Arboretum Show

I have been excited about having art in a fun show this weekend. Last year I participated in a couple, but I really did not know what I was doing. Though I had decent results - some sold - I wasn't particularly pleased with the overall quality. This time I worked hard to make them better, to have some pride in the workmanship. I will have three hanging pieces, an oil and two nice photos, all framed well. But also exciting for me is that I am having "bin work" for the first time, ten unframed pieces that are in a folding canvas rack and will be for sale. Three acrylic paintings and seven nicely matted photos. Here is a pic of my bin before it left the house yesterday. The event was to start Friday, but since a big part of it will be outside, it has been postponed due to the weather forecast. Oh darn.. Maybe next week will be as beautiful as it was last year.

Growing

I have been in the studio this afternoon having a blast. The big place is quiet with only Amy and Todd up the hall cleaning their respective studios. My CD player has been blaring my favorite old singalong songs while I have puddled and painted. (Piddling is a good activity while waiting for paint to dry.) Amy who is handy with tools is going to help me make some necessary changes to the studio next week. Since I am getting more comfortable with the brush and the palette knife, paint and canvas, I need to have more places to hang my stuff, at least while it dries, not to mention display. I am becoming bolder!
In the dead heat of summer, the studio is too darned hot to be there, but the temp this week has been great. It may have been better to be outside at the beach, but I have brought the beach inside with my blue paintings. It has all been good.

still at it

The last picture I posted inspired me to keep going, so I have turned out a few more with the same theme. I am trying to be bolder with color. The style of painting is probably considered to be representational abstract. I am just glad to be doing something!

I'm liking 'em.

new one

Back in January Trip made me some stretched canvases to paint on, and they are so nice I have been hesitant to use them. What a silly I am. But today I decided to paint a light abstract water scene on one. It does not have the features - like a focal point or values - of good art, but I think it is not too bad.

Musee des beaux-arts Montreal

I had to leave without seeing everything, but I so enjoyed my time in this wonderful art museum today. Here is a girl perhaps copying one of the old paintings in the museum. A few years ago I learned that this is an art in itself, that old paintings fade or decay and copying is one way to preserve them. It is also a good way to learn.

a goal

A few days after I come back from Oklahoma, I will be one of the artists from the WAA whose work will be hanging in a local shop. My entries are all recently taken photos, and I have been on task getting them framed. The Hobby Lobby framers whom I have seen every day this week have done a great job enhancing the look of the pix. It is pretty amazing how first you have a photograph. Then you may improve it a bit like straightening, cropping. I don't have Photoshop so I just use what the computer offers. Then a mat around it adds a nice touch. And then when it gets in a good frame, that little picture you saw in the back of the camera looks so good! It is a little scary putting stuff that I have done out there to be critiqued, but I need to get over that.

an unexpected result

Last fall I participated in a "plein air paint out" only because it was at and for Wrightsville Beach. What a lot of nerve I had! I was way out of my league. When I saw the lovely pieces the more seasoned artists cranked out, I was so embarrassed! What would I do! Which would be more humiliating? To say I am not good enough, that I can't do it and quit? Or to ignore the risk and carry on? I opted for going through with it. On the second and final day of the event, I turned in my one small, simple watercolor of the beach, matted and framed by me. I took it to the nice coordinator and said, "Here. Do what you want with it." I have wondered what became of the little beach scene. Did they look at it scornfully then put it directly in the trash? Did it make it to a back wall of the small museum? Yesterday I got a sweet handwritten note from the director saying it had sold! I was so pleased. Now the WB museum is $75 richer, and my confidence is a smidgen higher. It was a simple little picture, but I admit it was also sweet. I thank whoever bought it.