Category Archives: acrylic

abstract, acrylic, art, art exhibition, art for sale, art gallery, art venue, fiberarts, jewelry, Karen Tashkovski

Textured Fantasies & Aquamarine Dreams

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Thank you, Cheryl Chappell, for curating an amazing art show at Edgewood Gallery, 216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse, New York 13224.  Dana Stenson, Lauren Bristol and David Robertson are three of the most positive energy-infused artists/wonderful people living and working in Central New York.

Stenson creates precious and semi-precious gem jewelry with silver and gold.  Everything is handmade and completely gorgeous!

Bristol is a fiber artist – she is exhibiting coil baskets this time.  They are beautifully crafted pieces made with natural fibers including silk threads.

David Robertson’s paintings dominate the walls.  These paintings are from several different series of his work and all pertain to his Buddhist practice.

The show continues through November 15, 2024.  The jewelry is cash and carry but I think the rest will be available at the end of the exhibition.

Aquamarine ring – sold!

The gallery is open Tuesday-Friday 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM and Saturday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

8th grade art, acrylic, art education, Karen Tashkovski, painting, still life

Italian Foodie

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Here are some of the thirty-six paintings created by my 2023-2024 8th grade Studio in Art students. They used my images taken at Vince’s Gourmet Imports, an Italian grocery store and deli in North Syracuse, New York.

These are acrylic paintings. Students were graded separately for drawing and composition versus paint application due to the timing of the lesson – half was in first quarter and the other half was in the second quarter of the school year.

My trick, as always, is to mix raw sienna into each color. White first, then raw sienna, and then whatever mix will get them the desired color. I first put a raw sienna wash on each of these 16″ x 20″ canvas panels. This helps students with darks and lights, helps them to maintain a good contrast.

It was also encouraged to mix a color’s complement to it to get a darker hue rather than adding black, which is something that confuses students due to early lessons of tints and shades.

They did a really great job this time around. I think this is the third time I used Vince’s photos for the still life painting. These past few days waiting for the last stragglers to finish the project and steering the others into the next project were rather challenging, but we got through it.

Monday marks the debut of second semester. On deck: India Ink, clay and possibly papier-mache. 

abstract, acrylic, art, art exhibition, art in libraries, Karen Tashkovski, painting

Process

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A number of these paintings by Cazenovia artist Hon Go David Robertson are sporting red dot stickers on their tags indicating that they have been sold. Great news that a library show can garner sales.

This exhibition is located inside the Cazenovia Public Library, 100 Albany Street, Cazenovia, New York 13035.

There will be a reception for the artist on August 26th, 2023 at 6:00 pm. I believe the work will be up for the duration of the month of August.

In his statement, Robertson refers to the process of creating these incredibly textured acrylic paintings. He considers the creation a celebration of the present moment.

The show is actually titled “Texture Through Time”.

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Thursday: 10am-8pm
Friday: 10am-6pm
Saturday: 10am-4pm
Closed Sunday

Call (315) 655-9322 for more information.

8th grade art, abstract, acrylic, art, art exhibition, art in libraries, art teacher, classroom, Karen Tashkovski, portraits

Teaching Bergeron

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My Art-8 students viewed the paintings of Canadian artist Daniel Bergeron, specifically, his installation in Regent Park in Toronto.

Then they painted the teachers and staff at our school! The steps were as follows:

  1. Create an Abstract Expressionist base coat on the canvas.
  2. Trace a contour line version of the face photograph onto the canvas via graphite paper then paint the lines with black paint.
  3. Add paint – Abstract Expressionism, solid areas, and patterned areas.
  4. Using Mod Podge, adhere parts of the photograph onto the painting, as well as some patterned paper.
  5. Touch ups plus add bits of fluorescent and metallic paints.

This is my sample (above). We used acrylic paint.

Here are the results. They are on display in the school library. I’ve got one more class finishing up tomorrow for a total of fifty-five paintings. So fun! <3

8th grade art, acrylic, Karen Tashkovski, still life

Vince’s Gourmet Still Life

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Vince’s Gourmet Imports is an Italian grocery store on Route 11 in North Syracuse, New York. I love the depth and breadth of the merchandise. What works here is rhythm – the repetition of shapes and color.

These are acrylic paintings on 16″ x 20″ canvas panels created by students in my 8th grade accelerated Studio in Art classes. (Chittenango Middle School, Chittenango, New York) The trick is to start with white paint, add Raw Sienna (a yellow ochre color) then add the color of your choice. One color then permeates throughout the canvas, which is pleasing to the eye and causes non-artists to say something like, “I don’t know why I like this, but I do.”

We looked at the work of Janet Fish, specifically the techniques used to create the illusion of reflective surfaces. I am so pleased with the results.

8th grade art, acrylic, Karen Tashkovski, sculpture

The Donuts

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A small class of 8th graders created these trompe l’oeil donuts. They each created a half dozen to be placed in a real DD box provided by the local Dunkin’ Donuts on Route 5 in Chittenango, NY.

Here’s how they did it –

  1. Armature consisted of aluminum foil and masking tape with paper towel pieces wrapped around each. The goal was to create life-sized donuts of the same size and thickness. Two classes.
  2. Papier mache was added in the form of paper towel bits adhered with Mod Podge. They used bamboo brushes. This step took several classes.
  3. Celluclay is a paper pulp that when mixed with water, makes a type of gooey glue/clay substance that sticks when dry. This was used for the frosting element. One or two classes.
  4. Students painted the Celluclay portion of the donuts with acrylic paint. They used different tints of colors plus browns to depict chocolate. Each donut a different color. Two classes.
  5. They added designs with paint. This included dashes and dots, stripes and/or splatter painting. One class.
  6. Finally, they painted Mod Podge in spots and sprinkled various glitters/sequins/glass beads to the donuts. One class.

Everyone who sees them in the boxes thinks they are real. “Oh, can I have one?” LOL – so great! <3

acrylic, Karen Tashkovski, outdoor art, painted rocks

Beary Christmas

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If you are looking for a place to take a moonlit walk, go directly to Marcellus Park now. Right now (from 4:00 – 9:00 pm). They’re having hot cider and snacks.

Marcellus Park is located at 2443 Platt Road, Marcellus, New York 13108. They have a playground, basketball and tennis courts and a trail surrounding a trout-filled creek. It is a gem of a place!

acrylic, art, hiking, Karen Tashkovski, outdoor art, painted rocks

Tinker Falls

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From Jamesville, New York, drive about 20 minutes down Route 91 and you will find yourself in Labrabor Hollow. There is a parking lot off the highway – cross the street and now you are at Tinker Falls!

What an amazing experience. There are two components here – the treacherous climb up to the falls, the trail under the falls and another steep incline up, up, up…and then…a wide trail that continues up, up, up to a scenic overlook, which is a hang-gliding hot spot.

The brilliance of New York State all in one perfect day. The air is so fresh and the hike makes you feel so alive, so present, as if nothing else in the world matters.

It is a perfect place to stumble upon an angel or six. So grateful. <3

acrylic, hiking, Karen Tashkovski, outdoor art, painted rocks

Three Falls Woods

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Three Falls Woods is located at 4618 Sweet Road, Manlius, NY 13104. It is a beautiful place to hike! There are two main trails – the white trail leads to a pond and the blue trail loops the falls, and then there are the other trails that get you completely lost and so the key is to go early in the morning and make sure your phone is charged to GPS your ass out of there. So fun!

acrylic, art, hiking, Karen Tashkovski, outdoor art, painting

Bubo & Company

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Be on the lookout for these little darlings. Yes, more owl rocks! This time I painted them with acrylic metallic paint. They remind me of Bubo from “Clash of the Titans” (1981 version).

First I used gesso. Then I painted on the faces, added color and did the detail work using a black Sharpie marker.

In addition, they are coated with Mod Podge in a matte finish.

They will be sent to a park nearby. Not sure which park yet. Stay tuned. <3