I left work around 6:00pm with a group of coworkers and we took the green line from Park Street to Copley. The Copley Society's gallery is just a few steps away from the Copley T stop which was delightfully convenient.
You can spot the gallery by it's candy apple red flag waving above the door.
The holiday decor started the moment you walked in. It's hard to tell from this picture, but that wreath was at least three feet across. The gallery also ordered the most stunning bouquets of red flowers to add festive flair to the room.
The annual Art Tasting showcases the small works of the Copley Society artists. The works are physically small in size, but also small in price. Pieces ranged from $150 - $2,000.
As I was hanging my jacket I fell in love with a painting directly next to the coat rack. Dessert? Chocolate? Hearts? In a cocktail glass? Surely I need this!
I was equally charmed by this painting of three red cherries. I loved the gold frame as well. A perfect combination.
Across the room my coworkers and I were all marveling about this painting of a young girl emerging from a swimming pool. I think we all adored it because no matter your personal story, everyone has a great summer memory of splashing around in a pool.
Our group was also in agreement about this painting of five buoys. We loved the bright colors and the summer nostalgia it conjured.
At the back of the gallery they had painted one wall red and in gold letters across the top it read, "Holiday Small Works 2012." I had to ask one of the gallery girls how they got those letters up that high and on that straight!
I fell hard for two pieces on the red wall, the first of which was a painting of the Harvard steeple. I pass it every day on my way home and it kind of feels like my own north star.
I was really enamored with this piece by an artist named Patrick Anderson. I learned from the gallery manager that he always paints scenes from Beacon Hill and that his works are often given as housewarming or wedding gifts. I love the bright colors, the warmth and the holiday charm.
One of the most fun elements of the evening was Copley Society artist Pat Shea live painting. Pat was creating a Christmas painting and you could buy a $5 raffle ticket to enter to win the finished product. Despite being swarmed by guests, Pat remained very focused and was rather fun to watch.
In addition to the small works there were also hand painted Christmas ornaments for sale. I flipped for this one with the fuzzy bird. How cute is that? What you can't see is that the back side of the ornament is all white glitter.
In the center of the gallery there were appetizers including meats from American Provisions.
Bistro du Midi provided these fancy skewers.
After touring the works on the top floor we headed down into the basement level gallery.
The first piece I noticed downstairs was this one of a man rowing a small boat. It reminded me of all my trips to Maine this summer and how peaceful it can be to just float on a pond.
This piece truly amazed me. It looks like a photograph of autumn leaves, but no, it's a painting.
This collection of tomatoes felt like it would make the perfect addition to my kitchen. Don't they look good enough to eat?
On the same wall as the tomatoes were two very small paintings of cupcakes by Rosalie Ripaldi Shane. Look at that blue frosting! You could reach out and touch it!
Rosalie started making these cupcake paintings for her granddaughter on her birthday and now they are one of her signature subjects. I'm obsessed.
The basement gallery also had a red, holiday wall.
On this red wall I noticed a painting of the Boston Public Garden that I really liked. It felt very iconic Boston.
The Boston theme continued with two interpretations of the Boston Public Garden's famous swan boats. Immediately I gravitated towards the one on the bottom left of the single swan.
I ran back upstairs to find my coworkers and tell them I thought I found the one! By this time it was nearly 8:00pm and the gallery was completely packed! 
After talking it out with my group, I decided I would take the plunge and make my first real art purchase for my new home (buying "art" at Home Goods doesn't count).The gallery girls were kind enough to wrap my painting for me and hand it to me in a nice, big bag for safe keeping. When I got home and unwrapped it I noticed they included the artist's business card on the back of the painting.
Now comes the really tough part . . . where to hang it! I am leaning toward one of two places and I need your help to decide.Do you like the swan against the blue/gray walls of the dining room?
Or do you prefer it on the plum colored walls of the living room?
I am completely torn! Help me by leaving your recommendation in the comments section.Thank you to the Copley Society of Art for having me as a guest and encouraging me to make my first purchase as an amateur collector!
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