ORIGINAL PAINTING NEEDS CRITIQUE

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?!?

Hope all are having a wonderful Sunday. My brothers came to my rescue and shoveled a path to escape this dang gone SNOW!

Happy Trails.

Original Art Finished and Found

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!?"

This is also painted on Masa paper. I've been in love with rice paper, specifically Masa for a long time. Vera Dickerson, a local artist and instructor, introduced this paper during a workshop.

Some more art blogs that might be of interest to you are BRUSH-PAPER-WATER. This is Chris Beck's blog and she is always introducing us to some interesting work. Her post today is about Katherine Cartwright. Go look and enjoy your Wednesday!

Happy Trails.

SOLD

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.
Happy Trails!

INTERESTING BLOGS

Hey Friends, Just a quick note to tell you about a couple of interesting blogs I've come across. Interesting to me because I'm a fan of the arts. Even better is when an artist has a sense of humor. I recently came across Dreama Tolle Perry (she is on That Daily Painters site). Click it and scroll down to the part about her book. And then there is Maria Pace Wynters (also on That D P site). I loved her post about the veil.
AND I found out this morning, Dreama T.P. is holding some Workshops! ! ! I want to take 1 or 2! Her workshops aren't that far from me! I haven't taken a workshop in the last 100 years! so I'm really excited. Can't wait. So I'm going to email her for some details!!!!!

Happy Trails

MY LOVES, GALLERY 108, NEW PAINTING

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!

Here is a link to Gallery 108. They haven't gotten me on the site yet because I need to make a CD for them to download from. Yeah, more computer work that I hate doing.

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.

I only know I've got to get busy and get better. I've got shows coming up ! ! !

Hope you guys are having a wonderful 2010 so far!

Happy Trails.

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.