Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Life and Art

While I'm busy trying to get my act together I'm often distracted by all of the other things going on in my life. The creative process is different for everyone but being able to create art often is inspired by those things that are going on in ones life. I've decided to blog a little more often and not just about my artwork. I'm going to add a little bit more about the process of creating my paintings but that will include some of my other ventures. 
I recently drove from Tennessee to Virginia. The drive was long but beautiful through the mountains. Here's an instagram pic... 

Time and yummy food with my brother at a great restaurant AW Shucks  in Ghent (Norfolk) Virginia

A great summer is never complete without the Dave Matthews Band! They were wonderful as usual!
 I had an idea for artwork that is a painting in an embroidery hoop with some embroidery. This is a northern skyline and I'm embroidering the Northern Lights in green thread. I'm trying to do a japanese stitch with a stem stitch border. I'm going to add some more as well as some french knot stars. I'm pretty excited to start working in a new medium. I don't think I'll get to do too much of this in the near future but it was an idea in my head that I just had to start so it'd give me some peace!
 I love knitting and this is a baby blanket I'm making for a friends new baby. I am so close to being done with this! I will actually be done before the baby is born! A miracle since the way I complete knitting projects I would expect the baby to be in college before I finished... The pattern is Umaro by Jared Flood from Brooklyn Tweed.
 A recent trip in Nashville to Textile Fabric Store to view the new yarn section led me to this great Tracy Reese pattern and sale fabric! I'm taking a sewing e-course Home Ec that I'm really excited about. This project will likely not happen for a while but I couldn't resist!
 My doggy Oscar is my travel and studio buddy. He lets me know when I need to take a painting break with his toys or he'll bark at me.
Then of course I have actually done some painting recently. This is a new piece I started of birch trees at Creamers Field in Fairbanks, Alaska. I really need to get to working on this but I'm a little distracted right now by all of my knitting projects plus getting things ready for storage, moving etcetera... Well after the photo bombing it's time to be semi-productive whether it's a trip to the dog park or organizing supplies or adding another knit row...

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Artist's Reception Reminder!

It's almost that time! This month sure has flown by. I learned so much participating in the First Saturday Art Crawl. Getting to chat with the other artists and gain feedback from the gallery owner Olga was especially helpful. I'm always learning and growing as an artist and the opportunity to meet with so many people from the local area was so amazing. I already love Nashville and everyone was so welcoming and encouraging of my work. I really enjoyed being able to talk about my work and why I paint.

Saturday June 30th from 2-4pm at the O Gallery in the Arcade Downtown Nashville (42 Arcade, Nashville, TN 37219) there will be a closing reception for the artists on display in the gallery. This is a great opportunity to meet with me if you are interested in commission work as well as an opportunity to purchase any of the paintings on display. All of my work that is in the gallery is for sale and you can take it home with you that evening! The Gallery is located on the second floor of the Arcade, there is stair access and an elevator. There are several parking garages nearby as well as off street parking. Don't forget to get dinner afterwards in one of the great restaurants nearby! I especially enjoyed Pucketts Grocery (it's BBQ)! If you made it to the Saturday Art Crawl I hope you can make it out again, and if you didn't make it then I hope you'll be able to join me! 
O Gallery

Saturday, June 16, 2012

An Occasion for the Arts!

A couple of months ago I applied to An Occasion for the Arts in Colonial Williamsburg in October. I really didn't think that I would get in but thought I'd give it a shot because it's a really big local art festival. Well big surprise when I checked my email after getting to Virginia. I can hardly wait till the weekend of October 6th and 7th but I have so much to do to prepare for the event. I hope if you're in the area that you'll be able to check it out. Check out the website for www.aofta.org I'll write back when I know where my booth will be and will chronicle the work that I'm doing to get ready.