The Art Blog

The Christmas Dress 2009 It’s a tradition in our home to celebrate the season in an unconventional way. This year instead of a tree we setup a Christmas Dress. It’s an old mannequin that I transformed into a holiday gown with evergreens, ornaments and feathers. Another tradition in our neighborhood is the parade of Christmas boats – I love seeing the lights reflected on the water and they play holiday music that echoes out over the Puget Sound. It really put me in the spirit. I'll be spending my holidays painting in the studio so I will post some images of new work soon. Until then I am wishing you all Happy Holidays and a joyful New Year.

Margie Livingston, Folded Painting Small 2009 - Greg Kucera Gallery Last week I trekked out to soak up some area art shows and here are a few highlights. Starting with one of the bright spots from the 1st Thursday gallery walk : Margie Livingston at the Greg Kucera Gallery . The exhibit is titled Riff – New Paintings , and features a mix of 2d and 3d works. In some of her pieces Livingston removes the sub-straight entirely: no canvas, no paper and no wood to support her paintings – just pure paint as in this piece above titled Folded Painting . Not to take away from her works on canvas that are very captivating and when seen with her “paint sculptures” they take on a new depth. She started creating 3d objects to inform her paintings and now has come full circle with the paintings becoming three dimensional objects. The show runs until December 24th. Margie Livingston, Folded Painting Big 2009 - Greg Kucera Gallery Margie Livingston, Paint Line 2009 - Greg Kucer...

Robert E. Marx. The Red Bishop, 2009. Oil on linen. 20 x 16 inches. O n display now at the Davidson Gallery As the month comes to a close it means a new rotation of gallery artists will open for the First Thursday Art Walk next week. Before it comes down I highly recommend the November show at the Davidson Gallery featuring the work of Robert Marx . His work is fantastic and has a compelling naive quality to it. My Second Nature show also closes this Saturday so if you planned on seeing the exhibition you only have a few days remaining to see the entire show. Some of my favorite pieces sold so when the show comes down the paintings will be gone to their new homes. For updates on the gallery check out the new Pacini Lubel Gallery Blog. Robert E. Marx. Shaman, 1986. Oil on linen. 34 x 26 inches. Living in a state of gratitude is not always easy but this time of year when we are reminded to give thanks I am counting my blessings. These are some of the things that I am celebr...

Jadite - encaustic w/mixed media 2009 I was looking through my photos of the gems and discovered a few that I had not yet posted. The image above is one of the lost gems titled Jadeite. What I like is how quiet this painting is but when you examine it closely it has very complex layers. Some areas even appear to be floating and resemble fused glass. Below are a few more gallery images of the gems in groupings. It's been a great week in the studio and several more paintings from the show have sold. This means I'll have new work to share soon. Gem Grid I - Gallery Installation Gem Grid II - Gallery Installation

" She " - Felted wool sculpture by Robin E. Whiteman. This year I have had the good fortune of steady art sales so I have decided to spread the “art love” if you will. I am calling it my Pay It Forward Program and every time I sell one of my own paintings I put a portion of my proceeds towards the purchase of another artist’s work. It’s one of those rare but wonderful Win/Win situations. I get to acquire a beautiful new piece of art and support the work of another artist too. The piece I am featuring today is this amazing felted form titled, She, by New York artist, Robin E. Whiteman . Everyone who comes into my home comments on this piece and seeing her just reminds me that we are all connected in some small way. Click here to visit her Etsy shop. More images of She by Robin Whiteman

Show title wall featuring Soloist Pacini Lubel Gallery street view Me posing with Sapphire Cove Today I am feeling richly rewarded after several months of hard work. The opening of Second Nature was lovely and I want to say "T hank you!" to all the dear friends who came out on Thursday night to support me. I also want to extend a special thanks to those who traveled long distances to see the show and to those of you who have left me such kind comments here on my blog. Gallery southeast view Me posing with the gems. Many of the little gems have already sold and there is a possible commission in the works. The Seattle Times also ran a blurb about the exhibition and featured an image of my work in the Arts section of the paper. So here I am feeling grateful, content and inspired. The studio beckons and I need to start preparing for my 2010 exhibitions. I will be participating in several group shows starting next spring and I have a solo show slated for J...

River Trio- encaustic w/mixed media 2009 - 36" x 36" Tourmaline- encaustic w/mixed media 2009 - 24" x 72" Well… it's finally here – Opening Night! Please join me at the Pacini Lubel Gallery for the opening of Second Nature. Tonight, Thursday, November 5th from 6 to 8 as part of the Seattle 1st Thursday gallery walk . This solo show features my most recent encaustic work. I have not seen the final installation so I will be experiencing the show for the first time tonight. Here’s what friend and fellow artist, Barbara Dunshee , posted to her blog about my work: “I've recently been reintroduced to Alicia Tormey's work. I loved it before and her recent evolution is very exciting. Her new show, opening at Pacini Lubel Gallery November 5th, is called "Second Nature". A great title as her encaustics on wood are nature enhanced to a higher power. Her abstractions are landscape reminiscent but on varying planes of existence, simultaneously ma...