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Rolling Out The Red Carpet for "One Lucky Artist"

I hope any of you who live anywhere near San Marino will join me tomorrow (Sunday, February 26th) between 2-4 to walk down the "red carpet".  I am very excited about the opening reception of my one woman show and would love it if you were able to make it to the reception.   Since it's just before all of the Academy Awards activities, I thought I'd put out my own "red carpet"... ( a red tablecloth) to get you in the mood for the Oscars.

Thirty-One of my paintings are hanging in the Crain Gallery.   This is a mix of studio paintings and plein air paintings.   Subjects are mostly landscapes, but there are some cityscapes - scenes from my travels (such as Calle Dorado) and some crazy animals are mixed in there.   I also tried to vary the size (and therefore the price range) so that people might just find something they would like to have in that special spot in their own home or office.   CLICK HERE to see all of the paintings in the show.

Opportunity Knocks
This exhibition is the result of a fun and very lucky set of circumstances.   My girlfriend, Beverly Dahlstedt formed our friendship back when we were Alpha Chi Omega Sorority sisters in college at UCSB.  She and I traveled to Europe together one summer many years ago and had a grand time.  (That was the first time.   The second time I went with another sorority sister and that's when I met my husband, Gastone.)  Beverly and I mostly communicate these days through email since she lives up in the Bay area.  Beverly gets my monthly newsletter.  A few months back, she forwarded the newsletter to another sorority sister, Sandy Morris.  Sandy is vice-chair of the Crowell Library Board of Trustees. 

The Crowell Library complex was built on the site of the former San Marino Public Library.  It was the result of a huge community effort and generous donations from the San Marino City Council and former San Marino Mayor, Suzanne Crowell and her family.  The new Public Library opened on January 26, 2008.  The Art Gallery was named to honor long time Library Director, Carolyn Crain, who had championed the building of the new library, but who succumbed to cancer on May 8, 2008. 

Sandy took the time to come to one of my shows and say "hi".  Later she and the board asked me if I wanted to show my work at the Crain Gallery which is inside the Library Complex.  What a terrific opportunity!!  And now it's really happening!!

THE NITTY GRITTY....        Please come by to see the show... or to see me (or both)!

One Lucky Artist - A One Woman Show 

February 26 through April 20, 2012

The reception is Sunday, February 26, 2012 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

The Crain Art Gallery is located within the Crowell Public Library Complex 

1890 Huntington Dr. in San Marino, CA  91108. 

Free parking is accessible behind the building.

The phone is 626-300-0777 and website is http://sanmarinopl.org/index.html .

The Crain Art Gallery is open for art viewing Monday through Thursday and Saturday and Sunday during the following times: 

M-Th  10am-9pm

Sat       10am-5pm

Sun      1-5pm

I had a terrific time last Thursday as I was hanging the show.  It was fun chatting with people as they walked in to look.   I was thrilled to see one white-haired gentleman pull out his smart phone and scan a few of the paintings.   (I've got QR codes on the labels for quick access to the painting on my website.)   It works!!!  YAY. 

During the run of the exhibition,  I will be on hand from 10:00 to 1:30 on most Wednesdays to chat with visitors and to paint in the courtyard.  Check with the library to confirm, or just drop by to say “hi”.  

Paintings can be purchased from me during my Wednesday visits or
through my website or by contacting me.

www.marianfortunati.com

[email protected]

"For the Birds" is one of two paintings that I created for a show called "RED" which were juried and curated by art representative, Margaret Danielak, and shown at the Women's City Club at the Historic Blinn House in Pasadena.  It was my favorite of the two juried in because it brought back memories of the beautiful city where I was married.   It was also quite a challenge for me and I was proud of the outcome.

The other painting "Red Umbrella Nocturne" seemed to be a favorite of the visitors at the opening reception and I was thrilled to learn that a collector purchased it.    Although everyone seemed to like Nocturne the best, For The Birds is still my favorite.  (And it's still available.)

A CONFESSION
How often do we read posts about the dangers of being sucked in by email, social media and other internet whimseys.   I confess.  I've become an email junkie.    It's like a Vegas slot machine.   Most days all you get is junk, but every once in a while you get a jackpot in the form of a new client who asks to purchase a painting OR equally thrilling, you get an email like this:

Dear Marian,

Congratulations! Your painting, "For The Birds", was selected as part of the FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the January 2012 BoldBrush Painting competition.
You may view the FAV15% paintings, including yours:
http://faso.com/boldbrush/fav15/73

This honor means that you might be featured in http://informedcollector.com in the coming months.
Please login to your account and make sure your bio info is current if you want any additional info to run in that article.
Thanks again and congrats again!
Sincerely,

Clint Watson
Software Craftsman and Art Fanatic

PS - Don't forget to enter again THIS month!

Good things like this come just often enough to keep me excited about opening my email.   I guess it's sort of an addiction.  -Happily not too harmful an addiction.    Now back to the easel!  (And try to remember to enter something in the next Boldbrush Contest before the end of the month.)

**********

Would you like to sign up for my free newsletter??  It would come in YOUR email about once a month!
http://marianfortunati.com/email-newsletter

Venice is the city where I met my husband.

It is a city that is beautiful and wonderfully different each time I go back to visit.

When I started this painting I used a reference photo I had taken on a trip in 2007.   On this day Tyler, who was then 7 years old, and I walked all over the city.  I was revisiting favorite places and he was pretty much seeing it for the first time since he was four when he last visited.  Just before I took the photo reference for this painting, I took one of Tyler who was in tears, running from all of the pigeons.   (I figured he'd never forgive me if I used THAT one for a reference.)  

I have an artist friend (Ying Liu) who used the photo as a reference several years back.  She is an amazing artist and did a wonderful job.  At that time I didn't have the nerve to attempt it.

This time I did.   Although I found the mass of pigeons and shadows difficult, I am pleased with how it turned out.  I hope you like it too.

Struggling With Life and Time

It seems lately that I am not in control of my life.   I am anxiously awaiting the birth of my youngest daughter's first child.  Happily all is going well but events such as these being what they are, create a bit of an out of control feeling when dealing with an upcoming solo show and my father who is extremely ill.  It is just life as usual, I know, but it makes, painting and blogging take a backseat to life.   (Which is as it should be, I imagine.)

While, I'd rather be painting, I have spent huge amounts of time preparing for my solo show in San Marino which is coming up next Sunday.  Framing, making and sending postcards, planning the reception, working on the publicity, creating price lists, labels and all of the necessary "things" to make the show a success take a LOT of my time.   If you are anywhere around San Marino, next Sunday afternoon before the Oscars, please come by MY "red carpet event" to chat and see the art.  

One LUCKY artist.... AGAIN!!!

Additionally, ANOTHER stroke of luck came my way which I could not pass up.   One of the owners of Rothschild's, a fabulous well-established Italian restaurant near Newport Beach, called me up after they had seen my painting in the Altadena Town and Country Club / California Art Club Show.  They wanted to hang some of my work!   At first I was hesitant, but after several phone calls and email exchanges, I realized that this was an opportunity NOT TO BE PASSED UP.  I drove down to Newport Beach last week to deliver six paintings to Heidi and Jim Patricola, the owners.  Heidi is just a lovely person and my conversations with her husband, Jim, have been wonderful as well.   The food is terrific, the location is phenomenal and most impressive to me, as an artist, is that my work will hang on the walls with some absolutely awe-inspiring painters:

Rothschild's is proud to feature the work of local Orange County artists, on view in the restaurant on a rotating basis. Some artists who have exhibited with us are listed below. Click any artist's name to visit their website and view their work. Jeff Horn - www.hornart.com Jim Wodark - www.jimwodark.com Niles Nordquist - www.nilesnordquist.com Jacobus Baas - www.jacobusbaas.com

My name is Fortunati... I've always felt lucky to have married a wonderful man, but maybe Fortunati, which means fortunate or lucky in Italian, is also a reflection on life!

Heidi chose five paintings from my website, but one was the one at the CAC show, so I took down six (two extras to see if she might like one of the extras instead of the Garrapata Coastiline she had chosen.)   She took them all:

Monterey Magic
Pacific Sunset
Garrapata Fog
Chinese Garden
A Walk On Isla Vista Beach
and Still Water Reflections which is described below:

Santa Barbara is the home of the University Of California at Santa Barbara, where I earned my undergraduate degree.   I always thought it was funny that I received a Bachelor's of Arts degree with a major in Zoology, but when I earned my Master's in Education from the University of Southern California, it was a Masters of Science.

Whatever the sense or non-sense of that, while I was at UCSB I had a terrific time ... lots of party time but even more study time.  I didn't really explore the campus.   I walked around Isla Vista, where I lived, and of course all over the beautiful campus, but I never visited the north campus area around Devereau Slough. 

When visiting my daughter, who also graduated from UCSB, and who now lives in Santa Barbara, I decided to do some exploring.  This gorgeous area just made my jaw drop.  I HAD to get out and paint it.   Judging from the parking signage which stated that parking was only allowed for bird watching and for painting.. I wasn't the only one.   In fact, the very next day I was thrilled to attend the California Art Club's 100th Annual Gold Medal Show and there were two gorgeous paintings also painted from near this area. 

I spent a very pleasant afternoon in the shade of a row of large eucalyptus trees painting the scene across the slough while aquatic birds of all types entertained me from afar.

** This painting has been juried in to the 25th Annual National Juried Exhibition at the Cultural Arts Center in Douglasville, Georgia.** (November-December, 2011)

You never really know which way your life journey or your art journey will take you.   I think the best we all can do is to be prepared to enjoy the ride no matter what happens or for whatever time we have.

Family highs and lows have kept me away from painting and blogging a great deal lately, but while I need and want to be present for those real life happenings, my art life is important to me as well.

Perhaps you will read this press release to understand this particular highlight on my art journey:

I certainly hope that any of you who are interested in art... or in me... or in visiting a new place... might come by to see my artwork at the gallery and to say hello.

“Marian Fortunati – A One Woman Show”

Art Exhibition at the Crain Art Gallery – Crowell Library Complex, San Marino, CA

The Crain Art Gallery within the beautiful Crowell Public Library Complex in the City of San Marino will host the exhibit of Fortunati’s work from February 26 through April 20, 2012.  The exhibition features thirty works.  A reception is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, February 26, 2012 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“I am THE lucky artist!” says Fortunati, whose surname means lucky in Italian. Fortunati explains that this show is the result of a lucky connection between long ago Alpha Chi Omega sorority sisters.  Fortunati regularly corresponds with a sorority sister, Beverly Dahlstedt, who lives in the Bay Area.  Her Bay Area friend corresponds with another sorority sister who lives in San Marino, Sandy Morris.  When Fortunati sent a newsletter to her friend in the Bay Area, that friend forwarded it to her San Marino friend, who then visited Fortunati at a show at the Blinn House in Pasadena.  Shortly thereafter, Morris, who is the Vice-Chair on the Library Board of Trustees, contacted Fortunati to ask if she was interested in showing her work at the Crain Art Gallery.   WOW… There was never any question!   What a lucky and fun way to connect with friends from long ago!

The Crowell Library complex was built on the site of the former San Marino Public Library.  It was the result of a huge community effort and generous donations from the San Marino City Council and former San Marino Mayor, Suzanne Crowell and her family.  The new Public Library opened on January 26, 2008.  The Art Gallery was named to honor long time Library Director, Carolyn Crain, who had championed the building of the new library, but who succumbed to cancer on May 8, 2008.

Fortunati’s One Woman Show will be on view from February 26 through April 20, 2012. The reception is Sunday, February 26, 2012 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

The Crain Art Gallery is located within the Crowell Public Library Complex at 1890 Huntington Dr. in San Marino, CA  91108. 

Free parking is accessible behind the building. The phone is 626-300-0777 and website is http://sanmarinopl.org/index.html .

The Crain Art Gallery is open for art viewing Monday through Thursday and Saturday and Sunday during the following times: 

M-Th  10am-9pm

Sat       10am-5pm

Sun      1-5pm

I plan to chat with visitors and paint in the courtyard outside the courtyard on most Wednesdays between 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.  Check the library to confirm or just drop by to say "hi".

I will remind all of you again as we get closer to the event.

Since the beginning of January I have created thirty (30!) small paintings as party favors to celebrate my youngest daughter's baby shower.   Originally I was aiming for 25, but it turned out that more people were able to attend the party than we had expected.  This was a good thing, but oh, my, it meant painting even more paintings.  Because of a variety of "life events" I fell behind my schedule and was afraid I wouldn't get them done in time.

Whew!  I made it... The shower is tomorrow.   Here are the party favor paintings that I haven't yet posted.   -- The last of them.

There's A Monkey On My Back © Marian Fortunati 4"x6" Oil on Hardboard
Snuggling Siblings © Marian Fortunati 4"x6" Oil on Hardboard
Kissing Up © Marian Fortunati 4"x6" Oil on Hardboard
Run, Baby, Run! © Marian Fortunati 4"x6" Oil on Hardboard

It will be wonderful to focus on happy things tomorrow.   My Dad has been very ill and as you all probably know, when someone you care about

	Lilac Breasted Roller © Marian Fortunati 4"x6" Oil on Hardboard
	Roar © Marian Fortunati 4"x6" Oil on Hardboard
	Look, Mom!  I'm Almost Up To Your Neck! © Marian Fortunati 4"x6" Oil on Hardboard

isn't well, it makes the world seem a bit dimmer. 

Here's a quote from a recent Chinese fortune cookie:
"Everyday in your life is a special occasion."

Let's all try to live that way.

Do you live or work near Pasadena??   If so come by to see show!  

The reception tonight features "RED" martinis!!!  

Click on this link HERE  to see the variety of artwork in the show (on Facebook):  

Event Dates:  12/1/12  -  4/2/12
 

SOLD
"Red Umbrella Nocturne"		"For The Birds"

Sometimes when life is full of worries and stresses, it's a good thing to just set it all aside and escape to a beautiful place to paint.   That is what I did when I painted this scene.   I dropped off my guy at school and headed straight out to the beach.  I just went alone as I wasn't sure what the day had in store and whether I would have to return suddenly or not.  Although I like to paint with friends, I didn't want to worry about inconveniencing a friend.  And I enjoy being alone sometimes.

I decided to go to El Matador State Beach Park in Malibu.   I figured that walking down and then back up the hideously steep cliff with my paint pack on my back would be great exercise.   At the top of the cliff I was a bit worried because the wind was blowing and blowing wind and sand does NOT make for a great painting.   However, by the time I hiked to the beach and walked all around the wonderful rocky outcroppings to choose my spot, I found the place sheltered enough to enjoy a picture perfect day.   The sky was clear except for a few wispy clouds, and it wasn't too cool.  The beach was gorgeous.

I found the time just flew by as I tried to weave the magic before me into the painting.  I am so glad I was there.