My Art Year in Review 2018

My Art Year in Review 2018
Starlit Lagoon (pastel) by Polly Castor

Starlit Lagoon (pastel) by Polly Castor

This was a big art year for me as I had five one woman shows. I had a small works show at Byrds Books in January, an Abstract Art show at the Howard Whittimore Library in Naugatauk, CT in April, a show at Loree’s Catering in July, a September pottery show in Bethel, and a huge Degrees of Abstraction show at Southington Community Cultural Arts filling the whole gallery and back hall for the month of October with 83 paintings.

In March, I gave my 300 slide power point on Abstraction to the Connecticut Pastel Society, and gave it again at Creative Arts Camp in Maine in August, where I taught a class called the Art of Seeing, and was an artist in residence for the first time. Both spring and fall semesters I taught a Monday morning Abstract Art class to high school homeschoolerS at the Pathways co-op in Newtown, CT.

I was in three juried shows this year: Madison Art Society in May, Purely Pastel in June, and Guilford Arts League in September. I was also in various member shows, but did much less of this, focusing instead on the one woman shows this year. I also was juried into the Connecticut Women Artist’s group, so expect to get to know that organization in the coming years.

For art community volunteer work, I am the membership chair for the Connecticut Pastel society, and built (with my husband’s help) a website for the Guilford Arts League this past year.

I took in-person workshops with Lynn Asselta (pastel plein air), Galen Cheney (acrylic abstract), and “the Color Doctor” (color theory) this year.

And I sold 11 paintings this past year– yay!

My art goals for next year are to focus more on increasing my skills than showing, and to revise my website so that originals are easily purchased online. I am scheduled to teach a two day abstract painting workshop for adults for the Connecticut Pastel Society in April (see here to sign up). I’ll be teaching other workshops and classes too. I am planning on attending the International Pastel Convention in Albuquerque for a week in June, where I am signed up to take all sorts of classes. I am also planning on doing much more plein air work in the coming year, eager to get back to painting outside.

In this post you can check out some of my favorite paintings and pottery that I did this past year.

Looking forward to what I make next!

Between Mother and Child (pastel) by Polly Castor

Between Mother and Child (pastel) by Polly Castor

 

My Childhood in Nature (pastel) by Polly Castor

My Childhood in Nature (pastel) by Polly Castor

 

Sgraffito Pottery By Polly Castor

Sgraffito Pottery By Polly Castor

 

Moonlit Sonata (acrylic) by Polly Castor

Moonlit Sonata (acrylic) by Polly Castor

 

Beneath the Everlasting Arms (acrylic) by Polly Castor

Beneath the Everlasting Arms (acrylic) by Polly Castor

 

First Impressions (acrylic) by Polly Castor

First Impressions (acrylic) by Polly Castor

 

Too Tired to Sleep (pastel) by Polly Castor

Too Tired to Sleep (pastel) by Polly Castor

 

Xylem (acrylic monoprint with ink) by Polly Castor

Xylem (acrylic monoprint with ink) by Polly Castor

 

Sgraffito plates by Polly Castor

Sgraffito plates by Polly Castor

 

Sunspots (pastel) by Polly Castor

Sunspots (pastel) by Polly Castor

 

Flapping in the Wind (acrylic) by Polly Castor

Flapping in the Wind (acrylic) by Polly Castor

 

Serendipity (oil) by Polly Castor

Serendipity (oil) by Polly Castor

 

Sgraffito Pottery by Polly Castor

Sgraffito Pottery by Polly Castor

 

Considering the Summit (acrylic) by Polly Castor

Considering the Summit (acrylic) by Polly Castor

 

Surmounting (pastel) by Polly Castor

Surmounting (pastel) by Polly Castor

 

Steaming Hot (pastel) by Polly Castor

Steaming Hot (pastel) by Polly Castor

 

I'm so Glad! (acrylic) by Polly Castor

I’m so Glad! (acrylic) by Polly Castor

 

To the Tree! to the Tree! (pastel) by Polly Castor

To the Tree! to the Tree! (pastel) by Polly Castor

 

Breast Healing (acrylic) by Polly Castor

Breast Healing (acrylic) by Polly Castor

 

Topstone Road (pastel) by Polly Castor

Topstone Road (pastel) by Polly Castor

 

Isn't it a Beautiful Day! (acrylic) by Polly Castor

Isn’t it a Beautiful Day! (acrylic) by Polly Castor

 

Cruciform 1 (pastel) by Polly Castor

Cruciform 1 (pastel) by Polly Castor

 

Sgraffito Pottery by Polly Castor

Sgraffito Pottery by Polly Castor

 

Coral Reef (oil) by Polly Castor

Coral Reef (oil) by Polly Castor

 

7 into 3 (acrylic) by Polly Castor

7 into 3 (acrylic) by Polly Castor

 

Japanese Lanterns (pastel) by Polly Castor

Japanese Lanterns (pastel) by Polly Castor

 

Carpe Diem (pastel) by Polly Castor

Carpe Diem (pastel) by Polly Castor

I work to amplify good wherever I find it. I love color, texture, beauty, great ideas, nature, metaphor, deliciousness, genuine spirituality, and exploring new territory. I encourage authenticity, nurture creativity, champion sustainability, promote peace, and hope to foster a new renaissance where we all are free to be our most fulfilled, multifaceted, and terrific selves. Read more here.

2 Comments

  1. Dilys 5 years ago

    A very beautiful and productive year! Well done!

    • Author
      Polly Castor 5 years ago

      Thanks!

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