Rainy Wednesday

Woke up to gentle rain this morning. I like that. If the weather continues to be cool like this, Kentucky will break a record for low temps in July. So far temps here haven't gone into the 90's once. If the trend continues, it will be the first July ever (since they've been keeping records) with no 90-degree days. I can live with that.

No time to paint again today because I'm heading off to the library for a nice lunch with the Jubilee Youth Art Show committee members and the woman who is judging the show. We had over 270 entries this year and I had my first real good look at the work yesterday. We have some truly gifted artists in the schools. I hope some of them, at least, will continue to pursue their art. Lots of talent here in Shelbyville!

Speaking of talent, the gallery to which I belong, Shelby Artists on Main, is having a Christmas in July sale, so I need to haul out some of my older work and bring it in. I'm not a big fan of marking down artwork, but with the economy the way it is, people just aren't spending their hard earned dollars on expensive paintings. Actually, these days, prints and notecards are what's selling for me. But I need to free up space in my studio, so offering a discount on the older pieces might help move them out. Or not. (:-D)

Hope to upload pics of a couple more new pieces later today. Check back tonight if you're interested!

Is it really summer here??

Wow, the weather here in Kentucky has been so wonderful this past week. Not humid at all, cool nights, sunny, warm (but not too sticky) days. My kind of summer!

Today, I'm off to haul artwork submitted for the Jubilee Youth Art Show to the library, where it will be on display for the next couple of weeks. We have over 200 entries, 2-D and 3-D. We have some very talented youngsters here in Shelbyville! I'm glad I'm not judging this one. I'll just stand back and enjoy.

Still haven't spent any significant time painting, but I'm hoping to get to it tomorrow--if I'm not exhausted from mowing, that is. Meanwhile, here's another painting I completed awhile back. It gets a lot of grins.

Time Flies

Wow--I guess I've been neglecting this site. It's true, life gets in the way while you're planning your life. I have been so busy lately! Summer is flying by and I haven't had time to catch up. My gardens are sorely neglected (although I am slowly making progress with the weeding, and despite my neglect, the veggie garden produced some great turnips, onions and garlic so far!). I've done two art shows, with another two coming up. Two state fair entries--one is finished, the other nearly ready. Most importantly, I just spent a week in Georgia visiting my daughter and grandkids and had a wonderful time! Ashlyn and I made a fairy village out in her yard under a big pecan tree, and Jaden and I played soccer (well, I mostly served as the goalie). The week passed so fast!

This morning I'm heading off to a nice little restaurant in town called The Bistro, where they have chosen five of my paintings to hang there for awhile. Yay! I needed that little ego boost.

So...I better get off the computer and get my butt moving. Later I'll try to get some photos uploaded of new work.

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Well I made it to The Bistro, got my paintings hung, along with paintings from several other artists at the gallery. The Bistro has been remodeled, and looks very nice--and the paintings from the gallery just add to the ambiance. Turns out the owners are artists, too, and some of their work is hanging as well.

Got a new cellphone today, so of course, instead of painting and/or doing yardwork, I spent the entire afternoon messing with it. I really need to get away from all this technical stuff--if it's not the computer, it's the camera or the iPod or something else. Imagine the work I could get done if I didn't allow these technological distractions! Ah well.

Here's a photo of one of my latest artworks:

This piece was used as a sample for a pet portrait gift certificate that was raffled off during a pet adoption event a few weeks ago. Another pet portrait gift certificate is being given as a door prize for the Jubilee Youth Art show this weekend. And, lucky me, I will be one of the judges for the Youth Sidewalk Art contest, which is one of the events during Jubilee week--which leads up to the Shelbyville Horse Show the first week of August. Isn't this puppy just the cutest little thing?

Busy, busy...

Well so much for the idea of doing a painting a day. Not working. I've been caught up in the usual stuff--bad weather, running errands, fighting a nasty cold. I have two paintings that I'm working on at the moment, but seem to have lost all motivation. This happens quite frequently. I start a painting, get about 3/4 the way through it, and something takes me away from it and I lose the initiative to get back to it. All is not lost though--instead of painting, I've been writing, which is also something I love to do and for a very long time, it has taken a back seat to painting. A friend once told me, when asked how she finds time to do all the things she loves (which included painting, writing, music, gardening, etc.), to just go with whatever is nagging me at the present time. Sometimes it's painting, sometimes it's writing--but each will come to the forefront when it needs attention.

So that's what I'm doing, and right now writing is taking precedence over painting. With that in mind, here's a very short poem I wrote the other day--not going to win any writing prizes, but I like it:

The Artist

My brush, like dragonfly wings,

flits across the canvas in flocks of color.

I paint poems.

Ah...I feel better now....seriously, I am working on a novel and do write an occasional poem. I'd love to have one or two published someday. We'll see. Meanwhile, it's very cold here but the sun is shining and my tulips and daffodils are starting to poke their heads up. Spring is right around the corner and that means yard work. Ugh.

Long Time....

So....it's been awhile since I've updated this site. I guess it's a good thing to be busy. So what have I been doing these past few months? Well, there was Thanksgiving, with the grandkids visiting, Christmas, a couple of commissioned artworks to do--oh and I'm still learning to play the dulcimer. I've fallen in love with that instrument and play it every single day, sometimes for hours at a time. Our group played for several organizations during the holidays, and although I was invited to play too, I decided to sit out until I am a little more proficient at it. I play a mean air dulcimer though!

Hmmm...what else is new. Well, my daughter is officially engaged now. And her fiance was just sworn in as a volunteer police officer. We're very proud of both of them. It's getting cold here--going down to about 4 degrees, windy--typical January weather. A few snowflakes, but nothing significant. I wouldn't mind a foot or so for maybe a day or two--then it would have to melt! :-)

Sad to say, but that pretty much brings us up to date! Here's my latest commissioned piece--a pet portrait in memory of my friend's beloved dog Joey, who crossed to the Rainbow Bridge last January.

Just completed this, and boy, was it RIGHT ON! I love it!

And here's something for your amusement. Found it at http://www.turdbaby.com/.

Long time, No See...

Wow! Hard to believe it's been over a month since I last updated this site. Sheesh! Well, maybe it's not so hard to believe. I've been busy. Unfortunately, not so much with painting, but other stuff. The weather here has been so beautiful, I felt compelled to work in the yard. This is the first year in several that I've actually been able to clear some of the gardens and get them ready for the winter. Usually, I'm out there in the spring, raking up piles of leaves and fighting through the weeds that grow, believe it or not, all year long. I didn't finish, but at least the front yard looks presentable.

Participated in an art show in October at the gallery. Didn't make a lot of sales, but enough to cover art supplies for awhile. Still practicing the dulcimer and getting better at it. Bought an autoharp, too--but I haven't had time to really mess with it. I'm hoping to do that now that the weather has turned colder and I'll be inside more. Of course, being inside I should be painting....ah well....

I've got some pics to set up on here, but wouldn't you know they're on the other computer. But stay tuned...