Leaving my husband

On April 22, I leave my husband behind (!) and head to Venice, Italy for 3 weeks of painting bliss. I'm looking forward to meeting up with older students and brand new ones, as we explore the many cobblestone side streets and bridges of this City of Water. (p.s.  it's time to sign up for my 2016 Paris-Venice painting vacation!)

"Dusk on the Grand Canal"
by Helen K. Beacham Fine Art
In a Private Collection

"Buongiorno"
by Helen K. Beacham Fine Art
Available.

"Italian Gardens I"
by Helen K. Beacham Fine Art
Available.

"Rialto Market: After Hours"
by Helen K. Beacham Fine Art
Available.

I return the middle of May, just in time for Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston.  That's a 17-day outdoor art festival which takes place on the grounds of beautiful Marion Square.  

My booth is on the Meeting Street side of the park, so come see me!  
May 23 - June 6, 2015

I have many new paintings to share with you.  

Maybe one of them will speak to you!

"Morning on the Piazza"
by Helen K. Beacham Fine Art
Available.

"Summer's End"
by Helen K. Beacham Fine Art
Available.

"Lowcountry Sunshine"
by Helen K. Beacham Fine Art
Available.

"The Artist's Garden"
by Helen K. Beacham Fine Art
Available.

"Breakfast"
by Helen K. Beacham Fine Art
Available.

"Spring"
by Helen K. Beacham Fine Art
Available.

www.helenKbeacham.com

Come paint with me! 

In 2015, we're going to Venice, Niagara Falls, and so on!!!  
Find details HERE

The Aftermath

Piccolo Spoleto (a 17-day art festival in Charleston, SC) is over.  Now I need a week to decompress.  But even THAT has to wait.  Today I must:

- empty the truck and carry every box into the house
- unload every box (wash the glass, wipe down the frames, restock the studio, wash the tent inside & out, reorganize the bins of supplies, wash the curtains and tablecloths that I use as pretty props on my pretend tables, add the non-perishable food and drinks back to the pantry...)
- fulfill my orders (ship out prepaid paintings to my new collectors, get pricing to those asking for commissions and have them sign the contract, start painting the commissions)
- add email addresses to my list if my visitors wanted to receive my future Newsletters
- reorder business cards since I am running low from handing them out, and so on.

I know there's more to do, but I'm making myself tired thinking about it.  There's also the fact that I had pushed back many "things to do" for later this week because of dealing with Spoleto.  So I'll have to pull out the calendar and hop on those as well.  

All in all, it was a very successful show for me and I should stop complaining!  After this week, I'll start thinking about Venice again...my painting workshop is coming up in October and I still have a spot for you in it!  

Come with Helen K. Beacham and Kelly Medford to paint Venice this October...

Click HERE for details!

See my latest post HERE.

Tuesday...more rain...now sunshine = steamy!

We're back in business after another torrential rain this morning in downtown Charleston (at Marion Square...Piccolo Spoleto).  So glad that the little dark cloud has moved ON!

Featured painting at my Booth #17 in Marion Square (Piccolo Spoleto).

"Backlit Moment" (Framed size 25 x 30)  $1050.

By Helen K. Beacham

Come with me (Helen K. Beacham) and Kelly Medford to paint Venice this October...

Click HERE for details!

See my latest post HERE.

Dealing with Rain

Today it's pouring at Spoleto's art festival.  

But we artist/gypsies know how to deal with it.  

The makeshift extension out the back of my tent.
At least we're not crowded with tents behind us.

The view into the makeshift extension.
At least I can sit and paint back here while any brave souls out there
can browse inside the tent.  60% chance of rain till 5pm today.  Darn.

See my latest post HERE.

Demonstrations at Spoleto!

It's fun to demonstrate at festivals.

Here's Alana Knuff, demonstrating in oils.  She's just 4 booths down from mine.

And this jewel is a portrait by Alana Knuff...Alana is a member of the Portrait Society of America.
Check out her website HERE.

See my latest post HERE.

I have arrived!

I'm now in the collection of one of my all time favorite artists...RICK REINERT!  Yesterday, during Day 4 of our 17 days at Piccolo Spoleto (in Charleston, SC), he bought "Like Glass", which was one of my 30 paintings in 30 days' challenge.  I'm still struttin' today!

One of my favorite artists, Rick Reinert, purchases my "Like Glass"!

See my latest post HERE.

Outdoor Festival No-No

As I report this, I have no photo to show you...but close your eyes (only figuratively speaking...I DO want you to be able to read this!...) and picture this.  I'm sitting behind my booth at the festival with a quiet moment on my hands.  I'm wearing my brand spanking new red skirt and my all-time favorite artsy jacket that I've owned 20+ years.  Time to apply masking fluid to the next section of my painting (which I've been demonstrating on), when an ant bites the heck out of my ankle and causes me to lean forward for the kill and I spill half the bottle of masking fluid all down the front of my outfit (and over the small purse that's hanging around my neck).  And, it's only 11am with another 7 hours to go in the show.  Yes, this is the real-life drama of a gypsy artist!

So, you might ask...what's the "no-no" in the title of my post?  It's not what you might think!  It's "do NOT leave home without another outfit!".  Remember that crammed van I showed you?  What's another grocery bag with clean clothes going to hurt!??  I'm off to Day 3's adventures!  Only 14 more to go!

p.s. #1:  for those inquiring minds who want to know:  the weather is cooperating beautifully and adoptions for my paintings were sunny as well!

p.s. #2:  does anyone have a tippette for ME as to how to remove masking fluid from fabric!???  Will pay for advice!!!

Come with Helen K. Beacham and Kelly Medford to paint Venice this October...

click HERE for details!

See my latest post HERE.

17-day Outdoor Art Festival coming up!

I've been getting ready for Piccolo Spoleto (that's the "art arm" of SPOLETO's 17-day's of cultural events that take place throughout Charleston, SC) and it starts on Friday of this week.  

I find myself packing everything including the kitchen sink when I do shows this long...even though it's not out of town (which might warrant packing that way if you're gone for that long) and even though I could carry stuff back and forth as needed from my tent to my home each night (which I evidently really don't want to do).

Tomorrow we set up the tent along with other stuff that the rainy weather can't bother, and on Thursday we hang my paintings (the weather will actually be great starting Saturday...fingers still crossed).  Here's a pic of the back of the van loaded with things to be set up tomorrow.  Thursday's truckload will look just as crowded!  I look forward to visiting with some of you during the course of the show!  Do you see that stack of black chairs partway back?  Those are for you!

Gypsy Life.

Come with Helen K. Beacham and Kelly Medford to paint Venice this October...

Two Spots Left!

click HERE for details!

See my latest post HERE.

Spoleto, here I come!

In less than 3 weeks, I'll be setting up my art tent in Marion Square in historic Charleston as we welcome 2013's PICCOLO SPOLETO.   This art show lasts 17 (usually grueling) days.  Picture 95-100 degree weather, mixed in with heavy rains and then you'll have a good idea of what the artists of Spoleto usually deal with.  But, also picture 76 artists with artwork as diverse as it gets, smiling their hearts out, ready to share with you their special talents.

I've participated in outdoor festivals for the last 30 years, and I consider myself a gypsy at heart.  Our band of artists is our family.

I'll look forward to welcoming you into my tent (Tent #17...sounds like a good number, doesn't it?) and spending some time talking about art!  See you there!

Artwork by Helen K Beacham Fine Art.

Come with Helen K. Beacham and Kelly Medford to paint Venice this October...

Two Spots Left!

click HERE for details!

www.helenKbeacham.com

READ MY LATEST POST HERE.

Art I love!

www.helenKbeacham.com

Just in case you don't know him, I wanted you to meet Bob Graham through his work below...Bob's talent transcends the physical application of paint or pencil to paper.  He sees INTO the person's soul and, as a result, we feel we know these people.  Enjoy his work!  (and go see him at Spoleto in Marion Square over the next 2 weeks!)

I think this one's my favorite!

www.helenKbeacham.com

Read my latest post!

Painting & Living Downtown

Ran into artist friend Karen Hagan today in downtown Charleston...she is lucky enough to have a working studio in downtown Charleston on Broad St.  I think that would be the best!  Good luck at Piccolo, Karen!