Cherry Pie

Cherry Pie, "24x20", acrylic, framed

©2007 Barbara Sistak Baur

The pie part of this painting features the thick-paint technique I use. This is set against the “flat” pan and stand. However I give this portion a lot of texture with the paint strokes themselves. With this painting, I wanted to use the colors throughout the image in all objects. So you see the pie crust color in the glass, background and table. The same it true with the “cherry” color. Here is texture of the pie and the brush strokes in the pan. The second close up shows the colors in the glass.
Go to the Fresh From The Studio store now

Antique Tractor

Antique Tractor, 11"x 14", Acrylic on board, © 2007 Barbara Sistak Baur

This is a commission I did for a loving wife for her husband who has a large landscaping business. This is his antique tractor that he likes to show off in parades. I enjoyed doing this painting because it allowed me to use a favorite style of mine – fresh, loose strokes with an abstract feel. There is some realism involved because you can certainly tell what it is but it does not get too “tight”—you know it is a painting and meant to be that way. I have always admired this loose style.

The close-ups show the details of the brush stokes.

Art Friends, December 9, 2007

Hello Everyone,
Tis the season to shop, decorate and bake. Speaking of baking, here is the latest effort from my easel -- Cherry Pie. The pie part of this painting features the thick-paint technique I use. This is set against the “flat” pan and stand. However, I give this portion a lot of texture with the paint strokes themselves. I also wanted to use the colors throughout the image in all objects. So you see the pie crust color in the glass, background and table. The same is true with the “cherry” color.
Cherry Pie, 24"x20", acrylic, framed, $975

The holiday season is in full swing and holiday art shows abound. If you are looking for something really special for someone, consider a gift of art! How unique and it will be treasured for a lifetime -- that is what my clients tell me. And, if you are the one that would like art, drop a big hint. Go online (or to a holiday art show) and point to what you want.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Warmly,
Barbara Sistak Baur, Artist

Now On Display
-- Woman Made Gallery -- Holiday Bazaar -- 685 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, from Nov. 23-Dec 26. Hours are Wed-Fri noon-7 pm; Sat-Sun noon-6 pm.
-- Holiday Gallery Art Sale at the Old Courthouse Art Center, Woodstock, Il, "on the square". Starting Friday, Dec 14th through Christmas, the Old Courthouse Art Center will be open EVERY DAY. What a great way to give a gift of art!! Also in Woodstock, the Northwest Area Arts Council art show is on now through Jan 4.
-- Riverside Art Center at 32 E. Quincy. Art show runs Nov 27-Jan 4. Stop by. The gallery is open Wed-Sat.
-- Village of Algonquin Public Art program. Lemon or Cherry is on year-long display.

Now Online http://barbarabaur.blogspot.com/
-- Antique Tractor, a commission I just completed. It is a Christmas gift! Click on the Commissions topic.
-- Studio Cat, a tribute to my longtime feline companion who had been an unwitting "warm up" model over the years. Click on the Studio Cat topic to read about her and see many of the sketches.

Newly Acquired
--Two of my works, “Eat Cake II” and “Choose Your Treat”, have been acquired by the McHenry County Government Center. They will become part of the county art collection and be on permanent display in the McHenry County Courthouse. Thank you, Sue Stelford, Curator. To see these artworks at my site, click on the Bakery topic.

On the Easel
-- I am working on two art tables for the Algonquin Area Public Library. They will have a library theme but are styled after my car art tables which can be seen at my Car Art Blog. Click the topic: Car Art Table Top or Wall hanging. By the way, I am also documenting my progress with photos on this project which I will share with you when I am done.

Barb's Blog
Fresh Paint! - Paintings, Sketches and Studies
http://barbarabaur.blogspot.com/

Feedback and correspondence are always welcome. If there is something you would like to see in Art Friends, please let me know.

Yes, please go ahead and forward this to a friend. By the way, If this email has been forwarded to you, you are not automatically added to my e-letter list. If you would like to continue receiving Art Friends, I need to hear from you. Click barbarabaur@comcast.net and type "Yes, Art Friends."

On the other hand, if you would like to stop receiving Art Friends, I understand. Click reply to this email and just type “unsubscribe.” Thanks for your friendship!

By the way, I did a "clean up" of my address book recently and found many friends that I thought might enjoy Art Friends but had not been sent it before. So I decided to sent it to you. If this is the first time you have received this, I say "Welcome!" I hope you like it. However, if you would rather not receive it, please let me know (see the previous paragraph).

Art Friends and all images are ©2007 Barbara Sistak Baur and all rights are reserved. If you wish to copy this material to other publications or mail lists, great!! Just let me know so I can give you permission. Thanks for your respect.

Barbara Baur Art
Lively, Textural, Vibrant
3404 Highland Dr.
Island Lake IL 60042
and
2944 S. Harlem #4
Riverside IL 60546
708-372-2798
barbarabaur@comcast.net

Holiday Happenings

Woman Made Gallery -- Holiday Bazaar -- 685 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, from Nov. 23-Dec 26. Holiday hours are Wed-Fri noon-7 pm; Sat-Sun noon-6 pm. Check out the Woman Made Gallery for more information.

Holiday Gallery Art Sale at the Old Courthouse Art Center, Woodstock, Il, "on the square". Starting Friday, Dec 14th through Christmas, the Old Courthouse Art Center will be open EVERY DAY. What a great way to give a gift of art!! Also in Woodstock, the Northwest Area Arts Council art show is on now through Jan 4.

Riverside Art Center at 32 E. Quincy has its holiday show Nov 27-Jan 5. Stop by Wed-Saturday.

Art Friends, November 15, 2007

Hello Everyone,

Unbelievably, the holiday season is upon us. I know this only because of the many holiday happenings that involve the arts. Here is a sampling. Be sure to look for me --

Holiday Art Postcard

Red and Green Cookies
© 2007 Barbara Sistak Baur

This is a new work and I created it especially for holiday postcards, which are at the printer as we speak (or write). The reverse side says: "Have a cookie. (Have two.) Happy Holidays".

For the first time, I am offering my holiday cards for others to purchase. I have packaged 8 postcards for $10 (plus $2 postage and handling). If you would to take advantage of this, just pop a check in the mail (use the Island Lake address below). I will send them off to you right away.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Warmly,
Barbara Sistak Baur, Artist

Now Online http://barbarabaur.blogspot.com/
-- A new figure drawing – click the Figure Sketches Art topic.
-- Resume and Artist's Statement. I put this there for easy access by others. Click on the topic Resumes and Such.

Barb's Blog
Fresh Paint! - Paintings, Sketches and Studies
http://barbarabaur.blogspot.com/

Yes, please go ahead and forward this to a friend.

Feedback and correspondence are always welcome.

If this email has been forwarded to you and you would like to continue receiving Art Friends, click barbarabaur@comcast.net and type "Yes, Art Friends." On the other hand, if you would like to stop receiving Art Friends, I understand. Click reply to this email and just type “unsubscribe.” Thanks for your friendship!

Art Friends and all images are ©2007 Barbara Sistak Baur and all rights are reserved. If you wish to copy this material to other publications or mail lists, great!! Just let me know so I can give you permission. Thanks for your respect.

Barbara Baur Art
Lively, Textural, Vibrant
3404 Highland Dr.
Island Lake IL 60042
and
2944 S. Harlem #4
Riverside IL 60546
708-372-2798
barbarabaur@comcast.net

Holiday Art Postcard

Red and Green Cookies

© 2007 Barbara Sistak Baur

This is a new work and I created it especially for holiday postcards, which are at the printer as we speak (or write). The reverse side (see below) says: "Have a cookie. (Have two.) Happy Holidays". For the first time, I am offering my holiday cards for others to purchase. I have packaged 8 postcards for $10 (plus $2 postage and handling). If you would to take advantage of this, just pop a check in the mail (email me for my Island Lake address, if needed). I will send them off to you right away.

Studio Cat

Geechi Portrait, 9"x12", charcoal on paper, in sketchbook
©2007 Barbara Sistak Baur

Hello Everyone -- I have cat who basically lives in my studio. Her name is Geechi (first syllable rhymes with “glee”; second syllable rhymes with “me”).

My studio cat sits in a chair next to my easel. I trip over it sometimes but she likes to be by me and I like to reach down and pet her. From time to time, a cat hair will get into a painting. I also have a chair for her next to my office chair. She follows me to my desk there. We also have a special place in front of the studio tv. I have a small sofa and a cozy blanket. Both of us often snug up there for some late night relaxation.

Because she is a studio cat, she is often my unwitting model for warm-up sketches that I do before I begin work. Of course, the problem with animals is that they don’t like to stay still. So it is very difficult to get a long sketch – with them awake, that is. I can get a longer pose if the cat is not aware of my presence or is ignoring me. Here is a portrait I did of her in charcoal. She was very tired so I was able to get a longer pose – but not so long that I could actually get her body.

I know I am writing in the present tense but the very sad news is that recently I lost my studio cat. She just got old and sick. She was 13.

So I went through my old sketchbooks and found several “attempts” of sketching her. I enjoy looking at them and so have posted them online. Some are line drawings with pen and ink and others are charcoal. It is an interesting collection of parts and pieces of cats in a variety of media. To see them, click the Studio Cat topic.