Radishes 1-14-07

I went grocery shopping and the produce display was incredible! This bunch of radishes was simply gorgeous. I couldn't wait to get home and paint it. My sister, neice, and other family members said I was really "out there!" They just don't know what they're missing! Art is about finding and capturing the tremendous beauty in the everyday things that most folks overlook. God is so good to give us so much to enjoy! The red in these radishes contrasted against the green leaves is phenomenal!

Turquoise Vase with Red Flowers

Finally, a post. My resolution to post every day has not worked out very well. Life has a way of getting in the way of our best intentions. But I love this very happy piece of art. It was spontaneous and fun and was more like play than work. Isn't that what art is supposed to be? Play. Fun.

I've struggled with this new style of mine ever since it evolved. It just came out of my hand and heart naturally, but it was so effortless and fun, I wasn't sure if it was "real art." So I called them "Doodles." An artist friend of mine told me that I was cheapening my art by calling them doodles. So I'm changing my blog name and I'm changing my attitude toward this new style of ART I've birthed. Looking at my art makes me smile. I hope it makes others smile too. Art is very personal and thank goodness there is no right or wrong, just honest self-expression.

Jazzy Tulips

I found this while looking through a sketchbook I haven't used in a while. I want to do this in watercolor and pastel larger as a finished painting.

I've been invited to be a co-op member of City Gallery on Main Street in Galax. It's a small local gallery, but I am so excited to become a part of it. Knowing I have 7-8 feet of wallspace to fill is very motivating!

Let's get painting!

My Masterpiece

A NEW YEAR and a NEW RESOLUTION to blog faithfully! I've neglected my blog site for almost TWO months - far too long.

I did this drawing as part of decorations for our Open House at work. It's my "masterpiece" as it turned out and it's done on brown Kraft paper! I used Art Stix and discovered how absolutely wonderful it is to work so large and have so much room to draw! This is done life size and right now is hanging on my kitchen wall. I've trimmed it down quite a bit. It's listed on e-Bay as of yesterday and is awaiting a BUYER.

HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Art Collage October 13, 2006

 

Priddy's Store

While visiting Margie for the weekend, we went to Danbury, NC to visit Margie and Bill's daughter and her family. One of my favorite things about fall is the festivals and harvest time gatherings.

Priddy's Store is a general store that Bill (my uncle's) uncle owned. His daughter runs it now. Her name's Jane. I met her along with another of his daughters. Such a lovely gathering - it was called "Pickin at Priddy's Store," and included pinto beans cooked over a fire in an iron pot, pumpkin and ginger breads, homemade potato wedges cooked outside the store, bluegrass and old time music. Oh we had fun! It was very chilly and damp outside, but that didn't dampen the gathering too much. The crowd was down, which just left more food and fun for the rest of us.

We met a family from Eastern NC camping in Hanging Rock Park nearby. The couple had six children who are home-schooled. The wife was an artist - nature journaling. It was so interesting talking to her and having folks admire my sketchbook.

This sketch is of the old doors to the side of the building. The door handles and the begonia underneath really drew my attention. Margie said, "she paints the oddest things." That's part of the artistic eye, I told her. We see things differently than the average person. Artists find beauty in things that most people overlook - ordinary things, and it's our job to draw their attention to that beauty.

One other interesting note: About 2 weeks ago, two small boys, ages 3 and 4, drowned in the Dan River. It was a huge story in the news and oh so tragic. We passed by the very place where the boys were found. The community had set up a memorial on the guardrail on the banks of the river - stuffed animals, signs, and flowers. It was so heart-wrenching. 

Saturday morning 10-7-06 at Aunt Margie's kitchen table. One of my favorite places in the world. Oh how I love that woman! A Godly mentor, a great nurturer, a beautiful person - inside and out. So glad she's part of MY family. This is a little view of her beautiful geranium growing outside the bay window on the deck. 

This too is from a photo in Country Living. I love teapots and teacups. I love tea too for that matter.

I notice I'm drawn to more earthy tones lately - must be the autumn breeze... 

CenturyTeapot10_5_06

Did this little sketch from a photo in Country Living magazine. This teapot is valued at $320 according to the note in magazine. Wow! I can't imagine paying that for a teapot. 

I picked up an oak leaf on my walk at work during break. I did a leaf rubbing using a Derwent Aquatone pencil then used a Niji waterbrush to wet the back ground leaving the leaf itself fairly dry. I went back in with pencil and Prismacolors to define it. I like the way this turned out.

Autumn... oh how I love Autumn. October is my favorite month of the year. It seems a reflective time, a time to slow down and soak in all the beautiful colors. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!