Monson Fest Painting

On July 20th my dear friend Kevin Pelissier threw his annual Monson Fest party, where family and friends fill the backyard for a camp out day and night of festivities. There are always awesome bands with a lit up stage, tents in the yard, a fire in back, an in ground pool with glow sticks floating in it. A giant slip and slide is rolled out down the hill with detergent all over it and a hose. Basically, a super fun time. This year I conquered my fear of the slip and slide and mastered it, with minimal scrapes and a sore rib cage. My contribution to Monson Fest this year was to sketch out a painting for everyone to work on. From previous years I imagined what it would look like, standing on the deck and looking down to the pool and yard. I drew it out in pencil and painting a few things in. I was at work all day, and was happy that people added to it by filling in and adding creatures. I have it in the studio to finish it up so Kevin's dad Kevin Senior can hang it.

What's New

Alot has happened lately, here is the latest. Performed a comedy show at the Elevens in Northampton,MA for the monthly Mass Laughs Comedy show. We had a great line up of comics, a big audience, and I feel my confidence growing with each show I do. I had a bunch of new jokes and they went over well. So instead of being cooped up in the studio painting by myself, I have been exploring this more theatrical form of art. I also had the chance to host an open mic at Bishops Lounge for the new Sunday night, 7:30 show. I make weird observations on the world and think, "how can I turn this into a joke?" Kind of similarly to my painting, observing and recording the world through my own perspective. For the past two weeks I helped teach Art Camp through Monson Parks and Recreation Department. We studied nature through art and recycled materials to create paper mache Oaxaca inspired animals. Every time I have the chance to work with young kids, I am reminded how creative and full of energy they are. A pleasure to do Art Camp every year. If you are in the Monson area and have some little ones, think of enrolling them next year. There is a 5-7 year old group and then 8-13 or so. Included are some pictures. I also helped out Greene Room Productions with their 4th of July parade which was Alice in Wonderland themed, painting up some guys on stilts to resemble pink flamingos! Air brush and smaller brush work, threw them in my car and raced down to get them in the parade, where about 4,000 people flock to Main St Monson for Summerfest!

Popcorn Noir- Summer Session Show

Great news! My Lady Legs up at Popcorn Noir will stay up for the summer season, jumping over to a larger wall in the dining area. I am going to add some additional paintings which may not be legs, but I feel will round out the collection. Please join me on Thursday, June 13, 2013 for an evening of meeting new people, snacking on delicious new menu items, sipping cocktails and having an all around wonderful time. It'll be a blast old sport!

94.7 WMAS Robyn's Review for Brush It Off

Robyn Lee works for a Springfield, MA radio station and does reviews of local businesses. Here is her review of Brush It Off, complete with me awkwardly talking on camera. It was a great class for her to come visit on, we had 40 people, a packed house for us. She even came back this past Sunday with some friends to paint just for fun, which I think is the best recommendation we could get. Exciting stuff happening in Sturbridge, MA. Check out the Brush It Off facebook page for lots of great pictures of regular folks painting up a storm. http://robynsreviews.com/

They're All Gonna Laugh At You!!!

Had a fantastic time telling jokes at the Comedy Broads Battle Cancer hosted by Kris Badal. We raised $700 for cancer research via standup2cancer.org. We packed the theater room to standing only with audio piped over to the bar side. Raffle items were given out, including a gift certificate from my work at Brush It Off. After the show there was a hip hop session. Thank you to: Kris Badal, Noëlle Gray, Dana Montuori, Lillian DeVane, Jennifer Myszkowski, Hilary Gardiner, Ellementt, TheMcMarvin, QuiñonesAaron, Aaron LaRoche, Aaron Borucki, Jess Miller, Kim DeShields, Ezra Prior and especially to Popcorn Noir for having us for such an incredible event! So female comics kicked cancers ass, at least $700 worth. Go to StandUpToCancer.org for information on donating through fundraising. To continue a great cause on April 27th at 2p.m. I will be teaching a "Wings of Hope" butterfly with pink ribbon to raise more money for the cause. Seats are $35 and Brush It Off will donate $10 of each seat. Have not heard about Brush It Off yet? Find more information here, www.brush-it-off.com I teach painting there full time and love it! Even if you have never painted before, I show you step by step how, and you can even have a glass of wine or a beer while you do it. See you then.

Opening at Popcorn Noir a Hit

Had a wonderful time at the art opening and Spring menu debut at Popcorn Noir last Thursday. The other artists hanging had really great work, Christopher Gendron with paintings of a long lost culture and Eric Gove with photos on stretched canvas of marshes and mountain hikes. Had a nice turn out of friends and family and doubled the celebration being my father's Birthday! If you couldn't make the opening but are free this Saturday, come by at 9:30 for Comedy Babes Battle Cancer benefit show. I will be telling jokes and raffling off a gift certificate to Brush It Off. Come early if you want a seat, and then standing room, and then in the bar area with audio piped in through speakers. The work will probably be up for Spring til the beginning of June. Or here are some photos.

Art and Comedy at Popcorn Noir, Easthampton, MA

I am excited to be hanging art on Tuesday at Popcorn Noir in Easthampton, MA. This ingenious spot shows movies in a separate screening room, has wonderful cocktails and a new Spring menu debuting on April 11, which will also be the night of the art opening! So come on down to support me, some other artists and a really cool restaurant. If you can't make it on the 11th you can come on Saturday the 20th for an all female comedy show. This comedy show is a benefit for cancer. There is no cover but suggested donation is $10 and we will be raising money for Standup2cancer.org. There will be also be a raffle at the end of the evening. Start time 9:30pm. Headlining our show we have Lillian DeVane from Boston, a very funny gal who just hosted several shows at the Women in Comedy Festival. Other performers include Alana Eisner from NY, Noelle Gray from CT, Jess Miller, Andrea Newland, Hillary Gardiner, and Dana Montouri. Come support women in comedy and a great cause!

Gateway City Arts in Holyoke Classes

Wanted to share an up an coming studio space in Holyoke along the canal called Gateway City Arts, located at 92-114 Race St. in Holyoke, MA. They have Swing dance classes as well as Tango, workshops on gilding frames and creating molds, and classes by Dean Nimmer in drawing, monoprint and classes like art from intuition. Classes range in price and you can take one, or get a better deal if you take a bunch of them. I have been wanting to take one of Dean Nimmer's classes ever since he was the chair of Fine Arts at Mass Art and I never got to take his "100 Drawings" class there. I also found a bunch of his assemblage at a little gallery in Easthampton, MA and bought two. Check out their list of classes here