Paul Shain Art Newsletter Feb 2025 (#5)

I sent out the last newsletter on November 1. I don’t know whether to apologize for falling behind schedule or take credit for not overwhelming your inbox. I think I’ll go with the latter.

Work on exhibit

Last week, I delivered three pieces to the Watercolor Art Society-Houston for the February exhibit “Reflections.” These are the ones I liked best from a series called ... wait for it ... “Reflections.” [In test emails, the pictures below disappeared from one of my email addresses. The photos are also available on my Instagram account at this link.]

I also have ten pieces in WAS-H’s sales gallery. WAS-H’s two galleries have been good to me, having sold three pieces since I was in Spain in October and November.

What am I working on?

I have a binder holding many ideas to execute. I don’t know when I’ll get to them all (or any of them). Some that are near the top of the list are:

• Entries for WAS-H’s April exhibit titled “Limited Palette”
• A series of abstracts inspired by Goya’s Black Paintings
• Collage works
• Abstract watercolors
• A series of paintings like 2022’s (has it been that long?!) Tzedek (Justice)

I’m moving to a new studio around March 1. The new space should be quieter. They have three open studio events a year which will provide exposure to more art lovers.

Past and upcoming classes

I continue to attend outings organized by Urban Sketchers Houston and WAS-H’s Plein Air group. Last week the groups visited the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park.

I will go to an urban sketching workshop in Lisbon in April. I’ll stop in Paris to get over my jet lag and celebrate my birthday. The instructor will be Oliver Hoeller (@hoelleroliver on Instagram). I attended one of his workshops in San Francisco last August.

I watched an online collage class by Catherine Rains (@catrains.artist on IG) and was inspired to create collage papers and will be making more. Expect some small pieces soon.

Museum visits

In Madrid, I visited Museo Nacional del Prado. A highlight was the collection of Bosch paintings. I always enjoy seeing them. I also visited Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. Two highlights were the temporary exhibit of work by the Expressionist Gabriele Münter (Kandinsky’s student and partner) and Goya’s Black Paintings in the permanent collection.

After I returned from Spain, I went to the Gauguin exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. I was particularly interested in the printing techniques he used. It was a good overview of his work, and I learned about his friendship with Van Gogh.

Art news

The Rothko Chapel has reopened after being closed to repair storm damage.