Melissa Tobia|Fine Artist

New Pastel Painting "Showing Off"; EBSQArt.com FOTM: Tulips Show

2010-04-29T15:40:00.010-04:00

I recently just finished a pastel painting called, "Showing Off" in April 2010.

Showing Off, 25" x 19", pastel on charcoal paper

Detail 1 of Showing Off

Detail 2 of Showing Off

Detail 3 of Showing Off

This new painting is based on a macro photo taken last spring (2009) at Central Park Conservatory in New York City. I loved how the inside cup/trumpet was this beautiful and vibrant mixture of reds and oranges on the inside, but the outside a beautiful pale pink and beaming bright yellow. Against the white petals, this flower was quite bold with alot of contrast, a perfect subject to paint. I also loved the perspective of the cup and how it appeared almost three-dimensional, coming out of the paper. The cup/trumpet was sharp and in focus and at an unique angle for the viewer and the background was blurred and a bit hazy.

This flower's botanical name is called Narcissus which to some represents vanity. According to greek mythology, this flower is based off of a greek youth named Narcissus, who became so obsessed with his reflection that he would stare at himself in the pool of water. Doing this so often that he fell in and drowned. I felt that this vanity is a bit evident in my painting and how the daffodil flower presents itself, as showing off its beauty. Daffodils are quite beautiful and frilly, but actually, some parts of this flower are poisonous.

"The Tulip" and "A Moment At Central Park" in EBSQart's Flower of the Month: Tulip '10 Show

EBSQart.com Flower of the Month is Tulips. You can view their show online, which I have entered two pieces in and even vote for my artwork by going to the EBSQArt.com website.

I have two pieces up for voting:
"A Moment At Central Park", 48" x 36", oil on canvas, Melissa Tobia

"The Tulip", 11" x 14", pastel on charcoal paper, Melissa Tobia

Please visit the ebsqart's EBSQart's Flower of the Month: Tulips '10 exhibit and vote for the winner by registering for free by visiting the links above. Voting begins May 1, 2010.

Daffodil: Flower Of the Week; Pastel Paintings & Photography Sections updated and for sale on www.melissatobiaart.com

2009-08-16T23:11:00.012-04:00

FLOWER OF THE WEEK

"Fluidity"
Yellow Daffodil (Narcissus)
Buy Now! Prints available from ArtistRising.com

Since I first discovered the daffodil flower this spring (I knew it existed before my flower painting frenzy) in the park I have been very fascinated with daffodils. Their beautiful color combinations, central trumpet, and the gracefulness of the petals. Right from the start this flower has begged me to paint it in pastels and in oils. Thanks to my SLR digital camera, I captured some interesting macros of this flower in bloom in late April.

Some interesting facts about daffofils... they are toxic to eat. Daffodils contain the alkaloid poison lycorine, mostly in the bulb but also in the leaves. Daffodils are part of the Narcissus gene and originate back to Greek mythology. One interesting myth is of a Greek youth so obsessed with his beauty that he fell into a pool while staring at his reflection and drowned. The Narcissus is perceived quite different in the east than the west. In the west, the narcissus is seen as a symbol of vanity. In China, the narcissus is seen as a symbol of wealth and good fortune. I myself never really looked at a daffodil in that way. I only considered it to be a very elegant and graceful flower, great to paint because of the interesting folds and the inside cup.

Current Reference for Pastel Painting,
pastels on charcoal paper; art to come soon

I am currently in the process of completing a pastel painting of the above reference (the white daffodil with the reddish cup). I am about 2/3's of the way done and hope to complete it shortly. I really was quite interested in this photograph as a reference because I liked the macro view and how the only part in focus is the central trumpet. To me, that makes the view almost three-dimensional.

Future Reference For An Oil Painting

When I first took the photo of the two daffodils together I knew that would make the perfect oil painting. I just love the fluidity and the relationship between the two daffodils, not the mention the colors!

PASTEL PAINTINGS SECTION UPDATED, NEW ART FOR SALE

www.MelissaTobiaArt.com Pastel Paintings Section Updated!

"The Tulip",
pastel on paper, 11" x 14"
Buy Now!

"A Summer Day",
pastel on paper, 10" x 8"
Buy Now!

...and more!

PHOTOGRAPHY (MIXED MEDIA) SECTION UPDATED,
NEW ART FOR SALE

www.MelissaTobiaArt.com Photography (MIxed Media) Section Updated!

"Busy Bee",
digital photograph, 10" x 8"
Buy Now!

"Reflection",
digital photograph, 10" x 8"
Buy Now!

...and more!

Sunflower: Flower of the Week, Another Work in Progress

2009-08-09T21:41:00.006-04:00

FLOWER OF THE WEEK

Sunflower (Giant Grey Stripe)

This past spring, I decided to start a garden on my balcony of my two bedroom apartment. I grew from seed this beautiful 5' sunflower. Apparently sunflowers are not hard to grow.

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Reference 1

Reference 2

I was very excited when this sunflower final bloomed. It makes me want to go Van Gogh crazy. Instead of picking between these 2 references, I think I might paint both of them.

Sacred Lotus: Flower of the Week, Latest Works in Progress for Pastel Paintings

2009-07-20T15:04:00.010-04:00

FLOWER OF THE WEEK

Nelumbo nucifera (Sacred Lotus)

After recently taking a short but wonderful trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens to be enlightened and capture some new references, I took some photographs of sacred lotuses that really inspired me. Lotuses really call to me as an artist. The two below references are my next two pastel painting references to be in progress soon.

Reference 1, look at the relationship between the two lotuses, almost like mother and child

Reference 2, this photo has a nice balanced, but simple composition

MELISSA TOBIA PHOTOGRAPHY

"Exquisite Excellence", digital photo

Prints Available at ArtistRising.com Click Here

"Beginnings", digital photo

Prints Available at ArtistRising.com click here

Melissa Tobia: Featured Artist of the Week at Manhattan Arts International

2009-07-01T17:23:00.004-04:00

Manhattan Arts International has made me the Featured Artist of the Week on their website.

You can view my art by going to the link here.

Melissa Tobia Grabs Patrons Choice Award For Pastel "Landing Zone" on EBSQArt.com & New Pastel In Works

2009-06-08T18:03:00.005-04:00

Results are in today for the EBSQArt.com's Competition: One Word Concept: Scintillating and my pastel painting "Landing Zone" (shown above), sized 18" x 24", won Patron's Choice! I am very excited and thrilled.

You can view the competition and the winners by clicking here.

IMAGE DETAIL

Detail 1

Detail 2

Detail 3

IN THE WORKS...
I am very excited to start a new pastel painting based on a daffodil I photographed (shown above) recently. This photograph of this daffodil was taken at the Conservatory Garden in Central Park in late April 2009. What I loved about this photograph was how most of the flower was very soft and blurry except for the cup in the center which is almost three-dimensional and a beautiful shade of oranges and yellows.

Visit www.melissatobiaart.com by clicking here.

Become a Facebook fan of Melissa Tobia Art Page by clicking here.

Manhattan Arts International Listing, EBSQArt Competition & Sunset Paintings

2009-05-30T13:20:00.004-04:00

I am now listed in the directory of artists on Manhattan Arts International Web Site. You can view my work and the work of the other amazing artists at this link

I have recently entered a piece into EBSQArt's Competition entitled "Reinterpreting Children's Art".

The purpose of the competition is to do a recreate a child’s work of art and do it in the manner that you would create a piece of art now, not as if you were a child yourself. When I was about 11 or 12, I used to paint on gift boxes. I recently recreated the acrylic painting "Sunset Kid" which was created on a gift box with Oil Pastel on Paper, entitled "Sunset 2009".

"Sunset Kid",
Acrylic on Gift Box

"Sunset 2009",
Oil Pastel On Paper

To view the EBSQArt competition click here

To follow Melissa Tobia Art on Facebook click here

Artist Melissa Tobia Featured in Manhattan Arts International "Celebrate Her Story" Blog

2009-05-29T22:12:00.005-04:00

In the recent May 29, 2009 issue, I am featured in the Manhattan Arts International "Celebrate Her Story" Blog. The article talks about my passionate fascination and reverence for the magnificent world of flowers. Click on the photo to the left or click here to view the blog.

New Watercolor Completed, "White Maroon Zinnia"

2009-05-09T22:08:00.003-04:00

I recently completed a new watercolor painting of a flower in the zinnia family, as far as I know, is known as a White Maroon Zinnia.

White Maroon Zinnia, 23" x 20", watercolor on paper

Detail 1 of White Maroon Zinnia

Detail 2 of White Maroon Zinnia

Detail 3 of White Maroon Zinnia

I painted this with the intention of a macro view of a beautiful and vibrant zinnia that I saw in my neighborhood. I thought the colors very interesting and had good contrast and the composition had some great shadows. It is hard to say what exactly the color of the petals were, but if I had to estimate I would guess that they were in the magenta family with some maroon tones. I thought the inside of the flower was also interesting because it seems to have little yellow baby flower petals. Imagine... a flower inside of a flower!

Melissa Tobia wins Member's Choice award for "New York City Muscari"

2009-05-08T22:36:00.007-04:00

EBSQArt's Flower Of The Month: Muscari competition finally comes to an end and the winners have been selected. My oil painting "New York City Muscari" was selected for Member's Choice (1st place). I am so thrilled! It is always nice when hard work pays off!

You can view the competition and the winners by going to: http://www.ebsqart.com/ArtShows/cmd_209_Exhibition_Entries.htm

New Painting Completed

2009-05-04T01:59:00.006-04:00

I recently completed a new oil painting of a flower called muscari, or also known as grape hyacinths for EBSQart's Flower of the Month: Muscari.

New York City Muscari, 36" x 38", oil on canvas

Detail 1 of New York City Muscari

Detail 2 of New York City Muscari

Detail 3 of New York City Muscari

Detail 4 of New York City Muscari

This painting basically is a macro-zoomed view of the very vivid grape-like flowers, that are usually about 2 - 5 inches tall. The muscari shown in this painting range from newly blooming and green hued to fully bloomed and ripe. I tried to capture the muscari's vividness in color, and gracefulness as a flower.

You can view the ebsqart's EBSQart's Flower of the Month: Muscari exhibit and even vote for the winner by registering for free by going to www.EBSQart.com and following the embedded link from May 1 - May 8, 2009.

December Exhibition at Projekt30.com

2008-12-02T01:10:00.007-05:00

After applying to Projekt30.com monthly competitions, after having a more consistent portfolio for them to judge, my art was final accepted into the competition. Yay! I know....a small small step, but it is still a step in the right direction. I only submitted my flowers and you can view the December Exhibition and see 29 other great artists as well. You can also only view my pieces.
This Exhibition will be up for the entire month of December, then replaced by the next month exhibit, which I also applied to. Judging for the January Exhibit starts December 15.

Site Launch

2008-09-26T22:59:00.007-04:00

It has always been my dream to have my art out there and to possibly sell it. It took me almost 7 years of procrasination, but I finally did it, I finished my website. I tend to overcomplicate things and I am sure my site could have been alot simpler, but hey–it's my baby, and I want it just right.

It took me almost 6 months of working on it day and night. I wanted to make a flash version and a html version. The problem was, I didn't know flash very well. I did spend time and learn it and then created the site, and that was a great learning experience.

It took me like 10 years to wake up and realize one day that I can never be a successful fine artist if I never make the attempt to get my art out there. Yeah, I am completely out of my comfort zone but I am glad that I did this. Through out all the late nights of completing this site I kept telling myself, "launch it and they will come" and I hope to GOD that they will come and BUY!