Visit this Weekend…. and how I got here.

Let me start upfront with an invitation for those of you who are local, to visit me this coming weekend in a fantastic art space…. Manufacturers’ Village in East Orange, where I will be among 50 + artists with studios open to the public as part of a state-wide celebration of Garden State Arts Weekend. My studio, which is STUDIO 2-G in Building #1, (on some maps that were printed earlier it is simply listed at “liquidex Residency.” On the more up-to-date publicity it is listed As Winsor Newton Residency with my name). Below, the map, is a more complete blog post with the story of how I got here.

How I got here

A few months ago, one of my students called my attention to a Call for Entry by Winsor & Newton, one of the oldest and most prestigious art supply companies. (fun fact: it was Winsor Newton’s invention of the collapsible tube that led to the ability of artists to move out of their studios and work in Plein Air).

The prospectus for the program stated:

Winsor & Newton’s Artist Residency was designed to ignite creativity, honor the transformative power of artistic expression, and support emerging and established talent by providing one selected artist with a private, fully equipped studio space at Manufacturers Village from April 15 – June 10, 2025;  A curated selection of Winsor & Newton products valued at up to $1,500; Professional development coaching and technical support to refine their craft; and the opportunity to engage with a diverse artistic community of over 70 makers at Manufacturers Village 

I realized that this would be an ideal opportunity to challenge myself to work large, use unconventional tools and challenge myself to further the work that I have been doing which has explored urban imagery and teetered on the bring of figurative and abstraction. I updated my CV, wrote my submission, and submitted a portfolio.

I was thrilled when I received the email, from Winsor Newton,

The judges were highly impressed by your submission, particularly your expressive use of watercolour, your commitment to pushing the medium further, and your vision for this residency.

Your plan to work on a larger scale and explore non-traditional tools aligns beautifully with the program’s mission to support artistic experimentation. Additionally, your involvement in various watercolour societies makes you a fantastic ambassador for this opportunity.”

Last Tuesday, my adventure began as I moved into the space and immediately began several works at once, including 7 ft. X 3 ft. piece that I have been dreaming about.

While I will be sending out more updates about my work over these two months, I wanted to send out this post quickly, since the residency coincides with Manufacturer’s Village Open House this weekend. and I hope to see some of you here!