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Apr 26 2022

Art News

April 26, 2022

This month, I completed two paintings:  Suffragette Alice Paul (4/12/22) and Moon Rising Before Sunset at Harbor Lake (4/19/22).

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” Suffragette Alice Paul”

In 2020, I ran across a remarkable sepia photo of Alice Paul, circa 1915.  I was quite taken with Alice Paul’s determined gaze, combined with her frilly outfit and slim waist.  There seemed to be a dynamic tension between her fierce expression and her delicate femininity.  I wanted to capture that.  I cropped the photo and began my effort.  Eventually, I decided to add color.  I had learned through Wikipedia that Alice was known for her violet eyes.  I used Elizabeth Taylor’s famously violet eyes as a model for the color.  The background in the photo was so blurred and odd-looking that I decided to alter it somewhat.

Alice Paul lived long enough to play a role in the writing of the Equal Rights Amendment. In 1923, in Seneca Falls for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the 1848 Woman’s Rights Convention, Alice Paul introduced the first version of the Equal Rights Amendment, which was called the “Lucretia Mott Amendment” at the time.  In 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment, designed to guarantee protection against sexual discrimination for women under the law, passed both houses of Congress and was sent to the individual states for ratification.


On April 15th, I had an opportunity to join members of the California Art Club to paint a full moon that was expected to rise before the sun set.  I had not tried painting a landscape in potentially dim light, but was excited about trying it.  My painting buddy, Bridget, and I sat side-by-side, with half dozen other painters within a 20-foot space.  It was challenging to make something interesting out of a lake shore lined with non-descript trees and other greenery. 

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“Moon Rising before Sunset at Harbor Lake”

My painting, “Almost Shirtsleeve Weather, was accepted for a show in the Thousand Oaks area. I’ll be at the reception on May 15th from 1-3pm.

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Thousand Oaks Art Association Show 2022
“Almost Shirtsleeve Weather”

March 25, 2022

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“Naked Coral Tree at South Coast Botanic Gardens”
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“La Familia Ranch, San Luis Obispo”

” Two new paintings were completed in March: “Naked Coral Tree at South Coast Botanic Gardens” and “La Familia Ranch, San Luis Obispo.”


February 2, 2022

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“Sweet Springs Nature Preserve”

During this plein air outing in August of 2021, I was with my artist friend, Bridget Duffy.  There was plenty of yellowed grass in the open fields, but the area around the creek had plenty of water, which turned it a lush green.  In the distance is Morro Rock, in the middle-ground you see a Snowy Egret, which I think may be my favorite bird, because of its long, slim, elegant look and its intriguing movements.  The Egret was not in this position.  It was facing the two ducks and behind them far enough to be out of the scene, but I so much desired to place the bird I admired into this painting. 

I abandoned this piece for several months to work on other paintings and then picked it up again in January.  It was completed January 31, 2022.  An artist friend of mine, Shelley Lawrence, described this painting as having some dreamlike qualities to it.  I love that depiction and see that quality in it myself.


January 21, 2022

One of my paintings was selected to appear in the 2022 Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff Reference Catalog. (Click inside the box to scroll down through the paintings.)

CJAS_2022-Art-Gallery


January 13, 2022

Palos Verdes Library District Annual Community Art Show – November –December 2021

My painting, “African Mother in a Blue Dress, ” was given an honorable mention.

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Tricia with her Honorable Mention for “African Mother in a Blue Dress”
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Tricia with “Chelsea on the Verge”

October 30, 2021

Our friends, Ray and Dale, accompanied us to the Anaheim Art Association’s annual show, where I had two paintings accepted: “Jane Goodall and an Infant Chimp” and “Soy Nativo de California.”

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“Jane Goodall and an Infant Chimp”
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“Soy Nativo de California”

October 26, 2021

Our Torrance Artists’ guild art show reception took place on October 23rd. Our photographer took photos of the award winners. I’m pictured with my painting, “On the Beach.”

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Torrance Artists’ Guild award reception

October 18, 2021

The Palos Verdes Library District Art Show 2021. November 10-December 31st., 10am-4pm. 701 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274. The two pieces of mine that will be in the show are “African Mother in a Blue Dress” and Chelsea on the Verge”.

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“African Mother in a Blue Dress”
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“Chelsea on the Verge”

October 19, 2021

The Torrance Artists’ Guild’s annual show is online now and will be available for viewing throughout October. I invite you to see what our artists have been creating. Please be sure to visit and vote for your favorite painting.

Torrance Artists‘ Guild Online Art Show Dates: Monday, October 4 through Sunday, October 31 (view through the Destination Art website at www.destination-art.net), with an in-Person Show Reception: October 23, 2021, 1-3pm (at the Torrance Civic Center Garden Rooms, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance, CA) There will be refreshments and live entertainment. A slide show of the online entries will be running on a large-screen TV and the winning artwork will be present “in person”.

I have two paintings in this show: “Children in a Tree” and “On the Beach” As the current president of this art group. “On the Beach” won an Honorable Mention award, so it will be at the show.

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“Children in A Tree”
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“On the Beach”

Honorable mention award winner.


October 11, 2021

I had two paintings accepted for the Anaheim Art Association show. The in-person reception is on Oct. 30th. My two paintings that were accepted for the show will be on view until Nov. 7th at 250 E. Center Street, Anaheim CA 92805 . These paintings are “Jane Goodall with an Infant Chimp” and “Soy Nativo de California”.

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“Jane Goodall with an Infant Chimp”
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Oil Painting- “Soy Nativo de California”

September 23, 2021

My painting, “African Mother in a Yellow Dress” was accepted for an online art show put on by the California Art League, with the theme of Light and Shadow. I became a member of this group when they accepted my painting, “Child’s Play” for their spring 2021 show, which had the theme: “Sublime”.

The current show will be available from October 1st through December 31, 2021 on the California Art League web site, www.californiaartleague.org. After that date, the exhibit will be in CAL’s archives.


ARTISTS’ RECEPTION: There will be a virtual (on-line) reception on Friday, October 8, 2021 between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Zoom Video. All participating artists are invited to attend. Each exhibiting artist will be given approximately 1 minute to talk about their work. Details will follow.

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“African Mother in a Yellow Dress”

September 15, 2021

I had one painting accepted to the Carlsbad-Oceanside Art League’s 69th Open Juried Fine Arts Show. That painting is “Almost Shirtsleeve Weather” and can be seen in person from Sept. 1st-Oct. 3rd at

Carlsbad-Oceanside Art League,

300 Carlsbad Village Drive

Suite 101,

Carlsbad, California

Oil-Painting-Almost-Shirtsleeve-Weather
“Almost Shirtsleeve Weather”

June 15 2021

People’s Choice Award Winner

In addition to winning First Place in the Destination Art annual show, with “Almost Shirtsleeve Weather”, I won The People’s Choice Award in the same show for my other painting, “Child’s Play”.

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Oil Painting – “Child’s Play”

June 12, 2021

TAG Award Winner

My painting, “Righetti Ranch Road, San Luis Obispo (off Orcutt Road), won the People’s Choice Award for the month of June, 2021 in my art group’s competition among members.  The group is called the Torrance Artists’ Guild, and I’m its president this year.

This painting was done “en plein air” and is part of a series of scenes in the San Luis Obispo area.  Other paintings in the series include  “San Luis Obispo in January After Rain,” San Luis Obispo Barn on Miossi Ranch,” “Chamisal Vineyard in San Luis Obispo,” “Wolff Winery in San Luis Obispo,” Pismo Beach Butterfly Preserve,”  Greengate Farms, San Luis Obispo,” “Montaña de Oro State Park,” and “Morro Bay Inlet”.

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Tricia with painting “Righetti Ranch Road, San Luis Obispo (off Orcutt Road)”

May 24, 2021

The Destination Art Emerging Artists first place winner was Tricia Alexander, with Almost Shirtsleeve Weather.  The artist judging the artwork was Desmond O’Hagan, of Denver, Colorado, who is a familiar figure to Southern California artists, as he frequently offers workshops here and at other locations across the country.

The show is online and in person through June 12th.  Destination Art is located at 1815 West 213th Street, Suite 135, Torrance CA 90501 (You may reserve your time and date for an in-person viewing by sending an email to LocalArtists@destination-art.net)  For online viewing, go to https://www.destination-art.net/

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Oil Painting -“Almost Shirtsleeve Weather”

May 8, 2021

California Art League’s show “Sublime” accepted “Child’s Play” and “Almost Shirtsleeve Weather” for their online show.  The show runs from May 5th to June 5th. 

May 7, 2021

I had “Child’s Play” accepted to the Ode to Spring online show at the Huse Skelly Gallery. It begins on May 8th. See it at https://www.huseskellygallery.com.

Oil-Painting-Almost-Shirtsleeve-Weather
“Almost Shirtsleeve Weather”
Oil-Painting-Child's-Play
“Child’s Play”

I had two paintings accepted for the Associate Artists 2021 Exhibition at Destination Art.  The show goes from May 3rd through June 12th.  The paintings are “Child’s Play” and “Almost Shirtsleeve Weather”.

It is in the gallery and online. 

Destination Art

1815 West 213th Street, Suite, 135,

Torrance, CA 90501. 

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“Joshua at Play”
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“Child’s Play”

April 16, 2021

I had two paintings accepted to a show with the theme “Models in Motion.” They are “Joshua at Play” and “Child’s Play.” Please visit the exhibit at www.sfvacc.org any time between now and Friday, April 30. This will be exclusively an on-line exhibit.

April 13, 2021

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TAG Award Winner

My painting, “African Mother in a Blue Dress” won the People’s Choice Award  this month in my art group’s monthly competition.  The group is called the Torrance Artists’ Guild. 

This painting was part of a three-painting series of African mothers and their infants.  The other two paintings are “African Mother in a Yellow Dress” and African Mother in a White Dress”.  Later, I expanded my series to include mothers and infants who were not African. 

Written by admin · Categorized: Blog, News, Tricia's Shows

Feb 23 2021

Art Show News

  • oil-painting-child's-play
    Oil painting – “Child’s Play”
  • Oil Painting-Soy-Nativo-Californiano
    Oil Painting- “Soy Nativo Californiano”

New Virtual Show based in New York:  The Art Preservation Initiative accepted both of the paintings I submitted for a worldwide juried show this month (February 2021), The 2021 Curator’s Art Competition.  The accepted paintings were “Child’s Play” and “Soy Nativo Californiano”. 

My painting, “Child’s Play” won second place. I’m so delighted!

You can view all the Exhibitors and Award Winners at OnlineGalleryShows https://onlinegalleryshows.com/collections/2021-curators-juried-art-competition-art-preservation-initiative-inc.

Written by tricia alexander · Categorized: Blog, News, Tricia's Shows

Nov 30 2020

News

News Highlights: TAG Annual Show

TAG-award-certificate

My painting, “Chelsea on the Verge” won the art lover’s (people’s choice) award at the Torrance Artists’ Guild’s annual show, and my painting “Jane Goodall with an Infant Chimp” was the runner up. A heartfelt thank you to those who visited my art group’s show and voted for your favorite painting.

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Chelsea on the Verge
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Jane Goodall with an Infant Chimp

Written by tricia alexander · Categorized: News, Tricia's Shows

Nov 14 2020

New Art in the Store

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Dogwood Canyon Cabin in October Morning Light

This is a cabin that has been in my family since I was a child.  Last month, I visited it with Mike and a couple who are good friends of ours.  On the morning before our departure to return home, I began this painting.  I particularly like to visit this cabin in October, as the weather is neither too hot nor too cold, and the leaves of the Dogwood are turning lovely pastel colors.    

Although the cabin takes up almost the entire canvas, the painting is about the morning light catching tree branches, cutting a swath through the ground cover and creating patterns on the surface of the cabin.  The focal point is the left most pine tree, in that its brightness is the first thing that draws the viewer’s eye.  Each quadrant of the painting has different values, and the painting contains a nearly a maximum value range for an oil painting, from dioxazine purple on the right edge to white, laced with lemon yellow for the tree highlights.  The painting can also be viewed as a series of triangles.  I can easily see a dozen of them. 

Written by tricia alexander · Categorized: Blog, New Art Available

Nov 14 2020

Why Be in an Art Group

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Tricia and her Easel

Just about any town that has more than a handful of artists is likely to have a local art group. When I decided to take myself seriously as an artist, one of the first things I did was join an art group.  I have benefitted from doing so and have seen that the same is true for the other art group members. Here is a list of benefits to being an art group member:  Group members…   

1.  Socialize and make new friends.  Most artists work in solitude.  Creating art means being in the studio, concentrating for hours, with little opportunity for interaction with others.  Art group meetings provide an opportunity to interact with other artists, get input from them, and share your common interests.    

With access to a supportive art group, full of potential friends, you can experience so much that the art world has to offer.  Some art clubs have plein air groups and field trips.  Museums are the perfect place to get ideas and expand your artistic repertoire.  Not only can you visit art shows and festivals with fellow group members but also you can organize and participate in shows together. 

2.  Enjoy common interests.  You are likely to have a great deal in common with other artists, especially in groups welcoming a particular type of medium, such as painting or pastels. The key to finding a satisfying artist group is to seek people like yourself. When you are looking to join an artist group, try to find a group with similar interests, goals, and skill levels as your own.

Being an artist can mean a lot of things: being a painter, sculptor, photographer, potter, graphic designer, printmaker, and so on.  If you are a painter, joining a group that specializes in pottery will most certainly be a mismatch.  Even interests among artists of the same medium can vary widely.  For example, if you are primarily interested in painting landscapes, you might not be terribly enthused with a still life art group.  If you are a photo-realist, you may find yourself at odds in a group that favors abstract expressionism.  Finding an art group that has similar interests in terms of style, medium, and subject matter will benefit you the most.

Before joining an art group, it is important to find out what are the group’s goals. How serious are the artists in the group?  Some groups simply like to get together, have a few drinks, socialize, and network while others may have scheduled, organized meetings with time limits and agendas.  “Working” groups such as plein air groups or mural painting clubs enjoy getting together to create art in the same setting as their peers.  Some art groups may like craft fair setups and sales.  Other artists may be seeking to “make it big,” and gain fame and fortune, while there may be members who are perfectly content to dabble artistically as a hobby.  Making sure that the goals of the art group you are interested in are similar to your own can ensure that you don’t end up frustrated with the direction the group is headed.

When you seek the company of other artists, look for people of similar skill levels or at corresponding points in their career. Learn from the best in the group, but also be open to sharing your techniques and skills with those who might not be as experienced as you are.  Finding a group in which you cannot only learn, but also share with others will allow you to grow as an artist and a mentor to others.

3.  Inspire and encourage.  Art groups are a good place to receive encouragement. You are likely to receive praise, support, and advice that should help you become the best artist you can be. The art clubs that will help you are places where other members want what is best for you.

Your inspiration is one of your most important tools as an artist. Feed it with new input from others.  There may be more experienced artists in your group, so why not ask for some advice?  To put some fresh perspective on your work, your group can hold art critiques where you bring in your completed piece of art and ask for feedback.  Other groups hold friendly competitions at their meetings, which also supply a form of feedback.  

Group members can support each other through creative dry spells.  If you’ve ever had one, you know what this is like.  It’s that feeling that you know you need to finish a painting, but you just don’t feel like it or you start to question what you’ve completed already and whether it’s going to turn out the way you had envisioned it.

4.  Provide positive peer pressure.  Perhaps one of the greatest benefits to joining an artist group is this gentle pressure to produce art.  Like other people, artists are prone to procrastination.  Being a part of an artist group can often provide a boost to your work ethic, pushing you to finish projects that you might not have otherwise completed.  Having the strong backing from other members keeps an artist motivated.  Artists who are part of a successful group will be excited to share their latest work and will most likely find themselves working harder to have new things to share with the group.  Questions from other members, such as, what have you been working on lately, form a positive form of peer pressure.  You’ll want to bring in your latest finished products to show off.  After all, most people aren’t going to be terribly excited about artwork created 10 years ago.

5.  Teach new art and business skills.  See what other people are doing and learn from them. Each artist works differently.  Whether this difference arises from the preferred type of medium, painting style, or subject matter, you’ll typically find something new at art group meetings.  To be a successful artist, you must be comfortable with both the isolation required for self-expression and the networking required to get your work out there where it can be seen, appreciated, and sold. 

Fellow members are great sources of one-on-one advice.  You can ask about good art supply and frame shops.  You can talk with other members about the way they tackle the business side of being an artist, find who is giving workshops, or attend a group meeting where one of the artists is presenting their art and techniques.  Business skills are just as important as your art skills.  Maybe you don’t know how to find out about and enter art shows, get into your first gallery, or sell online.  Some art groups are geared towards helping member artists in the marketing of their art.

Your group can bring in speakers to demonstrate artistic skills or discuss business strategies.  As a group, you can afford to hire an expert in that field to come and speak to you.  Instead of paying someone $100 an hour, you only have to pay $10 if you have 10 people in your group.  A similar strategy can be employed for sharing the cost of live models. 

6.  Share knowledge.  Continually learning and expanding your art skills can be fun and rewarding.  You may also help others in areas where you have more expertise.  You have an opportunity to teach fellow members what you have learned about your medium, your preferred equipment and art supply stores, how to find shows to enter, particularly good shows to enter, worthwhile places to paint, good teachers, models, marketing ideas, or ways to use technology.

7.  Network.  Meet people who know other people, in order to enlarge your network in the art world.  Getting to the right people, such as gallery owners, curators, or collectors, can be done through a network of friends with similar goals.  Although it might seem that the other artists are your competition, the reality is that many are willing to share ideas and connect you to the right people.  One of the end results of networking is that opportunities emerge from unexpected places. You can find new opportunities for business, commissions, art shows, and exposure of your work to the public.  Making yourself and your business known can help open doors for you.  

You need to get your art in front of an audience.  The idea that you are going to be “discovered” without getting out there and hustling your work is the kind of notion that keeps talented artists from being successful.  Artists usually have only a small following when they begin, consisting primarily of family and friends.  Members of an art group are likely to know people you don’t (and vice versa).  Group exhibitions are a great way to get your work seen not only by more artists, but also by art buyers.  When your work is featured in a group show, take time to thank your audience of regulars, but be sure to spend a lot of time socializing with people in the audience that you don’t now.  Nothing makes a greater impact on an art lover than a positive interaction with the artist.

8.  Participate in art shows.  Being part of a successful art group may give rise to a lot of opportunities that are not available to you as an individual.  Many art galleries, libraries, and local businesses host exhibitions of their local art groups.  In these exhibitions, the only way to participate is by being a member of that group.

Most art groups put on shows that feature the work of its members.  Often, they are not juried, which means that members are automatically allowed to have at least one piece of artwork in the show. This is an excellent way to start putting your art in the public eye and to begin building your resume. The juried art shows are even more important, as their quality is usually higher. Getting to know where the art shows are, what are their requirements, and who may participate in them are all parts of local art group activities.

9.  Volunteer.  Many art groups require members’ participation.  Give your time and effort for your own benefit and that of other group members. You will gain the respect of your fellow artists and they may be willing to help you in return.  With the many activities that happen throughout the year in the group that require volunteers, you will have an opportunity to help arrange shows, observe what happens behind the scenes, and learn what is involved in keeping an art organization going.

10.  Share their stories.  There is no better way to sell your art than to let people know more about you. Your local art group can be a good place to start, where you can share what motivates you to create art, and become known in the local community.  Creating art is an act of self-expression. Look for opportunities to show your art and try to become comfortable talking about it. 

I hope this list helps you see clear benefits to being in a local art group. Of course, this list is only the tip of the iceberg.  There are many more benefits to being in an art group. You may be wise to check out several artist groups before dedicating your time and energy to one.  The key to flourishing in an artist group is finding the right one for you.

Written by tricia alexander · Categorized: Uncategorized

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