by Grace Lucarelli | Dec 11, 2018 | Past Classes and Workshops
Introduction to Abstract Painting (All Levels) with Ellen Hallie Schiff
4 weeks • Monday • Feb. 4, 11, 25, Mar. 4 • 1:30 – 4 pm
$140M/$175NM

Intrigued by the idea of painting abstractly? This four session class will give you a taste of painting in an abstract manner . We will be working with black and white water based enamel on watercolor paper. This experience has been called “freeing” and “a lot of fun “ by so many students. Experience what it feels like to paint this way . Lots of individualized instruction and discussion . The works you produce here can be the beginnings of new ideas and directions.
About Ellen Hallie Schiff
Artist’s Statement
An essential truth seems to come alive when I use my body to create my paintings- something visceral and muscular; a directness that feels so “right”. The authentic mark is what I am after; the true, non-gimmicky, not contrived mark; the mark that is made when “I am the painting I am painting”. Playing with the paint, working sometimes at the speed of light, other times slowly and deliberately; all coming together in a flurry of physical activity. The result is an authentic moment in time.
Ellen is Vice President of The Art Guild of Port Washington and on the Art Advisory Council of the Port Washington Library. Her work has been exhibited in galleries in Philadelphia and New York. Her friend and mentor is Stan Brodsky.
by Grace Lucarelli | Oct 9, 2018 | Past Exhibitions
Abstraction: What is True for You?
On Exhibit: December 1, 2018 – January 7, 2019
CALL FOR ENTRIES The Art Guild invites all artists, 18 years and older (high school students ages 14-18 years may enter in the student category), to submit artworks for consideration for “Abstraction, What Is True For You?” a Juried Competition and Exhibition.
“Making art precipitates self-doubt, stirring deep waters that lay between you and what you know you should be, and what you feel you might be.” – Art and Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland.
There are so many kinds of abstract painting – works that emanate from deep within – paintings that are all about design, repetition, color, texture, scale. Where does your Abstract work originate? Is it from fragments of a dream, a remembered time or an unknown place? How do you choose your colors or do your colors choose you? Show us what is true for you.
Criteria All styles from non-objective to abstracted realism are welcome. All works must be original to the artist and painted within the past five years. The selection committee’s decision is final. Works to be included in this exhibition must be available from November 26, 2018 – January 7, 2019.
MEDIUMS Including but not limited to acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, collage, encaustic, etching/prints or sculpture with pedestal. No photography. (NO COPIES, REPRODUCTIONS OR GICLEES.)
JUROR Kevin Larkin has exhibited his award winning paintings throughout the NY metropolitan area, and is currently the President of the B.J. Spoke Gallery in Huntington. He teaches abstract painting at Art League of Long Island.
ENTRY FEE Registration is required!
Members: $30 for up to two entries.
Non-Members: $40 for up to two entries.
High School Students (14-18 years): $15 for up to two entries.
One additional entry: $10 (per person)
Maximum three (3) entries per person
ENTRIES Digital submissions of up to three (3) images via email to artshow@TheArtGuild.org or uploaded to our website, should be between 1 and 3MB each, and between 2,000 and 4,000 pixels on their longest side. Please label your
images as follows: artist’s lastname_firstname_entrynumber_title.jpg
(ex: smith_john_1_beachsunset.jpg).
Works previously exhibited at The Art Guild Gallery will not be considered. Contact us at 516-304-5797 or info@TheArtGuild.org with any questions regarding uploading or emailing your images.
SIZE And Framing Size, with frame, must not exceed 40” on the longest side. Work should be cleanly matted and/or framed (if appropriate), wired securely for hanging, with the wire attached via screw eyes or D-rings to the frame, not the backboard. (Gallery wraps are acceptable.) No saw tooth hangers, no tape or string on the back. Work must be labeled with the title (if any), artist’s name, phone number, and email address.
FINALISTS The Selection Committee will review all entries and notify each artist as to the acceptance of the submitted work. The Art Guild has the right, in its sole discretion, to choose which eligible entries will be accepted to be exhibited. All decisions are final. Artists whose work has been selected will be notified after November 13, 2018.
Delivery of ARTWORK Selected artwork, (ready for display), is to be delivered on the dates indicated below. Please provide a typed an artist statement answering the question/s from the criteria above, printed on one side of an 8.5 x 11 sheet of white paper.
AWARDS 1st Place $300 • 2nd Place $200 • 3rd Place $100 • Honorable Mention certificates and Student Award/s (if applicable) will also be awarded.
SALES Artwork may be sold directly by the artist with a suggested donation of 20% of the selling price from the artist to The Art Guild. Note, however, that sales may not be made at the exhibition. All work must remain on view for the duration of the exhibit.
LIABILITY & INSURANCE The Liability Waiver on the entry form must be signed by the artist submitting images for consideration. It is the responsibility of the participating artist to insure or self-insure any work submitted for inclusion in this exhibit.
Questions: Email artshow@TheArtGuild.org. Please put “ABSTRACT” in the subject line.
If you have problems with uploading to our site (it happens), please email them (with identifying information) to artshow@TheArtGuild.org, download this form and mail it with your payment.
by Grace Lucarelli | Apr 25, 2018 | Archive
Intro to Watercolor Through Abstract Painting w/Eileen Neville
4 Weeks: Wednesday Evenings, June 20 & 27, July 11 & 18, 2018
6:30 – 8:30 pm
$115M/$150NM
Join us as we explore watercolor using works by classic abstract artists such as Kandinsky, Klee, Monet and others as our “jumping off” point.
Watercolor is a truly diverse medium. Explore basic techniques of washes, learn wet on wet painting, glazing and dry brush methods. We will begin to understand the properties of pigments and when to use them properly. Watercolor is always challenging, fresh and new.
No experience necessary, beginners welcome.
Register with your credit card via Paypal or download the form and mail with your payment.
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by Grace Lucarelli | Aug 28, 2017 | Archive
Abstract Painting: Acrylics with Kevin Larkin
Fall dates TBA
Abstraction in painting allows the artist to communicate in often personal and impactful ways.
Explore abstract painting through an understanding of space, color, energy, tension, and form. Emphasis is placed on self- expression and developing a wholly personal style with individual instruction and critiques.
All levels.
” I have no fears about making changes, destroying the image, etc.,because painting has a life of its own.”- Jackson Pollock
MATERIALS LIST:
- 4oz tubes (or larger) of acrylic paint.
All colors red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, black, etc.
- 2 tubes of white acrylic paint.
- 2 stretched canvases at least 18″ x 24″ ( the bigger the better)
- 2-4 medium size flat artist’s paint brushes
- plastic cups to mix paint and hold water
- masking tape
- paper towels
Any questions call Kevin at 516. 659. 4914
KEVIN LARKIN is a painter, actor, director and scenic designer
Kevin award-winning canvases have been exhibited regularly throughout the greater NY area. He has won awards from the Association of Graphic Artists, Print Magazine, The Art Directors Club and the Smithtown Township arts Council. His work has appeared in Print Magazine, The Art Directors Club and Long Island Pulse Magazine. His paintings were featured in a platform installation presented by New York City’s Manhattan Transit Authority at the Bronx Zoo/Pelham Parkway Station.
Solo exhibitions include Sanctuary Spaces and Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City; Mills Pond House, H.T.A.L. Gallery, and B.J. Spoke Galleries on Long Island; and The Painted Bride in Philadelphia. Group exhibitions include VRT Gallery, Chase Manhattan Bank and the American Institute for Creative Living in New York City; the Ripe Art Gallery, Art League of Long Island, and the Mills Pond House on Long Island.
Kevin is the subject of Kevin Larkin: The Genuine Article, a monograph by Peter Josyph, and the essays Josyph and Larkin X-Men Of Art by Raymond Todd. Since 2002, Mr. Larkin has been a member of B.J. Spoke Gallery in Huntington, NY where he serves as the gallery’s vice president.
As a found member of Victory Repertory Theater, he has worked as an actor, director and production manager. Mr. Larkin has also had many years of set design experience both at Theater East Repertory and Victory Repertory Theatre.
Kevin received his BFA from the School of Visual Arts in 1977. He has taught painting at the McBurney YMCA in Manhattan, The Huntington Art League, The Art League of Long Island, The Smithtown Township Arts Council, Oldfield Middle School, Mill Neck School for the Deaf and the Suffolk County Bosces III Gifted-Talented Institute. He has been a guest lecturer at Nassau Community College.
by Grace Lucarelli | Jan 9, 2017 | Past Exhibitions
Beauty in The Abstract – An Exploration
Juried Competition & Exhibition

December 3, 2016 – January 8, 2017
What is considered beautiful in Abstract Art? Is it a question of taste? One person’s stop-in-your-tracks beautiful is another person’s ugly. This exhibit seeks to offer differing ideas of beauty in Abstract Art. What is YOUR idea of Beauty?
MEDIUMS Including but not limited to acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, collage, encaustic, etching/prints or sculpture with pedestal. No photography.
JUROR Stan Brodsky A life-long resident of the New York area, he taught at C. W. Post College for 31 years and is now Professor Emeritus of Art. He has exhibited extensively for more than 50 years and received the Heckscher Museum’s 2013 Celebrate Achievement Award, for contributions to Long Island arts and culture.
First Place: Lorraine Nuzzo, Always 17, acrylic and oil pastel
Second place: Vincent Joseph, Ladder, acrylic
Third Place: Dana Epstein, Over the Moon, oil
Honorable Mention: Karen L. Kirshner, Blue Rhapsody, acrylic
Donna Litke, Cracked Ice, encaustic
Linda Louis, Clearing, wax, pigment, ink