Yesterday was a great day. I ‘m still a little glowie. Many many thanks to the amazing friends who came to see the show and celebrate with me. Dear friends traveled many hours to be there. Wonderful friends I hadn’t seen since high school came. Former students, current students, neighbors, family of students past and present, dear friends and family were there as well. So were four of the young women featured in the portraits. I had the opportunity to meet enthusiastic art lovers and many of the very distinguished artists showing at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in the “Women Choose Women Again” exhibit. This terrific show opened yesterday as well, and we shared the opening reception.
VERY special thanks to the curator of both shows, Mary Birmingham and Katherine Murdock, assistant curator. It was a glorious afternoon.
Elenacaravela's Blog 
congratulations…
Thanks very much!
I am glad that this event went well for you, congratulations.—Shalom
Thanks very much!
Reblogged this on aksharaalu – Best Collections.
Thank you!
Marvellous Exhibition Elena.. I hadn’t realised your portraits were so big and I love the photos with the subjects of the paintings.. 😀
Thanks Helen:)
Elena Fantastic!!!!! I forget I have pains it bring me great smile to watch your work!!
A lovely compliment Doron. Thanks very much and be well!
Thank you 🙂
Congratulations, Elena. Gorgeous work!
Thanks Jill!
Elena, I am without the words to describe my reaction to these portraits. You’ve captured the spirit, personality, the character of these girls so well. They are alive, and your photographs of them with the subjects are fantastic. The portraits look as if they are super-sized, real-life images standing beside the subjects instead of the other way around.
I am so taken with them that I ordered your latest book simply because the portraits are there. Actually, I’d intended to order it some time ago and got distracted.
Do you do portraits from photographs?
Oh my! Thanks George. I’m under the weather today and you comment certainly brightened the morning. Yes, these are busy ladies, so I took photos and worked from them. A few who lived far away, had to send photos and I worked the best I could from the compilations.
You are amazing. I couldn’t do half as good with my camera.
So lovely to say. Thank you Emilio!
MY WIFE ADORES YOUR WORK……..I CAN SEE WAY!
That’s lovely. Thank you!
Congratulations Elena, your paintings look stunning!
Thank you Jennifer!
Love the size of those paintings!
Thanks Simon:)
Congratulations, Elena, it looked like a fantastic and successful show, (wish I had a teleporter)
Thanks so much Cheryl. I wish you had a teleporter too, would love to meet you:)
Wow it looks fantastic! And how wonderful to see such a crowd – you have obviously reached many people with your work, and by being you! Congratulations!
You are so lovely Cath. Thank you:) It was a day to remember.
congrats !!!
Thank you!
Congratulations on your success! You are a tremendous talent!
Many thanks Resa!
It’s good to hear that you feel glowie
From the response to your latest showie.
Clever, Steve;) Yup, felt great:)
Wonderful, Elena. . . so happy for you!! Beautiful work!!
Much appreciated Tana!
Great!
Thank you!
So awesome! Congratulations on a great show. You are so talented!
Many thanks Wayne!
Congratulations on your success. 😀
Thanks much Kev:)
wow! everyone looks so positive, so happy! congratulations! it looks like a wonderful evening! 🙂
We really enjoyed ourselves:) Thank you!
Congratulations Elena! Looks fantastic 🙂
Thanks very much David!
Congrats Elena! Looks like an amazing show and judging from the smiles in the pictures it seems everyone enjoyed it! Your portraits are simple wonderful- wish I can paint as good as you.
We has a great time! Thank you so very much Jess, (I’m older than you, you have more time to practice).
A fabulous exhibition Elena. Congratulations! I’d no idea the portraits were so large. I like the pairing of the model with their portrait.
Thanks very much Louis!
bravo and congrats! genuine talent and plenty of work are always worthwhile and rewarding… bonne continuation & cheers! Mélanie
Much appreciated Melanie!
Wow! Congratulations Elena!
Many thanks Uday!
Fantastic, well done and wow!
Thanks so much KC!
Congratulations!
It sounds like a great time was had. Your paintings are truly wonderful.
You are so very kind. I very much appreciate your comment. Thank you Terry.
Looks great show, congratulation.
—- and it might be the first time to see your work with back-ground
painstakingly painted ! = In deed it’s a lots of work. Well done Elena. 🙂
(By the way, your “Quick drawing” should receive the same treatment.
—– if the curator doesn’t agree, change a curator)
You are so kind Yoshi, thank you. But I cannot take credit for the back rounds in the paintings. I should have made it clear that the work in each back round is the work of the subject. I simply photographed their work and collaged it onto the canvas.
I see, I thought you were repeated the same pattern
in each paintings as a design.
Nope, you give me too much credit;)
Oh my your show was just fantastic! Love seeing your paintings hanging on the walls and seeing the beautiful reaction of those lovely girls whose faces shined down on them. Wonderful turn out, so deserved. Congratulations Elena!
Thank you ever so much Mary!
Congratulations! The show looks great, My favorite is the big portrait of a laughing girl.
Thank you Molina! That laughing girl lights up every room she enters:)
I am beyond impressed. Magnificent works, glorious show. You deserve all of the accolades and attention. Fabulous! Congratulations.
Thank you so very much Kathryn:)
I’m so pleased that you are receiving the recognition that you so richly deserve. Well done.
Terry