The Orange Bowl

10" x 8"

oil on panel

purchase

Some Place That I Used to Know

11" x 14"

oil on canvas

purchase

Sir. Hubert

12" x 14"

Oil on panel

purchase

I was researching pugs the other day and came across this wonderful photo of a pug named Hubert and I just had to ask if I could paint him. Thankfully, I was granted permission!

Thank you so much Jenny!!

Love your purses, by the way!

http://jennyndesign.blogspot.com/2011/10/sillybuddy.html

Jenny's Awesome Purses:

http://jennyndesign.blogspot.com/p/shop.html

Tie by Silly Buddy:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SillyBuddy?ref=seller_info_count

Black Pug Commission for Pug Wine

Sorry for the re-post!!

8" x 10"

oil on canvas panel

sold to a collector in California

This is the third label art I have done for Pug Wine. 

I am so delighted they asked me again this year!!

Here are the others:

First Gardenias

"First Gardenias"

purchase

These gardenias are from a few months ago - I picked a few and snapped a photo with the hope of painting them while they were blooming. I like to get a least one painting a year of these memory inducing floras since they are my favorite and we have about 10 gigantic bushes in the backyard just backing up to my studio and when they are in bloom, I don't have to tell you -  it is heavenly. 

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was working on something big - well it's a definite and I feel it is safe to announce since it is in the works. Me and Guy will be opening a small gallery in Wilmington in the next month. It's called Sun Gallery and it will have paintings, photography and jewelry (and maybe some other stuff). I'm so excited and when we get close we will have a grand opening show. Of course I will announce it on here. 

"Grace" by Clair Hartmann

"GRACE"

12" x 12"

oil on paper on panel

purchase

Luna Moth Silk Scarf

8" x 54"

Silk Scarf

purchase

Recently I have been playing around with painting silk scarves. It's been so fun I ran out of all the scarves I ordered from Dharma Trading Co. 

Here are some others:

See in my Shop

See in my Shop

Heat Wave

Heat Wave

16" x 8"

oil on panel

purchase

Happy 4th Everybody!

The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea

4" x 7"

oil on panel

purchase

I saw this guy awhile back on one of my walks at the beach on Wrightsville Beach. I love how relaxed he looks in his khaki waders, puffing on his cigar, ready and waiting for that tiny nibble.

Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach

4" x 7"

oil on panel

purchase

Ever since I arrived in Wilmington, I have wanted to paint one of these lifeguard stations. I just love the design and they way they look against the summery backdrop. 

"Thinking About Shrimp"

"Thinking About Shrimp"

7" x 5"

oil on panel

purchase

First of all, I apologize for the numerous posts on this. Seems like lately nothing is working the way it's supposed to or maybe I'm not working the way I'm supposed to. Anyway, for whatever reasons, I think I figured out the problem. 

There is this great place here in Wilmington called Mott's Channel Seafood and going there to get seafood is an experience in itself. It's right over the water with lots of sea life, seagulls and pelicans eagerly waiting for a meal to be tossed out by the fisher-people.  I usually take my Chumley with me because he loves watching fish. He's obsessed with it. We'll walk down to the dock after picking out our meal for the night, Guy will shoot some photos and I'll just enjoy the fresh air and scenes while Chumley scans the water for activity.  Sometimes a wayward dolphin will pop out nearby which sends Chumley into an absolute frenzy. It's really funny to watch. 

"Hi"

"Hi"
12" x 12"

oil on paper on panel

purchase

I was able to borrow Guy's computer at work which is a PC (blah) to post this. Hopefully I will get my new computer Thursday - can't wait!


Stanlee belongs to Little Blue Feather shop owner. He caught my eye and I asked her if I could paint him. Here is her blog:
www.littlebluefeathers.com/2012/06/stanlee-gets-noticed.html

Computerless :(

For the past week I have had both my computers die on me, so I have not been able to upload photos to my blog. Hopefully I'll be up and running soon.

Ranchos de Taos

11" x 9"

oil on canvas

purchase

Dreaming of Taos.

Oreo

12" x 12"

oil on paper on wood

30% of this sale goes to All Breed Rescue of Vermont

http://www.allbreedrescuevt.com/

Oyster Shell Paint Sketch

7" x 5"

oil on panel

purchase

"Millie"

9" x 12"

oil on canvas

Sold to a collector in New York

Hello everybody! Been working on a big, exciting project which I will reveal at a later date. It's been keeping me very busy so I have had to put daily painting down for awhile which hasn't been very "daily" lately. 

I also wanted to let you know that my largest painting at the Strathmore Cultural Center in Bethesda, "Shore Leave" sold  this week for $1800! Yayy!

I'm so excited to sell at such a prestigious gallery!

Fresh Water

8" x 8"

oil on panel

purchase

There is this restaurant in downtown Wilmington called Press 102 with amazing food, great coffee and wonderful atmosphere. When they bring your water it comes in these bottles that look so refreshing with shades of white and a splash of reddish orange. I just had to paint it. 

King Martin

12" x 24"

Mixed media on canvas
purchase

I will be exhibiting at the Mim's Gallery, May 11th - August 12th

at Weslyan College in Rocky Mount North Carolina

Here is more information on the show:

http://www.ncwc.edu/arts/the-dog-show.php

Oyster Shell By Clair Hartmann

7" x 4"

oil on panel

purchase

CLAIR HARTMANN, ARTIST

Wilmington, NC

SWALLOW ON BLUE GREEN

8" x 10"

oil on panel

purchase

Waiting

7" x 7"

oil on panel

purchase

Puffy Pigeon

7" x 6"

oil on panel

Sold to a collector in Kentucky

Purple Martin

16" x 9"

oil on canvas

Sold to a collector in Washington, DC

I totally forgot to post this painting that I did when I was in Florida. I think I really like painting these little birds.

I have entered it in the Bold Brush competition and if you like to see it.

Bold Brush Competition

Here is an article on the upcoming Strathmore Show at Dog Art Today Blog

http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/art/2012/04/dog-art-today-and-strathmore-unleashed.html

Divide and Conquer

oil on fabric canvas

both paintings 36" x 48"

I have been thinking about doing these paintings for awhile which is really most of the process of painting... just thinking and working it out. It could take years or days and if it's meant to be, it'll make it to the canvas.  

The reason why I wanted to do these paintings... I started to think about the apparent division in this country and the vitriol on both sides and it seems more now that I have ever seen. Maybe I notice it more because I'm older. Anyhow, I had heard that tactics of division have been used throughout history to control people. I feel that's where we are now. So I decided to put it in my art. The paintings can be taken any number of ways and I'm curious if anyone will get it and what their interpretations will be. 

Strathmore Show

It's been a very busy time for me. Just returned from a short trip to Bethesda to drop off 4 paintings and now I'm finishing up paintings for the Weslyan College Show which need to be dropped off in a few weeks. 

Great News! Just found out that I'm showing with the all time, most awesome photographer, William Wegman! Wish I could be there for the show, but it's too far away and I have lots to do. Did I mention that?

Here is the press release:

Strathmore Unleashed

Rodney and The Story of Darby

12" x 16"

oil on canvas
Sold to a collector in Virginia

Sadly, Rodney recently passed on. He belonged to jewelry artist, Dawn Estrin and if you get Artful Home magazine, you have probably seen her wonderful creations.

http://www.bijougraphique.com/Jewelry.php

I absolutely love her jewelry and when I saw her on Facebook, I immediately made friends and talked about a trade. 

When Rodney suddenly passed, she asked me to do a portrait of him and I mentioned to her that if she ever wanted to use some of my paintings in her jewelry she was welcome to. Well, we signed contracts and it is in the works. I'm so excited to see what she comes up with and will post when I get photos.

Also, In Dog Art Today there is the story of "Darby", a recent painting I did for a friend. 

You can see it here:

http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/art/2012/04/darby-portrait-by-clair-hartmann.html

New Painting and Some Rest

"Giant"

30" x 30"

oil on canvas
purchase

For the past week and a half I have been at my lake house in Florida visiting with my family, painting, and resting. In a few weeks I'm going to Bethesda, MD and drop off 4 paintings at the Strathmore Cultural Center. And then in a few more weeks I'm driving up to Rocky Mount, NC to drop off 18 more paintings at Weslyan College. So I have been painting furiously on larger paintings and trying to keeping up with portraits... All while being in the most peaceful place I know. It's been nice.

Boston on Blue

14" x 11"

oil on canvas

purchase

25% of this sale goes to BostonTerrier Rescue of North Carolina
http://www.btrnc.org/


I did a video of me working in the studio - thought you might like it 
http://youtu.be/wWCMy7sh3fg

Hudson

8" x 10"

oil on canvas panel
Sold to a collector in New Jersey

Watercolors and Relaxing

Well, it's been awhile since I've posted. I decided I needed a break. Went to Florida, meditated with some watercolors, had an awesome show in Jacksonville, slept, cooked, played, photographed, cleaned, made jewelry, detoxed from caffein and geared up for some large paintings. 

I have been invited to be in a show at the Strathmore in Bethesda, MD called

Strathmore Unleashed!

April 28, 2012 - June 23, 2012

I will be showing four dog paintings. 

http://www.strathmore.org/fineartexhibitions/exhibitions.asp#20294016

Here are some photos from the Immortals Show in Jacksonville. FL

Will post video later.

The vittles were amazing!

Me with Sharla, the director of the show

Sharla's Work

Lee Harvey with Bruce Musser to the far left. 

Sharla's installation

Me with "Shore Leave"

Upcoming Show!

"Frida Dog" will be included in the show

The up-coming show in Jacksonville Florida is featured in Arbus Magazine!!

The Immortals Art Exhibition at CoRK Arts District West Gallery features the work of Clair Hartmann, Lee Harvey, Bruce Musser and Sharla Valeski.

CoRK Arts District

2689 Rosselle Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204

Saturday, March 10, 2012

6:00pm until 9:00pm

The Immortals

I find it interesting that two friends that I've made here in Jacksonville are of Minorcan descent. Both are women artists and they each stand out as being uniquely talented. I actually looked up the Minorcan culture, partly to find out how the Minorcans arrived on the shores of east Florida and to also examine the ancient past of the small island of Minorca. It turns out that Minorca has Megalithic stone monuments and a major cultural influence--the Minoans of ancient Crete. Knowing my friends of Minorcan descent, these connections make perfect sense.

Clair Hartmann is one of the two Minorcan artists. She paints in oils and sometimes works in other mediums. Years ago, Clair met a lovely man and left Jacksonville to be with him. At the same time, she noticed that the daily painters (painters who completed a painting every day) progressed much faster than the rest of us. Clair has been a daily painter ever since and her skill level is beyond, beyond. Her subject matter varies but it has become evident that her muse is a rescued Jack Russel Terrier. The portraits of her beloved pooch gives a nod to some great paintings in art history.


What would the Jacksonville art world do without its little dramas? I'm absolutely convinced we would flounder in our apathy if we didn't have something that stirred us up every once in awhile. This was how I first learned about Lee Harvey. Over 20 years ago he was immersed in a much talked-about dispute with a gallery owner. As years passed, he and I became friends and once, on a whim, we drove all night to attend the Picasso portrait exhibit in New York City. Now, after years of challenging us with his controversial works, he's painting florals and they're edgy, of course! Lee is the reason this exhibition is entitled “The Immortals”. He's been at deaths door and now gives us lively flowers to admire.


At a pivotal moment in the movie, Priscilla Queen of the Dessert, the youngest drag queen goes from being the baby princess to coming into her own to be crowned “a queen”. Bruce Musser represents the baby princess of our group. He began lessons with me over five years ago and went from being a student to being my best friend. So I taught him a few things about art, but he taught me about friendship. Now, he has tenaciously moved on to advanced instruction and I'm like a proud momma. Bruce collects remnants of paper, tears it, draws, scrapes and scratches until a form emerges. He's tactile yet he's working in 2-D. I can't help but think that his childhood on a thousand acre tree farm has influenced his palette.


In art school I was torn between painting and sculpture. I ended up with a concentration in paint but have always had yearnings to make large, 3-dimensional works. After 20 years of painting and drawing, I finally made a big sculpture. I've obsessively sewn together over 30 different fabrics to make a giant misshapen sphere. It's a girl and I'm calling her “My Ego”. My Ego is what landed me in show business. I spent my early years acting in television commercials, touring with a theater company and waiting tables. After seven years, I had an insight into the business that turned me off forever. I now sign my works “Sharla TV” because those really are my initials. Whenever I see a good actress baring all for the sake of her art, I feel a bit superior and relieved at my change of careers years back. This form of schadenfreude also keeps me glued to the television set whenever a reality TV show is on.

Sharla T. Valeski

• 
  

Lady Dane

8" x 10"

oil on canvas panel

purchase


30% of this sale goes to
ADOPT-AN-ANGEL 
http://www.adoptanangel.net/