Category Archives: acrylic

abstract, acrylic, art, art exhibition, art for sale, art gallery, encaustic, encaustic & collage, Karen Tashkovski, painting, photography, watercolor

Soulscape

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This happened today:  the art reception/art opening for Soulscapes at Art Haus Syracuse, 120 Walton Street, Syracuse, NY (in Armory Square).

It was such a lovely experience.  There was food and drink, great conversation and each artist spoke briefly about our respective artworks.

My ten butterfly paintings look amazing flanking the Marc Safran photograph.  I sold two of them during the party.  Art can be puchased on-line here.

Visit the gallery Tuesdays and Wednesdays noon – 7:00 PM, Thursdays and Fridays noon – 8:00 PM, and Saturdays noon – 6:00 PM.  Check the gallery’s Facebook page for any changes to these hours.

from the Art Haus web-site –

⭐️art haus SYR is proud to announce the opening of SOULSCAPES, a dynamic group exhibition featuring four local artists whose work explores the diverse textures of identity and the environment. The exhibition will run from 2/28 through 4/11, with a public opening reception Saturday 2/28, 2-4pm.

Soulscapes brings together an eclectic mix of mediums—from global photography to surrealist painting—to create a dialogue between the internal psyche and the external world.

The Featured Artists

* CJ Hodge lll: Presents a collection of surreal mixed-media portraits and bold abstract paintings that challenge traditional boundaries of form and color.

* Marc Safran: Showcases global portrait photography that highlights the profound beauty of human rituals, cultural traditions, and the dignity of everyday individual life.

* Karen Tashkovski: Offers a delicate and textured series of mixed-media butterfly paintings, symbolizing transformation and fragile beauty.

* Meghan Murphy: Explores the extremes of scale and subject matter, featuring a series of tiny landscape watercolors paired with a collection of outlandish looking portraits.

„This exhibition is a celebration of the unconventional,“ says Marianna Ranieri-Schwarzer Curator at art haus SYR. „By pairing the grounded, global reality of Marc Safran’s photography with the surreal and outlandish visions of Hodge and Murphy, we invite the viewer to see the ‚soul‘ in all its forms—the beautiful, the traditional, and the delightfully strange.“

acrylic, animals in art, art, art exhibition, art gallery, ceramics, jewelry, Karen Tashkovski, painting, watercolor

Animals Everywhere

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The holiday exhibit at Edgewood Gallery (216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse, NY 12334) is refreshingly uplifting.  The opening reception was last night.  No talk of religion or politics, or negativity of any kind!  It was just animals.  Animal art in many different, albeit colorful, incarnations.

Ellen and Dia Haffar, the mother-daughter duo of Smokepail Studios brought their bunny rabbit and little piggy iconography A-game with images hand drawn and glazed onto mugs, cups and vases.  The whimsical elegance of this work reflects the artists’ fun and friendly personalities.

Although C.J. Hodge is highly allergic to cats, he still loves them and it shows in these large scale pieces.  His acrylic on wood panel cat paintings are filled with visual texture and pattern.  He sold three paintings before I arrived .  This show is a cash and carry situation, which works for those of you interested in gifting art this Christmas.

Dana Stenson is the real deal.  She crafts jewelry using sterling silver and precious gem stones.  She has been juggling several art events, having spent last weekend at that Plowshares thing plus selling her work at Cazenovia Artisans where she is a member of their collective.

She was influenced by birds, butterflies and dragonflies for this showcase.

Amy Cunningham creates her animal portraits and floral designs using a combination of watercolor, goache and inks.  She adheres the watercolor paper to a hardboard canvas via matte medium then paints the image with precision and finally seals the work with wax.  I find the layers in this work so incredibly satisfying because  the flatness of the imagery is just an illusion.

The exhibit continues through January 9, 2026.  The gallery is open Tuesday-Friday 9:30 am – 6:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

acrylic, art, art exhibition

Picking Up the Pieces

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Maria Park:  Field Diagram is the latest CNY Artist Initiative  exhibit to grace the walls of the Members’ Council art gallery at the Everson Museum Of Art (401 Harrison Street, Syracuse, NY 13202).

These pieces do not photograph well – they are made to look like resin but they are acrylic paintings on panel with a plexiglass face, cut into amorphous shapes that resemble diamonds and other fine minerals.  There is a femininity to them and a sort of fragility as well, as if they could shatter and then we’d all drown in our own tears.

I thought my life would end like that after I received unsettling news on Monday morning.  We all have some mental drama/anguish that seems to subside via the creation of art.  In Maria Park’s case, her partner and collaborator, Brandon Hookway, passed away.  This heart-wrenching trauma resulted in time away from their joint studio.

Six months later, Maria Park began to pick up the pieces and this show is evidence that art can be a form of therapy.  What was once a partnership in life becomes a fusion of art and love.

This emotional backstory certainly resonates with many and I think, if you visit the museum to see the show in person, you will understand its gravitas.

(P.S. In my case, nobody died).

Maria Park:  Field Diagram remains on view through October 26, 2025.

abstract, acrylic, art, art for sale, art gallery, art group, clay, clothing, cooperative, design, encaustic, jewelry, Karen Tashkovski, leather, mixed media, oil painting, pottery, retail, shopping, silk

Betsy Menson Sio

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On a recent visit to Cazenovia Artisans, 39 Albany Street, Cazenovia, New York, 13135, I met co-op member Betsy Menson Sio, a former art teacher in the Jordan-Elbridge School District, now working as a full-time artist and jewelry designer.  She is selling earrings made of vintage tins that speak of recycling paired with sterling silver.

The pieces are whimsical, meant to be worn for fun with everyday casual gear.  She calls her business East Street Tins.

This is a materials driven art form.  She must first find the vintage tins – soda cans, candy or coffee canisters, perhaps even motor oil containers – then decide on the shape and cut forming two symmetrical bespoke pieces.

She also creates necklaces and bracelets when not taking her weekly turn as salesperson at the gallery.

As mentioned, Cazenovia Artisans is a co-op.  Artist members must be voted in with the understanding that they will commit to retail sales as well as providing cohesive artwork for sale and paying a monthly fee.  There are other avenues as well – offering work on consignment or being considered as a guest artist.  All information is listed on their website.

Current hours of operation:

Mon

10:00 am – 06:00 pm

Tue

10:00 am – 06:00 pm

Wed

10:00 am – 06:00 pm

Thu

10:00 am – 06:00 pm

Fri

10:00 am – 06:00 pm

Sat

10:00 am – 05:00 pm

Sun

10:00 am – 04:00 pm

acrylic, angels, animals in art, art, art for sale, art gallery, art venue, collage, encaustic, encaustic & collage, heart paintings, hearts, jewelry, Karen Tashkovski, leather, mixed media, oil painting, ornaments, painting, products, retail, shopping, Tashionista, TASHKOVSKI jewelry

Come one, Come All

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My holiday merchandise is ready for tomorrow night’s Sip & Shop event at AFL STUDIO, 301 E. Seneca Street, Manlius, NY 13104.  I think I will be sharing my gallery space with the Apricot Lane proprietor.

There will be a Botox medical professional and a “permanent” jewelry business there as well as light food and drinks.

I will be there at 3:45 PM, if you would like to come and shop early.  Hours for this party – 5:00 – 7:30 PM.

I created notecards that double as holiday ornaments and other special things including one hundred twelve hand painted postcard paintings of angels.  Prices are as marked on the package.  My jewelry collection is all marked as well.  The 36″ x 36″ oil and collage paintings are only $800 and the 18″ x 24″ oil and collage paintings are only $200.  The encaustic hearts with the stands are $75.

I will try to get my Square card reader operational to take charges.  You can also pay cash or use PayPal or Venmo.  Will I have cash to make change?  IDK.

Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and it will be a fun and festive evening!

See you there!

acrylic, angels, art, art for sale, painting

Calling All Angels #5

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I have been busy painting angels.  These little beauties are 4″ x 6″ postcards – metallic acrylic paint.  I have completed one hundred twelve of them.  Here are the ones with sun centers.

They will be available for sale at AFL Studio, 301 E. Seneca St., Manlius, New York 13104.  Proprietor Amanda LoSecco will host a holiday shopping experience on Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 5:00 – 7:30 PM.  Otherwise the salon is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

 

acrylic, angels, art, painting

Calling All Angels #4

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I have been busy painting angels.  These little beauties are 4″ x 6″ postcards – metallic acrylic paint.  I have completed one hundred of them.  Here are the ones with peace sign centers.

They will be available for sale at AFL Studio, 301 E. Seneca St., Manlius, New York 13104.  Proprietor Amanda LoSecco will host a holiday shopping experience on Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 5:00 – 7:30 PM.  Otherwise the salon is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

 

 

 

 

 

acrylic, angels, art, art for sale, painting

Calling All Angels #2

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I have been busy painting angels.  These little beauties are 4″ x 6″ postcards – metallic acrylic paint.  So far I have completed seventy-five of them.  Here are the ones with flower centers.

They will be available for sale at AFL Studio, 301 E. Seneca St., Manlius, New York 13104.  Proprietor Amanda LoSecco will host a holiday shopping experience on Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 5:00 – 7:30 PM.  Otherwise the salon is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

acrylic, angels, art for sale, Karen Tashkovski

Calling All Angels #1

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I have been busy painting angels.  These little beauties are 4″ x 6″ postcards – metallic acrylic paint.  So far I have completed seventy-five of them.  Here are the ones with heart centers.

They will be available for sale at AFL Studio, 301 E. Seneca St., Manlius, New York 13104.  Proprietor Amanda LoSecco will host a holiday shopping experience on Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 5:00 – 7:30 PM.  Otherwise the salon is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

acrylic, animals in art, art, hiking, landscapes, nature, outdoor art, painted rocks

Delphi Falls

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Delphi Falls County Park is undergoing massive renovations.  They’ve finished stairs to climb the path to the top of the falls.  It is magnificent and peaceful, with that gorgeous undercurrent of the waterfalls murmuring softly.

This used to be someone’s backyard.  Private property.  How amazing that must have been!  Now it is a Madison County Park.  They are still working on the lower part of the park where the house used to be, planning a convention center, as well as a trail up the side of the falls – this area was not available to us.  Everything will be ready for Spring 2025.

Currently, the trail up to the falls where the stairs are is open and that is where you will find a dozen bear rocks if you choose to search.  Happy trails!

Special thanks to Patri and Katherine for joining me on this adventure.  Not sure how many more fifty degree weather days we have left in November in Syracuse, New York – we really have been blessed with this mild Autumn.  A lot more, please!  <3