Malibu Christmas Ornament Sale a Success!

Thank you Kim and Marcie!

The Christmas Marketplace at Our Lady of Malibu Church (OLM) attracted many people.  My sister Kim and her daughter the lovely Marcie designed the presentation.  Beautiful merchandising. The ornaments, surrounded by white crinkle paper, were eye-catching within three woven baskets.  One bit of genius I enjoyed was located at one end of the booth;  a computer showing this blog (vineyardartist@blogspot.com) ran both days of the event allowing customers to view 2012 ornament designs as well as my most recent plein air landscape paintings.  It was suggested that if an award had existed for best concept and loveliest booth, our ornament booth would certainly have won.  I thank the ladies for helping to bring my holiday fare to the West Coast.

Our Lady of Malibu Church Christmas Marketplace showing Ornaments by Valentine

This weekend, 12/3 and 12/4, Ornaments by Valentine will be sold at the Christmas Marketplace hosted by Our Lady of Malibu Church.  My niece will represent my work at a booth in the main hall.  You'll be able to choose between nearly forty original ornaments including paper-sculpted, painted and sea glass bulbs.  In addition, five of my latest ornament designs will be on display and will be available through special order.  Some of the designs are pictured above. 

This event is a fund raiser for Our Lady of Malibu Church.  10% of gross sales will go to OLM.  Many other vendors will be selling gift items and food vendors will be selling tasty treats under the canopy right off the hall.   Lighting of the church's Christmas tree will be a highlight on Saturday. Have fun and help to support Our Lady of Malibu Church.

Martha's Vineyard Artisans Thanksgiving Festival 2011: Nov. 25th & 26th

Above paintings will be shown at the upcoming MV Artisans Festival to be held at the New Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury, MA on Friday November 25th and Saturday November 26th from 10am to 4pm on each day.  These works represent a new direction I've taken this year: painting water.  Whether seen as the tide coming in at night or going out at dawn or abstractly rippling in a swimming pool, water is defined visually by light.  I am enjoying the artistic challenge, the greatest of which is capturing the fleeting movement and transparency of water.

Ornaments at MV Artisans Thanksgiving Festival 2011

Sea Breeze Ornament (sea glass)

Ocean Ornament (sea glass)

Snowball Ornament (sculpted hand-made paper)

Frosty Ornament (acrylic paints)

Gift Wrap Ornament (wrapped hand-made paper)

Pink Christmas Ornament (sea glass)

On November 25th, 2011 the Martha's Vineyard Artisan Festival  opens for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend at the new Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury.  Along with paintings, I'll be exhibiting Christmas ornaments.  The photos above show my newest ornament designs to be shown at the Artisan Festival.

Triptych in Progress: Pool Filter On

I love to watch the changing patterns of light on water.  Earlier this year I focused on a particular California pool that offered differing patterns as the pool filter was turned from slow to medium to fast.  These pieces are not complete. 

Larchmont Arts Festival 2011

Works by Valentine were exhibited for the first time at the ninth annual Larchmont Arts Festival.  Despite the threat of rain the park, facing St. Augustine's Church, was filled with booths and visitors.  Having lived in Larchmont years ago,  I saw many old friends and the four-hour-show was over before I knew it.  Three paintings were sold to new clients (two are pictured here).  The top painting, with a detail immediately below it,  is titled Still Life after Cezanne.  It is oil on board measuring 18 x 20.  The next work, titled 'Morning', is oil on canvas and measures 30 x 30.

Vineyard Artisans Festival Labor Day Weekend

The Martha's Vineyard Artisans show was well attended this Labor Day Weekend at Ag Hall.    The three day event drew big crowds and I enjoyed meeting and chatting with new friends.  I sold several works to both new and established clients.  Those paintings are shown here.

Après Malibu Arts Festival

The 40th Annual Malibu Arts Festival welcomed thousands of visitors.  The 'Valentine' booth did well.  Thanks to the support and hands-on support of my lovely sister, the booth looked wonderful.  We learned quite a bit about showcasing one's artwork (more to come on that adventure).

The photos above were taken in the Malibu home where four of my works now reside.  The quadplex 'Blue Sky Blue Water' is made up of four, 20" x 20", oil paintings.  At the festival I showed the work in a square configuration.   I am now a fan of the horizontal pattern you see pictured above in the  top two photos. 

The bottom photo shows 'Cliff', a 20" x 20" oil painting of a landscape bordering Pacific Coast Highway. 

Malibu Arts Festival Still Lifes by Valentine

Please come to the Malibu Arts Festival and visit my booth, #352.  The paintings above are still lifes painted while confined with a broken leg.  During that time I revisited and studied Cezanne and painted details from several of his works.  The above oil paintings are a few of the still lifes after Cezanne to be showing at the festival.

Malibu Arts Festival Flower Paintings

These floral works will also be shown in the Malibu Arts Festival.  Some of them are 'after Cezanne'.  Can you tell which of these are studies of the grand master?