Annette Ragone Hall

2011-12-31T12:49:00.000-05:00

This is my Expressive Flower greeting card, front and back. See my previous post for thumbnail images of the fronts of other cards I have designed.

Greeting cards you won't find at Hallmark

2011-12-31T12:40:00.000-05:00

Did you know that Hallmark cards are printed in China and that it's hard to find a greeting card at a Hallmark store that is blank inside? I don't know if such cards are scarce in all Hallmark stores, but when I checked the Salisbury, NC, Hallmark store about a week or so ago, there was only one card that was blank inside. And, it was small, with very limited space for writing anything.

In this age of e-mail , e-cards, and text messages, a traditional card, especially one that has a hand-written message from the sender inside instead of a mass-produced Hallmark sentiment, is something loved ones and friends will treasure, and save. I make my unique cards using images of my original paintings. Most of my cards are approximately 8.5"x5.5" (either vertical or horizontal) and they're no more expensive than a Hallmark card. Many other artists create affordable greeting cards, so support a local artist and send a memorable greeting card!

In my next post, I'll show an example of one of my whole cards, front and back.

New line of jewelry: Limited-edition Pendants

2011-11-25T13:24:00.001-05:00

Samples of Images for Annette's Limited-Edition Pendants

I have a new line of jewelry: limited-edition pendants made from printed images of my original artwork. See above for samples of these images. There are many more to choose from. I will make only 100 pendants from each image, so once I reach the 100th pendant, no more will be created from that image. Each pendant will have the title and edition number on the back (e.g., 5/100) as well as my name. Right now, the only place you can order a pendant is at Stitchin' Post Gifts in Salisbury, NC. I'll be there this evening from 5pm - 9pm during downtown Salisbury, NC's Holiday Night Out, talking about how I make them and taking orders. I'll announce later where else they can be ordered. They are a great price, only $25. They'll be great as a unique gift for the women or girls in your life.

My latest jewelry painting: "Undersea World"

2011-11-18T18:14:00.001-05:00

Undersea World - Acrylic on paper

Here is my newest jewelry painting. I love the cool blue-green and pink/purple/orange colors. I'll be showing this at Stitchin' Post Gifts on Friday, November 25, 2011, from 5pm - 9pm during downtown Salisbury, NC's Night Out. People enjoy seeing these paintings and learning about how I create my jewelry. If anyone wants to save this painting from the cutting board and hole punches, they can have it for $600. Otherwise, it's going to be in pieces sometime in the near future.

A new jewelry painting: "Lady Bug Garden"

2011-11-11T13:41:00.000-05:00

"Lady Bug Garden" - acrylic on 140#, full-size, hotpress watercolor paper

This new painting, which I've already started cutting up to make hand-painted jewelry, is the first one of my jewelry paintings that isn't purely abstract. I wanted to create a garden painting for this new collection of jewelry and it had to have lady bugs in it. As originally painted, and shown here, there were 18 lady bugs scattered throughout the image. I'm thinking of adding a ladybug to most, or maybe all, of the pieces after I've finished cutting up the painting. Having them everywhere on the original painting would have looked odd, but having one strategically placed on each cut-up piece will look really cool and make each piece even more unique.

Before I started cutting up the painting, I took it to a special event at Stitchin' Post Gifts, where my jewelry is sold in Salisbury, NC, and talked to people about how my jewelry is made. When people see my finished jewelry and learn how it's made, they're always impressed; they are even more impressed when they see one of my paintings before it's cut up.

Artists: put yourself on The Arts Map

2011-11-11T13:17:00.000-05:00

I became aware of TheArtsMap.com from one of Ariane Goodwin's recent smARTips newsletters. TheArtsMap.com is an interactive worldwide map of artist's studios, galleries, arts organizations, museums, arts events, and more. Listings on The Arts Map are free and searchable in many different ways. To create a listing for yourself, your arts organization, or your arts-related business, go to www.TheArtsMap.com and click on "create new listing" under the logo.

According to their web site, "Originally created to help the public find artists' studios, The Arts Map, with listings in 90 countries, has evolved into a global geographic interface providing access to artists, galleries, museums, public art, arts organizations, art schools, art services & supplies, and more. The Arts Map is, and will always be, a work-in-progress."

Right now there are over 6,100 listings on the map from all over the world. As word of this great marketing tool spreads, there will be more and more points added to the worldwide map. Be sure to add yours and spread the word!

The listing I created for myself is here: http://www.theartsmap.com/detail.php?id=9776.

When you're wearing it, you're wearing art

2011-06-10T14:25:00.000-04:00

Until this month, I had been selling my hand-painted jewelry on consignment at a couple of galleries in North Carolina and at the gift shop at the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kauai, Hawaii. The sales were slow and I finally came to the conclusion that women are more likely to buy my jewelry if it's available in a boutique or gift shop where clothing is also sold. So, I decided to start selling my jewelry on a wholesale basis only, to nicer boutiques and gift shops. To that end, I created some POP (point-of-purchase) and jewelry display materials, came up with a tagline, designed a two-page web site, ARHallDesign.com, designed and ordered some new business cards, put a whole lot of new jewelry pieces together using some new glass I found that I like better than what I was using before, and set out to make my first sale.

This past Friday, I took a large selection of my jewelry and my POP and display materials to a very nice gift shop here in Salisbury, NC, called Stitchin' Post Gifts. They really liked my unique jewelry and purchased a nice selection, more pieces than I've sold previously as a whole on consignment! It was quite encouraging. I hope their customers like my jewelry so much that it sells out quickly and I get a call for replenishment.

One thing I learned from Pam Coffield, the owner of Stitchin' Post Gifts, and her staff, is that silver is the "in" color for jewelry. Gold isn't as popular. So, my latest collection, Swirly Gig IV, has only silver bails on the pendants, and the color scheme of the acrylic painting from which all the pieces were created was painted with silver in mind.

My next step is to continue to build my jewelry inventory with beautiful new pieces created from new paintings, and make the rounds to gift shops and boutiques all over North Carolina, and then on to the surrounding states. As an added incentive, I am giving shops who want my jewelry exclusive rights to sell it in their local area. I like selling on a wholesale basis much better than on consignment. You get paid up front!

If you have any nice boutiques or gift shops in your town where you think my jewelry would be a good fit, I would be very grateful for the referral.

Below is a sample of some 2" pendants from my new Swirly Gig IV collection. As my new tagline explains, "When you're wearing it, you're wearing art."

Samples from Annette Ragone Hall's "Swirly Gig IV" jewelry collection

Wanna know a secret?

2011-04-30T16:51:00.000-04:00

Each of my hand-painted jewelry pendants and earrings is unique, but I don't paint each one individually. If I had to do that, I would have to charge WAY more for each piece. What I do is create one large acrylic painting on paper, and then CUT IT UP. I have to say it is very, very painful to do that, and I've agonized each time I make that first cut because I really, really like the paintings as is. But, if I want to make my jewelry affordable, that's what I have to do. I could save the master painting and have a high-quality giclee printed and cut that up, but then it wouldn't be hand-painted jewelry, would it?

I'm going to do something I haven't done before, which is to show everyone what one of my jewelry master paintings looks like. I completed this painting a few days ago. It's 21.5" x 29.5" and I haven't made that first cut yet. I'm dreading doing it! The pieces from this painting will become my Swirly Gig III collection. If anyone wants to save this gorgeous painting from the cutting board and circle punch, make me an offer I can't refuse! Otherwise, it'll make some fabulous jewelry, which you can purchase from Southern Spirit Gallery in Salisbury, NC, the gift shop at the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Hawaii (on Kauai), or directly from me by coming to my studio in Salisbury.

- Master painting for Swirly Gig III jewelry collection by Annette Ragone Hall -

An article by Artist Jack White that all artists should read

2011-04-23T20:14:00.000-04:00

12 Steps to Failure, by Jack White
I want to share the article at the above link with you, which originally came to me today via my online subscription to FineArtViews Newsletter. It is an excellent, excellent article that all artists who want to make a living with their art should read and take to heart. It's extremely enlightening. It made me rethink a few things.

Excerpt:
"In North America, there are an estimated 20 million people who, by definition, are called artists. Less than 8% of those earn $1,000 or more a year from their talent. Are you one of the millions earning less than $1,000 a year? Are you in hiding?"

Beside Still Waters

2011-04-20T18:25:00.000-04:00

Beside Still Waters
Acrylic on Canvas
36" x 48"

I did something a little different last year by painting this fairly straightforward landscape. I was in the mood for something other than a floral or abstract image. But, like most of my other work, the scene is purely from my imagination. I originally had thought of a different name for it, but someone came to my studio and saw it shortly after I completed it. It was still on the easel. She said it reminded her of the 23rd Psalm. I immediately knew that I needed to rename it, so I did. I think the painting is quite serene and felt like posting it to my blog today.

Daffodils Discussing the World Situation

2011-04-06T16:06:00.001-04:00

Lately, I've painted more abstracts than florals, so I decided to get flowery again. It's spring and it's bustin' out all over, so daffodils were the perfect subject. I painted this 36" x 36" piece for Rail Walk Studio & Gallery's "It's Hip to be Square" show. The show runs through May 28th.

Daffodils Discussing the World Situation
Acrylic on canvas, 36" x 36"

April issue of Carolina Arts is online

2011-04-01T18:39:00.000-04:00

The April edition of Carolina Arts, a publication covering the visual arts in the Carolinas, is now online. If you want to know where to go to see fabulous art, this is a great resource. It’s amazing what’s going on in the visual arts in NC & SC. It makes me want to leave my studio, jump in my car and start driving! There is an article on page 19 about Rail Walk Gallery's "It's Hip to be Square" show (I'm one of the artists whose work is on exhibit). I have an ad on page 18. Download the PDF and read it at your leisure. At least 45,000 people downloaded last month's issue. Anyone who is an artist, or who has an art-related business or organization, should consider advertising. The rates are very low, and the husband-and-wife team running it are really generous people.

April Issue of Carolina Arts

"Spring Has Arrived"

2011-03-31T18:00:00.001-04:00

- Spring Has Arrived -
Acrylic on canvas - 6"x6"

I painted this small piece for the new exhibition at Rail Walk Studios & Gallery, "It's Hip to be Square." I have a total of eight pieces in ths show. All the participating artists have created works of art in a square format. I've been painting on square canvases quite a lot in the last two years. That format is very appealing to me. Not sure why; perhaps it's the pure symmetry, which is quite a contrast to my loose style.

The show opens Saturday, April 2, 2011, with a reception from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Lots of "square" food will be served. We hope to see everyone arrive wearing their "square" attire. There is an art and music event going on next door at Looking Glass Artist Collective at the same time, so there is plenty to do Saturday in the Rail Walk Arts District.

Rail Walk Studios & Gallery is located at 409 N Lee Street, in Salisbury, NC. Plenty of free parking. For those who can't make it to the reception, regular hours are Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The show runs through May 28, 2011. Be there or be square!

Another example of the jewelry from my "Swirly Gig" collection

2011-03-17T17:57:00.000-04:00

1.5" hand-painted pendant with post earrings

I started creating hand-painted jewelry about a year and a half ago. I've always loved earrings and pendants or necklaces and purchased many of my favorite pieces from artists at art festivals. I didn't want to be a jewelry-maker myself per se, but I kept wanting to create some wearable art that was reminiscent of my paintings. I spent quite a bit of time thinking about how I could do that, what kind of materials I would need, what the process would be, etc. I finally figured it out and have been happy with the result. My pieces range in price from a small pendant for $10 to a set consisting of a large pendant and 2 earrings (like the set above) for $45. Each piece has a unique painted image topped by glass. No two are alike. The earrings are for pierced ears. The bails on the pendants are gold- or silver-plated. The earring posts are the same. Currently, Southern Spirit Gallery in Salisbury, NC, has my jewelry for sale, and I also sell it out of my studio. Prices are the same no matter where they are purchased (shipping is extra). I am working on getting my jewelry into other retail outlets.

"A Tribe of Iris": reference photo and finished piece, a comparison

2011-03-17T17:28:00.001-04:00

inspiration for "A Tribe of Iris"

A Tribe of Iris - Acrylic on canvas - 12" x 48"

In my last post, I commented that when I use photos as reference for my paintings, the finished piece doesn't look like the original photo. I said I would show an example in my next post. Well, here it is! Be sure to click on the image of the painting so you can see the detail better.

"Through a Glass Lightly"

2011-03-14T17:57:00.000-04:00

Through a Glass Lightly - acrylic on canvas - 20" x 20"

This painting came strictly from my imagination. When I create the majority of my floral paintings, I am trying to capture the impression of flowers rather than any botanical accuracy. What I think makes this painting interesting is the contrast between the organic shapes of the flowers and the rectangles and lines in the area on which the vase rests. I often paint florals out of my imagination. When I use photographic reference, the painting never looks like the photo. In my next post, I'll show a reference photo and the painting it inspired.

Special gift on March 12th for the 2nd Saturday Art Walk in Salisbury & Spencer, NC

2011-03-11T19:08:00.001-05:00

Swirly Gig Collection - 5/8" pendant -

Each month art studios and galleries in Salisbury and Spencer, NC, host the 2nd Saturday Art Crawl. Rail Walk Studios & Gallery, where I have my studio, participates. Artwork from seven artists is on display.

This Saturday, March 12th, I'm offering a special gift to anyone who purchases at least $100 worth of artwork from me. The gift is one of a my small hand-painted pendants. They are 5/8" in size and are tiny acrylic paintings under glass. This size normally retails for $10.

Rail Walk Studios & Gallery is located at 409 N Lee St. in Salisbury, NC.

Pale Pink Tulips

2011-03-01T13:20:00.003-05:00

Pale Pink Tulips - watercolor on paper - 14.5" x 10.5"

I wanted to create a tulip painting in watercolor that was more subdued in color than my usual style. I also wanted to use broad shapes and a lot of indistinct edges. I was inspired by my "Shy Tulips" painting. I like how it turned out.

Launch to the Moon

2011-02-24T18:53:00.000-05:00

Launch to the Moon
Acrylic on canvas - 6" x 6"

I had started this piece and was trying to decide how to finish it. At the same time, I was working on some other pieces specifically for our exhibit at Rail Walk Studios & Gallery called "The RED Show" and had the sudden inspiration that all this piece needed was a bit of red. That did the trick!

Red Sky Sunset #2

2011-02-11T16:41:00.000-05:00

Red Sky Sunset #2
acrylic on canvas, 6"x 6"

The painting above is one of seven that I have on display in The RED Show, a group exhibit by artists at Rail Walk Studios & Gallery in Salisbury, NC. The painting I posted here on January 29th is also one that I have on exhibit in the show. Our opening reception was last night and we had a very good turnout, even though it was a cold Thursday night with lots of competition from other events and activities around Salisbury. One of our visitors commissioned me to do a watercolor painting for her. A couple whom I had invited to the reception and who purchased a large piece from me in December 2009 told me they want to commission a series of three paintings to hang together in their living room. I'll be going to their home in the next week or so to see where they want them to hang so I can get an idea of the scale.

The RED Show was scheduled to end on February 26th, but the art exhibit by members of Rowan Arts Council that had been scheduled for March was cancelled, so we're leaving The RED Show up through Saturday, March, 26th.

About The RED Show:
If any month is associated with any color, the month is February and the color is red. All of us artists at Rail Walk painted, sculpted, and interpreted the color red for this show. The color red has the longest wavelength of all the colors that are perceived by the human eye. Red invokes strong emotions from bliss to rage. We hope you will feel bliss as you look at our work. The walls are filled with red!

Rail Walk Studios & Gallery is located in the Rail Walk Arts District in Salisbury, NC, at 409 Lee Street, and is open Saturdays, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and by appointment. For more information about RWS&G, visit www.railwalkgallery.com.

An Overwhelming Sense of Red Is Making Me See Spots

2011-01-29T18:05:00.000-05:00

"An Overwhelming Sense of Red Is Making Me See Spots"
Acrylic on canvas - 5'x5'

I decided to be whimsical in naming this piece. I created this painting for an upcoming group show at Rail Walk Studios & Gallery, which opens on February 5, 2011. The opening reception is Thursday, February 10, 2011, from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Our theme for the exhibit is RED. This painting is the "reddest" of the pieces I've created so far for this show. It's a large painting, 5 feet by 5 feet. Anyone who wants red to command a spot in a room, this painting will do the trick!

When I started it, I covered the entire canvas with red and stood back and looked at it. I almost left it that way because it looked so vibrant and commanding! But, that sort of minimalism isn't my cup of tea (at least not right now), so I started adding shapes and other colors. I like the color green I used; I find it very soothing, which is a nice counterpoint to the bold red. I had to be careful that the painting didn't turn out looking like Christmas colors. It might be red and green, but it's certainly not a Christmas painting.

Approaching Storm - acrylic on canvas

2011-01-13T16:20:00.001-05:00

Last summer, my husband and I went to Carolina Beach, which is just south of Wilmington, NC. I was inspired by that visit to paint this piece. It's not from a photo, just from my imagination. I wanted to capture the feeling of a dangerous surf and an impending, dark storm. There was no storm while we were at the beach, so I don't know why I was inspired to paint something with this theme. Perhaps I just like drama!

Approaching Storm, 14" x 18" x .75", acrylic on canvas.

"There Are Mysterious Places"

2011-01-03T17:28:00.001-05:00

This is a 5-foot x 5-foot acrylic painting on canvas. It would be a perfect painting around which to decorate an entire room. It makes quite a statement. I wanted to try a color scheme I haven't used before, and darker than I usually paint. I like how it turned out.

"There Are Mysterious Places" - 5' x 5' acrylic on canvas

"Ascension" - I have a large painting in a public art project

2010-11-04T20:15:00.000-04:00

I've been away for several months and haven't been able to make any posts, but I have been busy creating art. This is an image of my 8' x 4' painting that is part of the new public art display in the Rail Walk Arts District on the corner of N Lee and E Kerr in Salisbury, NC. Four other painters and one sculptor provided their talent and time to create these works of art for the public to enjoy. The building's owners paid for the supplies, the lighting, the mounting, and the unveiling event on 11/3/10. No taxpayer money was used in this project!

Link to article in my local paper about the unveiling

Portrait of Karen: Contemplation

2010-08-05T15:38:00.000-04:00

After a three-week visit to my folks in Virginia to take care of my mom after her back surgery, and then a very pleasant week's vacation at the beach, I'm back at my studio.

Right before I left for Virginia I completed this portrait of a fellow artist, Karen Frazer, for an exhibit at Rail Walk Gallery titled "Figures & Faces." This is my first studio portrait using acrylics. I had done one portrait study in acrylics a couple of years ago, but didn't attempt a full-scale portrait until this one. I think it turned out very well. Her husband said he loved it and that it looks exactly like her. That's quite a compliment!

Offline until August 1, 2010, for family time and vacation

2010-07-22T15:38:00.000-04:00

I won't have computer access until I return (not that I mind! It's nice to be in the analog world for a little while).

"Symphony in Orange & Violet" and "Glorious Hydrangeas"

2010-06-14T18:10:00.000-04:00

Every 2nd Saturday of the month, we artists at Rail Walk Studios and Gallery in Salisbury, NC, where I have my studio, participate as one of the venues in an art crawl. 17 galleries and studios in downtown Salisbury and nearby Spencer participate. The art crawls started in April of this year. We hope, over time, to draw people from the greater region who don't realize how many galleries and studios there are here. We want Salisbury and Spencer to be destinations for art collectors as well as Civil War buffs, railroad buffs, and history buffs. Salisbury is just five minutes off I-85 at exit 76. It's a straight shot from the exit to downtown. All the galleries downtown are very convenient to get to from I-85, unlike those in Charlotte.

During the art crawls, I take my watercolor painting supplies up to the front of the gallery by the big glass window and our front door and paint while visitors come in and out. I don't paint large works in watercolor very much anymore, mostly because of the high cost of matting and framing them, but I still love watercolor. I paint small pieces during events like the art crawl because I can stop and talk with people without the paint's drying on the brush and palette like it would with acrylics. And, I can mat them and enclose them in clear plastic bags for display and sale.

"Symphony in Orange and Violet" (18"x12"), the first image below, is a watercolor piece I started during our May crawl, but never finished. I had forgotten about it until this past Saturday's art crawl when I opened the cover of my watercolor-paper block with the idea of starting a new painting and saw it in there, waiting to be finished. I was able to finish it this time.

During the art crawls, I tend to paint a lot of little greeting cards in watercolor, which make wonderful, inexpensive gifts (just $10). "Glorious Hydrangeas" (4.75" x 3.5"), below, is one of these paintings, which I did this past Saturday. I paint these on card stock that has a watercolor-paper texture with a deckle edge.

Note: I put a copyright notice on these two images because I uploaded them at a large size. I wanted people to be able to see their detail well, but I don't want the image to be useful for people who would happen across them and perhaps want to use them on an item they intend to sell. I don't think that any of you who come to my blog to see my work would do that, only people who scan the web for art images to appropriate for their own use. Do you find that the copyright notice is intrusive? If so, I won't do it in the future, but will just upload smaller images.)

"Bird Empress"

2010-06-04T12:29:00.006-04:00

This painting was an experimental one. I didn't have an image in mind because I started it to show a fellow artist how you can get watercolor effects with acrylic paint. I brushed on different colors of paint thinned with water and Golden's Acrylic Glazing Liquid, just letting it flow and blend on the canvas. My fellow artist quickly got the point, so I set the painting aside for later.

A few days later I came back to it to see what I could do to finish it. I kept some of the watercolor-ish effects, but then started into a completely different direction. As I looked at the shapes, I saw something birdlike on the left and decided to emphasize that idea. I also decided to add mixed-media elements to it to make it more textural. I sprinkled glass beads of different colors in various places, then poured a heavy coating of glossy acrylic medium onto the canvas. I then laid down pieces of flat cut glass and some colored rhinestones for the eyes and for the tops of the head-feathers. I overdid the glossy medium a bit, so it kept oozing off the sides of the canvas. I had to scrape it off as it flowed until it finally set up enough to stay where it was. The rhinestones floated around during that part of the process, so I had to keep moving them back to their positions using tweezers. Even with that bit of difficulty, the piece turned out nicely. The layer of glossy medium is thick and looks glasslike. It's a very unique piece.

"Bird Empress" - 6" x 6" acrylic on canvas with glass, beads, and rhinestones. $100.

"Shy Tulips"

2010-05-29T17:43:00.000-04:00

This watercolor painting was painted on Ampersand Gessoboard. Working with this hard, non-absorbent surface was quite different from working on watercolor paper. I wasn't happy with the way it turned out because I found that I was putting on more paint than I usually do for a watercolor piece. It ended up looking too heavy, so I started washing off a lot of the color. All of a sudden, a new painting emerged, one that was soft and very different from my usual style. I set it aside for awhile to think about it and to decide if I would do more work on it. The more I looked at it, the better I liked it the way it was, so I left it alone. I am happy with the result.

Rail Walk Arts District in Salisbury, NC, is transforming an old warehouse area

2010-05-20T17:39:00.000-04:00

I did a presentation today about Rail Walk Studios & Gallery and the Rail Walk Arts District for the Rowan Rotary Club and thought I would provide a link to the Powerpoint show for those who would like to see what it's all about!

http://www.railwalkgallery.com/Other/RailWalkStudios&Gallery.pps

The building shown below was an industrial warehouse, back in the day. See the before-and-after photo in the presentation at the link above. This building, and the entire 300 and 400 block of N Lee Street, is being transformed into an arts district where you can see and buy beautiful arts and crafts, listen to musical performances, watch plays, enjoy dance-troupe performances, hear poetry readings, and much more.

"Life Glow V" is a winner in the Manhattan International Arts "The Healing Power of Art" competition

2010-05-13T18:49:00.000-04:00

Life Glow V is one of the paintings in my series "Life Glow: the Light of Creation." It is a winner in the Best Work on Paper category in the Manhattan International Arts "The Healing Power of Art" online competition: http://www.manhattanarts.com/Gallery/HealingPowerofArt_2010/index.htm.

To see other paintings in this series, go here: http://ragone.com/index_files/ARHall_LifeGlow.htm

"Meandering Through Life"

2010-05-05T13:54:00.000-04:00

Sometimes as soon as I look at a finished piece, the title just pops into my head. That is exactly what happened with this one.

"Along the Dotted Line"

2010-05-04T19:33:00.000-04:00

This is another of my 6" x 6" acrylic paintings on canvas. Whenever I finished a painting session I usually have some unused paint left over. I hate to waste anything, especially expensive paint, so I use the unmixed colors that remain on my palette to paint background colors on already gessoed canvases. This particular painting started out with a green background, though not the green color that you see in the finished painting. The background does influence the colors on top, though.

The White Heron Gallery grand opening

2010-04-28T16:38:00.001-04:00

The White Heron Gallery in Dunn, NC, is celebrating its grand opening Friday, April 30, 2010, and Saturday, May 1, 2010. There is a large selection of my work available there, including some of my hand-painted jewelry. I'll be there most of the afternoon on May 1st, and will be doing a demo painting while I'm there.

Dunn, NC, is about halfway between Raleigh and Fayetteville. If you live in that general area, I hope you'll stop by for awhile.

For more information about the White Heron Gallery, visit their web site: http://www.thewhiteheron.com/

This is one of my pieces on display there:

The Busy Life of a Woman

Acrylic on board
28"x30"

Sombrero

2010-04-26T15:39:00.000-04:00

Sombrero - acrylic - 40" x 32"

This is one of the "South of the Border"-themed paintings I did in 2008 for decoration at a fundraiser for the Center for the Environment at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC. My regular fine art was on display during the event.

I've sold a few of the paintings to individuals. I think the remaining 23 would be perfect as decoration for a Southwest- or Mexican-themed restaurant. Since they were painted on foam core board to save money (I donated my time to paint them), I am offering them for sale at very low prices. They will last indefinitely as long as they are framed properly, so they're a great deal for someone who wants some inexpensive, one-of-a-kind, original wall art for a restaurant or other venue. They range in size from 10"x12" to 32" x 40". They are priced by size: $25 for a small, $50 for a medium, and $100 for a large.

To see images of all the available paintings, go to the "Fiesta Series" page on my website: http://ragone.com/index_files/ARHall_Fiesta.htm

"A Special Tree"

2010-04-23T16:38:00.000-04:00

This image from my Tree series is a little different from the ones I've done so far. I've glued on glass "gems" as embellishments. If you look closely, you can see my reflection in some of them as I was taking the photograph.

Mothers Day Gift Idea: buy a painting and get a hand-painted pendant for free

2010-04-21T16:01:00.001-04:00

The paintings are $50. The pendants normally sell for $10.

If you live in or are visiting North Carolina, you can purchase one of my 6"x6" acrylic paintings from the following galleries:

Southern Spirit Gallery at 102 S. Main St in Salisbury, NC
Green Goat Gallery at 516 South Salisbury Avenue in Spencer, NC
The White Heron Gallery at 610 West Cumberland Street, (Hwy. 421), Dunn, NC

You can also purchase directly from me at my studio in Salisbury (call 704-798-9400 for an appointment and directions). The price is the same whether you purchase from one of my galleries or directly from me. If you purchase a painting from one of the galleries, to receive your free pendant, bring your receipt to my studio and I will let you select a pendant (call first!).

This offer applies to any of my paintings priced $50 and above.

Note: Southern Spirit Gallery and The White Heron Gallery also have some of my hand-painted jewelry for sale.

Below is a sample of one of my hand-painted pendants. To see more examples of my jewelry, visit this page on my web site: http://ragone.com/index_files/ARHall_Jewelry.htm.

"Flying High"

2010-04-21T15:12:00.000-04:00

This is one of my favorite paintings from my Tree series. I feel uplifted when I look at it.

"Blue Flowers Bouquet"

2010-04-19T16:04:00.000-04:00

The secondary theme in my "Bouquet" series is the color scheme.That means this series could run indefinitely! The small size and very reasonable price of these paintings make them excellent gifts for special occasions. Any painting from this series would make a beautiful Mother's Day gift. Contact me at annette@arhall.com if you would like to purchase one. They'll come to you in a gift box with gold tissue paper. All you have to do is wrap it. If none of the images here on my blog catch your eye, there are more on my web site to see: http://www.annettehall.com/.

"Blowing Bubbles Bouquet #1"

2010-04-09T18:03:00.000-04:00

A unique thing I'm doing in my 6"x6" bouquet series is to glue on one transparent glass gem as a sort of punctuation. I really like the effect.

If you would like to purchase this piece, email Annette at annette@arhall.com.

"A Stormy Day"

2010-04-08T12:19:00.000-04:00

I'm doing a lseries of 6"x6" acrylic paintings on canvas. One of my themes is trees. I love the stormy looking background in this one. Reminds me of a windy October day.

A Stormy Day
6"x6" acrylic on canvas
$50 (If you would like to purchase this painting, email Annette: annette@arhall.com)

My first post as a blogger

2010-04-06T20:54:00.004-04:00

I've had a web site for my art for quite some time, but finally, today, I created my blog. I look forward to writing posts on a fairly regular basis, though not every day.

"Artistic Bouquet"

This is one of my 6"x6" acrylic paintings with a flower bouquet theme. I've painted a number of them and will upload them periodically. They are priced at $50 apiece. If you would like to purchase one, please email me.