Artwork for my first juried show in Austin has earned a Merit Award!

Entering shows has long been a favorite of mine; one that I have not participated in for quite some time. Yes, there are fees, specific photography, deadlines, rules for submissions, sizes and framing, drop off locations, etc BUT it is a big thrill when a credited juror allows your entry ( actually two)into the competition. Just being a candidate with other members of  the very prestigious Waterloo Watercolor Society for the annual Fall Show was good enough for me! So...after watching a very eye opening demo by the juror, Kris Parins, who also taught a work shop for some very lucky artists, I was smiling. Then came the list of paintings to be displayed at

              North Hills Gallery 7050 Village Center Drive Austin                             

   and one of my paintings was selected! The Show will be open to the public Nov 10-Dec 1st. If you are in Austin, do stop by.

Allow me to introduce..."Simply Delicious"

 

...also please allow me to introduce Kris Parins' very carefully planned pouring techniques. Using 3 colors and masking all whites, she adds her colors and lets them mix on wet 140 lb paper which has had her basic drawing transferred to it. It's amazing to watch and the results are even more incredible. There can be more than 4 pourings per painting for the mid and dark tones to be masked as well. Her training as a graphic artist is evident.

                                            

 

3 colors selected were simply a light, middle and dark tone but I believe this is cad yellow (started with the lightest) and quinacridone red 

 

With the addition of her blue (Manganese?) the green appears and is carefully controlled by her spraying and rolling

 

The smart painters who took her workshop will no doubt be forever changed in their thinking. I will sign up soon! I will try it immediately.

Meanwhile I am so impressed with a pen and ink wildlife artist that I met this past week, Sherry Steele. If you have not yet seen this woman's incredible , delicate but powerful portrayal of animals, especially African varieties, head to her website as fast as you can: www.sherrysteele.com.

Happy painting....

Just back from Italy and Sicily with lots of beautiful scenes to paint!!

What an incredible trip! We are just back from a 14 day journey to Rome  then across Sicily to the east Coast and over to Italy's Amalfi Coast before returning to Rome. We saw beautiful country, idyllic waters, enjoyed the friendly people & their foods  & marveled at well kept relics of life from 7 centuries before Christ. The influences of  different empires that situated themselves there from Africans, Arabs , Spaniards, Greeks and Normans are still evident today. Ancient temples were reconstructed as Basilicas still in use today but left with Arabic domes and tiles to show their history. Even earthquakes could not stop this area from being the showplace of life in the past and yet it is vibrant today with its inhabitants. Colors are indescribable...so I guess I'll have to paint them.

I definitely doodled a little on the trip. Thanks to advice from fellow painter, Martha Ruth, who had just returned from Rome the week prior, I brought 10 4"x5" pieces of watercolor paper and a very small travel kit ( 5" round) from Raphael paints. It was equipped with a mini paintbrush but I brought my favorite 2 sided flat/round as well. One of my favorite moments was in Catania painting on the steps outside our picturesque Hotel with my new friend, "Luige" . She is a relatively new painter but an accomplished quick learner with a nice, loose touch. We spent just an hour there and
think we will both remember it as very special. Here is my balcony scene from that morning in Catania and also a balcony view from our hotel in Reggio Calabria, Italy. Across the sea is Sicily.

 

 

 

 

FYI if you plan to travel by air, no paints are allowed in the cabin...bummer but the rules are for safety regarding hazardous concoctions and odors. I did bring a pencil and changed my genre to drawing which was a good practice for me. This is a favorite tool of my daughter, Leslie, who has mastered the pencil sketches. Here is my chosen scene of The Fountain of Trevi. I plan to paint a larger version of this , for sure.

 

 

BTW, the winning title of the cactus wreath contest ( see my Aug 18 blog) was Anne Witt, my clever daughter in law , who immediately titled it "Cool Yule". That lead to the final title: "Have a Cool Yule, Y'all!"....we do live in Texas and that is a Texas cactus, after all... Cards have been ordered and will be sold at two shows in November. I will send details soon for anyone wanting to order for Christmas. I do encourage you to create your own cards. It is great fun and many comments are promised from your recipients.

Ciao, Bella! 

Name this artwork and win a box of Christmas Cards!

Talk about HOT...at this point 15 straight days over 100!! So I'm staying cool inside painting Holiday card scenes & looking at my marvelous prickly pear cactus outside. I'm thinking this is a survivor in Texas & deserves some recognition. Here's your chance to show some creativity and win a boxed set of my Christmas cards for your efforts ( a $20 value but priceless, of course, to be named the author of  this piece!). I need a catchy name for this artwork and , though I've had some attempts at it, nothing has hit yet.  This contest will close on August 31, 2013 at 12M.  I will announce the winner & title. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

 

Feeling like Christmas in July?

I know I am in the Christmas mood as I started painting two Christmas Card scenes this past week. One is my annual card ...the other is for my longtime good friend & client Weir International Mining. We have had a 20 year liaison that I am very proud of...To put me in the mood, I am humming along with carols! Believe it or not, this is not too early to get into the spirit & the temp is guaranteed to lower by 10 degrees when you sing "Dashing Through the Snow".... Here is a sneak preview of my almost completed 2013 Card.

If you are in McKinney and want to be shopping to beat the Holiday rush or are "feeling  Christmasy" just wander over to "Made in McKinney" , the store inside the McKinney Convention and Visitors Bureau at 200 W Virginia just off the Square. They will have their official grand opening July 17th at 3:30 and have stocked the shelves with many fine items ( Christmas cards included) from local artists: visual and vocal, cute and classic, at all price points and for all age groups. This is not-your-ordinary souvenir shop so make it a part of your shopping experience on the Square...and you'll be supporting your town, as well....Merry Christmas in advance.

Where did June go??

June 1
Once summer hit , ie school ended, the schedule flew out the window. I barely made it to my Tuesday paint group in Apache Shores.  I am working on entering the Georgetown Library's show that must have a "book theme"...so I had our Austin grandsons pose for me as though there is a little reading going on after lights out ( shock, shock!) hence the title, "Breaking Curfew". Keep in mind these are works in progress....

June 15

We were in McKinney for a few days and I met with Windy Gallagher, the clever and creative owner of a new shop inside the Convention and Visitors' Bureau called "Made in McKinney". All is going well for her as the word gets out. Many new items are on the shelves including adorable canvas bags in a variety of shapes and sizes that have McKinney scenes on them, some featuring my artwork....Come in for CDs,  T shirts, note cards, framed prints and so much more. The shop is now open on Saturdays until noon. Please visit. You won't be disappointed. Here is one of the scenes coming soon in the store in honor of our great Texas State Fair...."The Star" 

June 22

Terry's garden inspired me to create "Spiced Up" which is also still a work in progress. I am such a foodie and the harvest is so colorful, it really whet my appetite. Hopefully, this will be a fruit and veggie series as I would also like to capture the colorful Farmers' Markets in Austin and McKinney. Here we go. I'll post the final products.

June 24

I held my first cartooning class for 5 aspiring young artists who show some real potential. They each selected an animal and then sketched guidelines, inked in the permanent lines and voila, they really liked the results. Notebooks were started and we will meet again in July.

Stretched my color side with Rae Andrews on Sat May 18th

What a fun workshop for about 22 artists affiliated with Waterloo Watercolor Society! We had two excellent demos by Rae Andrews who is a vivacious, confident artist with a fresh color style and lots of "isms" that we all then tried to incorporate into our own work. Her first very planned painting was of a cottage surrounded by trees but her second was completely unplanned and she let the paint dictate what the scene would later be.  
Here is an example of my painting that day...it is of Lugano, Switzerland. We visited our daughter who attended an architecture program there for a semester. Lugano is a  gorgeous spot where sky, water, snow capped mountains and palm trees all exist in harmony. Kind of a Shangri-La. Enjoy!

Steiner Ranch Art Show was 1st Class

Steiner Ranch held their Art Show on Sat May 4th with beautiful weather ( some artists were outside and some inside) at the Towne Centre Community Hall. Artists displayed their oils, watercolors, acrylics, metal craft, silk scarves and jewelry and even a new Sweet Iced Tea was debuted. The sponsors, Suzette Minorini , Gladys Poorte and Janine Martens did a great job! Many thanks!

 Good attendance and people ready to buy made it a very fun show and worth all the effort. I displayed my T-shirts and tote bags with Trixie, the Armadillo. My favorite comment came from a new friend who said, " I never thought I'd say this about an armadillo but she's beautiful!" Thanks, Judy.
I also displayed my commission ....capturing faces and moments in watercolor. Lots of parents asked questions and are considering this idea.


                                                                   

Great start to May!

What an incredible week to start May! Windy Gallagher's gift shop inside the McKinney Convention and Visitors' Bureau had its soft opening with great success.  Thank yous to everyone for all their hard work include Windy, of course, husband Scott, Leo and Miguel and the entire wonderful staff at the Bureau . Special thanks to my buddies at the Ebby Halliday office and my McKinney family ( you know who you are!) for coming down to say hello while I painted.  I was delighted to see a big variety in all the items from T-shirts and tea towels to wine bags and mouse pads, note cards and much more is on the way. We celebrity sighted Ray Ricchi from the City Council, , the City attorney and many others who make the wheels turn in the right direction for our wonderful town. Look for Trixie, the stylin' Armadillo who will be "Steppin' Out on the Square soon!

Also prevmiered is a brand new watercolor of three important buildings with lots of history: the McKinney Performing Arts Center, The Cotton Mill and The Flour Mill. I titled it "McKinney's Triple Crown". Look for this image soon on items in the store. It will be available  pre-matted and ready to frame.

If you haven't been inside the shop, this week is the perfect time to go as it is Tourism Week...it is NOT your ordinary gift shop and has some affordable , high quality items to promote McKinney.

Grand opening of McKinney's Visitors & Convention Bureau

News flash: Please join me in McKinney Texas at the new location of McKinney's Visitors & Convention Bureau located on Virginia just across from Ruggieri's. If you want to obtain the latest information about what is going on in town and how you can participate , this is the place.  Starting May 1st they will also feature THE BEST gift shop where artists who have a deep love and connection to this very special place will display their wares. Music, candles, note cards, afghans, reprints of local scenes & much more will be available to all.  Come support your town and count me IN!