Signature 9 Featured Artist

The Daydreaming Accountant    24" x 24"    (C)gls

If you are out and about downtown Roanoke 

Friday, the 4th of January, 

I am the featured artist for the month!

Come visit and see many new works in cold wax and oil. 

I'll be there for Art by Night.

Happy New Year!

A fitting poem for the end of my personal year.....

New Year Resolve

by May Sarton

The time has come
To stop allowing the clutter
To clutter my mind
Like dirty snow,
Shove it off and find
Clear time, clear water.

Time for a change,
Let silence in like a cat
Who has sat at my door
Neither wild nor strange
Hoping for food from my store
And shivering on the mat.

Let silence in.
She will rarely speak or mew,
She will sleep on my bed
And all I have ever been
Either false or true
Will live again in my head.

For it is now or not
As old age silts the stream,
To shove away the clutter,
To untie every knot,
To take the time to dream,
To come back to still water.

Merry Christmas to All!

I will be taking a break for a week or so, 

but wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

May peace hope and love find their way into your hearts!

Rainy Day

Finally, a rainy day! I just love it. 
I made a big pot of chili and finished this piece, amidst other chores of the day....

Hope you had a relaxing Sunday too!

Holiday Open Studio

On Dec. 1st, from 10am-5pm and Dec. 2nd, from 1-4 PM.

The following artists with working studios at

Studios On The Square126 W. Campbell Ave.in downtown Roanoke, are holding an Open House.

Nancy Stellhorn, Miki Overcast-Kallan,Robin Poteet, Sue Egbert, 

Petie Stringfellow, Gina Louthian-Stanley, Julie Hamilton, 

Rhonda Morgan and Tif Robinette.

Please come see studio spaces and celebrate the season with us.

Many of my works will be on sale!

Winter Shadows

Changes...winter signals many changes. 

This weekend, I had Winter on my mind, and snow. Yes, snow. 

I meditated on the changing shadows on the snow and 

how peacefully the light dances across the earth

creating ever changing moments of shadow. 

I am storing up on coffee...just in case....

Winer Shadows (C)                   oil and wax

Encaustic Monotypes

Today I had a chance to get in the studio again! 
Last Saturday and this one...heavenly! 
I multi-tasked today, worked on several cold wax pieces, 
and then dabbled with the encaustic monotype process; 
a process in which I hope to learn more about. 
It is fascinating! 

Here are today's results. 

 Fenced Garden(C)   12" diameter

(Fenced Garden needs a little work...check back to see it develop!)

Rhythm of Spring (C)         6" x 10"

I was really pleased with 'Rhythm' this is more in line with my working style in the medium....be looking for more!

Texture and Line

New Works in progress....

Duchamp's Window(C)                mixed media  12" x 12"

Crows

Fall always reminds me of crows. As I travel to work each day, I pass numerous fields. Maybe of them are barren from recently harvested corn, and grasses. Often, I see the crows hopping about searching for treasures. They amaze me; I wish I could sit and watch their antics for hours.

 Crows in the Garden (C) 18" x 9" POR

Crows Out the Window (C) 18" x 9" POR

Explorations in Cold Wax Workshops!

The more I work with Cold Wax medium, the more excited I get!

It is really hard to STOP!

I have had several opportunities to teach workshops, in my studio, at the Studio School, and my latest experience, 

at the League of Roanoke artists Retreat. 

Teaching is a passion....so is creating art, 

so combining the two is sheer heaven!

I have been so impressed with everything my fellow artisans have created. 

Below is just a sampling from the latest class. 

Should you be interested in classes, 

or workshops in cold wax and/or encaustics, 

please email or call. 

Alta Mons Creek                   by Sue Furrow

 League of Artist Retreat 2012

 A photo of the wonderful creating space!

 Jane Hadad

 Julie English

 Julia Woodford

 Linda Scharr

 Mary Tousman

 Mary Ann Meador

 Martha Rhodes

 Susan Egbert

 Sue Furrow

Susan Young

Betty Hancock Bright

Susie Peverall

Susie was inspired by the magical pond and the colorful woods right outside the lodge.

Work station set up

....and lastly, I followed up with a critique and further discussion on other ways to work with the media, and how to frame these particular works. 

New Works

This past weekend, I had the good fortune of teaching another cold wax workshop. This time I worked with the League of Roanoke Artists at Camp Alta Mons. I will post photos soon....

For now, here are a few works I created during that workshop.

Flyaway Soul (C) SOLD

Works in Progress.....

View From the Zephyr  (C)

Morning in Wales 1 (C) POR

Morning in Wales 2 (C) POR

Land Mapping (C) 12" x 7" POR

Art on the Parkway, Meadows of Dan, Virginia 2012

 Winter  (C)                     Mixed Media

Birds in the Sky  (C)                     Mixed Media

Fall is here! 
It is also time for Art on the Parkway. 

This year we will be showing in a new spot! 

Hope you can check it out!

• • 
    

    October 13 at 10:00am until October 14 at 5:00pm

• Rt. 8 and Milepost 165.2 Blue Ridge Parkway, Floyd, Virginia 24091

• Art on the Parkway is an annual festival hosted by Floyd Artists Association. Blue Ridge Parkway and held during peak autumn color, Art on the Parkway connects "leaf peepers" and art patrons with area artists and musicians. Last year, several hundred people came to see and buy art, making it a very successful event for artist vendors. We anticipate even larger crowds for 2012!

Art on the Asphalt Show 2012

WHEN	Saturday, September 29, 2012, 10am – 5pm
WHERE	505 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA 24011
LOCATION	Downtown Roanoke, Roanoke
NOTE	Located in the Budd & Company Parking Lot. Artists: Tracy Budd, Gari Stephenson, Nancy Stark, Vera Dickerson, Pam Ogden,  Susan Lockwood, Jane Frank, Donna Nevers, Barry Wolfe, Sally Randles,  Robin Poteet, Sue Furrow, Jane Iten, Angela Shields, Gina Louthian Stanley,  Nan Mahone, Mary Ann Meador, Judy Lochbrunner, Nina McGee, Gail Geer,  Petie Stringfellow, Ken Stockton, Lee Baker, Anne Armistead, Sue Egbert,  Midge Ovenshire, Bonnie Neuhoff, Michael Farrar, Nancy Newhard,  Barbara Daub, Mary Bullington, Parvin Pejman, Dave Ovenshire Rain date: Sunday, September 30th, 11am-5pm

Lynchburg Art Show 2012

Just an update, I will be out of my studio this weekend and will be participating in the Lynchburg Art Show! This is one of my favorite shows to do! The location, organization, displays, Lynchburg Art Club members, and fellow artists are all remarkable. It will be a beautiful fall day, perfect for taking in some art!

September 15

40th Lynchburg Art Festival

Presented by the Lynchburg Art Club

Hours: 10am to 4pm; 

Awards Presentation at 3pm

Location: E.C. Glass High School grounds

2111 Memorial Avenue

Rain Date: September 16

Artful Dreaming

Emergence of a Dream         (C) oil and wax  gls

Could be the slightly cooler temperatures signaling the end of summer coming, or maybe the fact I have been super tired from returning to work after an amazing summer, or perhaps I just have a lot of unconscious inner ramblings which have been filling my nights with vivid dreams. Perhaps they arose from a Reiki session, my first, which was very enlightening. Perhaps the dreams come from an inner peace....For whatever reason, my dreams are filled with a myriad of imagery and even sounds. Some are waking dreams which cause me write them down, some lead to a deeper dreaming path into a world full of visual language and some sort of geography of my inner most thoughts and visions. My mental notebook is full of these images. Eventually, I will transfer them to a visual reality through art. 

New Cold Wax and Oils

Heat Lightening

Rising Above (SOLD)

 Fincastle Field 

 Passages 1

Winter Messenger

 Earth Speak

Geography of the Soul

End of Summer

     With summer break ending soon, I am not really sure where the summer went. Most of it was spent dodging the horrid heat. It has been a very long time since we have all experienced a summer like this. I tried staying cool by flashing back to cooler days, much cooler days, and snow days! Sometimes it would actually work....sipping hot tea, making a pot of vegetable soup, and curled up with a book as I looked out at birds scrambling for seed on the newly fallen snow. (Coolness....ahahah). I can not wait....has anyone heard what the 2012 winter forecast is?

     Many adventures were mine over the summer. New flower beds, a new studio to create in, meeting new friends, spending some time (although not enough) with long-made friends, taking new classes and teaching new classes; yet I do not feel as if the summer was long enough. There are still things on my list that I wanted to do....one day at a time now, I guess. I guess that's why there are 'to do' and 'bucket' lists.

Lucky Garden Charm

On the way to Asheville

     One of the most interesting things I did over the summer was to take a cold wax class from the amazing Cindy Walton. Not only did she share her talent and knowledge, she also (after long days of teaching) took us to various galleries during the Friday Art Walk in downtown Asheville and then joined a few of us for dinner. The following day, after teaching, she invited us to her studio at the Wedge! It is a space filled with light and lots of creative energy. I do not know if you are familiar with her work or not, but I have to say, I have fallen in love with her work, especially her oil paintings, which are as inspirational, vibrant,  and beautiful as she is.
Cindy Walton

     Not only did I meet Cindy, but I met so many astonishing artists from the Rivers Edge Arts District. I was extremely impressed with the comrade of all the artists, but most of all at the unity of the artists to have a main, or specific area where ALL the artists seem to show and work. Fleta Monaghan, the owner of 310 Art @ Riverview Station, was another beautiful person I met along this journey.

      I was impressed with her vision and how she opened up her gallery and teaching space and nurtured ALL artists. I was amazed with the fact that EVERY ARTIST in the area appeared to work together for the common good of the arts...collaborating and sharing ideas. I also was impressed that there was a designated 'district' that was well represented by the CITY!!!! How refreshing. My wish is that one day, in Roanoke, we can make this happen.

Autumn Color (C) gls cold wax and oil   POR

      Well, summer is about gone. I hope yours was healthy, happy, and creative. Now it is back to the schedule and time to get ready for the plethora of shows that are upcoming.

P. S. Here are a few images from my MIXED MEDIA and cold wax class July 2012

 Dreama

 Hope

Vera