This Weekend - Northern Virginia Horse Country

News for the locals – The 89^th Shenandoah AppleBlossom Festival is from April 22^nd through May 1^st in Winchester Virginia. I’m sure this will be an outstanding event, but making mention of it because the Art at the Mill show is close by and that show runs April 23^rd through May 8^th --- how totally convenient!!! Hmmm…. Looks like she’s plugging the Art at the Mill event again.  For sure.  Below are  the paintings I have hanging at the show.  The prices are the same as on my DPW Gallery (click here).  I hope you get a chance to stop by - there is a ton of art out there!

Blue Graniteware
14" x 18"

Grapes on a Pedestal
12" x 9"

Pair of Pears
11" x 14"

Sunflowers
16" x 12"

Lemon Tree
6" x 6"

Happy Hour at Last
14" x 11"

Summer Sunset
10" x 30"

All the paintings include a low profile (most are floating) frame.  

Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time - and this is a great time to have a wonderful day!

Daffodil Dalliance

First of all, I will unmitigatedly plug the Art at the Mill Spring Show. When I went this weekend to drop off seven paintings, I was stunned by the caliber of the art and the sheer number of pieces available.  I can assure you there’s a ton of wonderful, yet reasonably priced, art to be acquired.  How about planning a beautiful drive / buy from April 23 - May 8, 2016. More info: http://www.clarkehistory.org/art-at-the-mill.html.  

The artist’s reception is May 1^st from 4 to 6 pm.  Let me know if you’re planning to attend and I’ll try and get out there.  

Meanwhile, I'v donated the painting below to a special event scheduled on Tuesday April 12th, for the Upperville 53rd Annual Garden Club Daffodil Show and Tea 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm. From their website: This American Daffodil Society accredited horticulture competition should be amazing. View hundreds of daffodils of all sizes, colors, and forms, posed and submitted by amateur daffodil growers. Learn about growing and showing these wonderful spring flowers. Apparently they will also be having an art auction to benefit the club.  Sounds like fun!

Daffodils For Yyou
"donated"
click here to view my gallery

Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time. 

Early Spring?

Seems we're having an early spring on the east coast – actually it is more like a very short winter and only one spring rain deluge so far.  Hmmmm. . .  There must be a freaky storm lurking around somewhere.  The Cherry Blossom forecast is all over the place this year. 

Delighted that Rainier Cherries sold at the winery.  One of the benefits of using Daily Paintworks is seeing the statistics they gather on each painting.  I’m always amazed how many people take the time to click on an icon to see the full view.  In this case, 152 views and a third of them went on to check out the price. In the end, it was the one who saw it in person that just had to have it.  Insert big happy face here!  Admittedly, I use these stats to help figure out what to put in a show in the first place. So very glad there was a match. 

Working on the upcoming Art at the Mill event.  Varnishing, framing, making labels, etc.  Takes a lot of time.  Fingers-crossed we’ll do well in the show.  Just need one to sell to make it worthwhile.  The drive is over an hour, but it’s a beautiful trip that ends in the Shenandoah mountains.  This was the venue where I sold my very first painting in 2010 which totally freaked me out.  Not sure why, but I went into selling-hibernation for the next few years. Carol Marine’s workshop and DPW helped get me back out there and I’m so glad I did.   I think selling makes you a better, more confident painter and puts a “purpose” into the adventure of being an artist. Perhaps like competition to an athlete - although I don't consider art as a competitive sport.  Guess I'll have to give this a bit more thought.  I'm thrilled when someone chooses to have my art in their life - good karma!

Here’s one more painting for the show.  From a still life setup with a lot of artistic license. Oh, let's not forget my wonderful art club critiqued it and helped make it all that much better. 

Sunflowers
16" x 12"
click to view / purchase

Art at the Mill runs from April 23-May 8, 2016.  Details here:  http://www.clarkehistory.org/art-at-the-mill.html (scroll down to “About the Show”).

Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time. Thanks for reading my blog!

March Already?

Seriously can’t believe it’s been a whole month since my last blog.  Crazy, crazy!   Went to Texas in mid-February to visit Mom (conveniently) during our first realtor open house.  A total blur, but getting into the routine of living and maintaining “pristine” while the house is on the market. So far, so good.  A HUGE part of me loves this minimalist environment, lack of “stuff” and amazing calmness having everything in its place. . . . er, not that I can remember where anything is anymore!

On a separate note, my wonderful art club is still keeping me focused – we have painting challenges and meet ups about once a month.  It is a cherished event so we all make it a priority no matter what else is going on.  This month’s challenge was to paint something abstract.  Luckily I’m still riding the high of Lisa Daria’s workshop and took a stab at painting Viacheslav’s Small Bouquet 2 (see January blog entry - From Russia with Love) in a totally abstract manner.  Lisa picks interesting names, so thought I would try that too.  Here it is.  What do you think?  Should I try this abstract thing some more?

The Club
click here to view /purchase

Other news – So excited that eight of my larger paintings were juried into the Art at the Mill show in Millwood VA!  For the NoVA/DC locals looking for fabulous art at great prices, I encourage you to stop by. Show runs from April 23-May 8, 2016.  Details here:  http://www.clarkehistory.org/art-at-the-mill.html (scroll down to “About the Show”). 

Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time. 

Challenge Summary

Well I didn't get all the way through the challenge this time, but happy to have accomplished half!  It really is quite exhausting but also so very fulfilling on a number of levels.

Love having new followers as well as continued interest from past ones.  Particularly pleased that “Something Different” is getting bids in the auction and confirming that trying new things is definitely a GOOD thing!  Also picked up a few blog sign ups.  See the submit box over to the right if you’d like to sign up to get an email whenever I blog.  Very exciting.  I’ve managed to carve out a little studio space even if the house is on the market, so hopefully I'll be able to keep going!  Your interest and support is so very, very appreciated – Thank You!

Part of the 30 paintings in 30 days is to post your final collage – always a gee-wiz moment for me.  Did I really do that?

Several of these paintings have new homes – three in Upstate New York, two in the middle of Alabama, one in Central Texas and one in Northern Virginia.  Three other ones are off to the winery gallery for a Valentine’s Day show - that reminds me, the following three paintings sold there at the Christmas Small Gifts show. 

Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time. 

Something Different

Trying to get jumpstarted to finish out the 30-n-30, but overwhelmed with all the work involved in downsizing and getting our house on the market (we LOVE this house)!  So very emotional, logistical, stressful, and holding our breath for the wonderful part!  Our life has always been – more, bigger, better, but this is a new twist.  Less, smaller, better – er, better – how does that actually happen? Will keep you posted.  

I did manage to get a painting in.  The reference photo carried so much ambiance, intrigue, yet subtle colors I had to give it a go.  Probably didn’t do it justice, but I really wanted to convey the simplicity in an artistic fashion. I love things crisp and clean and hope my interpretation conveys that mood. When an artist decides they are finished, that means they are happy with the end result. Trust me on this.

 

Flowers
click to view / purchase

Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time. The fun part is when life changes things up and you figure out how to make it into a delightful memory.

Here is the reference photo - because it's so fantastic.  If you like it, I encourage you to register (free) at pmp-art.com to view great photos and paint from them without concern for copyright issues.  How great is that!

Photo reference PMP Viacheslav, 2 Flowers

Gorgeous!

One of my sisters lives in Florida and has the most beautiful Camellia bushes.  Since I live in the mid-Atlantic, I’m happy if mine even gets to bloom before the first frost.  We have a mini-challenge going where I get to "compete" occasionally when winter is slow in arriving.  This year, here’s what she came in with. Gorgeous, says it all!  Since I’m doing the 30-n-30 days painting challenge gave it a go.  Actually turned out way better than I expected.  These flowers are so very perfect in every way it’s hard to boil it down to the essence for a painting. 

Gorgeous!
click to view / purchase

Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time. 

Photo - What do you think - did I do okay?

It's ALive

As in a live still life set up – during the challenge I find it easier to paint from photos, but the radishes today were so beautiful I just had to pull one to paint.  They are huge, but love to lounge in a favorite small, flat “bowl” that I have.   Fun and bright on a cloudy day!

Beautiful Radish
click to view / purchase

Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time. 

Man Toys

This was an absolute blast to paint.  I’ve had it sketched out for several days, but finally got the nerve to get on it.  Once again I can thank the photographer for coming up with a great title.  I love painting metal objects, but silver bowls, brass candlesticks, and gold cups can get a little commonplace. They’re fun to paint too, but it’s nice to try something completely different.   I bet there’s a workshop or man-cave out there just begging for this one!  

Man Toys
click to view / purchase

Photo reference PMP Suzanne Wallick Man-Toys.  Suzanne is from Salina Kansas. 

Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time. 

Oh No!

Well today just didn't happen - was in make up mode and couldn't even get a simple painting together.  I tried, but I guess the creative flow needs a break now and then.

Super happy that Small Bouquet is in a bidding war - so exciting, even though I can't see who the bidders are.  At the very end, only the winner is revealed. Suspense!  Five days to go - oh my. This is what helps keep me going, so I really appreciate your interest!  Last night Golden Sunshine was purchased by a favorite collector.  Guess I better get it together!

Meanwhile, thought it might be fun to post THE PAINTING that has gotten the all time most hits on DailyPaintworks - over 707 times in one year that people have clicked to view it. Right now it is headed to a local winery / gallery to see if someone will take it home.  So popular that it must have a web presence I'm not aware of.

Yellow Pepper Refined
click here for diretions to 8 Chains North Winery, Waterford VA
available to view here

Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time. Thanks for hanging in there with me! Priceless.