What's Happening?
I've moved to Virginia!
Plus A Welcome Blast From the Past
Recently I was blessed to be able to reconnect with an old friend, now living in Florida. Pat and her family were living in New Jersey way back when we knew each other, and she asked me to do three portraits of her family at that time.
Through an odd connection or two, we've been reconnecting and playing catch-up on line. She gave me the OK to put the images of the portraits on the website, and I'm working on doing that. The first portrait is shown below. Enjoy! I certainly am enjoying virtually meeting with her.
I finally was able to complete the portrait of the two beautiful girls (which was planned last February in Pennsylvania.) Two cataract surgeries and a huge move from Pa. to Va. later, I signed it! With our son's help my husband Bernie and I were able to deliver it to the client in Pa. It was very well received and I even got to meet one of the sisters! (The baby was having a nap.)
Happily, the move to Virginia has been completed at last, and I'm working in a temporary studio and loving it.
Another portrait of three siblings and their dog was well received. It had been quite an undertaking. They had posed outdoors, on a warm sunny day last September (note the bare feet).
The move to Virginia wasn't easy, since we downsized significantly. 900 square feet of living space doesn't accommodate all the wonderful memorabilia we have collected and, of course, brought with us. (We have rented a storage unit, for the time being.)
It's beautiful here, and I'm planning to have a show when everything opens up again. The pileated woodpecker image below now lives in Virginia!
I'm happy to report that I've recently completed a portrait of a beautiful four year old girl. Kayleighana just graduated from pre-school, and is now in kindergarten.
My painting of the ballerina "Waiting in the Wings" has been acquired by a professional harpist who makes her home in the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Teresa Mango was a college student when she posed for this iconic portrait. When she learned it was available, she drove down to my studio in the Poconos to bring it home. The painting now lives in her music studio, where she and her students can enjoy it. I have to admit I miss having her hanging around the house. Still, I do have a few of the Connections magazines with her image on the cover so that helps keep the memory alive...
More good news: The painting below: "Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright" has a new home, too. It now lives in New Jersey with the Colucci family. Since we've moved into much smaller space in Virginia this year I felt it was time to make these larger works available for those art lovers who will enjoy them as we have.
Shelby, Sarah, and Riley
Recently I completed the above portrait of three beloved Golden Retrievers. Shelby, front and center, is top dog at her home in Tamiment. Her predecessors, Sarah and Riley, have already moved on to their next life in Heaven.
The challenge for me was to find a way to bring them together for this family portrait. Armed with good photos, I imagined them together on this hillside. The family loves it!
Portrait of Irma
The portrait above is of Irma Koch, and it had a very public unveiling in Lewes, Delaware. My husband and I were blessed to be able to attend Irma's 100th birthday party.
I'm happy to report that it was a huge success. 125 guests helped Irma celebrate her remarkable life with life stories, along with music and dancing at the event. This fine lady had a super time singing and dancing with her family and friends, including the members of her friends from the local Red Hat Society.
Irma sets the bar high for everyone else. Happy 100th Birthday, Irma. Thanks for showing us all how to live a good life.
Plein Air CELEBRATION
Featuring Paintings by Local Artists
Painting: Flower Farm 2
Artist, Elaine Sopko
More Good News
The Come Paint with Me 20th Anniversary opening was a huge success. If you were lucky enough to be there, you enjoyed good company, great wine and food, and wonderful paintings - all 70 of them! Wow, what a positive experience it was. Blessings for Davis Chant and his caring realtors who open their doors to local artists to display their best work in a superb gallery, and donate their time to host these openings.
The painting above has sold and will live in Charleston, South Carolina.
More Good News
Grey Towers in Milford, Pa. hosted a group exhibition recently. Grey Towers is the National Historic Site maintained and used by the National Forest Service. It's a beautiful mansion with a lot of history, and it is open for the public with guided tours. Please check it out online. You might enjoy visiting in the fall, when the colors are gorgeous!
This image has been sold, but I do have 2 or 3 others completed on site at Grey Towers. Check my landscape files if you'd like to see what's available.
My Favorite watercolors...Although Ready to Sail now lives in New Jersey, the painting of our late pet Cruiser remains our treasured possession.
An image of our good boy Cruiser is shown below, checking out the birds outside. We won't be able to part with it, but I could create something featuring your favorite pet....living or deceased if you have good photos.
Ready to Sail
Until next time......
Blessings from Elaine