Summer Mosaic 2017 Recap: Days 1-7

I’m excited to get started on this year’s Summer Mosaic project in the next couple of months!  I’ve already starting planning out what I’m going to be painting and it’s going to be good!  It’s going to involve some art adventures; that’s all the hints I’m going to give for now but I’ll be sure to share to take you along in the journey.

In preparation for Summer Mosaic 2018, I am reviewing all of my Summer Mosaic paintings from last year.  Last year was the first year of 171 Cedar Arts Center’s Summer Mosaic. The project was to create 50 pieces of artwork using 6″x6″ wooden panels in a 45 day time period.  The theme I picked was Around the Finger Lakes.  I used acrylic paint to transform each wood tile into different scenes from the local area.
​

Before painting on a raw wood it’s important to properly prepare the surface.  In order to this, I first sealed the titles on all sides with a matte medium.  This helps to prevent yellowing over the years.  Over time wood surfaces can leak oils that can give a painting a yellowed tint if not properly treated.  Second I covered the front and sides with two or three (I can’t remember for sure now) layers of gesso.  The gesso further preserves the surface by making the surface less porous which means that the paint will stay on the surface of the titles and not be absorbed into the wood.  The gesso also creates a textured ground to work on.

I rode past this farm everyday growing up.  As a kid I always looked forward to seeing how many cows were out in the pasture that day (possibly mooing at them as we drove by).  The reflections of the sky in the pond always mesmerized me.

Original painting available for purchase.

Driving along Seneca Lake in the summertime, windows down, radio up. The lakeside is filled with beautiful scenes of vineyards.  This painting is based on a reference picture that I took years ago while driving along Seneca Lake and I had been waiting for the right moment to paint it.  Every time I look at it, it reminds me of warm air, days swimming at the lake, and good music played “too” loud.

I’m also looking forward to painting another version of this at a later point in a horizontal format.  I feel that I have something left to say on this scene, so that usually means that I need to create another painting.

Original painting (framed) available for purchase.

This painting is based on a picture that I took while going for a really long walk down Middle Road in Veteran, New York.  There were so many beautiful places to stop and take pictures of country roads and cornfields.  The goal was to end up at the farm at the end of the road (painting 1).  If you look really closely in this painting you can see the Murray Domes just barely peeking through in the background.

Original painting available for purchase.

Author Mark Twain used to spend his summer’s in Elmira, New York.  (Actually, he still spends his summer (and other seasons) in Elmira, as he is buried here in Woodlawn Cemetery.)   His sister-in-law had a study built for him to be able to work while overlooking the Chemung River.  Mark Twain wrote many of his famous works while in this study.  Later, Mark Twain’s original study was moved from its original location and now sits on the Elmira College campus.

I recently learned some more interesting facts and theories about the construction of the study.  Here’s a link to a great video by real estate agent and local enthusiast J.D. Iles where he is talking more about the Mark Twain Study. 

Original painting available for purchase.

This painting features the Erie Street railroad bridge in downtown Elmira, New York.  What intrigued me about this scene was the repeated arches and the contrast between the cool colors of the shadows and warm highlights of the setting sun streaming through.

The reference photo was taken during the Elmira Street Painting Festival that is held each year.  During the festival is a great time to take a walk around downtown Elmira to take in all the interesting architecture and enjoy the view of the Chemung River.

Original painting (framed) available for purchase.

Woodlawn Cemetery is the final resting place of famous author Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), producer Hal Roach, Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, Governor of New York Lucius Robinson, and local congressman, mayor, and business John Arnot, Jr – just to name a few.

The cemetery is one of the places nearby that I like to walk.  It’s always so peaceful and there’s so much history buried there.  I’m always curious about who the people were and what their lives were like.  This particular day, a raven/crow was sitting on a headstone.  It felt like it was a scene that would be written by Edgar Allen Poe and I just had to capture the moment.

Original painting available for purchase.

The Corning Gaffer Tower is a historic landmark in Corning, New York.  It was originally us as part of the glass manufacturing process by Corning Glass Works (now Corning Incorporated).  The tower is no longer functional but serves as a reminder of the past.

If you haven’t visited this area of Corning, the Corning Inc campus is always beautiful, especially in the springtime.  I tend to walk around this area during the Arts in Bloom event that takes place at the end of April each year.

For more information on the tower (and Historic Corning in general) check out this link.

This painting sold as part of the show so I was unable to have the opportunity to take a better image.  If you are the lucky new owner of this painting, I would love to see a picture of it in its new home!

​If you haven’t already, make sure to follow my Facebook page and mark it as “see first” so you’re able to easily follow along each day. You can also sign up for my newsletter for convenient, condensed updates (and possible sneak peeks for this year’s project) right in your inbox.  See you back here next week to recap days 8-14!

Do you have a favorite painting out of these first seven?  Let me know!

If you’d like to follow along in my journey and art adventures be sure to connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!  You can also sign up to receive updates and special goodies in your email box by clicking here!