Category Archives: animals in art

animals in art, art, art for sale, art gallery, group art exhibition, juried exhibition, Karen Tashkovski

Horse Power!(!!!)

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I am honored to be a part of the latest exhibition at Main Street Arts, 20 W. Main Street, Clifton Springs, New York 14432.   Titled Horse Power!, it will be on display until July 15, 2026.

My painting is called Mustang Dance (see above).

The horse theme was inspired by the Chinese New Year celebrating the year of the Fire Horse in 2026.  And – OMG – there are so many wonderful pieces of art representing horses (and donkeys, zebras and even unicorns).  People and their horses, am I right???

Paintings, drawings, sculptures, fiber art, mixed media – so much to see and enjoy.

The show is the brainchild of Executive Director Heather Olson (*) who is a total shining star.  Her positivity is infectious and the atmosphere during the art reception today was truly heart warming.

It is a fabulous exhibit.  The artwork occupies two floors in this gorgeous little gallery.  YOU HAVE TO GO TO THERE – to experience this amazing energy and also to buy something.  There is an adorable gift shop in addition to all the art that is for sale.  And donations for this non-profit organization are welcome, as well.

Hours of Operation:

Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday : 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

  • Heather Olson

    Executive Director and Gallery Curator

    Heather Olson joined Main Street Arts as Executive Director and Gallery Curator in January of 2025. An equestrian and lover of places, ecosystems, and the plants and animals which define them, her painting and photography work explores storytelling, erasure, movement, freedom, memory, and amends. Inspired by her summer-long artist residency at Chautauqua Institution and studies in Florence, Italy she weaves historically-driven narratives anchored in place. After living across regions of the US and Canada, Olson has a broad professional lens-bringing programming, planning, grant-work, business-ownership, teaching, and design experiences to Main Street Arts. She has public and private K-12 and college-level teaching experience. Heather earned a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art (honors), a Masters in Landscape Architecture, a Masters in Art Education, and has hours towards an MFA. Heather is building upon the exceptional programs and events developed by our prior director. She curates and hangs gallery exhibitions and works directly with artists, instructors, and our community for programs and events.

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.

animals in art, art, art exhibition, art festival, art for sale, collage, color, encaustic, encaustic & collage, encaustic horse paintings

Winter Solstice Art Sale

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If you are in the vicinity of Little Falls, New York, there is a little festival happening this weekend (Dec 12, 13, 14, 2025).  In addition to the activities listed, the shops are open during their regular hours through Christmas.

I have two paintings for sale at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts, 410 Canal Place, Little Falls, NY.  They created a show of work priced at $100 and below to encourage art enthusiasts to purchase art as gifts for the holidays and to buy local.

The Race, 18″ x 18″, 2012, encaustic, $125

You will be getting a deal because these are normally $125!  They are from my first horse series created in 2012 – encaustic & collage, 12″ x 12″ mounted on 18″ x 18″ chalkboard painted masonite.

Aries, 18″ x 18″, 2012, $125

animals in art, art, art exhibition, art for sale, art gallery, art venue, encaustic, encaustic & collage, nature

The Talent

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Here is the flyer for the Member’s Exhibit at Baltimore Woods.  The reception is on Sunday, November 2, 2025 from 2:30 – 4:00 PM.  The show will run from November 1, 2025 to December 16, 2025.

I am exhibiting this butterfly painting.  Baltimore Woods Nature Center is located at 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus, New York 13108.

animals in art, art, art exhibition, art gallery, Karen Tashkovski, photography

Nature’s Gem

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The Baltimore Woods Nature Center is a gem of a place, located at 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus, NY 13108.  I recently became a member of this organization.  There are miles and miles of nature trails – no bikers or dogs allowed.  These trails, maintained by a staff of volunteers, are pristine, hilly and the perfect place to spend an afternoon zenning out.

In addition, they have a library on-site, a gift shoppe and an art gallery.  There will be a members exhibit in November, so I wanted to view the space.  The last time I was here, I hid rocks in the woods.  I don’t think the building was open that day.

The current exhibition is a series of nature photographs by Don Crumb.  The photographs are mainly of local and regional landscapes.  There is a fabulous portrait of a fox – clearly the star of the show.

A collection of taxidermy mounted wild animals is also housed here.

The gallery can be rented out for parties, as it is connected to a full kitchen.  They also host events in the room.  You can investigate this further on their website.

Don Crumb – Nature Photography continues through October 27, 2025.

The building is open Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM and Saturday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.  Closed Sunday.

The hiking trails are available every day dawn to dusk.  I would recommend walking with a friend.  I sort of kind of got lost in there until I realized I could GPS and compass my way out.  It wasn’t scary because I was so zen after two hours of zigzagging the paths.

It’s an amazing place!

animals in art, art, art for sale, art news, cats, contest, Karen Tashkovski, paper collage

James Rosenquist Is a Cat

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Karen Tashkovski, “Gentleness”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage
Karen Tashkovski, “Benevolence”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage

I adopted Jameson James (Jamey) Rosenquist from Every Cat’s Dream, 2101 Vestal Parkway West, Vestal, NY 13850.  Jamey was never feral.  He, along with his three sister kitties, was born inside the cozy home of a foster mother.  Jamey is a very healthy, loving companion and I am so grateful for Every Cat’s Dream and for the volunteers who rescue and foster so many cats and kittens.

They rely on donations and often sponsor events in the Binghamton, New York area.  The next one is tomorrow at the Vestal Library.  For information on these events you can visit their website or follow them on Facebook.

Karen Tashkovski, “Mon Dieu”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage
Karen Tashkovski, “Love”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage

I am donating these paper collages to support the organization.  I created them back in 2001.  I used embroidery floss to sew paper to paper and added text, as well as playing cards, sand dollars, coins and sea glass.  They are delicate so, I am going to trust that the right people will value and care for them – adopt them – the way I value, love and care for my Jamey.

They are placed on foam board in acetate sleeves so they will need to be framed.   I priced them at $75 each, which in today’s money would be $136.81 according to Google calculating the inflation rate.  So, that is quite a bargain!

If you do purchase one, please let me know and I will put you on my mailing list for future art events.  It is helpful to have a provenance when curating an art collection.

Karen Tashkovski, “Bon Voyage”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage
Karen Tashkovski, “Love Bird”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage
Karen Tashkovski, “5”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage

In addition to my art fundraising efforts, I have entered Jamey in a contest to get his photograph in a calendar.  The money donated by voting for him goes to Every Cat’s Dream.

https://gogo.photo/616249

https://www.gogophotocontest.com/everycatsdreammewsandmeows/entries/616249

Karen Tashkovski, “6”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage
Karen Tashkovski, “Trustworthiness”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage
Karen Tashkovski, “Jack”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage
Karen Tashkovski, “Touch”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage
Karen Tashkovski, “La Reine”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage
Karen Tashkovski, “9”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage
Karen Tashkovski, “Leniency”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage
Karen Tashkovski, “4”, 2001, 9″ x 12″, paper collage
abstract, animals in art, art, art exhibition, art for sale, art in libraries, collage, encaustic, encaustic & collage, found object, heart paintings, Karen Tashkovski, oil painting, painting

East Syracuse Free Library & Me

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I just installed my art show at the East Syracuse Free Library, 4990 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13057.

It is a combination of three different art series:  Echolalia (2005), Talisman (2008) and Arcadia (2025).

Echolalia is a series of cats frolicking in a geometric field – oil & collage.  The Talisman series is about love – oil & collage.  Arcadia is built on targets – encaustic & collage.

I love the way they look together.  They are colorful, which corresponds with the library’s summer reading program, “Color Your World”.

This show will remain on display through August 2025.  Please check their website for summer hours (they will not be open on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months).

animals in art, art, art exhibition, art for sale, art gallery, ceramics, jewelry, landscapes

The Sky’s the Limit

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Under Open Sky is the title of the latest exhibition at Edgewood Gallery, 216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse, New York 13224.  The artwork will be available for sale through April 11, 2025.

I last saw Peter Valenti’s bird-infused  ceramic vessels at Hafner’s.  I told him he should contact Cheryl Chappell to get a show at Edgewood and he said he had already scheduled a show there! I am in love with these pieces, some of which are wood-fired.

Nikolay Mikushkin’s landscape paintings are breathtakingly beautiful,  He paints plein air, which means that he sets up his canvases outside and paints what he sees.  He captures light like an Impressionist but the clarity of the brush stroke in the branches of the trees is laser sharp.  These paintings are highly collectable!  Both his and Valenti’s work had several red stickers on their tags, which means they’ve been sold.  You better head over to the gallery asap before they sell out of these magnificent pieces.

In the jewelry department, Judi Witkin and others who form the Bead Society of Central New York are displaying intricately detailed seed beaded necklaces, bracelets and trompe l’oeil items, many of which display the flora-fauna motifs to complete the outdoorsy theme of the exhibition.

The Edgewood Gallery is small but it is so well-curated and the show is a harmonious  blend of color, texture and a tease of springtime to come (please, god, soon!) to Syracuse.

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