Packing once again!!

This time for Limoux, France where we will stay at Le Monastere.  This very old monastery has been converted to a small inn devoted to special groups.  Biking groups and artists are welcomed for two week stays.  They provide meals and transportation to various sites to paint, a studio, and location in the middle of a quaint town.

Because I will take my pastels this trip and must carry them in my backpack, the balance must either go in my multi-pocketed vest or suitcase.  Additional watercolor materials and papers, backing, another stool and the rest of gear should fill it completely.  In the nooks and crannies I will stuff my clothes!!

I will be posting from time to time once I set up the path.


A practice sketch...watercolor with pastel pencils on pastel ground.   "Hammock Trees"

Bracelets Galore

 Greys

 Peridot greens

 Saphire blue mix

 Saphire pearl

 Tanzanite silver

 Tanzanite amthyst

 6 spirals

 black copper

 

 

Here are some of the bracelets I am currently completing.  First one was the black/copper.  I did not complete the saphire/pearl as it wasn't a pleasing combination to me.  If I teach this bracelet I will make up kits to keep it simple for students.  As you can see they each take on a different look depending on what is used in combination.

 



Paint the Beach Highlights

 Gala Crowd

 Demo pastel painting

 Quick Draw winner Neil Walling w Georgia

 

 

Paint the Beach was a great success with 51 artists registered to participate.  They all had fun working on their visions of the town in spite of rain and windy days.  The challenge is to create a work of art working outside the studio and most rose to the occasion producing beautiful paintings. 

 

The gala was well attended with delicious food and beautiful music.  Judge Kevin Dean chose varied medias and styles for the awards, well deserved.  Saturday's quick draw was a 2 hour painting challenge and all enjoyed the venue of Times Square.  Many had visitors peering over their shoulders and ended up selling the paintings to them at the end.  I did a pastel of our sponsor Al Durrett's dog Grady and gave it to him for a thank you gift.

 

 

Everyone is already talking about "next year" so that means our time was well spent.  Now to get back to "normal" and do a bit of painting myself.   I will focus on pastels which I will take to France in the spring.  Plus my ego was boosted by winning an Honorable Mention for the pastel of Pilgrim Haven Preserve Beach  (Lake Michigan)   ..a first from FMBAA for pastel.

Paint the Beach Submissions-Deleted!

 



Catching Up....

Thanks to all the hard work this summer and Jeff's hard campaigning..as well as his great qualifications, Getting for Prosecutor was a super success and won the day!!

The win wasn't finalized until early on Wednesday morning but his opponent conceeded to Jeff's victory.  Now he will begin his plan for the prosecutor's office and take some time to spend with his family.

Thanks to everyone who helped walk in parades, post signs, wear t-shirts around, attend events and especially my earring makers!!

We are currently in the midst of the Paint the Beach event here in Florida.  Two days of painting have passed with varied weather.  Artists learned to paint between rain drops on the first day but enjoyed mostly sun yesterday.  I have completed two paintings which I will critique then frame today.  Tomorrow will be spent at the tent as the paintings are returned by the artists and judged.  Big party tomorrow evening and more events on Saturday.  I'll post a few photos as I can.

Gold and Silver

A short trip to Hamilton, Ohio brought me to a house I hadn't seen in over 30 years.  Standing there was a woman that I lost touch with over the years but who had been a dear friend way back in high school, pre George, and through my early marriage.  Although on the outside we both had changed with the passing years, inside we were still the two girls who enjoyed visiting art museums, making our own art, reading good books, laughing  and enjoying life in general.  

We spent the two days catching up with each other, eating some good food and enjoying wine from our own Kalamazoo wineries.  We visited a gallery, art stores, local craft stores and toured the Cincinatti area.  I remembered visiting there back in the 60s and seeing a wonderful Shakesperean production in the round.

She and I plan to stay in touch and visit again.  Perhaps in Florida and surely in Michigan and Ohio.  We will make paste paper, paint,  take walks, do collage and reconnect once again.  I am sad that we lost those years in between, but so very glad that we have found each other again.   What is that old Brownie Scout saying....Make new friends but keep the old..one is silver and one is gold.  I am so blessed to have a wealth of gold and silver friends!!

Bracelet Project in Progress

Dale and I recently took a class to learn how to make this bracelet called Cellini Spiral.  Although it looks complicated, it is actually the different size beads which make the interesting design.  Most difficult is keeping the rows correct.  The twist occurs as the beading continues.  I've not put the clasps on yet.  Two more are in the works.