FLOWERS...

LIVE ARTFULLY!!

"HEAVEN AWAITS YOU"

REST IN PEACE CAPT. JEFF KUSS of THE BLUE ANGELS.

My hometown is Pensacola, FL, the home base of the BLUE ANGELS. Today they lost one of the best of the best. His family is in my thoughts and prayers.

painting is 12 x 24 ©suzanbuckner 2016

BILLY "BAD TO THE BONE" BUNNY

ANOTHER BUNNY...I forgot his whiskers, but will add them later...LOVING this new "style"!! LOVING wanting to do art again!! Life is FANTASTIC!!

Live Artfully!!

FISH AND PLAYGROUNDS!!

Man..I am on fire these past two days..I guess I am back to normal...painting like a person gone crazy. The first painting is a finished fish, I saw on Pinterest this thing about using a toilet paper roll to make circles...and was playing around...I have done it before, but it slipped my mind..I also have used those round curly stove burner eyes...Those are cool too...!!

The second painting is of a vintage playground bouncy toy..Remember them?? They had the large coil that they sat on, and you got on them, and rocked...I'm doing a series of these..and I am calling it "SPRUNG". By series, I mean several of the same theme, there will still only be ONE of each kind, since I am not the kind of person that does one picture over and over. I'm too filled with ideas to be doing the same thing over and over. That is for lazy people...or people that are really not that creative. BE DIFFERENT...make ONE of a KINDS!! It's ART, NOT PRODUCTION crap!!

To "Giggles"..Thank you for the lovely comment!! It made my day!!

Live Artfully!!

FREE TILL SEPTEMBER!!

YAY!! I'm freeeee...I'm freeeeeeee....No more shows until the Fall Season begins in Sept. I am so excited..I am painting once again, and plan on catching up on commissions, and then painting to my heart's content. Some new stuff is coming!! I'm excited about how my last 2 paintings (the gorilla, and the badass bunny) came out. I have a plan..and will be doing some very different things, hopefully!!

Live Artfully!!

BADASS BUNNY

LIVE ARTFULLY..."BADASS BUNNY" ©SUZAN BUCKNER 2016

R.I.P. HARAMBE. "SENSELESS" ©Suzan Buckner 2016 .

My heart is broken from the death of such a magnificent animal.

BLUE RIDGE ART IN THE PARK THIS PAST WEEKEND...

WOW..I did one day of the Blue Ridge Art in the Park arts and crafts show this weekend. First, I always think of the movie "Deliverance" when I go up to Blue Ridge, Georgia...I expect to hear banjos every time I turn a corner. Great things that happened this weekend..several commission jobs, a little money, and I came back with what I have been wanting to figure out...a way to unify and change my art, and develop a more cohesive style..and I did figure that out. I started a painting tonight, and had every intention of doing it in the full new style, and I looked up after putting down the base coat, and saw this poodle. It was perfectly visible..and I just sketched around the area..Everything was exactly like I "saw" it..and so I just went with it..and this is the 24 x 36 end result. I am very proud of it. I borrowed the color scheme from an excellent artist that was across from me..She had this painting of these dancing dogs, and I fell in love with the colors she used!! Other great things..We stayed at a one level hotel called "DOUGLAS INNS AND SUITES"..and it was crazy CLEAN. One of the nicest hotels that I have ever stayed in, and I normally only stay in Hampton Inns, so that is saying A LOT. It was really clean and nice, though very modest. The biggest, and greatest thing of yesterday was "The Enemy" was NOT there...I know she normally does this show, but she was not there...Don't know why..and don't care..But, I did not have to see her face at ALL...I was Happy Dancing all day. I am guessing that they put her on the grass instead of the spot that she wanted, because the only empty spot that was there was one booth over from mine, or maybe she got rejected..who knows. So...it all started out wonderfully, and we got set up (parked directly behind our booth)..and then went to the hotel. Saturday morning we got to our booth..and my neighbor to the right of me were talking, and I guess the nasty neighbor on the other side heard me say something that he didn't like, because he ended up verbally attacking me over politics..(He was one of those crazy people from Mississippi..obviously)...I quickly squelched that little bitter conversation though, and luckily he did I as demanded and shut the hell up..no longer speaking to me AT ALL...(YAY!!)..The rest of Saturday was pretty normal..Sold some art..gave some away..talked to a lot of people, went around and bought some jewelry, etc...etc...) Then Saturday night, Nature Boy (my sweet husband) started getting ill, and I went to the store to get him some things, and when I got back to the hotel, he wanted to go to the Emergency Room...which kinda freaked me out. I got directions, and took him there...found a police officer parked on the side of the road (Fannin County Sheriff), and told him I needed to get my husband to the hospital. He says to me "Ma'am, before I help you, can you put your seat belt on?"..Because THAT is the most important thing when someone has a sick person holding their chest sitting next you. THEN, He gives me DIRECTIONS....HELLOOOOOOOOO..You are SITTING on the side of the road, YOU are NOT busy...why aren't you leading me to the hospital. I wanted to tell him to get off his lazy, fat, white "good old boy" ass, and DO HIS JOB. But, I didn't..I needed to get Nature Boy to the hospital...So, shame on you, Mr. Policeman..Shame on you. I finally found the hospital, and got Chuck inside...KUDOS to the wonderful nurses, doctor and staff of FANNIN COUNTY HOSPITAL. They were AWESOME!! They went above and beyond to make us comfortable...efficient..NICE ..and made the experience very smooth!! THANK YOU FANNIN COUNTY HOSPITAL!!

Anyway..Mr. Chuck turned out to be dehydrated, and everything else was great..and we finally got back to the hotel around 11:30 pm..We got to the show on Sunday around 6am, and Chuck went back to sleep in the front seat...I thought about him being out in the heat all day AGAIN, and made the decision to go ahead and go home...I figured it would be easier to pack up before it got hot..so, we ended up coming home...That was a good thing..because we were just plain exhausted...Luckily we covered our expenses, and made a few hundred..and all is good. I am thankful to the Good Lord that my husband is alright, and we made it home safely.

Live Artfully!

Just got a message asking me if I would be at Gumtree this weekend...I will NOT. 1. I did not apply this year (something in my head told me NOT to)...and 2. HAD I applied, I would still not be doing it, because I am currently BOYCOTTING MISSISSIPPI, and anything in that state until the HATE LAW is repealed and NO LONGER EXIST!!!! SO PLEASE ...BOYCOTT MISSISSIPPI and NORTH CAROLINA WITH ME!!!!

"HOME SWEET HOME"

Ok..boredom drove me to it...I have started making these houses...they are made out of paper mache' and recycled thick cardboard, and I am doing mixed media all over them. They are no where near finished, but they are giving me something to occupy my down time in painting. I finally organized the art studio, and got a grip on everything...but, still have not painted anything much. I use to make little houses..(flat, and hang-able) and they sold well...but, there is only so much you can do...I did just buy some Liquitex spray paint..so I might go all graffiti on them. I was talking to my friend Deb the other day, and she suggested making some of these...just to be DOING something...so, we will see where it goes, if anywhere...

The only other thing that I have been doing around my "HOME SWEET HOME" is becoming a political crazy person. I am so mad about the possibility of Trump being nominated as a candidate for President..If anyone is stupid enough to follow him, they basically deserve all the bad things that God can rain down on a person.  What a nasty human he is..and all this hatred has bent my world out of shape...Racism..dragging us back 50 years in time. Sheesh...Anyway..enough of that talk...LOL.

Live Artfully!!

TROYFEST 2016 AND LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO

Good GLORIOUS Afternoon!! Well, Troyfest in Troy, AL is behind us..and what an AMAZING WEEKEND it was. So good to see everyone. We love the people of TROY!!

We drove up on Friday afternoon, and got set up--then met up with my uncle, who had driven up from Pensacola. He brought me 48 canvases to paint on!! ALL kinds of sizes!! LUCKY ME!!

After that we went to the hotel, and the next morning, the show began!!

Shortly after the show opened..I spotted a very large Folk Art piece, and had to go see it. It was almost the size of a door, and it was great. It used a childhood story/ poem called "LITTLE BUNNY FOO-FOO"..and had some of the story painted on it. It was a very large standing bunny, holding all the little mice that the bunny had bopped on the head. It was by a Folk Artist named SCOTT MCQUEEN..(whose wife was also there with their painting pig, Blossom)..I really wish that I had bought it..but I had only taken a few hundred to spend..and I wanted jewelry (which I am officially addicted to...haha). My other favorite piece this year was a drawing/pen and ink of Tom Selleck in one of his western shows by fine artist, John Warr. I loved it too. It is just very hard for me to buy art, because eventually, I want a 300-400 square foot home, and I know I won't have a lot of room for art.

Saturday went pretty well..We sold a lot of Chuck's pieces, none of mine..(Thank goodness, because I need them for the next show). That night we went to the Awards dinner, and I got the Doug Hawkins Folk Art Merit Award. I was super HONORED to receive this award, because it was the first year that it was in memory of Doug, whom passed away in 2015. He was a great supporter of the arts--in Troy and all around Alabama. He was also the grandfather of a good friend, and that meant the world to me. It also came with money..but that did not matter as much as the ribbon. (Though I appreciate the money too!).

We finished out Saturday, and went back to the hotel..Sadly, this place could have ruined my whole trip. We were in our room, and there were a group of boat racers next to us..and they thought it would be fine to stand outside our hotel room in the parking lot and sidewalk and have a party..Lots of cussing, and yelling..after calling the desk attendant TWICE..and almost at midnight..and after me going outside and blasting them..they finally went away..but..I raised such a stink about it to the manager that he refunded ALL of my money for the rooms..so, we basically stayed for FREE this weekend...SCORE!!

Sunday morning we went back to the show early because they had church service on the square, and I like being there for it. One of my friend's daughters sang (I think she is around 8 or 9 years old)...it was beautiful, and the sermon was astounding !! It was the PERFECT thing that I really needed to hear this weekend. The preacher, and I'm sorry, but I do not know his name spoke directly to me ..it was a question that I had been tossing around all week in my head, and the Lord sent it to me. It was truly a blessing!!

In fact..this entire weekend was full of revelations...It started with Thursday night. I was outside on my porch, and looked up, and there was a solid white deer. So..I am very spiritual, and open to messages from my higher power, so I ran to look up the symbolism of seeing a white deer...and this is what I found...from www. symbolic-meanings.com (blog).

The Native Americans believed the occurance of a white animal was a huge sign of prophecy – a sign from the great spirit that a major shift in their world was to come. 

Usually, white animals were seen during soul-quests, or vision-quests.  However, if one was seen during the normal course of day, this would cause a tremendous ripple among the tribe.  A great meeting would be called, the elders would be consulted, and great care would be taken to communicate with the animal spirits to determine the meaning of the message.

Not much has changed over time, as you yourself recognize the special power of the white deer that comes to you – and wish to know more about it.

When white occurs in the animal realm it is a message of:

• higher thoughts
• higher ideals
• purity of soul
• cleansing of spirit
• attaining higher knowledge

Compound these attributes with the those that the Female deer represents:

• Benevolence
• Kindness
• Creativity
• Spirituality
• Renewal
• Connectedness

The Male deer holds the same representations, but also includes attributes of:

• Longevity
• Virility
• Abundance
• Endurance

The deer was/is a symbol to the Native Americans representative of the great spirit – a sign of the sun as its antlers spread like the sun’s rays.  The Native Americans also recognized the shedding and regrowth of the antlers and deemed this a symbol of regeneration, cycle, and growth.

Above all, we can recognize the sensitivity of the deer – alert, keen, and always aware – we can translate these qualities to of being spiritually aware – and this is why the deer is seen primarily as a spiritual symbol.

The fact that you were able to see this very powerful sign – the white deer – is a message that you are on a path of growth and expansion that will lead you in a direction beyond your wildest dreams.  The message of the white deer is one of “get ready.”

Along with seeing the white deer, I spoke to someone at the show, and we really connected over the above "WE ARE THE SAME" painting...making me realize that I am not the only person who is fighting this war on discrimination. THEN..I was making light of my art, and the person that I was talking to said to me.."But you won an award, that has to validate you as an artist."..AS SOON AS IT CAME OUT OF HIS MOUTH--my mind exploded. I DO NOT NEED VALIDATION AS AN ARTIST...I've never needed validation for any way that I chose to live my life, and certainly NOT for my art...I don't NEED to say "LOOK AT ME"..my art takes care of that. I don't need someone's approval. I have always lived my life LIKE I WANTED TO. I know in my heart that I have not even begun to touch the potential of my talent!!  It was so much of a wake up call!!! On top of that..the preacher said things on Sunday that I really felt and needed to hear...So..I am on my way..The signs are there..Wish me Luck!!

All in all..This weekend was GREAT..I was only about $180 short of my thousand dollar a day goal..and everything except the hotel was perfect! (But, the refund of the rooms made that even OK). I love TROY. It's a fabulous place with fantastic people!!

Live Artfully!!

HAPPY EASTER

I hope you all had a beautiful, glorious Easter this year. I cooked all day, making about 20 baked porked chops, green beans, cauliflower, deviled eggs (about 30 of them)..and a few chicken breast..I'm set for my week!!

Live Artfully!!