Oils and Pastels by Margaret Dyer

Here’s where we’re staying, in the first picture, up on the top two floors to the left.  Breakfast today was from 7:00-8:30-ish—lots of fresh fruit, yogurt, prociutto, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, coffee, juice, and then Ivano walked in with a pretty wrapped package of fresh warm pastries.  We met our tour guide at 10:00, who led us from one side of the Arno River to the other, giving us a glimpse of the Ponte Vecchio (the old bridge), to visit a couple of artists’ studios. The first, Jason Arkles, a sculptor from the USA; he and his artist wife settled in Florence several years ago, and have a thriving business. He sculpts and teaches, as he did today when he explained to us how sculptors like Michelangelo reproduce so perfectly the human body. Actually, he enlightened me. He explained in great detail the sight-size method (Here's a simplified explanation:  https://www.sightsize.com/about ) used by the great sculptors and by Jason today. Check out Jason's web ...

You'll have to forgive me; it's been a long time since I've written in this blog. I am rusty. And tired. All 8 students and I converged  within hours of each other today, most of us wasted after crossing the Atlantic   through the night.  Our home for the next week is a centuries old villa in  the busy newer area of Florence , a 15 minute walk to Il Duomo. Debra and Ivano Zamperla, our hosts, made sure everybody was safely 'at home,' grocery shopped and prepared out dinner while a few  of us caught a few hours of recuperative sleep. 6:30--Dinner, cooked by Ivan and Debra: bruschetta, Tuscan white beans, salad, medallions of turkey and pork, tiramisu cake. We sipped  prosecco  as we became acquainted with each other; we are from Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, California and Georgia.  We  are composed of a physician and her beautiful 16 year old daughter; a violin ist and her son, who leaves us tomorrow; 4 retired teachers, ...

I will be painting at River Gallery in Chattanooga, TN, this coming Saturday, as my exhibition there comes to a close. You are welcome to come hang out with me as I paint. I would be delighted to have the company. The more, the merrier. Margaret Dyer demonstration Saturday, March 25, 2017 1:00-4:00 River Gallery 400 East Second Street Chattanooga, TN 37403 (423) 265-5033 ext. 5 1-800-374-2923 art@river-gallery.com Click for map.

 I delivered all of these oil paintings to River Gallery this past week for their March show. The reception will be Friday evening, March 3;  I, unfortunately,will be unable to attend because I stupidly did what I always feared I might do. I scheduled two things that very day. Very embarrassing. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't go, if you're in the Chattanooga area. Go see my work and buy something! The gallery has graciously forgiven me and rearranged their schedule for me to come back up to Chattanooga (a 2 hour drive from Atlanta) to do a demonstration on Saturday afternoon, March 25, from 1:00-4:00.  Come keep me company while I paint. Have a glass of wine and spend the afternoon with me and all the lovey people at River Gallery . 400 East Second Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403 (423) 265-5033 ext. 5,  1-800-374-2923 art@river-gallery.com 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Monday through Saturday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Sunday ...

We are offering an early registration discount of $200.00 if you register for my Florence, Italy, workshop by February 15: Your total cost would be $2800. Contact Debra Zamperla at idzamperla@gmail.com to save your place!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! May it be a blessed and safe day for you all. Thank you for being a part of my life this past year.

Unfortunately, I have forgotten the name of the town. But they build their homes into the cliffs in parts of France. I'm dying to see the insides of them. A HOME IN THE CLIFFS is an 11x14 oil on canvas panel. Auction begins at $100. Go here to view auction  http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232174412494?

Here's another piece up for auction. MODEL'S BREAK has been a piece I have loved, but for some reason just has never sold. The model was Rosza, a lovely lady who poses for my workshops in France every summer. And the title says exactly what she was doing--taking a break from posing for us. I am wanting to empty the studio to make room for a whole slew of work this coming year. I want this to go to a good home. MODEL'S BREAK is an 11x14 oil on canvas panel. Bidding begins at $100. You can follow this link to view the auction:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232174399791?

I spent a day painting with my friend Debra Nadelhoffer ( https://www.debranadelhoffer.com ) this past summer. Here's a quick oil sketch from her back yard. So nice to have artist friends. I think we are the most fortunate people of all. DEBRA'S GARDEN is a 9x12 oil on canvas panel, up for auction. Bidding begins at $100. Go here to view auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232166455853?

 "FIRST DAY AT THE BEACH" is 16X20 oil on board, up for auction. Bidding begins at $200. Go here to view the auction:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232164181786?  

  Here are a couple more up for auction: CAT IN A BAG is a 16x20 pastel. Bidding begins at $100. http://www.ebay.com/itm/232163276013?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 FRIENDS is an 11x14 oil on board, bidding begins at $100. http://www.ebay.com/itm/232163290102?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I participated in the Olmsted Plein Air Paint-out last spring. One day we painted at the Swan House, where the Smith Family Farm is tucked away in the woods, just off West Paces Ferry Road. A bit of country right in the heart of Buckhead. "BREAKFAST AT THE SMITH FAMILY FARM" is an unframed 11X14 oil on canvas panel.  It is up for auction on ebay. Bidding begins at $100. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232161937522?

I taught in Florence, Italy a couple of summers ago. Our path to the studio was blocked one morning, forcing us to take a detour. ROADBLOCK IN FLORENCE is a 12x16 pastel on Pastelbord. It's available at auction on ebay. Bidding begins at $100. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232161925604?

"Leonardo and the Blue Bag" is an unframed 16x20 pastel on Pastelbord.  It is up for auction on ebay. Bidding begins at $150. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232161920652?

There is still room in my figurative pastel workshop at the Scottsdale Artists School, January 6-8, 2017, Scottsdale AZ. We need a few more people to make the class happen. If you're thinking of joining us, contact the SAS this week!   http://scottsdaleartschool.org/instructor/margaret-dyer/

...and I am glad to see it go. My ex husband of 22 years was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on January 29. He was gone 5 weeks later. But those 5 weeks were unspeakable (the reason I have not written in my blog this year), as I watched him die, and watched my daughters nurse their daddy at home and lose him in such a wretched way. There has seemed to be a pointlessness about things ever since; I can only imagine what his family and my daughters are experiencing. I'm writing now because of a conversation with my oldest daughter this afternoon; she brought up my blog because she wanted to show one of her teachers (Anna's going to nursing school in Savannah) my work, and the possible bargains that can usually be had this time of year as I try to empty my studio to make room for the upcoming year's work, and get through Christmas without using the charge cards. So I figure it's good motivation to write again. I hope there are still people out there who want to read...