It showered!!

 Adding the fiesta ware plates finished this off.

 Paige & Thomas

 

This past week and weekend has been devoted to the wedding showers for Paige and Thomas.  Kris and I held one in her home which was intimate and nice.  The little triangle boxes we made and put the bracelets in were a big hit.  Karen took the leftovers to give to those who hadn't been able to attend.  Maurice salad, dessert shots, cupcakes...all turned out yummy.  Everyone had a nice time and Karen coming on Friday to help me was really nice. 

 

 On Sunday Thomas's mom had another shower for local friends and held it in the church room where they first met.  It was nice and a bit different with the couple opening their gifts individually with each guest.  I missed seeing them all  opened, but it was nice to have some special time with them.  I made a couple of little paintings for their kitchen using graphics from my mother's 1946 cookbook and recipes from my 1967 book and painted on them cupcakes based on her graduation cakes which they plan to repeat at the wedding. 

 

These add a little color and memories of family in their kitchen. 

So today back to normal and hopefully planting some flowers.  Allie's graduation party is next and should give me a few projects once they start planning in earnest!!!

 



Getting Something done.....

  Navaho  mixed media

 

A chilly and cloudy Saturday that threatens rain was a good time to frame up the paintings for the guild show in June.  The one above has been hanging in my southern studio for a while waiting for it's frame.  This was a fun one with collage, paint, stamps and whatever on mat board.  I had thought not to frame it with a mat but like the white around it so did the standard.  It looks good I think.  This gives me three nice framed pieces for the show, plus the large on birch if they want it. They will go south for exhibits there.

 

I've got some sketching tools ready and hope to get out today or tomorrow for some much needed work in the field.

 

We spent last weekend in CP working on centerpieces and favors for wedding and shower.  It was fun to gather all the pieces, trays, teapots, candlesticks, vases, glassware, linens, and old books, all vintage and many from the whole family.  We set the dining table then built each centerpiece, determining whish pieces would have flowers.  Paige reviewed and Karen photographed and stored each one carefully to be reassembled on the wedding day for the reception.  I wish I had a photo to show you but forgot...in all we did 25 tables.  They are beautiful and I'll take photos at the wedding to show.  Paige's favorite design turned out to be one of the last ones and had something from each family in it just by chance.  Lovely!!!

Juggling!

Not even two weeks here and I am balancing many task balls.  Kris needed a bit of help with the boys transportation and supervision which involves me being at their house almost every day for one thing or another.  Between baseball, pt and appointments the car has be on the move pretty constantly.

In between these trips I've been working on some paintings, hemming tablecloths for the shower and now the grant report and application.  The grant work is tedious and requires some creative writing along with compilation of several documents for the report.  This is the third year I've done it and they keep tweaking the process.  It is better, but no less work involved!!

My painting is ready to ship, I've ordered frames for some new pieces to go in the guild show and am reading up on plein air painting.  Hopefully I'll get out to paint soon. 

Last weekend was beautiful and we did yard work, now it's back to typical spring April..grey, chilly and still ugly.   Hurry spring!!!! 

 

Causeway View    Just before leaving I spent a lovely morning painting with my pastels. 

I'm in!!

I was excited to find out yesterday that I  was accepted into the 25th International Society of Experimental Artists Exhibit in Pennsylvania this June.   

  "The Spark"
mixed media on board
24x24 
This is the painting that was accepted.  It recently won an Honorable Mention at FMBAA whereas the other I entered had a Best of Show there and a third on Sanibel.  It is always surprising to see what a judge might prefer.  This one is my favorite though and I am very pleased. 

The only down side to this is the cost of shipping the paintings to and from the venue.  Expensive!!  This is my second to get in the exhibits and now I only need one more to attain signature status.  I love doing this type of work and hope to reach this goal in the next couple of years.  In 2018 I believe the exhibit will be in Kalamazoo at the KIA and I plan to work on the event.

The complete exhibit will be published in a nice booklet and be on line at the ISEA Artists web site.  Check it out and get inspired!!

My March madness!

It's been a busy month for me doing all the things I love to do.
I painted as much as I could fit in, starting with an oil painting workshop with Neil. As always I learned more ways to tackle that medium, Hoping to use them in Arcadia this fall. I plan to practice more this summer as well. Not doing masterpieces but learning.
The big project was to make a large painting for Paige and Thomas's new home in Georgia. It was a challenge but she tells me they love it. Now to transport to mi...it is 48x30".
Mimi shared some of her tricks in a one day workshop..fun to try and loosen up.
Now to finish up the invitations for the shower and pack up the materials for the summer. Plan is to be in an exhibit at the library with the paper guild members..translate to take even more home!!
We will be trying to enjoy the last days here..a sailing evening, friends, and then home.
Photos are Invitations,painting on its side, wild thing ..

FW: Always learning....

 

 

Subject: Always learning....

 

Moving from the loose style of Burridge, I am trying my hand at oils again starting with a workshop with Neil.  I’ve worked with the medium off and on for plein air and am never completely happy with the results.  So another good try is in order.    Mixing the colors rather than selecting pastels, holding my brush differently and trying very hard NOT to paint everything I see made the work a challenge for me.

 

At the end I was happy with a couple of the paintings so decided to continue the struggle.  I purchased Pam’s water based oils and will learn to work with them in preparation for Maine in the fall.

 

I’ve attached a couple of paintings from that workshop.  They are regular oil.  Helma and I went painting on Monday and I used the new paint…still a work in progress.

 

For the two past days we visited Venice and St. Pete to see old friends Penny and Dirk.  Menz’s met us there and we did some sightseeing together at the beaches and town before meeting for dinner.  It was so nice to see them all and we missed the rest of our Kalamazoo group.  The eight of us women who met and had so much fun together have scattered as retirement and grandchildren changed our lives.  We were lucky to have those years but look forward to seeing where the future takes us.  Hopefully we can have more gatherings with husbands and travel combined.

 

We enjoyed the Dali museum while in St. Pete.  It was a challenge to get to the building as the grand prix surrounded it with barricades.  Worth it though.  Amazing art…not much I would hang in my home though!!  I’m such a traditionalist!!

 

 

Big Arts Success...

If you have seen the Facebook post you know that I was awarded third place for my painting "Genesis" in the "Artist's Best" exhibit being held at Big Arts right now.  Yea!!    It has been fun to see what this painting will do as it took me about two years of working on and off to bring it to this point.  I could see the merit in it, didn't want to "ruin" it so proceeded very carefully...at least for me.

It was awarded the Best in Show at FMBAA and continues to do well.  I plan to enter it in the ISEA exhibit in the spring just as soon as I get it back from this one.  Wish me luck..I need to have three pieces accepted in the international exhibit to obtain my signature status.  I have one so far.

Here is the photo...awful of me but the painting looks nice.   The judge chose more abstract pieces for the first three awards.  First being a sculpture, second a very stylized scene and mine.  He is an impressionist painter, so I thought his choices interesting.

My studio is chocked full of supplies right now as I am teaching pastel for six weeks starting tomorrow, working with Lynne and Sue on a Bob Burridge painting day on Tuesday, prep for the oil workshop, and some stacks for the sales in March.  And I'd really like to finish some paintings I've started!!     Right now I'm a bit stressed to do it all!!