As the year ends... *SOLD*

I thought I would post this "evening" painting as we approach the evening of the year. I hope these last few days of 2011 find you at peace with the events of the year and hopeful for 2012! A new day will dawn...a fresh, clean canvas...let's make it beautiful and full of light!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

II Corinthians 9:15

Merry Christmas!!

Here Comes Santa Claus! *SOLD*

When I started this little painting, I didn't quite expect his expression to come out a little happy, a little bewildered, but still with a twinkle in his eye, but I'm glad it did. It's probably the way most of look about now! Merry Christmas, everyone! Don't let the hectic side of things keep you from seeing the beauty around you...keep that twinkle!!

Happy Birthday, Alabama!

On December 14, 1819, Alabama became the 22nd state to join the Union! Happy 192nd Birthday to my state! In honor of the day, I'm posting this small painting of a camellia. The beautiful camellia is our state flower and perks up many a dreary winter day! The painting can be purchased at Stonehenge Gallery in Montgomery.

Small Works Show this Thursday/Stonehenge Gallery!

Interested in giving or receiving original art, but have a smaller budget this year? This Thursday, Dec. 8th, is for you! Come to Stonehenge Gallery in Montgomery for the annual small works show where works for $200 or less will be featured! The reception is from 5:00-8:00.

This is one of several pieces I'll have in the show - a view down Washington Ave in Montgomery. It's 6"x6" and is $150. I'll also have a few local landmarks, skyscapes, landscapes and florals.

I personally have added to my own collection over the years at this show! It's especially great for new collectors and those who are out of wall space as many pieces can be displayed on small easels! Hope to see you there!

New Deliveries at Renaissance Gallery

This painting, "Keeping the Peas", is one of several just delivered to Renaissance Gallery in Northport, Alabama. The Renaissance Gallery is a lovely gallery in a very charming town just outside of Tuscaloosa. If you're in the area, please stop by as you do your Christmas shopping! The town will not disappoint - you'll find several great shops in addition to this gallery and great places to eat!

Okay - I talked my mother, my husband's aunt, and a friend of theirs into posing for me last summer. They shelled peas, drank tea, and ate watermelon while I got lots of painting reference photos! Thanks, ladies!! :)

Autumn in the Alabama

Is it my imagination or are we getting extra beautiful autumn color here in Alabama??! It's been perfect! On top of that, a cotton farming friend invited me to paint with her just before the cotton was harvested and it was wonderful! So - here's one that I painted after the plein air get-together. I absolutely love cotton...makes me think of that line from "Stars Fell On Alabama"..."we kissed in a field of white"...I sure do live in a great place!

Stir Crazy

Yes, it's the most wonderful time of the year to be a plein air painter! The temperatures are perfect, the light is golden, the breezes are heavenly, the greens are a little less...well, green. And here I am cooped up recuperating after surgery! Arrrggghh! I can't wait to get outside and paint! I've been spending some time watching art instruction videos by some of my favorite artists (Richard Schmid, Scott Christensen, Kathryn Stats) and now I'm all inspired and itching to get out there! Patience is a virtue - expect a masterpiece when I'm back on my feet, right?! ;)

Marketing 101 *SOLD*

This small painting just sold to someone who loves the Montgomery Curb Market like I do! I titled this one "Marketing 101" because the older man on the left seemed to really be telling the younger one how it's done! I love the curb market...all the color, texture, pattern, people and light spilling in! My grandparents took me there as a little girl for fresh produce and I still go today...it's a wonderful Montgomery tradition whatever the season!

Upcoming Show!

Yesterday was the take-in for the Montgomery Art Guild's annual Regions Bank show and I'm so excited to have 4 pieces in it! This is one of the pieces included entitled "This Memory Brightens". The show opens on Sept. 11 with an afternoon reception during Art Trek. The art season kicks off with Art Trek in Montgomery with galleries across town having open houses that Sunday afternoon and show/competition announcements and receptions, too. It's just a lot of fun and a great way to support the art community!

Somewhere Under the Rainbow

Anyone want to go to the beach? It's so hot, I'm not sure the beach is even where I want to be today! Even so, I hope this one cools you off a bit and makes you feel the breeze off the water. Stay cool....somewhere under the rainbow!

In Memory

Keith Houts lost his life in the line of duty in September 2006 while working with the Montgomery Police Department. I had the privilege to paint his portrait recently and present it to his parents at a very moving ceremony at South University. Keith would have been 35 years old today...his life taken much too soon.

Please remember him today and say a prayer for all those men and women who put their lives on the line everyday for our safety and security. Remember their families who send them off everyday uncertain that they'll return. It is a great sacrifice.

Rest in peace, Keith.

Happy First Day of Summer! *SOLD*

Here's a painting of the Montgomery Curb Market to celebrate the first day of summer...although it's felt like summer around here since the beginning of May! Enjoy the day! Eat some watermelon, catch some lightning bugs, and remember the days when you were having so much fun the heat didn't bother you!

Fields of Cotton *SOLD*

This painting of Alabama cotton fields was done from a photo taken late last summer and, though the painting recently sold, I wanted to post it because it makes me think of the lyrics to the song "Summertime" - "Summertime and the living is easy; fish are jumping and the cotton is high"! I love summer and hope you're enjoying it - stay cool!

Orange & Blue & White House! *SOLD*

The Auburn Tigers visited the White House today and I visited Auburn! They obviously didn't know I would be in Auburn today. I'm so proud!! War Eagle!!

Summer Days at the Lake! *SOLD*

Here's a painting of lovely Lake Martin just north of Montgomery. I painted this one on board and was trying to capture the blues and greens of the lake as I aimed to depict atmospheric perspective.
I'll be at Lake Martin this Saturday at Chuck's Marina for the Lil Calypso Art Fest! Come see me if you're there...I'll be under the big tent!

Family Tradition

Happy Summer, everyone! We're near the official kickoff of this great season and I wanted to post this one for two reasons. One - it represents one of Alabama's great family traditions...spending time at the beach!! This one depicts an older (ahem...maybe middle aged) woman who I like to think is introducing this little girl (a daughter, a niece, a granddaughter?) to the Gulf. There's also a teenager/young woman in the upper left hand corner representing that time in your life when you'd rather be at the beach with your friends. We always come full circle though and back to family! I'm so happy that I can say my best friends are family! Okay - reason number 2 - I just took this painting and others to Lyon's Share Gallery in Fairhope, AL and I'm so excited that they will now have my work! Stop by if you're around there on your next visit to the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area!

Happy Cows *SOLD*

I love to paint cows and recently I was able to be "up close and personal" with a few. I took lots of photos and am eager to paint them! I think one reason I love them - other than the beautiful colors - are their expressions. They can look so angelic and then some, like this one I think, seem to be saying, "State your business" or "What are you lookin' at?". It's so funny how we stand and stare at them and they stand and stare at us....I'm easily amused!

Skies over Alabama *SOLD*

The skies over Alabama that I love to paint so much, the skies that inspire me again and again, were unfriendly to us yesterday. Please be in prayer for our dear state as we recover from so much devastation and heartache. It is so hard to watch all these details unfold. In spite of it, we have so much for which to be thankful. It really could have been so much worse.

Sunny days are ahead, I know. The people of Alabama are loving and giving and they support each other in good times and bad. I know their spirit will prevail! Thank you for your prayers!

Springtime in the South - Callaway Gardens! *SOLD*

I am getting ready to head over to beautiful Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia! 33 artists were selected to paint in their 2nd Annual Plein Air Paint Out and Art Show & Sale and I am very honored to be one of them. We'll be painting the Gardens and in surrounding areas like Atlanta, Columbus, Newnan & LaGrange all week long. The culmination will be a show and sale that begins with a preview party Friday night! I am a bit nervous to be painting with some very well-known, very talented artists and very excited, too!!

I especially cannot wait to see the beauty of the azaleas that bloom at Callaway - it is truly breathtaking!

Time for Baseball! *SOLD*

I love baseball season and here in Montgomery, Alabama we cheer on the Montgomery Biscuits! I love to go and take pictures to paint later. I love their colors - blue and gold - and the crisp green field. It's just a lot of fun...sometimes I even watch the game!

The first game of the season is tonight! Best wishes for a great season, Biscuits, from a big fan!

Opening Reception - Thurs., April 7th!

Robin Roberts and I have an opening reception at Charleston House in Montgomery this Thursday, April 7th! Owners Ashley & David Owen have planned a delicious Southern menu and we look forward to sharing our new work with you!

Please join us on a beautiful spring day from 11-2.

Charleston House is located at 15 Mitylene Park Lane. Their website is www.charlestonhouseframing.com.

I hope you can come!

Energen Art 2011 - part 2!

Here's the other painting I have in the Energen Art Show in Birmingham. The show runs through this Sunday, March 27. I'll have to miss the reception this year because I'll be teaching a workshop. The reception is always fantastic! The people, the food, the art...all are great. It's almost like a reunion of Alabama artist friends.

I am looking forward to teaching this workshop, though! I can't wait to meet the students who have signed up and I'm eager to teach them - hopefully something new & encouraging! Have a great week, everyone!

Energen Art Show 2011

This is one of 2 pieces I entered in this year's Energen Art Show in Birmingham. Thankfully, they both got in the show and I'm looking forward to it! It opens on March 14th if you're in the area and can stop by the Energen Building in downtown Birmingham!

I've been trying hard to capture the light in the sky and this painting, "The Edge of Light", is one of my more recent efforts. Coming up with names is hard for me! My friend and photographer of my art, Robert Fouts, and I came up with this name together...although we both thought it sounded like a soap opera!

I feel baseball! *SOLD*

I feel baseball in the air today!! Do you??! It's beautiful and warm and I hear lawn mowers. It's almost time!!

The Tigers' Trees

Roots go deep down at the corner of Magnolia and College in Auburn, Alabama...and deep in the hearts of the Auburn family is a love for a couple of trees that have brought so much joy to countless people.

This painting was done right after our Auburn Tigers became the National Champions and now they are champions in spirit.

War Eagle!

Winter Blahs Maybe? *SOLD*

I'm posting this painting that I did in the fall using a very limited palette. This one worked, but my experiments with a limited palette this week are failing it seems! I've scraped more canvas and wasted more paint than I have in a long time and I am frustrated!! The middle of winter always leaves me a bit put out and this one is no exception. I'm determined to pull off a good one...or two...this week, though! Back to the easel!!

Workshop with Mark Horton *SOLD*

I attended a workshop by Mark Horton last weekend and had a great time! This is one of the paintings I completed. It was so inspiring and refreshing to get together with a new instructor and fellow artists! I just purchased lots of new canvas and can't wait for it to arrive. I have so many new ideas and look forward to painting, painting, painting! All these ideas I've had in the past with not enough time to see them through are ready to be unleashed!

Today is just the beginning! *SOLD*

Today is truly the first day of the rest of my life! After 13 years working at a bank and working in other fields since I was 14 years old (except for a brief stint as a full-time painter), I will be painting full-time! Dreams do come true!! It is an answered prayer and I am so excited to begin this journey! Painting is my passion and I hope you'll follow me on this blog! Happy New Year everyone! Aim high!!