May Flowers

I was inspired by the arrival of May. It is not only when things start to bloom, but the month of my birthday. And this year is special...the big 50! This painting could be of me in that field, contemplating my past and thinking, even dreaming, of the future. I do have regrets, I wish I had created more personal art. I always worked in the art field, but for a company of one sort or another. Everything had limitations and was creatively challenging. But losing my last gig was a blow, financially, and at a rough period in my life. I have been stumbling along since... back in school and trying to start up my art business. I have tried selling at a local shop, but not with much success. So, now I will try Etsy and maybe some other things. I am scared, but I have to try.

I have decided to clear out my stuff, including what is in my head, and try to focus and do what I want and need to do. I could never have children and sometimes, if I let myself go there, I can become quite sad. But God must have had other ideas for me, I just wish he'd give me a hint!

This is an acrylic with some paper flowers. The sides are painted all around with the scene. She is gathering a lovely bouquet to set her table for one with her finest china! Maybe she stopped to listen to the lovely bird melodies!

"G" for Gladys and Her Hat

Meet Gladys! The new addition to my Alphabet Hat Series! I like her little pout. She is all dressed in peachy orange colors for the Kentucky Derby today! I think she is waiting on her Mint Julep cocktail.

My Paternal GrandMa's name was Gladys. My GrandPa (Pappy) gave me her silver vanity mirror and her jewelry. She was a great country cook. And she made the best baked pies, cookies, and muffins. She cooked on a coal stove, it heated half the house, but in the summer, we would sweat while enjoying her dishes! I will tell you, that the food cooked in that oven was absolutely the best. My Pap heated the house with a coal stove that sat in a corner in their living room. They lived a peaceful and gentle life.

Thinking OutSide the Box

Another Drawing Class project...We had to make a graft over one image and draw it in scale into a larger image. I made my original with 1/4" blocks and drew into 1.5" blocks. It is very easy to draw just about anything this way, you simply draw what is in each box. I used compressed charcoal to get the desired effect I was going for.

Part of the project was to leave some boxes empty, and it was fun to come up with the idea and title for this piece!

Well, I have to go to class and work on a final project for next week and finals week. I think I may have to try another of these!

This summer I am taking a ceramics class and an acrylic painting class!!! YEAHHHH....

My First Gallery Show!!!

Here I am with the pieces I did for my Drawing 1 Class, "Make Mine SunnySide" and "Study In CharCoal". On Friday April 24 th., there was an art show opening event at the gallery in town. It was a student art show of art students from two local colleges. My two pieces were class projects using charcoal. Working from a still life can be a challenge,especially when you must draw whatever is in front of you! No matter what the subject!!! Or angle!

I am one of the "oldie" students, but love the comradely amongst all the artistic souls. This was actually the first time my work has ever been in an art gallery! What a fabulous feeling!!! Had to share!

Collage, Angel Distributing Hearts

This is a collage of an angel distributing hearts she has cut out. I used this same idea a few posts back. This is the first time I tried using collage to create my painting, I actually drink Lipton Tea and used the paper from the tea bag for the cut-outs!!!

I used a bunch of tissue paper for the background texture and painted over it using acrylics with my design. Rubber stamps were used for the background design that shows through.

"F" is for Frida and Her Hat

This is my first Frida! I have admired all the Frida's I have seen painted, and was hesitant to create one. But,I am listening to an audio book on tape while I am in my home studio and guess what it is now...Frida Kahlo's Biography and I am so meshed in this story of this incredible woman and artist who struggled with her health, art, life, as short as it was, and (Diego) ...do not think I could have put up with him and his womanizing, but their love was always there. She was so much stronger than I could be.

Anyhoo, here is my first take on Frida,a woman that I admire, for all she went through and what she accomplished in her short life. An inspiration to those of us who have not been blessed with good health and to those who have!

I gave her gold glimmers in her hair and dark chocolate eyes. I also tried to give her some panache with the jewels and flowers in her hat. Frida loved to dress with such color and jazz. Back to my drawing table and the rest of her story!!!

"E" is for Esme and Her Hat

Finally back to my hat series! Really like how this one came out. My cropping of the art isn't a very good oval, I noticed! AnyHoo......Esme was created with acrylic paint on a thin wooden oval piece. I am really trying to play with color using it for shadows, etc. I am just going with how it moves me at the time. I am not sure if that is correct or not, but I am enjoying the process.

I am listening to a book on tape. I pick these up at the library...love libraries, and listen while I work. Well, my latest is Frida a biography of Frida Kahlo...love it. So, guess who will be posing with her hat for "F" in my hat series???

Scooter and His "BaBy"

This is Scooter Boy, Mom's boy with his new "baby." All of his toys are called baby! He has a box loaded with toys from his very first and he is eleven yrs. old now! He meticulously picks one out, (he knows what he is looking for) and plays with it and then sucks on it, he goes into a trance kind of thing sucking on this toy and then falls asleep. He has done this ever since he was a baby. Too cute. Had to share this photo.

Pen and Ink Class Project

This is another drawing class pen and ink study. I enjoy working with the inks and different pen tips, but find I work much smaller, since it is such a delicate process. I starting a journal of pen and ink work, experimenting and growing in this new journey.

New Banner Idea...

Well, I bit the bullet and tried creating a new banner! I still am not sure about this one, hummmm. I also want to do something else with my blog layout.