Fresh Paint: Name That Painting

(red tulips)  oil   24" x 24"  R. Garriott

Often I have a name in mind for a painting before I even begin to paint. I'm drawing a blank this time. Anyone think of a catchy, quippy, witty name for these red tulips?

Here's a thought; comment on this post ( I love to hear from you!), and I will send a small poster of one my other artworks to a name chosen at random from all comments, and another to my choice for best title. I'll make a decision on March 31.

Thanks for your help!

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Clementini di Italia

Clementini di Italia     36" x 36"    R. Garriott       SOLD

Inspired by the open air markets of Venice, it was impossible to resist this arrangement of ripe fruit and green leaves.
Happy New Year, everyone!


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Artist's Magazine Finalist

"Two Tangerines"  oil   10" x 10"   SOLD

June 29, I received an email that gave me a great big smile...

"Dear R. Garriott,

Congratulations! Your artwork, Two Tangerines, has been selected as a finalist in the Still Life/Floral category of The Artist's Magazine 28th Annual Art Competition... as a finalist your name will be featured in the December issue of the magazine.

Sincerely,

Maureen Bloomfield

Editor"

I guess now that the December issue is out, I can spill...!

Just my name, but still!


Many thanks to juror Nava Grunfeld!


Also pleased to mentioned along with fellow finalists
and good friends Chris Beck (also still life/floral) and Rob Gratiot and also fellow blogger Kim VanDerHoek (both landscape/interior)!

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Halloween Challenge: Candicornaphobia & FrankenSweetie

Many thanks to Chris Beck who invited me to the Halloween Challenge!
Be sure to see her and co-organizer Pablo Villacana Lara's blogs, which feature all 13 artists. Links to each artist are at the end of this post.

"Scary!"   watercolor dyes    5" x 7"    R. Garriott A rare departure from oil paint from me, exposing the terrors of Candicornaphobia.

"FrankenSweetie"    digital illustration    R. GarriottEvery year I create a poster for a local event... this year's model was artificially brought to life in Adobe Illustrator... BWAAA-HA-HAAAA!!

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Be sure to see the whole set! Challenge organizers:
Chris Beck (Newly awarded NWS - National Watercolor Society! Congrats!!)
Pablo Villacana Lara

Participating artists:
Janet Belich
Debbie Cannatella
Jeannette Jobson
Ron Morrison
Diahn Ott
Suzy Pal Powell
Terry Rafferty
Kay Smith
Deb Ward
Brenda York

Sid V. and his ghoulie groupies wish you a Happy Halloweenie!

"A Novel Idea" at Koelbel Library

Olè   Oil   12" x 16"  R. Garriott

"A Novel Idea  -  Artwork Inspired By Books" is an exhibit in which artists have used authors and poets as their muse.  The exhibition, on view at Koelbel Library during September 2011, showcases the source of the inspiration and the artists final product."

My chosen book (not a novel) is about color:
Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of Color by Philip Ball

Written by a scientist (chemistry and physics), 
it's a bit of a heavy read but full of fascinating facts.






If you're interested in the history, mythology and science of color but
appreciate an easier read with lots of anecdotes,  I'd also recommend  
Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay. 

THE ART GROUP exhibiting at
Koelbel Library 5955 South Holly Street
Centennial, CO 80121
September 2011
Read about the show on The Denver Post's Your Hub

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Summer Art Market

"First Wave of Spring"    oil     48" x 24"    SOLD

2011 Art Students League 

SUMMER ART MARKET

Saturday & Sunday

JUNE 11-12 

10 am - 5 pm

200 Grant Street

Denver, Colorado 80203

Booth 104
on the southwest corner of Grant and 2nd

rgarriott.com

asld.org

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This may be my last for a while.

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Prize Tomatoes

"You Say Tomato"  oil 14" x 14"

20th annual National Juried Exhibition

Artist Association of Northern Colorado 

Fort Collins, CO

Show runs through May 6

Couldn't be a nicer group of artists; very warm and welcoming. Special thanks to Laura Young and Helen Cook of the AANC who went out of their way for me. You Say Tomato picked up the Jerry's Artarama prize. Koi/Pear was used on the catalog cover and the poster, another nice honor. Thank you! 

Interestingly, I ended up with a brand new first name in the catalog... and it doesn't start with an R or an a... as if the whole name thing wasn't confusing enough. As the old song goes, "You say tomato, and I say tomatoe..."

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Botanica Spectaculum Exhibit

"Good Day, Sunshine"  oil   36" x 36"   SOLD

(The title, in song lyric form, came to me early this morning as I completed this canvas.
Although 'Wet Paint' was a close runner-up.)

This painting and several others of mine, both large and small, will be included in:

"BOTANICA SPECTACULUM" 

Opening reception March 18 , 5:30- 7:30pm

March 17 - May 18, 2011

Republic Plaza

370 17th St., Denver , CO 80202

The show represents botanical interpretations from about three dozen artists, including artists from the Denver Botanical Gardens Art and Illustration Programs. The venue is outstanding, with its huge upper lobby with natural lighting and marble walls on both upper and lower levels.

Click on the invite to see a larger version.

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Richeson 75 Small Works Competition

The Richeson 75 Small Works Competition received over 500 entries; about 79 were chosen to be in the gallery show that opened last night in Kimberly, Wisconsin. I was thrilled that "Red Bowl/Honey Crisp" (9"x12", oil, below SOLD) was accepted as a finalist into this show! 

Plus, "Koi/Pear" (9"x12", oil, below) was chosen as a 'Meritorious Entry', and both paintings will be included in a full color, hard bound catalog of the show. Very cool indeed!

Jelaine Faunce took home First Prize in oils and it is oh so well deserved.
Her work is absolutely stunning.


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Hydrangea Blues

"Hydrangea Blues, Too"             oil             36" x 18"             SOLD

Thank to my extremely patient patrons, who saw this in progress (I won't say how long ago) and waited patiently until it was ready. If it's blue, it must be a boy!

Resolving to develop better habits in 2011: 

Passion Flower

"Passion Flower"    oil     24" x 24" 

And we have... a winner! I was shocked and pleased to see this painting had been awarded a ribbon at the "This is Colorado" exhibition at the (swanky!) Madden Museum, in Greenwood Village, which opened last night. This annual juried art exhibit is hosted by the Heritage Fine Arts Guild of Arapahoe County. 

A booklet of the event was produced, which included notes (nice touch!) from juror Victoria Kwasinski. Here's her very kind comments:

"This lovely painting has an exquisite "freshness and sparkle". Painting technique, craftsmanship, and color sensitivity is exceptional in this work. Nice contrast from extreme detail in the center of the flower vs. the muted shapes and tonal shifts of green in the background."

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Un-Seasonable Greetings, or, I'm Dreaming of a White... Hollyhock?

"White Hollyhock"  oil 36" x 36"

Whatever your current weather, whatever your tradition of holidays... hope you're winding down the year and relaxing... dreaming big dreams of a better 2011... 

(Did anyone else see the red moon eclipse last night...? So mysterious and beautiful!)

A few of my canvases at
Gallery Leonardo in Leadville, Colorado

Hibiscus with Two Skies

Hibiscus with Two Skies  oil   30" x 30"   SOLD

The collector who owns this piece repainted the wall it hangs on in their home to enhance the artwork. The ultimate compliment!

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Two Art Openings

The Art Group had its inaugural group show this month, at the Chambers Center at Denver University. 

I had the wall at the very end of the gallery (near the wine!)
For reference, the two large paintings are 36" square each.

We had a good turnout!

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The "Own an Original" juried show opened last night at the Littleton, CO Museum Fine Arts Gallery. The juror made a nice comment about my work... something about "Very Gutsy" (works for me). Photos were not allowed so you'll have to take my word that the level of work was outstanding. Also I did not recognize most of the artists showing, which was kind of a treat. 45 minutes down the road leads to a whole new group of artists. Go figure.
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Moon Over My Hammy

"Moon Over My Hammy"  oil  10" x 10"

So what's the term of these old-fashioned toys, the ones with the push button in the bottom that animates the plastic limbs, strung together with elastic? I'm not sure I ever knew.

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One More for the Mouse Project

"Chubby Mc D"  oil  10" x 10"

This is one of those situations where I wish I was Fast painter... I have several more of these in mind that I hope to do eventually. 

See Steve Worthington's Mouse Project for more info.

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For The Mouse Project

"I Came, I Saw, I Concord"   10" x 10"   oil 

To see more of the mouse project artworks: Steve Worthington's Mouse Project

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Cat 'n' Mouse

"Cat 'n' Mouse"   oil    12" x 12"

In some feline-centric households, both are considered to be cat toys.

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Japanese Anemone

"Japanese Anemone"  oil  15" x 15"  SOLD

anemōnē means "daughter of the wind" (greek) Thanks, Wikipedia!
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Juicy in the Sky

"Juicy in the Sky"    oil     30" x 15"

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Pomodori E Olive

"Pomodori E Olive"    oil    11" x 14"     sold

My favorite italian tablecloth inspires once again.

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Morning Perk

    "Morning Perk"   oil    10" x 10"    SOLD

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Juicy

"Tangerine Slice / Pear"  oil   9" x12"

Many layers of glazes.

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Spring Has Sprung!

"Spring Has Sprung"  oil 12" x 12"

Spring has Sprung, and the taxes are done.

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Cluster Pluck

"Cluster Pluck" - oil - 24" x 24"


Stick a fork in it. I'm done.

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Fantasy Cactus

"Fantasy Cactus" oil 36"x48"

If you're in a cold locale, surround yourself with warm thoughts.

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Cactus Orchid, Part Two of Two

"Orchid Cactus 2" - oil - 36" x 36"

Hope you are all having a great painting week.
I'm starting a few new canvases, so I may be persona non-oblogata for a bit.

Here's the orchid cacti as a diptych.

Cactus Orchid, Part One of Two

"Orchid Cactus 1" - oil - 36" x 36"


This is part one of two over-sized 'portraits'. 
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Fly the Friendly Skies

White Moth Orchids oil 30" x 30"

This painting will appear in a large group exhibition through January, at the vast Denver International Airport.

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Commission for Children's Hospital

Butterfly triptych, each 30"x15"

Commissioned for Children's Hospital, Aurora, CO.

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27 Thoughts On Blogging For The Artist

"Hibiscus with Two Skies" oil 30"x30" SOLD

This tropical-looking beauty grows, amazingly, inside our front gate. It comes back from the roots every year in late spring, reaching a height of about 4 feet; Blooms of about 5" across appear beginning in late summer.

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