Food Farm and Community

Carolina Creations Fine Art and Contemporary Craft Gallery at 317 Pollock St, in Downtown New Bern announces their new show Food, Farm and Community. This show celebrates the work of the farmer and the artists love of the land and their community. The show features work by four North Carolina Artists, Sally Sutton, Janet Dixon, Brenda Behr, and Janet Francoeur. The show opens during ArtWalk, September 12, 2014 5-8 pm. 

Sally earned her master's degree in drawing and painting from ECU in 2013 and a Bachelor’s Degree from Cal State, Long Beach. Her works in this show were inspired by her visits to Raleigh Farmer’s Market. She also has many new works that involve the sunflower. The sunflower has a connection to spirituality and symbolizes many things. The way the flower turns to the light symbolizes a search for spirituality for her. The Chinese see sunflowers as symbolizing long life.

Janet Dixon has studied at the Cape School of Art in Provincetown, MA, as well as with several nationally known artists. Like the other three artists in this show she works both in watercolors and oils. She concentrates on color relationships, patterns and light and shadow. Janet loves the rural nature of Eastern North Carolina and finds inspiration for her work from her surroundings.

Edge of Night Cotton Field     Brenda Behr

For Brenda Behr, painting is her second career. Brenda earned her BFA in Communication Arts and Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, for 33 years she worked in advertising. She studied both oil and watercolor painting at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and has studied with many nationally known painters since. She paints every day, switching back and forth between oils and watercolors. She speaks for all of the artists the show when she says that she is more likely to paint in watercolors when her painting is about the subject matter, and more likely to paint in oils when light is the subject of the painting. Cotton fields are one of her favorite things to paint in oils and each year looks forward to fall for that reason.

Janet Francoeur has a BA in drawing and printmaking from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan. She too worked in commercial art for many years while showing her fine art through shows throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Colorado. Prior to moving to New Bern in 1989 she worked in pen and ink. Being inspired by the beauty of Eastern North Carolina in the spring she has since added watercolor, oil, and ceramics to the mediums she uses. 

Ready Set Go     Janet Dixon

Full of color, this show epitomizes the beauty of our state.

The show runs though October 31, 2014. For more information contact the gallery at 252-633-4369 or email info@carolinacreations.com.

Commission for local bank

Sound Bank Commissions Janet Francoeur Original Painting

for New Bern Branch

Sound Bank has commissioned renowned local artist Janet Francoeur to create an original painting that will hang in the recently opened New Bern location.  Janet is well known for her beautiful watercolor and oil paintings of New Bern and the surrounding area.  She and husband, Michael, both artists are owners of Carolina Creations on Pollock Street.

Francoeur has recently finished the piece, which she has titled Racing Toward the Sound.  The painting depicts a sailing fleet racing down the Neuse River toward the Pamlico Sound with the New Bern waterfront in the background.

Phil Collins, President and CEO of Sound Bank said “We are pleased and honored that Janet agreed to paint this piece for us.  She is such a distinguished and gifted artist and her work is synonymous with New Bern.  Janet loves this area and it shows in her work.  In Racing Toward the Sound,” she has captured the distinctive and special feel of this community.”

Sound Bank will unveil the painting during its ribbon cutting celebration on September 17th and the original will hang in the branch for all to enjoy.   To celebrate the opening of the New Bern location, the first 100 customers to open a new checking account with an opening balance of $1,000 or more will receive a matted, signed and numbered limited edition print of Racing Toward the Sound.  The accounts must be opened in the New Bern branch.

The new branch is located at 1801 South Glenburnie Road.  Sound Bank is a community bank based in Morehead City with current assets of over $150 million and full service branches in New Bern, Morehead City, Beaufort and Cedar Point and a loan office in Jacksonville.

On the Web: www.soundbanking.com

 I really enjoyed doing this painting!  It measures 30 x 40 and is one of the largest oils I've done!

ArtWalk September 12, 2014

MARK YOUR CALENDAR TO COME ON DOWN

FOR ARTWALK

SEPTEMBER 12

5-8 PM

AT CAROLINA CREATIONS

OUR FEATURED ARTISTS ARE

BRENDA BEHR (ART ON ARTWALK CARD)

SALLY SUTTON

JANET DIXON

JAN FRANCOEUR

Painting lately

Since we have a show at Carolina Creations coming up that I am a part of I decided I better do a few paintings for it!

 

The Flying Melon Cafe is on Ocracoke, we had a lovely meal there the last time we visited. I loved the entryway.

 

This is from a visit to a flower shop in the Triangle.

 

And each Wednesday at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill they have a Farmer's Market right in one of the lobbies.

Baby sets

It was about 3 years ago that I was asked to do a baby set for one of our good customers. Since then I've done well over a hundred sets! I'm always trying to come up with new ideas.
Here are some of the sets I've done.

I can personalize them too!

I've done more designs than this but don't have photos of them all.

If you'd like to order a set, email us. $58 with Bless this child. Add 20% to add name.

North Carolina and USA Calendar Elaine ONeill

For the fourth year in a row we have North Carolina Elain O'Neill's calendars. Elaine is a fabric artist, creating her "paintings" using fabric instead of paint!

And close to our hearts is that fact that a percentage of the proceeds of this calendar is shared with the NC Cancer Hospital at UNC. In the past four years she has donated over $23,000 to the hospital through sales of the calendar.

For each of Elaine’s calendar pages, she begins with a rough sketch of the featured location or theme. Then, she chooses the fabrics for that month from a wall of colorful options in her home studio. From there, the fabrics are cut into shapes and forms that are sewn together to make each of the twelve 36 x 36 textile collages for the calendar.

After the pieces come to life in thread and fiber, Elaine has them photographed and begins the production process that takes her original collages from studio to printed page. As a complete calendar set, the collage images find their way into the homes of Elaine’s annual collectors.

The calendars cost $29.99, click on the image to see how to purchase.

New Bern City Hall - stop in and see this beautiful piece, or click the image to see the details or to purchase.

Plein Air Workshop with Dan Nelson October 2014

Plein Air Workshop with Dan Nelson
October 17-19, 2014
You can do 1, 2 or 3 days.
       1/2 day Friday is drawing 6-9 pm, Saturday 10-4 plein air, and Sunday plein air 10-4 and/or in studio. For weekend $250, only Friday $55, only Saturday $110, only Sunday $110. Saturday and Sunday $220. We need 12 people for the workshop to go forward, It will take place in New Bern.

Learning to paint outside can be intimidating...if not down-right scary. The real world seems so overwhelming when you are accustomed to painting from photographs. And then there are issues with equipment, the elements, dogs, kids, wildlife, bugs, lunch...and not getting arrested!

     Dan Nelson is one of North Carolina's most intrepid plein air painters.

     He can be seen working on beautiful paintings all across our state and beyond in nearly every kind of weather and setting. He is anxious to share what he has learned from his many experiences with those who are ready to "jump into the deep end" of scenic painting.

     In this class he will cover his "Six Secrets of Successful Landscape Painting" plus all the ins-and-outs of painting outside. Don't be left wondering how to construct a captivating landscape.

     These secrets are not only key, so is their order. Students will learn the step-by-step throught process that results in landscapes that turn heads - focused light - intentional composition - rich texture - inviting perspective, balanced color, believeable objects.

Supply list
This is not a medium-specific class but Dan is going to paint with acrylics for his underpainting, and oils on top.
     You may use Dan's acrylics if you don't want to bring your own. If you don't want to use oils, you may finish your painting with your own acrylics.

      The following list is ONLY for people who feel the need for some guidance. If you already have paint the colors you have are just fine.

Acrylics
Warm blue (like Phthalo blue), cool blue (Ultramarine Blue), warm red (Naphthol Scarlet), cool red (Alizarine Crimson), warm yellow (Indian Yellow), cool yellow (Lemon), burnt sienna, raw umber, titanium white, medium  Golden or Liquitex medium
Oils
Warm blue (Phthalo Cyan), cool blue (Ultramarine Blue Deep), warm red (Naphthol), Cool red (Alizarine), warm yellow (Yellow Deep), cool yellow (Hansa or Lemon), raw umber, red oxide, titanium white.
Optional purple (Dioxazin), green (Sap or Permanent or Viridian, yellow ochre, ivory black
Medium for Oils
Charvin Quick Dry Painting Medium or Winson Newton Liquin
Brushes
Any normal assortment of bristle brushes will do. but you must have at least one brush 2" wide. My favorites are filbert bristle brushes. For signing my paintings I use a high quality watercolor brush size 2.
Canvases
Bring 4 smallish canvasses from 10 x 12" to 16 x 20", plus one larger one 16 x 20 up to 24 x 30
Plein Air Easel
You must bring an easel for painting outsoors.

Friday night of the workshop is optional, Friday October 17 from 5-9 pm, where we will concentrate on drawing.
Saturday and Sunday October 18 and 19 10-4, will be painting.

We will meet at the Francoeur's Studio at 229 E Front Street, each day. Friday night will be in their studio, Saturday and Sunday will be outdoors.

Please arrive early so we can start on time!

Bring your lunch so we don't miss any painting time.

Questions? Give us a call at 252-633-4369

Click here to sign up!

About Dan - If you combine three parts painter, two and a half parts musician, a pound or two of inventor, and a heaping tablespoon of show-off . . . you just might come up with a Dan Nelson, Art Adventurer Extraordinaire. Dan made his living for decades as a freelance illustrator, winning competitions in everything from street painting to sand sculpture. At the same time he began mesmerizing audiences by producing 8-by-10-foot masterpieces in the streets and parks of Raleigh, North Carolina, his hometown. Besides setting up his plein air easel anywhere from California to Cote d'azur, Dan spends much of his time doing Live Art Performances in cities large and small, painting at festivals, concerts, and fund-raisers. He has painted for the NC Symphony, the Carolina Hurricanes, IBM, Glaxo Smith Kline, and many of the major Corporations across the Triangle and beyond.

Pocket Monkey Clever Tool

We sometimes find our most clever things as we are shopping in other places. It's like a busman's holiday, shopping when we are traveling. I spotted this cool tool, and purchased one "just because" in January when we were in a science shop in Manyunk. It looked neat and was made in the USA. Always looking for things for our men's section.

So when we got home I tracked them down and they are a big hit!!

This SUPER thin tool can just about save your world in almost EVERY circumstance!

 It fits perfectly in your wallet to ensure you ALWAYS have it on you!

...AND if that wasn't enough.. it's only 1 ounce!

I mean, come on... Would you rather carry this around all day?

Yeah, we wouldn't either! Now, for it's features! Drumroll please....

The obvious bottle cap opener, but who doesn't have one of those hanging around on a belt or keychain?! We need MORE!!

...like a banana nicker!

OR for the forgetful who always loses their keys.. a DOOR LATCH SLIP to get inside!

FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER! One of the most commonly needed tools - now in your back pocket! Need we say more.

HEX WRENCHES! 5 sizes of standard English hex-bolt/nut wrenches nested into one another. Slip the tool over a bolt-head and slide sideways until you find the right size. Convenient and easy to use!

A FLAT PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER?? That's right! The cross blade isn't the key to the phillips head pattern. It's the angled tip. This novel 2-D phillips screwdriver works!

PHONE KICKSTAND! Insert your credit card to make a stand for your touch phone.

Now you can measure those small details that life throws at you!

By now, we know what your thinking... I HAVE TO BUY ONE FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON I KNOW!

And guess what! YOU CAN!!! Just check out our website and order away! Click Right Here.