Feeling the Urge...

Mountainside monotype (C) gls

Go West monotype (C) gls

I guess I have been a tad bit cranky lately, I have not heard any complaints, but I know I have been . Other than having a horrid case of poison ivy all over my face, neck, hands, and stomach, I have a raging case of creative constipation also! You may not think so, since I have been creating a few small sketches, and playing with acrylics. Tonight was the night. I had to close myself off and get into the 'real' paint. Oils...I love oils. Monotypes, I love monotypes. so, here you go. Fresh on the clayboard.

I feel so much better now.

I feel a productive weekend coming on!

(Snicker.)

Little Landscapes

Acrylic study 0

Acrylic Study 1

Acrylic Study 2

Acrylic Study 3

This weekend I painted some little landscapes. I intended these to be studies for larger paintings later on. Typically, I use watercolor, but after re-organizing my studio, I thought I would play with my acrylics. I am not sure I really like using them. I think it takes a lot of practice, or something, to get them just right.

Acrylic Study 4

Acrylic Study 5

I think my next medium to try is Gouache, but I love the spontaneity of the monotypes the best.

Intrigued

I have always been intrigued by water. While calm and serene, reflecting beautiful skies, it can rise and swell into an angry roar. I am fascinated by the mood of water. This summer, I had a new affair with two (new to me) watersheds. I am determined to visit and paint these places over and over.

First, I visited the McCormick Farm in Raphine, Va. which is now a preserved area, a working farm open to the public, now owned by Virginia Tech. While it is rich in historical content, it is also rich in beauty. The pond there captured my attention for the majority of the time I was there. I have to paint it...again...to get it just right. Here are my first few studies of the McCormick pond.

McCormick Farm #1 Watercolor (C)

McCormick Farm #2 oil (C)

The second place I was mystified by, was when my friend Angie took me to her place on the New River. I was so excited. While we spent the time toasting the end of our summer break and floating down the river on intertubes, I longed to paint it after feasting my eyes on all the colors as they rippled across the mountains and water cast by the changing clouds and light. It's Angie's little slice of heaven and she is generous to share it, as well as her friendship. Soon, I will be posting my studies from there.

Reflecting...

Fall Trees by the Creek oil on canvas (C) gls

Well, school has begun...the crickets are churping, the cicada are getting quiet, the fish are swimming slower in the pond, the end of summer flowers are blooming, and I smell fall, even if it is close to 90!

Guided By the Light

Yesterday photograph (C) gls

Landscape of Time photograph (C) gls

(won 2nd place at the League of Roanoke Artists Juried show 2009)

Spirit Door photograph (C) gls

The Other Side photograph (C) gls

Square Dance photograph (C) gls

Last weekend was the second annual Plein Aire Paint Out for Art for the Earth. This year all proceeds from the art show and sale (featured for the month of October at Art by Night at Gallery 108) will go to the Catawba Sustainability Center. For those of you familiar with a ride over 311 towards the Homeplace Restaurant, it is the large farm just to the right as you come down the mountain. The farm includes 370 acres of beautiful farmland, now owned by Virginia Tech. There are many ideas generating around this property, one idea will be utilizing the land by renting out small gardening spots for local folks to raise crops which in turn are harvested and given to local food banks, etc. The site will also be used educationally in may ways, from visiting local schools to Tech architecture students, to name a couple.

While we were all there to paint, we were over come with the beauty of the farmland, houses, barns and outbuildings. While it was a beautiful day, the wind was quite ferocious, making it tough to control paint, pencil, and paper. I found myself more engaged and taken by walking around the property and investigating the old structures and land. I was intrigued by the smell of the old barns which brought back some of the best memories of my childhood, the days I lived on a Fincastle farm back in the 1960's. I was mesmerized by the shadows and how they landed on the walls and floors inside the buildings. I was excited at all the patterns created by lime stains, cracked concrete, light coming through the old window panes, and the light patterns created inside the old silos. Painting will happen another day since the center is open to the public, and I fully intend to pack my paints and return.

I took two years of photography in college and loved it. I dabble here and there but never show any of it. I think, this time I may show some of my photographs. The images, to me, are hauntingly abstracted forms of farm life and nature. I hope you enjoy them...I'd love to hear what you think!

TA DA.....Check Out This Blog!

YAY! David Eakin has a blog! Check it out!
http://davideakin.blogspot.com/

Lazy Days of Summer

Under a Stormy Sky Monotype (C)

Lazy days of summer. I have been enjoying these lazy days. Rainy or not, hot or not, humid or not. I have been lazy. I just realized it will be time to go back to work on the 12th. Somehow, I think that once I am on a schedule, I can get more done. Why is that?

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Steve Jobs

An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth. Bonnie Friedman


Time is just something that we assign. You know, past, present, it's just all arbitrary. Most Native Americans, they don't think of time as linear; in time, out of time, I never have enough time, circular time, the Stevens wheel. All moments are happening all the time. Robin Green and Mitchell Burress, Northern Exposure, Hello, I Love You, 1994

My mind is full of ideas, time to organize and produce. Time to let go of the dogma. Time to stop being lazy and get away from this computer and do something productive.

If you happen to get a little time, please go check out the impressive BIG paintings at Signature 9 Gallery. I went to the opening last Friday night and it was an incredible opening! Fantastic art and artists and an array of unique h'orderves . WOW.

http://www.signature9gallery.com/

Also, I just wanted to let everyone know about the WVTF ART SHOW OPEN HOUSE:
Friday, August 14, 2009
Time: 5-9 p.m.

Jeffrey W. Allison - Art Show juror from Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Live music from Sage Wright, Lydia Bassett, Mike Mitchell, Benedict Goodfriend and Cara Modisett playing classical from 5 - 7 p.m. followed by The Wright Kids playing bluegrass from 7 - 9 p.m.http://www.thewrightkids.com/

Details at http://www.wvtf.org/artshow.php

The piece Mr. Allison selected was my oil based monotype, Bent Mountain Marsh. (SOLD)

What Inspires You?

What inspires you?

Is it a person, place, or thing?

Is a poem, song, or a painting?

Please comment and share!

For me, inspiration comes in many forms. From objects. From experiences. From memories. From concepts. From people. From places. From everywhere and everything.

I am inspired by...dreams, books, colors of glass, bubbles, the night sky, twilight and dawn, flowers, skies and clouds, green foliage, mountains, watersheds, birds, mammals, amphibians, anything domestic or wild, the smells of coffee, chocolate, or the vanilla air that penetrates my soul when I order ice cream at Brewster's, the smiles of the people I know and love, from thinking back about the teachers I had that pushed me to my limits and made me think and create, from the mistakes I have made (HA!), from thinking back about my childhood escapades, from my exquisite friends, the purr of a cat and the howl of a dog, from the earth, air and water, and right now, from the downpouring rain. As the rain tapdances on the earth, I can smell the dirt, I love that smell. If you are not inspired by something, well............ If you look, really look, inspiration is there.

This summer has been a rainy one indeed, but, it has inspired all the colorful flowers in the new garden. That in turn has gone from my senses to paper.

'Summer Garden' watercolor (C) gls (SOLD)

Shadows of the Sun

Yes, most of my works are small. Typically, I print on an 8' x 8' substrate or smaller, however, I found these clayboard panels that were 6' x 24'. I am really excited about using them. The first one I printed was 'Across the Day' https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG8Njy41hTD_0aYoBCO0rHOT_Ll-1xKLrLdSkUkvSxat5FTCi-INRc6c2CswlO0E4VET6fXEpNrM6euG791i6VmPH24RTO87OHbsagxeFlATzC0zh48Olr-yefobL-Q6I12O0gFPs_Bw/s1600-h/across+a+day+mono+6+24.jpg







This image is the second one of this size I have done. Working with oils and very little working time due to using the clayboard, I find the larger attempts a lot more challenging. I find my mind spinning with ideas. WOW.

Lately...

Night Shadows photograph by gls

Lately, I have been working in the flower garden and yard. Today I finally finished a 7' x 7' patio made from thick brick-like pavers. Being much older now, I need to be careful following through on these huge whims I have, I feel it, lol. My bones ache. Not even a 30 minute dip in the cold creek made a difference...not physically anyway. It felt great, all the sounds of water falling over rocks and the kingfisher darting all about invoked a feeling of peace. Ah-h-h-h.

I am getting ready to make art now. After tomorrows visit to the local gallery to switch out work, I plan on making prints and painting some watercolor landscapes. The annual pilgrimage to Bath County, to drop off work for the Bath County Show, is this weekend. I do love that ride.

I have been renewing my interest in photography. I bought a new digital camera a while back and have been trying to learn about all the amazing things it can do. My first digital camera was only a 1.7 mega pixel camera and I remember being impressed with it, lol. I found a good home for that camera though! I had a student last year that expressed an interest in photography, she even wants to become a photographer at some level, fashion or medical. I was so impressed with her because this student has a keen eye and the personality to be successful at anything she tries. So, I gave her the old camera, a few typed notes that may be helpful to her, and a jump drive to store her photos on. The day after I gave it to her, she came bouncing in my room, showing me her first photos! I am anxious to see what she does this summer! I tell you, this kid is a natural. I pray she follows her dream!

Well, the night clouds are rolling in. Time for me to move along for now.

Back to Basics

Last week was a busy week for me. A friend and myself decided to take a Nature Journaling class at Mary Baldwin College. We did this so we would be more resourceful when taking our students outside. I am filled with ideas to get the students outside, and to get them to write and draw.

It was a little tough because we were required to draw, and draw very quickly. Most drawings were done in one to five minutes. Well, being an artist, you'd think drawing is a snap...but, if you don't draw all the time, and practice, you loose a certain part of it. I realized that I had done just that. I have learned how to 'see', but I have become more accustomed to seeing in blocks of shape or color, not the lineage that makes up the detailed object. There are so many visual interpretations possible from what we see. I am a printmaker. I see color, shape, and texture, so this class was an exercise in drawing. I really needed to re-visit this aspect of my drawing abilities.

I also found out a lot about the Meaningful Watershed Experience. This experience is an investigative or experimental project that engages students in thinking critically about the Bay watershed. MWEEs are not intended to be quick, one-day activities; rather, they are extensive projects that allow students to gain a deep understanding of the issue or topic being presented. Students participate in background research, hands-on activities and reflection periods that are appropriate for their ages and grade levels.

As a class, we did water sampling and evaluated our samples to determine if our creek was 'healthy'. It was awesome. I can only imagine what this project could do to increase our students knowlege and self-confidence. This course made me re-evaluate myself as a teacher as well as an artist. I am going to look into adding environmental sciences or general middle school science to my endorsements.

This class was taught by some fantastic people. Claire Walker Leslie taught us a lot about journaling, and drawing. She had us do gesture drawings, which I had forgotten about. Some of my favorite drawings in college were gesture drawings.

Claire is a journalist/artist, and works with all populations to encourage journaling. Her link is below.

http://www.clarewalkerleslie.com/

Rhonda Roebuck is a very talented photographer and artist. She shared so many wonderful ideas with all of us. Thank you! Check out her website below.

http://web.mac.com/rhondaroebuck/Site/Rhonda_Roebuck.html

Dr. Tamara Willis is the person that wrote the grant for this program. She is one of those folks that is really making a difference. See the MWEE link below.

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/education_mwee.aspx?menuitem=19535

McCormick Farm, is a great place to visit! A small jewel. Check it out if you want to paint, hike, or bird watch! Check out the link below.

http://www.vaes.vt.edu/steeles/mccormick/mccormick.html

Jo King led us on a bird hunt at McCormick Farm. I was amazed with her knowledge! She was awesome!

http://www.augustabirdclub.org/index.html

Betty Greenwood was also a wonderful and knowledgeable person when it came to watersheds and art. I could not find a website for her, sorry. Her journals are beautiful inspirations as well. She turned me on to Peerless watercolors and water brushes...WOW!

I also met a lot of wonderful people from all over. What a week!

Thanks so much to everyone involved!

Summer!

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there!

Earlier today I placed fresh cut flowers from my flower garden on my dad's resting place. I know they flowers will not last long, but I know how much he loved natural things. Thanks dad for all you taught me and for all your love...I know our time was short. Bless you.


The mountains from Sherwood Memorial Gardens is magnificent! From my mind's eye, here are two monotypes created from my visual memory.

This full moon monotype is one that I had created some time ago, I felt it was lacking something...After sitting outside last night, I was taken by the trees blowing in the wind...

TREES! The night glow of the trees. WOW.

Enjoy your summer, and all the natural things around you. Hug your father and let him know how much you love him.

51st Sidewalk Art Show Roanoke City Market

Just to let folks know that this event is wonderful! It is like an artists family reunion, of sorts!
AND...It looks like for the first time this whole week, the sun will shine for all of us!
YAY!

I love seeing all the folks that take the time to come out and view the works and catching up with my fellow artisans.
Come check out all the excitement!

And I will be in my usual spot, F-44, in front of Gone Co-Co! (my favorite dress shop)
Come say hello!

New Miniature Collages (cards)

Years ago I began making these cards for family and friends. Soon, I was asked to make them for this so and so and that so and so. Soon, I was making them on a regular basis. I began these originally more than 15 years ago and they have blossomed in size and in the amount of work I put into each individual one. One customer told me she bought one each year for her child, an aspiring artist, so she could start her own affordable art collection. I was ecstatic!



Finally, I had some time and created a few new collaged images. I will have these ( as well as my monotypes) at the Sidewalk Art Show on the City Market this weekend, and after that you can get them at Matrix Gallery in Blacksburg.

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=10428161&nav=S6aK

http://www.matrixgallery.com/

New Love

Today I took a workshop using precious metal clay. Everyone got to make a pendant after an excellent teaching demonstration. I was amazed at how this stuff works. Now I know why they call it 'Amazing Metal Clay'! I hope to take more workshops in the future.
Here is last weekend's work. I did several of the mini watercolor pendants that a few folks have been asking for. These are actual watercolors that I created on a much smaller scale, about 1" x 1 1/2" then encased them on a small silver (or patinaed frame) so they could be worn as a pendant or charm. I will have these at the Sidewalk Art Show next weekend (May 30-31) on the City Market. So, if you want to take a peek, just ask me, I'll have em.

David Eakin's More Than Places Show

Plein air painting is one of the most exciting forms of art because it engages all the senses and infuses the painting with an energy and sense of authenticity not found in studio work. When you have a opportunity, please check out David Eakin's More Than Places Show! David has sure created this energy and truly engaged the true sense of place with each landscape. I was there for the opening and I honestly could not decide on a favorite!

David also included some dynamic figurative pieces full of color and shape. I love the way he uses color to fill the inner figurative space, giving a 'spirit' or 'soul' to each figure as an individual.

Mark this show down on your list of 'must see'!

His website address is on my sidebar, please chek it out! :)

Open Studio Tours 2009

http://www.openstudiosofroanoke.com/artist/stanley.html

Well, this year I am at a new location. I will be at Mary Bullington's wonderful house, located at 2242 Westover Avenue 540-904-2828 or 540-761-1414. Please come see me, I'll be hanging out on the front porch!

Essential New Toy

Well, I have the essential new toy, yeah! I guess some would say I am behind the times, but, my old Dell DJ 30's battery died. I felt guilty spending the money, but hey, an artist HAS to have music, right? I have been busy downloading the cd's that I have. What a process, but it will be great once I am done.

On another note, (no pun intended) next weekend is the Empty Bowls event. Come to Floyd and show your support!
Here is a little more info on that:

March 29th – Empty Bowls Event
At the Jacksonville Art Center in downtown Floyd Virginia.

Come and enjoy some local music from The Statement, Bernie Covenry and Andrea Marshall while eating some fresh home made bread, great soup in a handmade bowl with desserts from the Floyd County Culinary Class. Tickets cost 10 dollars for adults, 5 dollars for children 6-12 and children under 6 are free and you get to take home the bowl! Tickets are available at the New River Community Action Project, Wildfire Pots Studio at the Winter Sun Building and the Jacksonville Center. Proceeds go the New River Community Action Backpack Project. 11am to 1:30pm. 540-357-5657. For more information: call 540-357-5657


http://www.floydvirginia.com/calendar.html

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!