Patricia Bennett

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Friday, December 20, 2013

Portrait of a Child

Portrait of a Child, 24x24, in progress, Patricia Bennett
She is a very active, creative child, and she loves the outdoors.
I'm going to add more color and adjust her hair a little less gold.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Painting at the Baltimore Country Club Black Tie



Baltimore Country Club Black Tie Ball, painted by Patricia Bennett


Below is the painting which the guests saw at the end of the night.  I cleaned up the chandeliers and added a figure, otherwise there is little difference.



Baltimore Country Club Black Tie, December 7, 2013, painted by Patricia Bennett

and a copy, commissioned by one of the attendees:
Baltimore Country Club copy, painted by Patricia Bennett
The copy took me a month to paint.  I had to use rulers to be accurate.  It was extremely challenging.  The copy took more than ten times longer to paint than the original.  I left the added figure out, because the painting was better without it, and I further cleaned up the chandeliers.  I also used a ruler to draw the perspective lines, although they were pretty accurate.


Process:
I arrived at the Club around 1pm, and spoke to the General Manager about where they wanted me to paint.  There are two main rooms: the Dining Room, and the Dancing Room (those are my names for them).  The Event Coordinator had suggested I set up in the Dining Room, however, the GM preferred the Dancing Room, as there would be a large fire, the Christmas tree was there, and people would be dancing.  

I found a corner out of the way, yet visible to guests so they could see the painting.  I wanted to see the bar, and the tree and the fire.  I realized that I needed to compress the room spatially in order to show a nice size for the tree, so I left out an archway or two.  That was the hardest part.  I am so literal that it confuses me to not paint what I see.  I also compressed the bar in order to fit in the remaining archways.  Then I painted and painted until 7pm, when the event began.  As I painted, the bar was set up, then the lights were dimmed, and the band arrived.  The fire was started, and a large pile of firewood stacked.  The sun went down, and candles were lit.

First was cocktails, and then dinner, which was in the other room, and then dancing.  During the dinner, I cleaned up the chandeliers and other fixtures.  I took no breaks, because there wasn't time.  When I got tired one of the servers brought me a giant cup of coffee.  At midnight I packed up and took the painting with me.


Monday, December 2, 2013

Patricia Bennett's painting In Baltimore Style Magazine, December 2013


Suzin Boddiford, Style fashion editor, invited me to be at the photoshoot.  It was really cool and I feel quite lucky.

The painting next to the model is mine, it wasn't really there because it didn't exist yet.  During this photoshoot, I painted the model as she posed.  I had a few seconds to paint her in.  I also painted the photographer in, Nemo Neimann, as he held a very heavy camera and photographed her.  Afterwards, I sent my painting image to Nemo and he photoshopped it into the empty frame that they had sitting next to the model.  

I especially like the reflection that Nemo put on the floor in front of the painting to make it extra real.  

It was very exciting to be at the photoshoot.  I have never seen one before, and the Belvedere Hotel location was splendid.  

Style Magazine Superstition Photoshoot at the Belvedere, 24x36, Patricia Bennett
Please note the cute black cat running across the floor.  The cat was very shy and kept running away.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Painting at the Four Seasons, Baltimore

The Four Seasons Lobby, Baltimore, 18x24, Patricia Bennett



I'm finishing up my painting of the Four Seasons, Baltimore Lobby.  I was there today, Sunday December 1, until 2:30pm.

The Public Relations department at the Four Seasons took photos of me and put them on their Instagram account.
Four Seasons Baltimore Instagram

Friday, November 29, 2013

Live Event Painting Film


I have attached a link to a video about Live Event Painting that was produced by June Soh at Voice of America.  My work is the focus of the video.

http://www.voanews.com/content/artists-find-niche-capturing-events-unfold/1794558.html?nocache=1

24x36 by Patricia Bennett
A wonderful, beautiful, and generous bride agreed to have her wedding reception filmed.  Without her support, this film would not have been possible.

June Soh contacted me several months ago and asked if she could do a piece on Live Event Painting.  I love video and thought it sounded interesting.  I am happy with the result, I consider it to be a work of art.


Some of the quotes were taken out of context: I was interviewed for several minutes, but June selected only a few sentences (leaving out her questions).  I would like to iterate that I feel honored when someone allows me to paint their wedding, and that I think that their wedding is very important.  I think June asked me: Do you think that Weddings are the most Important things in History, and then used my response in the film!








Friday, November 22, 2013

Zoll STudio Art Show Opens today

You are invited to the Zoll Studio Art Exhibit, Opens Friday November 22, 6-9pm

I have three pieces in the show and will be at the opening tonight.

The Zoll Studio is owned by Matt Zoll, a hightly successful realist painter.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Parks and People Foundation, Elijah Cummings awarding Sally Michels

Parks and People Foundation Event at the Baltimore Rowing Club
Representative Elijah Cummings presented Sally Michels with an award



Parks and People Foundation Event, 24x24, painted by Patricia Bennett
 I was asked by the Parks and People Foundation to paint their event, October 27, 2013.  Previous to this, I had not heard of the Parks and People Foundation.  It is a thriving organization that has done a lot of good.

My aunt got married at this rowing club, so I was familiar with it, and looked forward to painting the striking view of Baltimore City and I-95.  I planned to arrive a couple of hours early to paint this, then I would paint the guests mingling on the deck.

However when I arrived there was a thick tent blocking the view completely, still up from the previous night's event.  And the event was being held in a free-standing tent, removed from the boathouse, completely covered with panels.  Also, there were no electrical outlets for my lamp in this tent, so when the sun went down, I would not be able to see.

I spoke to the catering staff and was able to set up inside of the building with a good view, seeing around the tent on the deck.  I painted for a couple of hours and had a very nice background of the water and the grass.  As guests arrived for cocktails, I moved into the event tent and painted the tables and chairs and Picnic Park sign.

Everything went very well until it began to get dark.  I could not see.  Luckily, one of the servers had a flashlight that she uses for fishing at night (not sure about why anyone fishes at night), and she let me borrow it.  I held it in one hand and painted with the other.  This is very awkward, and challenging, and I do not recommend it.

It was amazing to hear Rep. Elijah Cummings speak, he is extremely charismatic and just seems like a really generous person.  He was giving Sally Michels an award.  I added them afterwards at the request of the Picnic Parks liason.

Then I made a print and cards and gave them to the Parks and People Foundation.
Print Patricia Bennett designed for the Parks and People Foundation, available.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Bat Mitzvah at the Clarendon in Arlington Virginia


Bat Mitzvah Celebration at the Clarendon Ballroom, Arlington Virginia, painted by Patricia Bennett


Congratulations to the family!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Painting at the George Peabody Library signed, making cards and a print.

Reception at the George Peabody Library, 24x36, Patricia Bennett
There is no library that I have ever seen that can equal the George Peabody Library.  I tried to capture as much of it as I could fit in the canvas, and I squashed the architecture in order to fit in a hint of the skylight ceiling.

A gorgeous wedding reception, I captured the bride dancing with her father, and the groom dancing with his mother.  The cake is behind them, and the band is on the right.  The bride is also depicted sitting at her table with the groom.

I will make ten greeting cards and a framed 8x10 print, and then deliver the painting to them.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

American Visionary Arts Museum Fundraiser, sponsored by Urban Chic




American Visionary Art Museum 2013 Fundraiser, 24x24, by Patricia Bennett

I was invited to paint at this event Thursday, November 7, 2013 and donated my performance.  And people liked it, especially as it came together.  The event was in the Jim Rouse building at the American Visionary Art Museum.

Patricia Bennett next to her painting at the AVAM event


 There was a runway fashion show.  Models walked, well, stalked, the catwalk with huge bouffant hair.  My "best-dressed" person was a lovely girl wearing a large peach tutu and white cashmere sweater.  There was a "demon" walking around selling raffle tickets.  He had wonderful large fluffy wings.  The ladies who promoted the event had flowers on their heads and were like woodland fairies.  All in all a fun whimsical event, which fit really well with the American Visionary Art Museum...  Maybe I'll purchase a ticket and come next year, I had a good time.




Monday, November 11, 2013

Delivered Baltimore Country Club Live Event Painting Today




24x36, Wedding Reception at the Baltimore Country Club , by Patricia Bennett
I delivered this painting to the wedding planner, Stephanie Bradshaw, today, as well as ten hand-made artisan greeting cards with a giclee image on them.  The couple will receive everything when they return from their Honeymoon.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Wedding Reception at the Grand Lodge, Hunt Valley, October 19, 2013 by Patricia Bennett


Congratulations to the lovely couple


Wedding Reception at the Grand Lodge, Hunt Valley, October 19, 2013 by Patricia Bennett
This was my first time at the Masonic Grand Lodge in Hunt Valley.  The room was stunning.  I arrived at 2:30, and met Mr. Levine, the very busy caterer.  Then I quickly set up in the ballroom.  There were 13 absolutely over the top gold chandeliers, and wall detailing and herring bone floors.  Two ladies arrived and set up gorgeous flower bouquets on tall vases.  The bride and groom had their own table, which was very special.  Chairs were green and gold.

June Soh, a photo-journalist from Voice of America arrived a couple of hours later.

June Soh contacted me in the spring of 2013 with the desire to do a story on Live Event Painting.  When she first called me, I thought she was trying to sell me a television set, but she explained that Voice of America is a government entity that does human-interest stories.  She asked me to find a couple who would let her film me painting their reception.  Later, June also wanted to film the hanging of the painting as well.  I looked June Soh up on the internet: she is very well-regarded and has won very prestigious awards.  Also, her stories are very good and genuinely interesting.  I felt that this could be a benefit for the bride, especially if they didn't already have a videographer.  So, I mentioned this to the bride, a day before her wedding.  She called June and spoke to her, and decided to do it.

It was a lovely evening.




Wednesday, October 30, 2013

You are Invited to Patricia Bennett's Artist in Residence show at Cylburn Arboretum: November 1, 5:30pm to 7:30pm

My Artist in Residence Show at Cylburn Arboretum is this Friday.  Over thirty paintings of Cylburn on display and for sale.  You are invited to celebrate a beautiful year at Cylburn with paintings, wine, and cheese and the wonderful people of the Cylburn Association.  4915 Greenspring Ave, Baltimore, MD, 5:30 to 7:30pm.  

Invitation to Patricia Bennett's Cylburn  Show, invitation designed by Art Docs in Hampden and Karen Smith

Patricia Bennett painting at Cylburn, photo by Justin Tsucalus

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Portrait for Center Stage auction winner

Beginning of portrait, 18x24, Patricia Bennett
In January Center Stage, a theater company, had a fundraiser.  I donated a sitting for an 11x14 watercolor portrait.  This is her first sitting.  I decided to use acrylics and make the portrait 18x24.

Painting at the George Peabody Library Today



George Peabody Library, Baltimore, MD
I'm painting a beautiful bride in this library today.  I will be in the lower left, the band center bottom.  This is one of the most amazing libraries in the world.

Yesterday I brought my easel and canvas and table to the library, they are behind a blue curtain.

I will arrive at 2:15, and be allowed in at 2:30.  The reception begins at 6:30.  This gives me four hours to paint the "architectural surroundings".  It is an enormous challenge.  But I have decided to focus on the distinctive floor and a few details such as the railings, the columns, and the archways.

Hopefully the art muse will be with me today.


Friday, October 25, 2013

The Four Seasons, Baltimore




At the Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore.



11x14, Patricia Bennett, watercolor on paper, The Four Seasons Lobby
I sat on a wooden bench in the lobby and drew for a couple of hours.  

While I was drawing the flower display, the florist arrived and took all of the flowers away!  He replaced the pink roses with small orange pumpkins.  
Perhaps the image would be better cropped.  A try below.  I will begin a formal painting of the scene in the next few weeks.
Cropped, Patricia Bennett, The Four Seasons of Baltimore Lobby
Or perhaps some more cropping...

Cropped again, Patricia Bennett, The Four Seasons of Baltimore Lobby

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Live Painting at the Baltimore Country Club

Wedding Reception Painting at the Baltimore Country Club, ©Patricia Bennett 2013 24x36"


Below is the painting at the end of the evening.  I asked the couple to pose for me, and added them afterwards, along with small vignettes of their first dance and their marriage ceremony.  The bride's dog is also in the painting.
Baltimore Country Club Live Painting, 24x36, Patricia Bennett
This lovely wedding reception was organized by Stephanie Bradshaw and her crew at Baltimore's very own Baltimore Country Club.

I arrived at noon to a space with three areas: one for the reception dinner with a "farm to family" feel, one for dancing "under the stars", and one for coffee.  I had to decide what to paint.  It was tempting to include the view from the entrance, but I decided on simplicity: I set up in the reception room.



Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Completed Pazo Wedding Reception Painting

Completed Wedding Reception Painting, setting is downtown restaurant, Pazo


Wedding Reception at Pazo, 24x36", Patricia Bennett
The bride and groom are in the foreground, best wishes to the happy couple.


Monday, October 7, 2013

Wedding Reception at Pazo

October 5, 2013 Wedding Reception Painting at Pazo Restaurant in Baltimore City

I arrived at 2pm to begin the painting for the lovely couple of their wedding reception at Baltimore's Pazo.  Living in Baltimore, I had heard of Pazo but had never seen it until the Wednesday before the Reception.  It was the perfect location for this event.

I found the staff to be really helpful and friendly.  Elizabeth Bailey, the wedding planner, expertly situated me in the perfect location, and allowed me lots of latitude. 




At the end...
Patricia Bennett after midnight with the painting of the Wedding Reception.
 The painting, bride and groom to be added later.
Wedding Reception at Pazo, by Patricia Bennett
In this painting please note the limousine out front, the high-heeled shoes on the stool, the absence of a flight of stairs, and the figure on the upper balcony with the camera...
The beginning of the painting, pencil on canvas, Patricia Bennett

Artist's reflection in the bar at Pazo

Photo of Pazo with Elizabeth Bailey, her two assistants, and Pazo's event planner.

The Wedding Reception Painting, mid-way through.
It was a great party.  The only part that was kind of weird was when I walked ten blocks after midnight through Fells Point to fetch my car.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Cylburn Association Porch Parties



Painted Live at the Cylburn Association's Porch Parties at Cylburn Arboretum.

This was actually the second porch party.  It began at 6:30, the beer was donated by the man on the right with a red beard.  Tracy Bumba is in the foreground, lower left.  Kathy Hudson is in the red pants, she was one of the hostesses.  

Cylburn Porch Party Thursday September 26, 2013  Patricia Bennett
 The third porch party, a brunch.  The food and table settings were generously donated by the Food Market in Hampden.  I have never been so impressed with the friendliness of a caterer.  The owner's father is on the left serving coffee, and the owner is on the right in blue.  They let me have my coffee cup, which is on my left as I type this.  Karen Smith and her husband, President of the board, are near the back.  Gary Vikan, former director of the Walters Art Museum, is on the lower left, with Greg Otto, Baltimore's premiere artist on the lower right.
Cylburn Porch Party 2 Sunday September 29, 2013 Patricia Bennett

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Woodholme Wedding in the Baltimore Sun, with Patricia Bennett

Patricia Bennett appears in the Baltimore Sun, as the painter for the Sider Wedding.
I was mentioned in Sunday's Baltimore Sun in the "Special Touch" section, regarding the Sider wedding at the Woodholme Country club and my photo is included.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Woodholme Country Club Live Event Painting complete!

Wedding and Ceremony at the Woodholme Country Club, Patricia Bennett
This painting is done, best wishes to the couple.  The couple is in the foreground, and the bridal party is on the left.

This painting is a live event painting, studio painting hybrid.

The studio portion took two or three weeks to complete, while the live portion took one day.  I was present at their Ceremony, but couldn't paint it live due to unexpected space issues.  However, I took many photographs, and used them as reference.  I added: the bridesmaids, the bride's brother, the ceremony, the bridal party, and the bride and groom, and the event planner who was definitely a big part of the event.  The bride's cute dog was added to the painting as well, even though he/she wasn't present.

Currently I am making greeting cards for the bride's mother.  These are an extra that I like to do.  I love high quality images of paintings on greeting cards.  And I will also make 8x10 prints and frame them.  Just need some more light cyan ink...

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Live Event Painting at a photoshoot for Style Magazine at the Belvedere


Produced by Fashion Editor, Suzin Boddiford. Photographed by Nemo Niemann. 


Live Event Painting of Style Magazine "Superstition" photoshoot, 24x36, Patricia Bennett
For the first time Style Magazine merged fine art with fashion for the latest fashion editorial to be featured in the December2013 issue. The theme was "Superstitions" and I was asked to paint one of the shots being produced on the set at the historic Belvedere in downtown Baltimore. 

In the final painting, notice the photographer in the foreground and in the background is a vignette with the model having her hair and makeup touched up. 

Produced by Fashion Editor, Suzin Boddiford. Photographed by Nemo Niemann.

Belvedere Hotel, photoshoot for Style Magazine, Suzin Boddiford posing the model, Nemo Niemann photographer  
This was really fun, I was invited to do a painting on the 13th floor of the Belvedere Hotel of a "superstition"-themed photoshoot.

I ended up painting on the 12th floor.  There was a handler for a small black cat, who is on the right of the canvas.  The painting will be in Style Magazine, in the picture frame near the model.  It's cool.

The Belvedere is absolutely stunning.  I've never seen anything like it.
Patricia holding Valentinos at the Style Mag photoshoot, 13th floor of the Belvedere, photo by Suzin Boddiford

Monday, September 2, 2013

Painting a Wedding and Reception at the Columbia Country Club, Chevy Chase, MD


Painting a Wedding and Reception at the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland

Wedding and Reception at the Columbia Country Club, ©Patricia Bennett 2013

Portrait of the Bride and Groom, by Patricia Bennett


Patricia Bennett and the Bride at midnight in front of the Wedding painting at the Columbia Country Club, Chevy Chase, MD

Wedding painting at the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, MD


I was the Live Event Painter at a lovely wedding at the Columbia Country Club September 1, 2013.  I painted the ceremony live, and painted the Reception until after midnight.  

The events of the day are combined into one 24 by 36" painting.  The Studio portion that I will do this week is a close-up portrait of the Bride and Groom slightly left of center, for which I took reference photographs after their ceremony.  

Beginning:
Sunday September 1, 2013, I arrived at the Columbia Country Club at 1:30pm.  On the Event Planner's schedule (Sara Muchnick of Engaging Affairs), I was due to arrive at 2:30pm, but I wanted to get the lay of the land.

The Events Manager at the Columbia Country Club, Laura Gaige, and Erik, and other staff of the Columbia Country Club were very helpful.  One staff member opened the doors for me as I brought in my duffle bag, table, easel and canvas.    

The Chuppah was specially made by an artist, and depicted several historic scenes of Jerusalem.  It was set up already with the backdrop of drawn muslin curtains.  I started the painting at 2 pm, and the Country Club was in full wedding swing: laying out the chairs, prepping food.  Twenty or thirty lovely purple flower arrangements were already lined up on a long table.  

I requested that I be allowed to open the curtains to paint the greenery outside, and Sara Muchnick okayed it.  

Two stunning enormous purple flower arrangements were placed on either side of the Chuppah, then a large cloth for the center aisle was unfurled.  The lighting crew arrived, and the string quartet, and the band members.  The table was laid out for the Rabbi.  Periodically, Erik and Laura Gaige and Sara Muchnick inspected the room.  I was asked to move to the other side of the aisle to avoid guests running into my easel, which I complied with.  

The Ceremony:

The Ceremony was long enough for me to get several bridesmaids and groomsmen in the painting as well as the Rabbi and Bride and Groom and a small child.
As soon as the Ceremony ended, I moved to my second location, facing the stage.  And the entire room was rearranged very efficiently by the staff.

The Reception:
Very lovely!  I painted all night, guests ate their meals, danced.