Tag Archives: Karen Tashkovski

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.

Karen Tashkovski

Secret Garden

Image August 29, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 1 Comment

Often when I meet other artists, they will reveal that their mother or father, or a grandparent is also an artist. That is not the case with me, although my grandfather could draw horses really well for some reason. He was a carpenter who once built all the bread boxes for The Columbus Baking Co. in Syracuse.

We are all creative types, though, the kind of people who like working with our hands/making things.

My grandmother did fine crochet work, as I mentioned before – she won first place at the New York State Fair every year in the senior citizen’s category. She would spend the entire year creating a bedspread or tablecloth, like hours and hours of work, and if she made a mistake, she would remove three months of work just to make it right.

My mother can knit and crochet too, and as I mentioned before, she creates jewelry. My little sister has an interior decorating business, which includes furniture refinishing. My older sister is a kinesthetic artist – she is a gymnast who at fifty something can still rock a round-off/back handspring/back summy tumbling pass, as well as glide kip into giant swings on the uneven parallel bars.

My dad’s art is his garden. Every year that thing produces buckets of produce – cukes, tomatoes of all varieties, peppers, onions, garlic, lettuce, eggplant, zucchini….etc., etc., etc.!!!

In addition, he has landscaped the homestead in DeWitt, NY with English walnut trees that have literally taken over the back yard, as well as a pear tree, apple tree, mulberry tree and I can’t remember what else.

The harvest is often given away because there is such a surplus. The real fun begins when he and Mom, and Sophie make tomato sauce and salsa, and all sorts of other things that exist in a foodie’s paradise – the gift that keeps on giving, so to speak.

So here are some pictures of said garden. Dad is not on social media nor has he ever attempted to use a computer, so it is fun to know that Vasil S. Tashkovski does exist in cyberspace.

And if the world ever starts to implode, and you wish to seek refuge with our family and these fresh vegetables, the secret word into our creative “speak-easy” is a compliment (as in, wow, this is the best garden in town!). Lol-so true. <3

art exhibition, Karen Tashkovski

Pop Up

Image August 26, 2015 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

A lot happened last Thursday evening. The third Thursday of the month has become synonymous with art receptions here in Syracuse, NY. And of course, there are all sorts of social things going on including some that suddenly popped up.

Sandwiched in between my art reception at The Syracuse Tech Garden and the vigil, and subsequent wind down at Delphia’s in Chittenango for my dear friend Lynn Kurz (where I met her beautiful family for the first time), was a pop up art show at the Point of Contact Gallery in Syracuse, NY.

It was a juried show filled with some of the most incredible art by local artists! My friends Angela Arrey-Wastavino and Davana Robedee showcased their work, as well as several others – some work I’d never seen displayed locally before. Really brilliant stuff!

There was a silent auction for a series of 8″ x 8″ pieces made by the exhibitors. I won this piece by Dana Bonn called Neon! I love it because of the numbers on it – love text/numbers in art anyhow but this is 768. Seven is just a lucky number and six-eight is my birthday (June 8th) so that is really cool!

The show is already down, I’m sorry to report. It was literally there and gone in like two days. Such a shame, but I am so glad I got a chance to witness it. Art in Syracuse is nothing to be afraid of – I mean, for those of you non-artists who think the scene is some dark underworld type thing. It is welcoming. I feel that part of my job as an artist and art blogger is to introduce you to these events. While this one may be over, another will surely suddenly pop up again in the future!

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, 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 exhibition, art for sale, Karen Tashkovski, watercolor

Happy Magic

Image July 6, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 4 Comments

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

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

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.

art exhibition, art for sale, Karen Tashkovski, watercolor

The 4th of Watercolor

Image July 5, 2015 Karen Tashkovski 3 Comments

Basket Case, 7" x 10, watercolor, 2000, $50 — Basket Case, 7″ x 10, watercolor, 2000, $50

Force, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Force, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

Treasure, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Treasure, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

The Castle, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — The Castle, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

I spent the bulk of the day preparing more watercolor paintings to sell. This required price tags, inserting them into plastic sleeves and adding a piece of foam board for stability. Plus photographing them and giving them all titles to make everything easier to inventory.

Mandala Rising, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Mandala Rising, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

Primary Juncture, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Primary Juncture, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

Sunlight, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Sunlight, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

Solar Vortex, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Solar Vortex, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

I will be selling them and paper collage works at an event at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, NY on July 23, 2015 from 5-8 pm. It’s called Craft & Craft. I’m one of twenty-plus vendors (crafters) and the other craft is beer. So it is a beer fest with art thrown in.

Gusto, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Gusto, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

Atmosphere, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Atmosphere, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

Vision Board, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Vision Board, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

Isle, 7" x 10", watercolor, 1999, $50 — Isle, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 1999, $50

Hopefully, the revelers will bring pocket cash to buy art. I am going to do a BOGO sale – buy one, get one free, although I am against doing one for half price. The idea is to come home with less than I brought there – a lot less! Customers will need to take at least two, lol. I have a lot of paintings. I mean, I didn’t realize there was this much stuff tucked away! The bulk of these paintings were done between 1999 and 2002.

Really?, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Really?, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

Maze, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Maze, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

Destiny Tuning, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Destiny Tuning, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

Energize, 7" x 10", watercolor, 2000, $50 — Energize, 7″ x 10″, watercolor, 2000, $50

The paintings in this post are 7″ x 10″ watercolors. I also prepped larger pieces – tags and titles, but I haven’t cut the foam board for those yet. I will share them soon!

Gossip, 10" x 7", watercolor, 2001, $50 — Gossip, 10″ x 7″, watercolor, 2001, $50

Violet Outburst, 10" x 7", watercolor, 2001, $50 — Violet Outburst, 10″ x 7″, watercolor, 2001, $50

Escape, 10" x 7", watercolor, 2002, $50 — Escape, 10″ x 7″, watercolor, 2002, $50

Explode, 10" x 7", watercolor, 2002, $50 — Explode, 10″ x 7″, watercolor, 2002, $50

It’s funny how labor intensive this business/hobby is. I’m not a fan of this busy work but it all has to be done, holiday or not. Actually, it’s kind of therapeutic in a way. A chance to reflect on the process of mark making and the pure joy I felt while making them. #feelingexcited – and that feeling is like abstract expressionist fireworks exploding inside of me on the 4th of July. <3

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