Vin et Van Gogh

Friday, December 28, 7-9 p.m.

at Gallery 104 LaGrange, KY

Grab a few of your friends and make plans to join me and paint this fun

16 x 20 Blue Hydrangea.

This is a fun, no pressure class and you will go home with a finished painting

and the knowledge of how to do it again.

The class is $40 with a minimal charge for the hors d'ouvres bar

and you can reserve your spot by contacting Gallery 104 at

502-222-3822

and signing up for this class.

After all the Christmas holiday fun,

get your sisters, cousins, nieces, etc. together and plan on this for a night of fun and friendship and memory making.  

You're provided with everything you need to complete the painting, including: paints, brushes, apron, easel and canvas.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and you should arrive at least 20 minutes before the class begins promptly at 7:00 p.m.

All registrations must be paid for in advance no later than 3 p.m. on Wednesday,

December 26.

As a side note,

we will be lightening up the background on this to just a hint of green or a beautiful cream.

This promises to be lots of fun.  

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Return from the Dark Side

Or

How quickly can things go south.

Those of you who know me,

Know I’m not the healthiest horse in the barn.

My immune system is worthless and I’ve been sick for over a week.

The point is,

Things can go south pretty quickly.

I haven’t painted in over two weeks,

My room looks like an explosion happened in there,

The rest of the house is in need of serious attention.

My point is,

Without constant attention, our lives, our loves,

Our talents

Take a real beating.

It doesn’t take long before things aren’t going well and quite possibly have fallen into chaos.

Artists know you have to paint often for the brush to become part of you.

When you haven’t painted for a while are you nervous when you next pick up the brush.

I know I’m nervous.

Looking forward to it, but nervous nonetheless.

Just adding one of my favorite paintings

Reminding me, I can do this.

I can do this

I can do this.

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Ya Gotta Love the Internet

Friends I Would Never Have Met

I'm always intrigued by the internet.

I've made many many art friends across the globe on facebook.

I love looking at their art

and seeing what they love to paint.

I look forward to seeing their beautiful paintings.

I subscribe to a number of art blogs just so I can see what's new with them.

I'm not a world traveler and I would never have met these people in any other way.

Tonight I went on my stats section of my blog to see

where my page views were coming from.

I was shocked.

Pakistan,

Serbia,

France,

Netherlands,

Bangladesh,

Ukraine,

Venezuela,

Canada,

and of course,

U.S.A.

I would never have met these people if it weren't for the internet,

facebook, pinterest

and on and on and on.

If you've ever re-pinned, shared, liked, etc.,

you never know where you're sending that little piece of info.

I love the internet 

and all the good it can do.

Happy Cyber Day!

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Maybe one of my favorite blog posts

Maniac Painter

Why do I describe myself that way.

Because I am.

I don't know why I'm driven to paint,

(at least I still have my ears)

But I am driven to paint

and

 I love it.

I love the feel of the brush, the paint,

seeing something show up on the canvas,

getting the idea,

seeing the idea develop,

slopping paint on the canvas (and me)

Today I read a blog post from Clint Watson on FASO (fine art studios online) that I truly love.

He explains why he spends so much time and money on playing the guitar.

I totally get it.

I do it because there's nothing else I enjoy doing as much.

OK, maybe watching Kentucky Basketball,

but that's a whole nother topic or mania.

Unlike many artists,

I also like the selling part.

I was a retailer and I guess I still am,

because I love that part about painting,

but not as much as the painting itself.

Below is a link for his post.

Enjoy!

Pin It                                         Why do I spend money painting?

listing on eBay today, Cyber Monday

eBay Bound

you have seven days to check out these paintings

I just listed on eBay.

Check them out and pass around to your friends and family.

Springtime Pink

is available on ebay at the link below.  

I'm giving Free Shipping for anything purchased at the buy now price.  

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150955313718

Happy Day

is one of my favorite paintings

and is available on eBay at the link below. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cyber-Monday-Signed-Original-Painting-ART-/150955144120?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item2325a0b3b8

Pink

is another cute 6" x 6" water mixable oil in this grouping.

available on eBay at the link below.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pink-Cyber-Monday-signed-original-ART-/150955306999?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item2325a32ff7

Sunset Path

is the final 6" x 6" signed original water mixable oil on canvas panel.

This has a lot of depth and is very painterly.

Check it out, pass it around and get your bid on, 

at the link below

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cyber-Monday-Signed-Original-Painting-ART-/150955149197?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item2325a0c78d

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Courage!

Fresh Courage Take

A year ago I began painting this with the sky and mountains.

I didn't really know where I was going to go with it.

My youngest daughter gave me an idea that a silhouette of Mary and Joseph would look great on it, as if they were walking to Bethlehem.

It's been sitting in my studio for a year waiting for me to gather up the courage to paint them.

We are having "Our Savior's Nativity this weekend,

So I got a big basket to put some courage in and began.

I found some reference photos on the subject,

and began to draw.

After I had something on paper I was satisfied with,

I transferred it to the canvas

and then began to paint.

I have put this off for a year and it took me less than two hours to finish it today.

What was I waiting for?

Often times we don't need, courage,

we just need less fear.

Leave me a comment on what you feel about the painting, fear or courage.

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Our Savior's Nativity

is an annual event put on by the Carrollton, KY branch of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

501 Main St.

Carrollton, KY  41045

Friday, November 30 from 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, December 1 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

We try to create what a street might have looked like in Bethlehem at the time of the 

Savior's birth.

We also have a live indoor nativity, (without animals)

and then we have several rooms where we display over 50 different Nativity sets.

It is a truly special night where those attending can feel the true spirit of Christmas.

Harriet Shapiro, our weaver, not only helped make all the costumes, but she also made the loon she's using here.  

Our baker, Diane Perry warms herself next to our oven as she bakes bread for the village.

Here's what the street looks like.

Hal Shapiro, our money changer, speaks with a passerby, Ken Boehnlein.

Mary and Joseph last year were played by the Cavanaugh's and their new baby.

Here they are in our live manger scene.  

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Because everyone needs a new painting in their inbox.

Can I "Not Like" Someone's Art

If you've ever wondered if you are"allowed" to say you don't like a painting or piece of artwork, the answer is yes!  If you do say it, do you say it loud enough for anyone to hear.

Here is a link to a very good article about that very topic.

Check out Carolyn Hendersen.

http://faso.com/fineartviews/51847/being-difficultInteresting article about artists basing their art on what others think.

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White's Run Creek

White's Run Creek

I live in the middle of nowhere,

the epicenter of no where,

and scenes like this are everywhere on my drive home

from next to nowhere.

I have photographed this particular view of this particular creek several times,

and have painted it multiple times trying to capture it.

I finally got something that I am somewhat pleased with.

Usually, it is a quiet creek, sometimes with very little water.

But after a rain, it becomes this rolling boiling waterway.

This fun little painting is a framed 5 x 7 and is available on my website.  

Click here to view my website.

I'm sure this won't be the last time I paint this creek,

because they're everywhere here.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

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Holiday Artistique at Gallery 104

Holiday Artistique

Gallery 104 in LaGrange, KY

has Holiday Artistique in November and December.

The Gallery show room is full of artists work just in time for

Christmas shopping.

There will be art in its many forms.

Paintings,

Stained Glass,

Paintings,

Jewelry,

Paintings,

did I mention paintings.

Just askin.

Here are things I'll be offering in the gallery for Artistique

Aspen Glow

16 X 20 Framed Acrylic on canvas panel.

This is painted from a photograph I took near my son's home in Logan, UT.

We drove up to Bear Lake and stopped at this Aspen Grove.

It was a beautiful sight and I love painting them.

$200 + $20 shipping

Blue Fall

is one of the plein air paintings I did in General Butler State Park

recently when it was so warm.

Loved the color of the leaves and the shape of the tree.  

$100 + $10 shipping

Mountain Mist

is a fun mountain scene with the mists of morning.

Living in Kentucky we don't see scenes like this,

but in Utah where my son's family lives, this is the norm.

That's how they tell directions.

The frame is a handsome solid oak.

$150 + $15 shipping.

Please contact Gallery 104, LaGrange, KY

502-222-3822

if interested.

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Oldham Fine Art Show and some of what you missed.

Oldham Fine Art Show this past weekend.

Here is my booth.

I sold two paintings and three garden stones

so not too bad.

I shared a booth with Rebecca Burke who makes beautiful hand sewn and hand bound journals.  

If you'd like to have one custom made contact her at 

Lebeckish.com

or 

RebeccaJBurke@gmail.com

Robbie Mueller is a folk artist and he also shows at Gallery 104 in LaGrange, KY.

This is his booth and you can see his work at 

www.folkartkentucky.com.

It is fabulous, hilarious and ingenious.

Here are several of Robbies pieces.

It's all 3D sculpture and sculpted pics.

Below is Tom and Mary Kinney.

They also show at Gallery 104 and own their own studio in LaGrange

further down on Main Street.

Tom does some super metal jewelry and photography and

Mary does some wonderful mixed media paintings.

you can purchase their work at 

etsy.com/shop/kinneystudio

Ann Klem is another Gallery 104 artist who does some fabulous glass works and glass jewelry.

Check her out at AnnKlemReflections.com

This is another vendor, Denise Conley, with beautiful Alpaca items.

Bluebonnets and Bluegrass Alpaca Farm

www.bluealpacas.com

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Paint and Paper

Here is part of my booth for this weekend

in Oldham County.

I shared a booth space with Rebecca Burke, a graphics artist who makes hand sewn and hand bound journals.

Rebecca's Display

these are some of her journals.

She also does water colors.

If you're interested in having a custom journal made contact her at

rebeccajburke@gmail.com

lebeckish.com.

Give her a look and help share the love

by pinning her website,

seeing her on facebook and hit the share button, etc.

Thanks friends.

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We Do Use Torture!

We Do Torture!

Yes, in the United States we do torture.

But we call it "sending your computer our for repairs".

My, less than a year old laptop was having some serious hiccups,

so I called the company to find out what to do.

The torture began with that call.

I mean no disrespect here, but, 

you know they weren't in this country,

didn't have the Kentucky twang I understand and love,

Nope they had a different twang, that I didn't love and couldn't understand.

Finally after several tests, it was decided, yes there is a problem 

and 

it was still under warranty, so it went back to the manufacturer.

They didn't tell me to back everything up, but I did, because I have lots of photos of my art and reference material for my art,

not to mention tax info,

so I spent one evening backing it up before it went on its long journey.

Torture.

OK, it only went to Louisville for repairs,

but it could have been a long journey.

They also didn't tell me to take off any sensitive information,

but I did after backing it up.

Torture!

A pretty nifty box came to ship my broken computer in.

So after all the backing up, erasing, deleting and checking,

I put my life into the box and sent it off.

More Torture!

I didn't realize how many times a day I sat down with my electronic friend to work, to visit, to talk to my kids,

Double Torture!

After a week it magically showed up again.

Well sort of.

It had a new:

lid,

keyboard,

motherboard,

cord 

and charging unit.

So, really a whole new computer was delivered to my door.

Now the real torture began.

Glad I made that spreadsheet with all my passwords.

There was nothing left of my life on my new best friend.

No pictures, no art, no tax info, no seminary lessons,

no facebook,

no ebay,

no pinterest,

no microsoft office,

no printer!

I love making art, writing and blogging about art,

making spread sheets to keep track of my art,

But I hate installing programs!

It turns me into,

well, a very unpleasant person.

So, not only was I tortured trying to do all this, with my limited computer savvy,

but now the torture began for my whole family.

So sorry family!

So, never let it be said that the United States is above torture!

Cause we're not!

We just call it electronic repair!

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River Lizard

Who Invited You?

So I woke up this morning ready to plein air paint, again.

And everything was going very well.

I found some great places to photograph in the county,

and got a lot of reference material.

Then I found a place, not in the park,

but in the Two Rivers Campground,

the brand new campground in Carrollton.

They have a great pier that hangs above the Kentucky River, 

just yards away from where it joins the Ohio River.

It was a beautiful sight, beautiful fall day,

unbelievably warm for this time of year,

and then,

after I'd done my block in,

guess who showed up.

Yep!

The doubt lizard. 

You've probably met him.

You've definitely met him if you've ever done anything creative

and had doubts.

Where is this painting going?

Is this going anywhere?

Is this any good?

What is wrong with this?

What is wrong with me?

Well nothing much.

(If you don't count my chocolate addiction)

But somedays I have those doubts.

Can I really do this?

Who am I kidding?

This painting was a wreck for most of its life and on into adulthood.

Looking at this, no wonder the doubt lizard reared his ugly head.

Adding some color into the water for the reflections.

Still not happy, but something is evolving

a little brighter colors made a huge difference.

Finally, something I was sort of happy with.

That tree sort of look like the loch ness monster.

Shut up lizard.

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Visitors in the Park

These three cuties stopped by with their grandpa in General Butler State Park as I was finishing up for the day.  

They are Caroline, Jacob and Ryan and they are from Crestwood, KY.

They came to the park to play tennis and stopped to ask some questions and look at my work.

It was so fun to have someone stop by and ask about what I was doing.

Jacob, Ryan and Caroline

looking at a nearly finished, (at least for today)

painting of a huge pine tree at the back entrance of Butler.

This is what I was looking at as I began painting this morning. 

Got the trunk and branches and some highlights in.

Looks kind of scary at this point.

I put in the leaves that were blowing all over the park today and had gathered beneath the tree.  Then I began to put in the shadows under the tree and made one pass of the pine boughs.

The with just a slight turn, I had this beauty of a tree to look at.

I started here and then the fun began.

again scary trunk and branches.

Then for the highlights and shadows and it begins to look more like a tree.

This is the bottom of the tree.  

I need to go back to the studio and put the benches in.

Come back tomorrow and I'll have both paintings finished and ready for you and

Caroline, Jacob and Ryan to see.

Thanks for stopping by today guys.

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