"It's All in the Details"

Here we are on New Year's Eve, 2014. I really do have so much to be thankful for.
Thank you to the USA for making it possible to own my own business.
Thank you to all of my artist friends out there that love art, teach art, learn art, experiment with art, buy art, appreciate art, and live an artful life! You make me happy!
Thank you for all of the opportunities that have come my way in 2014.
Thank you for my friendships and the love shared. God knows it makes my heart so happy.
Thank you to all the people that challenge me. You have made me become a stronger person and I appreciate that.
Thank you to the Hurricanes, Panthers and Pirates for giving me teams to root and scream for. I honestly love that part of it.
Thank you for kayaks. I truly love the exercise, leisure, peace of mind, sights you offer and all the family and friends that enjoy them too.
Thank you to my son Zach for opening my eyes to what is truly meaningful.
Thank you to the ocean for offering such a big open space to let go and feel the warmth of the sun and your crashing waves.
Thank you to Max for making my sister oh so happy.
Thank you to Mason for warming my heart by calling me Grandma and running to hug me when you see me.
Thank you for friends that love to eat good food, drink good wine and laugh.
Thank you to all of the newlyweds of 2014. You have so much life and love ahead of you! Hang on and really give of yourselves.
Thank you for vacations.
Thank you for Joe. Thank you for loving me even when I don't feel very loveable. You are my everything.
Happy New Year to everyone out there. Wishing you all a happy, healthy, meaningful and successful 2015.
Please join me for First Friday, January 2, 2015 for our opening at 311 Gallery.

December 2014

Art of the Carolinas 2014 was another successful show! Thank you to everyone out there that was a part of it in some way. Whether you came to the show, worked at the show, participated in some of the workshops and bargains or just came by to see all the wonderful free demonstrations: Thank you for making this event the best of its kind in the country. It definitely is a great feeling to be at the helm of this huge art materials and workshops extravaganza and to see how it has magically evolved over the years because of you!

I always love this time of year! One of the reasons is the beautiful skies! I really have a thing for them. It almost takes my breath away when I step out on my front porch. Here are a few shots of the beauty that awaits almost nightly!

Another reason is the holiday season: Halloween, Zach's birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. All of these holidays are definitely a time to get together with some of my favorite people to enjoy, create. decorate, make gifts, cook some fine meals, and just be generally festive! Who doesn't love that? Here are a couple of photos up through Thanksgiving so far:

And finally I am back in the studio! I have to take a few months almost completely off just to fully concentrate on Art of the Carolinas. But last Friday I actually stole about five hours out there with my friend Michelle. We have a show coming up in January with another art friend, Jeanne, and I still have several paintings to produce, so I'd better get on it... Here is a teaser photo - just one small portion of the overall show:

I hope you can take the time to come and see our show at 311 Gallery (formerly 311 Martin Street Gallery), Raleigh, NC. The opening is Saturday, January 2, 2015! Hope to see you there!!!
Now back to the studio for some more experimentation!
 

NC State Fair 2014

As you may know, this is my busiest time of the year. Every year, about two months before Thanksgiving, I go a little crazy. Okay, a little bit crazier...
I'm in that mode right now and one of my favorite things to do to relax from all the chaos is to judge the show at the NC State Fair. I get to award Outstanding Student Awards offered by Jerry's Artarama to artists from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Artists from all over the state with the help of their teachers and parents submit their art for all eyes to see. I love, love, love this show! I have been judging for these awards for several years now and it is always a delight!
This year was especially rewarding because it was such a challenge for me to choose from all the great work! Kudos to everyone involved in the arts, as I know it has been a bit of a struggle getting those in the government to understand the importance of art in the schools.
Elementary is always my favorite because those kids create with such freedom! They are so carefree and don't second guess themselves. They experiment with everything they can get their hands on.

 

 

 

In addition, I was totally amazed at the amount of entries for middle school. Unlike the many years before, the coordinators told me that they actually had to rearrange the show because of the amount of middle school entries! WooHoo! I think I got a little giddy with joy right then and there. This category normally leaves me with a handful, (less than 20 pieces) to choose from each year. So at any rate, it was really great seeing all the participation in that age group for 2014. Thank you to all of the art supporters out there! It really does help our society as a whole.

And once again, grades 9-12 were pretty impressive! (As usual!)

 

Congratulations to all the winners!

 

 

Balancing Life

Balancing out life is a little challenging at times! Creating art, teaching art, coming up with new ideas, and working on my main event: Art of the Carolinas! There are so many facets of this wonderful life with the artist struggling to get to the top. Each day I try to soak up lots of inspiration.  One of my favorite sources is the sky. I'm not a sky painter or photographer, but what inspires me about the sky is that it is so ever changing, yet the same...

It is consistent, yet beautiful in a different way each day, each night. It almost breathes. That's how I think art should be. It should be me. Someone should be able to look at any of my work and know it is me. Ever changing, yet consistent. To me that is my goal. As an artist anyway...

I'm not exactly sure what these are...

Yep, that's right!
I'm not exactly sure what these are or how I will use them in my work, but they seemed to want to be created in my studio yesterday...
I was working on a couple of ideas as I normally do. I tend to work on one thing, then get bored with it and pull out something completely different and mess with that for a while, and so on. I suppose that is my creative process. At any rate, I'm sure these will come in handy just when I need them! Down the road of course, when I am working on that new project...
So here you have it:

I'm not even quite sure what to call these things, but they are made from scraps of fabric, paper and other assorted goodies found in my studio just waiting to be something!

Wall paper, fabric, leather, braided string...

Oh, and sticks and torn papers

I will keep you posted as these develop!

Delightful discovery!

While working in my studio on a project for Art of the Carolinas, I discovered a wonderful remedy for sticky fingers. Let me explain: I was making boards that post each of the workshops for AOC- 113 to be exact. Each of those little papers approximately 2 or 3 inches square must be sprayed with an adhesive then placed on a foam board.

This is what I use...3M Super 77

Always spray over a trash can! Well after awhile my aim gets a little off and over time my fingers start sticking together! My discovery is that Citrasolv is the perfect cleaner for your sticky hands! 

Just take a very small amount and pour it in your hands and rub together! I wiped the excess off with a paper towel then washed my hands with water. Excellent! Smells great and works great too! Winning! 

Here are the large pieces I was working on...

Enjoying the heck out of Summer!

Had a nice visit with Bob Burridge while he was in town teaching at Jerry’s Artarama. He and Joe and I went to 42^nd Street, one of our favorite restaurants for dinner, then off to The Station on PersonStreet. Just happened in on a Wednesday which is half price wine night – bingo!

Next, Joe had a workshop in our studio for a wonderful group of talented artists that meet together as a group once a week. This workshop was designed just for them and Joe was able to offer some great new painting techniques for them to explore.  If this format is intriguing to you, please be sure to contact me and we can set up the same for your group too! Email me: Sharon_digiulio@yahoo.com for details!

Visited my friend Lisa Stroud’s new studio at her home. WOW. I mean totally fantastic and inspirational. It’s always fun spending time with my artist friends!

Then off to my annual Beach Retreat at Atlantic Beach with Kim Maselli and her mom, Pat Connolly. Talk about some fabulous friends! These gals, as well as daughters, sister and Pat’s husband offered a loving, relaxing, restful retreat to about 30 of us this year! The best part is you can do what you want. They offer all sorts of activities and information: art, yoga, reflection, meditation, you name it. Definitely something I will continue doing year after year.

I put together a show of about 20 pieces for cimos. Cimos is a wonderful little eclectic shop in downtown Raleigh. A must see if you are in the area! The show will be up for another month and if you’d like to stop by this First Friday, September 5^th, I will be there from 8pm-10pm!

Next was wedding #3 for the summer! Mike and Kera tied the knot on August 2, 2014! What a beautiful setting and just the right venue. Absolutely wonderful. Congratulations you two!

  Hartman Outdoor Photography

Now, off to Dobson, NC…Joe and Sterling Edwards offered a week long workshop to 20 fantastic artists! Boy oh boy, talk about a jam packed week of art! Lots of demonstrations, painting up a storm and friendship was had by all. 

We are so looking forward to next year too! For the first time, Joe and I will be teaching a week long workshop together! Dueling DiGiulios! Won’t you join us? Mark your calendars now: Monday – Friday, August 3-7, 2015 at the Hampton Inn in Dobson, NC just down the street from the Shelton Vineyard. Email Sharon_digiulio@yahoo.com for details.

Art of the Carolinas is right around the corner…for me anyway! I have been working on this baby for 14 years now. AOC 2014 is sure to be another excellent place to learn some new painting skills, create new friendships, share your passions and pick up some killer deals on art supplies! The trade show is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 14-16, 2014 and workshops begin on Thursday the 13^th and run through Sunday the 16^th. Please visit www.artofthecarolinas.com for all details!

Relaxing at the NC beach is always a good thing. Rain and wind will not stop us! Pouring rains and flooded highways greeted us in Topsail Beach. But have no fear! The skies cleared soon enough and allowed for some blissfully scenic kayak trips as well as some absolutely beautiful sunsets over the sound.

 And actually just hanging out at the beach on the shore playing with the sand is oh so therapeutic! Just what the doctor ordered…especially hanging out with my favorite sister in the world! Thanks Cindy Lou! In addition to gathering inspiration, we were able to do a little artwork while we were there as well…

Next was some studio time with my friend Michelle. We like to get together at least once a month and do something creative. Sometimes we’ll work on the same thing using the same products and sometimes we’ll do completely different explorations as we want. This time Michelle was messing around with alcohol inks and Yupo paper. I did that for a bit, then went off on a polymer gloss medium tangent…

And now for a Friday night date with my man: Off to 42nd Street for some fresh seafood and a Dirty Hendricks Martini with 3 olives please...

This past Sunday I hosted a group of art instructors at my studio to get together and just talk about some of the challenges that come up as a business owner, art instructor and artist. 

There was some great discussion going on and lots of ideas and information shared among us. I love this group of gals. Thanks ladies! I hope we can continue getting together and supporting each other on our different yet similar paths!

That’s it for now. Until next time, Happy Painting!

Inspiration is everywhere...

Joe and I were fortunate enough to spend the 4th of July weekend with some great friends at their place at Lake James! Too much fun! We had some great food and lots of wine. Lots of sunshine and kayak adventures. Out on the pontoon to our own little private swimming hole. And way too much laughing. It was definitely a fun time! And oh so beautiful. It always amazes me. The beauty we are surrounded with daily. I am now more than ever, really taking the time to stop in my tracks and take a look at what this wonderful world has to offer. It's pretty crazy how just a sunrise can nearly take your breath away. Or how some flowers stop you dead in your tracks just so you can smell the sweet fragrance. Or how some great fireworks and bad photos of them inspire me for abstract paintings!

Here are a couple of photos from last weekend...

                                                                       Sunset

Heading over to Goat Island

Kind of a crummy photo, but great inspiration for an encaustic abstract!

This one too! (I have about 20 to choose from)

This is why I LOVE digital cameras!

And now for a little food porn...

This was by far the most magical sunrise EVER:

And lastly -  Here's Bryon's new magic trick: walking on water

New Collage Work

My studio welcomed me with open arms as I finally made it back in there! I completed these three pieces most recently. They are created on old book covers. Love the color and rustic feel of the surface. Everything was assembled with items waiting anxiously in boxes, crates and bins on the shelves. I love the tribal feel of this series...I just might have to work more in this direction. I have some ideas!!!

If you're interested, please contact me for details.

Thanks for the visit!

What do you think?

 

 

 

Please visit my Web site too: www.DiGiulioStudios.com

 

 

Birthdays, weddings, showers! Oh my!

May that is...

Keeping up with my calendar was very interesting! I think I worked in the studio just a couple of times in May besides wrapping presents!

I did manage to get some new handmade fabric bags to Cimos in downtown Raleigh. If you have not been there, please check it out! Great little gift shop on Hargett next to Adam Cave's gallery...

Then here are some shots of the birthdays and weddings:

Here is Marge. Happy birthday Girl!

And Cindy Lou with her new redneck wine glasses...

Congratulations Blake and Sarah!

That's my boy on the far left... He sure cleans up nice doesn't he?

Kayaking at Lake Wheeler (click on photo for full view)

Dougy's catch!

Emmy's catch! Congratulations to Emily and Dragos!!!
(Click on photo for full view)

Zach and his calf, Norman.

Okay so that was a crazy month! Also painted the deck and put in new flooring. Oh and finished the schedule for AOC 2014! Now I just have to build the Web site...whew.

One big whopping thank you to Ophelia for telling me about this app or this post would have been WAY longer!