Tag Archives: Penny Santy

Naturally Human

Penny Santy’s new art exhibition of oil paintings at Axom Home will be on display through September 18, 2026, so there is plenty of time to see it – however, the sooner you go, the sooner you can lock in your purchase before someone else beats you to it.

Axom Home is located at 661 South Avenue, Rochester, New York 14620.

The gallery is at the back of this home goods shop.  The artwork is surrounded by contemporary furniture and accessories and that helps customers visualize how these paintings will look in their own home spaces.  It is such a clever idea, as most people tend to overlook their walls when shopping to furnish their homes.

Penny Santy‘s paintings are a mix of abstract lines and figurative images with legs peeking out of clouds of beachy energy.  It is one of those now-you-see-it second take thingys.  The landscapes are fun to decipher.  Others are a bit more traditional yet created with the same depth of contrast, line quality and color schemes that define her recent work.

There are smaller works too, for those who would like to start collecting art.  I think one oil painting at 8″ x 8″ is priced at only $300 (above).

I attended the reception yesterday and I was so impressed with this wonderful place and with the way Penny’s art blended so well with all the other elements.  It is a must see.

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I love this store!  I bought a clock.  I love shopping in a well-curated store that also sells art.  It is a match made in heaven.  They also offer interior design services.  See their website for the details.

In the Haus

Penny Santy, Michelle Keib, John Paul Gardner, Robin Cortese and Karmin Schafer are the artists exhibiting in the new show at Art Haus (120 Walton Street, Syracuse, New York 13202).  Marianna Raineri-Schwarzer has put together a lovely show for us to ponder – the exhibit is called Ponderance.

Penny Santy has been represented by Art Haus for the past year.  If you want to buy something of hers, you must act fast.  She sold two paintings at the reception yesterday and possibly more – I left before it was over.  Penny is also a graphic artist.

Michelle Keib comes from a family of artists.  Although she is self taught, she is quite proficient in her renderings and her line quality is exceptional.

John Paul Gardner is a trained artist/scupltor and art teacher from Utica, New York.  His artwork here – paper collages that he plans to use as paper maquettes for future sculptures.

This is Robin Cortese’s first foray into sharing her paintings.  She brought a slew of collectors (from her charitable fund raising volunteering) to the reception (and cookies!).  I think she sold everything in her collection.

Texture is a big component in Karmin Shafer’s artwork.  I did not see her at the reception so no photo.  Hers were the curled birchwood pieces and some abstract text paintings.

The show and sale runs through February 21, 2026.

 

The Santy Abstracts

Penny Santy had a pop up show at The Atrium, a downtown Syracuse venue that is currently sponsored by CNY Arts.  They have several more events planned until the end of the year (2024).  Next year the building will be renovated into an apartment complex.

This is the first time Penny has exhibited all of her abstract paintings together – works that were three years in the making.  She is influenced by Diebenkorn among other Abstract Expressionists, as well as music.

She sold many paintings during this weekend pop up.  If you want more information or wish to purchase a painting, find her at www.pennysanty.com.

Implications

Get to Edgewood Gallery ASAP and witness these colorful, infused-with-energy-and-love paintings by Penny Santy and the late Barbara Vural. Many have been sold but a few are still available for sale. You must hurry because the exhibition is coming down this Friday (April 12, 2024.)

Penny’s newly created abstracted figures are enjoying time on a beach – windsurfing, playing tug-of-war, waterskiing and boating, while Barbara’s abstracted shapes are purely non-representational – and among the last she’d created. She was working in her studio two days before her recent passing.

In addition to these beautiful images, Esperanza Tielbaard is selling “natural elements” jewelry. And there’s glass-works (marbles as sculpture and pendants) by Doug Williams, as well as ceramic items by David McDonald.

Edgewood Gallery is located at 216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse, NY 13224. They are a frame shop too – proprietor Cheryl Chappell is the best in the biz. Call (315) 445-8111 for further information.

Hours of operation –

Tuesday – Friday: 9:30 am – 6 pm     Saturday: 10 am – 2 pm     Sunday & Monday: closed

Delavan Holiday Party!

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My friends and I had a lot of fun in the journey of traveling through the labyrinth that is the Delavan Center.  It is a building west of Armory Square that houses artist studios.  There was open house last night.  The party continues today until 4:00 pm.  The Delavan is located at 509 W. Fayette Street in Syracuse, New York, 13204. (315) 476-9001

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You will find lots of treasures!  Artists are selling paintings, ceramics, sculpture, clothing and jewelry – buy something for yourself or to give as gifts this holiday season.

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So fun!

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Come This Way

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Point of Contact gallery is located in The Warehouse building, 350 W. Fayette Street (near the intersection with West Street) in Syracuse, New York.  It is an annex of Syracuse University located in the Armory Square area of town.  Its mission is to provide an arts dialogue with the community focusing on Latin American culture.

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In the summer, however, the gallery opens its doors to a juried exhibition, welcoming all local artists to participate.  Currently, Sum Art 2017 is up until mid-August.  The art reception was last night.

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For some reason, every time I enter this gallery, it starts out feeling like Dr. Who’s Tardis – bigger on the inside.  Last night, as I winded my way around the exhibit taking quick snapshots here and there around the many patrons who attended finding myself in the second room and nearly impaling myself on a tall wooden sculpture, I realized that idea is an illusion.

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It isn’t so big and yet, this show really packs a punch.  So much to delight in – to see.  Large scale works and tiny collage pieces.  Realism in both painting and ceramics juxtaposed with pricey abstracts.  There was something for every individual aesthetic.

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Last year I bailed on this show, lol.  I made up for it last night, even getting an Instagram fashion post out of the dealio – thanks to contributing artist Penny Santy (photo cred)!

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BCBGMaxAzria romper, belt and clutch, BCBGeneration booties

Maybe next year I will go a step further and enter my artwork…. (???)

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Gallery Hours: The gallery is open Tuesday-Saturday, 12-5 PM to the general public.

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What’s Right is Left

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Dolce Vita World Bistro is across the street from Syracuse Stage – at 907 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, New York.  The restaurant serves international cuisine, hosts musical and theatrical events in collaboration with Syracuse University and promotes local visual artists via monthly art exhibitions on the walls of its dining room.

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Friday night I attended the opening reception for What’s Left, an art show combining the talents of Le Moyne College colleagues Erin Davies and Penny Santy.  The title is derived from a Robin Williams quote –

What’s right is what’s left if you do everything else wrong.

The show features wood collage pieces by Erin and oil paintings by Penny.

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Meredith Cuddihy on violin provided the musical entertainment.   There was wine and cake, and other yummy fare, as well as friendship, camaraderie, and lots of fun!  It is always very special to support my friends in all of their endeavors and of course, any excuse for a party is a good one, especially now – we are weathering a severe cold spell in Syracuse, New York and no one really wants to hunker down in their respective shelters to wait it out.

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According to their web-site, Dolce Vita is open Monday – Thursday 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Wednesday – Friday 11:00 am – midnight, and Saturday 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm.  They schedule private events on Sundays.  If you are interested in scheduling one, making a reservation or checking out the wonderful art, call (315) 475-4700 for the deets.

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The Power in Penny

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By day, Penny Santy is a graphic artist.  By night and weekends, she becomes a powerhouse superhero – an oil painting phenomenon who captures the essence and beauty of (as well as the struggle to find) the perfect relationship in a work of art.

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I love having conversations about art with Penny.  She was recently in Baltimore for the Diebenkorn and Matisse show and spoke passionately about the brush strokes and the artists’ implied intention resulting in their ultimate successful choices on canvas.  It is this attention to things that Penny brings to her own work, a constant questioning of what instinctively works at any given time.

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This is reflected in her literature.

My motivation for creating art is a search for what makes humans tick, and for finding emotion in the painted image. My work is derived from an exploration of human strengths, struggles, accomplishments or destruction. What is great about making art is that it goes much deeper than the outward appearance of things. I’m always searching through the process of painting for what is below the surface. The process allows me to discover, and I am excited by what I find. My paintings aren’t trying to present answers, but to ask questions.

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Penny reworks paintings until they are to her satisfaction, whether it is the better choice of blue for a sky or the slightest value change in a complementary color scheme to tweak the flow of rhythm that is constantly in her vortex.  Her presence as an artist is truly captivating.

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I am really impressed with this new body of work, how it defines her vision, a place hovering between reality and abstract, which generates considerable movement with breathtaking perfection.

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She sold several of these paintings at the opening last night at the Wilson Art Gallery in the Noreen Reale Falcone library at Le Moyne College (1419 Salt Springs Road, Syracuse, New York 13214).  I observed patrons fighting over pieces (“okay, I’ll get that one and you can have that one” type stuff).  It was really magnificent to witness her success.  She is the real deal and I encourage anyone who wants to acquire her work to do so now before she skyrockets to the fame she deserves.

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The show is titled Between Us.  In addition to the butterfly series, Penny is sharing works she’d made for juried exhibitions including the winning entry from that Adirondack show and the Bowie-inspired one from the Tech Garden show last year.  Her hen and sunflower paintings work as well here, as they reflect her proficient technical skills while fulfilling her criteria to share rhythm with respect to relationships between objects, nature and people.

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The exhibition continues through February 24, 2017 and can be viewed during library hours.  Call (315) 445-4153 for more information.

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Make it a Penny Santy day today!  Head over to see this show then take a drive out to Earlville, New York.  You can meet Penny at the Earlville Opera House Art Gallery  (18 East Main Street, Earlville, New York 13332) where she is exhibiting her series of bull paintings.  There is an art reception from noon to 3:00 pm today!

Cows & Bulls

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Penny Santy’s bull paintings are currently hanging on the walls of the Chittenango Middle School library.  She will be visiting us on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 for an artist talk during 10th period!  In honor of her visit, four of my Art-8 classes created cows and bulls in both acrylic paint and oil pastels.

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I have them hanging on the walls of the hallway outside of my art classroom.

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The oil pastels are done on black Strathmore paper.  Students created the drawings on white paper, transferred them onto the black using graphite paper (which introduces a bit of magic, and you all know I love magic!).  Then they painted out the lines in black acrylic and went to town with the pastels – creating rhythm and texture via their own individual styles.

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The acrylic paintings went through the same initial process – drawn on white paper, transferred with magic .  Students were also encouraged to create their own styles, although I did have a handout to give what I call Ms. Tash Pearls of Wisdom.  These are pointers to mixing colors so that one color ends up permeating throughout the canvas.  Raw Sienna is that color.

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Black outlining was an option.  Penny Santy utilizes complimentary color schemes.  Most of the pieces she is exhibiting have an orange/blue color scheme.  I was pleased to see so many colorful animals, purple cows and red bulls, lol, as well as the rest of the rainbow.

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I wonder which ones I should enter into the Scholastic Art Awards competition?  I like them all!  Thank you, Penny Santy, for being such a marvelous inspiration to my kids!

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Dressing the Part

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BCBGMaxAzria dress, Guess sandals

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BCBGMaxAzria dress, BCBGeneration sandals

I am back to work and school!  It is fun getting dressed up, not so fun going into a building with no air conditioning, but I adjusted to it within days.  And today – it actually felt cold in here!

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Trina Turk dress, BCBGeneration sandals

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Michelle DaRin jewelry, Trina Turk top and skirt, BCBGeneration sandals

I spent the summer in exercise clothes, bikinis and shorts.  I hiked seven miles a day and did pilates twice a week or so.  Working on fitting teaching into my exercise schedule, lol.

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Vintage necklace, Bailey 44 top and skirt, BCBGeneration sandals

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BCBGMaxAzria top, Trina Turk skirt, BCBGeneration sandals

As for artwork, I took down my art show at the Sullivan Library  in Chittenango, New York, and I plan to exhibit the Talisman paintings in October at the Half Moon Bakery and Bistro in Jamesville, New York.  Eight paintings are still on display in the Lawrence Pavilion at Summit Medical Group in New Jersey.  They will be there until January, I think, unless the show gets extended.

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BCBGMaxAzria dress, Coach booties, Honora necklace

Penny Santy is showing her paintings in the Chittenango Middle School library!  She will give a presentation about them on November 15, 2016.  I am planning to do some projects based on her work.  Four classes will be doing oil pastels or paintings of cows and bulls as part of my SLO tests.

In addition, I’m planning lessons on George Rodrigue, Jasper Johns, Keith Haring, Wolf Kahn, Japanese wood block prints and Greek mythology.  So fun!

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Bailey 44 top, BCBGMaxAzria skirt, Nine West sandals

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Banana Republic top and skirt, Michelle DaRin jewelry, BCBGeneration booties