Women Painting Women

I was thrilled to find that one of my paintings was posted Monday on the excellent  Women Painting Women blog. This blog went viral shortly after its inception...it's such a brilliant idea! In fact the blog even inspired a recent gallery exhibition, a very well-received much written-about exhibition, at the Robert Lange Studios Gallery in Charelston, SC.

                                Hazel & Katie, 28" x 44", oil on canvas

So it was a wonderful surprise to find myself having a moment in this blog's limelight! Thank you so much  Diane F. and the rest of the WPW gang. I'm truly honored!

Small Works 2010

Tangerine Rose, oil on linen on board, 7 x 5 inches, 2010

I am in a small works show that opens today at Artists' House Gallery in Old City Philadelphia.  I have several small pieces in this show that includes many of Philadelphia's finest representational artists like Renee Foulks, Daniel Miller, Carolyn Pyfrom and Peter van Dyck. Both of Artists' House receptions are always wonderful, but I prefer the Sunday one (live classical guitar, coffee and cake) so that's the one I will be attending: if you are planning to come then be sure and let me know!

Small Works 2010
December 3 to December 24, 2010

Receptions:

First Friday December 3,  5 - 8:30pm
and
Sunday, December 5,  1 - 4pm

Artists' House 

57 North Second Street  

Philadelphia, PA 19106  (215) 923-8440    

Wed - Sun 12-5 PM or by appointment

"Stealth" Plein Air for Camphill Exhibit

Guy Alma, Nancy Bea Miller, Ursel Pietzner, Carol Levin

Kim Pelkey, Carol Levin and I staged a successful small scale Plein Air for Camphill exhibit at Camphill Special School's Christmas Cafe today. Here is a shot of Guy Alma, me, Ursel Pietzner (the school's founder) and Carol. Photo taken by Kim.

Main Line Today magazine

Amber Dreaming, oil on canvas, 28 x 20, 2009

Main Line Today magazine ran an article in their October issue on the Philadelphia Sketch Club, an organization I had the honor of joining recently. The online version, which includes several of my images, can be seen here.

Philly Photo Day exhibition

Nancy Bea Miller, Sarah Barr, Lisa Mintzer at the

Philly Photo Day Exhibition
November 11 - 21, 2010
Philadelphia Photo Art Center
Grey Area, Crane Arts Building
1400 N. American Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
215.232.5678
267.324.3268 (fax)
info@philaphotoarts.org

I do a lot of photography in addition to painting. I don't consider myself a professional, even though I have had several photographs bought for book-covers, magazines and websites, and I am occasionally commissioned to take product shots, art shots and head shots. But I still think of it more as a hobby. I don't really know what I am doing, technically. Photography simply satisfies my unflagging impulse for observation and appreciation of this world and self-expression, and in a quick-n-easy way too! I can't be painting 24/7 but I do have a camera to hand at all moments. You never know when something will reach out and grab your heart. When that happens I reach out and grab my camera. As Baudelaire put it:
To glorify the cult of images (my great, my only, my earliest passion)

This is the first time I've exhibited my photography in a gallery setting. On October 28, Philly Photo Day, photographers took their best shot within the Philadelphia city limits and sent it in to the Philadelphia Photo Art Center. The work was catalogued, compiled and printed out on huge banners and hung.


"Leaf Blow on Clearfield Street" (click image to enlarge.) On Philly Photo Day I happened to be driving through the East Falls section of the city when a sudden gust of wind whipped the leaves into a hail of gold. I checked behind me, saw there was nobody coming up and quickly shot the scene. Talk about driving while distracted (just kidding, I of course, stopped the car while shooting.) Steering wheels make good tripods! Rotopods? :-) Prints can be ordered through the PPAC: $10 for a 5 x 7, $20 for an 8.5 x 11. If you're interested in purchasing a copy of "Leaf Blow" contact the PPAC and tell them you want image number 168.

Philly Photo Day Exhibition
November 11 - 21
Philadelphia Photo Art Center
Grey Area, Crane Arts Building
1400 N. American Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
215.232.5678
267.324.3268 (fax)
info@philaphotoarts.org


It is truly an amazingly interesting show, giving a wildly varied portrait of a single day. It should interest Philadelphia historians and sociologists as well as artists and anyone who just loves Philadelphia!

Dear Fleisher Featured Artist

(Clare Day, Giovanni Casadei and me at the Dear Fleisher Preview party last night, Friday, September 24, 2010)
I was honored by being named one of the current Dear Fleisher's featured artists. The list of Featured Artists whose work was raffled off:
Bo Bartlett
Jill Bonovitz
Frances Galante
Nancy Bea Miller (me!)

Silent Auction Artists:
David Brewster
Giovanni Casadei
Tim Hawkesworth
Jane Irish
Kurt Solmssen
Stephen Talasnik

Tomorrow, Sunday, September 26th the Dear Fleisher Exhibition and Sale will be held from 1:00 to 5:00 PM . I donated one 4 x 6 painting to that, as well. I personally feel a debt of gratitude to Fleisher for reasons I won't go into right now, and they are a wonderful part of the Philadelphia community, offering free or low-cost art classes to all comers. So I was very happy to have this chance to show my thanks.

The preview was a fun party! Susan Dineen created gorgeous blue and orange signature drinks she calls Picassos (wish Id thought to take a picture!) and a merry time was had by all.

Art Book Review

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing The Landscapes, by Richard Schmid. A large book, comprised of over 300 reproductions interspersed with Mr.Schmid's commentary and trenchant observations. This is not a How-To book, but rather a retrospective of a lifetime of landscape painting work. Mr. Schmid has two more books in this series planned, one of still life and one of figures and portraits.
My review is entitled A Life in Landscape and is in the current issue of Fine Art Connoisseur, July August 2010.

Upcoming Workshop!

Plein Air Painting Day at Fiorella Farm

Wednesday May 26 (rain date May 27)
9 am to 4 pm
All experience levels welcome, beginner to pro
$125 for the day includes three meals


Enjoy a pleasurable day of plein air (outdoor) landscape painting with me, artist and teacher Nancy Bea Miller, on a beautiful, historic farm hidden away on the edge of the city. Fiorella Farm is a working 3.5-acre organic farm, part of a larger protected land trust, near the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center in the Andorra section of Philadelphia. $125 for the day includes light breakfast, sit-down lunch prepared by chef/farmer Pat Fiorella featuring food grown on the farm, and end-of-day drinks and nibbles.



The day will begin with coffee and muffins and a guided tour of the historic farm and property. For those new to landscape painting, I will present a detailed demo on how to get started and what to aim for. Paint until the lunch hour when participants will be invited to partake of a multi-course gourmet meal in the farmhouse. Painting will continue through the afternoon, with individual instruction on an as-needed basis. This day will end with a convivial group critique/discussion accompanied by drinks and delicious snacks.


Participants must have their own painting equipment although some folding easels will be available for those who need them. To register or for more information contact Pat Fiorella:
215-508-4826 or patlittleflower@yahoo.com

Spring classes 2010

PORTRAIT PAINTING & DRAWING
Thursday evenings 6:30-9:30
April 22 thru June 10 (8 weeks)
Experience level: Intermediate through Advanced
Main Line Art Center (Haverford, PA)
For more info or to register click here or call 610.525.0272
(This class started last week but there is still space available.)





FIGURE IN THE LANDSCAPE
Tuesdays 10 am-1 pm
April 27 thru June 1
All experience levels welcome: beginner thru professional
Classes held at Blackburn Farm in Berwyn, PA
For more info or to register contact the
Wayne Art Center 610-688-3553





I will also be leading a one day plein air painting workshop:
PAINTING at FIORELLA FARM
Wednesday May 26 (raindate May 27)
9 am to 4 pm
All experience levels welcome
Fiorella Farm is a beautiful historic three-acre organic farm, tucked away in a larger protected land trust near the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center in the Andorra section of Philadelphia. $125 for the day includes light breakfast, full sit-down lunch prepared by a professional chef from food grown on this organic farm, and end of day drinks and nibbles.
To register or for more information contact Pat Fiorella:
215-508-4826 or patlittleflower@yahoo.com


Chef and farmwife Pat Fiorella at work in the farmhouse kitchen.



I hope to see some of you soon.
Happy painting,
Nancy Bea
☺

Essay in Fine Art Connoisseur

My essay on contemporary Philadelphia artist John Moore has been published in the current issue of Fine Art Connoisseur, March-April, 2010.
Click text for enlarged view.

Winter Teaching

Young Woman Drawing, 1801
Marie-Denise Villers (French, 1774–1821)
Oil on canvas

This semester I will be teaching one class and leading two seminars:

Portrait Drawing or Painting in Oils
Main Line Art Center
Semester: Winter 2010
Medium: Drawing and Painting
Class Level: Intermediate
Class Schedule:
Start: Jan 28, 2010 End: Apr 1, 2010
Time: Thursdays from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Member - $302.00 Non-Member - $344.00

Explore the fascinating art of the portrait through drawing or painting from the model in a variety of long and short poses. Individual guidance will be given as we study different techniques. Demos will focus on the anatomy of the head and basic facial proportions, seeing values and ways of describing texture. Drawing experience and previous experience with oils is recommended.

I will also be running a two part Beginning to Blog seminar
(please note, space is limited)
at MLAC on two Saturdays, March 20 and March 27 from 10-12 am:
The Artist's Blog I: Nuts Bolts
Semester: Winter 2010
Class Schedule:
Start: Mar 20, 2010 End: Mar 20, 2010
Time: Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Member - $15.00 Non-Member - $20.00
The Artist's Blog II: Content Counts
Semester: Winter 2010
Class Schedule:
Start: Mar 27, 2010 End: Mar 27, 2010
Time: Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Member - $15.00 Non-Member - $20.00

At the Wayne Art Center, I'll be co-leading a seminar:
Painting People from Photographs
Nancy Bea Miller & Alex Tyng
Saturday, March 13, 2010
10 AM-2 PM
$100 MEMBER / $125 NON-MEMBER

Although slavish copying from photos is discouraged by most well-known portrait and figurative artists working today, many of these same artists use photographic references in the process of creating exceptional work. Through power-point presentation we will look at many examples of art painted from life and at least partially from photos. We will compare and evaluate a variety of reference photographs and discuss the pros and cons of different lighting. We will also have time for hands-on experimentation as we practice taking our own photographic references. Participants are encouraged to bring a digital camera with cable attachment or card-reader laptop computer.

For information or registration

Main Line Art Center:
610-525-0272

Wayne Art Center:
610-688-3553

Lilipoh magazine article

An article I wrote about Plein Air at Beaver Farm has been printed in the current issue of Lilipoh magazine. Issue 58, Vol.15, Winter 2010. Heaven in a Muddy Farmyard pages 42-44. Click images to enlarge: