Reeves Reed Rose Garden

One of my favorite gardens, the Reeves Reed Arboretum has roses still in bloom! My favorite model and I headed out this morning with digital camera and picnic basket.

Although famous for it's roses the arboretum is open year round with a calendar on it's website listing what's in bloom. To find out more about the arboretum please click on this link, Reeves Reed Arboretum.

Sergei Bongart

Has anything ever stop you in your tracks and make you say, "WOW! now that guy knows what he's doing!" ? My artist friend, Miro Sinovcic just sent me this link to artist Sergei Bongart.

If you like to paint, or appreciate well done fresh and juicy art. You must check him out! As my friend Miro says, "Hold your chair, it will blow you off."

Miro is an excellent artist in his own right... after you get back on your chair check his work out at http://nyframeofmind.blogspot.com/ and prepare yourself for another ride.

Why Plein Air Painting is Exhilarating

"Claude Monet Painting by the Edge of the Wood" by John Singer Sargent 1885

I often get asked, "Do you paint outside or in the studio?" Well, the answer is both, but when I can, I love love love painting en plein air!

If you are inspired by nature, painting in the midst of it is truly exhilarating. I feel like I paint with all my senses when outdoors. It is so exciting to SEE true color in day light. Light moves quickly so you are forced to make your marks quickly, which takes on a fresh feeling to your painting. Any plein air painter will tell you there is nothing like it and if you haven't tried it you are missing out!

Wikipedia explains:(plān-âr', Fr. plĕn-ĕr')
En plein air is a French expression which means "in the open air", and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.
Artists have long painted outdoors, but in the mid-19th century working in natural light became particularly important to the Barbizon school and Impressionism. The popularity of painting en plein air increased in the 1870s with the introduction of paints in tubes (resembling modern toothpaste tubes). It was during this period that the "Box Easel", typically known as the French Box Easel, was invented. It is uncertain who developed it first, but these highly portable easels, with telescopic legs and built-in paint box and palette, made treks into the forest and up the hillsides less onerous. Still made today, they remain a popular choice even for home use since they fold up to the size of a brief case and thus are easy to store.


I too have many French easels. They are wonderful! I use them painting outside as well as in the studio when I teach students. It is very convenient to rest your palette on the drawer that pulls out in front of you under the canvas. They fold easily and most all of your supplies fit in the box.

Peony Garden

I had the pleasure of visiting Kathleen Gagan's Peony Garden recently in Berndardsville, NJ. It is such a heavenly hideaway with lots of tree peonies and herbacious varieties. She also has many irises and a few red chickens roaming the property. At the moment the herbacaious peonies are in full bloom!

The garden is open to the public from 11 am- 5pm from May 1st-June 15th. Visit her website for more information. I plan on painting, plein air there next week and breathing in all the delicious perfumed peony aromas.

Thursday in the Presby Garden with Lisa

I was painting all day at the Presby Garden. What a wonderful plein air trip! The irises are almost fully bloomed. I huge difference from two days ago.

When I got back to my studio a very gracious lady had emailed me this photo, entitled, "Thursday in the Presby Garden with Lisa." Thank you Emily K.!
I am already looking forward to my next plein air excursion at the Presby Memorial Gardens again next week on Tuesday, May 26th.

Presby Iris Garden

The Presby Iris Garden in Montclair, NJ is in bloom!

It is not fully in bloom but there is enough bloomed irises to make the trip worth it. I plan on painting plein air this Thurday. I can't wait! Please feel free to stop by my easel to say hello. For more information about the garden, click on presby garden.

Painting in Progress - White Peonies

Painting in progress, "White Peonies" 48"x60."

I woke up the other day with the feeling, I need to paint large! So why not paint white peonies this way. They are so rewarding to paint, especially the white ones in my garden. White flowers have so much reflective light and so I love to put as much color in them as possible.

Stay tuned to see the progress on this big canvas.

Hollyhock Escape

Hollyhock Escape 30"x24", oil on linen
To see more Paintings like this, click on, Recent Paintings.

I just managed to finish this piece, "Hollyhock Escape" in time for my Spring Open Studio this weekend, May 2 & 3 (12-5pm). It will be framed and displayed , although still wet. Come visit us. Our annual Spring Event is open to the public and children are welcome.

Spring Open Studio

"Tiger Lily Lane," 12" x 9", oil on linen.

To see more paintings like this,
click on Recent paintings page on my website.

It's spring and we are very pleased to invite you to
our 8th annual Spring Open Studio, May 2nd and 3rd
(Sat. & Sun.) from 12pm-5pm at Lisa Palombo Studios;
55 Mountain Ave., Caldwell, NJ 07006. Refreshments will be

served and children are welcome.

Independence

"Independence," oil on linen, 5"x7"

Detail of "Independence", oil on linen, 5"x7"

My painting is my life's visual diary. While gathering reference last spring at the Reeves Reed Rose garden in NJ, I realized my daughter running around the property was more interesting to me. This winter I started a new series of her incorporated in gardens. This is a small mini sketch of a piece I plan on interpreting larger.

Interior Design thoughts by Greta Goss

Award-winning interior design consultant, Greta Goss has some wonderful ideas on purchasing and displaying art...

“If buying art intimidates you, distill the process by following your instincts. You either like something or you don’t. If you buy something because you think it will be great over the sofa due to its dimensions, you have attached a purpose to the piece - which is very different from you having an instinctual reaction to it. That is fine for those who aren’t looking for one. Yet for those who are, choosing art that way will result in frustration instead of joy. If you only purchase pieces that you love, you’ll always find places to put them.”

“While a piece may look better in one area than another because it’s not competing with a certain fabric, or, it compliments or coordinates something else in the room, art need not match anything.”

“A small piece over a mantle can easily be complimented by the addition of a few assorted, asymmetrical shapes and textures like candles or sculptures beneath it.”

“When considering how to hang your pieces, pretend your bare floor or plain carpet is the wall, then use it to try out combinations of two or three pieces vertically and horizontally. Try several combinations mixing oils with prints, watercolors with etchings, or adding a mirror. The more you play with the combinations that you have, the faster you’ll learn how best to arrange them.”
Greta Goss

For detailed information about this talented interior designer please see: http://www.gretagoss.com/

Rose Garden Friends

Detail of "Rose Garden Friends," oil on linen, 5"x 7"

Private collection

To see more Paintings like this, click on, Mini Collection.

This is a detail of a mini sketch from a new series I am beginning. Every winter I tuck myself away in my studio and birth something new for the year. It is joyfully challenging to include my favorite subjects; flower gardens and my daughter. Stay tuned... I'll be posting others soon.

Studio Photos

We recently took photos of my spacious studio gallery for our 2009 brochure. I am a truly happy artist when I paint in my studio. I have the all important coveted north light when working on my easel and lots of nature to watch out my windows. For those of you who are ever in the Northern NJ area, please feel free to make a studio visit. We are located 30 minutes from NYC.

Apples and Wine

"Apples and Wine," oil on linen, 5"x 7" ($450 framed)
#32 in 100 Minis Collection
(ask about availability)
To see more Paintings like this, click on, Mini Collection.

"Apples and Wine" was a painting demo from one of our Saturday morning painting classes. You can't see in this small jpeg, but the violet highlights in the shadow areas makes this piece a little jewel. Rarely do I paint a piece without flowers these days, but I think the apples are alive enough to roll right off the table.

MINI Giclee Fine Art Prints

Giclee Fine Art Print "After the Party"

5"x7" on canvas $30

Just in time for the Holidays our new line of MINI Giclee Fine Art Prints will premier at our annual Holiday Open Studio, Nov. 22 & 23.

click here to view the catalog of 8 prints. Contact us for framing options.

Sunflowers and Oranges

"Sunflowers and Oranges," oil on linen, 10"x 8"
(ask about availability) http://www.lisapalombo.com/

We had so much fun at our last Saturday painting class here in my studio. We all painted from the same still life, sunflowers and oranges. I love the warmth of this piece and especially the contrast of the oranges and blue cloth.

Blackeyed Susans

"Black-eyed Susans," oil on linen, 7"x 5" ($450 framed)

(ask about availability)

To see more Paintings like this, click on, Mini Collection.

I have to thank my neighbors, Diane and Lin, again for there splendid display of black-eyed susans!! I love that they plant a variety. The large one in the middle is called "Cherokee Sunset." It has a bright orange red center and feathery petals... I drool over them every time I visit.

New Fine Art Giclee Prints

Limited Edition Fine Art Giclee Print "White Peonies"
36"x36" on canvas $850
22"x22" on paper $495

I recently added my Limited Edition Fine Art Giclee Prints to my website, ww.lisapalombo.com/PRINTS.html. I am pleased to share them with you, just in time for the the Holidays. Also, if you sign up on my E-Newsletter, you will receive a coupon good for the month of November 2008. To sign up go to my homepage, www.lisapalombo.com and click on "Join Our Mailing List".

China Blue and Citrus

"China Blue and Citrus," oil on linen, 24"x 20"
(ask about availability)
http://www.lisapalombo.com/

Here it is! The finished piece, "China Blue and Citrus" (24"x20").

I had so much fun painting this one. As you can see, I spent hours loosing myself in painting the vase. I like it so much that I am featuring it on my Holiday Open Studio invitation.

The original is already sold. Two of my favorite collectors had seen it half finished on my easel and they said,"We need to have it!"

Luckly, it will reproduce beautifully into a fine art reproduction print on canvas. So look for it on my PRINT page shortly. www.lisapalombo.com/PRINTS.html.

Painting in process, Detail

I just couldn't wait to show you my latest painting, even if, it is only a detail of a painting in progress with no title yet. It is about half finished, so stay tuned to see the final peice. I will post it on my blog when it's done. I also plan on showcasing it at my annual Holiday Open Studio (Nov 22nd & 23rd).