LIFE IS GOOD!!

Good Morning!! Well..Ummm..I acquired a "few" rings...As you can see in the picture above..I came across a deal for about 100 of these babies...Instant collection!! They are every shape and size, and GAUDY ...I will probably never wear them out in public..but they sure are fun to "play" with..It takes so little to amuse me!

I've had to make some tough decisions in the art show life lately..I got accepted into 3 shows, Two of them on the Gulf Coast, all on  the same weekend..One was the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs, and as it was my first time applying, I really did not expect to get accepted. I REALLY wanted to do it, as it is close to the casinos in Biloxi, and I LOVE the casinos...But..ALL just a week or so after KENTUCK in Tuscaloosa. I'm usually pretty beat up by the time Kentuck is over, and usually without much inventory (What a great problem to have, right??)..So..I kept thinking..kept thinking..and had to make the decision to not do ANY shows after Kentuck. It's hard to make killer decisions...but, I really hate driving 7-8 hours for shows, and I'm usually ready to quit traveling. I am happy that I have these choices, and don't have to do 20-25 shows a year to keep up. I'm not very "driven", as I rather be painting than selling.

On the good side..we do have six shows in Sept. and Oct.I am excited about those!! I have been painting and painting and painting..and managing to keep most of them secret..and not share them. That in itself is a feat of great strength..hahaha..

So..we are busy working, and I have new toys, and all is GREAT in our world..
Live Artfully!

ART JOURNALING AGAIN!!

Wow..It has been a hundred years since I actually did an art journal page..and let me tell you--IT WAS HARD!! This pile of hot mess, has no less than 8-10 layers on it..and I still don't like it. Fortunately though...I don't have to like it..and can put another 40 layers on it if I want to. I was going to write a long, drawn out thing on things I had to say..but, I got bored and tired..and I really don't have anything IMPORTANT to say..so, I just moved on.

I chose a 1960 yearbook to do this in..It's large and the paper is thick and sturdy..I thought the faces throughout would make for some interesting pages later on..But this is my first page in a few years, and I couldn't figure it out..haha..Anyway..back to painting..you know..the money making kind of art...

Live Artfully!

ANOTHER PAINTING...ANOTHER SUNDAY...THINKING OF NOAH'S ARK...

Sitting here looking at the fish that I am painting..contemplating doing a NOAH's ARK series of animals..and the ARK..Wanting to draw it out, and get started on it..but, am in the middle of these HUGE fish..That is my problem..I am working on one thing, thinking of another. I just cooked up our food for the next few days..A couple of pot roast, baked chickens, pork chops, potatoes, brocolli..etc..So..I'm all in for nothing but painting for a few days.

Last year, I bought 30 or 35 canvases..in the size of 36 x 36..I'm currently working on knocking those out. I had I think, 19 at the beginning of this season..I'm down to having 9 left. Working furiously to get those finished!!

I did something smart (or stupid, depending on how you look at it) this year. I doubled applied for shows..thinking that I would most likely get rejected by one or two. This has been a crazy year in that department..I've not yet been rejected ..NOT ONCE. Life is so full of things to be GRATEFUL for!!

Nature Boy and I are enjoying our summer off. I feel sorry for anyone that has to go out in this heat and work for a living. It has been TOO HOT here. I'm looking forward to fall..(aren't we all??)..Well..that is it..my life is pretty boring except for painting..and painting...and painting...

Live Artfully!

SOME NEW WORK!!

LIVE ARTFULLY!!

BAKING SUCCESS!!

Good Wonderful Morning!! It's a beautiful day!! I am bursting at the seams with energy and excitement..(Remember..it takes very little to amuse me..hahaha). As you all know..I have changed my eating lifestyle, and gave up bread a while ago..(about 3 years ago)..Since Jan. 2015, I have not had a single piece of bread..or anything that resembles bread.

The other night, I found a recipe for flatbread..(I guess that is like cornbread--which I hate..bleechhhh). I made it..and it tasted like I had licked the bottom of a camel's foot after he had stepped in poop....It was HORRIBLE..I threw the entire pan of the stuff in the garbage...I was defeated...I have never baked anything..I know nothing about baking..so..I just wrote it off...Until last night..I found a recipe for breakfast buns..and thought..ok..I will try one more time.

So..I preheated my oven..and did not have all the ingredients..and so I had to substitute things for things...it called for psyllium husk (Think Metamucil)...and I didn't have any of that, so I used hemp hearts..and it called for sour cream..didn't have that so I melted some butter, and stirred in Cafe Latte Yogurt..and used that..(Yes, coffee flavored yogurt!!).. Mixed everything together..and stuck it in the oven. Well..IMAGINE my surprise when 22 minutes later..I had a VERY excellent bread-like substance. I smeared butter on it, and it was DELICIOUS!! I feel like a world class chef now..haha..SO HAPPY that I actually baked something and it was edible!!

Live Artfully.

NEW WORK ...

WOW!! What a day! This painting took forever, but I am very happy with the results!! I'm always so happy when I finish something, especially something large..and I always need a nap afterwards..LOL..We are just sitting around here today, working..and piddling..and piddling and working..There are about 20 buzzards circling outside, and I am running back and forth from painting to watching them. There has to be a dead animal over where they are..I've never seen so many at one time.Fascinating birds!!

Yesterday, I cooked all day..I cooked chicken, potatoes, beans, pork steaks, beef liver, veggies and bread (which I threw away because it was DISGUSTING..LOL)..I'm good to go on the food front for the rest of the week..giving me more than plenty time to PAINT..

Not much else is going on..I'm painting..Nature Boy is photographing nature, and building us some raised garden boxes for an early fall crop of goodies...Can't wait for that!!

Life will be kind of boring until Sept., when I go back to doing shows...that is ok..I plan on working my tail off (literally) until then! Live Artfully!!

WHAT IS GOING ON...

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful summer!! I love June, July and August..mainly because I have time off from art shows to paint, and do what I want to do!!

This past weekend, my best friend and I headed over to Cave Springs, GA for their craft show. I found some wood chairs that I wanted and a very large Easter Island face made out of concrete..other than that..it was a waste of money and time. I didn't see any good art there..and that saddened me..we did not stay long..walked fast around it and got out of  there. Luckily, we had a better time driving over there and home again, than at the show. It was also 94 degrees..whew...There was no breeze ..and Lord..it was HOT. They also charged $5 per person to get in...which for a large show with good art is no problem, but for a low end craft show..it was a bit much...Anyway..it was fun hanging out with my friend...and we did stop at a few junk stores..so, that was entertaining..

Nothing much else on the home front...I'm still losing weight, about 10-12 pounds a month..feeling fantastic, and working my tail off painting. I'm not showing my work as much online because I'm just too caught up in the making to worry about the showing.


Have a great summer!! Live Artfully!!

HUGE (OVER 4 FEET) BUNNIES! SOLD!!

LIVE ARTFULLY!!