HOT SUMMER

Has your summer been as hot as mine?  Not only in terms of heat but in terms of tasks to get done?  It seems that each time I carve out a little time to get some art done, another "something" must be done....and now! 
Late winter to early summer was very full of art and I am very grateful for that.  The spring solo show was fabulous and the summer show in Darien is still up through September (with pretty good sales for these crazy economic times).  But I have had to cancel my booth at Blue Ridge Mountains 11th Annual Wildlife & Nature Art Festival Sept 18 - 19, 2010 in Blue Ridge, GA.  I really hated that, but I simply did not have the inventory to do it justice.... and I was really stressing each and every day that got closer to the date.  I had actually carved out two weeks of studio time when both of our rent houses decided to turn over.  One was left pretty clean but the other has taken me (and ServPro) this week just to see the light at the end of the tunnel!  We've decided to really get it spic-n-span and try to sell it.  Anybody want an older farm house on five acres?  You can grow your own food?!  Speaking of food.... my studio floor is completely covered in a layer of pears waiting to be canned because the kitchen table is groaning with apples, tomatoes and peppers.  Canning will be night duty, for now I'm off to the farm house to scrub a tub!

Magnolia Art Gallery

I am very honored to now be represented here in Georgia in the Lake Oconee region by Magnolia Art Gallery.  Lynn Blair has her finger on the pulse of her clientele, their wants and needs, and is the epitome of southern charm.  I feel blessed to be in the company of some of this region's top artists!  At present she is introducing some of my wildlife paintings and 'Spirits in Stone'.  
I'll be announcing some fall "can't miss" events from this gallery soon. 
Call Lynn at 706-454-5050 or stop by Tues-Sat, 10-5 and see some amazing artwork.  Be sure to tell her that I sent you!

Movin' Mutton

"Movin' Mutton"

12" x 24" oil on gessoed masonite

I'm back to the easel today after over 2 weeks of summer break.  I spent some time with my oldest grand-daughter and did some canning/freezing of produce out of the garden.  This painting was loose and juicy and fun!  A photographer friend, Kathy Simmons, allowed me to use some shots of this border collie competing in a herding dog event.  He looks like he is looking at his trainer awaiting  instructions on where to put these sheep.  We were the lucky owners of a chocolate border collie named Sadie, who was "sheepless"....so she tried to herd our cats!
This painting will be in the Meeker Classic Sheepdog art auction in September in Colorado.

Dinah & Charley

"Dinah & Charley"

8" x 8" x 1.5" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

This is a sweet little painting that I did as a gift for my artist friend, Linda Brightwell Tucker, who has been a great help to me.  She is a member of McIntosh Art Association in Darien, where my show is presently hanging. Linda has the member's Spotlight Show called 'Potpourri' in another room within the gallery that will hang through the end of this month.  We used to paint together weekly for almost two years before she moved to Darien, which is sadly four hours from my house now.  She has been extremely generous with her time and effort in helping move my artwork around in the Darien gallery and the Glynn Art Gallery on St. Simons Island.  Thank you, Linda!

Last Cast of the Day

"Last Cast of the Day"

20" x 28" acrylic on gessoed masonite

There was so much about this reference picture of Cheri Robbins' that appealed to me... the colors, the diagonal action, the unposed vigor of the man fishing and talking.  I cropped it down from a larger picture to zero in on these aspects and felt like I knew him by the time the painting was finished.  Thanks, Cheri, for sending in the reference and contributing to the show!

Golden Girls

"Golden Girls"

18.5" x 23.5" oil on birch veneer

I'm afraid the photo of this one just does not do it justice.  The underlying paint is gold and silver metallic acrylic with a bit of white, then the oil sketch was done on top of that. The painting is reflective according to the light source, hence the difficulty in photographing it.

The reference photo was a sepia tone.  I wanted to keep the flavor of the time period intact, but make it something special. My thought was that this was a golden era that our fast, high-tech world has left behind.  That's what gave me the idea of the gold background.  I was very pleased with the results.  

This painting is another of the ones created for the Darien show from member photos... this one coming from Judy Dodd, who is also an artist.

Beach Ride

"Beach Ride"

8" x 8" x 1.5" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

The photo reference of this boy was sent in from Cheri Robbins, an artist and a member of the McIntosh Art Association.  I'm sure it was taken at nearby Jekyll Island State Park because I recognized the shoreline and background near the pier from several other photos.  This painting, along with 40 others, are in a summer-long show and sale at Darien's Old Jail Art Center & Museum through September.

Marsh Cat

"Marsh Cat"

8" x 10" acrylic on gessoed masonite

This is Cassie, a cat owned by Rebecca, who also has a website titled 'Marsh Cat Art'. She is also the person who submitted the reference for yesterday's "Cat in the Hat".  Like me, Rebecca is definitely a cat person as well as an artist.

Cat in the Hat

"Cat in the Hat"

16" x 20" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Rebecca submitted photos of her nieces playing with a very tolerant kitty.  Both little girls attended the reception but 'Spots' stayed at home!  I'm happy to report that both front teeth on the older little girl are now coming in nicely.

Jesse James

"Jesse James"

8" x 10" acrylic on gessoed masonite

Now that the reception for "Conversations in Paint" is over, I can show you the paintings that were revealed that night.  These paintings were created using references that members of McIntosh Art Association sent me.  They had no idea which references I used until this past Friday evening. I'll post one a day for the next week.

The owner of this darling puppy was very happy about my portrayal of him.  I joked with her that she had sent me seven pictures of her puppy and only one of her husband, so I figured I had better select the puppy!

Upcoming Guest Artist Solo Show

It's only a week away...where does the time go?!  I'd like to invite you to my upcoming show.  Many of you vacation in the area and this show will be up ALL summer, so hopefully you'll be able to see it and all the other wonderful artwork in the gallery.

 

“Conversations in Paint”
  the paintings of

Pat DeVane Burns

Reception:
Friday, June 25, 2010 5:00-7:00
McIntosh Old Jail Art Center & Museum
404 North Way, Darien, Georgia
 
Show will be displayed July/Aug/Sept

Thank you to McIntosh Art Association for asking me to be their guest artist this summer!

 

Bunny Pose

"Bunny Pose"

8" x 8" x 1.5" acrylic on Gallery wrapped canvas

Muffin, my most photogenic cat, seems to love having her picture made.  This is her "I'm cute!" pose and it always reminds me of our rabbit, Rosie, with those front legs together that way.  I finished this one while painting today with Betty Treadwell, in her newly remodeled studio (envy!) We shared all things art and a delicious homemade chicken salad lunch with yummy cherry cobbler.  What a treat!

Then I took it to Art on the Avenue Gallery along with "Chair Boss" from the previous post and two other cat paintings.  The heat index here almost melted me just getting in and out of the car, but inside the gallery it was most enjoyable...cool temps with cool art!

Chair Boss

"Chair Boss"

8" x 8" x 1.5" acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas

I painted one that I can show you, as it is for Art on the Avenue instead of my show in Darien.  Debbie requested some cats, so I wanted to do a few new ones in this format.

This is our HUGE cat, Morris, saying "I own this chair!".  He really is a sweetheart, but he could be intimidating to someone who didn't know that.

Arts Clayton's "Into the Wild"

"Call of the Camel" by Kay Ridge took First Place from the judge and Patron's Choice by viewer ballot at Arts Clayton's "Into the Wild" show.  It has a LOT more color and subtleties in person than this photo taken in the gallery can possibly show.  Please go to their Facebook Page to see other photos, including one of my stone "Elephant Walk", which took Second Place.  The show will be up through July and definitely is worth seeing.  Be sure to check out the three large murals on the side of the building if you go...they are awesome!

The Garden

This time of year it's hard to know if I'm a painting gardener or a gardening painter.  I love both!  I try to get out into the garden in the morning when the temperature is bearable and paint in the afternoon when it's too hot and humid here in Georgia.  The lettuces, radishes and snow peas are already eaten and bush beans, fordhooks and okra are sprouting in their place.  The tomatoes will soon be out of the tops of their cages...this year I put wire canopy-type bridges between several to give them more support.  We got our first handfull of cherry tomatoes today although our granddaughter has picked a few earlier ones from the bush.  We are still harvesting cabbages, kale and spring onions.  A few cowhorn peppers are almost ready... too hot for me but my son likes them.  I have the first wave of yellow squash, zucchini and cucumbers blooming with more sprouting.  We also have several hills of canteloupe and seedless watermelons already in bloom.  New additions to the garden this year are stevia, an herb whose leaves can be used to sweeten iced tea, and sunchokes, the tuberous part of a member of the sunflower family that can be cooked like potatoes or sliced raw like water chestnuts.  Sweet potatoes are filling in their patch and the bell peppers have finally started bushing up.  It seems they always start out slow but produce up until Christmas some years.
It's been a terrific spring for our fruit trees, too. Pears, apples, plums, figs, and peaches all have ample young fruit.  We even found a wild paw-paw growing and are anxious to see how it does.
So much for the garden report.  It will have to do since I can't show you what I'm painting right now .. it's a secret for my upcoming show.

"Elephant Walk" wins Second Place

I attended Arts Clayton's "Into the Wild" show reception in Jonesboro, Georgia last night.  What a variety of media!  I will post pictures of the event and the other winners as soon as Arts Clayton has them available.

Meanwhile, I have completed three new paintings for my show in Darien for the McIntosh Art Association, but I can't show them to you until after the reception on June 25th.

Back to the easel!

Moses

"Moses"

11" x 17"  'Spirit in Stone'

acrylic on unknown type of stone

This stone is so textured and reflective that I will show you a detail below.  It has "flows" of quarts-like reflective surfaces...not mica, as they are very hard.  I left as much of the natural stone as possible.  My son claimed this one.

My very first newsletter

I sent out my very first newsletter today and felt so good about it!  Why?...you ask.  Because everyone who received it has personally signed up for it.  You see, emailing blurbs about myself is the hardest part of marketing for me.  Lots of artists feel the same way.  We truly have a hard time with this issue. Many weeks ago I sent out my last 'blanket email' with the suggestion that those who wanted one monthly update could sign up for a newsletter on my website. Fine Art Studio Online, who hosts my website, has a newsletter service where folks can subscribe or unsubscribe without having to come through me personally.  I also gave the option to those who wanted more frequent news and the latest artwork to sign up on this blog.  

If you want a copy of this first newsletter but are not presently on the subscriber list, just email me through the blog or the website and I'll be happy to forward you a copy.  

Many, many thanks!

Great Paint Out!

"Mossy Oak"

11" x 14" acrylic on canvas

 Yesterday was everything I was hoping for in a paint out and more!  It was delightful.  The Village at Indian Springs is a picturesque cluster of cottages, gardens, shops, deli, museum and studio/gallery that is adjacent to Indian Springs State Park, the oldest park in Georgia, steeped in history.  The weather was perfect.  The group of twelve painters was a rich mix of talents and mediums, thanks to Plein Air Georgia. We painted in loose clusters where we could visit, encourage and critique each other. We were hosted wonderfully by Generations Gallery from check-in to the reception at Pinky's, where artists and guests enjoyed refreshments while viewing the artwork, visiting and casting ballots for the favorite art produced that day.  Artists each had two ballots and guests had one each.  I was honored that "Mossy Oak" received Best in Show ribbon and a check.  Valerie Chitvanni's "Indian Springs Rocks" received First Place and Bambi Rogers' "Break of Dawn" received Second Place. Several of us have vowed to get together on a more frequent basis for group painting and critiques at this location and Generations Gallery has agreed to be our "base".  I'm looking forward to it because it is the way I learn the best.  Thanks to all who really made my day!

Valerie & Bambi

(more pictures)

 The Motley Crew....great fellowship!

"Into the Wild"

I am very happy to announce that I have been juried in as an exhibiting artist at Arts Clayton Gallery in Jonesboro, Georgia! 

The first group show I'll be participating in is "Into the Wild", in which exhibiting artists offer their different viewpoints on wildlife, wilderness and wildness in all mediums.  A grouping of my 'Spirits in Stone' will be shown as well as a painting or two.  The response for this theme was so great that the gallery could not hang all that was submitted.  I can't wait to see it!  Arts Clayton has a beautiful gallery space and I invite you to attend the reception Thursday, June 3rd, 5:30-7:30, when you can vote for the Patrons' Award.  The show will hang from June 1 through July 30 and all artwork is for sale.