I have donated one of my Krinkled Peony Digital/Traditional Mixed Media Paintings to the Huntington Arts Council, annual silent auction fundraiser. This piece is a combination of Digital painting and Traditional Colored Pencils.

The finished mixed media painting is matted & finished in a 16×16″ natural wood color frame.

Bidding is underway at the Main Street Petite Gallery. Almost 50 artist members of the Huntington Arts Council have donated original work in oils, watercolor, photography, prints, diamond and topaz jewelry, silk and more. Bidding opportunities start at $25, and go until 6 p.m. on Friday, December 4.

This is a great chance to own an original piece of art or purchase one as a gift for a favorite relative or friend. Stop by the gallery at 213 Main Street in Huntington, two blocks east of New York Avenue, to see both the art and all the raffle items.

Poster for the L’Art Pour L’Art Silent Auction for the Huntington Arts Council

The proceeds support the exhibition programs of the Arts Council’s two galleries. Some of the wonderful raffle items are: a pair of subscription tickets for the Long Island Philharmonic; gift certificates for Besito, Honu, RED Restaurant and others; and theater and movie passes.

The gallery will be open for the duration of the auction Friday evenings until 8 p.m. and from 1 to 5 p.m. on the first three Saturdays of November. A “Rockin’ Sock Puppet Making Workshop” is on tap for kids ages 5 to 11 on Saturday, November 14 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Then on November 21 at 2 p.m., some of the donating artists will be at the gallery to talk about their work.

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L’Art pour L’Art a Silent Affair

Main Street Petite Gallery

Art Auction Fundraiser

213 Main St.

Huntington, NY 11743

Opens November 6, 2009 6pm

Meet the Artist – Sat. Nov 21st at 2pm

Auction closes – Friday Dec. 4th at 6pm

Original art from oils to watercolors to pastels to gold and diamond jewelry will be available for bidding starting Friday, Nov. 6 as the Huntington Arts Council’s “L’Art Pour L’Art” opens with a gala reception from 6 to 8 p.m.

The festivities take place at the Arts Council’s Main Street Petite Gallery, 213 Main St., Huntington. The silent auction fundraiser runs until 6 p.m. on December 4, providing the public an opportunity to “bring art to life” by taking home a stunning work of art.

Florence L. Dallari, assistant director of the Huntington Arts Council, stated, “The Huntington Arts Council is appreciative of all of the artists and businesses that support this fundraiser. An original piece of art can be yours for as low as $25 and you can purchase a raffle for just $5. We encourage the community to visit our gallery during this month-long event to enjoy one of the benefits of living in Huntington.”

The proceeds support the exhibition programs of the Arts Council’s two galleries. Along with more than 40 pieces of art, some of the raffle items are a pair of subscription tickets for the Long Island Philharmonic, gift certificates for Besito, Honu, RED Restaurant and others, as well as theater and movie passes.

The gallery will be open for the duration of the auction Friday evenings until 8 p.m. and from 1 to 5 p.m. on the first three Saturdays of November. A “Rockin’ Sock Puppet Making Workshop” is on tap for kids ages 5 to 11 on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Space for this project, where kids will make the puppets and put on their very own puppet shows, is limited, so call 631-271-8423 ext. 14 to make your reservations early. Then on Nov. 21 at 2 p.m., some of the donating artists will be at the gallery to talk about their work. More information is available at the Arts Council’s Web site, www.huntingtonarts.org, or by calling 631-271-8423.

Artists Supporters:

Mary Ahern, Irene Andreadis, Shain Bard, Charles Blake, Edith Rae Brown, Ethel Brown Camhi, Victoria Carlin, Joseph Constantino, Susanne Corbelletta, George D’Amato, Sandi Daniel, Sandro Diani, Lillian Dodson, Michael Fairchild, Jim Finlayson, Holly Gordon, William Grabowski, Jahn Guarino, Ed Hall, David Haussler, David Jaycox, Jr., Andrew Jiritano, Kate Kelly, Herb Knopp, Anita Lamb, Lisle, William Low, Diane Lundegaard, Edward McEvoy, Kevin W. McEvoy, Jane McGraw-Teubner, Rhoda Needlman, Cecil Pang. Jack Pierce, Vivian Pollack, Renee Reichert, Mara Sfara, Marie Sheehy-Walker, Joseph J. Stelmach, Donald Thiergard, Tonito Valderrama, Von Schmidt, Lois Walker, Stokely Webster, Barbara White, M. Ellen Winter, Elizabeth Yaar & more…….

Raffle Sponsors:

Besito, Bottles and Cases, Canterbury Ales, Cinema Arts Center, Ciro Spa, Honu Kitchen & Cocktail, Jacqueline-Fine Jewelry, John W. Engeman Theater, Jonathan’s Ristorante, L. I. Philharmonic, Mediterranean Snack Bar, Mundays, Northport Tasting Room & Wine Celler, Prime, Red, Theater Three, Universal Touch Massage

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Another Type of Canvas

Mary Ahern is an artist member of the Huntington Arts Council. Much of her art is inspired by her garden, a piece of art in its own right that is constantly changing. Her husband, Dave, often comments that her plants seem to be on wheels since Mary is constantly moving her plants from flowerbed to flowerbed. She uses the texture and color of the plants to create beautiful works of art in her garden.

In Northport NY the peonies bloom in June

Walking through Mary’s garden and listening to her speak about it reveals how much thought was put behind each and every placement. Mary uses her plants to create artwork just as she uses oil paint. Each plant has specific colors or textures that can be used to compliment or contrast the other plants it is put with. Certain beds of flowers are based on the color of those certain plants, i.e., mixing deep reds with frosted greens. Others are based on the texture of the plant, i.e. small leaves, low ground covering, etc.

However it doesn’t stop there. Each of these flowerbeds is incorporated into the garden as a whole and even the pathways that flow between each have been carefully laid out. The flowers that Ahern cultivates influence her artwork greatly. She likes to have samples of the subjects she is working on around her. “I’m not trying to duplicate what a camera can do. I’m interpreting in a realistic style how I see the subject.”

The Krinkled White is a single peony prized for its simplicity

When you step into Mary’s home and studio, it is as though the garden is continuing inside as well. Her art work adorns the walls and upstairs in the studio her love for the garden is transformed into pieces of art.

Mary was first introduced to gardening by her Uncle Teddy who was a gardener himself. “Every time we visited, I loved to help him in the garden and when I acquired my first plant at around the age of five, I made it very clear to everyone in my family that I was the only one allowed to care for it. Since I have always held a passion for the garden, it was only natural that it showed up in my artwork.”

Mary uses many different mediums to create her works of art. They include oils, watercolors, and digital painting. The amount of care and detail incorporated in each piece is absolutely astounding. She creates Digital Flower and Shell Paintings as well as  paintings using Traditional media.

Mary has been digitally designing for over 25 years now. She first started at Chyron Corporation, located in Melville, working in Sales and Marketing Positions. Later, Mary began her own graphic design company called Online Design which, at that time, was one of the few to be 100% digital.

Although Mary Ahern has been painting for over 30 years now, as a young child she never really became interested in the arts. Music was a large influence during her high school years: she was in the band and even conducted, which was rare for a women to do during that time.

It wasn’t until Mary was in her 20’s that she became interested in art, when one of her friends gave her a book about the work of the artist, Georgia O’Keeffe  This influenced her to take a class at the local Y and when she picked up the paintbrush she knew it was her calling. “The paintbrush seemed like an extension of my arm. Since then art has never been a hobby but a part of my life.” She went on from there and got a degree in Fine Arts from Queens College and has been creating ever since.

Four different background treatments of the Krinkled White Peony

For those interested in pursuing a career in the arts Mary’s advice is to develop business and marketing skills in addition to the skills you develop to create your Art.   The web and social networking sites make marketing available  to everyone. “Whether it’s a website, a blog and alsoTwitter, Facebook or a combination, it is important for potential buyers to see the artist behind the paintings because that also helps to sell your art.”

She believes that a career in the arts is a very tough “glamour” business and you must have entrepreneurial skills as well as lots of determination to be successful. Mary Ahern also states that there are not many things more rewarding then to have someone who has purchased one of her Fine Art pieces tell her how much pleasure they have received every day from seeing her work hanging in their home  It makes her smile.

• To see some of her beautiful artwork, head over to her website,

http://MaryAhernArtist.com.

• Visit her Garden at her blog

The Garden Artist – My Garden, My Art, Where Passions Merge

http://MaryAhernArtist.com/garden-blog/

• View behind the scenes of an Artist on her Art Blog

Art Naturally – Musings Of My Life As An Artist

http://MaryAhernArtist.com/art-blog/

• Mary’s step-daughter Sharon Ruedeman made a video about her garden which you can view on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJTAh3dBrps

This article was derived from an interview with Mary Ahern, The Garden-Artist by Diane Brown and produced by Dianne Matus of the Huntington Arts Council.

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