Odds and Ends

It has been a rainy, cold weekend. I love it becasue I got to get off the hampster wheel for a few days!

I fooled around with my new digital camera and have a lot to learn. I got my old one in 1996, and I tell you, they sure have made a lot of progress with the image quality.

Here are some of the completed earrings I have made with the tissue paper collage process. Now that I understand how the process works, I am going to make more. I am now in search of decorative tissue and handmade papers to use next time around.

Also, I thought I would post a few new photos. Enjoy.

March 2009 full moon

View from the kitchen window.

Slow...

I seem to be moving slow. I am not sure if it is from the winter, or trying to get caught up at work, or what. I finally took photos of the finished earrings from the patterns I made on the snow day! Now, I just have to post them. :)

I quite tickled because my monotype, "Autumn Lights" was just accepted into the Academy of Fine Arts Juried Show which will take place April 3rd-24th, 2009! The Academy is a fantastic place for all of the arts to happen. (Please offer them some support).

http://www.academyfinearts.com/enter.asp

Not much else is happening, well, other than listening to the sleet hitting the window.

More soon!

Snow Day

Wow!

What a great surprise, snow at last! I had hoped to get a lot accomplished, but just piddled. I had a stack of art and jewelry magazines collected on my coffee table, so, along with a great cup of coffee, and watching the birds, I grazed through the collection.




One magazine had a neat tutorial on how to make earrings with tissue-paper. I did not get a finished product to show you, yet, but I did get some pretty cool bases. Some of them I will make into charms for another addicting charm swap I signed up for. Yeah, I know.

A close up of a square pair of tissue-paper overlays. Cool, huh? I can not wait to finish these off!

I plan on making a few more of these tomorrow, and doing a few new monotypes. One more snow day was just what I needed!

New Pendants!

Inspire Pin (C) 48$

WOW!

After a short two day trip, last weekend, to Washington D.C. and Georgetown, I am full of ideas! I visited several museums and went to a fantastic art supply store. This weekend, finally, I had time to work in the studio!

I wanted to work on so many things, but I ended up working on new pins and pendants. I sell these at Gallery 108 (in case you are looking for them locally), and of course, the ones I have shown here are for sale as well. They are all one of a kind...

Enjoy!

Bad Hair Day Pendant (C) 40$

Caged Bird Pin (C) 48$

Dragonfly Pin (C) 42$

Dreams Pin (C) 48$

Best In Show Art Show-Benefit for the SPCA

"Happy" (C) gls SOLD

On Friday, February 6, 6:30pm - 9:00pm the Market Gallery is sponsoring “Best in Show”, an exhibit of 12” x 12” canvases which are related to animals and pets. This is a benefit for the Roanoke Valley SPCA the co-sponsors of the Opening which will be held in the Atrium of the Taubman Museum, Salem Avenue and Williamson Road in downtown Roanoke. Artists young and old, experienced painters and novices have come into the gallery to get their blank canvases. After the Opening exhibit, the entire show will be hung at The Market Gallery, 23 Salem Avenue, There will be continuous viewing of the show, with refreshments, all day Saturday, February 7 and Sunday afternoon, 1:00pm - 4:00pm.

Please come show your support!

'Wishes' Fabric Collage (C) gls

Wishes to all for a

Healthy,

Happy,

Safe,

Prosperous,

and

Creative

New Year!

New Beginnings

Lately, I have not had an opportunity to really splash into painting. Holidays and various other distractions are keeping me on the hamster wheel.


I have had only a few moments here and there. Moments...fleeting, yet just enough time to push a little paint around. All I have is color and shape...the new pieces are simple, light, full of color, just simple abstractions for the distractions.

Traveling Spirits (C) watercolor

The Color of Rain watercolor (C)

Crocuses watercolor (C)

Gladolias (C) watercolor

At The Birdfeeder watercolor (C)

Photo vs. Watercolor

Here are some of the photos from Green Hill Park from the Art for the Earth Plein Air paint out. I looked at the photos, trying to capture what I could from the natural settings onto the watercolor paper. I have to say, that after several hours...days, I was pleased.

The watercolors...

Typically, I do not use such vibrant color. I need to experiment more with color and watercolor techniques. The whole process is 'backwards' from doing monotypes. It will take some getting used to, that's for sure.

Plein Air Painting Day

Last week was the Art for the Earth Plein Air painting day. I am just now downloading the photos of the art I did on location. There was something spiritual about hiking along the Roanoke River and finding a spot to paint. Uninterrupted. No phone, no people, no cats knocking water or paints over in the studio. Nothing, just quiet except for the river rushing past me. I have to say, I am not typically an outdoor, on location painter, but I think I will be doing a lot more painting outside in the future. Roanoke River Fall (C)

12 O'Clock Knob (C)

Roanoke River (C)

Fall

Today really feels like fall. A cloudy mist surrounds the cabin and I can hear the leaves falling. Color ovewhelms me. Dampness is in my bones. Time to dig out the quilts. Ahhhhhhhhh.

This Sunday will be a great time for Art for the Earth!

Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

Twilight watercolor (C)

What a great weekend! I met quite a few wonderful people at the Lynchburg Art Club's Show this weekend and the weather could not be beat!

Painted Earth watercolor (C) SOLD

My next venture will be Mountain Color at the Jacksonville Center in Floyd, and the Art for the Earth Plein Aire painting event. I am excited about both of these shows as I they will be full of ey candy for one and all. You can read more about them here:
http://www.jacksonvillecenter.org/galleries-1.htm
http://virginia.sierraclub.org/roanoke/

Fog Lifting watercolor (C)

What a Week

Mystic Moon Watercolor (C)

All week I have been framing and getting mats cut. That's the part I don't like about painting or printmaking. Tonight I have five more pieces to frame then I will be ready to pack up for Lynchburg. The weather looks as if it will be fantastic. Clear cool and no wind. Perfect for an outdoor show.

Setting Sun monotype (C)

Flowers on the Hillside watercolor (C)

Getting Ready...

Across A Day monotype (C)

Turbulance monotype (C)

Red Sky At Night monotype (C)

Deep Woods monotype (C) SOLD

I have been busy printing.

Getting ready for the Lynchburg Art Show next weekend!

I have much more to do.

Where does the time go?

Check Out Interactive Workshop

Check out Kim Rae Nugent's new book! I just noticed that Amazon has a search inside the book link!

http://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Art-Workshop-Mixed-Motion/dp/1600610803/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220569905&sr=1-1

Last year, Kim emailed a group of artist to submit samples of various art projects to hopefully, be included as examples of movable art in her new book. I was one of the fortunate and humbled artists asked to participate in the challenge. I noticed my name in the index and see that I had four pieces included! I am very anxious to see the book!
Best of luck to Kim and I truly appreciate being part of this book.

By The Sea

Not too long ago, I accepted an challenge from ArtChix Studios to participate in a chunky book page swap; the theme was By The Sea. Once I received my pages, I was in total awe at all the fantastic work and surprised by all the goodies Helga added to the package.

(Thanks Helga!)

I am even more surprsied now! I was doing a little online shopping at ArtChix and noticed my page was one of the artists selected to be part of a collage sheet! WOW! http://www.artchixstudio.com/mall/cc909_info.asp

Check out ArtChix and do some great shopping while you are there!

Rain

The summer has been terribly dry. I had forgotten the smell of the rain, listening to the pattering of the rain drops on the roof as I drifted off to sleep, and how hard it was to wake up on a rainy foggy morning. Ah, how peaceful it was. It also 'perked up' the landscape and it became much more alive. The road to my house was a mix of fog and sunlight.

Fog and Sunlight watercolor (C)

As I took my morning drive to work, I pass several farms with hay fields. This one, in particular, I love. The way the light falls on it and the fog hangs over it in the mornings. In the distance you can see Tinker Mountain as well as several other mountains that surround the valley. Naturally, I had to try to paint it.

Roanoke County Field watercolor (C) SOLD

I hope to paint more this week. The Lynchburg Art Club is having their show on September 20th and I need to have some new works for that.

Painting Again!

Today was wonderful!

I was able to have a little 'free' time to re-arrange a few things in the studio. I looked over my list of shows coming up and I sort of began to sweat. I really need to get creative.

I cleaned off my table and pulled out my thumb box of watercolors! I sat for a few hours painting a few small landscapes. I can not tell you how good it felt to sit quietly in my new studio space and paint. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Along the New River (C) watercolor

Warm Springs (C) watercolor

Rising Fog (C) watercolor

Wonderful Surprises!

What a nice surprise to get a phone call from David Eakin telling me that I had won first place in the printmaking and graphics category! Wow! Then I got a call from the Bath County show chair telling me that I had sold all three pieces of art! I was really surprised considering there were 634 pieces of artin the show!

http://www.therecorderonline.com/news/2008/0717/news/070.html

I am still in the process of getting my studio back in order. I was thinking about a song by Joe Cocker, "A Little Help From My Friends." I received a wonderful surprise in the mail recently from a fellow artist and I am tickled beyond belief! All kinds of goodies to help restock my studio with the most fantastic items! I am amazed at the compassion and goodness that still lives in this world. My faith in mankind is also restored. Thank you so very much for being a blessing and an angel! I hope that tomorrow I can get in some studio time and collage and paint!

Bath County Art Show

The Bath County Art Show Is A Wonder For Artists And Art Lovers

This special event, hosted by the Bath County Arts Association, has been a county favorite for 44 years. Local and out of state artists in oils, watercolors, sculpture, photography, and other media will be represented. The Art Show takes July 13th through July 20 at Valley Elementary from 1 to 5 pm each day. For more information, please contact Kathy Singleton at 540-839-2139. Don't miss it!



Sunday I will make my yearly trek to Bath County. Rolling hills and vast farmland. I also like to stop at the waterfalls along the way. I love Bath County!



I am not sure which pieces I will take as I don't have a lot to choose from. I have only had a small space to make prints in since the studio is being rebuilt. I guess it is a good thing I make small prints...for now. Out of five pieces, here are the three I liked best.

Bath County Storm monotype (C) gls [won 1st place printmaking and graphics, SOLD]

Cloud Shadows monotype (C) gls SOLD

Faux Sunset monotype (C) gls