Art Fair -- Last Call Art Fair in Highwood

The Highwood Last Call Art Fair is this weekend, October 17-18, 10 am to 4 pm each day. It is located at Sheridan Rd and Highwood Ave., in downtown Highwood. Yes, it will be chilly but it is looking like there will be a bit of sunshine. This is a new Amy Amdur production who is renowned in the Chicago area for the art fairs she produces. They are always very professionally run and well-attended. Don’t miss this last chance to stroll around the art booths and maybe pick up some good end-of-the-season deals! Click to go to the event website.
--Barb
www.sistakbaur.com

Algonquin Public Art Display Acceptance

I am very pleased that the Village of Algonquin has accepted two works of mine for inclusion in the 2009-2010 year-long display. The Village of Algonquin started this program in 2005-2006 in the belief that art in the village enhances the quality of life for residents and business. It solicits applications from artists to apply for the program. Accepted works are loaned to the village for one year. They are displayed throughout the village. I have participated in the program several times and am pleased to have been invited to participate for this season. The two works accepted are Grand Bakery and Three Cakes. I will post a notice when I know the where these pieces are displayed. By the way, there is an Open House at the Village offices this Thursday evening, October 15, 6-8 pm, 2200 Harnish Dr., Algonquin.
-- Barb
www.SistakBaur.com

Grand Bakery and Three Cakes, acrylic paintings, © B. Sistak Baur. All Rights Reserved.

Red Berry Tart

Red Berry Tart, 9"x12", acrylic, framed. © B. Sistak Baur. All rights reserved.

A sweet little painting with plenty of poppin’ berries. Each berry is created with red acrylic paint mixed with a textured media that has ground stone in it. Each berry is dolloped into place. After they harden, a drizzly creation is made that is dribbled over the top of each berry. Each berry sits in a custard-like cream that holds them to the the cookie-like crust (with is made with a modeling paste.) Sounds good.

Quiche

Quiche, 9"x12", acrylic, $300, framed. © B. Sistak Baur, All rights reserved.

This painting has a touch of expressionism to it. Expressionism, loosely, is a style in which the artist attempts to depict the internal emotions and responses that are evoked instead of an object's reality. Here are some links on expressionism -- wikipedia, WebMuseum in Paris, Art Movements

With this painting, I go away from the actual item and work more on depicting what I think is going inside it. Continuing the use of heavy impasto, the crust is created with an acrylic paste so that it can hold the interior liquid, capturing what an actual crust would do. The top of the crust rolls over on itself, identifying it as hand made and with the baker's own style. The interior part is made of the more fluid paints and the colors represent ingredients. It is churned a bit to represent how they are loosely combined. You can see some of the interior bubble-up over the crust.

--Barb
www.sistakbaur.com

Art Fair - Lakeview East in Chicago, 9/26 & 9/27

We are officially into fall -- warm afternoons, cool nights, it is a great time of year. Truth be told, for our area, our days may be warmer now than they have been most of the summer! And that makes it is perfect for the beautiful fall art fairs.

This weekend is the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts in Chicago. Lakeview East is a neighborhood on the north side not far from the Wrigley field area. There will be 150 artists, food and musical entertainment. This fair is sponsored by the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce which they are working very hard to create a fun experience. I am sure the folks there will be gracious hosts. It is Saturday and Sunday, Sept 26 & 27, on Broadway from Belmont to Roscoe. Look for me in booth 119.

--Barb
www.sistakbaur.com

Art Work on Display at The Bistro on the Boulevard in St. Joe, MI

This is an elegant bistro overlooking Lake Michigan. The chef there invited several artists from the KRASL Art Festival to display art work. I have two paintings on display - Carrot Cake and Marble Cake. These two paintings, as well as the others on display there, may be purchased at the bistro.

If you are in that area, stop by and take a look. Tell Chef Ryan Thornburg you are a friend of one the artists there. By the way, I spotted a lovely outdoor deck and if you catch an autumn-warm afternoon, you might be able to enjoy it.

-- Barb
www.sistakbaur.com

Mini Paintings

Fruit Tart 3"x4", acrylic, $49, and Red Cupcake, 6"x4", acrylic, $89

I just want you to know that little paintings require no small effort -- like I thought they would.

I have added three small sizes of mini paintings to my body of work -- 3"x4", 4"x6" and 6"x8". I decided to do them because I thought it would be a fun way to offer inexpensive art work in my booth so that anyone could take something home. Well, as it turns out, they are inexpensive and they are fun to do. But, I start out on these little adventures with a perfect little plan on how it is going to be. And, then I find myself on a completely different path all together.

I thought I was going to do quick little alla prima paintings. Alla prima means you finish all in one sitting. It means you work "wet into wet" -- you apply the wet paint on your brush into paint that is still wet on the canvas. Alla Prima is Italian for "at once."

These paintings are satisfying for the artist and the result is much expressiveness and color. The downside is that they are really no do-overs. Once the paint is down, its down. But I am used to that. The little fruit tarts, shown here, are done alla prima and they come out great.

Little Carrot Cake, 3"x4", acrylic, $49, and 2 Fruit Tarts, 6"x4", acrylic, $89

But there are other little paintings that take on a life of their own. I have a little carrot cake. It is on the 2-day plan. First day is background, the cake, nut sprinkles and carrots on top. The next day is shading, highlights and shadows. Done.

I added little cupcakes, 6"x4". 2 days minimum. Let's see -- day 1 -- background base, paper cup, chocolate topping, whipped topping -- if I am lucky. Day 2, tone the paper cup, highlight the chocolate topping, add shadows, and work up the background.

A Slice, 3"x4", acrylic, $49

The little berry pie slice (seen on my web site) -- this is the biggy. Would you believe this little 3"x4" painting takes a minimum of 4 days? Here are the days --
Day 1 - Background. It is very textural itself so it cannot be painted over until it is dry, dry. Day 2 - Crust and chocolate layer. That's it. I can go no further until that is set.
Day 3 - Berries.
Day 4 - Highlights and shadows. Done.

And the next size up -- 6"x8" pastry paintings? Don't even get me started.

So as you can see, even though they paintings are little and look very easy, there is no shortage of effort involved.

By the way, mini paintings are available for purchase at my art fairs. Or, you can just email me and I will be happy to ship them to you. Since they are so little, they are easy to pop in the mail.

See my web site for the latest offerings in mini-paintings. I update it whenever a new "batch" of minis are ready.

-- Barb
www.sistakbaur.com