TRAFFIC ALERT !!!!! CRITTER SHOW SATURDAY TRAFFIC ALERT !!!!!

Hey Dear Friends,  Another quickie to give you this update on the Critter show at 2nd Helpings.

CNN just informed me........

Set your GPS for an alternate route (back street) to the All Critters Great and Small Reception from 1-3 PM on  Saturday at 2nd Helpings.  And look for detours around the intersection of Williamson and Orange Avenue as there will certainly be some at this busy intersection.  We don’t want you to miss our reception! 

The Western Virginia Water Authority will be working around the clock this weekend at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Williamson Road. Work will begin at 7:00 PM Friday April 8th and is expected to continue throughout the weekend, ending no later than 6:00 AM on Monday morning, April 11. During this time, all westbound through lanes of Orange Ave approaching Williamson and the northbound lanes of Williamson, north of Orange will be closed. 

This will affect travel to 2nd Helpings this weekend so please look for and use alternate routes!

So please take back roads to the reception from 1-3.

Happy Trails

NEW EXHIBIT "CRITTERS" GOING UP IN THE MORNING

Hey Friends,  Just posted on my new blog about the "Critter" show going up at 2nd Helpings Gallery in the morning.   

You can get directions and such HERE .

Hope to see you at the reception on April 9th 1-3.

Happy Trails

CRITTER SHOW TO BE HUNG IN APRIL AT 2ND HELPINGS GALLERY IN ROANOKE

Hey Friends,  I think I'm almost finished with animals for the Critter Exhibit by DLP's.

We (the DLP's) also have a big exhibit going up 1st of May at the Arts Depot in Abingdon, Va.

The one above is painted on Masa Rice Paper that has powdered charcoal sprinkled on it first thing after the crackling and india ink bath.

The rice paper is adhered to a deep cradled board and the image created with acrylics.  The deep sides are painted black and it is all varnished.

Now how about a title ? ! ?

Anybody want to suggest a title?

How about- "Mom, what is it?"

I would welcome something not quite so lame.

Thanks for stopping.

Happy Trails

CAT FOR AUCTION AND PLEIN AIR PAINTING IN BOTETOURT

 

Hey Friends,  Found a few more pieces for Ebay in the studio.  This is called "Ms. Kitty and Her Aquarium".  We all know how much cats love to watch fish go by.  CLICK HERE for details in EBAY.

 

Today Linda and I had the great pleasure of painting at the Pleasant Grove Farm in Botetourt.  Mrs. Whitney Feldmann and her husband graciously opened their beautiful home and property for about 12 painters from the local area to capture the many beautiful views.  Above Mrs. Feldmann even hung some laundry on the lines just for me!  I told her how much I loved to paint laundry drying on the line.  You so seldom see this anymore.  What a generous lady.

 

Here is Linda in the shade of any old maple.  Mr. Feldmann said it was planted in 1955.  He had quite a few stories to pass on.  Their gorgeous home was built in 1830"s if I remember correctly.

 

This is the view that Linda was trying to get on the canvas before lunch.  She will have to tweek it before giving to Whitney for the BIG auction in Sept.

Can you see the cows?

 

And here is me!  Starting a third one.  I usually just do "Starts" when plein airing and finish later from memory or photos.

I will decide which to give to the auction after they are finished.

I have not looked yet but assume you can find out more about the auction in Sept by going to www.blueridgelandconservancy.org

 

We had a wonderful day and hope to go back soon.

Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Feldmann.

 

Happy Trails

PEACOCK PAINTED AND PLEIN AIR PAINTING AND NOSEY COWS

 

Hey Friends,  A post about what's been going on here in SW Va.   It is spring, glorious spring time, here in the beautiful mountains of the Roanoke-Salem Valley.

This beautiful, noisy peacock is up for auction in EBAY. click there.

 

Yesterday I went with my group the DLP's to the beautiful arboretum at our local community College. Virginia Western Community College.  This is a beautiful, well maintained garden of unusual trees that create a canopy for all the shade loving plants.  You will find many.  Everything has a name tag so you can find them for your garden.  The photo above is poor quality but you get the idea of what I painted.  The blooms just didn't show up at all. 

 

After the arboretum and lunch, I went to the Little Gallery at Smith Mountain Lake to exchange artwork.  I'll show what I took later because I want you to see these silly, cute cows.

I was headed home through Hardy, Va. to avoid the Windy Gap Mtn. (my car is being a pickle).  When I saw a glimpse of these black and white cuties, I slammed on the brakes and turned around.

This is how I found them.  It appeared to be their private little campground minus tents.

 

They stayed on the ground for maybe 2 minutes but their nosiness got the best of them.  They ventured this close and stood there until I left.  HOW I wished I had a flute or bango.  Next time I go that way I'll need to remember music and apples for these sweet faces.

I'm dying to paint them but I must get ready for a big day tomorrow.  The www.BlueRidgeLandConservancy.org is sponsoring a plein-air paint out at Pleasant Grove Farm in Botetourt County tomorrow from 9 to 4.

Mrs. Whitney Feldman has graciously opened her farm for us to use.

 

Linda and I are hoping for nice weather and anticipate a lot of fun.  I'll let you know tomorrow night.

 

Great times

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING OF SHEPHERD AND FLOCK

 

Hey Friends,  Posting a few extras today, just to let you know I've had a good time painting while being snowed in !

Almost all have been painted on gessoed mat board or Terra Skin (paper made from stone-no trees!) so they can be matted and shrink wrapped for a flip bin at Goose Creek in Bedford, Va.

The sheep are in EBAY - Click Here.

 

These will go to Goose Creek for a while.

 

If they don't sell there, I may save for the Lynchburg Festival.

 

I'm trying as hard as I know how to change my method of painting.  I want to be (always have) looser, more impressionistic.  It will take a long time I'm afraid.

 

It's just my nature to be nit picky with details.  I'm afraid people won't understand or be able to tell what my subject is.  I think if I explain for them, they will get it.

The worst habit an artist can have.

 

Thanks for stopping in.

 

Travel safely.

"GRAZING" ORIGINAL PAINTING OF THE NATIVE BISON

 

Hey Friends,  Finished this piece last night.  Just need to varnish now.  I have taken photos at a tiny little glitch in Rt. 311 past Catawba called PaintBank.  There is a farm that raises these beasts.  I will have to go back to my notebook to find the name.  They sell the meat there at the little country store that is called Paintbank also.  Beautiful area to paint in.

I decided to put this piece up for auction in EBay.  Because I'm wondering if E-Bayers like this subject and Native Americans also.  CLICK HERE to check the auction.

 

Happy Trails

CHECKING THE HERD - ORIGINAL SMALL PAINTING OF HORSE AND RIDER

 

Hey Friends,  Hope everyone is still fairing well in this deep freeze.  Won't be much longer 'til spring !

 

The painting above was developed from several different photos.  You know how hard it is to get models to do exactly what you want.  The dog spent most of his energy chasing the cows.  And the human rarely sat up straight !  We artists know how to overcome all obstacles.  LOL.

 

It's available in ETSY.

 

Hopefully I will learn how to use PICMONKEY soon and have some collages to show you.

 

Happy Trails

New Guy on Ebay and Bedford's Centerfest is tomorrow, Sat 27th

 

Hey Friends, I just added this silly little cocky rooster to my Ebay auctions.  He is painted on painted paper background with machine stitching on it. The auction starts tonight.

Click Here

 

This painting above was done at the Evergreen Lavender Farm this summer.  I will have it at the Centerfest Festival tomorrow in Bedford, Va. along with others.

Hope you can stop in for a visit.

 

Happy Trails

New Chick and Douthat State Park

 

Hey Friends, Another impression of a chicken.  Click HERE for Ebay.

 

And a few photos of the trip last week to Douthat State Park with my painting Buddies, the Double Line Painters.  We had a great time trying to decide where to paint.  There was a painting everywhere you looked.  The sun was a little contrary at times.

 

As usual, my acrylic paintings were too dark when I got them home.  I'm always amazed how much they darken (acrylics) but they dry so fast it makes it so much easier to get them home.  I've been trying to adjust for 2 years now and still haven't gotten it right.  The one above is OIL.

 

These are all acrylics.  I've already worked on the 2 smaller dark ones to lighten them.  And now I must work on the biggest one to the left.

I suppose the answer is to get a couple boxes that are made for transporting wet oils.  Leave the acrylics at home and/or keep practicing with the acrylics on paper.

 

Happy Trails

Travel Well

Lynchburg Art Festival was Great

 

Hey Friends,  Just a quick note to let you know the 42nd Lynchburg Art Festival This past Saturday was great as usual.  The show was switched to Sunday because of the rain so the crowd was a bit smaller than usual.  Thanks to all.

 

The chicken above, or maybe it's a rooster.  I forget.  IT is up for auction on Ebay...HERE.

It doesn't go live until 9pm Eastern Time or 6pm California time.

 

 

I got a sunburn.

 

Happy Trails Travel Well

No School Again and the Polar Bears are Happy

Hey Friends,  I put some of my polar bears happily wearing scarves and some swinging in Ebay auctions.  Click here to see this guy.

What I really wanted to tell you is, it kept snowing today.  My first post about Pax the Blizzard, my yardstick was at 12"  then when it quit again this afternoon it was about 17" !!! Wow !  We may never get off this hill.  Nobody could shovel that much snow.

Look at my Subaru........It's buried..  I don't wanna shovel any of it.  It's supposed to warm up to the 40's and 50's by first of the week.  Maybe that will be enough to melt it.  But I need to go to the Post Office and work at least one day.  I hope everyone will forgive me for not getting out.
On the bright side, I had a most enjoyable day painting.  I finished 5 small ones.
Happy Trails
Happy Shoveling

Hoping You have a Wonderful Thanksgiving

matted to 5"x7" Bluebird in my Etsy Shop

 A precious little male sitting in a dogwood at my sisters house this past spring.  Love these memories.

And talking of memories !  Here is what I'm thankful for this year, this day and forever.  My precious Babes 4 years ago......Nico was 5 hours old in this picture.   His sister was trying to hold him the same way this morning....They still love each other.

So now you know what I'm  MOST thankful for.  My babes,family and my paints and my painting buddies.
Have a wonderful Holiday and Happy Trails

VIA Magazine

 Hey Friends,  Wanted you to see the latest issue of the magazine above, VIA, because they published a full page article about us, the Double Line Painters of the Blue Ridge !!  How COOL is that !

 I don't know if you'll be able to read this but if you click on an image on blogger it usually enlarges it.  It does for me anyway.  The photo is Mary Anne when the gang was painting at Carvins Cove a few weeks ago.  Judy wrote the article !  I just think this is so cool.

 Now on to a couple more cool things !  Lillie is losing the wrestling match with 3 darling labs !!

 And I don't think she minds a bit. 

 They are all so cute.  Lillie's little brother, Nic, wasn't so keen on the pups.  He seems to prefer the goats.

TK is the black boy and Max, his brother, is honey brown.  TK loves the little humans but Max really doesn't like but one human, his owner.  Lillie and Nic love visiting the neighbors with their TuTu.

Happy Trails, Travel Well

Farm Visit Today

Hey Friends, Hope you are well today. I have emailed a lady in Alabama, twice today. Messages did not get through. I'll try again tomorrow but I doubt if there will be any change in the power situation. Hoping she is alright.

Meanwhile, my GranPrincess and I have had another wonderful day here in the Mountains of SW Virginia. Tornados don't happen here very often. A bad one 2 weeks ago in Pulaski.

My Princess and I have been outside most of the day. We visited our neighbor with the crazy farm, I mean Exotic ! Got a lot of good photo's to paint from. Above is a bunny the Princess chased around for 30 minutes. Kids are persistent. I haven't painted him yet.

Here is a shot of the Peacocks, male & female. Very quiet today. Beautiful. I'll give 'em another go at some point.

AND they have Pigeons ! Didn't know they were around until today. There is a lovely pale with some lavendar touches that would be fun to paint.


And here are some ducks the farmer called "Indian Running Ducks" ?!? I think he said that. They are really prettier than my photo.

Of course you know he has chickens. A neighbor dog killed 6 of his hens. BAD DOG. He bought more and keeps his gate closed now. Always something.
And last but the Best - Look at this beauty. Can't remember what it's called. Can't wait to paint this guy. Look at the red feathers in the tail. Gorgeous bird. His mate is brown. Wouldn't it be nice if they had babies.

Also found out today he's got a Koi pond ! All the rain has made it murky so will have to wait to take photo's.

I'm so sorry for all the folks in the south . Praying for you.

Happy Trails.