I Am So Blessed!

APS National Juried Exhibition

judge, Richard McKinley, PSA

 





That is Richard McKinley critiquing my painting, "Bountiful Harvest" during the walk through prior to the awards reception last night. He was so complimentary in his comments about my painting, that I became a tad emotional. It was such an awesome moment! I am kicking myself that I did not video it with my phone, but as you can see, I wasn't able to get too close to the action.

I was just thrilled to have him say really nice things about the painting. But it got even better!!! I won a Merit Award for the painting!!!!!!!!!!!! I have had so many "firsts" these last 4 months, but I think this may just take the cake. I have been blessed beyond my wildest expectations--recognition for my efforts after only 8 months of painting seriously in pastel is surreal.



Monarch Birch

Monarch Birch

7 x 5, Pastel

Click to Bid

We are watching the 4th game of the World Series, what pitiful conditions to sit out and watch a baseball game! Maybe it's OK for football, but not baseball. Makes me wish for the beautiful spring in Colorado.

Quackers in the Pool

Quackers in the Pool

6 x 6, pastel

matted and framed to 12 x 12
Click to Bid

Really had a great day at the CRRC Market Day! Three paintings have new homes and I hope the new owners enjoy them as much as I enjoyed painting them. Met a number of interesting people. Always interesting to talk to people, who enjoy art.

Enjoy this beautiful weather!! "Quackers in the Pool" is available to purchase, but if it still lives with me in the middle of November, it will be entered in the Small Works for Big Holidays Show at NBAL. If you haven't seen the Artoberfest Show at the NBAL Gallery, you are missing a great show.

Also, you MUST see the two artists show at Cactus Jacks in Gruene, Texas. Rita Kirkman and Jeanette Cuevas are premier pastel artists.

Italian Reflections

Italian Reflections

14x11, SOLD

This is my latest watercolor. So many great memories of Italy, wish I could paint them all. The sky reflected in the window looked unreal, it was such a brilliant blue.

Thirteenth century church reflected in a thirteenth century building window---just too cool.

Good for the Eyes

Good for the Eyes

16x20, matted watercolor



This is one of my paintings available to purchase at the CRRC Market Day, this Saturday, October 27, from 9-4. The CRRC is on Mable Dr. just below Canyon Dam and the Tye Preston Library. This and several other paintings will be matted only which reduces the cost. All matted paintings will fit standard frames available at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc.

I will have a number of the paintings that you have seen on this blog available, framed and ready to hang. Hope to see you there. My booth is inside, nice and warm for the cold front that is heading our way!!

       Curley #2       

9 x 12, pastel

Can you tell I like to paint animals? This is my second version of Curley, the first lives in Pennylvania with a couple who had a Curley who looked just like him. This Curley needs a good home, too.

Attended the TPS show opening/reception last night. There is some beautiful art there by artists from across the nation. Hope you can get by to see it.

Also, New Braunfels' own, Rita Kirkman, has a two woman show opening next Friday at Cactus Jack's in Gruene. Her partner in art is Jeannette Cuevas. The reception starts at 6 pm on the 26th. There are rumors that door prizes of their art will be given away that night!!!!! This coincides with the Texas Clay Festival in Gruene.

On Alert

On Alert

7 x 5, pastel

This dog had no clue I was interested in taking his picture. I discovered that is the key, plus a telephoto lens!! Other dogs I have attempted to photograph go bonkers whenever I aim the camera at them. The Lost Maples Dog really spoiled me!! 

Lost Maples Dog

Lost Maples Dog

7 x 5, Pastel  SOLD



This is the painting that started it all. It is the first painting I completed in Rita Kirkman's Miniature workshop last March. I enjoyed painting it in a stressful sort of way--if you know what I mean.

But----do you know how hard it is to get a good picture of a dog??? I snapped this photo at Lost Maples so easily---but I spent over an hour last March in Landa Park trying to get one good picture of all the dogs there that day. The only one I got was taken with the advantage of a long lens--I will post him tomorrow.

Feedin' with Grandaddy

Feedin' with Grandaddy

15x11, watercolor

This is the painting I referenced in the last blog. I had the pleasure of watching this routine every time we visited grandaddy----so glad I had the where-with-all to snap a picture of it. This activity ended way too soon. 

TPS National Juried Show

Wanted to share the flyer sent out by Art Incorporated (hosts of the show). I am thrilled because they chose one of my accepted entries for the flyer. You may recognize, Orvieto Alley, in the lower right corner from an earlier blog entry on September 21. Hope you can make it to the show!!

I have been working in pastel mostly, so decided today that I need to get back into watercolor. I pulled out one I have had drawn for years and started painting this year--it is really a sentimental piece. I will post it when I get it completed.

New Braunfels Icon

New Braunfels Icon

27 x 19, Watercolor

This painting is my third entry accepted in the Artoberfest Juried Show. This was a real challenge, my first attempt at architecture and an automobile!

Hope you can get by and see the show.

River Relics

12 x 12, pastel



This is another picture from Salida, CO and another painting accepted into the Artoberfest show in New Braunfels. I was fortunate to get all 3 entries accepted into the show.

These kayaks are leaning against the wall of an artist's studio. I have a photo of him standing where I took this picture painting the kayaks en plein air!

Another First!!

Lost Maples

12 x 9, pastel

Click to Bid

The Artoberfest Juried Exhibition opened this week and I was blessed to have 3 paintings accepted into the show. Lost Maples was awarded 3rd place in pastel! My first award for my art-- I am so humbled. (I apologize for the quality of the photo-I forgot to take a picture before I put the painting under glass--bummer.)

This is a wonderful show that runs through the second week in November. Hope you can get there to check it out.

This Little Piggy

This Little Piggy

5 x 7, pastel



The Comal County Fair was the news maker here last week. Unfortunately, I didn't make it there to take pictures of the critters. This little fellow (well, he wasn't too little!) was a contestant in the Youth Show last March. Painting animals is always a challenge, fur, eyes, catching their personality (oh, yeah, they have a personality!). Think this guy is saying, "What are you lookin' at?"

The New Braunfels Art League Artoberfest Juried Exhibition opened yesterday at the gallery--drop by and see it.

FIBArk Freestyle

FIBArk Freestyle

4 x 6, pastel

One of our favorite places to vacation is Salida, CO, any season it's great. Each June, around the 3rd week, FIBArk draws thousands of people to this quaint town. The highlight is the activity on the Arkansas River, all sorts of competitions. The things they do in these tiny kayaks blow the mind, flips, somersaults, 360's, you name it they do it. 

Watercolor Study



                                         Citta Della Pieve Farmer                                      

11 x 7.5, watercolor

I have been painting the same subject in different mediums. I think that painting with pastels has allowed me to loosen up when I paint with watercolor. It is good to evolve!

Paintings are turned in tomorrow to be juried for the Artoberfest Show---keeping my fingers crossed!! Good luck to all those entering!



Orvieto Alley

Orvieto Alley 

(24 x 18, pastel)

Wow, time really flies! I have been busy getting all the paintings framed and ready for the shows and then yesterday, I just could not stand it any longer-----I had to paint! So the blog got pushed to the back burner.

Anyway, Orvieto Alley is the third and final painting accepted in the TPS National Juried Exhibition in San Antonio. This show will be at Art Incorporated, 9401 San Pedro, the last two weeks of October. Hope you can get by to see it. I can't wait to see all the art juried in by Doug Dawson--should be great!

Italian Man

(7 x 5, pastel)

OK, so I tried real hard yesterday to contain my excitement that I had paintings juried into the Texas Pastel Society Exhibition. My son said I had to tone down my blog entry! What does he know! I am ecstatic, more like blown away---but at the same time humbled that this has happened.

Italian Man is another painting that has been accepted in the show. I saw this man several times a day while in Citta Della Pieve. It is early in the evening and he is sitting on the steps of the largest cathedral at the center of two plazas. One of the greatest things about Italy was that every evening the streets were filled with people of all ages visiting.

Wildseed Farm

Wildseed Farm

(10 x 8, pastel)

Click to Buy

Wildseed Farm is one of my entries to the Texas Pastel Society 2nd Biennial National Juried Show that was accepted into the show. Entries were selected by juror, Doug Dawson, PSA and will  be on display at Art Incorporated, 9401 San Pedro, San Antonio, October19 - November 2, 2012. The opening reception is Friday, October 19, 5pm -8pm.

I just love the Wildseed Farm in the spring, everything is in bloom!

Feels So Good

Feels So Good

(10 x 14, watercolor)

Had to post this guy today, because I feel good too! It has finally rained !!! PTL!

You just know how good scratching that itch feels.

Today I've got to get on matting/framing my entries for the Artober Art Show down at the gallery--much rather be painting! Rainy days are great for creating-don't you think?

The Very First!!!

Bountiful Harvest     (10 x 8, pastel)

I was notified today that this painting has been accepted to The Appalachian Pastel Society's 2012 Juried National Exhibition!!!! This painting was one of 74 paintings out of 230 submitted that was selected by the juror, Richard McKinley, PSA, PSWC-DP, NPS. It will be displayed October 18 - December 14, 2012 at The Asheville School Gallery in Asheville, North Carolina.

This is my first ever acceptance into a juried show!!! I have to thank Rita Kirkman (check out her blog, Rita Kirkman's Daily Paintings) for the workshop that ignited my desire/ability to work in pastel and for encouraging me to enter shows outside of our local gallery. I also have to thank Angie Banta Brown (check out her web site) for years of instruction, encouragement and friendship, helping me to get to this point in my art experience!!!

One Year Ago

Citta Della Pieve Farmer      (10x8, pastel)

One year ago today I was blessed to join a group of artists and travel to Italy for 10 days. It was a trip of a lifetime. If you ever have the opportunity to go--do not hesitate.

This farmer lived on the outskirts of Citta Della Pieve and he was quite a character!
















Citta Della Pieve Farmer  10 x 8 pastel

Pastel Show at Christus Santa Rosa In New Braunfels

Peek-a-boo!
8 x 6 inches

Playing at Padre
12 x 9 inches

Several of you have tried to leave comments and have been unsuccessful----I wish I knew how to help you!! I really would love to hear what you have to say. I will continue to try to figure it out and get back with you!!! Thanks for trying! You can always email me.

Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in New Braunfels has designated a wall in the hallway on the way to the cafeteria as an art wall and cooperates with the New Braunfels Art League to have members' art  hang there. The current show runs for the next 3 months and the medium is pastel.

Art to be hung is submitted and then juried by the hospital to determine what pieces will grace the walls during that show. I was blessed to have these 3 paintings accepted and they are hanging there now.

Day at the Beach
7 x 5 inches

So drop by the hospital (formerly McKenna) to check out all the lovely art hanging in the pastel show, you won't be disappointed. Oh, by the way, all the art is for sale.

Sorry about the quality of the photo of Peek-A-Boo. I forgot to take a picture of it prior to framing---bummer.

Rhapsody in Blue Show at NBAL Gallery

 



Reflections in Blue Vase

Pastel 8x6

Sunflowers in Blue Vase
Watercolor 20 x 16
Framed

 



Tourist in Blue
Watercolor 20 x 16

 The September show is up and running at the gallery in downtown New Braunfels. It is a beautiful show. These are my entries . It was tough to come up with three paintings with blue--it's not my color. So there are two blue vases---but hey, at least it isn't the same vase!!
                                                                                                              Last September I was blessed to be able to spend 10 days in Italy and that's where I saw the gentleman. He was sitting in a park around the corner from our hotel. The sunshine on him was so interesting.

Getting my art "Out There"




This is an exciting moment------my first blog entry!! Never really considered having a blog until a young lady who purchased one of my pastels wanted to know where she could see more of my art on line!!!! Those of you who know me, know I am technically challenged, but here it is!

Hoping to learn about site design and content soon. Thought I would just get this out there and see what happens.

I titled this good looking guy----YOU-- LOOK-- MARVELOUS! using Billy Crystal's byline of Fernando Lamas. I now know his real name is Maestro Bernini and a resident of River Oaks Llamas.

Pastel  7x5 inches---Sold