It's April, and I have work in two shows through this month.

The group show where I have 7 paintings on display has been extended through April.

That show is at the Ojai Art Center, in the middle of downtown Ojai. There are 50 artworks on exhibit from 9 local women artists. It's titled "Together/Apart: 9 artists respond to 2020".

My new show, which my helpful husband and I hung last Sunday, is titled "Amore dei Fiori", and this show expresses my love of flowers.  This show is at Gallery 113 in Santa Barbara through April.  I have 13 paintings available there, all featuring flowers but including birds and insects as well. They are exuberant in use of color; an expression of garden joy. The painting image here is "Yellow", a 12x12 watercolor+ink painting, available in the "Amore dei Fiori" exhibit.

 Lately I've started putting in one or two surprise elements, such as puzzle pieces or paper clips.  It's sort of like those items we are always losing or dropping somewhere.  So you may find some of those in this new work, from this year as well as last. 

I enjoy using Italian words or phrases in my titles or show titles, as I've done with my new show title. This is an homage to my Italian heritage.  Sometimes when choosing a title, I check and see what it would be/sound like in Italian, just for fun. I am always studying Italian or trying to read it.  Sort of a lazy student of Italian, but I am very interested in learning more and more.  Hopefully I will make it back to Italy sometime in the near future. Recently I received the gift of a book entirely in Italian, which I look forward to reading. 

My favorite season is arriving, Spring! (Primavera)I have a small vegetable garden in my raised bed.  I've planted strawberries, basil, two kinds of tomatoes, and two kinds of squash. I love being able to walk out and pick basil and tomatoes still warmed by the sun, for our dinner.  While planting the garden I saw a yellow alligator lizard, and I also surprised another lizard that jumped onto my stomach and quickly off again after looking up at me! Our apricot trees have little baby apricots on them already, along with the apricot blossoms.

Right now I am working on a painting of dahlias, they are yellow with pink, and of course great fun to draw and paint. This one is an 8x8, and includes acorns and a green butterfly.

Hope you'll stop in next month for the May blog.

Ojai Art Center: 113 N. Montgomery, Ojai, CA Open Tues-Saturday 10-4, Sunday 12-4. Hours may vary so give a call before you visit to ensure they are open when you plan to visit.

(805)646-0117

Gallery 113, 1114 State St., number 8, in the La Arcada Courtyard, Santa Barbara, CA.  Hours: Mon-Sat. 11-5, Sunday 1-5. Website is: gallery113sb.com. 

My website: SkyheartArt.com

On etsy: LisaSkyheartMarshall.etsy.com

It's March, and things are getting slightly busier, while the safety protocols are still very much in place. I've been painting a lot, and soon I will be framing some new work!

Yesterday I helped to hang an exhibit titled "Together/Apart: 9 artists respond to 2020". This exhibit is at the Ojai Art Center in Ojai, California for the month of March.  The Ojai Art Center is located at 113 S. Montgomery St., just off of the main street of Ojai, aptly named Ojai Avenue.

This show has the work of nine women artists who communicated via emails, sharing work in progress and discussions about the challenge of staying inspired and producing art in a year epitomized by all sorts of shocking events. I have 7 paintings in this show.

We found the display of artworks to be quite colorful and rich, and that they look great as a big exhibit of about 50 pieces.

The Ojai Art Center gallery is a quite spacious room, and seeing the exhibit in person should pose little risk to our visitors.  Protocols are in place, you know the drill, but I hope you will be able to stop by in person to see the show.  Nothing like seeing original art up close.

Next will be my small wall solo show at Gallery 113 in Santa Barbara for the month of April.

I will be showing brand new work, much of it created this year(2021).  I've noticed that in 2021 my work has become a bit more color-drenched. Please come have a look at this exhibit, which will be displayed alongside other artist's solo wall shows, as well as a gallery full of artworks in the Santa Barbara Art Association membership show.  

Gallery 113 is located in the La Arcada plaza on State Street.  The address is: 1114 State St., suite 8. If you are unsure the gallery will be open on the day of your planned visit please telephone:(805)965-6611. Gallery hours are: every day, 11-5, of course during these abnormal times, it's a good idea to check before you go.

The painting shown here is: Heart Shaped Leaves and Lizard, and this 8x8 original painting will be available at the Gallery 113 show.

Check my website for news and to see some of my paintings: SkyheartArt.com

Check out my etsy shop for small sized paintings and cards and prints: lisaskyheartmarshall.etsy.com.