Well all is quiet after the storm so to speak. I have been very busy, last weekend was ARTEAST and I am exhausted to say the least. The weekend before was Highland and the weekend before that was Columbia and in September I did Mosaics and Queeny Park. I am going to take a breather now. Patrick and I both entered photos in the Schrode Center Photography competition and are awaiting a response on acceptance/rejection. The Southern Illinois Open Artists Competition ended Sunday and I will be picking up 'Hive Fairies' Friday. I did have good news! My piece titled 'Comfort' which was a drawing of my grandpuppy Toby, that was submitted into the Small Works Exhibit sold opening night!! I am thrilled to hear that!!!! ARTHOPS is over, it was only a one day thing, but my artwork 'Bull' made the advertisement for the show! I was really happy about that!! I will be dropping off a piece for Works of Art III in November to be auctioned off for their benefit for the first time. I am going to focus on rest for a bit, get myself back together as I really feel frazzled!
It has been a while!!!! I have had a rough and challenging couple of months. My art has been suffering due to personal reasons. My daughter had gall bladder surgery and I had a medical problem to address that I had put off due to that and other committments but I am happy to say I am past it all now! My 'little problem' started with a cardiac cath on May 22 and ended up with a stent in my main artery in my heart but now that I have a 'new lease on life' I plan to live each and every day to the fullest!!!!!
I so far have solidified art shows at:
Framations in St Charles from June 13th thru July 5th
The city Wide Studio Tour at Soulard Art Market and Contemporary Art Gallery July 24-25
Southern Illinois Open Artists competition from August 7 thru October 18
Mosaics Festival for the Arts in St Charles, MO September 18, 19 and 20
For more information on these and other shows such as Highland, Queeny Park and many others check my site under Art Activities Shows, Fairs etc.
This month has been extremely busy, I have not had a lot of time for my artwork, I am helping my daughter and her family paint and modify a beautiful old bungalo! That along with my moms health issues, my son and my own, it has left little time for drawing but I am managing to squeeze it in here and there.
I did enter the Schrode Art Center this month and am proud that my piece 'Distressed Mutt' won Best of Show!! This made my day!! The Sketchbook project visited the gallery, which Patrick and I participated in, we had an opening this month, and on March 27/28 I will be participating in the Herstory Weekend in Belleville. I have been working on a commission and a few donations and am gering up for Queeny Park in April. St Louis Artist Guild also has the Collectors Choice coming up that I have a piece in to be auctioned off and donated to the guild too!
Well I have to cut it short, Patrick and I are working the gallery today! Have a wonderful sunny day!!
Tonight was the first of two nights opening for our 'Winter Blues' Show at Soulard Art Market and Contemporary Art Gallery. What a KICK ASS SHOW! Janey Martin and I curated this wonderful show and we are so proud to present a truly good quality show. Everyone at the gallery has been working on the gallery, painting, sprucing it up for the new year and boy is it sharp!!
If yourin the area or looking for something to do on Friday night, come on down! We have Tom Hall a wonderful Guitarist and lots of affordable artwork!
I am also happy to have been accepted in the Art St Louis 'Human Nature: His/Hers' show that runs from January 17th through February 20th.
Sunday I am delivering work to St Louis Art Guild for the portrait show, hope that turns out well too!
Well its getting late, I am done for the night, hope to see you at an art show!
I finally received my copy of Everyday Art Design and Decoration by Susan Hughes, published by Scholastic Canada Ltd. where my illustration, The French Canadian Fur Trappers is published!!! I am so excited!! This is my second formal publication!!!
It is totally awesome to see my drawing in a book, and my name listed as credited for the image!!!
One day my granddaughter will show everyone, and say, "My grandam did this!!! she is in the book!!"
It is amazing what little it takes to entertain me! Well the year is coming to an end, just a few more days left, then 2009 will come marching in! I am getting ready to enter a couple more art shows, I have been in contact with a lead on a new studio location in an upscale area from what I understand, I will keep you posted as this unfolds. The problem is I am a 'starving artist' with little to no funds for 'upscale' but I will take things in my stride and move up when the opportunity offers itself to me.
Well Patrick and I worked the gallery on Saturday with our friends Cindy Royal and Jennifer Weigel. Cindy is one of the in house artists at the gallery and Jennifer was our 'featured artist' this weekend.
We had a wonderful flow of people and sales throughout the gallery. A very nice couple came in who live in the area and pruchased 'Wheres the Beef?' for his mom and dad for a Christmas present which really made me feel good! They were so nice! The gentelman was from central Illinois believe it or not!!! How odd is that?!??! I said we were from Millstadt!!!! And that was a drawing from 'local cows'...LOL
On Sunday Patrick and I went to the Steve Davis, Entertainer/Elvis Impersonator/Memories of Elvis Show luncheon as my son and I are members of his fan club because Steve is a MARVELOUS entertainer!!! Not only that, Steve is a wonderful genuing person! He has done so much for being a part of our lives that both Patrick and I wanted to do something for him!!!
Patrick had painted an Elvis image on a bowl that he presented him with for a Christmas present and I had done a drawing of Steve performing earlier in the year that I had wanted to give him also. It was a wonderful afternoon, and everyone was touched, this is what my talent is all about, giving and sharing!! And now my son Patrick too is giving and sharing of his talent!! Patrick has been doing photography and now dabbling in painting and mixed media art since participating in the gallery.
My computer had some hard drive problems, and I have been down for almost 2 weeks now, but I am back up as of today. I have lots to catch up on, and lots to get updated.
I still dont have everything done, got to get my WordPerfect Office 12 installed, it wants some 'serial' number and I have no idea what that can be, so I have to call DELL...AGAIN...tomorrow morning.
Well I received the Clay Eugene Jordan annual Prize for Drawing at the HORIZONS SHOW! Edward Boccia was the judge and it was a wonderful afternoon! My friend Michael Anderson also won an award today and Dan Jaboor won an award with the MAN MADE show for photography. I ran into many other artist friends and my friend Paula who recently had knee surgery went with Patrick and I.
I will get ready for turkey day on Thursday as I am doing the meal with all the trimmings! Then on Friday night I am off to St Genevieve for the artwalk where I am participating in the Studio deMichel so if yourin the area come on down!!
I will be at the gallery this weekend, and next weekend deliver artwork to Nortons for their show.
If I do not see you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! But if your in the area, stop on by!!
I am EXTREMELY excited as I just received a phonecall from the St Louis Artists Guild and I have one beautiful pencil drawing accepted in their HORIZONS show called 'Mighty Oak Leaf'. This is a drawing of a beautifully rendered leaf that walked into my home not too long ago. At first I wanted to pick it up and throw it out but thought no...it came in, obviously there is a reason, and this is it!! I drew it and entered it into the show and out of three submissions, it is the only one that was accepted. I also was asked for my soucial security number which can mean one of two things, I either won and award or it has sold. Since the show has not opened yet, and they just did judging I assume its an award!!
At any rate I will find out when I attend the opening reception on Sunday from 1 - 3.
This is marvelous, last month I won an award for my piece called 'Wheres the Beef' and now this!! Allthough sales have been slim, due to the ecconomy, God has provided me with the awards. I am so thankful for my talent!!!
Well that is all for now, hope you can stop by the show sometime!!
Well I am extremely proud to announce I won best in drawing/pastels at the Highland Art in the park this weekend!!! I sold a couple small drawings and gave some notecards out and feel like this was a good weekend. I met some wonderful people, talked to many and enjoyed the show. The Highland committee really put on a wonderful show, and treat the artists wonderful!!
Thanks to all who were able to visit, and hopefully we will see eachother again! Next week Patrick and I will be Over the Edge Custom Framing in Edwardsville, IL with the ART EAST STUDIO TOUR. Stop by if your in the area!!!
