DEE LESSARD'S Fine Art Blog

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Today is a big day for NH artists and artistans!
If you haven't heard, it's an event called NH Open Doors.
This happen's once a year, where people open up their studio's and work spaces
to let you in behind the scenes and see how the magic happens!
This event is put on my NH League of Craftsman
To see who are the participants and create a map for yourself,
go to www.NHOpenDoors.com (hours are different for each participant)
You can print out a "passport" there and if you
visit and get it stamped at 10 locations you can enter for some free prizes!
East Colony Fine Art gallery is also participating.
I will be there doing a demo this morning and again tomorrow afternoon.
I hope you can grab a friend and come out for a fun day!

Visit my website

Friday, July 25, 2014

Just to let you know...

I will be doing an outdoor art show this weekend in Newburyport, Mass!

If you are from the area, you may want to stop by! There are lots going on, as this is the last week-end of Newburyport's week long Old Home Day Event!

As you may know, I don't do too many outdoor shows!

So, I hope some of you will venture out to see me!

It's supposed to rain all day Sunday, so I'm not sure what that will mean for me.

(I may just close up my tent...we'll see!)

Koi Fish 6x6 by Dee Lessard

So many other things have kept me busy. All I can say is, "what a year!"

* moved into a Studio space in Lowell, MA

*became director of a co-op gallery in Jan

*Son moved out of our house (finally) in March

*College Graduation in May (Son's girlfriend)

*Daughter bought her own home and we painted EVERY room of the new house in May!

*She moved out of our home and had Open House party June 1st

*Nephew graduated from HS in June

*Another Nephew got married in June

*Moved my Studio BACK home in June (Now that the kids are out!)

*Painted and redecorated my whole downstairs (where the studio, guest room and family room are)

All this while still working full time! I admit, I am running out of steam. But I'm 95% done! So, August I plan to just chill and read a good book by my pool. And maybe I'll get to even paint ....and not walls!!! LOL!

I have a couple of commission requests I have to get started and looking forward to putting paint on the canvas! (Sharon V...I have NOT forgotten you!)

Hope you are all enjoying your summer!

Hugs,

Dee

Saturday, March 15, 2014

The Fainting Chair by Dee Lessard

I have been busy painting and getting ready for a feature show in May. I will be featured alongside a wonderful landscape artist, Sharon Price. I will mostly be hanging still lifes. But I take these little detours to break it up. I met a sweet young lady named Katt who introduced me to a site to get "royal free" images. Basically, it means I can use them in what ever manner I wish and it's FREE! If you're an artist looking for photo references, this is a great place to go! (www.diviantart.com don't forget the T at the end of deviant....otherwise, it brings you to a different site) So, here is one painting I did from a vintage black and white image. It was a fun challenge to "colorize" it just by seeing only the values! I'm very happy with how this came out. The painting size is only about 8x10.

Hope you all have a wonderful week. I'm heading somewhere WARM and sunny! And bringing my paints! Hope to have more to show you!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

5 steps to reupholster a love seat by Dee Lessard

Steps to getting a beautiful "new" loveseat and an unbelievable price!

1) found on Craig's List for free

This is the condition we got it in...not pretty but as you can see, it had potential!

2) Strip off all material starting with the bottom, then the back, arms, inside back and last the seat and front skirt.

There were so many staples to pull out...it took several hours spread out over a few days.

I was joking that I should cash in the staples for scrap metal! LOL!

It was a bit of a messy job.

3) As you can see I wrote on the pieces I was removing, so I could remember where each part went.

This way, as I cut each new piece I knew where it was going.

Also, I had to be careful not to tear the pieces as I was removing it because they were to become

my pattern pieces. Which, trust me, I was so tempted to many times, just to get the job done!

I photographed each step as I was removing it so I could "play it backwards" to put the new pieces on.

Most of the foam was in decent condition, so I didn't have to take any off.

Though I did add more cotton batting over the foam before adding the new upholstery.

4) I bought some great upholstery material from an online store on clearance: www.newtoto.com

They even sent me 12 pieces of fabrics for free to help me to decide.

This was VERY important. It's quite different to see it on line and another to feel it.

5) putting the new fabric on... I had every intention of doing this myself,

but a good friend who has an upholsery businessoffered to guide me through it.

Thank God she did. I'm quite certain that this would not have come out as nice as it did!

(She made me re-do a lot of stapling. She's very much a perfectionist, but that's what makes her a master at her trade!)

Check out her website at www.MAQdesign.net

she also has a FaceBook page here:

Mary-Ann's FB page

And here it is....in it's new home! My Studio at 122 Western Ave, Lowell, MA.

To see more of my art, visit my blog or website here:

www.deelessard.com

my blog

Feel free to share this content with any of your friends!!!

Three day worshop-oil painting portrait by Dee Lessard

David Gray is an artist who I admire. He had a 3 day workshop in VT in January.

Here is a video (timelapse) of the progression of the painting I did. It's fun to watch a few of the other artists around me too!

To see more of my work, visit www.deelessard.com

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

On the Easel

AT the easel today, while I watch the snow storm build up outside!

This has been one crazy winter!

I'm getting ready to do a featured show with a fellow artist at the East Colony Fine Art in May.

This will be one of the paintings. I will post it again when it is completed!

Work in Progress by Dee Lessard

Friday, December 13, 2013

STUDIO 411 Grand Opening!

Studio 411 grand opening!

Saturday and Sunday are Open Studio's Holiday Event for all of Western Ave Studio's. (address and directions: click here). It will be my first! (Take the elevator to floor 4 and then there will be maps to guide you to STUDIO 411.) I hope to see many of my friends and famly and art lovers! But here in NE our weather can change things! Saturday looks pretty good for the event (which is from 12-5:00)...but Sunday, not so much.Who know's if we can even get out of our driveways by noon on Sunday with a foot of snow!

I was busy this week setting up all my paintings on the walls. I was so afraid I wouldn't have enough paintings, but was pleasantly surprised to see that I had WAY more than I thought! I asked my husband to hang some of his potography to help cover some wall space. He was thrilled to be able to exhibit with me. But now, I could use that wall space! haha! He's a great photographer and I'm so happy to have him exhibit along with me!

Come and get some Christmas shopping done at the same time as you support local artists and artisans. You will not be disappointed. There is SO much creativity here at the Western Ave Studio's (WAS).

Friday, December 6, 2013

TWO full week-ends! Stop by and check it out!

Two weekend events...give the gift of ART this Christmas!

My own studio space!

Come and check it out!

I have been busy setting up my own studio space on the 4th floor (411) in an old mill building down in Lowell, Massachusettes. It's the home of over 300 artists and artisans of all kinds of creativity! It is so inspiring just being there. The first Saturday of each month they have an open studio event. BUT in December they have 2 full weekends! Because I will be at the Button Factory the first weekend I will only be participating in the second week-end at the Western Ave Studio's (WAS).

Below are the dates and times for BOTH weekends at both locations. I hope you can stop by. It's a great time to get some Christmas shopping done! I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed new year!

Hugs,
Dee

Dates and Times

Button Factory, Portsmouth NH (directions)
Sat & Sun December 7th and 8th 11-5:00pm

Western Ave Open Studio's (directions)
Sat & Sun, December 14th and 15th 12-5:00pm
I am in Studio 411

Here I am getting ready with some "extra" items to make available specifically for gift giving (If you came to the show last year, then you know what I'm working on!) I've been crazy busy....my family thinks I'm just crazy! LOL...
Also, my husband Guy will also have his photography available at Studio 411 the week-end of Dec 14th and 15th!
If you can't come to the Button Factory, then maybe you can make it to the Lowell Studio's!

Looking forward to seeing you!

I hope you can come out and see me and the other artists!
I will have many of my original oil paintings along with limited edition prints and some surprise gift items I made using my art work! If you are not able to make it I understand! It's a busy season...feel free to visit my website or blog! Also, feel free to forward this message to anyone you may think will enjoy an art experience!

www.deelessard.com

www.deelessard.blogspot.com

Friday, November 1, 2013

Exciting news!!!

I am So excited to tell you that I am moving! My studio, that is!!! I am going into a wonderful old mill building that has been converted into 5 floors of artists studios. It's so inspiring to be there. And I have two large north light windows! It's a little over 400 square feet with a large closet (A point of envy, I think among some of the other artists) I have to admit it was a selling point for me! I get overwhelmed with too much "stuff" out and around me. This way, most of it is put away in the closet! They have "Open Studio" events once a month and two full weekends in December.

More on that later! For now, I want to show you the space and the process. But most especially the cabinet I converted into a taboret!

I have my art work in several locations, so my walls here are bare. But for now, it's OK because I plan to repaint the walls. The color came out more yellow than beige. Rrrrrr. That gray wall will be a soft green. I'll show you updates when it's done...and maybe pictures on the walls.

Below is the cabinet my artist friend, Kathy Cooper (who is in a studio just above me on the 5th floor) saw at a local used store called, "Savers" (It's a lot like Good Will). She knew I was looking for something inexpensive to use as a painting table (or taboret).

With a little vision, a can of spray paint, help from "Bob the builder" (Bob Roy, a friend from the gallery I belong to) who built the added piece on top and casters on the bottom to help make it easier for me to move around my studio. Change the hardware and this is what you get.

(Now Kathy wishes she picked up this piece of furniture!) I am so thrilled how everything is coming together!

One of these custom type taborets can run anywhere from $1200-$5000! It cost me around $100!!! I feel like a kid at Christmas!

Did I say how excited I am???

It's been a while since many of you have heard from me! So, I have a lot more to catch up on...like posting some of my artwork. It will be coming....soon! Have a wonderful week-end.

Hugs to all,

Dee

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

The Dancer- (pink slippers) oil by Dee Lessard

"The Dancer" oil painting by Dee Lessard

I'm so thrilled that one of my favorite paintings (above) finally found a new home! There has been a lot of interest in this painting, so I just want you to know that I will have numbered limited edition prints available: matted 8x10 for $30. Contact me if you would like one!

The gallery I am a part of, East Colony Fine Art Gallery is helping with a fundraiser for CHAD (Children's Hospital At Dartmouth). I'm so excited to see all of our efforts come together to decorate a table set for 10 people. This event is a black tie event called "the Story Book Ball". Each table is decorated with the theme of a story book. Ours is Charlottes Web! I will post pictures (next post) on the process and final set up, which will be held this Saturday.

I hope you are all having a wonderful Fall season!

Dee

Monday, September 16, 2013

Upcoming workshop

I had a wonderful summer! I hope you did too!!!
Here I am on Monhegan Island, Maine this past August. Working on a Plein Air painting. This is not my normal thing. I am primarily a studio painter. But I wanted to try my hand at something new. I had a blast! I will be posting the paintings I did there soon.

I'm getting ready to teach a workshop on Thursday evenings beginning in October. It will be an 8 week workshop on the Grisaille method of painting.
This about doing an underpainting in value study and then glazing color.
If you live in the area (Manchester, NH) and interested in this workshop, contact me here. or go to one of the links below.