Plane. And in keeping with theme and color, it too is in the pastel color palette and has a red dot to symbolize the (3,-3) conversation. And the more I think about it, the more deeply I delve into the conversation, the more it may be a  sort of spiritual incline plane.  Sometimes you need to dig down, go deeper, in order to rise up...

The last piece in the pastel color palette (3,-3) series is called "homage a rothko". For years I didn't understand what was the big deal about Rothko. Who cares about blocks of color layered on top of each other? What's the big deal about a black square on top of a black rectangle? It wasn't until I was teaching a class called "In the style of..." that I developed an appreciation for Rothko. He was one of the artists we studied. I learned that Rothko's motivation in his art was to explore emotion in the most basic way. By creating work devoid of imagery and symbolism, he could explore pure emotion, expressing it through color, exploring variance of emotion through subtlety of color choices and juxtapositions.

So what does this have to do with my little piece? "homage a rothko" is my exploration of the emotions I experience as I discover "the inclination to rise". Unlike Rothko's pieces, which tended toward the darker side emotionally, my piece explores that which uplifts the soul and encourages the spirit to go forth in the face of challenge. 

Thanks to everyone who came out tonight to see me. I love you all and am thrilled to have a chance to talk with each of you about my process! If you have any questions or comments, or are interested in purchasing one of the pieces, let me know.

For those of you who didn't make it tonight, and those of you who did, but want to come again (yes, Artomatic is that kind of place where several visits may be necessary to take it all in), I will be back in my space for Meet the PEEPS Artists Night (June 27, 2009) and again for brunch on Sunday June 28. I will post details when I have them.

If none of these times work for you, please remember that Artomatic is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from Noon to 10pm, Fridays and Saturdays from Noon to 1am, and Sundays from Noon to 10pm. Please stop by, check out my artwork (7-8-C-C2), and leave me a note in my guest book. I'd love to know you stopped by. Or if you like, I am happy to meet you there!