Sally is painting today...

Invite for the "Refresh" show

2012-02-06T05:01:00.000-08:00

I am really looking forward to the show and am thrilled to be showing with some amazing artists! Hope you can join us next Friday if you are in the Atlanta area!!

Salon International 2012

2012-02-04T05:02:00.000-08:00

I was so pleased to hear yesterday that my entry in the Salon International 2012 at The Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, TX, has been accepted! Most of my work is too large to enter into shows, so I entered this small still life. Now I need to get it framed and shipped!

Natural Light
oil on board
8" x 10"

Getting ready for a road trip!

2012-02-01T04:46:00.000-08:00

We booked our final hotel and I think we are ready to go! We are headed to Atlanta, to Mason Murer Fine Art to drop off work for "Refresh", the group show opening February 17. Then we are driving up to Asheville, NC because we have heard so many great things about the area, then down to Charleston, to The Wells Gallery and to visit for a couple days, then back to Atlanta for the opening Friday night, then home on Saturday! Phew! It will be a lot of driving, but we are looking forward to seeing everyone down south!
A few of the paintings we will be bringing..

A's and B's
oil on canvas
36" x 60"

Blueberry Juice
oil on canvas
48" x 48"

Pickle Spears
oil on canvas
36" x 60"

Two More for the show..

2012-01-20T04:18:00.000-08:00

Two more for the show at Mason Murer Fine Art in Atlanta..

Tomato Juice 36" x 60"

At Odds 48" x 60"

Canned Heat

2012-01-19T05:51:00.000-08:00

I have been painting quite a bit over the last few months in preparation for my upcoming show, Canned Heat, Part of "Refresh", at Mason Murer Fine Art in Atlanta, GA. Here are a few of the pieces I am working on!

A Pair of Pickled Peppers 36" x 60"

Pickle Juice 48" x 48"

Blueberries 36" x 60"

Two recent paintings..

2011-12-30T07:09:00.000-08:00

My New Year's resolution is to post more often and more images! So I will start a day or two early with one painting that was a Christmas present, and one painting from our trip to NYC in Oct. when they had that freak snow storm! Great photo ops there even though my husband and daughter were getting a little annoyed with all my picture taking. :) But on the flip side, I have a whole lot that I'd like to paint from that trip... and they still love me! It's all good!

It's Five O'clock Somewhere
12" x 9"

Against the Wind
60" x 36"

Recent Paintings

2011-12-08T13:50:00.000-08:00

A couple recent paintings and a commission!

Purple Peony 36" x 60"

Graniteware 36" x 60"

That Line is Tied Up At The Moment 36" x 48"

Small works to the Wells Gallery

2011-11-23T12:15:00.000-08:00

I have been working on some small paintings and got 4 shipped today to the Wells Gallery in Charleston for their Small Works December show!

Odd Man Out 6" x 12"

Ready For More 12" x 12"

Hints of Pink 6" x6"

W 16" x 16"

Second Commission and third painting for The Metaphoric Show at The Wells Gallery in Charleston

2011-10-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

This is another commission...

Three Deep
28" x 54"

and a third painting that is being shipped to the "Metaphoric" Show at The Wells Gallery in Charleston, SC.

Making Ends Meet
36" x 60"

Commissions and the Canning Series!

2011-10-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

I have been painting Mason and Ball canning jars mostly empty, and showing the transparency and distortions of the old glass so I was a little scared when a commission came in to paint one full of something- I was asked to paint stewed tomatoes... But that commission has led to me to think more about their original purpose of storing food through the winter. So I have have been working on a series of the jars full of, or containing the things for which they were created! It has been great fun to research all the things that people used to can. I remember my parents putting up pickles and tomatoes every year but it seems that it is possible to can just about any fruit or veggie there is! And over the next few months I will be working with these as my subject matter! I will be debuting the series at Mason Murer Fine Art in Atlanta in February!

Stewed Tomatoes
48" x 60"
oil on canvas

New work!

2011-09-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

It has been far too long since I last posted here! I have been working on some commissions and some works for up coming shows! The Wells Gallery in Charleston, SC is hosting an invitational group exhibit titled, "Metaphoric", Art Inspired by Literature. It was an interesting concept and I had a ton of ideas, but really wanted to stick with painting the glass jars so came up with work that fit with it. The show will open Friday, Nov. 4. I will be sending these two paintings:

Half Full
36" x 60"
Oil on Canvas

Time In a Bottle
16" x 20"
oil on board

Coca Cola!

2011-08-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

I have been busy painting Coca Cola themed work for an upcoming show in Atlanta, Georgia. Coca Cola is based there and the Mason Murer Fine Art is hosting an event for them. I had a couple of old Coke bottles that were resurrected from the dump in the ravine, and a glass with the raised letters that my mom was kind enough to snag for me at the Goodwill! These are the four paintings I will be shipping next week.

Day Dreaming
36" x 60"

Fill 'er Up
36" x 60"

Clouds in My Eyes
48" x 24"

Blue Skies and Coca Cola
48" x 24"

Two Halves Don't Always Make a Whole

2011-07-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to spend more time in the studio, but summers always seem to take me away from it.. kids home, yard work, sunny days..... but I have finished a new painting in spite of myself!

"Two Halves Don't Always Make a Whole"
6o" x 36"

A Cherry on Top

2011-07-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

Cherries are back in season.. and I can't walk by them in the grocery without wanting to paint them again.. So I did!

A Cherry On Top
36" x 60"
oil on canvas

White Peony

2011-07-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

Spring is my favorite season, and although I always take tons of photos of all the blossoms, I don't often paint them. But yesterday I just really needed to get in the studio and I wanted to paint a small piece and gave this peony a try.. It felt really good to paint a bit looser!

White
8" x 10"
oil on board

Delivering art!

2011-06-29T05:11:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we headed south on a quick trip to deliver paintings to the Mason Murer Gallery in Atlanta and The Wells Gallery in Charleston, SC. I had originally planned to ship some work, but when all was said and done it made more sense to drive down. Plus we got a mini-vacation in Charleston and were able to spend time with great friends, eat some fabulous food, and relax a bit! All in all, a great trip!! This week I am helping our oldest ready for her road trip across country. She is driving to L. A. for a one month internship at Warner Brothers. So very proud of her!
Tomorrow I drive some work to Columbus to the Brandt-Roberts Gallery, and then this weekend we build a patio outside the studio :), then back to work on Tuesday!! Have a great 4th of July!

Some of the works I delivered down south..

Last Man Standing
40" x 50"
Wells Gallery

It Wasn't Me
36" x 60"
Wells Gallery

Coke Horizon
48" x 48"
Mason Murer Gallery

Running Neck and Neck
48" x 48"
Mason Murer Gallery

Trying to Blend In
48" x 72"
Mason Murer Gallery

Grandma's Things

2011-06-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

I have been wanted to play with fairly monochromatic still life's for a while now.. I think it will help me with refining color choices and really thinking about what I want the painting to say. I was pleased with the way this one turned out.. I am looking forward to trying more! Have a great weekend!

"Grandma's Things"
oil on panel
16" x 20"

Two new paintings!

2011-06-09T06:41:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy spring but I did get these two paintings finished up this past week and have a pair that I am hoping to

Just Between Us oil on canvas 30" x 40"

be able to complete next week... Will post pics soon!

Busy B's oil on canvas 30" x 40"

Keli's Marbles

2011-05-16T10:32:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give credit where credit is due! I usually take all my own reference photos, but Keli Tolley had taken a photo of a Ball jar with marbles in it at the show at The Wells Gallery in Charleston, SC and I loved it! She was kind enough to grant me permission to use it as reference for this painting! Thanks Keli!!

Keli's Marbles oil on canvas 24" x 48"

Peony's new home!

2011-05-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

Last Friday was the opening of the show at Brandt-Roberts Gallery in Columbus featuring myself and Scott Goss. It was a lovely turn out and I really enjoyed meeting some of the people who have purchased my paintings! Dan was kind enough to send a photo of my Peony painting hanging in it's new home! I love it!!

Here is a link to the works from the show! http://brandtrobertsgalleries.com/exhibitions/reinterpreting-the-familiar-sally-tharp-scott-goss

It's official! I'm addicted to painting!

2011-05-02T17:26:00.000-07:00

What a crazy, busy, blessed few months it's been! It feels like I have painted day and night for months. I delivered the paintings to the Brandt-Roberts Gallery in Columbus yesterday and that was the last of my shows for now! On Wednesday my husband and I headed to NYC to move our oldest into her first real apartment, then back late Thursday evening and to the opening Friday night! So the plan was to take today and tomorrow off and get caught up on some things that I have let go for the last few months. But all I wanted do was hang around the studio.. so I cleaned and straightened.. and then started another painting. I am an addict.. but painting makes me happy and I am excited to keep painting and learning!
I will post paintings from the show later this week!

Reinterpreting the Familiar Show at Brandt-Roberts Gallery with Scott Goss

2011-04-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for the opening of 'Reinterpreting the Familiar" with Scott Goss at Brandt-Roberts Galleries in Columbus, OH! Hope to see you there!

Realism Show at Mason Murer Fine Art in Atlanta, GA

2011-04-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

A picture of my paintings hanging at Mason Murer in Atlanta on opening night! I really wish I could have been there, but glad we got to see the gallery and meet Mark before the show. A great space and very nice people!!

For More photos from the show, Click here

Wired Artists Show William Jessup University Library

2011-04-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

The Wired Artists Show at William Jessup University Library opened last night! I hope all went well.. I wish I could have been there! For more images of the show click here
Have a great weekend!

Hanging work

Postcard for 'WiredArtists'

2011-04-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Frank Ordaz for all his hard work in making this show happen!

Wired Artists Show at William Jessup University Library, Rocklin, CA

2011-04-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was thrilled to receive a phone call from an artist whose work I had seen online and very much admired. Frank Ordaz was calling to invite me to a show about artists who have met and interacted via the Internet and social media! It was such a great idea that I couldn't say no! I sent two 16" x 20" paintings. The show is being held at William Jessup University Library 333 Sunset Blvd. Rocklin, CA 95765. The opening of the show will be April 15th from 5:30 to 7 pm. It runs until May 12 . The artists' blogs and or Facebook sites will be featured in the show. There will be laptops available so that show viewers can log on to their sites. How cool is that?? And look at the line up of artists!
Stephen Magsig*Chris Hopkins*Mick McGinty *Denny Holland*Rob Carey*Armand Cabrerra*Debra Pero*Don Hatfield*Janice Skivington*Marc Hanson*Thomas Fluharty*Terry Miura*Michael Dudash*Frank Ordaz*Regis Pattenari*Robert Lemler

Yin and Yang
16" x 20"

Turning a Corner
16" x 20"

Home from Charleston and back to painting!

2011-04-07T09:56:00.000-07:00

Phew! I am finally getting caught up from our whirlwind trip to the south and to Charleston for the opening of Nostalgia at The Wells Gallery! It was a wonderful trip and we were totally taken in by the city, the art and the people! Thanks so much to all who came out, I enjoyed meeting and talking with you all!

Ready for the opening at The Wells Gallery

We also stopped at Mason Murer Fine Art in Atlanta, GA and delivered paintings for The Realism Show that will open there this Friday! If you live near Atlanta, it would be great show to see! We sure wish we could be there!

Now I am back to painting for the next month in preparation for Reinterpreting the Familiar, a two person show with glass artist Scott Goss at the Brandt-Roberts Gallery in Columbus, OH.

Daily Paint Works Challenge -Auction for Japanese Red Cross

2011-03-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

I have been heartbroken over the recent events in Japan, but felt fairly helpless about it. The Daily Paintworks crew has given all artists an opportunity to do something to help! I have donated a painting, Bread and Water, to be auctioned off with all proceeds to be donated to the Japanese Red Cross. There are currently 230 works of art for auction, with more being added constantly. So far, the bids have amounted to over $9000 and growing! I'm thrilled to be able to do something to help.. Please click here to go to the auction page! to see the art and place your bid!

Bread and Water
8" x 10"

Show at The Wells Gallery in Charleston, SC

2011-03-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

Keli at the Wells Gallery did such a great job of designing the postcard invites for the show in Charleston! And we are so excited to get down there! If any of you are in the Charleston area on Friday, April 1, I'd love to meet you!

The Mason Murer Gallery Realism Juried Show

2011-03-10T05:11:00.000-08:00

I am so thrilled to have been invited to show at The Mason Murer Fine Arts Gallery in Atlanta, GA for their Realism Juried Show! The show includes some of my favorite contemporary artists and I am so excited not only to be showing beside them, but to be seeing their work in person!
Here is one of the paintings I am taking!
"Big Brother" 48" x 60"

April 8th - 7pm to 10pm

Realism juried show with works by:
Luke Allsbrook*Thomas Boone*Bruce Brainard*Bruce Braithwaite*Paul Cadden*Marc Chatov*M. Collier*C Dawn Davis*Julyan Davis*William Entrekin*Holly Farrell*Jelaine Faunce*Teresa Fischer*Jeff Hayes*Neil Hollingsworth*Karen Hollingsworth*Mike Kasper *Jill McGannon*Patrick McGannon*Michael Naples*Joe Remillard*Liana Repass*Alvin Richard*Edward Rice*Abby Ryan*Suzy Schultz*Sally Tharp*James McLaughlin Way*Gail Wegodsky
and works from Walter Norman, Latrice Cooper, Pedro Fuertes

New York City

2011-02-24T05:04:00.000-08:00

I am headed to New York City today, which happens to be the subject of my painting for the "Wanderlust" show at The Wells Gallery in Charleston next month! I am really looking forward to seeing my daughter and her boyfriend,Cat and Nick, my friends, Craig and Barry, and lots of great art!! I know I will come home charged up and ready to paint! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Blossom-Art of Flowers Juror's Choice Award!

2011-02-18T05:51:00.000-08:00

I found out this week that my painting, "Change of Seasons" was awarded a juror's choice award in Naples, FL. I'm so thrilled! The show be in Naples until April 10, and then tour the US.

February 5 - April 10, 2011 Naples Museum of Art, Naples, FL

April 30 - June 26, 2011 Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ

July 12 - October 16, 2011 R.W. Norton Art Gallery, Shreveport, LA

November 5 - December 31, 2011 Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago, IL
Jan. 18 - Feb. 29, 2012 Art Center Manatee, Bradenton, FL

March 19 - May 20, 2012 Greenacres Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
June 10 – July 22, 2012 Museum of the Gulf Coast, Port Arthur, TX

We will get to see the show when it comes to Cincinnati next March.

My friends Mary and Nichole were able to attend the opening and sent me this photo. I wish I could have been there with them!!

I really AM working!

2011-02-08T10:23:00.000-08:00

I know I know.. I am already breaking my New Year's resolution to blog more often! I'm sorry! I am painting like crazy for three upcoming shows! The first is a group show at The Wells Gallery titled "Wanderlust" for the March 4th art walk in Charleston, SC. I have chosen to paint images from a trip to NYC to visit my oldest child, Cat. And then for the art walk in April (April 1st), I am so thrilled to be having my premier show at The Wells Gallery along with three glass artists. LOTS of shiny surfaces and glass- Can't wait to see it all together! And finally, in May, I will be having a show at the Brandt-Roberts Gallery in Columbus, OH, with the opening on May 5! PHEW! I have several new paintings that I am anxious to share but will wait until after the shows open. In the meantime, I will show a recent landscape I painted, showing the view out our front door one morning. I am trying find beauty in this long, cold winter we are having! Definitely ready for spring!!

Sunrise 18" x 24"

Ball Mason jar paintings, 'Bound' and 'Cocoon'

2011-01-14T08:37:00.000-08:00

I have painted a couple more pieces from my new series. I really love the challenge of trying to capture all the overlapping transparencies while trying to simplify what I can so as not to over paint it.
The rest of the week will be spent working on a commissioned painting of marbles.

Bound
24" x 48"

Cocoon
48" x 60"

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all! This year's resolution is to be far better at posting on my blog!! I have been especially negligent these last few months!! The problem comes when all I want to do is paint.. but I do realize that I need to take time to keep my blog and website current. So my resolution this year is to post at LEAST once a week... (also to lose weight, exercise more, not waste time.. etc)
I had taken a few small paintings to the Brandt Roberts Gallery in Columbus and have heard that they, along with "Bottlenecked" have found new homes so I took a just completed painting down on Tuesday called "On Edge" 24 x 48"

I'm also attaching an image of a new series Ive started.. this one is titled Awakening 48" x 60" more on this series soon!!

The Holiday Season in now upon us...

2010-11-29T16:25:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Season in now upon us.....And with it comes all the hectics chaos! But I am happy to say that it's all good craziness in my world! Not that I have any of my holiday shopping done... but I have gotten some great news this week!

I am honored to have received 1st prize for guest artist in the Fall 2010 online Exhibition at the Perez Fine Art Galleries for my painting titled, 'Gettin' Steamed'.

And also this week, I found out that my entry into the Susan Kathleen Black foundation Art of The Blossom II has been accepted! This show will start at the Naples Museum of Art and travel to several museums throughout the spring and summer. I feel so honored to have my painting, 'Change of Season', accepted!

And last, but not least, I have been painting several pieces for the small works show at the Brandt-Roberts Gallery in Columbus, OH this December. I promise to post some later this week!

Lifesavers painting done!

2010-11-14T06:30:00.000-08:00

This is the Lifesaver painting on which I have been working... finally done! My husband really likes this one so I think it might hang in his office for a while. I have to say, it's so nice to be able to hang my paintings somewhere instead of having them stack up in my studio! There are a couple paintings that I think I might have a hard time getting back if I asked. :) It makes me happy that they like them!

Lifesavers
36" x 60"

"The Gangs all Here" and "Three of Us" ready to be shipped to Charleston, SC!

2010-11-08T15:28:00.000-08:00

I finished my two Mason jar paintings and readied them to be shipped to the Wells Gallery in Charleston, SC last week. And now this week I'm back in the studio working on a large Lifesaver painting! I will post pics soon!

The Gangs All Here
36" x 48"

Three of Us
48" x 36"

Catching up.. Jadite 2 and The Rebel

2010-10-21T07:05:00.000-07:00

I was in Vegas last week with my husband for a business trip.. and this week am getting ready and decorating for Halloween but wanted to post a couple of paintings that I have recently completed.. I really loved painting the jadite bowls.. but am taking a break from them and have started two smaller mason jar paintings that I hope to have done by the end of the week! And... speaking of Jadite bowls.. I am so happy to hear from the Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento that one of my paintings (That's Life) in the still life show there has sold. Thanks to Elliott, Michelle, and Cynthia for the beautiful show you have put together! Please take a minute to follow the link.. there are some amazing artists and wonderful works in the show!

Jadite 2 48" x 60"

The Rebel 48" x 48"

Two Openings at once!

2010-10-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

"White rabbit, white rabbit"! My mom has always said that first thing on the first day of every month for luck.. and today there are two events upon which I'd like to bestow that luck! The first is the opening of the Invitational Still Life Group Show at the Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento, CA. There are some wonderful artists in the group and I am honored to have been invited to participate! Below are my contributions to the show...

That's Life 48" x 48"

Red Marble 24" x 24"

And the second event is the opening of the new gallery in Columbus, The Brandt Roberts Gallery. I am looking forward to a long and happy relationship with them! Good luck to both galleries!
Have a great weekend!

"Shells of our Former Selves" and "Return for Deposit" paintings are headed south!

2010-09-06T05:20:00.000-07:00

I'm so thrilled to hear that the Wells Gallery has sold "Up Front and Slightly Off Center" and has asked for more work. My friends Vicky and Dave, who were here visiting their new grandchild, were kind enough to take these paintings home to South Carolina with them, to be delivered to the Well Gallery this week! I will miss them and am wishing them safe travels!

Return for Deposit 16" x 20"

Shells of Our Former Selves 24" x 48"

"That's Life!" new bowl of cherries painting

2010-08-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

Now that the kids are back in school things are starting to settling into routine, albeit with all three in fall sports, a slightly hectic one. I was able to finish a new painting and have started on another along the same lines. A few weeks ago cherries came into season, and I bought them several times , each time thinking that I love the color and feeling like I wanted to paint them, but I have seen them painted so much and by very talented artists that I worried about duplicating or falling short of their talent. I tried to come up with a way to make them my own, so I put them into one of my jadite bowls and blew the whole thing up to 48" x 48". Titled, "That's Life", this painting is headed to the Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento, CA.

It's been too long! New paintings, "Bouncing Balls" and "Life"

2010-08-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

Sorry.. again.. for the lack of posts here! I promise I have been painting! Summer is a crazy time, but school starts tomorrow for the kids and I will have a bit more of a schedule, albeit a hectic one! I'm thrilled to tell you that I have had a painting, Michael's Marble, accepted into the National Art Encounter 2010 in Naples, FL! I won't be able to go to the opening, but I will be well represented by my great friends, Mary and Jon!

Also this past week I had my first official gallery visit by a new gallery that will be representing me. The Brandt Roberts Gallery will be opening on Oct 1, on High St. in Columbus with the grand opening on Oct. 29! We had a great time and I am looking forward to a long and successful relationship with them.

I am posting a painting that I sent to the Wells Gallery last week.. (along with "Meeting of the Minds" and "Up Front".)

Titled, "Bouncing Balls"..
36" x 60"

Two new paintings! Gettin' Steamed and Meeting of the Minds

2010-07-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping very busy here.. getting back on track after the big move! I think I have figured out where most things go in the studio and am trying to get organized.. (as organized as I can be... my skills leave a bit to be desired) Just today I received my new shipment of art panels and I will be painting again through the weekend!
I am posting two larger scale paintings of the mason jars.. (I have to sneak one in here and there between the smaller still life paintings for the show in Oct.) These paintings are very different from one another but I like them both. Gettin' Steamed is really bold and strong and Meeting of the Minds is very soft and quiet.. I really want to keep Meeting of the Minds for above the bed but I paint to tell a story and I already know it so I will share it with others.
Have a great weekend!

Gettin' Steamed 40" x 50"

Meeting of the Minds 36" x 60"

Studio and Last Man Standing pics

2010-07-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Better late than never!! Here are two pics of the new studio... one from the inside out and the other from the outside in! I love it!! I am still settling in but painting every day too!

I am also posting a painting that I finished last month and never got to post.. with all the moving and chaos. Title "Last Man Standing" (40" x 50"), it is a painting of stacking wooden dolls/toys, these from the 50's, that are called Bill Dings... get it? Buildings?? Even though I never had them as a child, I love them and play with these guys all the time in the studio. They are still made today, but now they look more like clowns and are kinda creepy. I like the round old goofy guys like these!

Have a great weekend!

New studio, New Painting!

2010-06-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry to have been away so long! So much going on.. all good!.. and never enough time to get to everything! For the past few weeks we have slowly made the move into my new AMAZING studio (pics soon) and just last night got the Internet hooked up there so I'm back in business! I still have a lot to move (books!!), but it will all wait until the weather cools down and my back is feeling better!!

My first painting in the new studio was of our bed.. something I walk past all day, but something about it on this particular day struck me and I snapped a picture. I titled it "the Invitation" because it looked so inviting to just crawl back in bed.

36" x 48"

I will be busy for a while painting for a still life group show in October at Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento, CA. I am thrilled to be a part of it and am excited to get to work!

Another still life show is in the works for 2011 in Columbus so I will be painting the summer away! I promise studio pictures soon!

"Peony" and "Michael's Marble" paintings

2010-06-04T06:52:00.001-07:00

I have been working on 3 paintings and have finished 2... the 3rd one will have to wait until we get back from the beach... AND I get moved into my AMAZING new studio!! (pictures soon) I have been watching the new studio be built right outside the window of my current studio.. and wouldn't you know it.. it will be done the day we leave for vacation!! But I will be back soon enough.. recharged and ready to move in!! In the meantime... I am posting these two paintings... I have been playing a bit with the mediums... and have found that I really like a heavier one with more stand oil.. I am painting just a bit more in layers and like that too.. but am struggling with how much brush stroke to leave... I still want a bit more I think.. it's all learning!!

"Michael's Marble" 40" x 50"

"Peony" 36" x 48"

Wells Gallery Chalreston, SC

2010-05-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a whirlwind the last couple weeks have been!!

The show at Kathryn Gallery on Friday was wonderful! It seems that the people who like my work are kindred spirits and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them! Thanks so much to all who came out.. it was so nice to see you! Also found a new restaurant that I can't wait to try next time we are in Columbus... Deepwood Restaurant on High St!

On Sunday my husband and I packed up the van and headed to Charleston, SC to deliver paintings to the beautiful Wells Gallery on Meeting St! I feel so blessed to be a part of their gallery and was so warmed by their wonderful southern hospitality. It was a short trip but we had the best time and look forward to going back!

The only down spot was that work on the new studio is at a standstill until next week when the windows come in... but not much we can do about it...

On a side note.. please know that I am constantly encouraged, thrilled and humbled by your comments.. sometimes I don't get back to them in a timely manner and I apologize.. please know that they are greatly appreciated!!

So now it is back to the grind!!

...some of the new pieces from the show and at Wells Gallery... I have uploaded all of them to my website... or feel free to email ( sallyg1@zoominternet.net ) for more info!

Steppin' Out painting, Elliott Fouts Gallery

2010-05-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

I am sorry for not posting more paintings lately! I promise I have been painting like a crazy woman!

I will be able to post a lot of what I've been working on after the show in Columbus on May 14, at the Kathryn Gallery!

I am thrilled to now be a part of the Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento, CA! I sent five paintings out last week and have heard that one has sold already.. SO exciting to be out there!

And later this month my husband and I will be driving to Charleston, SC to deliver paintings to a new gallery there... more on that later!

Just so you know I've been working.. This is a painting of my sons tux shoes he had for prom last week... they were SO shiny I just couldn't help but paint them!

36" x 48"

Steppin' Out

Two person show at Kathryn Gallery

2010-04-30T04:01:00.000-07:00

I am very pleased to announce that I will be part of a two person show, with the talented Ron Johnson, at Kathryn Gallery in Columbus, OH on May 14!

I have been painting like mad and will unveil several new paintings! Hope to see you all there!

Butler Mid-Year Show- The Good Shoes

2010-04-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to say that I have had a painting accepted into the Butler Institute of American Art Mid-year show!

The piece is called "The Good Shoes" and I painted it after watching a documentary on the Titanic and other ship wrecks... long after the bodies and bones are gone, the shoes remain exactly where they were, almost as a grave marker. That really hit a chord with me and I painted this the next day..

"The Good Shoes"
24" x 48"

Cats portrait titled Whispers

2010-04-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

I really wanted to work on a portrait this week and work on blending and layering skin tones... This is a painting I did of my oldest daughter... she turns 20 on Sunday and this will be her first birthday we haven't celebrated together! :( I am so proud of the woman she has become but miss my little girl at the same time..

Titled, "Whispers"

36" x 48"

The Tee Bird

2010-03-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

I started this painting last week when I started the bowls... With the glazing process you can only work for so long and then you need to let it dry. This is my daughters tee bird. I got it for her when she was two or so.. she is almost 20! .. and it has been in storage ever since she grew out of it. The 1st pic is of Cat and my mom waiting curbside for the parade.. the second is the painting I did this week... I love that car.. but I really love those two girls and this is one of my favorite pictures of them!!

The Tee Bird
48" x 60"

"Jadite" oil painting

2010-03-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

I have been intrigued by the term 'glazing' in reference to painting lately. It is layers of paint thinned with medium to produce a luminescence... (at least that is my take on it.. just from reading about it) It requires a lot patience.. something I usually lack and therein lay the excitement for me! I have been thinking that i really need to slow down a bit and think a little more and this allowed me to do just that! This is a very different process from what I am used to doing, but my mother had just brought over these bowls of mine that she had at her house. I evidently had gotten them several years ago and planned to eBay them and never got that far.. then we moved.. she took them.. and to make a long story short.. there were these beautiful jadite bowls just begging to be painted! So this is my version of glazing.. not sure if it is a textbook example.. but it was fun to paint tighter and to slow down for once....

"Jadite"
18" x 24"

"B".. neon letter painting

2010-03-23T16:45:00.000-07:00

The letter 'B' for my ABC's of NYC...

"B"
16 X 16"

Three Generations of Coke

2010-03-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

I went back to glass this week, which somehow I find much easier to paint on a large scale than solid objects.... I felt like my last painting was so tight and heavy...
Anyway.. several months ago I went to a local auction that had all kinds of old glass bottles.. and I bought a few old wooden cases of them... these three were among them.. three versions of the Coke/ Coca Cola logo..
I titled it, "Three Generations"
36" x 60"

2010-03-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

Wow... Sorry to have been gone so long! I have been working on a new large piece that has taken so much longer than I thought. I really struggled to be loose and got a little tight on it in the middle of painting but felt the turn come this week! Phew! I may have a few tweaks this week after I live with it for a few days.. but this is it for now! Back to painting glass!!

Croquet 36" x 60"

"The Escape" and "Bird" paintings

2010-02-19T04:40:00.000-08:00

It's been a very busy week! We went to NYC to visit our oldest daughter, Cat last weekend... and had an awesome time...always too short! But we did wander around Chelsea and saw LOTS of art.. always interesting and educational... there is so much to learn... and with every stroke of paint I do learn more and more about not only who I am and want to be as an artist, but who I am as a person.. some days I feel like a kids again.. with the whole world in front of me! It's all good... how lucky I am to do what I do!

I had started painting "The Escape" before we left last week and finished it this week... as I was painting I felt like something had been in the jar and was being called to escape by the bright light of the window.. I don't know.. maybe too many paint fumes??.. maybe cabin fever.. :)

hence the name, "The Escape"...48" x 48"

Also this week Jill Polsby revealed her thank-you to Karin Jurick for her portrait painting challenge on her blog, Different Strokes from Different Folks. 118 versions of Karin were painted by 118 artists and Jill had them made into a book for Karin. It turned out beautifully!

Painting Karin's portrait made me really want to play with portraits a bit more... and while my style is usually a bit looser, I wanted to paint this portrait a bit tighter and more layered.. it was a fun lesson and I hope to do a few more soon!

"Bird" 12" x 12"

Ready For Company painting

2010-02-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

We've been pretty house bound this week with all the snow.. so I had time to finish my latest painting for the On the Shelf series...

Titled, ' Ready for Company' 48" x 48"

"Strength in Numbers", new glass painting

2010-02-02T08:08:00.000-08:00

Today I finished painting a piece I started last week.. I needed some blue skies.. so I revisited some of the bottles I bought last summer. I had taken a slew of reference photos when I got them and really liked the sky that day.

Titled "Strength in Numbers"

24" x 48"

"Later.. That Same Night.." new painting for 'On the Shelf" series..

2010-01-31T09:31:00.000-08:00

I finished my latest painting for the 'On the Shelf' series this weekend. Again, the series deals with the abundant, excess and often obsolete items mostly found in thrift stores. This was a pile of old silver toned kitchen items. I really liked the warm and cool play of colors and the crazy way they were piled up. It made me feel like there was a story I had missed somehow.... that I was coming in on the tail end of it.... hence the title, "Later.. That Same Night".

48" 60"

Charley Parker's Lines and Colors

2010-01-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

A huge thanks to Charley Parker for his very kind article about my paintings! He maintains a wonderful sight called 'Lines and Colors" about art and artists, creativity and things he finds visually interesting! Check it out and spend some time there!

"Seltzer"

2010-01-18T13:45:00.000-08:00

This is the second painting for my new series, on the shelf, titled, "Seltzer". These seltzer bottles were sitting on top on an old oak buffet with the mirror behind. I love the fuzzy reflection of the pictures on the opposite wall and the red writing on the two bottles.
I learned a lot on the last painting and it made this one much easier. I painted in layers and made sure the background was completed before moving on to the foreground... it was a tough lesson learned when painting the fans cages!!

48" x 48"

New Series, On the Shelf, painting, "Feeling Caged in and Left Out"

2010-01-15T05:20:00.000-08:00

I started a new series this week that I have had in mind for a while.. I titled it, On the Shelf. It is about the multiple items available at thrift stores and auctions. I have gone to auctions and antique and thrift stores forever and I love them. But in the last few years I have been amazed that often people didn't have just one or two of any item, but several... or boxes full... or shelves full! So much excess and often obsolete stuff!! What will become of it all? So last month I dragged my husband to one of my favorite stores and took hundreds of pictures of these treasures. He was just glad I didn't buy anything, as I certainly have plenty of my own "treasures"!

My first painting is titled, 'Feeling Caged In and Left Out'.

36" x 60"

"Preserving Memories" oil painting

2010-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

This painting is a commission from a woman who had seen my work and it reminded her of her mother canning every fall when she was young and she now cans her own salsa every year. I too have fond memories of my parents canning a lot of the produce from our farm. As a kid you have no concept of how much work goes into every jar, but as an adult I am so grateful to have been raised by parents who cared enough to work that hard to keep us all eating home grown produce all year. I was excited to get started on this painting and am very pleased with the outcome!

I titled it, "Preserving Memories"

48" x 60"

Art show... up through January 26

2010-01-10T09:18:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who braved the weather on Friday to come to the artist reception for the show in Mount Vernon! We got there a little early and I was able to get a few pictures.. I was so pleased with the way the show was hung...

Lori Wilkes, the gallery director, did a fabulous job!! It was a wonderful evening and it was great to meet many new friends and share ideas with some other artists.

It is a new gallery in the downtown area of Mount Vernon, OH.. owned and operated by Mount Vernon Nazarene University.... A really GREAT space!

The show will hang through January 26, 2010.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University - News, Sally Tharp, Michael Litzau, Art, Paintings, Printmaking, Ohio Artists, Exhibit, Gallery

2010-01-07T08:09:00.000-08:00

I almost forgot to send out the invite for my show in Mount Vernon! The artist reception is tomorrow night, 6-8. I'd love to see old friends and meet new ones! I hope to see you there! And if you can't make it tomorrow, the show runs through Jan. 26.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University - News, Sally Tharp, Michael Litzau, Art, Paintings, Printmaking, Ohio Artists, Exhibit, Gallery

Strong Shoulder Painting

2010-01-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Last night I finished this painting that I had started before Christmas. It was kind of hard to start back at it after such a long time away from it. I like to work on paintings non-stop until they are done... maybe an afternoon off to run errands or a day off to do something, but not a whole month!! I ended up basically painting it all over again.. which was okay!

I have been playing with cropping the images really tight, making the painting almost abstract, but with elements of realism. I have a few more of these I'd like to do, but I also have an idea (and some images ready to go) for a new series! Argh, so such to paint and never enough time. I still haven't cleaned the house nor taken down the Christmas decorations... Oh well.. painting today! :)

Strong Shoulder

48" x 60"

Up Front and Slightly Off Center painting

2010-01-05T15:40:00.000-08:00

I promised my friend, Vicki, that I would post this painting I had been working on. I titled it, "Up Front and Slightly Off-Center". I'm still not sure it's done. I will have to live with it for a while. I'm quite intrigued by things that are out of focus.. my husband thinks I'm crazy... and it's probably from never wearing the glasses I finally succumbed to getting this year... but they have such a softness and are far more difficult to paint than I could have imagined.. and yet... I'm very anxious to paint more!

36" x 48"

Portrait of Phoenix the dog

2009-12-31T08:51:00.000-08:00

My last painting of 2009 is a promised piece, long overdue! Phoenix is a great dog belonging to friends, Joanne and Tim. He is Joannes constant companion while Tim is on the road driving truck every week. For all my worrying about how I could paint a black dog, it turns out that I really enjoyed painting him!

Phoenix 8" x 8"

Now I am looking forward to getting back in the studio and finishing a large piece that I started before Christmas!

Happiest of New Years to all!

Making A Mark Award 2009 - Best Picture of the Year (Still Life) on an Art Blog

2009-12-30T11:46:00.000-08:00

I am grateful, humbled and honored to have been nominated, and to have won, the Making A Mark Award 2009 - Best Picture of the Year (Still Life) on an Art Blog! Thanks so much to Julie Broom for the nomination! If you haven't been to Katherine Tyrrell's Making a Mark site, please make a point to check it out and spend some time there! It is a wonderful blog full of art, advice, education and information! Thank you, Katherine!
The painting that won the award, "Sometimes I Feel Like You Look Right Through Me", was painted this summer and purchased at the Kathryn Gallery in Columbus on opening day of my show. I had stopped at the gallery when I got into town and happened to meet the couple who had just purchased the painting. It is always special to meet the people who buy your work and hear what draws them to it. This is a picture of the painting with it's new owner, Kirsten Knowles.

I was also blessed today with an article about my glass paintings on the Empty Easel website! Empty Easel has several categories of information and I always look forward to the weekly articles! Many thanks to Lisa Orgler for choosing to write about my work! I wish you all a very Happy, art-filled New Year!!

Portrait of Horst!

2009-12-29T16:07:00.000-08:00

I was excited to see that Karin Jurick was going to have her portrait challenge again this year on her Different Strokes From Different Folks blog. I have been wanting to work on some portraiture and I really wanted to work with people I hadn't yet met. On the blog Karin switches photos of two people and they paint each other. I was excited to be painting Horst Hittenberger and love the portrait he has done of me!

"Horst" 8" x 10"

2009-12-21T05:19:00.001-08:00

As promised yesterday..

4" x 4" each

For the women in my husbands office... thanks for all you do!
Merry Christmas Ladies!

2009-12-20T08:11:00.000-08:00

Last year started the tradition of painting Christmas ornaments for the women in my husbands office. I started painting this years ornaments and had so much fun I got carried away and painted two extra!!

Holi'daisies' 6"x 6"

Sparkle 6" x 6"

My husband will deliver the other four tomorrow and then I will post the pictures!!

2009-11-30T19:10:00.000-08:00

Last night I was watching a show about the guy who discovered the Titanic shipwreck... as well as lots of other shipwrecks... and he was talking about how all that were left of the people from the Titanic were their shoes... and that they were like their grave markers.. that their bodies were long ago lost to the sea but the shoes were where they died... so... I started thinking about shoes.. and the shoes I always wear... and the shoes I NEVER wear... and what people would think of us based on the shoes we left behind...

so this piece is titled, "The Good Shoes" 24" x 48"

2009-11-26T14:39:00.000-08:00

This week has been full of cooking, cleaning and domestic goddess stuff... so I thought I'd post a painting that I finished a few weeks ago as a 50th birthday present for my friend, Mary..
I spent my 21st birthday here 20+ years ago when it was a famous disco.... (it's on 6th Ave. in NYC)... and shortly thereafter Mary and I sat on the sidewalk and drew this same building...when I was there this fall, visiting my daughter, we walked over to see what had become of it.. the man on the street said that now it is used for flea markets an Sundays sometimes... how far it has fallen.. but it was good to remember the fun we had...
The Limelight
16" x 20"

2009-11-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

Back from a week of beautiful Bahamian sun and sand... and SO ready to get back to the studio! I was feeling a little rusty after a week off.. so I decided to warm up by doing Karin Juricks monthly painting challenge.. Different Strokes from Different Folks... not a color scheme I usually paint.. nor a subject matter.. but I really enjoyed myself! I painted a lot looser than usual and loved to move the paint around that way...

8" x 10"

Connecting Flights

2009-11-05T05:15:00.001-08:00

I knew I wouldn't have time to paint large this week.. too much going on here... so I tried painting the bottles on a smaller scale... It was so much harder than I thought it would be! Trying to get smooth transitions and figuring out how much detail to put in.. all a different ball game when you change scale that drastically... a fun lesson, none the less...

So now we are off for some MUCH needed sun and relaxation, then back in a week to get everything ready for my show at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, starting Dec. 9th! Have a great week!

Three Tops

12" x 12"

2009-11-02T18:16:00.000-08:00

I found an online challenge that was for the month of October... unfortunately I didn't find it until Oct. 29. :/ I really like doing things like that because it pushes me outside my box a bit... This challenge was to show fall/October colors and had to have been painted in October... I decided to paint a marble refracting the fall foliage...that way I stayed true to what I have been painting but fulfilled the challenge as well.

Fall Refracted

12" x 12"

2009-10-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

This is the second painting of the lab bottles I found at the thrift store last month... I love the glass lids and the variety of shapes and sizes...

36" x 60"

2009-10-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

All the jars that I have painted up until now were excavated from the old farm dump in the ravine at back of our property. But since I've been painting a lot glass I seem to look at all glass as potential subject matter... so a few weeks ago I went to Mount Vernon.. (to check out the gallery for my next show in December.... it is a brand new gallery in an historic building right downtown, and beautiful!!) .. and found the most wonderful antique/junk store.. 3 stories of foraging pleasure!! And I found SO MUCH glass that I wanted to paint! This painting is of some of the old lab bottles that I found.. I loved all the shapes and sizes and all the lids! I'm planning a couple more paintings along this line and then I'll tell you about all the bottles I bought at the auction last weekend! :) Storage may become an issue!! It's a good thing my husband loves me so much!

"My Head is in the Clouds" 48"x 48"

2009-09-28T18:23:00.000-07:00

Its been rainy and dreary all week... so I needed to paint some blue skies!!

"Fruit Loops"
48"x 60"

2009-09-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

Here is the piece I've been working on this week...I loved the colors when I shot the photo... another sort of abstract feel... I think it takes a minute to figure out what it is... tight crop of two mason jars... titled, "When East Meets West" 48" x 60"

2009-09-18T12:57:00.000-07:00

I finished the third large marble painting just in time to enjoy the weekend! I love the way the colored centers swirl within the marble... they remind me of Georgia O'Keeffe's flower paintings... very sensual!

48" x 48"

2009-09-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

I am working on several paintings that are very close up images of the bottles and jars... I love the way the painting almost become abstract... and yet still representational.. this is the first of three... but I have one more large shooter marble to finish before I get to the other two... but in the meantime... I'm..

"Having a Ball" 48" x 60"

2009-09-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

This is the third painting that i had started last week... finished it today!! I love painting these huge marbles.. there are so many intricacies in the glass... and i love the way the background inverts..

"Shooter 2" 48" x 48"

2009-09-08T12:27:00.000-07:00

"Red" 24" x 24"

Last week I worked on a marble painting but had to put it aside for a few days and so I started a large painting of bottles excavated from the ravine. Today I finished them both!! I am always amazed at how cool the old colored glass looks when the light shines through it!

"Renner & Weber" 48" x 60"

2009-08-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was invited to a birthday party for one of my favorite people.. Sharon. It was her 65th and her theme was "65 rocks!" She asked everyone to bring a rock for her new garden/ pond area... I LOVED it! Imagine someone who loves rocks like I do.. we were bound to be friends!! I went into the woods and found a beauty of a rock for her, covered with the most lovely turquoise and green mosses.. the party really got me into rock mode again so that's what I painted this week... I had these around the house.. then went for a walk in the creek yesterday and found more... I do love my rocks.. :)

48"x 48"

2009-08-20T18:08:00.001-07:00

I had planned to paint six marbles next... but then my husband came home with a marble that one of the women from his office had found in the parking lot... she thought it must be mine as I have been painting marbles.. nope, wasn't mine.. but it is now! :) Isn't it a beauty? I thought it deserved a canvas all to itself... Thank you Patti for thinking of me!

48" x 48"

2009-08-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

Okay...It's been a bit busy lately...but I got the paintings delivered for my show in Columbus on the 29th... got my girl delivered to NYC to get back to school... and now I need to get back to in the studio and get some painting done!!

If you can attend, please come to my show in Columbus! August 29, 6-8, at the Kathryn Gallery on High Street in the Short North! I would love to meet all my blog friends in person!

2009-08-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

This is the next painting in the marble series...

"Marbles Four"

24" x 48"

2009-07-31T14:00:00.000-07:00

I have been working on this painting for what feels like forever... it was really hard to get the darks right... and the perspective was a bear.. i wanted to challenge myself but ended up frustrating myself a bit!

"At the Window" 48" x 60"

2009-07-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

Next marble painting... Called "Two Blue"... I think this is my favorite... I think the background adds a lot...

30" x 40"

2009-07-17T04:58:00.000-07:00

FINALLY finished this painting... feels like I've been working on it forever... I tentatively titled it, "Sometimes I feel like you Look Right Through Me" ...

48" x 48"

2009-07-14T04:55:00.001-07:00

"Marbles Three"

... the series continues... :) but I get the day off! I'm going to Cedar Point with my family... gonna take lots of pics... maybe the start of a whole new series...

2009-07-10T05:30:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I woke up to the most beautiful sunrise... so before I sat and had coffee with my husband on the front porch and watched it unfold, I grabbed my camera and took a few pictures.. It isn't what I had planned to paint this week... but you know what they say about the best laid plans... :) Have a great weekend!

Titled, "Monday Morning"

24" x 36"

2009-07-06T17:36:00.000-07:00

I finished this one today and was pretty happy with the way it turned out.. Now I will get back to some larger paintings...

"Marbles Five"

24" x 36"

2009-07-03T04:59:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a marbles series as part of a show I have coming up on August 29 at The Kathryn Gallery in Columbus. I am working like crazy but won't post them all until after the show... but here's a peek at one...

11" x 14"

2009-06-26T04:31:00.000-07:00

I have been looking at the beautiful colors of the water on the pond.. the reflections of the blues and greens of the sky and trees ... and I've wanted to try to paint them. So this was the week.. and it's SO much harder than I thought! My hat is off to all those people who paint water so beautifully!! This is my attempt.. I wanted to call it "Froggy Style"... but they are toads... but that's all I've come up with.. so that will be the working title.. :) Have a good weekend!

48" x 60"

2009-06-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

Another painting from the photos of the canning jars that I took a couple of weeks ago...

Titled "Perfect Mason"

48" x 48"