***Update***
I am happy to share that I had the opportunity to meet the serviceman who's portrait I painted. It was, such an Honor... truly!
...and I am still here! It will be a year of moving forward, with the occasional look back to acknowledge where I've been. As you can see from the photo, Faith Goldstein fine art is alive-and-well.... Ok... I have to admit that I have logged-in much less studio time than I would have liked, but the year has also been filled with taking photos and painting in my kitchen. Visiting museums, art shows and music venues, and even comedy shows(!) have added to my life, and inspired future paintings. The journey has been a bit bumpy, (whose journey isn't, after all?!) and in the end, it is the Art and the Artists (and those who care for us) that pull me through... I've joined this life-long 'conversation' that makes me excited to keep questioning and exploring what each day has to offer. ...And if ever the 'bumpy journey' overwhelms me, or the sky is void of that 'light-in-the-distance'... well, I'm an artist... a RockStar/SuperHero who can smooth out the roadway and paint in the LIGHT!Way back in June, I attended the private party for The Knickerbocker Art Show 2010, that was held in New Rochelle, New York. Now, (I'm quite sure), I am not known as a "party girl", but even I knew that this was a party not to be missed! I bravely stepped out of my box, and called to see if I could be added to the guest list. (Thank you, John Reverol, who produced this show, for your kindness, always!) With camera in hand, I ventured on my own to The Knickerbocker Lofts building, which, for this week-end only, was transformed into the most incredible multi-gallery artspace and celebration of contemporary art, that I had ever seen. All available public spaces and artists lofts, showcased cutting edge works in paint, photography, video and three-dimensional objects d'art. .....I mentioned that I ventured on my own, but once there, found myself to be connected... to the people in the arts community, that I am actively getting to know, and with artists in participation. I left this week-end, with many photo-images, many memories, and the anticipation of the next Big Art Show; which, in New Rochelle, can be happening on almost any given weekend!
I also left The Knickerbocker Art Show, with the confirmation of knowing that my heart truly does lie in the arts... and in the marks of the painting above!
(Truly grateful to have company on this journey.)

"Artists in the Parks at Hook Mountain" will be taking place this Saturday, 9am - 4pm at Nyack Beach State Park in Rockland County, New York. I took some time to explore this beautiful setting a couple of weeks ago... this park is comprised of several miles of a walking path along the Hudson River... truly, so peaceful! For more information about AiP and this Art Exhibit, please check out the web-site.... http://www.artistsintheparks.org/ ...and go to the GALLERY link, click on the Nov.6th photo gallery, to check out all the beautiful paintings that will be part of this show, with silent bidding all day. I'm excited to share that my paintings are posted, as well!! (Page 7, last I've checked.) ...If you'd like to venture out on this journey, but don't know the area, just set your GPS for "Nyack Beach State Park"; also... The Palisades Mall is close by!
In a recent FACEBOOK status update, I requested that my family and friends 'do something to support the arts, today'... the truth is we need your support everyday... we do most of our jobs behind the scenes, in quiet studios and galleries, at kitchen tables and computer workstations. Fine artists, arts producers and promoters, musicians, photographers and videographers; we all spend hours preparing to share what we love... (WHAT we are, WHO we are inside), with the people in our communities (including our friends and families on Facebook!) We do this because we need to... and in the hopes that we get to share and touch something inside of those who do come out to see what's happening. Please, join the conversation... see the art, the play, enjoy the music, have a cookie and a drink with us... and maybe... just maybe... take something home to share with your own friends and family (on Facebook... or not!)
Many thanks to my visitors in my studio, who enjoyed the arts in New Rochelle, for the first day of ArtsFest2010. ...To Jerry, and Deborah (who loves art) and her family, to 'yoga friends', Gabrielle and Caroline, to Josh, Rachel and their dad, to Chris - who came in quietly and commented in my book, "lovely work, lovely space", to Shari - my new blog follower!... to Corey and Janna - who looked for 'color', and found it in a landscape they had to take home with them! (I'm so glad "Three Trees - Green Cay" will be on view in your home!!) ...Thanks, also, to young folks, Lauren and Nick, who quietly passed by my studio, when I implored them to come in - and they did! ...To Barry and Sarah, who is new to New Rochelle - seek out the arts community; there really is a lot going on here! Thanks to the very young Paula and her dad, James - great to meet a fellow artist, and also get a super recommendation to eat at Cholo's restaurant in New Ro! ...To Melanie - a commission? I'd love to give it a try... honored you asked! To Stuart and daughters, and to Donald - please help spread the word that ARTISTS have much to share, in New Rochelle... and a special thanks to my last visitors, (artist) Arles Buchman and her daughter, Diane. What a pleasure and honor - thank you for leaving me with the article on your art and life - and for 'seeing' in me, someone who would treasure our time spent, as precious.
(It truly was a precious journey today!)
(photograph)I started this painting a few weeks ago and became frustrated with it simply being a "pretty picture". I occasionally find myself looking at some paintings where that is my first thought, and although the work may be rendered well, it may not hold interest for the viewer beyond that acknowledgment. Although, normally, I would be pleased to create "pretty pictures", I have been searching for something more within myself to bring to the canvas. I am trying to push my marks, experiment with applying paint with alternative methods... and in this painting the placement of the linear separation between the sky and greenery, was a thought I just could not get out of my mind. ........The resulting view is altered, segmented, changed... detoured; but hopefully, still a pretty (enough?) picture.
Thank you for stopping by on your Journey. -Faith
Last night, my daughter asked me to paint her a poster to take to the third DMB concert that she is attending this week! Whew! Now, that alone, sounds exhausting to me; but she is a true "warehouser"! .........So, with a reluctant beginning, (as I wanted to start a different painting), I asked her to get the poster board and bring up some photos, to choose from.... and before I knew it, I was having fun with this :) .........It also inspired me to paint in acrylics today; so I will have a new painting to post soon! I hope you enjoy this detour from my usual journey. (I think there may be more "detours" in my future... please stay tuned!)I truly enjoyed working on another landscape of Hessian Lake, Bear Mountain. This image is from the Fall, and was painted for a juried entry in an upcoming Art Show for the Palisades Park Commission. I'll know by the end of the month, if it is accepted. But with only 16 works in this show.... I'll not hold my breath on this Journey!
(I'm glad I didn't stress out on this one... and that I still have breath left to continue on this journey! ........Thanks for checking in on me. -Faith)



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I am so happy to share with you that six of my oil paintings have been "hanging out" for several weeks now, on the walls of Lola's Tea House in Pelham, New York! Check out Lola's on-line at http://www.lolasteahouse.com/ to be enticed by their wonderful menu and special events... and enjoy the art on the walls while you are sipping your tea (hot or iced!) And please do let Leslie, the proprietor of Lola's, know if you are interested in purchasing an original oil painting to hang in your own home. (Lola's Tea House 130 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, New York 914-738-2100)
I decided it was time for a real journey, this past weekend. I headed out after work on Friday, towards Syracuse, New York; with a stop along the way, at the wonderful Arkell Museum, in Canajoharie, in the Mohawk River Valley of Central New York. After a restful night at the Marriot, my final destination was another 40 minutes north, to visit with my amazing daughter, who is attending college in Oswego. She gave me a tour of her "home-away-from-home" in the Theatre Department in Tyler Hall. It was fun seeing where I used to take drawing classes many years ago, and all the places I never knew about - that are now a part of her life. We spent the day and that night together.......until my journey continued home by train, so that she would have her car again (long story!). Well, the train was delayed, and very long; but good things outweighed the negatives and I feel refreshed... and even have some new images to inspire new paintings! It's been a rough week, that included a day spent in the hospital emergency room... and the news of needing surgery, on Wednesday! ...But there will be no whining here; I'll trust the care of others (doctors and nurses).... and accept the opportunity to calm, both , my body and my mind. I know in the end, all will be OK, and it will be just another part of this Journey.


This morning, I boxed up my paintings, dressed in warm layers, and went over to spend the day with the other AiP artists at Rockland Lake State Park. It was a chilly, but sunny day... enjoyed by a lot of people! I went on a morning walk; taking photos while enjoying the beauty of this park. This is my second small painting for the Knickerbocker Ice Festival, this week-end. I really had fun, and enjoyed working out the challenges that it presented. I'll look forward to painting more small 'scapes' in the future, to continue learning on this journey! (Cold outside, cold in my studio ... I hope you see warmth in my marks!)
Check out the festival information at http://www.knickerbockericefestival.com/
"Picnic Table" (Winter at Rockland Lake State Park) I am participating in an "Artists in the Parks" event, this week-end, at Rockland Lake State Park. It is called the Knickerbocker Ice Festival. AiP will have a tent set up with paintings and photographs available for purchase, and a silent auction will be held on Sunday, the 24th, with a percentage going to benefit the Parks Conservancy. If you are in the area, please come out and support this event!
Landscapes are quite a challenge, for me, to paint. It is overwhelming to 'fool the eye' into thinking such a vast space exists on a small canvas! I drove out to paint in Don's studio on Saturday morning, to begin one of these landscapes. When I started it, I was terrified that I just could not do it... but after working a bit, I then became terrified because some of the marks seemed right! I welcome the day (and pray for it!), when my confidence will guide me through, without this panic. .........The cold winter landscape echoes my mood, and my life right now; I'll appreciate the warmth of a new season!
Just having some fun with the title on this one! ...I really had fun at the First Harvest Show in the Overlook Lodge at Bear Mountain State Park! It was fun to hang out with the other artists, and have some surprise guests show up to support the event. Good food, good drink, good people, and a great view of the mountains, Hessian Lake, and the Hudson beyond. I'm so happy to have discovered this hidden gem, so close to home... open for catered affairs and overnight retreats. (I could use one of those!)
This is another painting that I had started some time ago, in JC English's Traditional Still life class at the Pelham Art Center. It just needed those little red flowers on the teapot, to bring it to life! I also like my placement of that HIGH red bottle, going off the canvas. I guess that's what makes it a Contemporary still life. (Dare to be different, on this Journey!)
I bet you never expected to see a new post so soon! If you visited my studio during New Rochelle's First Artwalk on August 6, you might remember seeing this painting unfinished. Well, I finally went back to it ... so here it is! I am working hard at choosing the elements I want to include in a painting, and editing the rest out. It is a challenging task, but I am the most pleased with the paintings that I have done this with. (See "Pool View" in an earlier post.) I hope you enjoy this "journey", and your own, today!
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Today was the first day of exhibiting paintings as part of the "Artists on the Trail" Outdoor Art Show. All images represent Bear Mountain... and some were painted on this very day! I was not feeling brave enough to paint on location, but painted instead, in my studio, from photos taken earlier this summer. I enjoyed the walk along Hessian Lake and was able to shoot quite a few photos for future reference in the studio. It was a beautiful day in the park. (My work will hang in this show through tomorow (Sunday), but I will (attempt to) spend the day painting!
"Pool View" (16x20 oil) by Faith Goldstein fine art.jpg)
I began this painting in a traditional still-life class, taught by JC English, at the Pelham Art Center. In preparing for last Thursday's Open Studios, I wanted to work on it a bit more, and have it ready to show. "He" was still so wet, I wasn't able to frame him out in those great dark brown lattice strips I cut and stained personally! I'll make sure he's 'fully dressed' for the next event... or you may see him hanging in the local area somewhere! (I'll let you know if that happens!) In any case, this is 'his' internet debut! I hope you enjoy him as much as I do!
( please e-mail me at faithart1@aol if you are interested in purchasing any of my paintings!)