Claudine Metrick

Homewards

2012-01-30T11:57:00.000-08:00

Homewards; 25 x 25 inches, mixed media

I am still playing with the images I found this summer during the Hundred Days Project. And somehow there is an ominous element to these clouds. At times I am compelled to add this strong linear element which could be a shaft of light emanating from above. But somehow it also reminds me of the world of science fiction complete with menacing tractor beams and malevolent unknown forces.

Bereft

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

Bereft; 25 x 25"; mixed media

This is a painting that I finished a few weeks ago, but have yet to post. The color combination was new for me. I think the inspiration for the orange came from a collection of old Bingo cards I recently picked up at an estate sale.

New Directions at the Barrett Art Center

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Estrangement; 25 x 25 inches, mixed media, 2011.

I received word that Estrangement will be included in a group exhibition at the Barrett Art Center in Poughkeepsie, NY. Susan Cross, curator from the Mass MoCA, chose 57 works from over 1,000 submissions. The opening reception is January 21st from 3 - 5 pm.

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Carried on the Breeze; 24 x 24; mixed media

The collage shape in the composition is a piece of an old painting. Again I was excited by the colors in this composition, and enjoyed the playfulness of the shapes and design.

Bear

2012-01-02T05:15:00.000-08:00

Bear; 25 x 25 inches; acrylic on paper

I completed this painting in early fall but I haven't been able to get a good photograph of it. I found a new and surprising palette while painting this. Since then I have focused on incorporating collage elements into each work.

2011-12-26T05:39:00.000-08:00

Pierced; 24 x 24 inches, mixed media on paper

Many of my new paintings are exploring this combination of colored fields with achromatic collage material left over from previous drawings and paintings. The juxtaposition of soft areas of neutral charcoal against the rich vapors of bright paint is exciting.

2011-12-19T05:36:00.000-08:00

Ice Storm; 25 x 25 inches, mixed media on paper

This is a painting from a while ago which I dug out and reworked. I liked the composition, but the previous color palette fell flat. Here it is again with more intense hues, and I think more life.

2011-12-12T05:40:00.000-08:00

Astral Chart; 24 x 24 inches; mixed media on paper

It's an exciting time in the studio right now. Here is another finished piece from the series of work I am currently creating.

Untitled

2011-12-05T10:57:00.001-08:00

24 x 24 inches, mixed media on paper

I feel that I construct these sumptuous images but fall flat trying to title them. So I am asking you - what's its name? Leave a suggestion as a comment.

Trees

2011-11-28T10:19:00.001-08:00

I have been working on a series of charcoal drawings of trees lately. I think they come out of the studies of antlers and skulls I began last spring. The subject matter is appropriate to the season as the neighboring trees are now leafless revealing their amazing inner structures.

Tree drawing, 15 x 14 inches, charcoal

New items for sale on Etsy

2011-10-27T04:11:00.000-07:00

Day 94 from the One-Hundred Days Project 2010

I added some new items for sale online at my Etsy store. Stop by and take a look. Custom framing is also available on all pieces.

2011-10-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have donated artwork for a silent auction to be held this Saturday in Peoria, Arizona. If you live in the Valley and are looking for a day of good music and local art, check out Johnny Fox's Public House. Details on the event and a schedule for the day's music can be found here.

Cyndy has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and having been hit by the current recession she finds herself without a job or, in Arizona, good health insurance. More details about Cyndy's situation and the effort to raise funds for her can be found here.

And a link to my donated painting is here. Come on out, for a good cause.

Paintings on display in New Bedford

2011-10-05T04:31:00.000-07:00

Untitled, 8 x 8 inches, acrylic and crossword on paper

Next Tuesday I am installing five pieces at the Pour Farm in New Bedford, MA. The exhibit will be open during AHA! Night on Thursday, October 13th. Come on by, the bar will be running a beer tasting by Shipyard Brewery during the event.

Something new from the studio

2011-09-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

Untitled, 24 x 24 inches, acrylic and collage on paper

Work from Norton Island

2011-09-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

Today I photographed a snippet of the paintings that I made while in residence at Norton Island. All of my work on the island was oil on paper at 7 x 7 inches. I began my residence with the intention of plein air painting - working outside along the coast. But weather, sun, wind and sheep drove me into the studio not long into the project. Inside I found myself more aligned with my major studio practice, working from memory to create fictitious, abstract, spaces. It was the first time in two years I worked without an audience, and it felt really daring.

One-Hundred Days Project completed

2011-09-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

I recently completed my final painting for the One-Hundred Days Project. In case you didn't know, I spent the summer creating one small painting a day along with sixty other artists around the world. With my residency, vacation, and the start of the fall semester I finished my work a short time after the project was completed. Check out all one-hundred paintings here.

Returned from the Residency

2011-08-15T05:36:00.000-07:00

victoria; 8 x 8 inches, mixed media

I am finally back after nearly four weeks of travelling. The ten days I spent on Norton Island in Maine were incredibly productive and rejuvenating. I left with a collection of new and inspiring friendships and a larger foundation of art-making post graduate school. I have yet to photograph everything that I made on the Island, and today doesn't look particularly promising on that front as it's cloudy and raining. But here is what I do have captured as well as a few shots of the Island itself.

The Bouy Path around Norton Island

The Residents at Dinner

Norton Island Walk

Mossy Cabin

Day trip to Crumple Island

Early Morning Cobwebs

View from Crumple Island

Judith Klein Gallery Opening this Saturday

2011-07-12T06:22:00.000-07:00

Rock, Paper, Scissors, 2010, on view now Judith Klein Art Gallery

A new exhibition at Judith Klein Art Gallery opens this Saturday. Women of Summer features work from over 30 artists in support of the Women's Fund of New Bedford. Two of my own paintings will be on display along with work from University of Massachusetts faculty and graduate students.

The reception takes place in Judith's new location, 98 Williams St, New Bedford MA on Saturday, July 16th from 6 - 9 pm. Come join us!

Variation Number 3

2011-07-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

Variation Number 3, 25 x 25", acrylic and pastel on paper

Winslow Homer, The Artist's studio in an Afternoon Fog

This painting has a particularly rich and beautiful color combination which unfortunately, doesn't show up in the image from the Memorial Art Gallery Collection. It may well be that the print in my book is inaccurate - that is the way of color balance and reproduction. All that aside, the image I was inspired by was a stunning combination of a deep rich brown and translucent ochre complimented by a cool mineral grey and a muted almost-not-violet. I wish there were words...

Homer Variation Number Two

2011-06-28T04:25:00.000-07:00

25 x 25 inches; acrylic and mixed media on paper

Winslow Homer, A Summer's Night

I was quite struck by the dark tones in contrast to the deep dull blue-green in Homer's piece. It was that combination which was the inspiration for this variation. Currently my studio practice is a little uneven and I believe I would benefit from a routine and from establishing a deeper connection with these larger paintings. I think this piece in particular could use some more attention. I'd like to develop the surface and color imparting some deeper richness.

Winslow Homer and New Work

2011-06-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

as yet untitled; 25 x 25", mixed media on paper

Winslow Homer's The Gale

I recently saw The Gale by Winslow Homer at the Worcester Art Museum and was enthralled. I was especially captivated by Homer's palette of warm and cool greys juxtaposed against the inky black of the seaside rocks. My viewing of the painting planted a seed for a series of work based on the color and composition of paintings from Homer's Maine period. The first attempt is pictured above. A second painting based on A Summer Night is under construction in the studio right now.

Work for sale at Spa Shanti

2011-06-11T05:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I installed eight paintings in the upstairs room at Spa Shanti in Johnston, RI. That's shahn-tee - a Sanskrit word meaning peace, rest or calmness. An organic day spa, Shanti offers facials, massage, manicures and pedicures and specializes in selling local handmade products - like my paintings! Below are some shots of my work in the rooms. All work is available for sale. For directions to the Spa, click here. Or for inquiries about the work call - 401.349.0050.

Now available on Etsy

2011-06-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

seedpods; 2008; india ink on handmade paper

Selections from the 2008 Drawing Project are now available on Etsy. Check out the shop here.

Teen Artist Internship Program

2011-05-31T05:10:00.000-07:00

Still Life; 20 x 16; acrylic on paper;
created during my time as a mentor in the Teen Artist Internship Program

Over the passed eight weeks I have been working with a local high school student as part of Artworks! Teen Artist Internship Program. The program was begun in the hopes of giving teens an insight into the practice of a professional artist. As a mentor, the experience has been incredibly rewarding. I conducted an eight-week painting course and worked closely with my student to strengthen her ability in color-mixing and composition. The project culminates in an exhibition which opens at Artworks! next Thursday and remains on display until the end of July. Come join us and show support for these young artists.

One-Hundred Days 2011

2011-05-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

8 x 8 inches; book, collage, paint and chalk

The first week of the One-Hundred Days project is complete. There are more than 60 participants this year and somehow that creative energy really has me focused and going strong. Also I just received a copy of the book showcasing last year's collaboration - One Hundred Days 2010. It looks fantastic! Check it out.

Summer Course

2011-05-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a creative way to spend some of your long summer nights, join us at the Brookline Art Center on Tuesdays for an Introductory Oil Painting Course. We'll learn basic paint handling techniques, composition skills and color mixing.

Exhibition Review

2011-05-22T06:38:00.000-07:00

Work by Mindy Bray reviewed in the Denver Post

The One-Hundred Days Exhibit on view at Hinterland Art Space received a write-up in the Denver Post. Area artist, Mindy Bray, received a good review for her contribution to last year's project. Check it out here.

One-Hundred Days Project 2011

2011-05-21T06:08:00.000-07:00

One-Hundred Days 2011: Night One; mixed media on roofing paper

Today is the first day of the newest One-Hundred Days project. You can follow my work online here. This summer I hope to complete a series of night scenes working on a small format. There are 30 other participants, and you can follow them online here.

Hinterland Opening

2011-05-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

Hinterland Art Space, Denver, CO

Last Friday's One-Hundred Days opening was a success! At Hinterland Art Space in Denver the show was too far flung for me to attend, but some participants in the project skyped themselves to the opening. The work was installed by artist, friend, and project participant, Mindy Bray.

Mindy was kind enough to take photos of the exhibition, and I've posted them below for your enjoyment.

I think the wall with my 25 small landscapes looks fantastic! Thanks Mindy!

Artist Cariane Mack Garside created plein air watercolors throughout the summer of 2010

Mindy Bray created meticulous goauche images from her photography

Video artist John Timmons led the project last year posting a new film each day at midnight

Photographer Jessica Somers showcases a selection of her one-hundred photographs

Copies of One-Hundred Days 2010 the book! And Manipulation Collaboration a project by artist Carol Mack.

The project is gearing up to begin this Saturday! Join us for One-Hundred Days 2011 and spend the summer creating something wonderful. Click here for more details.

Opening at Hinterland Art Space

2011-05-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

This Friday a collection of seven artists who participated in the Hundred Days collaborative in 2010 are showing at Denver's Hinterland Art Space. From video, to poetry, to painting, come out and enjoy the fruits of our online collaborative.

MFA Thesis Exhibition

2011-05-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

MFA Thesis Exhibition

This is the last week to view the Graduate Thesis Exhibition at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Fifteen MFA candidates in fine arts and artisanry are on display at the Star Store in New Bedford, MA.

April Drawings

2011-05-05T04:58:00.000-07:00

Untitled; 9 x 11"; mixed media

Untitled; 11 x 9"; mixed media

After the thesis show went up it was difficult to continue making work in my studio. The solution: start on something small - in size and ambition. I created ten drawings on wood panel using charcoal, shellac, and denatured alcohol. I have put the series aside, and interacting with them again, I am not sure they stand up to scrutiny. They did, however, open up investigation of a new media and challenge the way I was thinking about constructing my previous work. And they were an essential activity to keep me going.

New on Etsy

2011-05-02T04:45:00.000-07:00

Mounds; part of the Hundred Days Project 2010; acrylic on paper

I recently added four new listings for sale on my Etsy shop. Selections from the Hundred Days Project 2010 are available for sale unframed here. Paintings will be rotated on a regular basis, so check back often to see what's available.

Around town

2011-04-19T03:17:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday was AHA night in New Bedford. I attended two events for exhibitions in which I had work, and still had time to take in a lovely installation by one of our ceramics graduates, Amy Uthus.

Grads Hank Gatlin and Mellissa Morris attending One Plus One at Artworks!

detail of painting by Pam Hoss on display at Artworks!

painting by Laurie Kaplowitz at Artworks!

AHA night at Judith Klein Art Gallery

Two of my drawings on the left; on display at the Student Show in Judith Klein Art Gallery

on display at Berk's Militaria, Amy Uthus' installation Invincible Summer

detail of Amy Uthus' Invincible Summer

Thesis Exhibition Review

2011-04-17T05:47:00.000-07:00

Equis; mixed media, 23 x 24", 2010

We received a positive review of this year's thesis exhibition. Read the full article from South Coast Today here.

Summer Residency

2011-04-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.easternfrontier.com/about.html

I opened up my inbox this evening and received word that I was accepted to attend an Artist's Residency at Norton Island in Maine this summer!!! I get to spend eleven days living off the coast of Maine in a log cabin on a small island with twenty other artists. We have kayaks and hiking and ocean views at our disposal, and I am hoping it will be a great time to empty out from the graduate school experience and do some serious painting!

Etsy Shop Now Open!

2011-04-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

lakeside; acrylic on paper; 2010

I have long wanted to sell my paintings online, and today I took the first step - listing four pieces at my etsy store. Check it out. All work is original and competitively priced.

Nature drawing

2011-04-08T05:34:00.000-07:00

Antlers; charcoal on paper; 30 x 22 inches

I am continuing to work from life and work from bones in my studio as I recoup from the large endeavour of the thesis exhibition. In these pieces I've really focused on allowing the image to stay fluid through most of the process and worked to continue searching for the boundaries and edges of this form. How I transition between the surrounding space and the form of the object has been crucial as well. I am exploring soft edges.

Opening reception photos

2011-04-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

The MFA exhibition opened yesterday to rave reviews. Attendance at the event was great, and the work of the fifteen UMass graduates looked fantastic. If you have time, the exhibit is on display until May 12th at the Star Store - 715 Purchase St. New Bedford, MA.

My work; left to right; untitled; end of its rope; and turned on its head

paintings by Mellissa Morris

Hayley Perry, Anthony Miraglia, myself and Mellissa Morris

Fellow grad Hayley Perry and myself with our advisor, Tony Miraglia

Graduate Thesis Exhibition Opens Saturday

2011-03-30T06:06:00.000-07:00

Left; Three; 25 x 25"; mixed media; 2010
Right; Orb; 25 x 25"; acrlyic; 2010

The MFA Thesis Exhibition is installed! UMass Dartmouth students have the entire week to get their pieces hung in the three University Galleries. And some students have quite extensive installation procedures. But for now, my paintings are arranged, hung, and awaiting labels. And I am very pleased by how they look.

Join us this Saturday, April 2nd for the opening reception from 3 - 5pm. The show will be on display until May 12th.

Here are some more photos from install.

Hayley Perry installs her 3-D collages

work by grad student, Mellissa Morris

Arlynn Nobel's stunning pots

A little blip on the radar

2011-03-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

I had never heard of the Stoughton Patch before tonight. But I found they are running a listing of a group show I am in at Judith Klein Gallery in New Bedford.

Promo material

2011-03-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

vote for number 1, if you like this one

vote for number 2, if you like this one

It's time for the thesis exhibition and that means I will be having an exhibition card printed. I already have piles of these laying around which were never handed out for past shows. So this time I am trying to be smart about it - designing a multi-purpose card that I could use up at shows or open studios. But it is late at night, and I can't decide which one I prefer. Any suggestions?

Working from life

2011-03-16T05:53:00.000-07:00

sketch; 23 x 18"; charcoal on paper

I have let a little observational drawing and painting back into my life. A few of us in graduate school have been discussing the feeling that we are "tapped out" in the wake of this high-volume, abstract, painting. And constant production has a way of doing that to you. I think abstract work especially puts a demand on the artist to plumb the depths and invent something from within. It only makes sense then that after a while you will need to fill up on new images and ideas from which to paint. Here is some of that attempt.

I am disappointed in the composition, but as this was a way to get into the studio and work in the face of pressure from the upcoming thesis exhibit, I am not going to be too hard on myself. Suffice to say I needed a bigger piece of paper for this image. But I do think I achieved a wonderful sense of space and expanded my vocabulary of mark-making. Perhaps I'll let you in on more of these exercises in the coming weeks.

New work

2011-03-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

Untitled, 25 x 25", mixed media on paper, 2011

This work is fresh off the presses. I began both of these paintings in late January and early February. I was struck by the idea of the tear as an interruption or interloper and played around with incorporating it into the work. I was also able to transform the sail stitching on the first piece by using it to tie french knots. The size of the thread makes the resulting bundles look like tightly wound metal wire.

Closing Week: Nesting at the Narrows Center for the Arts

2011-03-01T05:05:00.000-08:00

This is the final week for the joint exhibition at the Narrows Center for the Arts. If you intended to see the show, now is the time. De install will happen next Sunday.

In other news, I have a piece on view at Gallery X in New Bedford. And I am framing work for inclusion in a silent auction at Montserrat College of Art in April and for a student exhibition opening at Judith Klein Gallery in two weeks.

It is a busy time of year. And somehow I am squeezing it all in before the big hurrah! of the Thesis Exhibition.

Exhibition photos

2011-02-19T12:54:00.000-08:00

work shown here by all three artists in the exhibit

Nesting opened last week, and the work was well received. Tyler and I visited this Saturday so that I could photograph the exhibition and post images online. I am still having trouble uploading all the images to Blogger, so stay tuned for more pictures from the show.

Nesting will remain on view until March 5th.

Michele created some lovely pairings with our work.
Here is a painting of mine alongside a ceramic piece by artist Ben Anderson.

Here is another grouping - my favourite in the show.

Opening reception at the Narrows

2011-02-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

Red Bird Illuminated; Taleen Batalian; encaustic on panel

The three-person exhibition goes up this week at the Narrows Center for the Arts. The opening reception will be next Thursday, February 10th from 5 -7 pm. Come join us!

End of its rope

2011-01-31T11:05:00.000-08:00

end of its rope; 18 x 18 inches, mixed media, 2010

I have mounted a few of my recent paper paintings onto panels for the upcoming exhibit at the Narrows Center for the Arts. What before were rippled images have now become smooth and seemingly solid. This gave me the opportunity to get some better photos. Here is one of the pieces which will be installed this Wednesday.

Recent work

2011-01-24T12:11:00.000-08:00

equis; approx. 23 x 23"; mixed media on paper

Today I had a chance to photograph recent work. This is a delicate dance between two separate studio locations, ambient light, installation logistics, tripods, and clamp lamps. Can you see why it's daunting?!...I am happy with the quality of today's images although it took quite a few tries to nail the exposure. Click here to see more of the new work.

Nesting at the Narrows Center for the Arts

2011-01-23T12:49:00.000-08:00

turned on its head; 18x 18; mixed media

The details are set for the upcoming three-person exhibition, Nesting, at the Narrows Center for the Arts. Beginning February 4th I will be showing alongside painter Taleen Batalian and sculptor Ben R. Anderson at the Narrows Gallery in Fall River, MA. All three artists utilize imagery from the natural world in their work. Stay tuned for opening reception information. The show closes March 5th.

New work

2011-01-12T10:56:00.000-08:00

Untitled; 25 x 25"

The paintings have become larger lately and the palette has shifted. The mark is more transparent making the clouds or "images" seemingly more vaporous. There are perhaps ten of these larger format works although not all of them use this high-key color scheme. I am hoping to photograph them all soon.

APOG Holiday show extended

2011-01-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

selection from The Firmament Series, 7.5 x 8.5"

Due to the great response that Above Providence Optical Gallery is receiving from this year's Holiday Show the dates of the exhibition have been extended. Works will now be on view through January 31st, so if you haven't had a chance to take it in, there's still time. Click here for more info.

More small drawings

2010-12-18T10:41:00.000-08:00

From time to time I have been working on the series of small charcoal landscapes I began in August. I now have around thirty of these pieces. About halfway through the series, I reoriented the format from horizontal to vertical and began to explore a shaft of light or emanation rather than the nighttime sky. Here are a few more from the series. The rest are uploaded under the portfolio "firmament series 2010".

the pathway; charcoal on paper; 8.5 x 7.5 inches

untitled; charcoal on paper; 8.5 x 7.5 inches

Paper exhibition

2010-12-14T04:27:00.000-08:00

The graduate works on paper exhibition closes today in New Bedford, MA. The show was a success. We displayed a good mix of what the department as a whole is doing with the medium. Below are some photos of the exhibition for those of you who can't make it out in person.

left to right; Liliya Krys, Claudine Metrick, Alison Lutz

left to right; Mellissa Morris, Hayley Perry, Kim Barry

left to right; Kim Barry, Claudine Metrick

left to right; Kevin Calisto, Mellissa Morris

Paper exhibition

2010-12-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

los gemelos; 18 x 18"; mixed media on paper

This Wednesday I will be installing an exhibition of work from the University of Massachusetts graduate department in Gallery 244 at the Star Store in New Bedford, MA. The theme is paper - not just works on paper either, but anything on, of, or about paper. The show will feature work from three fine arts disciplines, painting, printmaking, and drawing.

Opening reception for the exhibition is Thursday, December 9th from 5 - 7 pm. The work will only be up for a short while - one week - so don't miss it. Click here for more information.

This weekend

2010-12-03T04:35:00.000-08:00

selection from the One-Hundred Days project; for sale at the Guyer Art Barn's Miniature Masterpiece show

There is quite a lot going on this weekend for the art-minded in the Massachusetts area. December brings with it holiday sales for small works of art and I am participating in two of them. Above Providence Optical Gallery in Providence, RI has its holiday show on display now. This Saturday, select artworks will be available at 10% off. The sale will run again on Saturday, December 11th.

The Miniature Masterpieces show at the Guyer Art Barn opens tomorrow in Hyannis. All works are under 24 inches in height and width. The reception will run from 6 to 8 and the Barn is located at 250 South St. in Hyannis, MA.

Last, the Boston Neo-politan Chamber Orchestra is hosting their Winter Gala in Cambridge tomorrow complete with a silent auction of local artwork. I donated an oil study of an oriole which is custom framed. Bidding for my work starts at $125 - tickets are on sale for the event at the door for $25.

Recent work

2010-11-30T00:59:00.001-08:00

Turned on its head; 18 x 18"; mixed media

I am finding my recent work quite hard to photograph. I began ripping, tearing, and reassembling the paper upon which the painting is made - at times mis-aligning the pieces. The resulting work looks a bit like a jig-saw puzzle or as I affectionately call them - "franken-paintings". This method is creating all sorts of issues with shadows and edges as I try to capture images of my work. Here is one recent piece that photographed without much of a headache.

Opening Reception Tonight!

2010-11-18T05:23:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Show at Above Providence Optical Gallery opens tonight! The gallery is located at 75 Weybosset St. in downtown Providence and will be open from 5:30 - 7:30pm. On display are a selection of paintings and drawings from local artists. If you're looking for something unique and handmade for Holiday gift giving or if you just want to check out what artists in the Providence area are making - come visit!

Art in the Windows, Brockton MA

2010-11-16T04:10:00.000-08:00

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I will be participating in Art in the Windows - an exhibition program sponsored by the Fuller Craft Museum. Artists take-over empty storefronts in downtown Brockton, MA for temporary exhibition spaces. Untitled will be installed this week in time for Brockton's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

BNCO Silent Auction

2010-11-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Oriole; oil on panel; 15 x 15 framed; 2009

This morning I opened my inbox to find that my painting, Oriole, was accepted for inclusion in a charitable Silent Auction for the Boston Neo-politan Chamber Orchestra. The event is December 4th from 7 - 10 pm at the New School of Music in Cambridge, MA. Opening bid on this piece - which comes custom framed - will be $125. Click here for details of the event.

Acrylic painting class now enrolling

2010-11-04T04:40:00.000-07:00

I am running a three-week acrylic painting course at the Fuller Craft Museum this coming December. The course is four hours long - a great chunk of time for a painting class - scheduled for Saturday from 10 - 2pm. We will learn basic acrylic painting techniques, color-mixing, and work from still-life set ups to improve our ability to see light and color. Come join us in what will be a great way to spend a winter morning! Click here for details.

Last week's opening reception

2010-10-30T15:18:00.001-07:00

If you didn't get a chance to make it to the opening of Lines and Forms at Above Providence Optical Gallery, you can follow the link for photos of the event. click here

Happenings around town

2010-10-29T04:37:00.000-07:00

There is a lot happening for me in the way of exhibitions and classes. The Providence Optical show, Lines and Forms, opened last week to a good crowd. The work looks great, if you're in the Providence area, take a walk across the river and check out the lovely abstract drawings of Taleen Batalian and Emily Vickers, as well as my own work.

The solo show at the Guyer Art Barn comes down this Sunday. So there's still time to take a look, if you haven't already. I am getting good feedback about the work and installation. One artist and teacher at the space told me she feels "enveloped" by the paintings while she works in the gallery - such a good word.

And last, my Drawing Workshop begins next week at the Fuller Craft Museum. We will be engaging in some exercises that will push your ability to see and construct form. And of course, having a great time doing it. There is still time to sign up - click here.

New work

2010-10-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

mixed media on paper; 18 x 18"

This work was husbanded along last week by one of our more traditional painting professors at UMass. If I had a quarter for every time he shook his head and said "I don't know what it is you're trying to do here, but"...(good advice to follow). It is however, one of my recent successes in the studio. The forms in this piece are not necessarily clouds rather they are a type of ambiguous mass placed in a rather ambiguous space; but it holds together spatially. And that's what excited me. The stitching, color, and composition are all working together to create an abstract space which is delightful and exciting to look at. If anyone has a suggestion for a title, I would be happy to hear it.

Latest Cloud Painting

2010-10-17T10:21:00.001-07:00

virga, mixed media on paper, 18 x 18"

Things are really starting to gel in the studio. I took time at the beginning of last week to hang all of my work-in-progress in a separate clean space. It gave me time to take a good long look, and coupled with insight from other graduate students, I was able to push ahead and complete three or four pieces. The painting pictured above turned out particularly well.

Above Providence Optical Gallery

2010-10-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

The three-person drawing exhibition opens this Thursday at Above Providence Optical. Third Thursdays are gallery night for the greater Providence area so it should prove to be a great time to get out and see what's on in the city. I will have selections from the Drawing Project and the Firmament series on display alongside work by Taleen Batalian and Emily Vickers. Should you need more enticement you can check out artist Taleen Batalian's fabulous images at her website.

Lift opens this Saturday

2010-10-07T05:13:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of activity on my blog lately, but I wanted to remind you all that the solo show at the Guyer Art Barn opens this Saturday! We installed 18 pieces last weekend and the show looks great. Come out and join us in Hyannis from 6- 8 pm this Saturday October, 9th. (Some of the exhibition cards had a typo - so, no, the opening is not on Friday...) The address for the Barn is 250 South Street, Hyannis, MA. Click here for more information.

Aerial view

2010-10-05T04:21:00.000-07:00

firmament series: aerial view; 7.5 x 8.5 inches; charcoal on paper

Thinking about the Firmament series, I took a chance and changed the viewpoint creating two images from an aerial perspective. In doing this I am referencing topographical imagery; and this drawing in particular seems to be about more than just the land - crevices and folds in the human body perhaps. I have left this brainstorm behind in favor of the emanation image that I posted on October 2nd.

Drawing Exhibition

2010-10-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

emanations; 8.5 x 7.5"; charcoal on paper

I just got word that some of my work from the Firmament series, as well as the Drawing Project from 2008, will be included in a drawing show at Above Providence Optical Gallery. The space is filled with lovely light and crown molding, and sits atop an optical shop on the narrow streets west of the river in Providence. The show opens October 21st - more details to follow.

Abstraction

2010-09-30T05:03:00.000-07:00

"untitled"; about 10 x 8"; mixed media and acrylic on paper

The work is shifting and changing a lot right now as I home in on what it is I want to say for my graduate thesis. This particular piece was originally part of a larger painting which had gotten out of my control. My advisor and I discussed a variety of ways to fix the composition when he focused on this specific area and made the case that it worked as its own painting. So I took the scissors and cut it out.

Fuller Craft Museum classes

2010-09-23T05:40:00.000-07:00

The dates for the Fuller Craft Museum classes are set. I will offer a Drawing from Life course for three hours on Thursday evenings in November. We will work from observation and engage in some exercises which will give students a better understanding of form and composition. The class is designed not only for the 2-D artist but also the 3-D artist who may use drawing to support their major studio practice.

In December I will offer an Acrylic Painting course on Saturday afternoons. Designed with the beginner in mind we will introduce value, color-mixing, and composition. Both courses are part of a reintroduction of drawing and painting curricula at the Fuller Craft Museum. Click here for more info.

Last week of the Blanche Ames National Juried Art Exhibition

2010-09-21T04:13:00.000-07:00

If you were planning to get out to Borderlands State Park to view this year's Blanche Ames Exhibition, this is your last week. Over 50 works of art were chosen from submissions sent in from throughout the US. On display are the best in regional and national painting, sculpture, and fiber works. The show closes Saturday, September 25th. Click here for more details.

Created last Thursday

2010-09-19T17:24:00.000-07:00

untitled, 18 x 18"; acrylic and mixed media on paper

I am moving forward with my plan to combine color and collage in a series of 18" square paintings that seek to represent the sky. I am not concerned so much with creating a realistic space, but rather with trying to explore the composition and push the colors and textures while retaining a good structure and cohesiveness. I think this effort was pretty successful!

Lift at the Guyer Art Barn

2010-09-16T05:03:00.000-07:00

This October I will have a solo exhibition at the Guyer Art Barn in Hyannis, MA. On display will be two bodies of work that seek to expand the concept of drawing using mixed media and monochromatic washes. The show will be installed Saturday, October 2nd and will be on display until October 31st. The opening reception is Saturday, October 9th from 6 - 8 pm. Come join us!

Firmament series

2010-09-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

firmament series; 7.5 x 8"; charcoal on paper

My experience of the Hundred Days Project has spawned a series of small charcoal drawings. These pieces investigate the nighttime landscape with the idea of depicting the sky or the heavens in a spiritual context. I expect to complete a small series of these - nowhere near the 100 I just completed this summer - and then use the series to begin a body of larger black and white paintings dealing with images of the firmament. To view the rest of the project click here, or use the link to the series on the right under the "portfolios" heading.

Clouds and stitches and doilies, oh my!

2010-09-11T11:39:00.001-07:00

This summer's Hundred Days project has segued into an interest in abstracted spaces and images of clouds. This painting more than the few before it uses the abstract space as a "sky". I feel like the paint is treading into the territory of Turner's tumultuous sunsets and stormy skies - would that I could be that masterful.

Completion of 100 Days Project

2010-09-05T07:43:00.001-07:00

I finished! The One-Hundred Days project was a collaborative effort this summer involving about 35 artists across the country. And I have finally made it across the finish line - albeit a little late. I completed my final painting this past Thursday and posted the final three images today. Click here to view the project in its entirety, or follow the link on the right.

Very new work

2010-07-30T05:08:00.000-07:00

number 1; acrylic on paper; 10" square

number 2; acrylic on paper; 10" square

number 3; acrylic on paper; 10" square

I can't quite say what this is yet. The One-hundred Days project has reawakened an interest in paint and what it can do - especially big, thick , juicy paint. These larger compositions are made with the idea of breaking down the traditional representation of place and of experimenting with the medium. But I can't say I am entirely happy with the results. So far I am most satisfied with number 1 in the series where I maintained a lot of the traditional paint-handling and methods of rendering space but played with and stretched the color harmonies. I am really out on the edge of what I know right now feeling around in the dark, so we'll see what comes of it.

New Bedford Art Museum Garden Party

2010-07-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

This Friday the New Bedford Art Museum holds its Garden Party fundraiser in conjunction with its exhibition of prints from one of Audubon's elephant folios. The Museum has invited local artists to interpret prints on exhibit at the museum and donate the artworks to the museum for a silent auction. The work I will be donating is pictured above and based on Audubon's plate titled Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. Don't miss your chance to bid on and own an original work of art -click here for tickets.

Hundred Days Showing 2011

2010-07-20T04:32:00.000-07:00

My long-time painting compatriot and friend, Mindy Bray, had the idea that we should look to exhibit our One-Hundred Days project as a group. And last Monday she secured a venue for us in Denver, CO. This May, Carianne Mack-Garside, Mindy, myself and a few other 2010 participants will be exhibiting our projects in their entirety. Here's a link for the gallery - and I'll keep you posted!

Coming this October

2010-07-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

It's a little early to advertise anything having to do with this show. But i just finished designing the exhibition card, and I am rather proud of how it turned out. So here it is - the advertisement for my solo show this fall on Cape Cod.

Portfolio updates

2010-07-07T13:21:00.000-07:00

untitled 51 x 27" acrylic and mixed media on paper

I finally photographed the work from my Spring semester of graduate school. It's not all edited and uploaded yet, but you can look for some of it under the portfolio link to the right - 2010. Or click here.

The Blanche Ames National Juried Art Exhibition

2010-07-02T15:11:00.001-07:00

I got word today that I was accepted into the Blanche Ames exhibition at Borderlands State Park. The exhibit will be in the Ames' Mansion on the park grounds. I am particularly excited by this opportunity as we live near the park and it has become a dear place that my husband and I love visiting. Turns out, Blanche Ames, the original owner, was a painter in her own right and housed her studio in the stone mansion on the property. There will be a catalogue published along with the exhibition - my first. And an opportunity to finally see inside a building I have been so curious about.

New Bedford Art Museum's Garden Party Auction

2010-06-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

This year the New Bedford Art Museum has asked local artists to interpret the prints of John James Audubon. The Museum is exhibiting a selection of pieces from an original elephant folio issued by Audubon and currently in the collection of the New Bedford Free Public Library. The interpretive artworks will be auctioned-off to raise funds for the Museum during their Garden Party on Friday, July 23. The above picture is what I am working on for donation. It is based on Audubon's print of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker pictured below. For tickets to the event, click here then follow the link.

Beginning Oil Painting

2010-06-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

The seven-week summer course at the Brookline Arts Center is set to run, and it promises to be a small class with lots of one-on-one instruction. If you are looking for something relaxing to do on Tuesday nights this summer, come join us at the Brookline Arts Center for three hours of painting!

Biota opening

2010-06-08T13:50:00.001-07:00

The show opened in Lynn last Friday, and let's just say it was a very exclusive crowd. Carianne and I are both pleased with how the work looks in the space and how it compliments each other. The exhibit will continue until July 2nd so if you haven't seen it yet, there's still time. Click here for directions.

The street-front view of the gallery

A good sampling of the work and the space

Award

2010-05-28T05:22:00.000-07:00

I attended the opening for the 2nd Juried All Media Exhibition at the Grimshaw-Gudewicz gallery and found that my painting had been selected by the juror for the cash prize! It was very exciting news.

The juror, David B. Boyce, is associated with the New Bedford Art Museum. He curated the show and awarded the cash prize and a three person show to three other artists in the exhibition - Katherine Lovell, Joan Luce Allen, and our very own UMass painting grad, Hayley Perry. In all, the show featured five members (current and past) of the UMass painting program. It will be on exhibit until June 30th at Bristol Community College in Fall River, MA.

Portfolio Updates

2010-05-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

One of the big projects of the summer (amidst the many) is updating my online portfolios. I created so much work over the last ten months and much of it was never photographed or uploaded online. So keep an eye on the links at the right as I will be archiving images into the portfolios as they become available. From time to time, I may post them here as entries as well. Pictured below are three of a series of larger acrylic rooster studies completed this winter. An image of one may have already been uploaded to Blogger, but this picture is much better in terms of color.

Hundred Days to begin Monday

2010-05-22T16:59:00.001-07:00

Yes, the project officially begins today; but the end of the semester, the move of the studio, the Biota installation, and the weekend of catering work are resulting in a late start for me. Check in on Monday to see what I will be working on for the Hundred Days project at www.claudine-metrick100days.blogspot.com It should be exciting.

"Biota" at Lynn Arts

2010-05-19T14:15:00.001-07:00

(left) the gathering; Claudine Metrick

(right) falling into place; Carianne Mack Garside

The show went up at Lynn Arts today - and may I say, it looks fabulous. Carianne and I both had a struggle to get ourselves out to Lynn, MA today; but installation was a breeze. And we're both now looking forward to our June 4th reception. If you can, come join us on from 2-4pm Friday, June 4th - you can follow the link for directions. The work looks great together and the gallery space is gorgeous with street-front windows and gobs of natural light.

(left) the way it goes; Carianne Mack Garside

(middle) adrift; Claudine Metrick

(right) harbinger; Claudine Metrick

South Shore Annual Faculty Show

2010-05-17T13:35:00.001-07:00

oriole 16 x 16" framed; oil on panel

I just dropped the oriole off at the South Shore Art Center today for the faculty show that begins on May 21st and runs through July 11th. I am hoping that having the work exhibited will drum up interest in the two courses I am offering this summer at the Center - Introduction to Acrylic Painting and Tonal Drawing.

The painting was completed this winter when I was working on one sitting bird studies. I have framed it with a box-style frame I built myself - included in the photograph. I've been doing a lot of framing lately for the upcoming exhibitions at Bristol Community College and Lynn Arts. I think they're turning out quite well.

Submission Accepted

2010-05-14T04:50:00.000-07:00

I got word last night that I had a piece accepted to the All Media Juried Exhibition at Bristol Community College in Fall River, MA. The show goes up on May 26th with opening reception Thursday the 27th from 6 - 8pm. Come out and join us for a good show.

Brookline Artists' Open Studios

2010-05-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

I just participated in Brookline's Open Studios yesterday and the feedback was great, as always. It's so important to take the artwork out of the studio and out of the context of grad school and be around people whose aim is simply to enjoy it. Thank you to everyone who turned out and to the lovely woman who purchased one of my small studies - and to Heather Wang who traded a painting for some stunning jewelry.

I will be teaching at the center on Tuesday nights this summer. We're offering a seven week course in oil painting for beginners. So if you've always wanted to learn how to handle the media, come join us. You can register here.

More from the new series

2010-04-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

51 x 25" charcoal, acrylic and stitching

still Untitled

51 x 25" acrylic and charcoal

still Untitled

51 x 25" acrylic
Dissipate

These three pieces are part of my current studio work. I had them home for a teaching interview last week and thought I would get good photographs to post online. They top two are, as yet, untitled; but I don't expect they will remain that way. The last image will be on display this June at Biota in Lynn Massachusetts.

One-Hundred Days

2010-04-25T04:44:00.001-07:00

I will be participating in the One-Hundred Days project this year - an event that brings together artists across disciplines to create one work everyday for the duration of the project. Yep, one-hundred pieces of art. It was begun a few years back by my friend, Carianne Mack Garside and has been a unique and interesting experience in which I am excited to participate. I have yet to set up the blog where I will maintain the project, but rest assured there will be a link. For now you can visit the home base to peruse work by all the artists involved.

New drawings

2010-04-18T08:05:00.001-07:00

51 x 25 " mixed media

Things have exploded for me in the studio right now and I couldn't be happier. I began a series of black and white drawings 51 x 25" in size. The one pictured above is the third in the series, and since then I have completed five more. I am looking to quickly create ten in total and then return to them and explore some of the elements that are working in longer pieces. It's going to be a busy summer.

Any thoughts on a title?...I'm looking for suggestions.

New drawings

2010-03-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

12 x 12" charcoal on Arches

approx. 20 x 16" ink, charcoal and yarn on Arches

20 x 20" charcoal, acrylic, and yarn on Arches

I began these pieces in our Friday studio class. I am trying to combine the image of the bird with the stitching that I began last semester.

New painting

2010-03-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

I started a series of roosters in acrylic paint. These pieces are 24 x 24" and going very well. I felt so relieved to be working with paint that dries quickly. I am able to lay on a color and a mark then restate it immediately if I want. There are still some technical issues I would like to resolve with the paint; i.e. it seemingly flattens when it dries. But I am well on my way to figuring that out with some new mediums and natural bristle brushes. I apologize, the color in the photo posted above is a little off. I will repost photos in a couple of weeks when the series is finished.

Natura closed last Friday. We were sad to take it down, but the feedback we got was overwhelmingly positive. Thanks to everyone who attended and offered encouragement.

New exhibit and classes

2010-03-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

Natura is up in New Bedford and it looks great. Artist Mellissa Morris and I were down there today organizing and hanging the show. We decided to hang our works in pairs - one of her small encaustic landscapes with my slightly larger bird studies in oils. I am posting photos below. The work will be on exhibit until March 12th from 9 -4 Monday through Saturday at 715 Purchase St. New Bedford, MA.

This summer I will be teaching another introductory oil painting workshop at the Brookline Arts Center. It's a great thing to do on a summer night and typically the class sizes are modest giving me lots of time to interact with students. If you know anyone in the area looking to add a little art to their lives, let them know about the course. The class will run on Tuesday nights from 6:30 until 9:30 pm beginning June 29 - and ending August 10. The catalog will be out soon and I will post an update on registration when I know more.

Below are photos from the current Natura exhibit.

Just begun today

2010-02-24T14:18:00.000-08:00

I should likely resist the urge to post photos such as this one which are not entirely in focus. But I can't. I began this in the studio today in hopes of doing something slightly less demanding than a painting. It was cloudy and rainy outside and I simply didn't have the energy to worry about color. As I develop this piece, I plan to use some actual stitching into the ball of thread at the bottom right.