Category Archives: art for sale

art education, art exhibition, art for sale, Karen Tashkovski, mixed media

The Healing Effects of Water & a Smoothie

Image September 5, 2015 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

Last night was just magical.

I wanted to go the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, NY. There was an art reception for Water Effect – Art Inspired by Water, but I had a power headache brought on by a dumb sinus infection that has been bothering me for more than a week.

I was able to finagle a last minute appointment with my nurse-practioner, got the meds, popped into Panera Bread for a strawberry-banana smoothie and miraculously felt better than ever!

In less than forty minutes, I arrived. And as soon as I walked in, I saw my friend Katie Turner and her husband Ralph, two of my favorite people in this universe – we only met last year when she exhibited her Terraskin watercolors of flowers in the Chittenango Middle School library, but we clicked like life-long friends. Here she is next to her piece, The Pines ($275).

I believe this was a juried exhibition, by the way. I only knew a few of the other artists, like James Skvarch…

and Mary Giehl.

I had amazing conversations with the artists who were in attendance. Gordana Vukovic…

Susan Weisend…

and Carol LaBorie.

Carol retired from a non-art job and is now a full-time artist who has studied encaustic technique under a number of artists, often going to workshops and artist’s retreats. I just loved her enthusiasm and passion! Fifty-three artists from throughout the region are represented in this exhibit, which continues through October 18, 2015.

In addition, there is a wonderful show of landscapes and barn paintings by Kathryn J. Schylinski. OMG, I loved her! She’s from Skaneateles, NY, but will be relocating to my neck of the woods soon and verbally agreed to working with me in the future – à la my art gallery in the school library! I told her that I sometimes do a painting lesson using Wolf Kahn references and she said she channels Kahn and crosses him with an Edward Hopper flair…and that is so true! You can totally get that.

All of the work, including Kathryn’s, is for sale and will be available for pick-up at the end of the exhibit. (Hers ends October 18th as well).

The Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center is located at 205 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY. They are open Tuesday-Saturday 10 am – 5 pm and Sundays 1 – 5 pm. For more information contact them via their web site, www.myartcenter.org or by phone, (315) 255-1553.

art exhibition, art for sale, Karen Tashkovski, mixed media, paper collage, watercolor

Art as Friendship

Image September 2, 2015 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

Just picked up my copy of the September 2015 issue of Women of Upstate New York. So excited to be a part of it!

A month ago, I spent the day with Audrey Levinson. She is an art teacher in the Syracuse City school district, as well as a writer for this magazine. She is also a family friend – we went to high school together (she was my sister’s bestie).

Audrey started writing as a tribute to her mother, who passed away a year ago. I really loved spending the day with her and listening to her story too. When I read the article, I feel like it is more about our friendship than anything else. And that feels very special.

Thank you, Audrey! Find the article here.

art exhibition, art for sale, Karen Tashkovski, paper collage, watercolor

Me & My Friend Baseball

Image August 18, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 4 Comments

The sweeper in soccer is a defensive player who usually works her magic to intercept the ball when the opponent has penetrated the line of defense. This player can also move the ball up field and even score on occasion, and is typically one of the fastest players.

In baseball, a pinch hitter’s role is to bat for another player. Usually this person is an outfielder who is also a good hitter. And yes, I am as well-versed in sports as Amy Schumer’s character is in the movie Trainwreck, lol, which is to say not at all. I had to Google search these definitions because I was trying to create a sports analogy that defines my role in the new art exhibition at the Syracuse Tech Garden (235 Harrison Street, Syracuse, NY 13202).

Forty-six paintings are on display in The Boys of Summer: Baseball Meets Art with a reception this Thursday, August 20, 2015, from 5 – 7 pm. Steve Nyland is the curator.

My role in this show is a blend of sweeper and pinch hitter. I added thirty-two paintings and paper collage pieces to round out the show and fill the walls. My watercolors were untitled before and now they have baseball themed titles – cliché, perhaps but whateves. I think it is kind of hilarious and fun, and makes me feel like a part of a team, the way Amy did during the climax of what was really a pretty terrific rom-com.

Steve is also sharing his paintings in the art show, which will run through October 9th if you don’t have a chance to make it to the opening.

art education, art exhibition, art for sale, Karen Tashkovski

Blue Skies

Image August 6, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 2 Comments

Summer’s been fabulous so far – and still another month to go of blue skies, great sunshine, relaxation and good times with good friends. A blissful adventure where I am an active participant in life, leaving not much time to make new art. The Futura series will have to wait, lol.

I’m currently waiting for someone to come over and interview me for an article for this magazine called Women of Upstate NY. That’s exciting!

My art exhibits are still up at Natur-Tyme through the end of September, and at Sullivan library through August. I will be doing a presentation at Natur-Tyme during their community day event on Saturday, August 15th. I have art for sale on redbubble.com and on my shopify site as well. So a lot is still happening. And there is always another opportunity lurking around the corner somewhere.

It is really such a blessing to have the body of artwork at my disposal because making art is sort of a passive thing – you must step away from your regular life and find a corner of the universe that is quiet for hours and hours, and sort of fall into yourself. Spend time contemplating thoughts and feelings then work them out in an abstract configuration.

And…I am really preferring to be present right now. To not think about past events or get caught up with what may or may not happen tomorrow. It is a happy way to be, to enjoy the people around you and feel blessed for your life and everyone, and everything in it.

Which is the reason why I have no blog to present about the Macedonian Festival at St. George Church last weekend. I folk danced my head off and it was so much fun to see my family and people who I don’t see often enough anymore. Children of my childhood friends are all grown up and the next generation is in full swing.

I didn’t take a single picture of the event, as I had during Greek Fest. Sorry to disappoint.

But it made me start thinking about family and family history and how that all ties in with my art. I told you about my dad’s history already. My mother’s grandfather came here in 1911, joined the US Army, became a citizen then brought his family over on a ship that docked at Ellis Island.

Later he owned at least two restaurants – or one restaurant in two different locations – The Owl.

Do you see that black fan on the shelf?

Here it is again residing on my front porch. It’s a time traveler that links my life to theirs. I’ve brought it to school many times to add it to the still life display. And many students have put it in painting and drawing compositions throughout the years.

I am loving my staycation. The picture of family at the top of this post includes my cousins Jackie and Michele and their parents (and me and mine). Their grandfather was my grandmother’s brother so we share this part of my family history and it has been such a great gift to spend time with them. While so many of my Facebook friends traveled all over the world this summer, Michele came here. She lives in Thessaloniki, Greece. Jackie and I are already planning ahead. We aren’t just going to talk about going there next summer. We will be going there!

So maybe the Futura series will never come to fruition, but that’s okay. The real future, one based on love for my family past and present is what I look forward to, and the ticket is a happy face, insuring me and as many people around me, a treasure trove of days filled with blue skies and sunny bliss. Of course, the up side to that for those who read that I’m giving up on art is that I will finally be seeing the world with fresh eyes and I’m pretty sure art will follow! So, no worries!

art exhibition, art for sale, Karen Tashkovski, watercolor

The Art of Craft

Image July 26, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 2 Comments

The above is my favorite picture taken at Craft & Craft at the Everson Museum of Art. Taken by my friend Doug from that perch/Juliet balcony of the third gallery upstairs.

It was such a great experience selling artwork at the Everson! My set up was right in front of the spiral staircase.

The amazing architect I.M. Pei designed the building. He also designed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame –

and the glass pyramid entrance to The Louvre.

It was a beautiful day on Thursday and one that I will never forget. I have always dreamed about doing something like this and so, it was a dream come true. Loved every minute of it!

Thank you to all who attended including my Facebook friends, besties and loved ones. I’m also so grateful to the staff of the Everson who helped me with the set up. Everything was so well organized and it was so much fun.

And a special thank you goes out to my mother who came with me (we got there at 3 pm) and was my greatest supporter! I didn’t get her home until 8:30ish so it was a long day. She is a jewelry designer and had a few baubles for sale as well.

This event was meant as a kick off to the Downtown Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival.

The Arts & Crafts Festival continues today until 6 pm, so if you are a local, please get down there and support the arts. So many talented people to discover!

art exhibition, art for sale, cats, fashion, Karen Tashkovski, watercolor

Crafty

Image July 21, 2015 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

Pumped, 16" x 12", watercolor, 2002, $95 — Pumped, 16″ x 12″, watercolor, 2002, $95

So far, my entire summer has been a giant ball of butterflies in my stomach. I’m happy – all the time, and excited about all the great things that are happening. That WILL happen.

My little sister is a yoga instructor/interior designer/flea market furniture refinisher/furniture designer/a lot of other things! She let me borrow a bunch of items to use to enhance my display at the Craft & Craft function at the Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St. Syracuse, New York 13202 this Thursday from 5 – 9 pm.

This is what it looks like now all tossed into the trunk of my car. Hopefully I will create a cute set up that matches my modern, vibrant watercolors with these brass vintage bamboo-patterned fixtures.

Dark Magic, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2002, $200 — Dark Magic, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2002, $200

I just found out that I will be inside, rain or shine, in the Sculpture Court (main floor), so that is great news. It’s just one table of unframed paintings in all different sizes and it will be a BOGO sale, meaning you will get two for the price of one but no half price onsies. You will have to buy two. And see? It’s a win-win. You get two, and I have to say that my watercolors do look best in multiples, or you can give one as a gift! I get to go home with less artwork, which is the goal.

Blue Star, 10" x 7", 2002 — Blue Star, 10″ x 7″, 2002

Yes, making money from sales is an obvious goal but the one that really tickles me is the idea that people will enjoy my artwork. That it will have a home where it will be loved, cherished, what have you, for many years to come.

Blue Mandala, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2001, $200 — Blue Mandala, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2001, $200

I’m not sure if I told you about my cat situation, but my two knuckleheads had a falling out. A couple months ago, Georgie got a plastic bag caught around his waist and was running around the house screaming up a storm. He looked like a bull with a rodeo cowboy riding him as he tried in vain to buck off the bag. Naturally, Pablo was chasing him up and down the stairs and throughout every room until I caught up with Georgie and helped him out.

This was approximately less than five minutes of our lives but it took its toll on the siblings’ relationship because after that Pablo wanted to attack Georgie.

It got pretty awful. For three weeks, I was living like the Sister Wives with my pets. One spent twenty four hours living in the kitchen and back porch while the other had the rest of the house and a spot in my bed, and then the reverse. I tried to give them equal time but whenever Georgie was in the kitchen, he managed to bust in using his giant thumb paws – and then the fur went flying. Very stressful!

I tried these $35 calming collars, but Georgie just ate his. Finally, I brought Georgie to live with my sister and they ended up falling in love with each other. I visit him and it really is all good. Georgie just has a new home where he is equally loved, cherished, what have you for many, many years to come!

Just me and Pablo here now. So I am no longer a stereotype! And to add to my sister’s list of attributes, great cat mommy is at the top of the list.

Hope to see you on Thursday, July 23, 2015 at Craft & Craft! $10 for members, $15 non members. There will be food and drink and art – bring money!

And P.S.: for those of you who miss my outfits of the day on Instagram – I will be wearing a new BCBG Max Azria dress at the event. Can’t wait!

art exhibition, art for sale, cats, Karen Tashkovski, mixed media

Natur-Tyme Flier

Image July 13, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 8 Comments

I just received the business cards I created through moo.com so I decided to take some over to Natur-Tyme, Dewitt, NY where I am showing and selling the Echolalia series through September 2015. I dropped some off in one of the little cubbies and on my way out, I came across the store’s flier.

Someone had mentioned it the other day but I hadn’t seen it until now. A few months ago, Maria Rizzo, Tom Huff and I did a photo shoot at the store. It was so fun. I felt like a celebrity.

I had no idea what to expect and I am very pleasantly surprised. This is just so amazing. I’m grateful and thrilled to be in the inaugural exhibit!

art education, art exhibition, art for sale, Karen Tashkovski

Green Lakes Stroll

Image July 12, 2015 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

It’s always refreshing to chat with retired art teachers. Their lives are so full of art – their own art, the business of art, and a treasure trove of excitement and genuine bliss.

Ilene Layow has been retired a couple years now. She told me that in the last year she has produced more artwork than she ever had!

Her work can be seen at the Manlius Historical Society & Museum, 109 Pleasant St., Manlius, NY, through August 31, 2015. They are open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Using Green Lakes as her muse, Ilene has created work in ink, watercolor, acrylic and glass. The glass pieces are particularly sensational. OMG!

She has a kiln in her studio, Eye Studio at 126 Doll Pkwy in Syracuse, near LeMoyne college. She’s there virtually every day either creating or teaching classes to other art teachers, friends and children. There is a summer art camp for kids – $85 a week and the next one starts tomorrow. For more information on this, her email is iteachart@twcny.rr.com. Find her website here.

You all know that Green Lakes State Park is my happy place – and as I strolled through her collection, I felt like I knew exactly where each landscape existed on the path around the lakes!

She said she takes loads of photographs then works from them in her studio. She is really an inspiration. I absolutely love her passion for her work. Love her mastery of all media!

Love, love love! <3

art exhibition, art for sale, cats, Karen Tashkovski

Adopt An Echo

Image July 8, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 3 Comments

Rune 1, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Rune 1, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Rune 7, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Rune 7, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Bet you didn’t think you’d see me here again so soon. I’m sure my Facebook friends will all end up blocking me because I’m posting so much.

Echo 6, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Echo 6, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Rune 6, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Rune 6, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

But it is summer and I am in full-on art marketing mode!

Echo 1, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Echo 1, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Echo 11, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Echo 11, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

The Natur-Tyme show has only been up for a week. No sales yet. My thought is it is something for customers and the area to need to warm up to. Art seems to be not in the forefront of the average Syracusan’s mindset these days.

Echo 10, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Echo 10, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Since they are small (18″ x 18″) and they are paintings of cats, and they are ten years old, I decided to go the way of the SPCA and other animal rescue shelters and price them the way they would an older cat who needs adopting.

Echo 9, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Echo 9, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Rune 11, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Rune 11, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

This morning I changed my prices to reflect that. Each painting is only $75! A steal by any standards. It’s dangerous to price paintings so low. In the eyes of anyone, it may appear that I don’t believe in myself or that I may think my art is not of high quality and therefore not valuable.

Echo 7, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Echo 7, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Echo 8, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Echo 8, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

The opposite is true. You must know that about me by now. But making a living off my art is a dream, not necessarily the only reason I do it. It’s really about sharing myself – sharing my hopes and dreams, and all that emotional stuff with an audience. Artists are formalists and create their own versions of the world with detail but above all else, we are emotional creatures filled with this unquenchable desire to be loved in some way. Our personalities, our quirks, our talent. We are pretty needy people.

Echo 2, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Echo 2, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Echo 4, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Echo 4, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Rune 5, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Rune 5, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

And so, I am trying to compromise. I want people to enjoy my paintings. I want them to take them home at a price point that makes them feel like they didn’t overspend – I certainly don’t want anyone to experience cognitive dissonance after purchasing a final sale item.

Rune 12, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Rune 12, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Rune 4, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Rune 4, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

The Echolalia series is a piece of me. At its core, it’s really about how the past shaped me into who I am. I cannot run away from it. I can only move on from the dark stuff, own up to it and say – wow, you have really come a long way.

Rune 3, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Rune 3, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

You assume these frolicking cats are about happy thoughts and in reality they were created out of despair. They are all about me looking for ways to find happiness in a time when nothing at all was going my way. Now things are so different and I see how I found and still find solace in these works. How now, they represent a lifeline to the future world I’ve found myself in and everything is okay.

Rune 10, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2015 — Rune 10, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2015

Rune 2, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Rune 2, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Is that too heavy? Sorry – for me, as you know, art is about exposing myself. But in a way that works, like the game board in Concentration. It’s not spelled out for you but sometimes you can still decipher it.

Rune 9, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Rune 9, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

The goal is to sell all of the Echolalia paintings so that I can start moving this massive inventory of work. Either that or start looking for a bigger house. I will put both out into the universe and see what sticks.

Rune 8, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Rune 8, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Echo 3, 18" x 18", oil & collage, 2005 — Echo 3, 18″ x 18″, oil & collage, 2005

Here is the link to Maria Rizzo’s article about the venue.

art exhibition, art for sale, Karen Tashkovski, watercolor

Happy Magic

Image July 6, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 4 Comments

Another day of packaging art! I had framed about six of the 18″ x 24″ watercolors several years ago. Two are hanging up in my home. I sold one to a friend from high school and the others are stored in the teeny closet in my second bedroom. To get to them, you have to open a little munchkin door. It’s very cute and one of the reasons I fell in love with my little bungalow.

Happy Tears, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2002, $200 — Happy Tears, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2002, $200

The rest of the paintings are here – I finally packaged them, labelled and titled them, and they are ready to be sold. If I don’t sell them at the Craft & Craft event, I might put them on my Shopify.com site. I love that people will finally get to see them/buy them/enjoy them!

Royalty, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2002, $200 — Royalty, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2002, $200

Paradigm Shift, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2001, $200 — Paradigm Shift, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2001, $200

Paradox, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2002, $200 — Paradox, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2002, $200

In addition to these pieces, I readied a gazillion more paintings in sizes 14″ x 20″, 12″ x 16″ and 9″ x 12″. I will add them into this blog soon. I am just so tired right now! Sorta kinda giddy-tired, like I’ve fallen into a magical world and don’t want to escape giddy-tired.

Sky Creature, 18" x 24", 2001, $200 — Sky Creature, 18″ x 24″, 2001, $200

Tunnel, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2002, $200 — Tunnel, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2002, $200

Lifeline, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2002, $200 — Lifeline, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2002, $200

I went on a bunch of errands this morning – to school to borrow my favorite yardstick and the table mat, to the vet for Pablo’s “wellness visit”, to do my walk-about at Green Lakes, to Empire Vision to get my sunglasses fixed, and a bunch of other things. I’ve been working on this art business since…I want to say 2:00 pm and now it is after 11:00 and I’m not finished.

Heaven Sent, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2002, $200 — Heaven Sent, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2002, $200

Riches, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2002, $200 — Riches, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2002, $200

Feathering, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2002, $200 — Feathering, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2002, $200

I really need to wrap this all up and put everything away. Am having guests over this weekend and the dining room table looks like the aftermath of a tornado at the moment.

Rainbow Trail, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2002, $200 — Rainbow Trail, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2002, $200

Magma, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2002, $200 — Magma, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2002, $200

Aside from the mess though, I am in love with life right now. Things seem to be happening in the way I have always wanted them to happen. I’m grateful to my old self for having a giant prolific period because I have all of this work to share now in a time where a blog post is possible. I’m grateful that I have a reason to prepare this work and it isn’t going to sit inside a veritable tomb any longer.

Hue - Intensity, 18" x 24", watercolor, 2002, $200 — Hue – Intensity, 18″ x 24″, watercolor, 2002, $200

These are happy paintings. They make me so happy and I love being surrounded by this much positive energy. See, yeah. Really giddy.

	Sue March on Nature Calls
	Smalls \| Karen Tashk… on Serendipity in the Saddle
	Karen Tashkovski on Fire & Form
	Birgitt Wolf Peterso… on Fire & Form
	Daisy Hill Studio on The Robes (Part 2)

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