Tammy's Art Blog: 2016

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Art @ The Clayton Center - December 2016

My interview at Clayton Visual Arts begins at approximately 5:23 into the video. :-)

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Clayton Visual Arts December 2016

A brief excerpt from the "Ask The Artist" portion of the opening reception at Clayton Visual Arts.

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Happy International Vulture Awareness Day!

In honor and celebration of these incredibly important and magnificent animals, Happy International Vulture Awareness Day!

Meet the Artist

Save The Dates!

Monday, September 12 and Sunday, September 18, 2016

I'm delighted to be a featured artist with the Wake County Library System for the month of September as we explore the beauty of the North Carolina landscape. It would be an honor to have you join me for presentations at two of our local libraries, including live painting demonstrations and the opportunity to ask questions about interpreting the local landscape with pastels.

On Monday, September 12, from 11 a.m. until noon, I'll be at the East Regional Library at 946 Steeple Square Court in Knightdale.

On Sunday, September 18, from 2 - 3 p.m., I'll be at the new Northeast Regional Library at 14401 Green Elm Lane in Raleigh (Wakefield).

As part of this program, I'm honored to have my pastel landscape paintings on exhibit in both these lovely libraries throughout the month of September.

Twelve works are in the lobby display cabinet at the Northeast Regional Library in Raleigh (Wakefield), and 12 works are hanging along the main back wall at the East Regional Library in Knightdale. Inspired by the uniquely beautiful North Carolina landscape, these paintings range from 4x6 to 18x24 inches in size, are all framed under glass and wired for easy hanging, and will be offered at special "Meet the Artist" adoption fees between 35 and 425 dollars, with the profits going to animal charities. I look forward to your visit!

Saturday, August 6, 2016

On Keeping a Sense of Wonder

As far as the art world goes, I'm still a relative newbie, having only begun painting three years ago this past June. But I hope I never lose that sense of magic watching a blank surface transform into my visual impression of a moment in time and space, and realizing I did it with my own hands, using mere sticks of pure pigment on a piece of paper or board.

Maybe that's a silly thought, or perhaps just my beginner ego talking, I don't claim to know. But I do believe sometimes you just need to be your own best cheerleader...

This little collage revisits only a few of the many places I've painted so far this year that bring my spirit particular solace from the emotional storms in today's too often troubled world. I hope these scenes bring you peace, and perhaps even a smile, as well.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Changing Direction

I should probably take this opportunity to thank the juror for rejecting my entries for the latest juried show. You see, the notice of declination that arrived in my email this evening actually confirms that something I've been mulling over for a while now is probably the path I need to be taking. I don't paint to win ribbons or please some random judge. I paint because it speaks to something in my soul. Seeking validation from a juror who doesn't even know me or what is deep within my heart and soul is not the path for me, and it seems the Universe is more or less smacking me upside the head to tell me that.

Among my greatest joys as an artist are discovering that a painting of mine speaks to someone's heart, and being able to help animals in need by doing what I love which is painting. So with that in mind, I'd like to introduce Painting for Paws! I want to encourage anyone interested to make a donation to one of the animal charities on my list below and as a thank-you gift for your donation, I'll give you one of my smaller landscape paintings absolutely free (except for the cost of mailing if applicable). Most of my artwork is available as part of this Painting for Paws promotion. The donation amount is totally up to you, and you can select from any of my chosen charities listed below. There is no minimum donation requirement, and every penny will go to the charity. The paintings will generally be unframed, and I would also request proof of the charity donation, just to ensure the charities are getting something.

And what do I get out of this, you ask? My reward is that I get to paint purely from my heart, with the satisfaction of knowing my artwork is being adopted into happy new homes while also doing some good in this all too often difficult world. So if this sounds like something that may interest you, please contact me at tammy@tammykaufman.com and together let's do something wonderful.

My charity choices currently include the following, but others may also be added:
Natural Resources Defense Council
Environmental Defense Fund
350 Dot Org Environmental

Wake County NC SPCA
Paws For Life NC (Formerly Franklin County Humane Society NC)

Beyond Fences (Formerly Coalition to Unchain Dogs)

Pilot Dog
NC Claws Wildlife Rescue

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Soi Dog
Animal Hope and Wellness
Noahs Angels

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Why The Little Birds?

If you've looked closely - or even not that closely - at my landscape paintings, you may have noticed that many of them contain those little dark "V" and "M" shapes often used by children in their drawings to represent birds. And you may have wondered why an adult would put such amateurish marks into a painting. My answer lies in personal symbolic meaning. These "birds" represent to me, in their simplistic appearance, an opportunity to rise above what may try to hold me down - sorrow, fear, pain, lack of confidence, grief, insecurity, all the things that say "you can't" - and they remind me that though this life may feel lonely and discouraging at times, my guardian angel "beginner birds" are always here encouraging me to set my inner child's spirit free, ever whispering "you can".

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Thoughts On Life and Death

Edgar Allan Poe is quoted as saying “The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?”

It’s an intriguing concept and one which has inspired me to delve further into it with a series of paintings on which I’m currently working. Either prominently or secondarily, these paintings will all showcase dark-feathered birds frequently associated with death but which are nevertheless a vital part of the cycle of life, such as ravens, crows and especially vultures. To further accentuate the entwined relationship of life and death, I plan to juxtapose these dark birds with the light and life-giving elements of Nature. Although still primarily landscapes, these works will be a definite step outside the realm of my usual comfort zone but I look forward to this new voyage of discovery, and invite you to come along with me as I explore the innate connections between life and death.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Latest Studio Happenings

I'm happy to say that so far, 2016 has started out very pleasantly. Currently, five of my soft pastel paintings have been juried into area shows! The Pastel Society of North Carolina's Winter Exhibition at Ambleside Gallery in Greensboro is on exhibit until February 27, and I have two paintings there.

From February 24 through April 23, the Fine Arts League of Cary Annual Juried Art Exhibition will be on display at Page-Walker Art and History Center in Cary, where I will have one pastel hanging. The Opening Reception will be Sunday, February 28, from 2 to 4 p.m.

And finally, March 4 through 26, Tipping Paint Gallery in Raleigh is hosting their Spring Forward Juried Show, where I will have two pastels on exhibit. The opening reception for this show will be Friday, March 4 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Hopefully this momentum will carry on at least for a while! And if you're in the area, would love to see you at the receptions.