Hey Friends, Last day of 2010 ! ! Yay - I don't want to remember this year. I know 2011 is going to be a GOOD year so I want to wish you a "HAPPY NEW YEAR".
May it also be properous and healthy.
I haven't posted any new artwork for a while so thought you might like to see something I painted about a month ago. In spite of all the bad in 2010, I have been painting. A lot!
Best wishes to all. Happy Trails ! Sue
Hey Friends, I worked at Gallery 108 this past Saturday and thought you might enjoy a few photos of the work showing there. Top photo is from Whitney Brock, our featured artist this month. She does more than just rocks. Her work includes landscapes and still life but this is a large impressive piece. I like her rocks a lot.
Here is the front view of a gorgeous bear by Gail Geer. I forgot to write down the type of stone. There are beautiful streaks of a pinkish-mauvish color in this stone.
The back view. Gail is the Best sculptor I have ever encountered and she sells like crazy!
The artist in this co-operative gallery take turns displaying in the windows. This window is Sheila Wiley's. She has a vibrant palette and makes a lot of Roanoke City scenes.
This window belongs to Linda Overstreet. She works with hand dyed fabric. Makes quilts, and wall hangings and bible/book covers and journals. I see a small purse in there also. Her stuff would make great gifts for almost anyone you can think of.
Hey Friends, I've been on vacation !! In the Bahama's !! Earl drove me away !!
In the mean time, thought you might want to see a couple of Sweet Buns ! Of course there have been many wonderful times this year, these photos prove that. And I have managed to paint an hour or two nearly every day. I'll be posting some paintings soon.
Hey Friends, Thought you might like to know the book above "Alla Prima" is really worth reading. This is the third time I've read it and something new, just little tidbits, sinks into my hard head each time! Is it because I've painted more (experience?) or I'm in a different mood? or maybe because I wasn't reading in bed?
Hey Friends, Not to much to talk about right now so I thought I'd show you a painting I did a few months ago. I have not shown it yet because I can't seem to get it just right in photo shop.
Hey Friends, I like to visit the links left by people that comment on my blog. Some interesting stuff out there! The image above was painted by Roxanne "the Artist" !! She is a Texas artist and does lovely artwork and has a lovely blog. 
Hey Friends, If you are in the area (Roanoke, Va.) come out for the Art by Night in downtown Roanoke in the market area. Some areas call it an Art Crawl but it means that the galleries all stay open 'til 9pm. Refreshments are served while you browse the new works and a featured artist. At Gallery 108 it is Revelle Hamilton. She has beautiful watercolors on display tonight. 
Hey Friends, Just showing off a few of my cat paintings. Again I favor the black and white coats.
All three and a couple more are now listed in my Etsy shop. Cows are not there yet. 
But the real reason I'm blogging tonight is - I was wondering if any of you have read the newest issue of SOUTHWEST ART (March). There is an interview of Quang Ho in his studio on page 60. In answer to one question, he said his recent show at Gallery 1261 was eclectic! That it looked like 10 different artists painted the works! ! ! Man, that made me feel so Good! To hear an internationally known, really big time, famous artist say that he didn't want to be pigeoned-hole, was a real eye-opener. 
Hey Friends, These are the last of the cows. For now. Gotta move on. Love painting their little faces so I'm sure I'll be back with more. That brown fella (gal) above was a real odd looking cow. I tried to sweeten it up a bit.
Of course, this gal was more fun to paint. I just like the black and white. She might be the famous California Happy Cow from the commercials. 
Hey Friends, More Cows! I think I may be off this jag - for now. I have 2 more after these 2.
I'll post them later. Don't want to bore you too much on this fine start to the weekend.
Hey Friends, I forgot to take pictures at the party. I had my camera dangling on my wrist the whole time, too! So I thought I'd show you a couple more cows. Cows are funny creatures and interesting to paint. I'll list them in my etsy shop tomorrow, I think.
Hey Friends, Cows! Now I know why I see so many paintings of cows. They are so easy and quick to paint! I mentioned in a post that I was shoveling snow and then painting for an hour or so, alternating the activity, trying not to hurt the old back. So I ended up painting 7 cows! They are 8"x8" so you know they came along pretty fast anyway.
I put 3 on this post so you could see how I tighten up as time goes by. The green one should have been the last one. Notice the first cow is pretty loose. The red one is fairly loose but the green one is pretty tight! Why do I do that? Don't have a clue. But it is something I need to pay attention to.
I also painted about 4 of birds, 3 of cats, a couple landscapes, and 3 Wabbits! I do love to paint! Now I must varnish and put on the backings and hangers.
Hey Friends, Just thought I'd show you what I've been busy doing the last few days. Seems to be a weekly exercise this winter. This is at the top of the driveway.
This is about the same spot and I'm just starting to shovel a path for my car tires. Thats all I want to do but of course I'll have to take out some of the depth. My car is low to the ground and the last snow took out the muffler! Sounds like a motorcycle now!!
Showing the bottom sharp turn. The little cedar is really flexible. Every snow bends her over to the ground. This snow is HEAVY & WET and the cedar top was stuck in the ice.
This view is just past the sharp turn. If you look real hard, you'll see the little creek or spring that we have to cross the first time. You have to cross it again a little further up.
Hey Friends, I'm seeking some Honest opinions about my painting above, which I so very creatively titled "He Loves Me". I positively love it! I'm borrowing from Robert Burridge and Maria Pace Wynters. Borrowing!! Not copying I hope. I'm not going to say why I like it, until I hear some others thoughts. Much appreciated!
Just thought I'd throw this one in 'cuz she's so cute! No critique needed, Right?!?
Hey Friends, I have gotten several small pieces finished up. Let's see what you have done! The painting above is on Masa Rice Paper attached to mat board using acrylics. Lots of water and medium used to make it look like watercolor. I think I'm finished. The image doesn't look as bright or saturated as the original.
This painting I found in a box with several others. I'm famous for packing a box really well (using all the space) and then FORGETTING ABOUT IT. Usually when I come across these boxes again, I have at some point in time searched for these paintings, I slap myself again and again saying "How many times have I told you not to do this!?"
Hey Friends, Just thought I would tell you the painting above sold today.! I'm a member of the League of Roanoke Artists and we have several spaces to showcase our work. One space is in the lobby of Lewis Gale Hospital. I have sold several pieces there but it is always a thrill to have some one plunk down their money for something I created!!! Thank you.
Hey Friends, I finally got this photo from my daughter (the one in the middle). I've been nagging her since Christmas. She had it put on a mug for me. I love it! Look at how much my granbabes have grown!!! Just wanted to share a little of my personal life.
Above is the new gallery I am in now ! It is a co-op gallery and I'm like 1/7th of a member or something like that. I'm really HAPPY about this. Always wanted a gallery in downtown Roanoke. It is right across the street from the new Taubman Museum, so stop in soon!
And the image above is one of about four I painted at the same time. The others are real dogs, this one is the least ugly. I think I'm falling out of love with acrylics. Blending, soft edges are not easy to start with and then add the dry air of 12 degrees and it's frustrating. I also don't like the canvas panels I have right now - too grainy! I prefer to work on gessoed masonite but I can't afford to buy them and it's a Major deal to get the table saw out of the shed to cut my own. Poor Sue, I could whine for hours but it's not really my best talent. 
Hey Friends, A bit of sad news . See the van above? I love that van. I've had her for 10 years and we have been to a lot of pretty locations. I sold her yesterday. I feel all teary eyed and sad. How can an adult woman be so attached to a machine? She has been sitting here in the yard for the last 3 years, driven just enough to keep her systems in shape. Still paying for insurance and taxes, etc. on her. I think she went to a happy place. Grace Baptist Chuch in Dublin bought her. A small church with about 20 kids to haul around. Maybe it represents some part of my life that is over now.
I knocked this one out in a short amount of time last night. This is the top of our driveway. You keep sliding on down to the left (steep) and make a hairpin turn to the right over a spring, then bear to the right over another spring! ! And its all covered (at the moment) with about 1" of ice and several inches of snow! Yes, snow is beautiful until you start shoveling.
