Saying Goodbye

A month has passed and I have neglected my blog. It turned out to be a month of events and unexpected news. Painting was sporadic, but continued nevertheless.

I try to keep my personal life separate from my art life, but sometimes one affects the other.

Saying Goodbye.

A good friend of 26 years left us a few weeks ago. All too soon. I know she isn’t the first to die too young (I happen to think 70 is too young), but she is the first among my many enduring friendships to go.

I met my friend Terry the first year I taught at a neighborhood school in Virginia Beach. I’ll never forget that day, as there were many of us who became longtime friends that year. Our principal had all of us in a faculty meeting share “how I spent my summer vacation” with one another as an ice-breaker for the newbies and to allow the returning faculty play a quick game of catch-up. We all rolled our eyes and thought about what to share, or not. It was Terry who made the biggest impression as she announced “I got married!” to the surprise of most everyone.

I mention that, because that marriage became a lasting and lovely testament to love, respect and admiration among two people. They adored one another. I not only have cried over my loss of a friend, but for his tremendous loss of his soul mate.

Terry was there for me when I went through my divorce from my first husband many years ago. I puppysat and housesat for her while she and Bobby took trips together. She and Bobby had the most beautiful home and opened it graciously to me. It was a paradise to me and a place where I would draw and paint during those housesitting times.

Terry was an excellent teacher who touched the lives of many children. She had the same effect on all who entered her life and more profoundly on those of us she called friend. And that is a good many people, as it turns out. She had a heart of gold, listened intently, and made all of us feel like we were the most important person in her life. Her sense of humor was keen and crisp, but never biting or harsh. She could tell a story and have us all rolling in laughter or chuckling knowingly at her take on life.

Terry was instrumental in keeping together the group of us who had forged a special friendship at school. We became the Lunch Bunch, and at least once a year for probably the past 20 years we would get together to share our lives, our trips, our failures and our successes. I don’t recall Terry ever missing a single Lunch Bunch. The next gathering will be, well, I don't know how it will be.

Dear Terry, May your energy be sent into the Universe, to be used for the highest purpose and greater good. May your star shine brightly as your memory lives on in our hearts. We miss you.

Fall Season Blending

It is that time of year when I juggle yard work with art work and whatever else comes along. It can be frustrating, but since I have learned, more recently than I should admit, that I can only be in the present moment, I don't worry about what I'm NOT doing and focus on what I AM doing. It's my fall season blending...a little of this here, a little of that there.

Trying to fit it all in is a challenge. I know I'm not alone, but holy cow...I remember days when I would actually wonder, "what shall I do today?" An eternity ago.

One of those Random Posts

I hated missing the 43rd Street Arts Festival in Richmond this year. I had many of you tell me you missed seeing my work. Believe me, I only "skipped out" because I attended the wedding of a nephew that evening in North Carolina. Which was a beautiful mixture of southern tradition and contemporary fun. The couple is just adorable and I was tickled to see the men, as well as the bride, in Toms shoes. No heels under a gown fit for Scarlett O'Hara for my new niece. Back to the subject, I hear it was a beautiful day in Richmond and 43rd Street was well-attended. It's my intention to return next year, if accepted back in.

Last night was busier than anticipated at 4th Fridays in Manchester. I saw a few old friends from Tidewater (Hampton Roads shall forever be Tidewater in my heart) who came in on a charter bus with fellow members of Chesapeake Bay Artists Association to see their own group show at Art Works. Thank you to all who wandered over to Studio 8 for a visit.

Later, fellow artist Susan and her husband popped in late and we have decided to paint out of our comfort zone. Soon she and I shall meet and do landscapes. ! I'm dying to have the opportunity to explore and grow. I love painting my pups and kitties, but I've been doing it for so long, I need to tackle something new. It will help me to be a better painter and is always energizing and refreshing. AFTER the upheaval and cursing, that is. (I really despise painting landscapes and even more doing so outdoors. But I shall persevere.)

Classes are underway and I am so excited that 3 of my students are branching out and exploring other subject matter. Hmmm, I just caught the connection there. Maybe there is an energy out there calling to some of us right now. Well, here is to taking the next step.

On another note, I had the opportunity to see the show Flesh Made Paint just before it closed at the Phillips Collection in D.C. I understand it has moved to New York. If at all possible and you are an artist, or even if not, it is one of the most fabulous shows I've seen. It can be found via google. ooooh, ahhhh. amazing.

I'm going to end this post with an image from one of my customers. I am so glad one of my random photos become painting found its rightful home. You can see in this photo that Diesel is admiring his newly acquired portrait, titled Taking Notice.

I take photos of dogs whenever I do an outdoor show. Then I paint the images that speak to me, usually for exhibit or as demonstrations for my students and workshops. This pup caught my eye with his unusual eye patch, so YEAH, I took pics and painted him.

In the meantime, his owner contacted me about commission work. I sadly relayed that I wasn't taking on new commissions. This particular person would check in from time to time to see if I was ready to take on a new commission. I didn't make the connection right away and I had no idea at the time that this person contacting me was the dad of the dog I wound up painting later for fun. Thankfully I often make notes about the photos I take if the owners are willing to chat with me at the time. And sometimes I even check those notes. :-)

This ends happily a year and various e-mails later (yep, I didn't say I was quick.) Once I connected the dots I contacted the pup's owner to let him know I had actually already painted his dog. Once he saw the pic, he confirmed. A painting I did at random was united with the pup's humans. How sweet is that?

I've neglected my Blog!

Well, September is here and I have neglected my blog. This is a quick post to catch up with basics and then more posts will follow.

Classes have begun again at Crossroads and at the studio. It's good to see everyone and be back.

This Friday night will be 4th Fridays in Manchester and as always, our Studio 8 at Plant Zero will be open for you to visit. No special plans this month, but Mike has been working on new paintings he'd love to show off.

I spent more of August working on home projects than I had anticipated, plus took a sweet beach vacation that was most wonderful and much needed. I pulled out my crayons and sketch book for the first time in several years. Lastly, I spent my creative time in August working on sketches for several commission clients and I'll soon be putting about 5 new commission pieces on canvas. Then there is Mikki who is in the final stages of completion. So, while things didn't go quite as planned, which is soooooo typical of my daily life, it was a kind and gentle August for the first time in several years.

Ahhhhhhhh.

End of August

It's nearing the end of August. I had hoped to accomplish more, but am tickled I got as much done in the studio as I did. Not too unexpectedly, household projects took their share of my time. Nevertheless, here are two pieces in progress.

This one is Sundance.

And this one is Micki, Tess's companion.

Sundance is a small 8 inch square panel and Micki is a larger painting on canvas.

Ditto, Plum and King are all in the sketch phase and I'll post their images as soon as each makes it to canvas.

Remember this Friday night, the 28th, is 4th Friday celebrating the arts in Manchester, downtown Richmond and we'll have the studio open with our guest artist exhibiting for the first time. We're pretty excited about that. See the Art Tails info in the column to your right.

My latest e-mail newsletter has been sent out. If you didn't get it and would like to, email me and I'll get it to you asap. If you do not have my email, visit my website and you'll find a way to contact me.

Lastly, I'll soon be setting down the brushes for a much anticipated week on the beach. Yay!! Then back to work and classes begin. I need another month of summer. Any way we can order that, for takeout?

Good Energy Good Month

So much happening in a month that was meant to be quiet and productive for me. Productive it is, but in ways I had not anticipated.

Last night I attended a meeting with a diverse group of artists representing an array of media - from actors to painters to writers and an architect, and my favorite of the night; a professional pumpkin carver. The energy was relaxed yet invigorating. Bringing so many together to network and share knowledge and ideas was for me just what the doctor ordered. Wow.

You can follow this group on Blogger

http://www.collaborativearts.blogspot.com/

and once I remember how to, I'll include it in my sidebar here.

Carley is another commission completed which goes home this weekend. She's a precious King Charles Spaniel. As with all of my images notecards are available and prints by request.

More commissions are in various stages - from sketches awaiting approval to Tess, progressing nicely. Tess hasn't been seen by her humans yet, so still no post for that one.

Lastly, my studio partner Mike and I are trying something different. We have invited our first guest artist to show her work in our studio. We always open the studio on the 4th Friday of every month, and my student and friend Shirley Silberman is looking forward to her artistic debut in August. Hopefully I also figure out how to post her invites, but you can read more on my Facebook page or look for the event titled Art Tails. Shirley's style and work has intrigued me from the day I met her and I am proud to show off her work at The Eight, our Plant Zero space.

Time for a Break

So, more sketches and paintings are now in progress and I'm gonna take a break and put my toes in the sand for a bit.

Before I leave, I'm going to share something I've been pondering that puzzles me greatly.

I paint in color. You can't miss what I do and how I do it. I do not paint in realistic color....I interpret with color. I assume people are drawn to my work largely because of the color, or if they want one of my paintings, they know I'll be using unusual color. So I am baffled when a client (and it's been more than one) asks me to paint their commission piece in realistic colors. For me it's like saying "I love what you do, but do something different." And I do accommodate the requests to some degree. After all I want my client happy. But my best paintings are the ones where I have the most freedom to let the subject matter speak to me.

Similarly not too many months ago, I took my paintings out of a gallery that was not successful in selling for me. The gallery director, upon my leaving, thanked me for bringing my work and told me how much he and his clientele loved seeing what I do. And that he'd love for me to bring more work in the future if I desired. And that maybe I should do landscapes.

Now, I was feeling pretty good and ready to thank him profusely until that last sentence.

Huh? I dunno.

Would you ask a landscape artist to paint green dogs? A portrait painter to draw bowls of fruit?

Again....I dunno.

Share your thoughts if you are so inclined.