Keep Your Truck Clean

"An Admiral in Texas", Pastel, 10"x8"

This beautiful butterfly stopped for a visit on the bumper of my husband's pick-up truck, while he was washing it.  I was so happy he had his cell phone handy!!  Talk about good timing!!

I looked in my butterfly book and discovered it is a Red Spotted Purple Admiral.  They mainly live in east Texas straight up to lower Great Lakes, east to coast lines.  Also found in Mexico.  They like a variety of trees including the blooms of Cherry trees(and we do grow them in east Texas).  So I picked the blossoms of a cherry tree for the painting.

Enjoy and thanks for reading!!

referance photo

It Pays to Follow That Inner Spirit

When I finished "A Texas Lunch" (previous post), there was an upcoming show at New Braunfels Art Gallery in New Braunfels, Texas, and I had decided not to enter it.  However, upon framing it (with the help of my niece, Brooke), I got that inner spirit voice saying "enter it".  I usually follow it--so decided to.  So glad I did!!

The reception for the show "Art in Bloom" was this past Friday, May 6th..  It is a beautiful show and will run until May 28th..  I am so happy to share that I received 3rd. Place, Drawing/Pastel category!!

A Texas Lunch

"A Texas Lunch", Pastel, 8"x10"

An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on a Texas Thistle. He(she) poised for me on the Lantana in our back yard. I had already painted one on Lantana, so choose to do a Thistle, which is one of my favorite wildflowers in Texas.

Enjoying Texas Sunset

I keep my camera close to our back door and just happened to catch this hummingbird sitting on our dinner ringer.  He(or she) was facing the wrong direction, so, I just flipped the profile.

Meanwhile, I had also been trying to come up with what I wanted to paint next.  When I was browsing through my photos on the pc, this one caught my eye.  Since it was a relatively simple composition, I felt it would be a fast one, get me back in the grove, and I wanted to practice my sunsets.  The sun actually rises from this direction of my deck, but, who's to know?  I could probably, also, title it Enjoying Texas Sunrise.

I will be including this painting in my Runaway Art collection which is currently on display at Grahamstock Glass & Gallery, in Wimberley, Texas.

Enjoy!!  And thanks for reading!!

"Enjoying Texas Sunset", Pastel, 8"x8"

You Never Know...

...who you will meet at a party?  :)

"Chillin Out", Pastel, 8"x8"

My second cousin, Sharra, captured the photo of this critter, a couple of years ago, while we were sitting outside eating at a restaurant, in Marble Falls, Tx..  We were having our annual Lewis women's reunion.  Talk about good timing!  The minute she showed it to me, I asked if I could paint it.

It was a fun piece to paint and I will be showing it with my collection, Runaway Art.  My Runaway Art paintings are being shown at Grahamstock Glass Gifts & Gallery, in Wimberley, Tx..  www.GrahamstockGlass.com 

W.I.P. shots:

I have expanded my horizons, again!

The good news is that I have been given the opportunity, and am now displaying my artwork at Grahamstock Glass Gifts & Gallery, in Wimberley, Texas.  My works include original paintings, prints of my originals (both framed and not framed), and coffee cups with my original paintings on them.  Something for everyone's budget and taste.

Gail Graham is the owner of Grahamstock Glass Gifts & Gallery.  Be sure to visit her website at www.GrahamstockGlass.com.  She does beautiful Fused Glass artwork, both hanging and tabletop ready, along with her jewelry.

Syl Shoemake is also displaying her unique, one of a kind jewelry.  You will find elements of modern rustic decor to international antiquity as part of her inspiration to create.

Be sure to come in and say "hi" whenever you are in the area.  Wimberley is a fun place to shop and odds are you won't go home empty handed.

May I introduce you to "Duke"

"Duke", Pastel, 10"x8"

My latest pet portrait commission.  Duke is now at Rainbow Bridge.  He was a Redbone Coonhound. His owner rescued him and loved him dearly.  She said he was a very loving and sweet dog and she will miss him immensely.  How could you not with that adorable look on his face!

I so enjoyed working on this painting!  I think I had a smile on my face the whole time.  The referance photo was very small and when enlarged, I lost a lot of detail, but determined to make it work.  I also researched "redbone coonhounds", just to get familiar with that breed, and I have learned how photos can change coloring.  So, luckily, the owner lived within a good distance, and I visited her with several referance photos, and we discussed coloring of his coat.  I later sent her an email with color swatches I had come up with.  She approved one and off I went.  Below, you will see my work in progress.  When I visited her for the final approval--she said "perfect"--whewww!  So I was so happy to leave "Duke" with her.  I sure hope she sends me a photo of it hanging in her office.

ENJOY!!

Expand Your Horizons, Part 4

Another "Expanding My Horizons" I did was entering an annual show that I have not participated in before.  It is the "2016 Reflections of Texas & Beyond Art Show", sponsored by the Luling Oil Museum in Luling, Texas.  This year it was dedicated to Ms. Carol Voigt.  A wonderful show and a great reception.  The reception was this past Sunday and the show will be running until Sept. 23, 2016.

I am honored to report that I received the Carol Voigt Memorial Award for "Better Than Diamonds"!!  It does pay(literally) to "Expand Your Horizons"!!  Talk about motivation to paint more!!

"Better Than Diamonds", Pastel