Showing posts with label original oil paintings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label original oil paintings. Show all posts

Friday, December 16, 2016

Colors & Commissioned Art


Pantone's color of the year (2017) is one of my favorite colors! This zesty yellow-green has a sense of energy but is just as calm, cool and powerful.  Seeing this color in any form, for me, evokes an organic modern freshness that is timeless.

This color of nature often appears in my landscape and abstract paintings.  But as with everything, a little goes a long way.  Rarely will clients want or need a painting that is heavy in one or two colors.  More often it goes like this; a client needs art, they fall in love with a painting they see, it fits their space and they buy it.  Other times they fall in love with a painting but they need it in another size.  That's where commissioned art gets interesting.

Original 24x36
Recently I had three clients with similar art needs.  Each fell in love with 
Recreated 40x40
a (different) painting and had specific size requirements for their space.

One client saw my original 24"x36" but wanted the same art in a square format. This abstract would easily translate into a square format, and I recreated it for them.  Another client saw my original 36"x48" but needed it as a 24"x36" cropped to their specifications. Yet another saw my vertical 36 x 48 but needed a horizontal format in that size.

I enjoy the challenges of creating art to meet the needs and wants of my clients.  It gives me a sense of energy and engagement that is different from painting my own preferences.  A successful collaboration and happy client is my the goal in creating timeless art.

Recreated (Horizontal) 24x36
Original 36x48
Original 36x48
Recreated (Horizontal) 36x48





Tuesday, May 28, 2013

My Summer Artist Residency ~ The Torpedo Factory Art Center

 My Summer Artist Residency~ The Torpedo Factory Art Center

Downtown Alexandria
I am very excited to be awarded a summer art residency at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia.  My residency begins June 1 where I will be working in Studio 308 creating and selling originals and prints. 
Inside the Torpedo Factory
Studio Hours:  Artists are required to keep their studios open a certain number of hours per week but my schedule is flexible.  To ensure that my studio will be open for your visit, please contact me via my website.  MarthaSpak

All visiting artist for Summer 2013 were chosen by juror Maria Karametou.  They are:  Martha Spak, Susan Emmerson, Regina Izaguire, Chris Motley, Linda Lowery, Caroline McCatty, Artemus  Meindanis, Marcelo Novo, Tamara Wilkerson.

Torpedo Factory Art Center
Open House June 1 at 11am to meet all the summer art residents.  Please plan to stop by!

Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union St.
Alexandria, VA 22314


10am - 6pm Daily
10am-9pm Thursdays
   (2nd Thursday Art Night every month 6 - 9pm.)




Monday, April 16, 2012

Boston Expressionist ~ Jason Berger

Last weekend, my friend invited me to the art opening and reception of Boston Expressionist Jason Berger.  I was not familiar with his work until I received the invitation and decided to do a little research on the artist.  

The Harbor St. Valery-eu-Caux
Berger was a Boston painter who is connected to the Boston Expressionists.  He died in 2010 at the age of 88.  He painted en plein air landscapes in the United States, Europe and Mexico and used those motifs in abstracted studio paintings. His approach was direct, his vision clear, his paintings full of structural elegance with the results a positive and optimistic expression. Renowned for his humor, love of jazz, and his upbeat approach to painting, his work expresses the joy of life and love of place. 
"Canal Edam"

He said he and his colleagues were "trying to touch people's hearts".  Having seen his colorful abstract landscapes and energetic brush strokes up close and in person, I realized he succeeded.  Berger's paintings are magical in a unexpected way.  Most of the paintings shown were created over a twenty year period but they are as current and pleasing to this viewer as ever!

The show continues on view until May 4 at the French Embassy in Washington, DC.  Plan to visit the show before it goes...

In addition, the new exhibition, Impressionism" is now open at www.LeadingArtistsGallery.com