LOTS OF NEW WORK AND THE CHIAHA HARVEST FESTIVAL--ROME GEORGIA

This weekend, Nature Boy and I will be showing at the Chiaha Harvest Festival in Rome, Georgia. It looks like the weather will be perfect, so if you are in Atlanta--or close by--come and see us!!

Last weekend's show was FANTASTIC! Mentone is SO GOOD TO US!! THank you for all the people that came to see our work, and a special thank you to the woman that drove from Madison, AL just to buy from us!! We appreciate you!!!

It has been a whirlwind week--I have literally been painting night and day..with very little sleep, or anything else. Thank you Lord for our health, and stamina that allows us to produce!! I did 14 pieces so far--and Nature Boy did 19!! I think he's trying to take over our booth...hehehehe.

I am very excited about Chiaha!! Friday night there is an artist and patron gathering, and on Saturday--we have been invited by an artist friend of ours over for dinner. I feel so lucky, and so full of life!!! (This will almost be like a vacation for us.) We are staying over in Rome until Monday, so that we can hit my favorite antique stores.

Well..back to painting..I am hoping to get one more piece done before tomorrow...maybe two...
Live ARTFULLY!!!!!

MENTONE ALABAMA COLORFEST FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND!!!

HELLO!!! I am SO eager to get up in the morning, and feel the 33 degree crisp weather that we will be having!! Then, it's off to Mentone, Alabama for a two day show!! I am happy, happy, happy!!!

This week I discovered a Japanese place in our little town, that has the BEST food in the county!! I have been eating avocado and cucumber rolls for two straight days, and seaweed salad. Yum YUM Yum!!! I had never had seaweed before, and it really surprised me. It's a different, slightly sweet taste...and delicious!! I have been so sick of the way all the restaurants cook here. So, to find an authentic Japanese restaurant in small town America (this would never be a problem in a larger city)..was a blessing from heaven!!

Anyway..other than eating ...I have been painting a little. I got these 4 painted, along with about 4 more--which I didn't photograph yet, but I will. Maybe, I'll have enough to do this show! We went out there this morning to set up, and it's right smack dap in the middle of a wooded park. It's awesome..except walnuts and hickory nuts are falling, and a hickory nut fell and hit Nature Boy in the head. It must have hit hard, because I HEARD IT hit....and he said it hurt...Maybe, I'll wear a hard hat out there tomorrow..hehehehe.

Oh well..nothing else is new. I have a boring life (which is fine with me)...Live Artfully!!

A WASTED WEEK...

Hello!! I haven't posted in a while..haven't been in a good frame of mind. We did that show last weekend, and it was a complete flop--sold to two people...and actually spent more to do it, than anything. I am always so "down" after something like that...it really messes with my head, and hurts my feelings. I guess that all artist have bad shows. So, I have been pouting all week, and only got 8 small paintings done for the Talk of the Town/ Beauty and the Beast Breast Cancer Awareness event (in Scottsboro, Alabama), and this one. This one is 16 x 32 and I love the way it turned out! Tomorrow it's off to the Chattanooga Market for "Cut-UP for LIFE", which is hairdressers cutting hair,and donating the money to help AIDS/HIV patients. I plan on getting this mop cut from my head first thing in the morning...hehehe.

I have lounged around and read books all week. I should have been painting for the COLORFEST FESTIVAL next week in Mentone, Alabama. It is a festival to celebrate the changing of the leaves, which are probably going to be amazingly beautiful!! I can't wait!! If you can't make it to Mentone next weekend---KENTUCK is also going on in Tuscaloosa, Alabama--I think it's just outside of there--Some of my FAVORITE artist are going to be there..Athlone Clarke, Michael Banks, Chris Beck (does AMAZING metal sculptures that look like clothing), Aaron Hequembourg, William Skrips (love, love, love his assemblage pieces!!), and Fleetwood Covington....I really wish that I was going..and that I had a million dollars, and a HUGE semi to fill, so that I could buy from all of these artist... Anyway..that's about it in my life. I hope you all are living Artfully!!! Hugs!!~~me~~

I'VE BEEN A LITTLE BUSY THIS WEEK!

I have been a little busy this week. 12 new paintings, and one RE-DO (the last one). I have one week until my next "SHOW", but will be set up tomorrow (Sunday, Sept 26) at the Chattanooga Market, at the First Tennessee Pavilion. I am excited!! I haven't seen my Chattanooga friends in a long time!!! Live Artfully!!

THIS PAST WEEKEND'S ART SHOW!! DISASTERS and DELIGHTS!!!

Athlone Clarke original 24 x 24 " A Boy Named Socrates"

Whew..Saturday was a crazy day! We went to Ft. Payne, Alabama--to the home of Anne Hamilton, a wonderful artist for the Northeast Alabama's First Annual Art Show. Here's the house where we sat up. 

It's an old, Victorian style home. It was absolutely beautiful! Chuck and I sat up in the front yard, artist set up on the porch, and all through the inside of the home. It was a very lovely setting, and set the stage for a wonderful day!! We got our tent and all put up, and about 5 minutes after we were done, a gust of wind hit our tent, and it ROLLED down the small incline in the yard. SO..we finally got everything picked up, and put back together--and I had damaged about 8-9 paintings...but, Oh well....what can you do?? After we sat back up...the rest of the day went wonderfully--with several of our friends coming over to visit us, and everyone having a great time!!

The big highlight of my day was when Nature Boy (my husband), went down to see the other artist in the city park. (They were having a larger art show down there, at the same time)..and he came back carrying an Athlone Clarke painting, that Athlone had gifted to Chuck and I (it's the one above). You may remember this artist in the video of him that I showed a couple of months ago on here. I was deeply touched. It made my eyes swell up with tears!! What a great treasure!!! I sincerely admire him and his art, and it will be something that I keep forever! I took him the large 30 x 30 inch painting down there, and gifted back to him. I hope he liked it! Anyway..all in all--it was a fantastic day...with just a little bump. That bump was worth sharing the fellowship of the other artist, and all the goodness that was spread that day! 

Now, we are back home, and I have two weeks to prepare for our next show--so far, I have 10 new paintings done, and ready...I would like to have at least 40 or more...so..I have to get busy!! Live Artfully!!

30 x 30 inches!!

Whew..this is a BIGGIE..it almost killed me..LOL. Live Artfully!!(given as a gift to a wonderful fellow artist).

ONE MORE SHOW DOWN....EIGHT TO GO!!!

Hello!! This weekend we did the ART ON THE SQUARE Art Show in Athens, Alabama. It was suppose to be outside, and on their town square, but due to the threat of bad weather--they moved us inside the local university's gym. SO...we ended up INSIDE--with air conditioning--and it was PERFECT. We set up, we met some super nice people, there was a good variety of art there. I bought the best photograph from the "Budding Artist" (high school students that had art for sell!) booth--it was of an old KRISPY KREME donut sign, and I REALLY love it. Krispy Kreme holds a very special place in my heart....Not for donuts though. On the night that my grandfather (my heart and soul of my entire life) died, I stumbled into the neighborhood donut shop. There, that night..I met some people that would turn out to be some of the most important people in my life. I met Wendy, the waitress there--who became one of the best friends that I have ever had. (She is the one that had a major heart attack a couple of months ago (thank God that she lived), and the reason that I changed my eating habits so drastically). I met Vern--who was 60 years old, and he became my most trusted friend, and a father-like figure to me...I met many people that night, who became like family to me, and were there through thick and thin for the next 10 years....So, that is why I SO LOVED the Krispy Kreme donut photograph that was taken by a wonderful 15 year old boy. I hope his mom tells him how much it moved my heart. (I really think that I am getting sentimental in my old (45) years of age..hehehehe.) Anyway..the show was fun, and we did REALLY well. Amazingly WELL...FANTASTICALLY WELL...heehhe..you get the point!Oh!! One more thing--Nature Boy OUTSOLD me by $55...hehhehe...He is going to be famous....Now..on to the NEXT show..

SATURDAY--SEPT. 18th in Ft. Payne, AL(Northeast Alabama Art Council Art Show during Fort Payne's Boom Days) (450 Elm St. Fort Payne, Al)...It starts at 10 a.m. Make sure you come by and see Chuck and I!!

This will be held at a very nice, old Victorian home. The Boom Days art show will be held in the city park, and the art show that I will be at will be up 6th Ave on Elm Street. We will be in the yard--and you won't be able to miss us..hehehe. 

Well..it's after 1am..and time for bed...Have a Happy, Happy Week!! Live Artfully!!

NEW WORK!

THE WEEKEND--MENTONE ALABAMA LABOR DAY ART SHOW

This is our booth (one of two that we had this weekend) on the morning of the second day. We consolidated things as well as we could to make it look very full!

We are home today after a WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC weekend at the Mentone, AL Labor Day Art Show at the Mentone Inn. Thank you to all the great people that came out to support the artist! The weather was truly a gift from God. It was magically PERFECT!! The people were friendly, welcoming and loved art!! This was absolutely the BEST show that we have done so far! I met some of the coolest people!

We sold a ton of stuff...possibly, most of ALL that I painted the entire of month of August. I have another show this next weekend, and I am going to have to pull a rabbit out of the hat to have enough to fill the booth. Fortunately--I LOVE the CHALLENGE of pulling rabbits out of a hats!!! I am so pumped and excited!! Hopefully, tomorrow morning we can go find a new white tent for shows, and get some prints made, and etc..etc..then I can come home, and PAINT MY REAR END OFF! WHOOOHOOOO!!!

There were some great artist at the show. Athlone Clarke, and his wife Alyce (both had separate booths and  awesome art!), our friend Michael Wimmer (a magical assemblage artist!), and Pamela Willis Watters (some of the prettiest, brightest pastel paintings that I have seen!!--check out her website!) were just a few of them. Sadly, I didn't get to move out of the booth much, and get to know anyone else...I did run over and buy a wood carving piece from an artist named Jim. He does this incredible stuff, and we had bought a piece of his back in July. I bought a large carved Indian head..and I dearly love it. (I'll show a picture as soon as we unpack).

Thank you to all my friends and collectors that came out! I loved seeing you all again!! It made the weekend extra special.

This morning, Nature Boy and I got up and went down to First Monday Trade Day on the town square. The first thing that happened was I LOST NATURE BOY! Worried me sick! He had to go back to the van to put some books in there--and I said "I will be right here on this corner"..and all he HEARD was "blah, blah, blah..."LOL...(those of you with husbands, surely understand this!)...so, we got lost...by the time I found him, I was too tired to shop....hehehe...so home we went..and I immediately went back to bed...I feel like I could sleep for a week!

But, Alas...I have to go paint! THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE!! LIVE ARTFULLY and EAT HEALTHY!!

GOOD MORNING!!

I had to borrow one of Nature Boy's flower photos for a picture this morning...hope he doesn't mind!! Sitting here drinking coffee, playing on Facebook, and procrastinating going into the DUNGEON of DIRT..aka..the studio. I HAVE TO CLEAN IT TODAY!! I cannot work any longer in that mess...that, and I have to make Nature Boy some clay faces for his art people, and I don't have a clue where the mold is...sigh..it never ends...

We have 2 more full days to finish up before we set up on Friday for the Mentone Alabama Labor Day Art Show. I can't wait!

I am almost through my 3rd week of my changed eating habits. No sugars, no fats. All grains, fruit and veggies, no red meat. I have lost what I feel like is a lot of weight so far. I no longer have back pain when standing, I feel more energetic and "light" on my feet. I thought that giving up sugar would kill me, but it hasn't. Funny thing is that I am having NO cravings whatsoever!! I made a decision, committed my mind to it, and am executing it. I hope to never go back to my old habits. Next week, I start the excercise part of it all..and am actually looking forward to it. That is basically what I have been doing. Painting and eating well. That's it...boring ...LOL..(not really).

Yesterday, I called an old best friend. One, that I had not treated so nicely when we last saw each other. (I have not always been the wonderfully nice human, that you all know and love..hahahaha) I had emailed her, but she didn't immediately respond, so I called her. The first thing that I did  was apologize from the bottom of my heart for the way that I had spoken to her. I explained it was a bad time in life, and not all things were right with the world...we ended up talking and laughing for THREE HOURS straight. When we got done, a part of my soul felt refurbished, and complete again.

I have re-connected with almost all of my old friends from my past. Thank God for the computer. I have found them all through here. Well..there's a couple that are well.....better off  left alone...let's say...heheheh.

We have a busy schedule coming up! For those that care:
Sept. 4-5 MENTONE ALABAMA LABOR DAY ART SHOW
Sept.10--FUNKY FRIDAYS (5-8pm) at REFLECTIVES, 220 Old Hwy.431. In Hampton Cove--for those of you in the Huntsville, AL area
Sept 11--ART ON THE SQUARE in Athens, Alabama
Sept.18--Ft.Payne Alabama Boom Days. We will be set up at Anne Hamilton's house.


Well..time to work!Live Artfully and Eat Healthy!!!

UNCLE JACK..WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WEEK..

Uncle Jack--16 x 20--acrylic on wood...Well...well...well...I painted a little bit tonight..nothing major, but, I am ok with it. I am seriously tired of painting...I have completed MANY paintings this past month, and Friday morning we will FINALLY be going to set up in Mentone, AL for the Labor Day Art Show. I am excited to be going somewhere. I have been here at home for nearly a month, and am biting the bit to get out! I was going to write something more, but..just got an idea for a painting, so I am going back to do another....Live Artfully!

NEWEST WORK...

Threw this together last night after getting frustrated with an Alice in Wonderland thing that I am doing..Going straight to the studio this morning to continue fighting with Alice...(right now, Alice is kicking my butt..lol)Live Artfully and Eat Healthy!!

MY LARGEST PAINTING EVER!! 2 x 4 FEET!!!

Whew..this was a doozie!!! I'm exhausted! It's huge!! Live Artfully!!

NEW PAINTING..

Wow..I have had a boring day. Not that any day is exciting or anything..I like it that way..but, I have been bored inside my own head..hahahah. I have been eating RIGHT for over a week now, and am FEELING wonderful..but, I was just bored.  I kinda just piddled and painted this..She looks so sad..I guess I would be sad too, if my hair looked like that..LOL.

I am antsy to get out there and sell my art again. It's driving me nuts to not go out, and set up and meet my people. I miss them. I have sold  10 pieces  of art this past couple of weeks online, and I am SO GRATEFUL to all of you that bought pieces from me!! But, I think I need the fresh sunshine and setting up a tent at a show..gives me that. I have 10 more days to work, then we will be showing again!! I can't wait!! Live Artfully!!

3 NEW PAINTINGS!!

Here's 3 new paintings..I have to paint more..it's 4:00 am, and I just realized that I only have 12 days left...no sleep for the weary...Live Artfully

PRE-ORDER

GOOD MOOOORNING!!

Have a wonderful, happy Day!! Live Artfully!! 16 x 16 acrylic on wood.

I STOOD IN THE RAIN

16 x 16 acrylic on wood.$75. Live Artfully!

JUST PAINTING AWAY...

Just busy today painting....Live Artfully!