Sunday, September 27, 2015

RIVER CLAY ART SHOW DECATUR, AL!!!!

WOW!! What a great weekend!! On Friday afternoon, we went to Decatur, AL to set up for the River Clay Art Show. It was absolutely first class from the minute we stepped out of our van, to the minute we drove away late Sunday afternoon. First, we were greeted by people, and several young men, and asked if we needed help unloading..(We parked at the curb, and had to dolly our stuff to the tent.) Then, when we got everything at our location--there was plenty of room between the tents, they were set up either spaced apart, or in quads (four booths in a square, so everyone has a corner). The show opened to Patrons at 5pm, and we could sell art that night for 2 hours. Then everyone walked around the corner for a fantastic spread of food and entertainment. We skipped this part, because of the long drive back to our house, but everyone (the other artist) talked about how good the food was the whole weekend!!

ALL weekend, we were constantly asked if we needed ANYTHING by numerous volunteers! They REALLY made us feel special!

We were fed every morning, and on Friday night, and Saturday afternoon. It looked so good, that I wish I was not on a strict diet!! Nature Boy (Chuck) really enjoyed it though!! REALLY GOOD FOOD, and A LOT OF IT!!

The director's name was Mary H. Reed, and she was also an exhibiting artist ..which was different for me, but really cool at the same time. She had a ton of some of the best volunteers working for her, and the show ran as smooth as butter...

The quality of the art throughout the show, was amazing, they had demonstrators and a fun children's area (far enough away from the artist...GOOD POINT)..and for a first time show, a good number of buying customers.

The judges were awesome..and took time to really look at everyone's art, and really judge it.

I won an HONORABLE MENTION!! YAY ME!! ..haha.

So..THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING RIVER CLAY!! You guys ROCK!!

Great people, great art, great customers,  great food, great volunteers..and a GREAT SHOW!!

We have 3 shows (Now 4 shows) that GO THE EXTRA MILE for their artist..I am glad to include this show in the same ranks as Kentuck, Troyfest (where I am SPOILED ROTTEN), and Bluff Park. They outdid themselves, and I cannot wait to go back!!

Live Artfully!!

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

BILLBOARD IN NORTHPORT/ TUSCALOOSA ..KENTUCK ARTS FESTIVAL!!


YES!! It is "that time of year!"..and the excitement has started! It is time for the Kentuck Arts Festival in Northport / Tuscaloosa, AL..The festival will be OCTOBER 17th and 18th..and the Kentuck Center chose one of my paintings for their digital billboard display !! It is approx. 40 feet high..and I LOVE IT. SO HONORED to be chosen for this!! It's a GREAT show..with some of the best artist in the country attending, and bringing you their art!! So..come out and see us!

Thank you KENTUCK for this !!! Love you guys!!

Also..HUGE shout out to my friend Allison for driving and taking these pictures for me!! YOU ROCK ...and I love you for it!!!!

Live Artfully!

Monday, August 31, 2015

ART IN THE PARK --MARIETTA, GEORGIA THIS WEEKEND!!



Art in the Park
takes place all three days of Labor Day weekend September 5 – 7, 2015


WHEN
Art in the Park Festival – Saturday – Monday, September 5-7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, includes Children’s Art Alley
The Chalk Spot – Saturday, September 5, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Art will remain on display through the festival (weather permitting).
WHERE
Glover Park on the Historic Marietta Square
50 N. Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060
Free Parking on the street and in the Cobb County Parking Decks on Waddell Street



Hope you all come out and join us!!
Live Artfully!!

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

THE STORY OF THE 13 YEAR OLD SHOES

Once upon a time..a long, long time ago..(around 13 years), I bought these shoes for my daughter. We both loved these shoes. They are Doc Martens..they are leather..and they are CUTE beyond words. So..my daughter took excellent care of these shoes, until a few years after I bought them..she wrecked her car, and when I went to the scrap yard to retrieve her things out of the car,  these shoes were in there. So, I brought them home...and threw them in my closet. I tried them on, but my fat feet and ankles wouldn't even let me get my toes in ...I had cankles from hell..Meaning my calves and my ankles were the same size, or bigger. They were horrible...all I could do was wear long pants, and cover them up, and wear big shoes..But, about a month ago..I dug these shoes out, and miraculously my FEET SLID RIGHT INTO THEM. THEY FIT perfectly..I didn't even have to undo the strap. Since I've lost a little over SEVENTY POUNDS (since January 2015--TOTAL LOST SINCE 2012 IS 106 POUNDS!!)..I actually went from a 10W (wide)..to a 9M (medium). No more horrible cankles. Another thing that I have loved about this way of eating (I do not call it a diet...because I do not plan to ever go back to eating the normal way) is that on most "diets" ..you lose weight in your face and upper body, and it works it's way down..and then you fall off of your diet, and your butt and stomach remain HUGE..and you have this little bitty head on top of a mountain of fat. Then you go back on the "diet", and once again..you lose in your face and your upper body..and by this time, your body is deformed like some fat circus freak with a hundred dead poodles strapped around your middle, and your stomach and butt is so big that you waddle instead of walk...and you have this little head ...It's a vicious cycle to say the least. But, with the way I eat now..most of my weight came off of my belly FIRST..I've went down about 5 sizes in pants...In fact, one of the last pair of jeans that I bought when I was at my heaviest, were super tight, and my belly rolled over them. NOW..I can pull them up without unbuttoning them..and they barely stay up. (I would never wear them again)..Another 10 pounds and it'll be "pants on the ground".

On the artisitic front..nothing to write home about. Same stuff, different day...painting, painting..painting..I'm more wrapped up in ME right now than art. Such is life...

Live Artfully.

Monday, August 17, 2015

IT IS A GLORIOUS DAY!!


WOW!! What a beautiful day!! The world is wonderful, the weather  is  perfect..I feel skinnier today..and Life is just good. The Karma wheel has been spinning lately, and Thank God..I'm good to go on that..I feel amazing today. 

I've been painting..and am down to the wire..Since I'm still not showing my new stuff..This is a painting that I did last year..Nothing new will be shown much until after my shows are done.

Live Artfully!


Monday, August 3, 2015

LIFE IS GOOD!!

Good Morning!! Well..Ummm..I acquired a "few" rings...As you can see in the picture above..I came across a deal for about 100 of these babies...Instant collection!! They are every shape and size, and GAUDY ...I will probably never wear them out in public..but they sure are fun to "play" with..It takes so little to amuse me!

I've had to make some tough decisions in the art show life lately..I got accepted into 3 shows, Two of them on the Gulf Coast, all on  the same weekend..One was the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs, and as it was my first time applying, I really did not expect to get accepted. I REALLY wanted to do it, as it is close to the casinos in Biloxi, and I LOVE the casinos...But..ALL just a week or so after KENTUCK in Tuscaloosa. I'm usually pretty beat up by the time Kentuck is over, and usually without much inventory (What a great problem to have, right??)..So..I kept thinking..kept thinking..and had to make the decision to not do ANY shows after Kentuck. It's hard to make killer decisions...but, I really hate driving 7-8 hours for shows, and I'm usually ready to quit traveling. I am happy that I have these choices, and don't have to do 20-25 shows a year to keep up. I'm not very "driven", as I rather be painting than selling.

On the good side..we do have six shows in Sept. and Oct.I am excited about those!! I have been painting and painting and painting..and managing to keep most of them secret..and not share them. That in itself is a feat of great strength..hahaha..

So..we are busy working, and I have new toys, and all is GREAT in our world..
Live Artfully!

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

ART JOURNALING AGAIN!!

Wow..It has been a hundred years since I actually did an art journal page..and let me tell you--IT WAS HARD!! This pile of hot mess, has no less than 8-10 layers on it..and I still don't like it. Fortunately though...I don't have to like it..and can put another 40 layers on it if I want to. I was going to write a long, drawn out thing on things I had to say..but, I got bored and tired..and I really don't have anything IMPORTANT to say..so, I just moved on.

I chose a 1960 yearbook to do this in..It's large and the paper is thick and sturdy..I thought the faces throughout would make for some interesting pages later on..But this is my first page in a few years, and I couldn't figure it out..haha..Anyway..back to painting..you know..the money making kind of art...

Live Artfully!

Sunday, July 19, 2015

ANOTHER PAINTING...ANOTHER SUNDAY...THINKING OF NOAH'S ARK...

Sitting here looking at the fish that I am painting..contemplating doing a NOAH's ARK series of animals..and the ARK..Wanting to draw it out, and get started on it..but, am in the middle of these HUGE fish..That is my problem..I am working on one thing, thinking of another. I just cooked up our food for the next few days..A couple of pot roast, baked chickens, pork chops, potatoes, brocolli..etc..So..I'm all in for nothing but painting for a few days.

Last year, I bought 30 or 35 canvases..in the size of 36 x 36..I'm currently working on knocking those out. I had I think, 19 at the beginning of this season..I'm down to having 9 left. Working furiously to get those finished!!

I did something smart (or stupid, depending on how you look at it) this year. I doubled applied for shows..thinking that I would most likely get rejected by one or two. This has been a crazy year in that department..I've not yet been rejected ..NOT ONCE. Life is so full of things to be GRATEFUL for!!

Nature Boy and I are enjoying our summer off. I feel sorry for anyone that has to go out in this heat and work for a living. It has been TOO HOT here. I'm looking forward to fall..(aren't we all??)..Well..that is it..my life is pretty boring except for painting..and painting...and painting...

Live Artfully!

Monday, June 22, 2015


BAKING SUCCESS!!

Good Wonderful Morning!! It's a beautiful day!! I am bursting at the seams with energy and excitement..(Remember..it takes very little to amuse me..hahaha). As you all know..I have changed my eating lifestyle, and gave up bread a while ago..(about 3 years ago)..Since Jan. 2015, I have not had a single piece of bread..or anything that resembles bread.

The other night, I found a recipe for flatbread..(I guess that is like cornbread--which I hate..bleechhhh). I made it..and it tasted like I had licked the bottom of a camel's foot after he had stepped in poop....It was HORRIBLE..I threw the entire pan of the stuff in the garbage...I was defeated...I have never baked anything..I know nothing about baking..so..I just wrote it off...Until last night..I found a recipe for breakfast buns..and thought..ok..I will try one more time.

So..I preheated my oven..and did not have all the ingredients..and so I had to substitute things for things...it called for psyllium husk (Think Metamucil)...and I didn't have any of that, so I used hemp hearts..and it called for sour cream..didn't have that so I melted some butter, and stirred in Cafe Latte Yogurt..and used that..(Yes, coffee flavored yogurt!!).. Mixed everything together..and stuck it in the oven. Well..IMAGINE my surprise when 22 minutes later..I had a VERY excellent bread-like substance. I smeared butter on it, and it was DELICIOUS!! I feel like a world class chef now..haha..SO HAPPY that I actually baked something and it was edible!!

Live Artfully.

Saturday, June 20, 2015





























NEW WORK ...

WOW!! What a day! This painting took forever, but I am very happy with the results!! I'm always so happy when I finish something, especially something large..and I always need a nap afterwards..LOL..We are just sitting around here today, working..and piddling..and piddling and working..There are about 20 buzzards circling outside, and I am running back and forth from painting to watching them. There has to be a dead animal over where they are..I've never seen so many at one time.Fascinating birds!!

Yesterday, I cooked all day..I cooked chicken, potatoes, beans, pork steaks, beef liver, veggies and bread (which I threw away because it was DISGUSTING..LOL)..I'm good to go on the food front for the rest of the week..giving me more than plenty time to PAINT..

Not much else is going on..I'm painting..Nature Boy is photographing nature, and building us some raised garden boxes for an early fall crop of goodies...Can't wait for that!!

Life will be kind of boring until Sept., when I go back to doing shows...that is ok..I plan on working my tail off (literally) until then! Live Artfully!!

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

WHAT IS GOING ON...

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful summer!! I love June, July and August..mainly because I have time off from art shows to paint, and do what I want to do!!

This past weekend, my best friend and I headed over to Cave Springs, GA for their craft show. I found some wood chairs that I wanted and a very large Easter Island face made out of concrete..other than that..it was a waste of money and time. I didn't see any good art there..and that saddened me..we did not stay long..walked fast around it and got out of  there. Luckily, we had a better time driving over there and home again, than at the show. It was also 94 degrees..whew...There was no breeze ..and Lord..it was HOT. They also charged $5 per person to get in...which for a large show with good art is no problem, but for a low end craft show..it was a bit much...Anyway..it was fun hanging out with my friend...and we did stop at a few junk stores..so, that was entertaining..

Nothing much else on the home front...I'm still losing weight, about 10-12 pounds a month..feeling fantastic, and working my tail off painting. I'm not showing my work as much online because I'm just too caught up in the making to worry about the showing.


Have a great summer!! Live Artfully!!

Monday, May 11, 2015

ONE MORE WEEKEND DOWN..ONE TO GO!!




Well, we did the Gumtree Festival in Tupelo, MS this weekend..and Tupelo did not disappoint me!! First of all..I came home almost SIX pounds thinner!! WOOHOOOOOO!! I know that it will take about 2 weeks for it to actually SHOW up as weight loss, but that is how the human body works. I walked so much!

Ok..It was HOT this weekend. I'm talking about 90-95 degrees hot..I wore black clothing both days (Granted, not the smartest thing to do), BUT..It did not bother me...AT ALL. I did not get tired, I did not SWEAT, I've lost almost 60 pounds, and WHAT A HUGE DIFFERENCE that makes. I was even able to help Nature Boy take the tent and work down without any discomfort!!! AMAZING DIFFERENCES!!

Anyway..back to the show. This is the FIRST time that I have went to a show, and prayed that I DID NOT SELL anything. After the almost sell out show in Troy, AL...and painting like crazy for two weeks...AND having another show in a week..I really wish that I had not sold anything..BUT, that was not the case...We started with 8 grid walls, and my normal 7 grey Pro-panel walls...and on Sunday morning, I had sold enough art to completely remove the grid walls, and have Nature Boy put them in the van...So, I think I sold way more than I was comfortable with losing, and must start in about an hour, and paint like a crazy person..

I am counting the money that I make differently this year..I am not saying I made XXX amount..I am taking the amount of money in my pocket when we leave the house, and at the end of the shows..I am taking that same amount out of the money before I count what we made. If I leave the house with $500, and then pay cash for our hotel room (-$200 plus)..and gas for the trip, and food for the road..etc..then saying to myself  "OH..I made XXX amount of money..then it doesn't give you a true amount of PROFIT....So..You must subtract expenses first..THEN count the money made. How much I make isn't important, only PROFIT is..I also am substracting the show cost off of that. This way..If I do not make close to a thousand in PROFIT, then I will know not to do the show again..



All in all..Gumtree was as good as ever..My only complaint was the heat..the rest of the show was great!! Thank you Tupelo and Gumtree for ANOTHER GREAT YEAR!! See you in 2016!!

Live Artfully!!