2020 | Beverly Shipko, Artist

Ringing in the New Year!

December 30, 2020 by Beverly

My New Years’ present to myself is to resume work on Choices, an ambitious vending machine painting that I began two years ago. While I was in the middle of it, I had to dismantle my home studio to sell the house and downsize. Then Choices went into storage for an extended period.

Vending Machine Series: Choices, by Beverly Shipko, Acrylic and Oil Painting, 30 x 30 inches, Work-in-Progress

I call this painting ambitious because it has 15 unique logo packages, plus 5 oversize vegetables, and 20 vending rings in it! I’m thinking I must have almost been insane at the time to tackle this painting. However, when I read my old blog, I seem totally rationale and approached the development of Choices very methodically.

From the outside looking in, this 3 x 3 foot painting looks finished, and my neighbors keep telling me it must be almost done. Even my youngest daughter, Bonnie, and artist friend, Linda, thought so.

But it’s not. I mistakenly bought into the party line that it was almost done. I was disappointed.

Here’s what happened.

I decided to paint the top row of chips. Often I find it’s best to work in oils from the top down so I don’t smear the paint below when I brace my hand on the canvas.

Signaling my serious commitment to painting, I put on one of my favorite CDs, Aaron Copland’s inspiring Celebration (yes, I confess I still have quite a CD collection, which is great when the power goes out.)

And I cranked my easel as low as it would go to bring the chips down to eye level. The beauty of a crankable easel is its ability to reach the tallest parts of large paintings without standing on a step stool – which resulted in several mishaps in the past, most recently January. It was the best art purchase I ever made! I would highly recommend making the investment in a easel with a crank by Mabef to all of you painters. (Tip: Find a big sale at an online art supply store.)

Alas, now that the top row of chips are at eye level, I see how rough and sketchy the chips are, especially the graphic Cheetos package. Previously, I had been looking at this painting but not seeing or processing its interim status.

Ok, I was prepared for the chips. But what I wasn’t expecting to find – under direct sunlight – was that the black acrylic background had lots of little white canvas spots peeking through everywhere at an unacceptable level. I shifted gears and spent two days repainting the black acrylic background.

After finishing the background, I had to face the unpleasant fact that the black vending rings are barely sketched in. My eye saw the rings the way I wanted them to be, rather than how they are. Painted very tentatively and barely there. Fragile. Hardly looking like strong metal vending rings.

Unfortunately, it had been so long that I didn’t remember if I used acrylic or oils. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, oil-based paint and water-based acrylic don’t mix – like oil and water. Oil paint can go over acrylic, but acrylic can not be painted over oil.

I thought I could tell the medium by feeling the surface since oil has more texture, at least the way I paint.

Since I couldn’t feel much texture, I tried acrylic on the rings. Alas, the paint pooled up and I knew I guessed wrong.

At this point, my assessment is that I’m 60-70% finished. Way lower than I thought before starting.

I knew I had to paint all the rings before I could move onto color. As anyone who has tried to paint ovals and circles knows, capturing these shapes with flowing lines in the right perspective on a slight textured canvas is difficult. Even my hero, Wayne Thiebaud, slips up once in a while. Note the awkward angle of the spiral topped cake.

The rings require the most concentration.

They are such an integral part of the rhythm of composition. The rings have their own reflections, cast their own shadows on the packages, and reflect the colors. I used to paint them last, but I learned that painting them earlier in the process – in acrylic – results in a more integrated composition. Unfortunately, one slip of the hand often means a major repair job on the oil-based package. After conquering the rings, I’m confident the rest of the painting will come more easily.

Don’t get me wrong, I can handle the rings. But I would much prefer working on paintings with one big ring per canvas as in this ongoing vending series.

Now I don’t have to wonder what I’m going to do this holiday week.

My new goal for rest of New Year’s week is to finish all 20 rings using Ivory Black and Titanium White oil paint, which will be a major accomplishment!

Of course, the rings will need additional touchups once I start applying color. That’s part of the process.

For now, it’s somewhat fitting that painting them is how I’m ringing in the New Year.

We’re coming full circle, and I hope that means much peace, joy and health for you in 2021. Happy New Year!

Bonnie’s Thanksgiving Feast Challenge 2020!

December 17, 2020 by Beverly

I had a fabulous time on Thanksgiving 2020 – despite eating with my kids over Zoom – thanks to Chef Bonnie’s extraordinary culinary and planning skills.

My family and friends were almost afraid to ask about my Thanksgiving since they knew I would be eating alone. But the thing is, I didn’t feel alone at all! It was actually fun! I had plenty of company… starting with our traditional “Let’s Get Stuffed” family mascot… who was soon replaced as you can see here…

My Tablemates – Flat Laura and Flat Bonnie

You might be wondering why the chairs say Flat Bonnie and Flat Laura. This was inspired by the Flat Stanley series of books, which Teacher-Chef Bonnie told me about, and Flat Stanley’s worldwide traveling adventures. The concept fit Bonnie’s 2020 Thanksgiving Feast very well since it was a traveling event. FYI. Here’s the official Flat Stanley 50th Anniversary template, if the spirit moves you to make your version.

Bonnie was determined to cook her usual feast, without any compromises – especially when it came to her signature popovers. She willingly undertook the challenge of cooking in her Manhattan galley kitchen and bringing the entire meal to me, with Laura’s help.

There were 4 basic phases to this traveling Thanksgiving event, both in Manhattan and Ardsley, N.Y. 30 minutes north of Manhattan.

Baking on Pie Night
Cooking the feast in Manhattan, which actually started 2 weeks earlier with a few side dishes (soup, cranberry sauce) that were frozen in advance.
Delivering the entire dinner to me in Ardsley, and sampling the desserts (yes, this is backwards, but it’s 2020 and the chef needed her sugar fix)
Driving back to Manhattan, baking more popovers, warming up dinner, and zooming with me. And taking lots of photos along the way!

Now for the details, and the devil is in the details.

Beginning with Phase 1, Bonnie baked the pies on Pie Night, her traditional night before Thanksgiving event, which I told you was happening – but I didn’t have 2020 photos of yet.

Here’s Bonnie in 2020 rolling out one of the pie crusts on the big folding table that functioned as Bonnie’s living room work station, on loan from sister Laura for the big event. And then we can see the fruits of her labor.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Fresh Out of The Oven

Cherry Pie Filling on Bonnie’s New Non-Stick Miracle Pan from Our Place

Bonnie putting the finished almond touches on the Cherry Pie

Plus she made a Lattice Apple Pie. Bonnie always did like weaving loop potholders as a kid. Now she’s moved on to bigger and better things!

Phase 2 began on Thanksgiving Day, when Bonnie moved into high gear to cook her signature side dishes like Stuffin Muffins (3 versions this year!), which she had started prepping the night before. It’s a good thing Laura brought over such a big table!

Bonnie made the popovers in 2 shifts, which didn’t hit me until I saw these photos, the first round below being the GF popovers for me in Ardsley. I had just assumed the cooking was finished before they left. Wrong!

Then she got to work on the Stuffed Pears with Goat Cheese and Cranberries..

For the main course, Bonnie made her Lemon Herbed Turkey Breasts, which are amazing leftovers that seems to get more flavorful with age – if that’s even possible!

I’m always impressed by Bonnie’s ability to stuff all these herbs under the skin without ripping it. I don’t know how she does it! I tried it… once….

Usually I’m in the kitchen cleaning up after the chef, but this time I was home watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (surprisingly good for a pandemic event without spectators!) and reading a book, far removed from all the action.

All day I was salivating at the prospect of getting a home-cooked Thanksgiving Day Feast delivery from Bonnie and Laura.

Finally, after a whole day of cooking, Bonnie shifted into Phase 3 and loaded up her cart full of food, and drove the 30 minutes to Ardsley. Where did all this energy come from? Ah, to be young again!

Finally, they arrived with food in hand!

Bonnie jumping the fence to get to my patio. I always chuckle when she does this.

I introduced the girls to their dinner stand-ins for the first time. Laura conveniently dressed in teal to match Flat Laura and make it feel more real.

Bonnie started unloading all my Pyrex containers that she picked up two weeks ago. This time they were full of delectable food! I don’t know how I stopped myself from doing a tasting right then and there.

She arranged everything on my kitchen counter, with the side dishes appearing one by one.

Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Shallots

Sour Cheery-Almond Pie recipe from the Food Network Magazine, with a GF pie crust from Danielle Walker.

Pumpkin Pie “Cheesecake” (which I savored for a week afterwards!)

Lattice Apple Pie from Against all Grain (the flakiest crust yet!)

Bonnie carefully documenting everything for her Instagram *@bonniesbitesoflife*

Then Bonnie surprised me by unexpectedly announcing we were sampling the desserts before she and Laura drove back to the city. The chef said she was hungry and couldn’t wait any longer to sample her wares. Besides, it was already 7pm.

Bonnie served all 3 desserts to each of us, and we ate in different corners of the apartment – with the windows and the patio door completely open, fans on to get the air flowing, and the diffuser running with powerful anti-viral essential oils. I am proud to say we were CDC compliant.

While Bonnie was serving, I greedily gobbled my plate up. How’s this for a future painting?

They left me my one-third share of each dessert, which I used as a reward after walking every day the following week.

My hunk of the Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake. Wish I had that now!

Of course, I had to take photos of the partially eaten desserts for future paintings.

You can tell that leftie Bonnie cut this pie.

Then the kids packed up the remainder of the desserts for the trek back into the city.

And I waited patiently… sort of…

We’re now into Phase 4, where the kids did a repeat set-up in Bonnie’s apartment. Little did I realize how Bonnie had so thoughtfully choreographed the entire evening. I was given permission to eat the soup while waiting for the formal dinner festivities to start.

The kids set their table with soup at the same time.

Then silliness began.

After the soup course, Bonnie made two more rounds of popovers, one GF for Laura and a gluten pan for herself. FYI. My popovers were GF and dairy free.

Admittedly I was a bit sad that I was missing the real life big reveal, the moment when Bonnie pulled her signature popovers out of the oven – until I saw these epic photos around midnight. Even now looking at this photos, Bonnie’s unbridled popover joy shines through, and I get my warm fuzzies.

At the time, I wouldn’t figure out why I was being asked to wave.

Finally, dinner is served! We were all instructed to load up our dinner plates with each dish.

We sampled many of the dishes together, from the pecan sweet potato casserole, to the moist turkey breast with cranberry sauce with just the right amount of tartness (Bonnie has it down to an art), to the second round of desserts.

Bonnie’s Instagram story at @bonniesloo told it all. Here is her summary of the 2020 Thanksgiving Challenge in a nutshell:

And eat together we did – joyfully and gratefully. I am so lucky the girls are both close by.

What I’ll always remember about 2020 is that Bonnie took the Thanksgiving Challenge and excelled on so many levels – the initial idea, the planning, the execution, the humor and the love. So much thoughtfulness and love went into this 2020 Thanksgiving that I felt like we were together the entire time – even though we spent less than 30 minutes in my apartment!

It was the most unique, creative, clever Thanksgiving ever, while maintaining so many of our family traditions. As the same time, we were CDC compliant! I will always remember how happy we were despite the health challenges of the times.

Of course, I’ll end this blog with our Official 2020 Thanksgiving Day Photo.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this was the best day of 2020.

Thank you, Bonnie, for willingly, lovingly, and so skillfully taking up the 2020 Thanksgiving Challenge!

Ghost of Thanksgiving Past 2019

November 26, 2020 by Beverly

Tonight is the night before Thanksgiving, Bonnie’s traditional Pie Night when she bakes 4 Thanksgiving desserts, including an apple and pumpkin pie, of course.

I can’t stop thinking about a year ago tonight, when she made her sweet creations in my new apartment for the first time. It’s an annual tradition that I look forward to every year, and it feels strange, almost surreal, not to be her sous chef instead of Laura right now.

For some reason, I keep thinking that the spirit of Jacob Marley and his Ghost of Thanksgiving Past (ok Christmas, I’m taking creative license) are going to appear tonight, just like they did to Ebenezer Schrooge in Charles Dickens’ novel. At first I attributed this thought to covid brain. Then I realized the Ghost appeared to Schrooge to help him relive past holidays, and learn that he has to change. That’s what 2020 is all about – change. The idea actually makes sense now.

So lets revisit Thanksgiving 2019 when Bonnie enthusiastically cooked much of the main gluten free meal on Thanksgiving Day – before we start talking about change in 2020.

Maybe you caught the gluten free (GF) part and are less than enthusiastic about the feast. But who says you can’t have a delicious gluten-free Thanksgiving meal? Gluten free food often gets a bad rap. Doesn’t taste good. Lacks flavor. Last year, Bonnie plowed ahead with her GF Thanksgiving concept, and never looked back.

She disproved all the naysayers by delivering such a flavorful meal that we didn’t even notice it was gluten free!

Thanksgiving 2019 tested Bonnie’s organizational and cooking skills on many levels like never before.

Did you ever try and put together an ambitious GF Thanksgiving dinner menu of 2 main courses, 10 side dishes, plus 4 desserts, for a total of 16 dishes – in a small, strange kitchen without the utensils or pots & pans that you need to make a meal?

How did Bonnie handle that? She showed up with her strategically packed red suitcase that functioned as a traveling kitchen cabinet – with a rolling pin, baster, spatula, pie tins, honey packets and a popover pan!

That was the challenge Bonnie took on in 2019 as she prepared her menu, shopped, and cooked in my downsized, ill-equipped apartment of less than 2 months. To top it off, Bonnie was used to cooking Thanksgiving dinner in a huge kitchen, on large counters, and in a double oven.

I confess to being antsy beforehand since I was having a hard time finding kitchen items and serving plates from previous years that I suspected were still in storage, but Bonnie was undaunted. She eagerly started planning the menu weeks before, I helped gather up her ingredients.

Along the way, Bonnie and I realized we were missing a few things, and that more boxes of kitchen items were in storage than we thought. After looking around and comparing notes, I made a quick trip to Bed Bath & Beyond for a potato masher and a few plastic mixing spoons (I melted the only large plastic spoon I had in the dishwasher….great way to make an impression on everyone in the building by smelling up the whole floor….). Then we had to retrieve the big soup pot and 2nd muffin tin from storage, with the rest of my kitchen. (As you can see, she threw a few other boxes on the cart to help me out.)

Bonnie summed it up by saying this wasn’t her most elegant meal prep effort. Certainly things didn’t go as smoothly as in previous years. But she did end up making all 16 planned recipes last year. Here goes:

Butternut Squash Soup

Lemon Herb Turkey

Stuffed Mushrooms

Her Signature Popovers (that didn’t pop as well this because Bonnie tried a different Bob Red Mill 3-in-1 GF flour…oops!)

Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Shallots

Sweet Potato Casserole

Brussel Sprouts with Grapes

Stuffin Muffins (GF and Regular – only gluten item on the menu)

Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

Goat Cheese Pears

Cranberry Sauce

Here are the three GF desserts:

Apple Pie from Against All Grain

Sour Cherry-Almond Pie from the Food Network Magazine

Pumpkin Pie (and this extraordinarily spicy version froze so well it lasted well into 2020!) from Bakerita

It was a fabulous, flavorful feast! Full disclosure: Bonnie made the gluten pumpkin pie in her own kitchen for her dad.

This year we are adapting our plans because of the pandemic. Bonnie is preparing the entire Thanksgiving Dinner in her Manhattan apartment for the first time. She and Laura are bringing dinner to me (masks and all, windows open) on Thanksgiving Day. After they return to Manhattan, we’ll eat dinner together on zoom, like so many people around the country in 2020.

During the week, Bonnie picked up my all my empty Pyrex containers and Mason jars. (Didn’t think to take photos.) The plan is to deliver them back to me filled with her delicious feast food tomorrow. And it will all be gluten free and dairy free so I can eat everything. Am I lucky! I’m salivating just thinking about what awaits me tomorrow.

Now it’s after midnight and I just spoke to Bonnie. She finished the 3 gluten free pies with Laura’s help, and they decided to bring the finished desserts in tact tomorrow. We’ll have the dessert table unveiling (I better move my paintings off the buffet before they come!) like we did last year only with masks, and cut them together. I’ll get my share, and Bonnie and Laura will take the remnants back, if I leave them anything…. With 3 pies, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Thanksgiving 2019 seems like an eternity ago. When I thought about it last week, it felt rather ethereal and unsubstantial, like it was a ghostly dream. But after looking at all these photos, the entire fantastic eating experience is coming back to me. And I remember how Bonnie certainly debunked the gluten-free myths about Thanksgiving. I’m sure she’ll do the same this year.

It’s an understatement to say I’m eagerly awaiting the delectable food Bonnie and Laura are bringing tomorrow. In preparation, I started setting the dining room table that has my first Thanksgiving Ikebana spreading arrangement on it (my new obsession, more on that another time).

The familiarity of the tradition kicked in, and my mood shifted into full celebration mode and gratitude, a welcome change of pace.

And to think I’ll have a hiatus from cooking, with lots of leftovers.

Now it feels like the Thanksgiving holiday we all know and love. To Jacob Marley and your Ghost, I say, “Stay home!” I got the message. It’s time to enjoy ourselves in the present moment, and embrace our family motto, “Let’s Get Stuffed”.

Indoor Virtual Studio Tour: Oreo Gallery

September 30, 2020 by Beverly

I could never have a Studio Tour without Oreos. I just couldn’t.

Before the pandemic, I struggled with how to display my smallest Oreo Cookie paintings on 9 foot walls in an open apartment layout (not to mention how to host the Oreo Contest with limited space…).

My Oreos felt too intimate to be floating on huge walls – even the largest one, Cosmic Oreo, at 24 x 30 inches. They needed a more defined space, like the front stairs of my old house in 2018, where Oreo prints and paintings greeted you when you walked in.

Finally, one night the solution came to me after I fell sleep, and just relaxed. Give the Oreos their own gallery! Their own room. A room that was dry enough to hang prints, and where guests would see them.

My Oreo Cookie Gallery featuring *Cosmic Oreo*

I just needed to reframe the issue – and think outside the box. I had an extra room. Not a closet, but the guest powder room! (I bet the toilet paper roll above gave it away…)

When you walk in, this left view, showcases two of my favorite Oreo prints.

And here I am taking a photo in the mirror on the right, re-creating a childhood dream of endless Oreos with the reflections. Ok, it was a nice try…. Using the mirror is the only way to photograph this room without a wide angle lens.

My Oreo Gallery is a work in progress. As I inventory all my paintings in storage, I’m still finding little Oreo paintings that I can’t do without.

Last week I uncovered Stack of Oreos. I knew the perfect spot for this little gem (all 5 x 7 inches of it, oil on panel) was above My Oreo Cookie (6 x 6 inch drawing, unframed).

*Stack of Oreos* Oil Painting and *My Oreo Cookie* Drawing

I hope one day you’ll be able to see the Oreo Gallery in person, and its anticipated additions. With 9 foot ceilings, there is still room to grow upwards as I unwrap more paintings.

Until then, enjoy this virtual tour!

P.S. Did you notice that Cosmic Oreo is a blown up version of My Oreo Cookie?

Purple & Yellow Wakeup Call

May 27, 2020 by Beverly

When I was sitting on my patio today, I thought about the possibilities of decorating this outdoor space.

Now that open studio tours are on hold, I am displaying an oil painting in the corner window facing the front of my apartment building. This week I chose a painting from my double yolk egg series.

Double Yolk Egg on a Purple Plate (oil on linen, 16 x 20 in.) has 3 basic contrasting colors: purple, cadmium yellow, and white.

I never consciously put it together until today that the color scheme matches my purple pansies, with their yellow and white faces.

This insight was a bit of a wakeup call. This was the first time I considered the possibility of leveraging this cozy outdoor space as an extension of my home studio. Color coordinating paintings and flowers were a new thing for me. For the moment, I’m thinking more like an outdoor installation artist – on a much smaller scale, of course. I can’t wait until the nurseries open up!

On a larger scale, it’s time to think outside the box – to Think Differently (thank you Steve Jobs!). I need to expand my horizons beyond traditional galleries, and take advantage of our new Zoom reality, one small purple-and-yellow step at a time.

Outdoor 2020 Virtual Studio Tour – with Cake!

May 6, 2020 by Beverly

It was a gorgeous day on Saturday, so let’s begin my 2020 Virtual Studio Tour outside, with three of my favorite cake paintings in contrasting styles and compositions.

I was lucky enough to have Bonnie, my very own Vanna White, to showcase my paintings as she has in the past. (See Getting Ready for the Virtual Studio Tour). Only this year she is outdoors for a change of pace – and social distancing.

“Bundt Cake”,
My first cake painting.
Oil on canvas. 16 x 20 in. Beverly Shipko

Lets begin at the beginning with my very first cake painting, Bundt Cake, from my favorite bakery, Riviera Bakehouse, right here in Ardsley.

This work uses thick paint throughout. Back then, I experimented with a palette knife, and caked on (pun intended) the heaviest paint layers to depict the powdered sugar topping.

The subject is almost the paint itself.

Detail of “Bundt Cake” showing impasto

Notice that this painting shows a slice of cake taken out, as if it is ready to be served. I took creative license by eliminating the plate it was originally on. That way the cake is larger, and the paint texture of the cake could pop. Hardly anyone noticed the awol plate…

Thick paint texture on detail from “Bundt Cake”

Contrast the earlier Bundt Cake painting with this more recent blueberry cheesecake, titled Falling Blueberries. I painted this for my solo show in Rockland, Maine at The Michael Good Gallery – where the wild blueberry (vaccinium angustifolium, aiton) is the official state fruit.

“Falling Blueberries”,
Oil on linen, 15 x 20 inches

However, I must confess that these berries came from… drumroll…. Riviera Bakehouse. Not a surprise, is it? BTW, Riviera is open and my friend and owner, Liv Hansen, would appreciate your business.

I spent a great deal of time painting these blueberries, and am proud of this painting. The composition is frontal and bold as cake paintings go. While a few pieces of the cheesecake are missing, they are not shown.

I think of it as my in your face approach to painting a fruited cheesecake. The plate hangs right over the front edge of the table, daring you to pick up those loose blueberries with your fingers.

Finally, I give you Blueberry Crumble Pie, unfinished at my last Open Studio. Unlike the rather pristine Falling Blueberries, Blueberry Crumble Pie is just that – crumbling, in a big way.

One of the challenges was to accurately depict the cake tin with all its little crevasses and crinkles, vs. the smooth metal fork.

You can see how the cooked blueberries turned into a rich, reddish blue color. The crumble crust oozes wine colored filling.

Lots of crumbs here – and you all know how much I love painting crumbs!

I took about 100 photos of various permutations of this pie over a period of 2 hours as we devoured it. There were photos with a pie server, 1 fork, 2 forks, 3 forks, no forks or pie servers. Then there was a 3/4 view of the pie, half a pie, a piece of pie, and no pie at all – just a god awful mess!

In the end, I decided to go with more of an action view – and leave you salivating over the forkful of pie you’re about to eat.

So are you hungry for more? You’re invited to come back soon.

P.S. WordPress updated their online program in the middle my 2020 Virtual Studio Tour, and the learning curve is steep. There are so many new options, and several of my favorite buttons moved or are hidden. I’ll have to seriously study the online manual. It took me way too long to get this posted. My apologies for the delay.

Getting Ready for the Virtual Studio Tour

April 26, 2020 by Beverly

Sometimes it’s amazing how the universe works.

In yesterday’s post , I neglected to mention that my Open Studio preparation always included fresh flowers (see Two Flower Artists) to greet you at the front door. Typically I bought pansies since it’s still cold at night in late April. This year I simply forgot about flowers until it was too late. Since I haven’t been going out much, I was resigned to do without them.

Then these beautiful pansies magically appeared at my door this morning, courtesy of my friend and neighbor Regina and her daughter Tori!

Thank you Regina and Tori! What a beautiful way to start the day! They didn’t even know it was my Studio Tour weekend. To top it off, Bonnie was coming to visit, mask and all, and her favorite color is purple.

Here she is right now! My first (and only) guest is contemplating her strategy on how to get from the street to my apartment without opening multiple doors.

Looks like she figured out a plan!

She’s carrying something. Let’s take a closer look…

I see tulips on the right. And is that toilet paper in the other hand? Is she really bringing me TOILET PAPER??? What a daughter!

Needless to say I was delighted to receive a gift that was worth its weight in gold. You can see the big grin on my face…almost.

I went inside to put the tulips in water for (all) my guest(s). They look gorgeous! Thanks, Bonnie.

While I was busy with the flowers, Bonnie went back to her car to get her lunch. I returned just in time to see her elegant entry. Looks like she’s getting the hang of it.

After that workout, she sat down to enjoy her lunch from Riviera Bakehouse and “her” purple pansies – while practicing proper social distancing.

Then she surprised me by pulling a container of treasured alcohol wipes out of that big bag! It was an amazing day.

After tossing around options to properly display my paintings for the 2020 Virtual Studio Tour, we finally decided on an approach.

We’re ready for you tomorrow!

2020 Virtual Studio Tour Invitation

April 25, 2020 by Beverly

Normally I would be scrambling around hanging paintings, rehanging paintings (see The Day Before The Open Studio), moving furniture, not to mention cleaning. In short, exhausting myself. Webmaster Laura would be documenting it all.

Bonnie would be planning the dessert menu for our sweet table to go with the paintings on this postcard. She considered Dunkin’ Donuts donut holes the most popular staple. And did I mention we always have Oreos? Lots of Oreos.

As usual, I agonized over this years postcard invitation, which I put together on vistaprint.com. I hesitated over the black background since it’s a color usually reserved for somber news…but the colorful images really popped against it. What do you think?

Don’t worry about missing the event this year. I plan on giving you my own Virtual Studio Tour to keep up the tradition through the end of April. So stay tuned.