Hang Up The Hat

I am semi-retiring my blog here, because I just don't use it as much as I used to. I'm still keeping it up, because there are several good blogs that I follow. Plus I might pop back in from time to time! I might also be trying to figure out this Tumblr thing the kids are talking about.

In the meantime, you can catch me on Facebook and Twitter!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catherine-LaPointe/169604019823063
https://twitter.com/LaPointeArt

Valentine's 2014 Giveaway

WHO WANTS FREE STUFF? Give your cupcake something cute this Valentine's Day (or win it for yourself). Entries are free and easy, just Like this Facebook page or post about it on Twitter-

ENTER HERE

Winner will be chosen at random on Valentines Day. Best of luck!

New Year, New Job, New...Shoes?

I started a new job a few months ago, leaving my safe job in tech support with a great company to finally try to do some designing 9-5. This was hopefully the payoff of three years spent searching in vain for a full time design gig in the sparsely populated rural Northeast.

I gotta say, it was a rough start. Left a good-paying job for an artist's wages, a small company for a large one, and moved away from my boyfriend to a dingy town in the snow belt. It was a stressful move to begin with, and the job didn't exactly make it feel worth it in those first few months either. I started right in the middle of the busy season at my new company, and started playing catch-up immediately. The real interesting work didn't start until about 2 months in, and I was worried it never would.

However, things have really started to improve now that the holidays are over. I have gotten to know my new coworkers and my new boss, and it's a friendly group. The snow storms have been unrelenting, but so far I've been able to shovel myself out without incident (fingers crossed). And I'm finally experiencing a job where I can actually do creative work full-time. Well, it's not always that creative, but even when it's mundane I still have the opportunity to learn new design techniques I've never had to know before. My Adobe Illustrator skills alone have soared from their meager beginnings, simply out of necessity and deadlines.

Sure, things are still rough from time to time, and I miss my family and former coworkers. I miss having a nice paycheck and benefits (hopefully that situation will improve). I miss coming home and eating dinner with my boyfriend. Things can't stay like this forever. But I'm learning so much and I think I'll come out better for it.

If only the snow would just leave me alone already.

CNYWS Herkimer Show 2013

I just wanted to post some feedback I got about my painting "All About Us" shown in Herkimer this past month.

 

I really appreciated this particular feedback, as it was from a group of children on a school visit to the exhibit. Exactly the type of audience this painting was created for. Clearly these kids have been given some good instruction as to what to look for in a gallery visit, as their comments were quite thorough. And also adorable!

CNYWS Annual Meeting 2013

I met some really great people at the recent Central New York Watercolor Society annual meeting. This is such a friendly group, I really wish I was closer so I could participate more often. But I made the trek down, and had a good time.

Here is guest artist Mark De Mos giving us a painting presentation:

And here is my painting, during the critique:

Anyway, I hope to meet up again at another CNYWS event!

NCAC Fall Juried Show 2013

Got some pictures from the 2013 North Country Arts Council Fall Juried Show last Friday night. Once again, it was an awesome showing, with some great music and food and, of course, art. And surprise surprise, my oil painting "Prayer" won first prize in the painting category! I was quite shocked as there was a very good spread of work by many talented artists.

 

A view of "Prayer" in the middle:

 

I was also drawn to an artist whose work I've seen around lately, and I really admire it. It's more modern than much of what is seen around the "North Country", many of the nights pieces featuring a comic book type of style. Really nice stuff, I'll have to take a closer look at Tim Clary. 

 

Another of mine, "Iron Works"

 

The cover band was quite nice. 

 

"The Masque"

This guy was doing a painting demo, really liked the sky

 

"The Performance"

Community Art Walk, October 2013

Friday saw the opening of the Community Gallery Project in Potsdam for the second time this year. Local businesses all around Potsdam NY hosted local artists, courtesy of the St. Lawrence County Arts Council.

My only wish is for other organizations to get involved as well, and make this really a town-wide event. There could be musical features, restaurant tastings, historical tours, you name it. Potsdam can have a talent for coming together and celebrating the seasons. 

 Stop by Plumley Real Estate on Rt. 56 near Big Lots if you'd like to see some of my children's book art. Sadly, you've missed the cheese and cookies, but the art is still quite nice ;) It will be up for about a month, and paintings can be purchased by contacting the SLC Arts Council.