Riverwalk Art Festival...Here I come!

Just a quick reminder this weekend is the Riverwalk Art Festival in Milton, FL.  The times are 10:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m. Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.  If you are using your map it is Highway 90 and South Willing Street.  I think I will be on the south side of Highway 90, maybe along the riverbank.

Come sign up for a FREE original 6x6 painting. 

I have quite a few Archival Art Prints of some of my favorite paintings in addition to original art for sale.  Prices range from $15 up.  I will have something you have not seen before, so come check it out.  I look forward to visiting with you.

Your Invited!

You are cordially invited to join me at the Milton, Florida "Riverwalk Art Festival" next weekend.  Stop in and register for a FREE 6x6 original painting.   It is gong to be in the downtown Milton Historical District located on the banks of the Blackwater River.  The photos today are part of the inventory.  They are 3x3 or 2x3 mini canvas' with there own easel for $20.

Saturday & Sunday

March 24 & 25, 2012

10:00 am to 5:00 p.m.

Art Show News

I am thrilled to report that I have passed the jury stage and have been invited to participate in the Riverwalk Art Festival in Milton, Florida on March 24 & 25th.  I plan to hold a drawing from the folks that come to see me for one of my 6x6 Gallery Wrapped Paintings.  I have not decided if it will be a landscape, floral, still life or other subject matter.  You may want to leave me a comment today if you have a suggestion or preference.  I have lots to get done between today and that weekend.  So if you don't see or hear from me it is not that I am avoiding you, it is just that I am busy doing all those things that have to be done that are non-painting things.  I have found out that there is a lot more "stuff" to being an active artist than the actual painting time.  It is really amazing how much away from the canvas there is.  I have lots and lots of ideas for paintings but I'm not sure how much will get done before March 24th.

In the mean time...for your viewing pleasure I am inserting for your viewing pleasure one of my first paintings.  This is the painting that opened my eyes to the possibility that I could paint.  I took a class from a talented Acrylic painter,  Brenda Harris.  Some of you may have seen her on PBS stations.  She is such a joy to paint with and so willing to share her knowledge.  I also want to thank another sharing artist, Sandra Childs.  Sandra was the first teacher that exposed me to so many wonderful techniques.  She introduced me to Brenda and I often hear her voice in my head as I am painting.  Her encouragement and spirit have helped me get to where I am today.  I am so blessed to have her as my friend.

The painting is called "Slipping Away", it is sold, but I hope to have archival quality art prints available in the near future.  If possible I will have them with me at the Riverwalk Art Festival.  So please come see me and all the new things I am painting.

"Slipping Away"

11x14

Childhood Memories

 

"Buttons"

24x36, Acrylic on canvas, can be hung with or with out a frame

$650

Today's art is of my great-niece's stuffed animal.  She is a talented photographer.  I believe this shot was taken last year during her Junior year of high school and is of her favorite stuffed animal "Buttons".  When I saw her photograph it reminded me of great times when I played Hide-N-Go-Seek.  It looked as though "Buttons" had found the perfect hiding place. The sunshine streaming through the window just barely keeping enough light under the bed to keep him from being afraid of the dark but hidden never to be found and tagged out of the game.

I have had several folks tell me that it reminds them of the story of The Velveteen Rabbit.  I was not intending this piece to feel lost.  I had hoped it would bring the viewer happy memories of their own childhood.

Anna, thanks for letting me use your photograph for my artwork.  I hope you keep that shutter finding new subjects that inspire you.

First Blog ever!

Welcome to my first blog.  This is a new experience for me and I will probably make lots of revisions along the way. I will begin this blog with my 2012 New Year's resolution.  It was to be more active and professional in my art this year.  This blog is one of the first steps towards becoming the artist I want to be.  I will be sharing my art from this location so stop in from time to time to see my newest paintings.

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting and painting along with two very talented artists and 35 fellow painters in Atlanta, GA,  Dreama  Tolle Perry and Leslie Saeta have inspired me to begin this blogging journey and share it with you.  I must give both of them my sincere gratitude for all there shared knowledge and talents.  You must check out there work when you have an opportunity.  I absolutely love their since of color.  I will show my paintings from that week in a few days, they are still drying so getting photographs at this time is difficult.  I need to photograph them when the sun is shinning and they are dry to the touch so that I can handle them.  As you may or may not know oil paint take months to dry completely depending on the thickness of the application.

I feel I learned allot about working with oil paints last week and cannot wait to create new painting with this new technique.  An maybe I will try it in Acrylics too.

Today's painting (above) is a 20x24 canvas painted in acrylic.  This was done before my trip.  As you can see my love of flowers has not changed.  I was told that when you paint things that you are passionate about that it shows in your art.  I may not be able to grow flowers (no green thumb) but maybe I can paint one or two that will bring a little sunshine in to your day and maybe a smile too.

I hope you will follow along with me on this painting journey.....