Still working on Pieces for San Diego Festival, however….

… I always have time to squeeze in some other pieces for me. I have been getting back to the oils lately, and working on loose abstract pieces, with birds and trees. Much of my current work, is really a process and not for anyone to see, just experiments and lots of mistakes. 

I have been playing with layering color and texture in abstract work in addition to working in oil.

An art teacher once told me that if you are not making crappy work, you are not learning. So the painted-over pieces bring a smile to my face….I actually enjoy painting over old mistakes, as the pentimento effect adds a great deal to the new work!

Lately, I have become much more particular about what goes out there to be seen. I sometimes have to sit with pieces  for a good while, before I decide if they are good enough to be viewed by others. Could it be that I am maturing as an artist? If that is true, I am a late, late bloomer!

I enjoy working in abstract so much, I have to watch it and make sure I don't overdo. It is very easy to get lost in the fun of creating, and just turn the piece into mud. These loose pieces are so freeing for me. I do get rather tired of working on the tight dual bird series that I have been working on for the past two years. 

Perhaps I can transition to those sloppier, more relaxed paintings to show at the festivals….

See you in San Diego!

Some new pieces for the New Year

Happy 2014!!

At the end of the year I was busy working on a commission for a friend

The birds of Southeast Arizona measures 40" long and turned out quite nicely, I thought.

But now it's a new year and I am preparing for an upcoming bird festival in San Deigo, CA. It starts Feb. 26-March 2nd. I am looking forward to it, but have just a few small paintings to take, so I need to get busy!

Meanwhile, during the week in between Christmas and New Year's, I went to Southeast Arizona with the hubby and worked on some new pieces, while he worked. 

Crissal Couplet

Splendid Scene with Mountain Cottontail

Rocky Residents

All of these paintings are available for purchase on Etsy. 

I am working on creating stronger contrasts in my pieces. I think that these three examples show progress in that area. I always strive to do better. 

In addition to preparing for the festival, I am working on another grant. It would allow me to create a series of paintings that are larger and more marketable in galleries. 

Stay tuned for my upcoming works. 

Healthy and Prosperous New Year to all!

Happy New Year!!!

Well it is almost a new year!! I have lots of new ideas for projects that I am looking forward to starting as soon as I am back in the studio. I am spending this New Year's Eve in Sierra Vista, AZ with my husband, who is leading a bird tour. New Years Eve dinner will be held at Cafe Roka, in Bisbee, AZ.

I will have to post my end of the year pieces later, as I have not yet photographed them.  Stayed tuned for more images to come...

I wish all of you a wonderful, healthy and profitable New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

It's that time of year again...

Turkey Day

My hubby and I will be at the Casa de San Pedro for Thanksgiving, and I will show my work there on the 29th Friday.

Come see me at 8933 S. Yell Road Hereford, AZ

and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the hacienda style inn on the San Pedro River, and browse my artwork. I will have items for sale from $20 and up, and all of my newest pieces to view.

11am-4pm

Call 520-366-1300 for more info.

I hope to see you there!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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WEEMS!

WEEMS!

I can't believe Weems is THIS week! I have been working towards this one show for over three months now, and I am happy to say that I am prepared. In fact, set up day one was today and my booth is pretty much set. Tomorrow I go in to add lighting and finishing touches. I am very excited about this show and cannot wait for Friday to come!

I hope that all of you who are local will be able to come by on Friday, Saturday or Sunday of this week,  November 15th, 16th and 17th.

I am in booth number A14.

Check this link for details and times, WEEMS.

Not only will there be new artwork, but new note cards and tons of minis as well.

After WEEMS my husband and I are heading down to Southeast Arizona to spend Thanksgiving with friends at the Casa de San Pedro.

On November 29, Friday from 11-4pm I will be setting up my artwork once again. 

All you Southern Arizona customers, please come by Casa and check out my newest works!

Hope to see you at either of the shows. Stay tuned for other updates and more shows to come. 

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A Busy Start to the Autumn Season!

Happy Autumn!

Autumn has started off with many projects. The biggest event that is upcoming is the WEEMS Artfest on November 15, 16, 17.

Go here for all the details

I have been so busy painting for this show. I want to make sure that I have lots of new work for the show, and that is a cohesive body that will hang well. 

When you come to WEEMS please check out my booth number A-14.

Here is a sneak preview of some pieces that you will see there...

 I have been asked by Hawks Aloft of Albuquerque to create a design for their tee shirt. I need to start on this project right away, as it is due in one month.  

Beyond all of this, my plan after WEEMS is to start approaching various restaurants, coffee shops and the like in Santa Fe and Albuquerque to see if they will carry my artwork in their eateries and cafes. 

If you are the proprietor of such an establishment, and feel that my artwork might work in the ambiance of your business by all means, send me an email or give me a call! 828-545-8028.

There are three commissions on my horizon as well. These will involve multiple paintings so I need to be prepared to start those as soon as possible also. 

I had planned to get involved more with CNMAS in addition to all of this, so time management is important these days. 

I will sign again before the big show and will display more sneaks at the pieces that will be hanging in mid November. 

thanks!!

Last of the Summer Shows

Today was the last day of the last summer show that I am participating in. The Tucson Bird and Wildlife Festival was a great success! I will definitely do this show again next year. It was great seeing old friends and making new ones, and the sales were not bad either! I love Tucson the city is great and the people are super nice. I even managed to get out and do a little birding this morning at the Sweetwater Wetlands, a place I have never been before. 

This shy Burrowing Owl was fun to see, along with the other live critters at the show. 

A few of my new bird paintings sold at the show. They are a bit more involved than my usual bird portraits. I am finally moving away from those simpler portraits as I am ready to depict more elements of nature in one piece. I hope to evolve to pieces that depict flora, birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, etc. I am still enjoying the "dual critter pieces" like the these. My color use is brighter and bolder than ever for the most part. 

I am enjoying these bird festivals so much, I am trying to get into some other shows this fall, even though it is very last minute. We will see if I can squeeze into any of them. If I do I will post them here and on Facebook. 

So in the meantime have a great remainder of the summer!