Grey, a new favorite wall color according to House Beautiful readers

Recently I read an article in House Beautiful (HB) which features the 2012 Color Report. Readers vs interior designers. I strongly agree with most of it. In fact much of it confirms what I see in my clients homes. How can they be wrong, right? They polled their readers from the entire USA!

I love GREY walls especially in living rooms. What can I say, but everything looks great on a neutral grey wall. Most of all art! According to the House Beautiful poll, the under-45 crowd chose GREY as their favorite for living rooms. See below a photo of my latest painting, "River Song" on a grey wall. It was created for my collector who had recently designed her living/family room using the palette; light grey, dark grey and yellow green.

Other color facts according to HB that are interesting...

• ORANGE is in! Many blogger and readers love Orange.
• BLUE is the number one bedroom color! ahhhh... so soothing.
• YELLOW slightly wins over WHITE as the favorite kitchen color.
• Designers still love RED in dinning rooms.
• GREEN and PURPLE are rising stars.

If you have a yen to redo your space, here's a helpful color tool that House Beautiful offers. They call it their Complete Guide to Color.  http://www.housebeautiful.com    Happy painting!

(c) Lisa Palombo, 2012. www.lisapalombo.com

Original Paintings on Paper

Spring has sprung onto paper at Lisa Palombo Studios!!!

"Iris Sorbet", 18" x 12", acrylic on paper

You may have noticed my new Etsy shop. This is where I have recently featured my acrylic paintings on paper. Why has this longtime, die-hard oil painter now found herself painting with acrylics? Well there is no simple answer except that last summer I started painting artist embellishments with acrylic on my giclee canvases and... LOVED it! Acrylic paint is very different from oil. Pigments have a wide variety and they dry FAST! 

Acrylic paints have come a long way since the last time I used it 20+ years ago. They are completely archival, meaning the colors will not fade in sun light exposure. I have been using Golden Acrylics, which offers a wide variety of pigments and fluid consistencies. I also use 140 lb. watercolor paper for a support and will start painting on canvas too in the near future.

"Sunflower Celebration", 19" x 13",  acrylic on paper,  detail

To my oil collectors, don’t worry, I haven’t deserted oils. In fact, I have been bouncing between the two. Teaching workshops this winter in my studio and doing demos at art centers has my brush in two pots, sort of speak.

This spring there are several exhibitions where you can see my new acrylics on paper including my annual Spring Open Studio (May 5 & 6). Be sure to mark your calendars. Details are below...

Not in the NJ? Well, there is my Etsy Shop and website. Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or requests.

"Orange Water Lilies", 22" x30", acrylic on paper

"Sunset Water Lilies" 22" x 30", acrylic on paper, detail

April 3 - Women's Club of Glen Ridge, Exhibition, Luncheon & Presentation 
(11:30am-2pm) "Presby Iris Garden - a local Legend since 1927"  
Women's club of Glen Ridge, 219 Ridgewood Ave., Glen Ridge, NJ 973-748-5459.

April 3 - Evening art exhibition reception, meet the artists (7pm-9pm) -  
Women's club of Glen Ridge, 219 Ridgewood Ave., Glen Ridge, NJ 973-748-5459. more information and reservations

April 18 - ReFocus on Art, Exhibition and Sale 
(7-10pm) New Jersey Arts Incubator, 495 Prospect Avenue,West Orange, NJ. 
100 Pieces of Art for 100 Years! Celebrate the NCJW/Essex centennial at this 
special one-night-only fundraising event! A special evening of cocktails, 
hors d'oeuvres and art for sale, including flat art, fine glass, fine crafts, 
and outdoor sculpture. $50 in advance, members and nonmembers; 
$75 at the door (if available). more information and reservations or contact ncjw@ncjwessex.org 

May 5 & 6 - Spring Open Studio (12pm-5pm)
55 Mountain Ave., Caldwell, NJ (973) 364-0280
This is our 11th annual Spring Open Studio show. 
Come join us in my studio for a weekend of fine art 
and yummy treats. We look forward to seeing you there!  
directions to the studio

NEW Art Kit and Studio Workshops 2012

Just in time for my Winter Workshops...

I am so excited to tell you that in partnership with Jerry's Artist Outlet in West Orange, NJ we have created a NEW Lisa Palombo's Oil Painting Art Kit! Click here and go to "Lisa Palombo's Oil Painting Art Kit" link on top of the page to see list.

Come join us this February and March in my studio for two paintings workshops; a consecutive three day workshop in February and my Saturday painting class in March. 

We will be working in oil from natural still life setups on small to medium canvases in my studio. Painting small and often in this manner is a powerful way to rapidly improve your skills.

Come join us...space is limited to 7 students!

Workshop Winter Session 2012: (Feb.13, 14, 15, 2012)
working on one medium painting in 3 consecutive days
Level: Advanced Beginner - Intermediate
Time: 9:30 am - 12:30pm
Cost: $165 per session
Materials: Class fee does not include supplies. A supply list and other recommendations will be provided. Jerry's Artist Supply in West Orange, NJ has a Lisa Palombo's Oil Painting Art Kit available at a GREAT price!! click here and go to "Lisa Palombo's oil painting art kit" link on top of the page to see list.

Saturday Winter Session 2012: (March 3, 10, 17, 24, 2012)
working on one small painting each Saturday
Level: Advanced Beginner - Intermediate
Time: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Cost: $220 per session 
Materials: Class fee does not include supplies. Supply list and other recommendations will be provided. Jerry's Artist Supply in West Orange, NJ has a Lisa Palombo's Oil Painting Art Kit available at a GREAT price!! click here and go to "Lisa Palombo's oil painting art kit" link on top of the page to see list.

Click here for application.

"Women Impressionists and Myself"

In honor of  Women's History Month, yesterday I presented, "Women Impressionists & Myself" at the Reeves Reed Arboretum, Summit, NJ.  My lecture coincides with my solo exhibition, "Impressions of a Garden."  I don't often have an opportunity to speak in a public venue about the Grande Dames of Impressionism and how they continue to inspired me, so this was a real treat! 

The Four women considered the center of the Impressionist movement of the late 1800’s are Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, Eva Gonzales, and  Marie Bracquemond. Not only did these women have to over come a new movement , Impressionism, but they had to overcome being a woman and all that it meant at that time. 

"Sleepy Baby" (c) Mary Cassatt 1910

 























In this beginning of a new century where modern woman artists are an equal force to the men gender in the art world, the example of Mary Cassatt who insisted on painting women as subjects and not objects remains highly significant. The most charming part of Cassatt's story was her profound dedication to her work. Despite prejudices against female painters she still had the perseverance to realize her life's ambition of being an artist. This paved the way for the prominence of female artists in the 20th Century and to present day.

"Impressions of a Garden" will be on view at the Wisner House till May 8th, 2001. 

Mark your calendars for Daffodil Day, April 10th.. Reeves Reed Arboretum

"A Penny For Your Thoughts" oil on linen 5" x 7" (c) Lisa Palombo

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.

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.

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/

TV interview

Here's the link to my recent TV interview on WMBC-TV. Click on, http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3821986799349706208.

Painting demo for first class

Hope and Happiness Bouquet, oil on linen, 7"x 5"
$375 framed (ask about availability)
http://www.lisapalombo.com/
Number 18 of the "100 minis" collection

In our first class here at my NJ studio, we all painted from life. We began the class with me painting a demo. This is the mini painting I completed. Irises symbolize hope and sunflowers happiness and sunshine. We had a lot of fun and students were pleasantly surprised that we all finished small paintings in ONE sitting! Next class is in June.

How to Hang Art in a Grouping

Have you ever wondered how to creatively fill a wall with more than one piece of art? You probably already have a collection of paintings, mirrors and wall sconces that would look great together.

Here are a few suggestions to get started:

Use Your Imagination - Arranging small treasures in a group gives a big impact when hung close together. Have a common theme among your collection. For example, all florals, or all black and white photos or a group of small paintings framed in similar styled gold frames. See my mini collection page for an example of different gold frames that would look nice together. Arranging your group on the floor first helps to see how to organize the "puzzle."

The Numbers Game - When filling a wall with large paintings, groups in even numbers work well and uneven numbers work well over furniture.

Going Vertical - Hang the wider framed artwork on top when hanging pieces vertically.

The Gallery Look - A simple modern gallery look is to draw an imaginary line 58" (standard) above the floor across the wall. Then arrange the art centered on the line no matter what the framed proportions are. Leaving lots of space between the pieces works especially well in long lobbies and hallways.

X Marks the Spot - Use a small masking tape "X" on the wall to mark the spot before nailing a mirror hanger. This helps save your wall from scratches and cracks, especially plaster walls. Use 2 hooks when hanging large art, this helps keep the piece from titling. I suggest using a level, too.

I hope this helps and gives you some new ideas about hanging art in groups. Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments at art@lisapalombo.com. I am always happy to help.

Wishing you flower-filled days,

Lisa Palombo