En Plein Air with Helena Pittman July 30th

Enjoy the outdoors and capture its beauty in this class

The Cutting Garden is pleased to host a plein air class with artist and instructor Helena Clare Pittman on July 30^th, at 2 pm.  (Rain Date: July 31^st) She will guide you through the steps of painting directly from nature, teaching you ways to better understand the landscape and to successfully transfer what you see to your work.  Bring the medium of your choice (watercolor, oil, pastel), brushes, a hat, a stool, and an easel.  Paper will be supplied.  The class fee is $20.00

Helena majored in Painting at Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, New York, and was awarded her Bachelors of Fine Art degree there. She took her Master of Arts at Antioch, in Painting, Writing and Education.

Helena has taught Color, Illustration and Drawing at The Parsons School of Design; Design, Drawing and Life Drawing at The State University of New York at Farmingdale; Writing and Classroom Methods at The City University of New York, Queens College School of Graduate Education; and Painting, Drawing and Illustration at The Nassau County Museum of Art. She has also taught both children and adults at the Art League of Long Island, as well as worked as an Author/Illustrator in Residence in many public and private schools.

Helena has published 17 books for children, most notably “A Grain of Rice” and “The Gift of the Willows.”

Summer’s here and we’re feeling the heat! Domesticities and the Cutting Garden in Youngsville, NY, presents Big Sky Productions in a performance of “Shorts & Sweets: Summer Heat,” an afternoon of suggestive jokes and short stories.

This adult-only presentation will be offered on Sunday, July 23 at 2 p.m., and will feature New York City actress and director Sharlene Hartman and Big Sky Productions’ Artistic Director Carol Montana.

Sharlene Hartman has been acting, singing, dancing, writing and directing for most of her life. It all started out in San Francisco, with a broken collarbone and a lisp. Her credits include Off Broadway, indie films, television, live industrials, nightclubs, commercials, voice acting, skit comedy and rap songs. Her heart truly belongs to the theatre, however, most recently she’s been having a love affair with film. Her latest, “Lunch With Leslie,” is currently in festivals, receiving numerous awards, including Best Actress and Best Comedy Short. She simply loves creating a character.

Actress, producer, director Carol Montana has a Master’s Degree in Dramatic Form and Structure from the University of Connecticut. She has directed over 50 plays for her company Big Sky Productions, as well as for the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, Sullivan Performing Arts and Sullivan County Community College. Carol’s current area of concentration, besides “Shorts & Sweets” is Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre produced in cooperation with the Greater Liberty Chamber of Commerce.

There is no charge for admission and refreshments will be served. Audience members may make a freewill offering for the Sullivan County SPCA.

Painter, Printmaker and Mixed-Media artist Madelon Jones will be featured in June at Domesticities in Youngsville. Inspired by nature, Madelon’s work expresses that inspiration through abstraction of form and color.  “Growing up in Brooklyn was a gift. Houses with gardens and fruit trees blooming in spring gave me my love of nature. I never wanted to reproduce what I saw, it was perfect as it was. Painting allows me to combine what I see with what I imagine using paint and cut paper to create the abstract forms of birds, fish, flowers and most of all skies and seas that reflect my personal vision. I learned my craft at UCLA receiving a BFA in art, then on to New York City, the School of Visual Arts, and printmaking at The Printmaking Workshop with Bob Blackburn as my mentor. My work has been exhibited throughout the USA, Europe, South America and the Middle East,” she said.

Join her for an opening reception on Saturday, June 3^rd from 3 – 5 pm

Join the authors of a new book of short stories on Sunday, May 21^st from 2 – 3 pm to celebrate the launch of their new book, Musings.  
This delightful book takes readers on a captivating journey through a diverse range of short stories bound together by the theme “New Beginnings.” These selections feature twelve eclectic original narratives by eight different authors showcasing a range of unique voices and styles. From tales of love and loss to accounts of adventure and discovery, this anthology has something for everyone.
Join Marylou Ambrose, Dana Bree, Donna Consiglio, Laurie A. Guzda, Elaine Leet, Carol McManus, Susan M. Thompson and Youngsville’s very own Mike Vreeland at Domesticities, 4055 State Rte. 52, Youngsville.