Expand Your Horizons, Part 3

One more venue where my art is being shown is the Bulverde/Spring Branch Library, in Bulverde, Texas.  My thanks to Adette Irish, the Community Display Coordinator of Canyon Lake Art Guild, for arranging the venue for our artists to show their paintings!  Since the display is in the hallway, it was hard to get just one or two photos of all of them.  The library also wrote up a very nice article on me and put it in the local Comal Chronicle.  I feel like a celebrity!

The paintings will be on display until the end of August, so if you are in the area, stop by and take a peek.  Another friend/artist, Leila Reynolds, also has her paintings on display there and they are beautiful to see.

Good News

I am happy to share the good news that my painting, "Better Than Diamonds", received a 3rd. Place Ribbon in the Pastel/Drawing category.  The show theme is "Images of Life", and is currently showing at the New Braunfels Art Gallery, New Braunfels, Texas, until August 31, 2016.

We had a wonderful reception on Aug. 5th, and there are some great paintings on display.  If you are in the area, be sure to go by and see what talented artists we have.  I am truly honored to have received this award!

For the whole story behind the painting, read my post dated April 16, 2016.

Thanks for reading!

Expand Your Horizons, part 2

Besides entering shows, outside of my comfort zone, I wanted to expand the places where I can display my art, for a longer length of time a show runs for.  I have quiet frequently heard from other artists that people cannot see your work nor have the opportunity to purchase it--if it is stored at your home.  It finally sunk in.

The Canyon Lake Art Guild has a Community Display Coordinator that has found us some great places for our members to show their work.  Some take a commission(retail stores) and some do not(usually the non-profit organizations--like libraries).  My first one was at the Tye Preston Memorial Library, in Sattler, Texas.  I will be hanging there, again, from Oct. thru Dec., 2016.  I have sold one painting and received a commission to do, from hanging there, plus a print sold that is hanging in their reception area.

A new venue for me is the Canyon Animal Hospital in Canyon City, Texas.  A great spot for my animal portraits.  I have both originals and framed prints available, and have had to replace my business cards several times, which tells me the viewers are interested.

Expand Your Horizons

This doesn't apply to just artists--it applies to everyone and their life.  It is how we improve, not only our personal life, but also what we do outside our home.

Periodically, I stop and write down some new goals.  Otherwise, I probably would be doing the same thing I've done for the past two or three years.  "Write" is an action verb, and writing down goals does subconsciously put our thought to action.

So--one of my goals was/is to enter shows outside of my current venues.  It is not as easy as it sounds--I am stepping out of my comfort zone.  New places, new artists--like changing schools and having to start all over.  But I did it.  My first was entering the Art on 12 Guest Artist Show.  It is not a judged show, but three of my paintings are now hanging at Art on 12 Gallery, in Wimberley, Texas, for the month of July.

"Lunch in the Garden", Pastel

Top:  "Black Swallowtail", Pastel

Bottom:  "And God Provides", Pastel

"MoonPie" Shined for Me

I am happy to share that my painting, "MoonPie", was awarded 1st. Place/Drawing Media, in the current show at New Braunfels Art League, put on by the Canyon Lake Art Guild.  The show, Lasting Impressions, will be there until March 30th..  Try to go see--there is some beautiful work displayed.  Thanks again, Molly Jackson White, for letting me paint MoonPie.  Thanks, also, to Lyn Belisle, our wonderful judge.  Be sure to check out her wonderful work at Lyn Belisle Art Studio on FaceBook.

"MoonPie", Pastel, 10" x 8"

"Have Fun"

When I received 1st. Place for "Paint What You Love", a fellow artist suggested I do a series.  So, my follow up was "Have Fun"---and I did!!  I've always loved my reference photo.  Fancy, my border collie, was a very active puppy.  If you are at all familiar with border collies, you know what I mean.  Well, this one particular time I was looking at it, trying to get some ideas, and it reminded me of a pastel artist friend who always ends up with pastel all over her face when she's painting.  Then I bought the toy mouse, and of course, you have to have a cat.  Well, there are no cats here!  Fancy enjoys tantalizing and running them out of the yard.  I had never drawn nor painted one, so the research began, looking for cats in poses that would fit into my composition.  I found several for reference, for anatomy, and came up with my own color choice.  Then, my idea was first done on tracing paper, and I did change my mind several times regarding what props to use.  I set them up like I did for "Paint What You Love".  Next, I followed through with choosing a color scheme.

 reference photo

deciding on color scheme

"Have Fun", 20" x 16", Pastel on velour

"Have Fun" was entered in the 2011, C.L.A.G. annual show, and won 1st. Place in Drawing/Pastel category.  Not only did it receive 1st. Place, but my other entry, "Shhh....Baby Doll Sleeping", tied for first, with it.  I will post that next time.  Needless to say, my feet didn't touch ground the rest of the evening!  Art does have it's HIGHS!!