The Thinking Woman's Almanac |
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NEW WEBSITE
I am delighted to announce the launch of a new website about my work. You’ll now find me at www.annieshavercrandell-artist.com, with a fresh new look, easy navigation, an updated schedule of exhibitions, inventory and links to my shop, thanks to the work of web-developer Katie Ayres of www.1happyplace.com. She came to me through an enthusiastic referral from Renee Phillips, The Artpreneur Coach (www.renee-phillips.com). Part of what sold me on working with Katie is her elegant site for Claude Monet, using material that is out of copyright. This former art historian could not resist.
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CURRENT STUDIO LIFE: OIL STICKS
While my students are welcome to work in watercolor, acrylic, oil or something else, I've most recently been working with oil sticks, also known as pigment sticks. Not recommended for someone who dislikes a bit of a mess, the medium does, however, offer a welcome respite to anyone feeling constrained by current circumstances of relative confinement during this pandemic. Potential controlled chaos, in color...
The sticks themselves are big, fat crayon-like tools compounded of pigments, linseed oil and natural waxes. The sticks come wrapped in paper labels, and now, at least from my favorite supplier, R & F Handmade Paints, individual plastic tubes with caps. The sticks are a bit temperature-sensitive. If the studio is too cold, I can't make much progress because the wax solidifies. Conversely, I've had to stop working in high summer while attempting a plein air landscape because of melting wax. This medium, unlike dry pastel, carries little risk of inhalation of toxic particulates. I'd never use oil stick bare-handed, however, because pigments can potentially go through skin. So: gloves always, mask optional.
For supports, I've used canvas, gessoed paper and solid panels; Ampersand makes boards suitable for this medium as well. In addition to strokes made with the sticks themselves, there are also marks that can be made with other tools. I'm partial to clay shapers -- sculptors' tools that come in many forms, from pointed to squeegee-like wide tools -- and a variety of palette-knives. A current favorite is a palette knife shaped like a flattened teaspoon that allows for fairly even spreading around and blending.
R & F puts out charts regarding chemical composition, transparency, drying times (which vary with pigment and thickness of application of material), and available colors for pigment sticks and encaustic paints, their other principal product line -- which I
admire, but have never used. R & F also offers on-lin demonstrations of product-
The current project is based on peach-colored roses in a favorite blue-and-white
pitcher. As I’ve been doing frequently these days, I created the composition over something else that was not a success -- in this case, some cows in a
pasture, just visible in the first photo.
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Exuberance!, oil stick on canvas, 24” x 12,” 2021
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Salmagundi Club Annual Black and White Exhibition
Two of my monotypes, Rattitude and Brindle Rat, are included in the SCNY Annual Black and White Exhibition. Both works were created during a monotype workshop at the club, a group activity we hope to be able to resume post-COVID. This annual show is one of the oldest ones in the club's calendar. The first took place in 1878, a few years after the founding of the originally men-only artists' club in 1871. Many media are now included: drawing, graphics, painting, photography and sculpture. This is a juried show, with the principal stipulation being that work must be monochromatic only -- either black and white, or sepia.
The club's gallery is open for public viewing
every day except Mondays; Tuesday-Friday 1-6; Saturday and Sunday 1-5.
This exhibition runs from 23 February through 12 March 2021.
Salmagundi Club,
47 Fifth Avenue @12th Street
New York, NY 10003
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Brindle Rat, monotype 2/2, 5 ¾” x 8,” 2020
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New York Public Library: Colors of Spring:
Paintings and Drawings
My solo exhibition at the Mulberry Street Branch of the New York Public Library, has been extended through June 2021. The library, located at 10 Jersey Street, New York, NY 10012, is open on a limited basis for pickup and drop-off of library materials.
The artwork is visible from the entrance area where one’s temperature is taken, and through the building’s large windows during the hours the branch is open (currently 11am-5:00 pm, Monday-Saturday; closed Sundays).
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Waterlilies, Farmer's Pond, Kendal at Oberlin,
oil on canvas, 24” x 24,” 2005
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2021 Spring Auctions to Benefit Salmagundi
Juried exhibition and auction at
Salmagundi Club of New York, 47 Fifth Avenue @ 12 St, New York, NY 10003
Exhibition of selected works:
15 March- 9 April 2021
Auction: 4:00 pm, Friday, 9 April.
Works not sold during the auction can be viewed and purchased on-line through Salmagundi's link on Artsy.net from 26 April until 21 May.
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Hop Vine, Bonnefont Garden, The Cloisters,
oil on canvas, 12" x 9," 2020
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The Huntington Public Library on Long Island has scheduled a solo show of my work in April of 2022; details to follow as the date comes closer. I have had several previous exhibitions at this venue and am very pleased to have been invited to return for another. |
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Roses, Carnations and
Tulips in White Pitcher,
oil stick on canvas, 12” x 12,” 2021
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Winter Soldiers, Yellowstone,
oil on canvas, 12" x 24," 2021
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Hunters Paused in Woods,
oil on canvas, 18" x 24," 2021
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Autumn Pasture: Auvergne
oil on linen, 20" x 30," 2021
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ONGOING CLASSES
STUDIO
I continue to offer very small group classes at my Bond Street studio. We're never more than four in the double-cube room: 11' x 22' x 11;' high ceiling, with good light and ventilation, and, for what it's worth, I've recently had both doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine.
Tea is always served at break-time.
Please feel free to get in touch at 212-464-7519
Current schedule:
Monday 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Wednesday 2:30pm – 5:30 pm
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SHOP ANNIE SHAVER-CRANDELL |
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Featured Product:
Red Tulips Greeting Cards
This colorful, exuberant image, made with oil sticks, was inspired by the multicolored noisy vigor of parrot tulips.
Greeting cards, blank inside, folded size 4" x 6"
Clear plastic box of 10, with envelopes
$15 plus shipping and handling
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Shop
Annie Shaver-Crandell products at
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