New Painting Pilgrimage

Cathedral Rock Pilgrimage, 12 x 12 inches
Acrylic on Wood, Copyright 2015 Mary Gravelle

I recently finished my first Sedona landscape painting, Cathedral Rock Pilgrimage. It's a rather small acrylic painting, 12 x 12 inches that I began en Plein air.

It is a view of Cathedral Rock as seen sitting at Bell Rock with the glorious century plant in bloom not far from where I was sitting.  See my first post with more in process photos.

Cathedral Rock is the 2nd most photographed site in the world. It looks different from every angle in which you see it.

Its name, Cathedral Rock, suggests something sacred. As I worked on this painting in the studio, a sacred pilgrimage was suggested as the rocks seem to be walking along the golden path. I see in my imagination a cloaked monk figure. Can you see it? I didn't paint it in. I left it to your imagination. Perhaps this painting speaks to you of something else. Do tell. Drop me a line.

Me, Mary Gravelle, at the top of Cathedral Rock,
end of the hiking trail.

In some ways, I think of my move to Sedona as an unknown pilgrimage. The journey to reach this destination was long, and arduous, requiring a great amount of spiritual strength and stamina. It began when I left Silver City in May of 2012. I'm glad I am on the other side of it now, I'm home. And great things are happening.

En Plein Air beginnings
Cathedral Rock Pilgrimage, 12 x 12 inches
Acrylic on Wood, Copyright 2015 Mary Gravelle

I also think another way of defining a pilgrimage is as the dark night of the soul or the hero's journey. Have you taken a pilgrimage? What was the impetus to move you to do it? What did it require of you? What was waiting for you on the other side? I would love to hear if you want to share, drop me a note.

Until Next Week

• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art

Mary Gravelle (Brianna Rush)

The handsome, Sir Kitty. Meow.

About the author: Brianna Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved assistant, Sir Kitty.

Today in Sedona Art Event at Marketplace Cafe

I'm excited about the annual art event happening tonight at Marketplace Cafe in Sedona Village (Village of Oak Creek).

Please join me in Sedona tonight.

Special Message from Marketplace Cafe​:

A special night tonight at MPC, come out and meet the Artists who display their amazing work on the walls at Marketplace Café. We are also pleased to announce that Chef Charles Beckman has joined the MPC Family today and will be taking the helm in the kitchen, watch out for some tantalizing specials in the coming days and even bigger things in the coming weeks. Cheers! 

Meet me at Marketplace Café "The Restaurant" & Celebrate Life.

I have two original paintings and two framed prints for sale. I'm offering a 10% discount for sales made today. There will also be 15% donated to Yavapai Big Brothers and Big Sisters for every art sale made today at Marketplace Cafe.

If you want to purchase any of these pieces before the event, call Marketplace Cafe, (928) 284-5478, and they will run the sale through their system

Lush Two, 12 x 13 x 0.75 inches, painted around the sides.
Acrylic on Canvas, Copyright 2008 Mary Gravelle.
TODAY: $325 less 10% discount, $32.50 = $292.50 your price.
15%, $43.88 will be donated to Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The Meditation, 9 x 12 x 0.75 inches, painted around the sides.
Acrylic on Canvas, Copyright 2008 Mary Gravelle.
TODAY: $225 less 10% discount, $22.50 = $202.50 your price.
15%, $30.38 will be donated to Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Desert Arteries, Framed Print.
Copyright 2006 Mary Gravelle.
TODAY: $110.00 less 10% discount, $11.00 = $99.00 your price.
15%, $14.85, will be donated to Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The original Desert Arteries is also for sale, not at Marketplace.
Email me, Mary@MaryFineArt.com for inquiries. $1,200.

Serenity, Framed Print.
Copyright 2006 Mary Gravelle.
TODAY: $125.00 less 10% discount, $12.50 = $112.50your price.
15%, $16.88, will be donated to Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The original Serenity painting is in
private collection in Tucson, Arizona.

Until Next Week

• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art

Mary Gravelle (Brianna Rush)

The handsome, Sir Kitty. Meow.

About the author: Brianna Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved assistant, Sir Kitty.

Showing Art at Open Houses

My abstract art showing in a house for sale.
Left: Birth, 48 x 48 inches, Acrylic on Canvas.
Center: One panel of Walking in Faith, Triptych,
72 x 108 inches, Oil on Wood.

Here is a good opportunity for artists to put their art in front of potential art buyers, open houses.

I was recently invited by Damian Bruno of Sedona Real Estate Agents Damian Bruno and Danielle Giann Coldwell Banker, to hang my art in a unique home for sale in Sedona.

Damian explained that it's a dome home where the walls are white and need some color added to the space. Furthermore, it has been vacant for a couple of years. YES! was my response.

Even though my initial response was Yes, I wondered afterward how this could benefit me.

I think we artists generally are so tickled to have an audience for our art that we leap into situations that might not be all that great for our art and potential sales.

New Day, Mixed Media on Wood, 12 x 12 inches.
Copyright 2015 Mary Gravelle. All rights reserved.

Especially if we have opted to not go the gallery route, we need to use caution and common sense when hanging our art in a venue for free. Will it be of mutual benefit and not simply a tactic used by the venue to enhance their decor?

Damian has been fantastic. He was all about the win-win. He felt like he had already won his part of the bargain; he got some color added to those blah white walls, giving the home a more lived-in appearance. He told me that now we need to figure out how the deal will benefit me. Indeed. I think that might be up to me to figure out.

Left: Copenhagen, 12 x 12 inches, Mixed Media on Wood.
Right: One panel of a triptych, Walking in Faith.

My art on the walls of a house for sale.
Hiways and Biways, 18 x 24 inches.
Acrylic on Canvas.

After hanging my art and getting my price sheets to the open house half way through the event, I had an epiphany. What a perfect venue to show my art to the right audience.

I would think that home buyers are also in the market for art. And, if they buy the home where our art is showing, might they also want to buy some of the art that has been carefully placed in strategic areas of the home? Bingo.

It's all in how you arrange the thing... the careful balance of the design is the motion. Andrew Wyeth

The front of the Dome Home in Sedona, Arizona.

I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, have you had experience with art at open houses either as an artist, realtor, home owner, home buyer, or other? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below.

Until Next Week

• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art

Mary Gravelle (Brianna Rush)

The handsome, Sir Kitty. Meow.

About the author: Brianna Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved assistant, Sir Kitty.