Etsy: A great place for holiday shopping!

I challenged my dear friend Beastmomma to an Etsy throwdown this Christmas. The rules of the game - approximately $25, anything on Etsy, Go!

This is actually a tough challenge, because there are zillions of neat things on Etsy in this price range. I have chosen my gift for her, but I won't post it here because she's a reader. (Not that easily foiled, Beastmomma!)

While browsing Etsy.com, I came across something quite awesome (well beyond our $25 challenge) that I just have to show you...

It's a Wall Tentacle by ArtAKimbo from Redding, CT.

Link to the artist's blog: http://artakimbo.com/

Link to his shop on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtAkimbo?ref=seller_info

Link to the Wall Tentacle: http://www.etsy.com/listing/56638710/wall-tentacle

Review of Maria and Deanna's show at 709 Penn Gallery

There is a very nice review of "The Forest Through the Trees" written by Kurt Shaw in the Pittbsurgh Tribune-Review!

Link to article:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/museums/s_713928.html

Trinity Gallery and Anne Lee

Tell Us About the Party, watercolor and ink painting by Anne Lee

As part of their annual Holiday Show, Trinity Gallery in Lawrenceville is currently exhibiting the work of several artists. Trinity Gallery’s noble mission is to help establish unestablished artists, by offering opportunities for artists who have yet to show their work in a gallery, while keeping prices affordable to help inspire potential collectors to invest in art. It’s a great place to discover something new!

Anne Lee, whose work, “Tell Us About the Party,” is shown here, is one of Trinity Gallery’s success stories. Since 2008, when she had her first solo show at Trinity, Anne has honed her style and illustrated a children’s book called Old Abe, Eagle Hero by Patrick Young and published by KaneMiller. She has recently shown her work at Sirani Gallery, and was also accepted as a member of Pittsburgh Society of Artists for which she now serves as Treasurer on their board. Anne credits Trinity Gallery for launching her career as an artist, learning from Dan and Tina Gaser (the Gallery’s owners) about preparing pieces for a show, marketing a show, and the Pittsburgh art community.

Anne says she can’t help but think of Dan and Tina of Trinity gallery as her mentors, people she would turn to for advice or criticism. “I was working like crazy to create and frame pieces, and I ended up with a beautiful portfolio of work, a website, and validation that my work was meaningful and beautiful to people. I began sending submissions to publishers, and in 2009 finally heard back from KaneMiller. They had seen a painting (of Lawrenceville) on my website and felt like it was the right style and color scheme for a non-fiction picture book of the Civil War. A year and half later, Old Abe is out on bookstore shelves.”

While at Trinity, you’ll also enjoy gallery co-owner Dan Gaser’s own black and white photographs, many of which are of Pittsburgh. He manages to capture the poetry of the city in his images.

Related links:

Dan Gaser Photography and Trinity Gallery: http://www.dangaserphotography.com/

Anne Lee Studio: http://www.anneleestudio.com/home

3 of my portrait paintings, including the new one in my previous post, are now at Boxheart Gallery through December 31!

Boxheart Gallery, 4523 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 Phone: 412-687-8858