END OF AN ERA? and Snow Painting

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.

The weather man says we may get some more tomorrow.

Vans hate snow.

Happy Trails in 2010!!

Snow in the East

Hey Friends, We-e-e-l-l-l-l---, I've done it again ! ! ! I'm the worst blogger on planet earth. I'm amazed how time is flying. I'm amazed it's been over a month since I blogged or even visited here. Like all of you, I'm so busy being busy or maybe being busy fretting about every little thing ! !

I have been really busy painting too! The Gift of Art show and sale has come and gone. I've been delivering small pieces to galleries and hanging works in a rotating gallery for the League of Roanoke Artists.

Now we have to contend with over a foot of snow !! I live off the main path (compared to most people) in the mountains of SW Va. Our driveway is a winding, little gravel path that goes up a very steep little cliff. So you know I'll be a few days getting out of here.

And the photo above is a real yardstick, stuck in real snow, in the front yard ! ! !

Hope all of you are safe and warm.

Happy Trails.

FLOYD ARTISTS ASSOC.

Hey Friends, A quick note to let you know my daughter, Jessi and I went to the Floyd Artist Assoc. in downtown Floyd, Va. today. It was a beautiful drive and in case you haven't been on Rt. 221 that takes you to Floyd, it is a very curvy little road, a bit narrow in spots, therefore I didn't take any photos of this beautiful countryside to show you. I will try when I go back to pick up. This assoc. is housed in a very nice little building but the signage is very small so you are going to have to hunt for it. Then go across the street to the Country Store and you will find almost anything you want!
Happy Trails

INTERESTING BLOGS

Hey Friends, I wanted to pass along a couple of blogs I was reading earlier today BUT who wants to look at a blog post without an image? I prefer beautiful images and all I could come up with is THIS!! His Great Granny is holding him and he's hungry and not too keen on binkys.

Anyway - I was reading Carol Marine's blog and she had a link to an artist called Sharon Williams, who lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I think she's fantastic and thought you might agree.

Another blog I subscribe to is Casey Klahn's. He won an award at the Sausalito Art Fair and then makes a post to tell us Wanna Be's how to Paint for a First Place or a Best in Show. Very much worth your reading time. That's it tonight.
Happy Trails.

Third Place in Acrylics !

Hey Friends, Just wanted to toot my own horn a bit. Today the LRA had their annual awards reception at the Jefferson Center. Ted Batt, curator for the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center, was the juror. Nearly everything he choose was contemporary, or edgy, or experimental. Not much on realism, it seemed to me. So after looking at all the award winners, I'm a little surprised he choose one of mine. If I hadn't used the Masa Paper and all the imprinting, texture techniques, I doubt he would have noticed mine.
The Heron is rendered very realistically but the fun part was adding the rice paper and building up all the textures. A lot of contemplation.
Now I wish I had taken the time to photograph all the winners. There was some really good work in this show. I always enjoy their company.
I think the LRA will post some photos so check them out in the next week or so.
And it was confirmed the "Gift of Art" will happen on Dec. 5th at the Jefferson Center.
Happy Trails.

PS-Went straight from work-thats why I LOOK like a nurse.

THE SKECHERS ARE HERE ! ! ! !

Hey Friends, A quick note, you may find interesting. This is what I did this morning as soon as I got to my REAL job. Christine modeled the NEW "Skecher Shape Up" shoes so I could show what everyone has been clamoring for the past 2 months. They claim to improve a lot of stuff, like your posture and cellulite and back, etc. I don't know but I can say they feel really good! They are extra cush-y and you can rock while standing. They are extra ugly but because they feel so good, you can ignore the ugly.

I also thought you might like to know what I'm doing when I'm not painting. I work for "SUPER SHOES" here in Roanoke, Va. A GREAT place to work, if ya gotta. Great co-workers and the BEST manager in the chain. AND I must say our customers are as good as they get! I have met a lot of characters, that I really like, on my job.

So, there you have it. My life in a nutshell.

Happy Trails.

I FINISHED IT!!?

Hey Friends, Well, I finally made up my mind. I added the blue stripes to the tablecloth!
I think it added the missing something. Scroll down, peek at the last image of this, and tell me what you think. It is not varnished yet so I COULD change it.
I've been real busy last couple days, doing miniatures for the Christmas show on Dec. 5th. It's called the "Gift of Art"! Get it? This year it will take place at the Jefferson Center, downtown area of Roanoke, Va. I will be showing small paintings and miniatures. Stuff people can afford to give as gifts.
BTW-I got an email tonight from the LRA telling me I won an award in the annual SHOWCASE of ART! No, they didn't tell me which award. I should find out Sunday. The awards ceremony is 2-4 Sunday, Sept. 27th at the Jefferson Center. Hope you can be there.
Happy Trails.

Lamp Shade

Hey Friends, I told Kathleen Krucoff last week I would show her a lamp shade I made using Masa Rice Paper. Thought you might like to see it also.
A few years ago I ordered some Waxed Rice Paper just out of curiosity. Once I had it, just couldn't figure out how to use it in my art because it wouldn't stick to any surface using acrylic matte medium. So when I was redecorating a bedroom, I couldn't find a lamp shade for a floor lamp I had. Ta-Dah! I crumpled the waxy Masa, as usual. Spread it on some plastic and dumped liquid acrylics on it. When dry, I cut the shape out and glued with hot glue to the frame and added the beads, etc.

Here is the close up of the texture. It is an illusion because the paper is very smooth and flat. I love this paper! I've always wanted to wallpaper a small space with it. Can you imagine that?

Happy Trails.

PAINTING ON MASA RICE PAPER-Am I finished?

Hey Friends, Added details mostly. Dosen't seem finished to me. My brain keeps wanting to add color to the table cloth. Blue or yellow? I love blue and white stripes. Is that the answer? I'll wait to see if anyone has an opinion. Be back tonight!
Happy Trails.

Painting in Progress on Masa Rice Paper

Hey Friends, Decided to run with this post about the Masa Paper I showed in the previous post. In the image above I lightly indicated with blue watercolor pencil where the blossoms and vase go.

This image I started adding the darker areas and the first pass on the flowers.

Here is a close-up of the vase area. Do you see the batik-E texture still showing ?

Another layer of the darker color in the background and worked on the glass vase. Added the shadows from the flowers.

Another close-up of the vase area. I'll continue to post the layers of paint as I add them. I'm sure you have already gathered that I'm using the acrylics like watercolors. Keeping them as transparent as possible so the beautiful rice paper can shine.

Happy Trails.