Last two Christmas commissions

Covington                   11x14 acrylic

 Now that Christmas Day has come and gone, these last two commissions can be revealed.  It is a heart-warming feeling to know that I can be in someone's home through my art on such a special occasion.

Zoie            11x14 acrylic

Oz

"Oz"                             11x14 acrylic on canvas

Here's another commission that I can show before Christmas... a precious Brussels Griffon, my first painting of this breed of dog.  What soulful eyes he has!

Fall into Christmas

I get real quiet here on the blog during the Fall....not from inactivity, but from so much activity!  This is my busiest time of year with commissions, many of which cannot be shown because they are Christmas surprises.
I hope you all are enjoying the wonderful weather and gorgeous colors of Fall.  Here is one of the pet portraits that I can show because it was a client's present to herself...."Three Amigos"

"Three Amigos"                   14x11 acrylic on canvas

Plein Air Poker

This fall the Generations Gallery is presenting a painting competition with a bit of a twst. .....PLEIN AIR POKER. Just show up, ante up, and enjoy the day painting, Winner takes all and will be decided by participant and guest vote.

Please see the attached flyer for more details.  For more info you can call me at 478 972-2404.

Hope to see you on the 15th.

Preston King

Smoke Jumper 126

24" x 24" acrylic on deep canvas

 Don's wife, Ginny, commissioned me to create this dynamic scene of him in action during a training session.  As an instructor, Don teaches new recruits how to fight fires while keeping safety forefront in their minds.  I've watched them train and am amazed at how they can work so hard carrying the weight of so much equipment!  They must be totally dedicated to go through such rigorous training.

I was so pleased to be present at the Fire Academy when Ginny surprised Don with his painting today.  Now they are good-naturedly arguing over where it will go.... as they both have offices within the Fire Academy.  Hey, you guys....I can always paint another one!
 

Worth a repost!

Group Think

by Carolyn Henderson

Okay, okay, none of us are islands and all that and we all work together as a team and many hands make the job lighter and we learn at the master’s feet and ad infinitum, but if you are an artist driving and pushing yourself to be at the top of your form, you might find group situations a bit confining, and rather than wonder what’s wrong with you, I suggest you turn the situation around and recognize that, for highly individualized persons like artists, the group is not always the best place to grow. [...]

Read the rest of this article at:
http://fineartviews.com/blog/34977/group-think

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This excerpt appears courtesy of FineArtViews Art Marketing Newsletter by FASO,
a free email newsletter about art, marketing, inspiration and fine living for artists,
collectors and galleries (and anyone else who loves art).


For a complimentary subscription, visit: http://www.fineartviews.com

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Peter's Peppers

8" x 8" acrylic on 1.5" deep wrapped canvas w/painted edges

SOLD

I love my art group!  We continue to meet almost every week and it's the very best way to stretch and grow for me!  I painted this one on Thursday.  Here's how the day went....9:30 meet & greet at the depot gallery in Barnesville, set up painting station, lay-in sketch, cup of coffee, paint, critique each others' progress, walk to 'Slices' pizza  and meet up with three other friends for lunch, talk, laugh, plan our new year-long art adventure(more later), hurry back to the depot, paint some more, call for critique, finish painting, gel time & place for next get-together and start breaking down around 3:00. Peter was busy framing his paintings for our Fall Line Painters show coming up while Eleanor, Bambi & I were painting.  He was telling a funny tale about some jalapeno peppers at a tailgate party, so I named these peppers after him.  They aren't as hot as his story!

"Close Connections" Opening SOON!

Monroe County Arts Alliance has a very impressive art show coming up!  Thirty-five local and regional artists with over 100 artworks vie for $700 in cash prizes plus honorary ribbons in a display that showcases the area’s best.  “Close Connections” set out to encourage artists who had a connection with Monroe County to participate.  All counties that touch our borders are included, as well as artists who are connected by family, work or organizations.

As coordinator for the show, I am excited about the response from the art community. We put out the call for artists and they responded!  We hope the community will come out to support these artists and the devoted efforts of so many MCAA volunteers that desire to keep the fine arts alive. 

The opening reception is Thursday, Sept 1, 5-7 PM at the gallery at 54 N.Jackson St.

Judge, Karen Strelecki, will speak at the awards/reception evening at 6:00 PM, explaining what she looks for in a show piece and how she has come to her decisions regarding the winning entries. Not all judges are willing to give this critique and it is valuable information for artists entering the show arena as well as the general viewing public, who sometimes wonder why a particular piece has won an award.

“Close Connections” will hang from Sept 1 to Oct 21 and will be viewable during regular gallery hours of 11-4 Weds –Fri.  Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours will get to see the show, as MCAA hosts their September meeting.  The gallery will also be open during Monroe County’s annual ‘Taste of Monroe’ for the community’s viewing pleasure. 
Awards
$300 Best of Show
$100 First Place 2-D
$100 First Place 3-D
$100 First Place Mixed-media
$100 First Place Photography
Peoples Choice Ribbon - Please come vote before 6PM at the reception!
Honorable Mention ribbons at the judge's discretion.

Participating artists (over 100 artworks!):

Debbie Anderson - http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/debbie-anderson.html
Betty Arnold
Sharon Bailey
Nancy Barnes - www.metallikos.com
Dr. Steve Barnes
Sue Bond
Ashlin Breland - breland_ashlin@hotmail.com
Donna Brown - http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-donna-brown.html
Pat DeVane Burns - patburnsart.com
Hazel Caldwell - hazelcaldwell.com
Markey Duensing
Pat Freeman
Doug Fromm
Cheryl Hildebrand
John R.L.Isaacs XV
Cynthia Jenkins
Gloria Joy
Mary Leslie - http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/mary-leslie.html
Gypsy McKinna
Coni Merritt - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Merritt-Pottery
Peter Nishanian - joycines@gmail.com
Mary Parks - http://www.artfromtheheartbymary.blogspot.com/
Bambi Rogers- http://facebook.com/bambi.rogers
Bill Rogers -http://www.jacksonprogress/-argus.com/news/2011/jun/21/popular-panes-stained-glass-artist-83-earning/
Gloria Smith
Joy A. Smith - http://www.paintingsbyjoy.com/
Linda Sosebee
Alan Stecker
Eleanor Stecker
Martha Thompson - Martha Adams Thompson on Facebook
Martha Tisdale - http://www.marthahtisdale.com/
Sam Traina - myspace.com/samtraina
MJ Venrick - http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/m-j-venrick.html
Paula Williams
Julie Yamamoto - http://www.windwalkerdreams.com/ 

I invite you to visit our event page on Facebook.

MCAA is appreciative of local sponsors Jonah’s, Prime Palate and Grits, who all helped with printing promotional material for the show.  Enjoy their delicious eats and please tell them "thank you!"

Most of the artwork will be for sale, although ‘not for sale’ pieces are also entered for competition.

Gratefulness

I'm grateful my dog's foot missed these new sprouts literally by a hair!

Yesterday I got Robert Genn's twice-weekly letter about being grateful from his blog , The Painter's Keys.  I heartily thank you, Robert!  It promised to be a hectic day of artistic errands instead of painting, which usually puts a wrinkle in my brow for the day.  His letter completely changed my attitude and turned what could have been a harried day into one of pleasure.  As I finished reading his letter, I looked out the window from my computer and saw new sprouts breaking ground in a row of zipper peas in my garden due to a nice rain we'd had the previous night.  Gratefully, I took out my camera and took a picture of them. Would I have "seen" them in my previous state of mind? As I did, a photographer friend from down the street showed up to take pictures of the butterflies on the volunteer zinnias that bless my abundant garden.  We gratefully shared a brief time while I unloaded my car in preparations for the 3-hour trip I had to make to retrieve artwork from a gallery today.  I knew I would have a full load picking up a fellow artist's six pastels as well as my own ten or so paintings, several 'Spirits in Stone', some wire sculptures, prints and notecards.  The gallery is changing it's focus to double its' classroom size and promote the art of the two owners.  The economy is affecting everyone!  I am grateful that I can still do what I love to do. I wished them well, grateful that all our paperwork matched and everything fit into my car.  I made a quick phone call to Preston, whose pastels I had, and luckily he was having lunch with Peter, another of my paint buddies, not too far off my route home.  I met up with them and shared a glass of tea and some laughs while Preston retrieved his work from my car.  I'm so grateful for art friends... they 'get it'...they understand...they keep me reaching for the next level! Stopped at 'A Novel Experience', the bookstore that held a show for my plein air group, to retrieve a small painting and deliver some promotional material for the fall show I'm coordinating for my local art alliance. I'm grateful to have venues that welcome and promote my artwork!
Home again, after adding a few groceries to the car, to a full answering machine.  My husband showed up about the same time.  He is an independent cuss like me, so I'm grateful that he 'gets it', too!  We check all the mail and phone calls and head back out to meet the couple we have selected to rent our old farm house on five acres.  I'm grateful that we took applications until we found what we hope will be a responsible couple who will take good care of the property.  We have learned from past mistakes, folks!  I took pictures of the house while we were there, grateful that the previous tenant left the house in spotless condition.... and believe me, that is something to be grateful about!
Home again with a glass of wine on the porch while the charcoal fires up.  Late supper tonight, but grateful that it includes fresh veggies from our garden... grilled zucchini, zipper peas, okra, tomatoes and baby bell peppers.
No TV tonight.  We both have computer work to do to finish up the day around 10:30.  Reading a few pages in bed before gratefully dropping off to sleep.

Thank you again, Robert, for making me aware that being grateful is the key to making each day a successful entity unto itself.  I can only live one at the time anyway.  I look back on the day and can see how each thing I did could have been a hassle.  Attitude makes the difference!  Sound sappy?  So what!

Dog Days of Summer reception

There was so much to share about this fun show that I created an entire static page for it on the blog.  Just click here or on the right hand sidebar on "Dog Days of Summer".  Enjoy....I know I sure did!

Rubbing elbows with the Governor

Me with Georgia Governor Deal

July 26th, I had the pleasure of meeting Governor Deal and his wife at the Capitol in Atlanta.  My friend, Judy Neal, went with me and was such a treasure to have along.  Judy has worked in and around the Capitol for many years and definitely knows her way around!  As Gov. Deal said to me..."She(Judy) is multi-talented!"  Gov. Deal hosted a reception for approximately 22 Arts Clayton juried artists who currently have over forty pieces of artwork hanging in his and his staff's offices for a year.  He personally selected the artwork and I'm happy to report that he chose all four that I submitted.  For the next three years, the Arts Clayton group will submit new work to be selected.  Now that we have had a tour of the Capitol and the spaces where the art hangs, I have a better idea of what to submit in the upcoming years.  Many thanks to Gov. Deal for carrying on a 25 year tradition of including Georgia art in the Capitol!

Gov. Deal speaking to the Arts Clayton artists, Board of Directors & guests

Dog Days of Summer

Macon Arts invited me and five other local and regional artists to present some new artwork for their August show "Dog Days of Summer".  Never could summer weather be more appropriate than this year!  Wow, it's been HOT here.  I will be entering eight new works, which I will wait to blog until after the opening reception August 5th 5-8 PM. AC Pup, mascot for the Macon-Bibb County Animal Shelter, will be making a personal appearance.  I do hope you will join us that evening.  I'm really excited to see what the other artists have done for man's best friend! 

Scott Burdick's "Banishment of Beauty"

I AM IN LOVE  .... and I don't think his wife minds!
Where have I been that I have not seen or been directed to this fabulous artist and his fight for truth in art?!
Perhaps it's because I am one of those of the shrinking middle class that has had to scratch tooth and nail just to make it from one day to the next in bewilderment of what is considered valuable in our modern society.  In my search for meaning and direction in my own artistic journey, I gratefully (through the blessings of the internet) have found a champion who can put into words what so many artists know and feel.
I beg you to block out one hour of your precious time to view Scott's video and hear his talk concerning "The Banishment of Beauty".  It will reach into the very core of you!

"Playing Dress-up" in FAV's Top 15%

Playing Dress-Up                             18x24 acrylic

Why am I so thrilled that this painting got in Fine Art Views Top 15% for May?  One reason is because this monthly showcase of artwork is consistently great.  It pushes me to do better and better work just to stay on the same page with the artists represented.  Another reason is that the judge for May was Kevin Macpherson.
When there are many entries (approximately 695, in this case), the FAV jury chooses the Top 15% to narrow down the field of artworks that the judge needs to view to choose the winners.  I may not have placed in the finalist circle this time, but I feel like a winner knowing that one of my art heroes viewed my work in the process!

CALL for ARTISTS !

 Please click on the sidebar "CALL for ARTISTS" for full details.

You may email me if you'd like a full prospectus/application sent to you.

Mona Leasha

"Mona Leasha"..............  14"x17" acrylic on panel

Monroe County Arts Alliance gave its' artists a challenge... to create original paintings based on Old Masters to be auctioned off during their gala fundraiser "Art a la Carte" on June 25th.  Serious or spoofs, these fabulous fakes are sure to be the highlight of the evening.  Here's a sneak peek at my offering....I hope I captured that enigmatic smile!  Curious about the other paintings?  Come to the party to see!

FIRST PLACE !

"One Down, Two to Go"  16x20 oil

This is one of my favorite paintings, so I was really pleased when it took First Place at Arts Clayton's new show, "Here and Now".  Asked about the format, I told the story of this 'slice of life' painting:
I received permission to use a photo reference taken by a four-year-old of the preparations her family goes through for a 4-H lamb show.  Whether she meant to crop her dad's head out of the picture or not, she achieved a focus on the activity instead of a face, which I found compelling to paint.  You can feel the warm, humid spring in Georgia as her dad wipes the sweat from his brow and says "Whew...one down, two to go", referring to the two unshorn sheep in the pasture.
The judge, Will Fenn, said that he considered it "a stand-out".  Will is a visiting professor at Ernest G. Welch School of Design at Georgia State University.  He is Arts Clayton's 2010 Juried Photography Judge and currently has a solo show in their second gallery called "Pearls", a collection of photographic images using the tin-type process.

Tin-type photographic images by Will Fenn

We got into a discussion about the time processes of tin-type and traditional representational painting.  In this era of instant gratification, he at first gets resistance from his students, who can take 100 reproducible digital shots to one original non-reproducible tin-type, which requires even further processing to complete.  I get the same reaction when teaching layers of painting to my students.  But as his students settle into the process, they get a certain satisfaction that has many putting in extra hours on their own, he says.  As the world moves faster and faster, we both expressed hope that there will be a resurgence in the appreciation of the traditional and historical arts and crafts, even though there may be fewer of us producing them.

"Here & Now" Show

136 S. Main Street
Jonesboro, GA  30236

Free Admission. 

Open T-F 9-5pm. Sat 10-4pm 

"HERE AND NOW"

Opening Reception - Friday, June 10th - 5:30-7:30pm

Show Runs June 7 - July 15, 2011 

DH Lawrence said, "The living moment is everything."  This show looks to explore our exhibiting artist's interpretations of the present.
 

You are invited to come to the reception or to visit this lovely gallery during the run of this show where I have three paintings, including the recent "Playing Dress-Up".  Arts Clayton has a deserved reputation of hanging strong, diverse artwork ...sure to be a visual treat!

Plein air at 'A Novel Experience'

Eleanor Stecker...one of my paint buddies

Dear Friends,

     The artists whose work graces our walls for May are assembling on the Courthouse Square lawn tomorrow, Wednesday, May 18th in the morning. Brrrrrr! We hope the weather will cooperate so we can watch the creative process happen in downtown Zebulon! 

     The Fall Line Painters have a wonderful joie de vivre that carries them to many on-site "Paint Outs" across the state. We welcome them to a mini-paint-out sans the prizes, jurors, and massive crowds (maybe next year). Come and see! They will set up on the lawn and will be in residence for the morning.  

     This is also the same day as our Brown Bag Book Group meeting at noon--we are reading "The Kitchen House"--consider stopping by with your lunch and getting in on the discussion. Our group is open to all and welcomes new members--besides this month's title, we are going to choose titles for the next six months.  

     The Pimento Fest is this Saturday--it's a small town celebration, laid-back, great fair food, crafts and local talent. Join us 10 - 3. Store specials for the day! 

 All of us at A Novel Experience 

...and now for the results

The Fall Line Plein Air Painters: Peter Potter, Bambi Rogers, Pat Burns & Eleanor Dixon Stecker

 

Four of us were able to paint that morning, zeroing in on different views of the courthouse on the square... a great day with great friends!

Playing Dress-Up

"Playing Dress-Up"            18x24 acrylic on canvas

I am happy to give kudos and thanks to Bobby Jackson for allowing me to use his photograph of these precious little girls as reference for this painting.  I took a few WIP shots and will include them below after a close up of their delightfully expressive faces.

Those faces!

WIP 1

I started this painting with a canvas toned fairly heavily in M.Graham's transparent anthraquinone red, which is a brighter, more magenta color than the alizarin crimson that I sometimes use.  This peeks through all over the painting to help unify it.  Then I drew in the main shapes and shadows with thin alizarin and indanthrene blue by Winsor-Newton, also transparent colors.  I scumbled in some of the lighter areas to get a feel for the value ranges. I rarely use black... none in this painting.

WIP 2

Here I've added just enough patterning to the dresses to get the feel of the material without getting bogged down in details.  While their attire is important to the storyline, I don't want excess detail to distract from their faces and attitude.  I painted in the taller girl's hand over the shoulder, then decided to remove it for a cleaner composition.  That toned canvas glows through transparent layers in the shadows and skin tones... something that doesn't show up well in photos.

WIP 3

 Working on the second face now. The mouth on the little girl in shadow needs relaxing a bit and the eyes need detailing. I see some adjustments I need to make in the slant of the shoulders under the shawl... can you see the correction marks I've made with chalk?  This will also affect the attitude of the hand slightly. A tricky thing to add is the lettering on the Bible... very important to the painting but it can't be too bright... it needs to look aged.  I let it rest for a while so that I can see it with new eyes before making final adjustments.

Indian Springs Paint Out Upcoming!

Decisions...decisions...what to paint?  There are so many interesting images in this state park that it's really hard to decide.  Generations Gallery has put up some great prize money to encourage painters to give it their best shot!  I really look forward to seeing fellow artists that I haven't seen since this event last year.  I sold all three of my efforts off of my easel and had nothing to put in the competition but the smile on my face.  Any day like that is certainly worth a repeat!  Enlarge the poster for all the details or click on the gallery's link to get even more info.

Upcoming Writers Conference at Indian Springs

Just want you guys to know about the WRITERS CONFERENCE May 20-21st   It is the 4th Annual conference - back by popular demand.   WRITERS  AND POETS - great chance to meet published authors, learn how to get published, even an editor will talk about polishing your manuscript. It is two days of fun; cottages in The Village are available; and if you can't come both days, we have an "open to the public" OPEN MIC Event Friday evening - under the stars at the antebellum mansion. RSVP, but no admission. Georgia Poetry Society will host and everyone is invited to read their work. Or just listen. Call 770-227-4002 to register for conference or RSVP for Friday evening's event. Meet most of the speakers that evening - Haywood Smith, two time NY Times best seller list, will be there......
Anne Jones is a personal friend of mine and has a new book, "Tides of Fear", that she will be happy to sign for you.  It's a can't-put-down murder mystery set on St. Simons Island.

Commission

 

 

Commission 12" x 12" acrylic on canvas

My nieces grew up with this handsome young man and his mother is a good friend of my sister, Pam. She wanted to give him something special for his wedding.  What a vibrant couple they make!

Waiting Out the Rain

Waiting Out the Rain 20"x20" acrylic on canvas

My husband loves to feed the birds!  This winter we have accumulated a flock of about 36 Eurasian collared doves.... or ring-neck doves.  They are the most beautiful shades of lavender-grey with a blush of pink.  This pair was fluffed up and waiting out a cold rain after a hearty breakfast of cracked corn, oats and sunflower seeds.  I feel like these doves in the winter, just longing for spring and warmer, sunnier weather.

Email me if you would like to give this pair of doves a warm and cozy home.

A busy Thursday

The Fall Line Painters and Lamar Arts members have the opportunity to paint together this Thursday, Jan. 20th, at the old train depot gallery in downtown Barnesville, GA.  You do not need to be a member of either group to bring your brushes and join in the fellowship.  In fact, we have a knitter in our group, as well as porcelain painters.  Bring what ever you are presently working on, set up a still life or plein air paint outside or "inside-out" through the large windows.  We start around 10:00 in the morning and go well into the afternoon, breaking for lunch.

Tomorrow evening I will be giving a one-hour talk on "Composition" at the Fine Art Society of Middle Georgia in Centerville.  I'll be going over a list of  '21 Pointers for Better Composition' and hopefully have time to critique a few of the members' paintings.  The meeting is held at Centerville City Hall on Church St and the public is invited, starting at 7:00PM and will last until about 9:00. Further information about FASMG can be gathered through Dona at dona_fas@yahoo.com

Art Naturale Show

(click to enlarge)

This is a beautiful show in a beautiful setting!  The reception is this Sunday afternoon and the indoor gardens are a break from all the snow and ice we've had this past week.  Please come enjoy!

Snow Birds

"Snow Birds"   4" x 12" acrylic on canvas

Preston King, one of the Fall Line Painters, issued a challenge today.  Stay inside but paint a view out of one of your windows.  It is so icy and cold here!  The ground is blanketed in what looks like snow, but it is a hard layer of sleet and ice.  We have been steadily feeding the birds today.  These goldfinches in their rather drab winter plumage covered the table on the deck, so it was easy to see them up close through the french doors.  I was tempted to paint the cardinals, but this little constantly moving mass was so intriguing, even though they were less striking.

"Sun Spot" - Challenge 13

Sun Spot     8" x 10" acrylic

There are web sites out there that offer challenges which I do occasionally.  This one was of a small grove of aspens.  Since I have never seen aspens in person, I chose to make my trees a generic variety and concentrate my attention on the bright spot of sunshine filtering into the autumn grasses underneath.  After finishing this exercise in "realist abstraction",  I had the feeling that my best result was about 3/4's of the way into this painting.  In other words, I kept going when I should have stopped.  That is what these lessons to self are all about... learning.

Tree study

 

 

 tree study     6"x 6" acrylic

This little plein air study was a lesson I gave myself.  Time limit of 20 minutes and leave out all but the basic shapes and values.  It's nothing to write home about, but it did serve it's purpose... I was tense starting it and loose when I finished.  It warmed me up to work on the oil portrait that's on my easel in the studio.

Winter Comfort

Winter Comfort     8" x 8" acrylic

Muffin has found a comfy spot tucked into my favorite afghan on the sofa.  Our house has a bank of southeastern facing windows that lets the winter sun shine almost completely through the house.  She uses it to her advantage.  Isn't that what cats do best... use their environment and their owners to their best advantage?  I gotta admit that it's gonna be hard for me to sell this one, as Muffin is my favorite of our six cats and this is "her".  She sleeps beside me at night and curls up next to my computer keyboard in the studio.  She is now over fourteen years old and still acts like a kitten.  Her favorite toys are my white erasers.  I can't tell you how many I have rescued from the vacuum cleaner!  I've painted her many times and only kept one for myself.  H-m-m-m.... 

Peeping Tom

"Peeping Tom"       8"x8" acrylic

I see-e-e-e you!

Errant Feather

"Errant Feather" 8x10 acrylic

The first day of this new year was spent with family, food, the Rose Bowl Parade and football games.  I couldn't let the day go by without a little paint, so I did this one in my lap in the evening while yet another football game played in the background.  I call it "Errant Feather" because of that one whacky skewed feather in Rose's tail.  It was so comical looking that I took a photo of her this past summer while she sported it around for several days before it molted.  Now she looks much more dignified...that is, if a chicken can look dignified!

First Reception of the New Year

Lamar Arts has a fabulous gallery in the historic Old Train Depot in downtown Barnesville, Ga.  This is where the first 2011 reception that I'll be involved in will take place this Friday, Jan. 7th, 6-8PM.  I was pleasantly surprised that they used one of my paintings on the flier.  Lamar Arts is opening a large room for members' works called the Trackside Gallery, where several of my plein air group, the Fall Line Gang, will be showing work along with other association members.  Many of the Gang have decided to become members and we will be keeping the gallery open for on-site painting each Thursday starting January 13th.  We invite all to come see the shows, browse the gift shop and paint with us.  You do not have to be a member to pull out the brushes and join in the fun!  However, I would suggest that you email me (sidebar) one day prior to coming on a Thursday to confirm, since this is an all-volunteer kept day.

Last painting of 2010

Melinda's Dad  16" x 20" acrylic on canvas

This commissioned piece was the last painting of 2010.... #68 for the year. That's just the number of finished pieces.  It doesn't include the ones that are still facing the wall!  I also did 43 wire sculptures, two drafting jobs and a bunch of craftsy things for fun.  I have high hopes for 2011... don't we all?!  I'd like to tackle more sculpture and improve my figurative work and attempts at plein air painting.  My biggest challenge there is knowing what to leave out!   

Detail