I was completely honored and thrilled to be part of the February issue of Create Magazine. I have been a long time fan of the magazine and the artists they feature.
To check out my interview with the magazine,
click the link below:
Studio Visit
When the talented @joyoussnyder asks if she can stop by your studio & take photos, you don't say no! It is such a pleasure to have another creative spirit in a usually isolated space. Many thanks talented lady!
Cross Section
City Commission
30 x 30 x 2" Oil on Panel
Black & White City Scape..... with just a hint of color
I wanted to take a different approach with my city scape and remove the color that I love so much. For this piece I liked the idea of one hue showing through the black and white paint. I started with a base coat of gold acrylic. I then painted the city scape with oil on top. Using a palette knife, I scaped away areas of oil to allow the gold hue to shine through. You didn't think I could avoid color all together did you......???? ;)
Conception Art Show in Philadelphia's Xfinity Live
It's Friday and officially a wrap on an amazing week. Monday I was able to make a trip to NY to visit some friends and had the chance to explore Chelsea's amazing galleries. I always feel rejuvenated after visiting the city, I find the energy so uplifting.
Thursday night I had the opportunity to show work at Xfinity Live for the Conception Arts show. While the weather deterred a few, I had an amazing experience meeting other artists and seeing such a diverse grouping of work together in one space. Any opportunity to get your work out in different venues and meet other artists or art viewers is well work the work. It's great to get feedback and spend time out of the studio every now and then. Art can be such an isolating process while it's being made, that its refreshing to be surrounded by a community of people. Thank you to everyone who came out!
New Space, New Light
This summer I decided to work out of a communal work space. It's great to get a sense of community again. So many times painting is an isolated art, between you and your canvas. While I love drowning out the quiet with music, it's nice to see other humans once and a while.
Plus, the lighting here is amazing!!!! Just look at the glow behind the first piece I finished in this gorgeous space:
Night Lights
Large Scale City
I was recently commissioned to paint a large scale city scape. I haven't worked this large in some time and it was a bit of a challenge. However, changing the scale of my work lead to some new discoveries and techniques that I hope to incorporate into my future paintings. Another new discovery of mine is my new found love of painting on wood panel. The paint goes on with a different consistency and dries faster which allowed for faster layering and therefor, faster painting.
This painting was almost a full circle experience because it was commissioned by my first ever client (besides my mom). Chris purchased a drawing of mine in high school and now has a few of my paintings in his home and office. This piece will be hung in a conference room in his office and I feel honored that he has continued to support me as an artist. I can't thank clients like him enough! You allow me to pursue what I love and there is nothing greater than that.
Sounds From Upstairs
I was recently asked by Sounds From Upstairs to come up with a list of songs that inspire me when I'm in my studio working. I thought this sounded like a fun opportunity and jumped at the chance to create a song list. Limiting that list to six songs was incredibly difficult but I'm content with the ones I selected.
Music has always been an important part of my painting process. It sets the mood for your work and puts me in the right "head space" to create. If you get a chance please check out the link below. Hope this helps set the mood for you to get creative as well!!!!
http://www.soundsfromupstairs.com/playlists/whitney-babin-artist-lancaster-pa
Sports Fever in the Studio
I was recently commissioned to do two reproduction paintings of famous athletes. The orignal artist was David Russel who I admittedly had not heard of prior. I love his messy paint style and use of color, so I was very excited to get the opportunity to paint in Russel's style. I just hope my fellow Eagles fans don't disown me.
Never. Stop. Exploring
Some of the best artwork is the work that catches you off guard. The work that you come across without expectation. I was recently disappointed with a NY museum trip. There were some unique pieces but I longed to see some giant messy canvases or work that struck a chord.
A week later I took my dog for a walk on a unique route for us and came across two murals. They were dark and mysterious yet in an approachable way. While these were not the strike a chord in your soul type works, they helped me to remember that art is around us at all times and while a museum can be lacking.... Your local streets may hold many surprises.
Detroit- the city of Art?
I recently took a trip to Detroit to visit my brother over the holiday. I had some negative pre-concieved notions of the town based on Detroits reputation and history.
My brother recently took a job as an engineer with Ford and has fallen in love with the motor city. He made it his mission to show us all that the city has to offer and man was he right! One of the coolest thing about the city was how beautiful and intricate all the facades of the buildings and structures were. There was so much history everywhere. Every restaurant and bar was newly renovated without losing the histroic charm. Were there still areas that need work.... yes. But what a city of opportunity!
Bars and restaurants aside, I had yet to fall in love. That is until, my brother showed me allies of art, murals, and street art. This city, as many up and coming are is becoming home to artists who are dedicated to bringing their own voice to the city on the rise. Superstars such as Shepard Fairey are already viewing many abandoned buildings and bilboards as their newest canvases. New York look out, if history follows in the path of Chelsea and Soho, Detroit is the place to be!
Last year I made the resolution to make painting a priority in my life again. I'd been so busy with teaching that I let my own practice slide. I can honestly say that I put my best effort into my resolution and have felt much more fulfilled as a result. Therefor, I'm rolling last years resolution into 2016. Happy New Year everyone! Hope you're resolutions inspire and push you into great things.
New Painting Resolutions
New works
I have been painting urban landscapes for some time now. Perhaps to fill my longing for living in the city again. However, I've change my style a bit by adding much thicker paint and texture to my work. WIth change come new challenges, but I'm really happy with how things are progressing. Hope you enjoy!
New Urban Scapes
"Bring Me Darkness"
"The closing Hour"
This year is off to a hectic start. Between wedding planning and some commission work, it's been hard to find time for my own paintings. This series of small works has helped to satisfy my desire to paint without the time constraints of a larger piece. As with all art, when you change one element you learn something completely new about your style and learn new techniques. These small pieces have led to a new style of painting which you will see soon on the blog!
Return of the small city scapes
As a painting major I always felt pressure to "go big!" However, recently I've really been drawn to the smaller canvases. There is somethign fun about painting an entire city scape in a small space, traping that energy in a way that almost burst out of the space. I can't say I wont go back to the large, epic canvases of my past but for now, smaller is better.
Close up of new work
Sneak Peak
As wedding season comes to an end and fall approaches with a new season, the thoughts of cooler weather is inspiring me to return to some city & abstract work. Change = growth and as I tell my students every new medium or process leads to growth in another. Excited for the changing seasons and some new projects. Time to build some canvases!
There are some paintings that challenge you and make you question yourself and your abilities. This piece challenged me on a daily basis. I never anticipated how much time and detail would go into a work this large.
Through this struggle I remembered to have faith in myself and work through the nagging voice in my head that told me I'd never meet my deadline. I actually got done ahead of time! Take that nagging voice!
I was also awestruck by how much support my friends and family gave me. I would not have made it without them! Thank you to those of you who understood my crazy schedule and visited me at work or sent supportive messages. That inspiration and love got me through!
Lancaster Skyline
New Wedding Watercolor
I had the honor of painting these beauties! It's always nice to have flowers with such vibrant tones to work with. With wedding season in full swing, feel free to contact me for your own watercolor piece.