My son, Adrien Miller, and I are both very excited to be showing artwork together for the first time at a boutique gallery in the Capital Hill neighborhood of Seattle this summer!  We are creative in different ways and different mediums and have a mutual appreciation and admiration of each other’s work.

Featured is my most recent watercolor painting, Astro Merriment, seen on the promo above. The Alstroemeria bloom is one of my favorites for its longevity as a cut flower and grows in many color varieties to enhance each season and decor.  It fits my criterion as a good painting subject by having wonderful transitions of color within the petals instead of bright solids.  Astro Merriment is a full sheet watercolor painting and beckons you to come to the show and see more of my world of flowers!

My son Adrien is an accomplished ceramic artist focused on the figure in sculpture and as elements of his functional art pottery.  His unique glazing and color treatments “reveal a fascination with fluidity and embodiment.”  See his work @adrienmillerart where he’s an Instagram star!  His prolific creative spirit leaves me in awe!  You’ll see…

I’ll be showing lots of my original Floralscape watercolor paintings in a variety of colors and sizes at this exhibit, many not seen on the Seattle side of Puget Sound before!  Also, I’ll have framed and unframed giclee prints available of my Floralscapes, which make great gifts.

Spark & Thread 

Boutique Seattle Gallery hosts our Art Show!  

Reception: July 9, 2022 5pm – 9pm

with live music and refreshments!

1909 E Aloha Street – Seattle, WA.

Normal hours:  Wednesday – Saturday 12pm – 6pm.  Sundays 12pm – 5pm

Phone:  206-531-3879

Sandy Haight & Adrien Miller

Other good news:

My painting “Aria” featured on my last post won the Barbara Pitts Cash Award from the NWWS Waterworks show with wonderful remarks by the juror Mike Hernandez….a big honor.  The show just closed on June 30.  The framed original painting is now available through me directly or in my shop.

“Aria”  full sheet watercolor  .Frame size 39″ x 31″

Have a great season of sunshine and flowers everyone…if summer ever decides to stick around in this chilly Northwest!!!  I hope to see some of you on July 9th!

Sandy

“Aria” by Sandy Haight.  Transparent watercolor on 300lb Arches paper.

This magenta tipped dahlia painting was juried into the Waterworks online show that the Northwest Watercolor Society is opening on Thursday!  The juror, Michael Hernandez, is known for his plein air landscape paintings so this composition would be something different for him.  Does it look familiar to you?  It was shown last year at the in-person CVG show in Bremerton, WA. and I posted about that here.  This painting from a flower I photographed at Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC, was not only fun to paint, finding color in the shadows, but still stands as one of my favorites of the white Floralscape paintings I did during the pandemic.  I get lost in the beauty of it.

UPDATE!  This painting won the Barbara Pitts Cash Award!

Here are the details.

WATERWORKS  Unlimited – ANNUAL MEMBERS EXHIBITION

2022 Awards Reception

Thursday April 28, 2022 5:00 pm (PST) Online

Juror, Michael Hernandez will present the awards

View each of the paintings on exhibition opening night

All artists, art lovers, and guests are invited to attend

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO ATTEND THE ONLINE AWARDS RECEPTION

New work:  “Rising Up” for Ukraine

The bravery and spirit of the Ukrainians in the face of attack and terror called to me to paint their national flower in support.  I’ll send half the proceeds from the sale of this painting to support the Ukrainians through World Central Kitchen and other organizations helping the people through this ordeal.  I hope this piece brings some peace…..and cheer in its sunny colors!

“Rising Up” Unframed watercolor on 140lb Arches cold press paper. 21″ x 14″.  $1600.00.

CLOSING SOON!  My Mailboxes Paintings show closing May 2 at Blackbird Bakery

I’ve been showing 18 small acrylic mailbox paintings at a sweet local bakery in downtown Winslow on Bainbridge Island for the last 2 months.  It’s been fun as neighbors recognize their own mailboxes or the abandoned ones in the area.  When the bakery offered me the show I did 5 more to get back into the swing of acrylics and to fill the cafe. They are all lined up along the wall and it feels like you are going for a walk along this rural island road.  You might enjoy this alternative to my flower art….lots more lively foliage than I expected to paint.  See the whole collection on the Acrylics gallery of my website.  They will be available after next week at my Etsy shop, or contact me directly.

“New and Old Share the Road” 10″ x 10″ acrylic painting on cradled wood panel

“No Forwarding Address”  9″ x 12″ acrylic on cradled wood panel

“Mail House” 10″ x 10″ acrylic painting on cradled wood panel

“Rest in Peace” 9″ x 12″ acrylic on cradled wood panel

Blackbird Bakery – “Mailboxes of Bainbridge Island” display by Sandy Haight. March – April 2022

Have a great spring everyone!  It’s blooming here on Bainbridge Island…magnolias, camellias, rhodies, azaleas….and dandelions!  And our many varieties of maple trees are leafing out!   As my mother turns 100 in May I’m anticipating hanging outside with my visiting family and celebrating longevity.

Street view of 2022 CVG Show featuring “Out of the Blue” by Sandy Haight. Watercolor.

Imagine the thrill I felt, on approaching the CVG Gallery on a sunny day in Bremerton to see my large watercolor painting dominating the window facing Pacific Avenue!  It put a big smile on my face!  (I’m momentarily mask-less for the camera in the photo below).  You can see an image of this painting without the reflections by clicking here but these photos give a better sense of the scale and presentation of this watercolor!  The frame size is 42″ x 54″.  The painting floats on its archival backing to reveal the deckle edges of the heavy paper.  It was a challenge to paint, and a challenge to frame!

Posing here with “Out of the Blue” at the 2022 CVG show.

Inspiration:

I was attracted to this blooming hydrangea for its display of the color transitions within the whole spherical bloom. Each flower reaches for the sunlight turning shades of white, trying to show off or just distinguish itself within the cluster while emerging from the blue shadows and depths.  The petals push to have their moments of perfect expression while wriggling into their own spaces to play a part of the whole.  I see potential parallels with the human species clamoring to build a beautifully unified community from our differences.  This flower is lively to me and reveals lots of unique relationships and personalities through sizes, shapes and colors.  It can be energetic and dynamic and, at the same time, soft and inviting.  What do you see?

The CVG Show:

The variety of artwork and mediums is what distinguishes this show from others attracting artists from all over the state.  This year 1100 artworks were submitted for consideration by 394 artists from 98 cities and towns.  Juror Margaret Bullock, a curator at Tacoma Art Museum in Washington selected 128 pieces for this show.  You can see the artworks online from the comfort and safety of your home if you are curious but far away.  It includes 3 categories:  2D Art, Photo & Digital Art and 3D Art.  Otherwise grab a friend and come to Bremerton!

CVG Show dates & times:

January 22, 2022 through February 25, 2o22.

Wednesday 10 am – 2 pm | Thursday & Friday 10 am – 3 pm | Saturday 10 am – 4 pm

Location & Phone:

CVG Gallery.  331 Pacific Ave.  Bremerton, WA 98337  Phone:  360-377-8327

Two Friends:

I have a couple friends in this show as well.  Paula Gill is a friend and member of my artist group for over 20 years.  She’s a CVG gallery member working in printmaking and tile art.  We had fun thoroughly scrutinizing this show together!  I love her Tiny Tiles jewelry!  Here she is with her charming colored linocut print and smiling eyes!

Paula Gill with “Homage to Harriet Powers, Quiltmaker, 1837-1910”. Linoleum block print with watercolor

Carla O’Connor is another friend who has a painting in the show.  I know her from the Northwest Watercolor Society and we participated together in the Artist Showcase at Northwind Art Center for 9 months in Port Townsend a few years ago.  We enjoyed dinners after the monthly art walk receptions.  Here’s her expressive CVG show painting.

“Heartfelt” by Carla O’Connor. Watercolor & Gouache on Clayboard

I hope you are staying warm and safe this winter with friendly views inside and outside your windows.  The bulbs here are starting to emerge.  Blooming will happen!