Three in a Row…

I was excited last week to find out that Reflections on Cool Jazz was accepted into CPSA’s 22nd Annual International Exhibition in Florida this year. This acceptance was my third in a row and it also earned me “signature status” in CPSA. Signature status is earned when one’s work is juried into the exhibition three times in a ten year span.  This is the fourth time I’ve entered. Year one ended in rejection and was really tough on me as an emerging artist. I had to reach deep to regain inspiration. I also made a conscious effort to try and create art that is different, inspiring and challenging. Reflections on Cool Jazz  was the most difficult piece I’ve created to date. There are close to 150 hours of work put into it and I was definitely challenged. The thing I like about both my Reflections pieces is that they depict the subject matter in a realistic way, yet due to the close-up nature of the view in my reference photos and the bright light, there are great abstract forms within the realism.

 

 

 

I’m in the process now of trying to determine my next step in the creative process, which is usually difficult for me as well as time consuming. In the mean time, I’m experimenting with new papers and pencils and creating as I can. I’ll ship this artwork to Florida this month, where it will hang in the exhibition from June 13 through August 25 at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens. It will go through the second round of judging – this time for awards – at the end of May. Frankly, I am just thrilled to have met my goal to gain signature status, but I’m not gonna lie – an award would really be nice! I’ll keep you posted…

 

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Invitation to Gallery Exhibition

If you are living in or visiting the Dallas, Texas area, I invite you to come see two pieces I have on exhibit as part of the annual CPSA Chapter 215 (DFW) Exhibition. The show starts tomorrow, October 30th and runs through December 7th. It is held again this year at the Eisemann Center for the Arts in Richardson. The two pieces I have on display are Reflections on Cool Jazz and Morning Preyer, which won an Award for Excellence at the CPSA 21st Annual International Exhibition this past summer in Brea, CA. I am honored to have my work displayed amongst the talented artists in our Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter.

Reflections on Cool Jazz

 

Morning Preyer

 

 

The Paradox of Creativity

I just read a great article on people who are creative and some of their personality traits. Click here to read the article.

“Morning Preyer” Receives Award at CPSA International Exhibition

“Morning Preyer” Hanging in City of Brea Gallery

I am so thrilled to announce that Morning Preyer received the Award for Excellence last night in Brea, CA at the CPSA 21st Annual International (juried) Exhibition.  It was one of 17 award winners out of over 125 entries that are currently on exhibition at the City of Brea Gallery.  The exhibit will be open through September 13, 2013.  I now have to get one more piece accepted in the annual international exhibition to receive CPSA signature status.  Hopefully, I will achieve this in the 22nd Annual International Exhibition in 2014! I’ll keep you posted.

Morning Preyer Accepted at CPSA International

I’m so pleased to announce that Morning Preyer has been accepted into the CPSA 21st International Exhibition this summer in Brea.  It was one of 127 entries accepted of over 600 entered.  While I’m excited for this piece to be accepted, I’m disappointed that Reflections on Cool Jazz was not.  I can still enter it again next year, and plan to do so.  This is the second time my work has been accepted in the international show and if I’m accepted a third time, I will receive signature status in CPSA.  The show this year is in Brea California the last week of July.  I’ll be attending the show and look forward to seeing the exhibition in person.

Under the Wire

Just five days before the deadline, I’ve managed to enter two pieces into the Colored Pencil Society of America international exhibition.  The first piece, Reflections on Cool Jazz was completed in late 2012. You can see a photo of it on my Gallery page.  Morning Preyer was just finished yesterday after a big push to get the piece done in time for the March 31st deadline.

Morning Preyer
12″ x 12″
Colored Pencil on Colorfix Suede paper

 

 

I would not consider where I live “out in the country,” however, we’re fortunate to have lots of indigenous oak trees which provide great habitats to all sorts of species of birds.  Morning Preyer  is a Cooper’s hawk who nests each year in either our trees or our neighbor’s trees.  This one was perched on our fence and seemed to have no problem with me and my camera as I clicked away.  I loved the way the sun hit the leaves in the far background and chose to illustrate the background just as the camera saw it.  This year, the hawks are not in our yard, but our yard is still part of their hunting ground.  This one was intent on catching something to eat as he patiently waited on the fence.  Our yard is home this year to a family of screech owls, who keep watch by day and hunt at night.  Hopefully, they will provide some opportunities for photos as the owlets grow and leave the nest.

Reflections on Cool Jazz, unfortunately, was not juried into the Hunting Art Prize exhibition this spring.  Because it was not juried in, however, is the reason I was able to enter it into the CPSA international exhibition.  I’ll keep you posted on how these two do in the judging in April. One never knows…

Thanks to many of you who have “liked” my Facebook page.  Many of you are fellow artists and it’s been a great way to get connected with you.  The Facebook link is on the right  column of this page…stop by and say “hi” if you like.

Change of Plans…

After recently completing “Reflections on Cool Jazz,” I discovered an opportunity to enter the piece in a Texas-only art competition.  The competition known as The Hunting Art Prize is held annually in Houston and is one of the nation’s more revered art competitions.  It is limited to artists living in Texas and limited to two-dimensional drawing and painting pieces using only traditional media (pencil, pastel, paint, etc.).  No sculpture is admitted, nor is photography or graphic art (computer generated).  The piece must be available for sale.  Juried pieces are on exhibit in Houston in the spring and only one is selected as a winner.  Even though I was planning on entering ‘Cool Jazz’ in the CPSA International Exhibition in 2013, I have changed my mind and am taking a shot at this prestigious competition.  If it is not accepted, I will then enter it in the CPSA show.  Let’s see how the judges like colored pencil artwork!

Portrait in Sepia

After having finished the Saxophone piece – which is now titled, “Reflections on Cool Jazz,” I felt I needed a break from the intensity.  I’ve had this picture of my son for about 5 years and always liked it.  The photo is black and white, so I decided to illustrate it in sepia tones.  I used all Caran D’Ache Pablo pencils in the sepia tones, plus black and white.  This piece is done on Stonehenge paper, which I’m still not sold on; however it worked satisfactorily with the oil based Pablos (which I love).  Here’s a photo of the work:

 

“Just Been Swimmin'”
Colored Pencil on Stonehenge Paper
8″ x 8″
Not For Sale
Copyright 2012, Lisa M. Mills

Last Call!

This weekend is the last opportunity Dallas-Fort Worth area art lovers will have to see a great colored pencil art exhibit.  The Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of the Colored Pencil Society has a members exhibit currently showing at the Eisemann Center in Richardson, Texas.  We have a wonderful group of artists, many of whom have had national and international recognition.  The show continues through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.  There is no charge for admission.  The Forrest and Virginia Green Mezzanine Gallery is upstairs at the center.  It’s located at 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson, Texas 75082.  I hope you’ll come by and see it!

 

C’est Fini!

Finally, I can post a picture of the latest artwork – still untitled at this point.  This piece will be entered in the Colored Pencil Society of America 21st Annual International Exhibition, to be held in Brea, California July, 2013.  If accepted, it would be my second accepted entry in this prestigious exhibition.  I truly lost count of the hours it took to complete this piece.  Needless to say, it was a lot!  Like the Fender guitar piece I completed earlier this year, this painting was entirely colored pencil done on Art Spectrum Colorfix Suede paper.  I love this paper – it really works well with colored pencils and produces a fabulous effect when creating reflective surfaces.  Anyway, here’s the finished piece…more updates to come on the title and progress in the judging process which takes place next spring.

“Reflections on Cool Jazz” – Copyright 2012, Lisa M. Mills, All Rights Reserved
Colored Pencil on Colorfix Suede Paper
18″ x 31.5″
$3,000