sweet tooth

"It was the sweet life she had always craved"

 

Seaside Ice Cream Shoppe, acrylic on paper 10 x 12

Just recently I spent an evening baking up batches, bowls and trays of cookies. And every day, as an end of term art teacher, I face the sweet dilemma of students bringing me boxes of chocolates, delectable pastries, and sugar cakes as gifts. My dining table looks as though I live in a sweet shoppe!
Found a sweet solution! I now put hand-fulls of my cookies in sealed plastic bags. Store them in the fridge. Every day I grab one and put it in my car console box. When I stop at a light and see a homeless person begging I hand them the bag. I have done this twice this weekend and the immense  gratitude is visible. Both times the person smiled wide, dug into the bag and had a mouth-full before making it the full length of the car away.    Spread the joy!

NEW 2019 I Scream You Scream We all Scream Calendar

I am an activist working towards peace for all. Right now we are a community too divided and stuck in our own fears. I know, in my own family, politics is a topic we all steer clear of because it seems nobody stays logical or level headed anymore. We snap into emotional concrete when it comes to holding our stance and any discourse is whispered for fear it can slip into someone screaming. I have heard friends "blocking" friends on social media over the same subjects. Makes me want to scream! Has this happened to you?

hand printed and painted envelopes for each calendar

The holiday season is a traditional time of family gathering and these days the events are fraught by current events. Are you screaming? Well this might help!

2019 Ice Cream Calendar

Sometime over the Thanksgiving break I put together 13 paintings as a 2019 calendar gift idea.  My inspiration was the midterm elections, specifically, how close several races were, that they even got recounts and runoffs, and how I just dreaded another two years of sharp political divisions. Was there a way I could use my gifts of making art to stop us all from screaming? I researched counseling for reconciliation between warring factions. I made a 12 step list. Then I looked for the art.

What could be a theme of our common appreciation?
Ice cream is estimated to be in the refrigerators of 97% of US households at any time! So with that as the motif, I created some new paintings and mined my old series of a Month of Sundaes from 2007.
PrintingCenterUSA did a fantastic job with saddle stitching a 120lb gloss paper calendar that left me room for "sweets scoops", small steps towards reconciliation, and full moon artwork. They are lovely!

Printed in a limited edition they have flown out of my hands. Now there are only 10 9 left. If you would like one, ($12 plus shipping), please email me soon.

I went to the Miami art fairs and all I brought home was some snake oil

All I brought home was some snake oil, a stack of cards, sore feet and aching eyes. But, boy, we had fun!!!

There were so many fairs going on at once, outside the BIG ONE at the convention center, that I had to make some decisions regarding my finances, my tolerance level, and Miami traffic.
Untitled is by far my favorite fair. The tent on the beach glows with diffused light and the art work is smart.

Carl D'Alvia work (its a drawing of one of our sculptures!)

house flipping- a common sight in my neighborhood

burned out rubble of a neighborhood, spelling...

more commentary on Florida real estate?

In addition to clever drawings and sculptures, there was an abundance of good painting. I was intrigued by the works in umber and browns on top of neon yellows and oranges by Karine Hoffman of Galerie DIX9 in Paris. Very beautiful. Yet my favorite works were these crazy clever tight photographs of painted elements arranged with attention to the juxtopositions of shapes, the very edges of shapes forming new shapes, by Erin O'keefe. She calls herself an architect and a photographer and was represented by Denny Dimin of NYC. The work almost took off where de Chirico left off.
Next door in SMAC, gallery from South Africa, were some thickly painted largely smeared portraits by Georgina Gratix of Mexico city. Enjoying her work was all about the viscosity of paint.

There was such an array of materials on display! Miami artist Michelle Weinberg had a rack of bleached jean jackets for sale and for use in a daily collaborative dance performance. She was in the midst of sewing her tattoo designs onto one of them when we stopped by. We had enjoyed her open studio at Fountainhead studios last weekend and it was great to see another side of her art practice.

a series of words cut through almanac pages give new meaning to the map

these porcelain models are absorbed on their cell phones

 Topics such as immigration and technology pervaded much of the works on display. I love the use of different materials... especially the variety of the woven materials. There were woven photographs, woven furniture, recycled toothbrush heads, the plastic bags turned into dresses, and embroidery patches sewn to walls.

A good warning for some of us- but I avoided putting on the ear buds.

After Untitled we lunched with a view of the ocean, and then went into Scope. That fair was full of riffs and humor. My camera started to die, but I did get a few images... I had to wrestle past all the people striking selfie poses with the works.

I had a few "aha" moments... as an artist, as a teacher, and as a human being. I got to see in real life the paintings of Emilio Villalba from San Fransisco who I enjoy on Instagram. I saw art that gave me lesson plan ideas, such as the guy using packing tape on light boxes, Max Zorn in Stick together Gallery. And art that should have been what I was doing like the guy painting portraits out of his ice cream shoppe in BGArt Gallery from Santa Monica! For $80 John Kilduff would "serve up" a custom small 8x 10 portrait of you as an ice ream cone. Apparently he is the host of a TV series called Let's Paint TV. In other acts he paints while running on a treadmill or answering live calls on air. Basically it was a performance and a fun spot for creating a carnival atmosphere in truth.

There was serious stuff to think about such as a lot of art addressing gun control and school shootings. This exhibit gave me pause.

We left the fair in the late afternoon and then found our way, by a few clubs, to my favorite little hotel fair: Aqua. It was dark and the music was pounding. Our feet were starting to really ache. If we didn't laugh we would have cried. At one point we seriously contemplated how we could purchase a $4600 painting by John Sanchez for my son for Christmas. That's when I knew we should go home.
Somewhere along the way we picked up the bottle of snake oil.

New paintings on throw pillows (and more)!

I have been posting my art for public licensing on Fine Art America for a dozen years now. My Sketches traveling in the South of France are there and are a hit for notecards. Prints of my Empty Nest Series always sell well, but think of a pillow now....(couldn't you just snuggle up to that one?). You can find my Month of Sundae Ice cream series on there as well for fun posters to brighten any room. Last night I uploaded some newer work. Check out my newest road trip paintings and how cool they look on totebags, notecards, shower curtains and even throw pillows!
Also the roads are fun images to put on a $20 Iphone case... just don't text and drive on the highway!

Here is a sample idea and possibility for unique holiday gifting. I got my son's each a printed pillow two Christmas holidays ago, and they are of great quality and still holding up really fine, even competing with a cat and a nomadic lifestyle!

1 - 12 of 12 throw pillows for sale

https://fineartamerica.com/artists/tilly+strauss

 

Underpass At Nighht

Tilly Strauss

$24

Three Trees In The Median

Tilly Strauss

$24

Underpass Z

Tilly Strauss

$24

Starry Night Traffic

Tilly Strauss

$24

Hanging artist hopes not to shoot self in foot

wrapping, labeling and such and such... I have works needing to be documented, labeled, and cushioned, going out to 4 area group shows- an ice cream painting to the Noble Horizons show of 14th colony artists will be opening May 6, and three nest house paintings to Maplebrook's show of "local colors, local flavors" which will open May 7th. The Barrett house in Poughkeepsie is hosting an auction fundraiser at Locust grove and the catalogue needs an image yesterday...and
Opening this Friday at the Rhinecliff Hotel my work will be in the dining room. If I gather enough friends who want to stay out late we can have the artist special- a three course fixed price meal for two for $28.99! Actually I see I only need one other friend for that (haha).

Meanwhile I have an interview at an exciting middle and high school next Tuesday and need to prepare a lesson plan and gather all my loose ends, paperwork, thoughts and questions. I could get just wrapped up enough in the details here to forget to do that.

Lick for the third time

With incredibly perfect ice cream flavors... lime, vanilla, lavender... you should hurry to Hudson's Ice cream store on Warren. Christopher and Michael have about a week or two left of being open. It's such an awesome place. And I am not just saying this because 8 of my paintings are hanging there. This is the third year in a row they have invited me to hang my work in their windows over the annual Columbus weekend's Artwalk. I put in one rooster because they love chickens, and one cow (Udderly Delish) because it's an homage to the source of ice cream, and the other paintings follow the course of designing a sundae, from the cones at rest to the toppings to the empty dish (After Glow).
Posters of my Month of Sundaes are available for $20 and the individual 8 x 10 x 2 inch paintings for $200

Ice Cream oil paintings at freezer prices

Ya! Remember when I painted an ice cream sundae every Sunday for 30 weeks? I have about 15 left in the cabinets. 

Confession: I am at times overwhelmed with re-inventing a marketing plan. It's not enough to paint every day- I have to balance the invitations to exhibit, donate works, create window dressings, post on line, show up at gallery openings, and teach for a minimum, all "for exposure". Seems as though in any other business I'd be making money. 

Is the answer to lower prices even more? To paint a new line of smaller works? To go back to eBay? To get a full time job out of the studio? To flag down patrons on the highway?

I am feeling down. All this running about looking for new doors makes me feel as though my feet aren't even on the ground.

Here are the remaining small 4 x 4 x 2 inch oil paintings from my Sunday Sundae painting series. 

I'll take offers of any amount for purchase. and promise not to feel an insult taken. I believe we are all struggling financially. All of us are in different boats but on the same lake.

LICK in Hudson

I just installed 8 paintings in the windows of LICK as part of the Columbia County Arts Council's 15th annual  Windows on Warren celebration of the arts. The guys, Christopher and Michael could not be nicer. They even have a cute pug to greet you. My work will be up there most of this month and is priced between $180 and $350. Have you ever tried Lavendar ice cream? It has no aroma but expands across the roof of your mouth and... I swear you smell it! Divine experience. The store will sell ice cream to the end of the month. Price about $6

Country Chicken pepper soup ingredients

12 x 23 inches collage and acrylic on wood panel. 

I am getting ready to:

--- rope up friends to help Millerton parade across the Walkway bridge in good form this Saturday October 3rd. We are three people shy! Why? Oh why?

--- address 80 envelopes to locals who either do not have email or can't get an ArtEast studio Tour brochure and map any other way

--- send out my e-newsletter and make an ArtEast Art Tour flyer

--- hang 8 semi-erotic chicken paintings at the Lick Ice Cream store on Warren Street in Hudson as part of the 15th annual Arts Walk which runs from October 3- 18th.

--- call it a day, and go to the diner with some girlfriends.

FRAMED prints of original paintings

Here are a couple of my paintings as PRINTS. You can find and order them through Fineartamerica.com
These two samples range from $56 to $79 dollars! What a bargain.

Ice Cream at the Merritt Bookstore

The Barrett Summer Art faculty have hung a show of works at the Merritt Bookstore in Millbrook, NY. Along with a sampling of my Month Of Sundae Paintings, (15 of them), there is work by Jeannie Friedman, Michael Gellatly, Melissa Harris, Christine Owen, and Sarah Chamberlin Scott. The show will be up until July 13th, with an opening reception June 20th, 4-6pm.
I will be hosting two workshops at the bookstore in August. One is for teenagers- a two day self portrait class that incorporates a variety of different methodologies of self analysis. We'll look at horoscopes, palmistry, body types from ancient times, and other means of finding out who we really are. Express Yourself Weekend Workshop for Teens with Tilly Strauss,
Saturday, Sunday August 15,16 11-3:00pm
The second workshop is a three day class where we embark on a daily painting routine that you can continue at home or on the road. Tips and talks about famous daily painters included with the actual painting practice. Daily Painting Exercise with Tilly Strauss
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, August 10-12 , 10-2pm
Register by Phone! 845-471-2550 Register by Email! artclasses@barrettartcenter.org

Giant 4 day Sundae

OIL ON linen CANVAS- This painting took me about 4 days. I was planning on working on it a whole month but after the fourth day I really couldn't see why to keep pushing it. Sometimes I think a painting-a-day is a discipline made for ADD personalities.
this is big- like 22 x 30 inches. I am asking $600. Thanks.

Art installation in Hudson

You will have to get over to Hudson this weekend to see the "Windows on Warren"...art in all the storefronts! I installed 8 tiny oil miniatures and one much larger painting in the windows of LICK. Michael the owner was fantastic to work with, and here he cleans the windows as I installed. When I left he gave me a scoop of ginger ice cream with a mango compote...it was so good I really found myself moaning out loud! My friend Gretchen is hanging her nudes right up the street at the corner...so go enjoy the scene and if you want real pleasure- try some ice cream too!

Virginia Roses with Prince Charming

6 x 9 sewn paper
The Rosa Virginiana is described as growing with "an almost invasive rhythm. It is seen in meadows, vacant lots, ditches and even dumps." These roses were painted this summer as a hedgerow study. There is one week in June when the wild roses bloom, and the air smells sweet even when you are pricked in passing. When sewing the border, I had to throw in the Jack of Hearts for a bit of color and balance. A real farm girl, I still like a good fairy tale even though I am aware of the pitfalls and prickly realities of relationships.
Today I am hanging nine of my Ice Cream Sundae oil paintings in the window of LICK on Warren Street in Hudson. They will be up through the weekend! Come and have a taste.

OPENING IN CHICAGO

Some samples of last years' daily paintings, 8 x 10 canvas.
Friday at Kasia Kay Art Projects in Chicago, several of my Month of Sundae paintings will go on exhibit. In addition to the international traveling show, titled "Sugarcraft", there will be a Candy Shop where my posters (of the whole thirty day series) will be offered. If you are in the area I hope you stop by and say hi to Wynter Whiteside the show's curator. The show has been picked up by the european DAMn Magazine, where they make special mention of the fact that this series came to being in the public realm. The opening is from 6-9pm and the show is up through August 9th
Exhibit Website: http://www.sugarcraftproject.com/home.html

Urban Ice Cream

A perfect triptych for new England apartments- small, black, iconic, and yummy. The edges of the deep block canvases are painted in black.
each is 4 x 4 x 2 inches, oil on canvas

Gift idea original art- whip cream and other delights

I am going to start posting GIFT SPECIALS for my blog viewers as we head deep into the season of exchange. This is a grouping of three daily paintings painted earlier this summer on the theme of the ice cream sundae. They are oil on canvas and measure 4 x 4 x 1 1/2 inches each, wired for hanging as is! Surprise a loved one with this collection of paintings that tell a story when grouped together. Usually I ask $100 per painting but for this month only I will consider $225 for the three!
I bought a lovely painting of a heart shaped lollipop from Sarah Trefny in Oregon, for my 6 year old niece who is a notorious sugar addict. When the work arrived in the mail I was astounded at the quality- hope she doesn't try to eat it! Do something artsy for the holidays... please visit dailypainters.com to see all the great art shopping options.

On the Road

This is my 300th post! What a strange path to here. First a series of anxious chickens (look for upcoming book), then capturing time in a month of sundaes (limited posters still available), to this moment, this act of homage to a personal memory. On the Road is 12 x 8 inches sewn paper and paint with a few holes.
Words are sewn into the warp and weft of my journey, revealing plans and dreams I've come to terms with and that will eventually mark my passing.

A "month" of sundaes

NOT AVAILABLE
I just delivered these 30 little oil paintings to the Riverwinds Gallery in Beacon. www.riverwindsgallery.com The show opens next saturday 5 to 9pm.
In my third attempt to capture a month of sundaes, I started to paint Sunday sundaes on April 29 and finished with today's Monday sundae (August 6th). Originally ice cream sundaes were created to circumvent a religious ban on soda fountain deserts served on Sundays, and, for many years, they were only available on Sundays. Today we can get an ice cream sundae served to us regardless of the day of the week- but Monday sundae's always felt a little decadent to me.

Monday Sundae

No one needs a sundae more than Max- he got braces today! (And he told me not to tell anybody.)