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Artists who paints in oil en plein aire. Member of the three member Plein Aire Cottage Artists. Members: Mary Rose Holmes, Violetta Chandler and Helen Tilston

Friday, February 28, 2014

Florida Art Show- Dancing and Painting





Helen Tilston painting en plein air
As my art partners sing when the pressure gets high "Mamma told me there would be days like this".
This always makes me giggle to listen to Violetta sing in her soft Russian accent and Mary Rose in her Southern USA soft lilt.  Well, I can hardly claim neutrality with my Irish accent. 

Each week has brought excitement and deadlines and we are comfortable knowing  Coastal Cottages Series 12 is hung and opens tonight at Salt Rock Grill.   The largest piece is a triptych, one panel painted by each artist, en plein aire.   It is one of the most exciting pieces for us.  The scene depicts Indian Rocks Beach, the palms, the sea and the incredible light and sky

Helen's panel in progress

IRB-No Ordinary Here, a triptych- one panel each artists, Mary Rose Holmes, Helen Tilston and Violetta Chandler




 Our team (Master Carpenter Brian and Jose) together with Daryl Frahn, John John Holmes all worked their magic to ensure each piece was hung with precision. 
Brian and Jose's masterful skills at work.
Thank you John John
Ms. Daryl Frahn & Mary Rose planning placement of paintings


In my studio are Violetta and Mary Rose add finishing magic to show-going pieces.  Of interest is the painting Mary Rose (R)is working on, the triptych is three panels hung horizontally.  
Action 2000 is one of our local non profit organizations who do marvelous work in our community host a fund raising Valentine's Dance.  This year was my turn to donate a painting.  Thank you
Clearwater Gazette .

Wishing all of you my friends could be here to join us this evening as our show is unveiled.  This is the view from Salt Rock facing East.



52 comments:

  1. Dearest Helen:

    So it is TONIGHT!! Oh, we wish you so much joy and success which, of course, we extend to Violetta and Mary Rose. How excited you must all be right now and how we so, so wish that we were with you.

    The glimpses of the paintings which you permit us here show work of such colour and vibrancy which, painted in the great outdoors, have that luminosity which can never, or so we believe, be captured in a studio. As for the principal triptych, such utter joy in that work, and how we long to see it [but why just that?] close up.

    Take the greatest of care and enjoy every single moment tonight. Our love comes all the way to you across the oceans in wave after unremitting wave. xxx

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    1. Dearest Jane and Lance

      Oh that you and Jane would be here would have made it absolutely perfect.
      We had one of our best openings ever. Some flew in specifically for the show from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles. We did not expect this. The evening went by in a flash and we only hope we were able to say hello to all. As you both well know there is much to do in the weeks surrounding an art show.
      Thanks again for your good wishes and we do believe that good wishes and prayers all contributed to our successful evening.
      Fondest wishes

      Helen xx

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  2. How exciting I hope it all goes off well. It is lovely to organise things with other people, particularly when it is your own work too - and how beautiful it looks. I am sure it will be a brilliant event and look forward to seeing your post about it later! .

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    1. Hello Jenny

      It was a spectacular opening and one of our best yet. It is great that there are three of us and we share the workload and as close friends we support each other.
      Have a delightful weekend
      Helenxx

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  3. Oh Helen thank you for introducing us to Plein Air. . .we just experienced the Maui Plein Air invitational (finally, timing was on our side) and we had a delightful time watching the artists as they created the works and then admired their work at the end of the week at a gala reception. So wish we could have attended yours. Love the way that three artists were able to create such a beautiful piece!

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  4. Dear Helen - wishing the three of you a really good exhibition - all of the work looks really vibrant which reflects the area where you have all been painting.
    I looked Indian Rocks Beach up on Google when you mentioned it on my Florida post, and see that it not all that far away from Anna Marie Island where we stayed.
    Good luck and success to you all tonight.

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    1. Hello Rosemary,

      Anna Marie Island is a beautiful place and we are probably just a little over an hour away.
      Your good wishes contributed to a fabulous opening.

      Have a wonderful weekend

      Helenxx

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  5. Oh Helen,
    My great aunt use to say there will be days like this...
    Your days are spent painting with all the grace and beauty you can add to a canvas....what a beautiful back drop to paint and then to show off for all to enjoy.
    Oh how I wish I could paint a canvas like you :)

    Thank you Helen sweet friend for taking the time to visit me and my furniture pieces I have altered to then paint distressingly.

    Beautiful days ahead of you and all the canvases you will add life to.

    Xoxo
    Doré

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  6. Oh Helen,
    My great aunt use to say there will be days like this...
    Your days are spent painting with all the grace and beauty you can add to a canvas....what a beautiful back drop to paint and then to show off for all to enjoy.
    Oh how I wish I could paint a canvas like you :)

    Thank you Helen sweet friend for taking the time to visit me and my furniture pieces I have altered to then paint distressingly.

    Beautiful days ahead of you and all the canvases you will add life to.

    Xoxo
    Doré

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    1. Hello Dore

      I have no doubt that with your artistic skills you could hold your own painting a canvas. I love your sense of colour, style and composition.

      Your words are most touching and I particularly love:"Beautiful days ahead of you and all the canvases you will add life to"

      Sincere thanks
      Helen xx

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  7. WIsh I was there. Such beautiful paintings, filled with light and color. It must be such fun to see them hanging and share them with others. I love the first picture, of you painting

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    1. Hello Jen

      You are very kind and thank you for your fond wishes and encouragement
      Have a brilliant weekend
      Helen xx

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  8. Dear Helen, you always look so stylish when you are out painting en plein aire, and the Triptych is a joy to behold. You three must have amazing synchronicity, producing such harmony with three panels working so well together. Best wishes for the most wonderful evening and every success.

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    1. Hello Patricia

      Thank you for your compliment and for thinking I am stylish. All three of us love fashion and have all worked in that field previously. The triptych is challenging in that we must all be present, simultaneously, so the time sensitivity is of issue.
      Hope you have a wonderful week

      Helen xx

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  9. Dear Helen,

    How exciting! A new exhibition of your beautiful works of art, so finely orchestrated and on display for all to behold their brilliance! Wishing you the best of luck. Enjoy the evening's festivities; I'm sure it will be a magical night for all in attendance!

    Poppy
    PS: Kudos on the Clearwater Gazette shout out!

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    1. Hello Poppy

      Thank you for your wishes and for reading the newspaper article.

      We had the best show ever and we are eternally grateful to all who support us in so many ways and good wishes from friends we hold in our hearts.

      Wish I could join you in YYZ for high tea.

      Helen xx

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  10. Dear Helen,

    What a lovely post! Wishing the three of you delight and success in the exhibition!! The paintings in your photos all look so beautiful. I wish I were there and could see them in person. I was interested in your mention of the different accents. I doubt if I can distinguish the accents. Love the first photo! You look so cool!

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    1. Hello Sapphire

      Thank you for your good wishes, coming all the way from Japan. This means the world to us. How delighted we would be to welcome you to our show and know there would be so much to talk about. We shall hold that thought and wish for one day to meet.
      Now I am curious to know if there is dialects in Japan. In the English speaking world there is a myraid of accents.

      Have a glorious weekend
      Helen xx

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  11. Sending well wishes for a fabulous show. I wish I could be there. It sounds very exciting. And the group you paint with sound like such fun.
    Sam

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    1. Hello Sam
      My art partners, Mary Rose and Violetta have become my closest friends. It is a blessing that we all met and have so much in common, despite being from three different corners of the world. Violetta is Russian, Mary Rose a fifth generation Floridian and me, Irish.
      Hope you have a wonderful weeken.
      I love your most recent recipe using scallops. I have bookmarked that
      Helen xx

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  12. Such beautiful paintings! I love them all. Happy weekend, Helen!

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    1. Hello Satu

      How very kind of you to extent this greeting and your kind words are most welcome

      Helen xx

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  13. Dear Helen,
    What a marvellous event. I hope the opening was a great success. It is wonderful to see you wearing warm weather clothing. A promise of things to come for us over here :-)
    Keep up the spectacular work. You have a fine gift!
    Di
    xoxo

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    1. Hello Di

      You are very kind and I appreciate your support and good wishes.

      Have a wonderful weekend. Thank you for your email

      Helen xx

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  14. What beautiful paintings! I hope the show was a huge success. I love art but can't paint but do have a huge appreciation for those who can. :o)

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    1. Hope all is great in your world. Your encouragement means very much to us. I know you have a very special gift.

      Helen xx

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  15. Helen,

    I am looking forward to hearing about the great success of all three of you! I am so excited for you, your talent will be gracing the walls of so many homes.

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    1. Hello Elizabeth

      Your words reached God's ears and we thank you most sincerely for this.

      Kindest wishes in return

      Helen xx

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  16. I hope your show was a success Helen! The painting on display look beautiful. Yours must have sold straight away!!

    Happy week ahead!

    Madelief x

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    1. Hello Madelief

      Oh you are so kind and generous in all your say and do. We are very grateful for having one of our best shows ever.

      Have a special weekend and I hope you garden

      Helen xx

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  17. Hope your show was a great success, Helen!

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    1. Hello Becky

      We had the best night and so much fun and stories to tell.

      Have a great weekend
      Helenxx

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  18. No doubt, your show has had a huge success Helen! What can I say for your paintings? This one with the palmers looks fabulous! And such a nice picture of you working on a sunny day...
    Best things to you!
    Olympia

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    1. Hello Olympia

      The weather here presently is glorious and the light is also wonderful too.
      Thank you for your good wishes which all contributed to the best show ever. We are still reeling with joy

      Have a wonderful weekend in beautiful Greece

      Helen xx

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  19. Hello Helen
    That triptych looks gorgeous. You ladies really do beautiful work and I'm sure you have great fun as well.
    Hope the show was a great success! I am a bit behind on reading blogs these days but wanted to stop by and say hello!
    Happy Wednesday!
    Sanda

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    1. Hello Sanda

      I understand when you say \I am a bit behind on reading blogs these days/ life after all must take priority over blogging.
      The show was unbelievably successful.
      Hope you have a wonderful week
      Helenxx

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  20. Beautiful paintings Helen ….. you are all so talented. The pieces are so full of joy and sunshine and make me hungry for Summer Helen !!
    Keep the fund raising going and here's to many more beautiful paintings. Much love. XXXX

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    1. Hello Jacqueline

      Your are so kind with your words of joy. We will package some of the sunshine and send it your way. With the sunshine here in Florida comes a definite change in seasons which surprised me and Spring has sprung and the colours, smells and sounds from the birds adds to it all
      Hope you have a wonderful weekend

      Helen xx

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  21. Such beautiful work you all do! Every time I visit your page, I go back inspired and determined. The triptych is absolutely gorgeous - the shades of the sea are beautiful and they take me to a world which is far away from this one.

    Have a wonderful week.
    Love,
    Suman

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    1. Hello Suman

      Thank you for telling me this. I am delighted to read that you find inspiration from this simple blog. I so love your blog and your style of writing and knowledge of the English language.

      Have a special weekend
      Helen xx

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  22. WONDERFUL. I wish I could be there to savour the art, the vibes and the weather.
    Have a wonderful time...all of you.
    Cheers Gillian

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    1. Hello Gillian

      Your good wishes have all contributed. Thank you for taking the time to stop

      Helen xx

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  23. The three of you share such a special bond - beautiful collaboration!! And I love knowing how much fun you all have. Thanks for sharing your world with us, Helen! Always enjoy your lovely paintings! Cheers, Loi

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    1. Dear Loi

      How kind of you to say this. You are correct when you speak of my bond with Violetta and Mary Rose and we treasure this and know it is rare and special.
      To paint in your spectacular garden would be a dream come true.

      Have a delightful week

      helen xx

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  24. Look at those gorgeous blue skies and vibrant backdrops. I love your wonderful use of colour, so inspiring and so uplifting Helen!
    Happy springtime.
    Paul

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    1. Dear Paul

      The colours and light here at Indian Rocks Beach is vibrant and the skies are incredible. In summer there are cobalt blue skies with gigantic white clouds, quote different from winter here.

      Hope your week is special
      Helenxx

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  25. Dearest Helen,

    What a beautiful collection of paintings. I hope your opening night was a successful event. It is so helpful to have people like Brian and Jose. Although I am quite good at how and where to hang a painting, aesthetically speaking, but when it comes to practical, I can't do it properly even with a spirit level. Hanging or displaying a painting is an art in its own right. Wishing you all the very best my dear friend, Helen.

    Best wishes, ASD

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    1. Dearest ASD

      I am smiling as I read your comments on hanging a painting and we know all too well how great it is to have a Brian and Jose. The art of hanging is beyond the level.
      We had our best opening ever with so much positive energy and so many stories. We laugh when we think of one young family whose 7 year old son when given the docent tour always checked the price before the name and I heard him whisper to his sister: "why didn't they just name it "the $500. painting" instead of "path to paradise"
      Have a very special weekend
      Helen xx

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  26. How I wish I could have been there to view those beautiful paintings! It is interesting to see behind the scenes as well, and there are so many paintings. The triptych looks wonderful, and is an exciting idea with each of you painting a part to make a whole.
    I hope you enjoyed the first night after all the hard work and rush to get it all ready, and indeed the rest of the Show. I hope it all went well and that a good sum was raised for the charity.
    Gill xx

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    1. Hello Gill

      It would have been an added pleasure to have you at our opening.
      It was a tremendous success and lots of fun memories of the evening.
      Hope you have a very special weekend

      Helen xx

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  27. Hello Helen, I cannot believe it has come round to that time of year again. I hope all your hard work is being appreciated. I am sure you will be able to make some time for dancing too. Much love to you, Linda x

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    1. Dear Linda
      Lovely to see you hear and back blogging again.
      Our opening was one of our best ever and we are so grateful for all the good wishes and friends who make it all possible.

      Helen xx

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