My Thoughts for this One Day

Hey Friends,  Yesterday I was reading a blog that I have followed for a long time.  It is the creation of  Karen Margulias.  Click to read 

She said most people make a bunch of resolutions for the New Year and most never think of them again.  She is doing something I think I want to try.

She has made a list of her qualities and the areas she lacks in.

She will pick one for each month.  So she is not overwhelmed or discouraged.

THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO !!

My biggest defects (IMO) are unorganized and NO patience.

They will fill-FILL-the first 2 months and may have to be repeated.

The painting above will be going to Potentially Chic in a few weeks I hope.

Stop by there and look at all their goodies, you won't be disappointed.

And let them help you will a decorating problem.  Get a 2nd opinion.

Happy Trails

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hello Dear Friends,  Wanted to wish you all a very peaceful, safe Christmas.

Hoping you get to share lots of Joy!

Thanks for following along this short journey.

Sue

THANKFUL AND BUSY

Hey Friends,  Thankful to feel better.  Had something that must have been a virus last week.

But last night I started prepping my panels for the up coming 30 day challenge in Jan.  Leslie Saeta hosts a challenge to paint one every day in Jan.  EVERY DAY, I say!

There are 30 panels up there and a few extras in case I loose my temper.

AND today about 2pm I went West on Rt. Eleven close to Elliston to paint a bit.  It started Plein Aire but as you can see I did not finish.  Was another beautiful day for December in SW Va.  Not so good for the trees.  Some are blooming and the sap is running.

Here is an 8 x 10 canvas I finished a couple weeks ago.  It is dry now.  My scanner seems to be off a bit in capturing the colors correctly.  I fooled with the colors and saturation, etc but it still shows the shadows as ultramarine blue when the blue is not that intense.

You know that famous phrase "It (he or she) really looks better in Person" ?

It really does !

I will list it in my Etsy shop tonight.

Happy Trails

TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE

Hey Friends,  Yesterday i almost finished these two pup portraits.  In between working on the commission.  I think I may finished, I'm waiting for a reply from the couple.

These are portraits of MeeMee in her Hawaiian crowns.  I hope the recipients enjoy.

And this is a bad photo of the Madd Roosters but I was trying to get something before it got too dark.

Working on other small gifts now.

Just a reminder that the show at the Jefferson Center will be up through mid. Jan.

And we will be at Goose Creek Gallery in Bedford this Sat. the 12th.  We hope to be outside painting.

Stop in and see all of their gifts made by local artists.

Thanks for stopping in.

Happy Trails

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT POTENTIALLY CHIC AND NEXT STEP WITH THE COMMISSION

Hey Friends,  Last night I went with some of the DLP gals to the Holiday Open House at Potentially Chic on Brambleton Ave. here in Roanoke, Va.  It was a very enjoyable event and evening.  I finally found the perfect birthday gift for my sister.!  Really happy about that.  And the jewelry maker, the Velvet Peony, had the perfect gift for a dear friend in Florida !

And the photo above shows one of my paintings in one of their beautiful shop vinyettes. (spell check couldn't even correct this word-so I don't feel too dumb)

AND they sold this painting of mine !!  How cool is that?

They also sold some of the mini rooster blocks.

Thank you Ladies very much.

And lastly I wanted to show you this detail shot I emailed to the couple that commissioned the painting I began showing you yesterday.

I asked what she thought of this and a few more shots.  She replied "the hen looked as if she is wearing a beret and glasses."  I was real puzzled until I got back to the photos I sent her.

The interpretations other people see always amaze me.  I CAN SEE IT now.  But until she said that I never would have seen it.  So now I have some more work to do.  But I'm really happy she told me and I can correct I hope.

More fun to show you tomorrow.

Hope all of you are having a great December so far.

Happy Trails

Travel Well

HOLIDAY SHOW RECEPTION AT JEFFERSON CENTER AND A COMMISSION

Hey Dear Friends,  We had our holiday show reception at the Jefferson Center this past Sunday.

A good time we had, talking with our art patrons about the creative process and what their tastes were about also.

I'm a little busy with a commission for a lovely couple here in Virginia.

The top photo is the beginning of blocking in the solid colors.  Bottom is the second step.

Next I will get the field or yard of greens better defined so I can get started on the FEATHERS!!

These guys have to have an attitude.

Hoping that some of you will take the time, tomorrow evening.  To come to Potentially Chic for their Holiday Open House.

We members of the Double Line Painters will be there to share in the fun and talk creativity if you are so inclined.  Should be another great event.  Would love to see you.

Click HERE for Pot.Chi.website and directions.

Happy Trails

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Hey Friends,  Just a small note to tell you how grateful I am to have these two monsters up there in my life.  Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, I will have the joy of their laughter and squabbles while we all enjoy the luscious meal their Mom and Dad have prepared.

We will be able to eat and chat without all the fears and pain so many in this world endure every day.

What more could I be grateful for?

Happy Trails

Travel Well

ORIGINAL PLEIN AIR LANDSCAPE PAINTING

Hey Friends,  The small painting done on the spot at Explore Park, here in SW Virginia is up for auction on Ebay.  CLICK HERE if you want to check it out.

And be sure to have a fabulous Monday !

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL AUTUMN LANDSCAPE PAINTING

Hey Friends,  A colorful addition to ebay auctions of a path along the James River next to Otter Creek.  It had been raining so there are a few puddles along the path.

A beautiful piece of land in our mountains of Virginia.

Click Here for the ebay auction.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE PAINTING FOR AUCTION AND MORE BEAUTIES AT THE JEFFERSON CENTER

Hey Friends,  Still listing more work for auction on EBAY.  Above a small lady drug her little folding chair to the edge of the Roanoke River in South Salem and settled in for a long time.

She caught several and I had a great time painting her relaxed silhouette.

Here are a couple you will see when you come to the reception at the Jefferson Center on Nov. 29th  2 pm til 4 pm.

These are pretty large at 24"x24" and have nice textures.  Make a statement ! !

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING CHIMNEY SWEEP 'WORKING MEN SERIES' AND ANOTHER EBAY AUCTION

"INTO THE CREEPY LAGOON' is the title of this 8x10 acrylic painting.  My GranBabes won't wade past that tree on the right.  "It's too creepy looking"!!

Check it out on Ebay - HERE.

"Chimney Sweep"  will be among the new works hanging at the Jefferson Center's Holiday Show'

The reception will be a Sunday afternoon, Nov. 29th, 2 until 4 pm.

We hope you will be there.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE PAINTING AND HOLIDAY SHOW AT JEFFERSON CENTER

Hey Friends,  Just listed a colorful new autumn painting for auction on ebay.  You can click here for the ebay link that engages at 9 pm.

This was the final stages at the Jefferson Center for hanging our new Holiday show.  Click HERE to read more on the DLP Blog !!   Hoping you don't miss it.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING EVERGREEN LAVENDER FARM VISTA

Hey Friends,  Here is an original oil landscape of the beautiful lavender farm in Appomattox, Va. owned by Bonnie Swanson.

It is 16x20 and will be hanging at the Jefferson Center's Holiday Show going up on Nov. 16th, 2015.

Hope you will be able to attend the show and visit the lavender farm next spring on Father's Day.  That is when the farm has their first event for the year.

Evergreen - Click there for their FB page.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA PAINTING 'TENDING HER GARDEN'

Hey Friends, Here is a painting (mixed media) of my Mom watering her tomato plants !!  As you can see I enhanced the beauty of tomato plants.  Most of Mom's efforts and space goes to her beloved tomato varieties and some peppers too.  She does start some flowers but not the colorful banquet you see here.

This will be at the Jefferson Center in the DLP Holiday Show.

The reception is Nov. 29th from 2-4pm.

Hope you can make it.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTINGS OF HAPPY CHICKENS WITH WATERMELON

Hey Friends,  Wanted you to have a closer look at these chickens.  They are available at the Goose Creek Gallery in Bedford.

And this coming Friday is when the 2nd Friday's Art Walk will happen.  So make plans to go check out all the pretty paintings and holiday gifts from the local artisans.   Then go to Bella's for an Italian masterpiece of pizza !

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL OIL LANDSCAPE PAINTING WITH SHEEP

Hey Friends,  Here is another painting that will be hanging in the Holiday show at the Jefferson Center.  The Jefferson Center is in DT Roanoke, Va., CLICK HERE for more info and directions.

You may not be able to tell here but there are some sheep in the meadow.

Hope you are making plans to meet us on Nov. 29th from 2-4pm for the reception.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL OIL STILL LIFE PAINTING - PEONIES WITH BLUE BIRD

Hey Friends,  This piece of work will be installed at the Jefferson Center in DT Roanoke, Va. on Nov. 16th.  It will be hanging with 9 others of my own and the other artists that make up the Double Line Painters will each have 10 paintings in this show.  We also have Patrick and Mitchell of the Goose Creek Gallery FAME joining us.

Make plans to visit our reception on Nov. 29 from 2 to 4pm for a REAL close look at all the beauties on display.

Thanks for stopping in.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL OIL FLORAL PAINTING - LESSON #2

Hey Friends,  This will be at the Jefferson Center's Holiday Show also.

It is 16"x20" and framed as shown.  

All of us with the DLP hope you will be there on Nov. 29th from 2-4 for our reception.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL OIL FLORAL PAINTING and PLEIN AIR at the INN at RIVERBEND in PEARISBURG

Hey Friends, Wish you all could have seen what I saw today.  Come to the Jefferson Center in DT Roanoke after Nov. 16th and see all the handsome paintworks the Double Line Painters have up.

The one above is 18" sq. with deep sides painted black.

Today we had the terrific pleasures of painting at the Inn at Riverbend.  Above is just one view.

This is another view.  This gorgeous place has fantastic views in any direction.  That's the New River you see.  Trains go by pretty often down there on the right.

The inn keepers are Jeanne and John.  Wonderful pair that would love to have your business.

And we were all very grateful for their hospitality.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL OIL STILL LIFE PAINTING - LESSON NO. 3 LILACS

Hey Friends,  This painting will be at the Jefferson Center soon.

The Double Line Painters will be showing there from Nov. 16 through Jan. 15.

We will have a reception on Nov. 29th, a Sunday, from 2-4pm.

Hope to see everyone then, but if you can't make the reception, you can view the work anytime the Jefferson Center is open.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING FOR A SUMMER, BEACH LOVER

Hey Friends,  This little memory inducing painting is for sale in an EBAY auction.  It measures 5" x 4" and the sides are finished so you could display on an easel instead of framing, if you like.

Something to put in your windowsill or nightstand to conjour up memories of summer vacations.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL PAINTING OF WINDOW SEAT IN A GARDEN

Hey Friends,  This little pretty is listed on EBAY, CLICK HERE.

Would make a sweet gift for all the flower loving gardeners in your life.

Happy Trails

COLORFUL ORIGINAL STILL LIFE PAINTING AND BISON IN THEM THAR HILLS

Hey Friends,  I just added this pretty to my ETSY Store-Click there.

It was painted with oils and cold wax so it has a different feel and a softer look.  'Tis fun to paint that way.

Thursday, three of us with the DLP went over Catawba Mountain to an area called Paint Bank.  I love to go there.  The grounds around the Paint Bank Store and restaurant are beautiful.  Simple but you can see a painting every where you turn.  There is a lovely creek and the old Tingler Mill and there is a fish pond feeding into the mill wheel.

And if you drive a couple miles past the store you will run into the buffalo herds.  Much bigger than the last time I saw them.  They always appear to be very cautious or anxious around humans.  Not like the buffalo in commercials with the big long sticky tongues trying to get a French Fry!

So now I have some new fodder for paintings and I need to get busy.

Hope your week is wonderful.  And if you know of a colorful gang of maples please let me know.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL BEACHSCAPE PAINTING FLAT LIGHT DUNE

Hey Friends  Just listed this small (8x10) painting on EBAY.  You can check it out and place a bid RIGHT HERE.

This was painted on the spot this past June at Nags Head.  I set up under the beach house to keep from getting a sunburn.  It was a fab day.

Loved it

Loved it

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE FARM PAINTING PLEASANT GROVE FARM

Hey Friends,  I have listed this in my ETSY SHOP. Click There.

This was painted this spring at a paint out at Whitney Feldman's ranch.  Sponsored by the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy.  One of the prettiest farms you will ever see in Botetourt, Virginia.

Thanks for stopping in.

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING 'MOUNTAIN TREASURES'

Hey Friends,  I'm TOOTIN my own horn with this post.  It's OK to do once in a while.  Last week I entered two of my paintings in a show/exhibit at the Alleghany Highlands Art Center.

This morning I got a call from Nancy Newhard at the center with the great news that my painting above titled "Mountain Treasures" had won First Place AND was already SOLD !!

I have not entered shows for years (except one in Bedford last year) because it never seemed to be worth the trouble.  So I guess I learned something today.  It never hurts to try.

A giant Thank You to Nancy and her staff for all their work.  And I think I might have the opportunity to meet the judge this Tuesday when they do a photo shoot.

Anyway, that's enough.

Thanks for reading my Toot.

Happy Trails

PLEIN AIR ADVENTURES AT EXPLORE PARK AND PEAKS OF OTTER ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Hey Friends,  Yesterday we, the Double Line Painters, went to Explore Park hoping to see a riot of fall colors.  There was NO riot, barely a gathering.  We are hoping it's still a bit early

After we called it a day, I went on up to the Peaks of Otter.  It's a higher elevation so I was hopeful.

The bus driver (yeah, I took the bus, I only had a few hours) was excellent and slow.

LOOK at that path he took the bus up!

I have proof I made it the 1500 ft. to the top.  I think 1500 ft. is a BIG FAT LIE.

I really thought this was IT.  I really thought some one would find me next spring, in one of the giant cracks.  My chest felt like a heart attack.  And what a headache !

This trip is not for couch potatoes.  Thankfully I was not the only one out of shape.  A couple was just as bad off, even worse.  The poor ole fella, fell going down and had to be helped the remainder of the walk.  Thank goodness the bus driver was in good shape.  The fella hung onto his neck all the way down.

As you can see, the views are FAB.  For me these mountains are spiritual.  They have such a calming effect on my soul.  Just wish I could have started earlier so I could sit up there like a bird and enjoy the beauty so many unfortunate souls will never see.

Wishing you lots of peace and happiness.

Happy Trails