The Bluegrass Painter

Annual Bluegrass Concert Celebrates St. Joseph House of Hospitality

 The 14th Annual Bluegrass Concert for Catholic Charities’ St. Joseph House of Hospitality will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 27, at Synod Hall, 125 N. Craig Street in Pittsburgh. 

The concert kicks off a year of festivities commemorating  St. Joseph's 75th anniversary of outreach to the homeless. Founded in 1937 by Father Charles Owen Rice at a time when  one third of Pittsburgh's employable were unemployed, St. Josephs'  provided meals, rooms, and other necessities. At one time, both men's and women's shelters were also operating.

Today, St. Joseph's is located on Bedford Avenue in Pittsburgh's Hill District in the former Roselia Foundling and Maternity Hospital where  59 men ages 50 or older receive a room, three meals a day and supportive services.  In addition to celebrating the 75th anniversary, administrator Paul Dvorchak enters his 25th year
with St. Joseph's. He and his son, Paul Jr. will once again be performing  at the bluegrass concert with the group, Fern Hollow Boys.

"The concert has become a family affair as my son and I have played in every one," Dvorchak said.  "My wife and daughter are integral to helping plan and carry off the event that is just plain fun for all involved, the musicians who donate their time, and the audience who enjoy the music."   

In addition to Fern Hollow Boys, Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers, Allegheny Drifters, Midnight Drive and Mon River Ramblers will also perform. Tickets are priced at $20.00 and festival seating is available.

For more information about St. Joseph’s or to purchase tickets, call 412-471-0666 ext. 227, or pdvorc@ccpgh.org.

The Art Club in Sun City

Thank you to the Art Club in Sun City Center, who invited me to present at their monthly meeting this past Monday.  I demoed putting watercolor to canvas, and will be following up with the group next week for a one day workshop.   The presentation was held in the Rollins Theatre at Sun City  which was well-equipped space for the demo.  The group was interested in my process and asked a lot of good questions.  

I was impressed at the scope of this ambitious art club. They are very active with a calendar full of trips and workshop opportunities and the membership seems to have a nice range of experience.   I asked for a volunteer to work in front of the group to assist me and Roberta  was drafted by the group to participate. It turns out she is a teacher at their art center and small world...she is from Slippery Rock.  She was very capable and handled the spotlight well, so thank you Roberta!

Here are some photos taken by friend Merrily Clark after the event wrapped up. 

In Full Swing...

The Our Town Theater Christmas Market in Oakland, MD is the unofficial start of the season for us. Great turnout, music, arts and crafts and lots of fun with weather more like a spring day than early December. If you didn't make it this year put it on your calendar for next. 

 

Our Town Theatre Christmas Market

If you are near Oakland, MD this weekend stop by and visit us at the Our Town Theatre Christmas Market being held in St. Peter's Catholic Church social hall on Saturday. That's December 3, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Plug Rte 135 and 4th street into your GPS.

There will be many vendors and we will have some new work to show along with our line of winter and Christmas cards. Pictured here is a watercolor on canvas, Winter Rush. Finished image size is 30 X 40 inches.

"Art Under Glass"

This Saturday, I'll be exhibiting at Bedners Farm and Greenhouse in McDonald, PA for their "Art Under Glass" event.  Every Weekend in October, from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm on Saturday and Sundays, Bedners hosts fine artists and crafts, alternating each weekend.  In addition to the artisans, there will be live music, food, pumpkin picking and lots of things you would expect to find on a farm in October.   Visit their website for more information or directions. 

Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival

Next weekend is one of my favorite events of the year - the annual Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival.  Attendees get to visit with over 30 outstanding artisans while sampling wine from local and national wineries and the event benefits the Western Potomac Chapter of the American Red Cross. If my memory serves me correctly, this will be my fifth year to exhibit at the event.   I'm planning on exhibiting mostly from my works on canvas and have a number of new pieces to present this year.   If you are attending, please stop by and say hello. 

Watercolor on Canvas Workshop coming to Hilton Head Island's Art Center of Coastal Carolina

Your old bluegrass painter is going to be conducting a two-day Watercolor on Canvas workshop at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina in June. The dates are June 15 and 16, hours 10 to 4 and the cost is $95 with students supplying their own materials.

Painting watercolor on canvas produces effects quite different from paper and encourages a loose, spontaneous style. This painting that I've titled Over the Edge gives some idea of the kind of results I get on canvas. Additionally, hanging is simplified as glass is not needed to protect the surface.
This painting, "Over the Edge", is 30 X 40 without frame. With this system, size is not an issue. I work as small as 8 X 10 and very large, even in free form at times by joining panels together.

At our workshop we will go from concept, to subject, to painting and discuss the steps along the way. We will also address what makes for a successful painting and melding realism with abstraction. And, very importantly, discuss how to "loosen-up" and shake the chains of timidity.

If it is possible, I invite you to join us in June. We'll have a great time. You can get more information by contacting us or by contacting the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina at 888-860-2787. Call me on my cell at 412-445-1283.

Come on out for a good cause...

We were flattered when Roger Reimann of ZOMA Communications contacted us about artwork for a bluegrass music project to raise funds for the development of the Armed Forces Museum & Archives of the Carolinas.

Support of a tribute to those who have contributed and sacrificed so much for all of us here in the USA is something that needs to be done. We are more than a little proud to be associated with the project and, particularly, with all of the individuals who are making it happen.

The coming event is being held at VFW Post 2324 in Indian Trail, NC, just outside Charlotte, on Saturday, January 29. If you are at all in the area come on out and support this worthy project. Good music, lots of fun and fellowship...check the details of the entertainers, time, place, etc on this poster.

Your old bluegrass painter plans to be there...come on out and say hello.

Next Stop: Our Town Theatre's 4th Annual Christmas Market

Thanks to the folks at Our Town Theatre in Oakland, MD for inviting me to be a part of their annual Christmas Market at St. Peter's Parish Social Hall on December 4th. Below is a press release regarding the event: 

On Saturday, December 4th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Our Town Theatre's 4th Annual Christmas Market will be held at St. Peter's Catholic Church Parish Social Hall, as part of Oakland, Maryland’s “A Small Town Christmas.” OTT’s Christmas Market will enable shoppers to support Garrett County artists and contribute toward Our Town Theatre's Backstage, which is the scenery, costume and prop shop on Center Street in Oakland, Maryland. Market activities include shopping for handmade gifts, a Christmas Cafe with chili and Fair Trade coffee and tea, Bake Sale, and Christmas music and readings.

New artists this year include Robert Yonke, who will be selling his acclaimed watercolors and note cards, and Paul Dixon, who will be selling his handmade soy candles, soaps, and fragrances.

Handmade fine stoneware, nature photography and cards, art glass jewelry, ornaments, bottle stoppers; crocheted, hand-knit and felted gifts, animals, and dolls; wooden puzzles, baskets, cutting boards, handmade rugs, silk Christmas flower arrangements and wreaths; sock animals, Gortner folk art, handmade Christmas cards, Amish cookbooks, Fair Trade coffee, tea, and chocolates; and sign-up for CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares are some of the gifts shoppers can choose at OTT’s Christmas Market on December 4th.
      
OTT’s Bake Sale at the Christmas Market will feature festive plates of confections and cookies ready for holiday party tables and gift giving. Pre-order "Reggie's Favorite Dog Biscuits" for $3 per dozen, by calling OTT at 301-334-5640. Leave a message with your name, phone number, and number of dozens. Pay for your order at OTT's Christmas Market on December 4th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Orders will be taken until 11/30/10.
      
Musicians playing during the Christmas Market include Lynn Grimm on hammered dulcimer, Marci McClive of Marsh Mountain Consort, Sherri Remley on Celtic harp, and the Our Town Theatre Christmas Band. Members of Garrett Reading Council will read holiday children’s books for young shoppers at 12:45 and 2:45 p.m. 
        
50/50 raffle tickets will also be sold, and the drawing will be held Saturday at the Christmas Market. The winner will not need to be present. A door prize will be given away every hour. OTT’s board encourages all to come and support local artists and theatre at OTT's Christmas Market. For more information, call OTT at 301-334-5640.

Watercolor Workshop at Deep Creek Lake - last chance to enroll

Don't forget, this is the last week to enroll for the watercolor workshop I'm presenting at the Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center on November 16, 17 and 18.  Sponsored by the Garrett County Arts Council, the purpose of this workshop is to help watercolor painters develop their own distinctive style and further their painting career.   Artists will be encouraged to experiment with new ways to manipulate and control water soluble media. An emphasis is placed on creativity being spawned in the sketchbook and fostered at every stage of completing a painting. This is a participatory workshop with lots of discussion, constructive critique, sharing of ideas and techniques and lots of fun. This workshop is not a demonstration based program. Participants are pointed at developing their own style, not that of the workshop leader.   The cost for the three day session is $75.00.  

To enroll, contact the Garrett County Arts Council at 301-334-6580.