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| Ninety Nine Steps to the Beach, a triptych by Mary Rose Holmes, Violetta Chandles and Helen Tilston |
My art partners Mary Rose Holmes, Violetta Chandler and I were asked by Leepa Rattner Museum and Artists' Faire Fine Art Gallery to be the Judges of The Plein Air Paint Out in Tarpon Springs Florida. Over four days, artists painted en plein air. The Award Presentation was Sunday past. This "Event" attracts many of North America's finest plein air painters.
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| Tarpon Springs, Florida |
Settled by Greeks, where the language is still widely spoken. This seaside town provides delicious Greek cuisine, OPA echoes through the narrow streets, as steaming plates are taken to tables by enthusiastic waiters. Daily specials of the freshest, local seafood are offered.
Bakeries offer baklava and sumptuous deserts.
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| Artist Mary Rose Holmes viewing art in progress |
Between judging and the presentation of ribbons and party, we took time to practice our trade
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| Artists Mary Rose, Helen and Violetta painting at Tarpon Springs |
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| Artist Helen Tilston views pastel paintings |
The work submitted was superb and selecting winners was a time consuming and careful task
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| Violetta and Mary Rose planning presentation speech |
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| Best of Show ribbon pinned by Heather Risley Owner of Gallery |
Second Place: Kathy Detrano
Third Place: Cathy Morgan
We kept our presentation speech short and Violetta added this beautiful line:
"Shostakovich said artists just need three things: "Praise, Praise and more Praise"
Oh what a wonderful burst of color and happiness on an otherwise rather gray day here in Arles! What a privilege it must have been to be on the deciding end of things. I am sure that whomever received the "praise, praise and more praise" was quite content indeed.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful weekend,
bisous,
Heather
Dearest Heather
DeleteTarpon Springs feels like visiting another country and always delights.
It was indeed a privilege to be asked to judge this show and one we took seriously. Yes the winners were very happy
Enjoy your special Thanksgiving this year and I am going to be looking forward to a full report
Helen xx
The winning painting looks wonderful from what I can see.
ReplyDeleteI love the way the triptych by Mary Rose Holmes, Violetta Chandles and yourself marries up so beautifully. You obviously compliment each other perfectly.
Lovely work - does the sun shine every day in Florida?
Hello Rosemary
DeleteIt was difficult to pick a winner. The winning painting, in oil, we felt was deserving. Carole Loiacono also paints in watercolour with success. Thank you for observing our triptych. We now paint one a year.
Florida weather, particularly in winter is beautiful. The sun does shine and the light is beautiful for painting
Have a wonderful week
Helenxx
Oh, another post! I'm behind.... it's been so busy but I've just come for a peek and will come back later with a cup of tea. I just want to give you a cheery morning greeting, right now! So...
ReplyDeleteGood morning! =]
xxo
Good Morning Katy
DeleteThank you for stopping in to say hi and peek. I understand how busy you must be with Thanksgiving looming.
I will be waiting for your return visit.
Meanwhile thank you again for the beautiful greeting.
Helen xx
Helen Thank you so much for sharing this important artists event! I am sure it was very difficult to choose the winners!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
Special Giveaway from Scalamandre!
Hello Karena
DeleteYou are right it was a big decision in choosing the winners. They all deserved a prize.
Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving
Helen xx
What a beautiful, colourful painting. Tarpon Springs looks like a place I would feel happy in.
ReplyDeleteHello Loree
DeleteThank you for your kind words.
Yes Tarpon Springs has a lot to offer. Hope you visit one day
Helen xx
Dear Helen,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely place to hold the competition. Being the judges you got to stroll around admiring the views as well as the works being undertaken. Mind you, I should imagine that judging a competition is rather difficult.
Did you buy any of those sponges?
Kirk
Hello Kirk
DeleteThe venue was perfect for the competition with lots of vistas to choose from.
The quality of the paintings was superior and it made selecting a difficult one. We feel all who paint en plein air are winners.
I did not purchase a sponge this time.
Hope your week is special
Helen xx
Lots of hard work going into the choosing of a winner.
ReplyDeleteTarpon Springs looks a very nice place to paint and also by the sounds of it too.. a great place to eat Greek food.
Your trip tych painted by the three cottage artists .
a very special event indeed Helen
val
Hello Valerie
DeleteIt was time consuming choosing the winner but also very interesting. You would like Tarpon Springs and one feel like they are in Greece with the language and food.
Thanks for your kind words
Have a wonderful week
Helen xx
I love the triptych - Tarpon Springs sounds worth a visit, it looks beautiful. I'd love to have been there to see all those wonderful artistic endeavours.
ReplyDeleteHello Sulky
DeleteThank you for your generous compliment How wonderful it would be to have had you along and I would love to see your coverage of the event.
Have a lovely week
Helen xx
The triptych is beautiful, so bright and summery, it really lifts the spirits just to look at it. How special to be the judges for this art event. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeletexo
Louise
Hello Louise
DeleteGlad you like the triptych, we certainly had fun painting it.
We actually counted the steps to the beach which was 99 steps.
One learns a lot by judging an art show.
Hope your week is special
Helenxx
Hi Helen! I hope this appears on your blog, as, if I comment from here, my laptop, comments seem to disappear! I have problems with Rosemary's blog and I'll have to try the desktop, as I noticed she just posted something interesting!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic lifestyle you have! I think it's not so much where you live, but... what you do and the amount of love and talents you inject in your art!
I remeber you once posted something about painting the triptych. It is beautiful and I somehow have an idea that it depicts a real place, but I can't help "sseing" other, more exotic places in it!
You must have had a fantastic, though hard time judging! And I couldn't help noticing first and second place went to two Italians! What a creative lot we are!
Helen... are we having another Christmas Party at your "place" this year, as I can't wait to show off my beautiful new outfits and wave my magic wand, again!
PS: Alain Delon and Marcello Mastroianni said they would like to come again, as they had a wonderful time last year!
BIG HUGS!
ANNA xxx
Dear Anna
DeleteI understand how blogger can play tricks on us at times. How many of my best composed comments have vanished into thin air.
You know how I love art and sometimes I forget to return to the "real world". My art partners Violetta and Mary Rose play a big role in the joy I find painting and we also travel very well together.
Yes, both first and second winners were Italian decent and yes very talented.
Thank you for reminding me about my Christmas party which I will start working on once we get through Thanksgiving this week.
Glad Alain and Mastroianni are going to be in attendance.
My best for a great week
Helen xx
Dear Helen, such an honour to be asked to jugge in the art festival. The winning painting looks impressive. What a beautiful town Tarpon Springs is. It looks like a holiday destination.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely new week. Madelief x
Hello Madelief
DeleteWe were thrilled to be selected as the judges. The winning painting was beautifully executed and glowed. We love Tarpon Springs and visit often to paint and to dine.
Hope your week is very special
Helen xx
WOW. Helen, I so enjoy the pictures you share of your fun and fabulous time in the sun, painting. I admire you artists, I really do. Now that I have been trying to be an artist, I know your struggles a little better than ever. I hope to know your joys as well, but that will take a lifetime of work. THANK YOU for coming to visit and I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving! Anita
ReplyDeleteDear Anita
DeleteThanks for visiting and your supportive comments are most welcome. You know the struggles and joy in being an artist but I would not choose any other profession.
Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving and a week of joy
Helen xx
This must have been a difficult task. The chosen painting looks like its lovely, however Mary Rose's is a real beauty.
ReplyDeleteHello Amelia
DeleteA warm welcome to my blog. Yes the winning painting captures Tarpon Springs in a special light. Mary Rose Holmes is beautiful in every sense of the word. She is a master painter and great friend.
Helen xx
Beautiful sunny colours, what a great way to start my day Helen
ReplyDeleteHello Paul
DeleteYour kind words have made a beautiful start to my day.
Wishing you a week of joy
Helen xx
Hi
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful and interesting post, Helen!! I so enjoyed this. Love the warm colors in the painting on the top!! It makes my day brighter!! The winning painting looks really great capturing a delicate glow shimmering. I can see it must have been a tough task for you. Thank you so much for sharing all these!!
Hello Sapphire
DeleteYour beautiful comment has brightened my day also. Painting a triptych, one panel by each artists, is a challenge and one learns so much from the other. Yes the winning painting has that delicate morning glow and soft light.
Of course every painter who participated was a winner and all deserved a prize, unfortunately, competitions do not work as such.
Have a glorious week
Helen xx
Thrilled to find your blog! I've started going back and reading older posts. Love your art, also!
ReplyDeleteHello Sally
DeleteA big warm welcome to you. Thank you for visiting and following and I will look forward to knowing you.
Helen xx
Helen - what a beautiful place Tarpon is and how exciting to have been part of such a fun event and be a judge. A real honour I'd think. Thank you for sharing with us all. I wish you and yours a truly happy Thanksgiving. x
ReplyDeleteHello Deborah
DeleteHow lovely to see you here!. It was a wonderful honour to be selected as judges, a first for me but a regular occurance for my art partners.
Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving in Scotland. Are you celebrating?
Helen xx
Helen I love your hat!
ReplyDeleteHow nice of your to visit.
DeleteThank you for the compliment on my hat. It is a necessity as we spend many hours outdoors in the hot sun and it also protects when painting.
Happy Thanksgiving
Helen xx
What a wonderful triptych. You obviously share a gorgeous palette of colours full of cerulean blue. I hope I'm right. I use it for skies but there are few here that need the colour.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have the sunshine and warmth to paint en plein air.
Thank you,
Cheers Gillian
Hello Gillian
DeleteThank you for commenting on the triptych. Yes, cerulian blue is a constant on our palette used with a touch of lemon yellow light at times when the sun is hotter.
We truly appreciate the temperate climate and sunshine when painting. There are just a couple of months in summer when the climate and heat make it challenging and one has to seek shade.
Wishing you a week of joy
Helen xx
Tarpon Springs sounds very interesting! The tryptich is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHello Jen
ReplyDeleteI find somewhere new each time I visit Tarpon Springs. The harbour is a working harbour and hosts rusty boats and fishermen.
Thank you for your compliment on our triptych
Helen xx
What a beautiful place. I haven't spent much time in Florida, but this looks like a part of the state that I would love. What a wonderful way to spend a few days, surrounded by art and beauty! XO
ReplyDeleteHello Jeanne
DeleteIf you ever come to this part of the state I shall be delighted to show you Tarpon Springs and other places of interest. The time went all too quickly when one is doing what we love.
Happy, happy Thaksgiving
Helen xx
Helen,
ReplyDeleteKalispera! (Greek, meaning Good evening)
Oh my! What a lovely surprise to see so much of Greece over there in your very pretty neck of the woods! From your beautiful TRIPTYCH painting to the seafood fare and sweets...the Greek language, cuisine and spirit truly shine in Tarpon Springs! What fun it must have been, and an honour for you and your art partners to be selected as judges for this wonderful art show. Thank you so much for sharing this delightful day with us.
Hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving.
Poppy
Kalispera Poppy
DeleteYou would love Tarpon Springs for its joyful, colourful and authentic feel. When one orders a Greek Salad in Tarpon Springs it comes with a big scoop of potato salad - apparently one time Pappas Restaurant ran out of lettuce and the chef compromised and added potato salad - it was well received and remained as a key ingredient in the salad.
We felt very honoured to be selected as the judges.
Have a beautiful weekend
Helen xx
Dear Helen ~
ReplyDeleteWhat a great honor! Congratulations to you, Mary Rose Holmes, and Violetta Chandler. And, of course, to the winners! Tarpon Springs looks delightful.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
Cheers,
Loi
Hello Loi
DeleteThank you very much for your support. A great honour indeed it was to be asked to judge and we need only a tiny excuse to visit Tarpon Springs.
Wishing you the joys of Thanksgiving.
Helen xx
Helen, what a wonderful occasion. The winning painting has 'Turnerish' qualities.
ReplyDeleteLove the golden light on the water!
And what honor to judge. Your and your artist friend's triptych turned out so well. I hadn't seen the final result!
Happy Thanksgiving, Helen! : )))
Hello Victoria
DeleteI agree there is a Turnerish feel to the winning painting.
She captured the light beautifully and the mellowness of the day.
It was my first time to judge a show of this caliber and indeed an honour.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Helen xx
I love Ninety Nine Steps to the Beach. It must have been a delightful place to spend a few days and see all the artists at work such bright and lovely photos. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHello Sanda
DeleteThank you for your approvalof 99 Steps to the Beach.This is a favourite beach entrance for many residents. We did enjoy travelling around and finding the artists. We also sampled the deserts and coffee.
Happy Thanksgiving
Helen xx
What an honour to be asked, Helen! 'Ninety Nine Steps to the Beach' is absolutely beautiful: I opened it full-size on my big screen and it makes me happy just to look at it. You three deserve more, more, and more praise.
ReplyDeleteDear Mise
DeleteMany thanks for your kind words and your praise, praise and more praise. I love it.
Sending you hugs, hugs and more hugs
Helenxx
What a wonderful thing, to be asked to judge a contest of others' work! I would feel very honoured. And it looks as if it was the most lovely place - I imagine how it is probably nice and warm, too, unlike the rotten weather we're having here right now!
ReplyDeleteHello Jenny
DeleteWe were indeed very honoured to be asked to judge this art show. The weather was beautiful, on Sunday the sun disappeared for a while but returned again and set at 5.40 p.m. Sorry your weather is miserable.
Helen xx
Helen,
ReplyDeleteHow grand and what a responsibility (of the most artist kind) it's rewarding to see through the eyes of another talented artist and in this event there were many. What a wonderful event and a way to draw others into the art world. Happy Thanksgiving!
xoxo Bette
Hello Bette
DeleteI felt we all learned a lot by studying and rating the paintings submitted. The venue was spectacular and the weather co-operated.
Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving
Helen xx
How exciting to have been able to be a judge...just the thought of it makes me a bit nervous though...what a special honor!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could walk Ninety Nine Steps right into that lovely painting and enjoy the balmy air and breezes..it's delightful, and we've had non-stop rain for days...being kissed by the sun would be heaven right now!
Wishing you a very Happy, Lovely, & Blessed Thanksgiving Helen...so thankful for you!
xo J~
Dearest Jessica
DeleteYes nervousness was certainly one of my emotions. It was a big hour.
I wish you could walk the Ninety Nine Steps to the Beach and I would even accompany you along the path.
I hope the rains have ceased.
A belated Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Helen xx
your paintings are adorable, and very inspiring.I love the town in those photos, baklava is a traditional Turkish dessert, if you ever come to Turkey you must taste the original ones. I'll be happy if you check out my blog too=)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your generous compliment.
DeleteI have not visited Turkey yet and I will be looking forward to tasting baklave in your beautiful country. Thank you for informing me of the origin.
I have stopped by your blog and of course I am now following you.
Helen xx
Good morning Helen! Thank you for your encouragement; of all people, you would know the ups and downs of art shows and that this experience will make one THE MASTERPIECE of character. THANK YOU! Anita
ReplyDeleteYour style is very unique compared to other people I have read stuff from.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for posting when you've got the opportunity, Guess I'll just book mark this page.
Here is my blog post ; Click here
Helen, this sounds like such a wonderful time of feasting and encouragement. I love baklava! My mother used to make large trays at Christmastime to give as gifts when we we young.
ReplyDeleteI think Shostakovich has absolutely nailed it. The older I get, the more I believe art is not to be judged, only appreciated and encouraged. I really believe that.
I hope you had a beautiful week, friend.
Love all pictures - so real and alive! Feels to me as I'm there!
ReplyDeletexxxkarin
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome blog.Continue to keep up the very good operate. I completely enjoyed reading your blog.
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