The Scarfone Gallery at University of Tampa’s campus was a glamorous venue for the annual fundraiser to support women artists. It’s one of those galleries that makes an artist feel that surely she must have “emerged” to be exhibiting there.

Red dots (sold!) started popping up on artwork and artist-made silk scarves, jewelry, clothing and unique types of fashion-wear added to the excitement of the event.

Conversations with other artists and friends was the highlight of the evening . The ladies of Las Damas are a very special group which includes not only artists but art lovers and the “movers and shakers” of Tampa who are eager to support growth of the Bay Area’s art communities. Thank you. Thank you.

Determined to push myself to complete a “body of work” in the same style in order to grow my skills and ability to focus long enough to improve my work, I decided to do a series of paintings that would push me somewhat in the style of my current favorite artist, Alex Kanevsky.

I’ve also been considering moving to water soluble oils for a while instead of my acrylics to see if it I might like them more.

Three new concepts at once has proven quite a challenge. In addition to altering my painting technique to accommodate the new slow-drying medium, I’m finding traces of paint on the floor, door handles, lipstick tube and, this morning, in my ear.

But here it is, stage 5 of this first effort. It’s 40 x 40 and takes a lot of paint and swearing as I discover the advantages and the disadvantages of the new medium.

There will be more stages before completion, but I read an interview with Alex Kanevsky and he admitted that because he likes to paint fast and spontaneously (as I do), he makes many mistakes that lead to many corrections as he goes, lengthening the time he must spend on every painting.

Okay, I feel better now.

I’ll post the finished painting at some time. Who knows when? Meantime, give yourself a treat and Google Alex Kanevsky. I was lucky enough to catch the last day of his exhibit at the University of Tampa three weeks ago and was spellbound by the emotion and the mystery.

Three of my paintings have been selected to hang with some of the best female artists in Florida for this prestigious event. We are all required to offer one piece for $250 or less, so paintings will be flying off the walls! Come join us for this fun night.