Happy Thanksgiving To All

Today I am taking stock of all that I have to be thankful for.  At the top of the list is my husband, Brett.  Next on my list is, my husband Brett and so on and so on.
Brett has just finished a major overhaul of my website.  He went back to college and took classes in writing HTML so that when I quit my job to become an artist, he would be able to do my website, which is major dollars to pay someone to do it for you.  Also, he taught himself the art of framing, all for me.  And if that were not enough, he took up photography and does a fairly good job of my photography needs.  So, today I am thankful to have met and married the greatest guy on the planet.....oh, almost forgot, he makes a killer lasagna.

Falling Behind and Feeling Lost

Got up at 4:30 this morning, could not sleep, thinking about these two pieces for my class assignments.  Being a traditional artist working in oils, I am so much slower than the digital artists in my class.  They have already finished their projects just about the time I get my final design drawn out and ready to transfer to the canvas.  Have been thinking about learning to do digital work, but I think I would miss the feel of the brush and smell of oils.  So, I put on some 60's and 70's music, which always brings up my mood.  Listening to Dust in The Wind, by Kansas.  OK, feelin groovy now, so back to work.

First Snow and Painting

We had our first snow on Friday, just flurries actually.  But the day was gray and gloomy....a fabulous time to paint.  No distractions, no sunny great to be alive weather to lure me out.  I have so many projects in progress right now.  I would not mind if it rained for a week, just so I could get caught up.

Recent Trip to North Carolina Museum of Art

Two shots here of my 3 Amigos and myself viewing art at the North Carolina Museum of Art.  I was visiting my good friends John and Lorraine Demolet at their home in NC and knowing my love of miniatures they took me over to the NC Museum of Art for a special exhibit of miniatures.  Much to my surprise they also had a fantastic collection of Egyptian Artifacts, mummies and such, which is my second love, art being my first.  Poor Brett, he only ranks as my third love. 

Great Critique

The last piece I posted, Virga the Archer, received a great critique from my instructor, Dan Dos Santos.  Just a few tweeks to make to her and she is finished.  I must admit, I love the dark muted color scheme of this one and my husband wants more moon backgrounds in future paintings. 

Almost Finished?????

As it always happens, each time I think something is finished, I put it on the computer and WHAM, all the errors jump out at me.  I see a few details I have forgotten, but otherwise I feel this is finished.  Will run it past my instructor today and get his take on it.

Family Tree Receives Award

My painting, Family Tree, was awarded the Elaine & James Hewitt Award for Oils & Acrylics on Sunday at the Salmagundi Club in New York City.  I drove up  by myself on Sunday morning to attend the awards ceremony at 2 pm.  I don't know what all the moaning and groaning is about when it comes to New York traffic.  I had no trouble whatsoever navigating the city and even found a parking garage just one block from the Salmagundi Club on 5th Ave.  Honestly, I think DC traffic is crazier.  While up there, I saw the 911 monument building, Statue of Liberty, Broadway and lots of city life on the West Side.  I drove through the Holland Tunnel (not cheap) and enjoyed a scenic drive back home through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia.  I arrived back home at 9 that night.  I was so pumped by the experience, I finished up my Archer painting yesterday and made great progress on the latest piece which I will call Fallen Angel.  Photos tomorrow of both paintings, I hope.