Workshop fun

The workshop is halfway over and boy are we having a ball and learning a lot! Except for the blinding 500 watt light (thus the hat) and a few language barrier moments, of which I'm happy to translate, all are enjoying the class...some are even ready to go to France for round two!

Opening Reception for French Master

This is one of the paintings Richard, my mentor, is bringing for his show next Thursday. I can't wait to see the real thing. We'll be having French wines and wonderful cheeses from Korner-Kopia. Come join us if you can from 5-8 on July 22.

Morning Bread

I just loved this wall...that part was done completely with the palette knife in several layers, darker underneath.

Safe and Sound...

I was spring cleaning in the yard and found this heart-shaped birds nest and just had to paint it! The title "Empty Nest" ran through my head when I finished the nest and I just thought it looked odd without a sign of life, so I added the eggs and called it "Safe and Sound". This was a lot of fun to paint--getting very loose with the sprigs...

Poppies in Three

This was SO much fun!! Painting solely with the palette knife is something I found that takes a lot of courage...and a TON of paint! It's amazing how much more quickly the paint goes when painting in this style....and you must be deliberate in stroke and color (you can always scrape off, but I'd rather get it right the first time. There are really cool effects you can get when something has dried and you go back over with another layer. The most fun was the sky...think I'll do a BIG sky painting next...

"Hope" is Home

I went by the hospital today because I heard that "the giant" had made it to its resting place over the mantle of the fireplace in the Wellmont hospital lobby...it is my hope that it will bring a feeling of peace and tranquility to all who enter--for whatever reason.

Workshop in July

I am thrilled to have my mentor, Richard Palomino (or Lilla Duva, his "pen" name) come over from France to hold a workshop in Kingsport July 22nd-25th. He is self-taught in the Old Master technique of layering with his own handmade mediums and hand ground paints. He will begin with a value drawing (here is one he has done of me) in charcoal and white and create the painting based on that. He only works from life and is really a treasure trove of lessons, most of which he learned on his own through trial and error. There are still a couple of spots left!

Arts Crawl on Thursday!

I'm excited about Arts Crawl next Thursday! There will be more venues this year and lots of great food. We will have live music at the gallery and Sherrie's Cafe and Catering. Go to www.kingsportarts.org to get tickets.

ALIVE with Spring!

The gallery feels so ALIVE now with warmer weather and new displays, thanks to Michael. Here's the latest one above--he is like a found object magnet--constantly coming in with "new" old things to add to the beauty of the gallery...and we just got in another shipment of beautiful Craven porcelain that so nicely fills up this latest aquisition. And notice the lavender sprigs next to the lavender painting--Mary's idea--I have the best peeps!

Come by for Earth Day next Thursday--lots of cool stuff going on, and Happy hour from 5-7 with music, wine and munchies!

Lavender Fields Forever

This one was fun...I had such a good time with the palette knife on the triptik that I did the sky the same way in this...I'm dreaming of Provence!

Loosen Up!

If you want to loosen up your painting, something I am constantly striving toward (much to the chagrin of my classic mentor), try a palette knife! This is one canvas in a triptik I'm working on--a first for me--which has been SO MUCH FUN to paint! It started out as a conventional painting, brush-style, and quickly became a palette knife painting for some reason. I was trying to cover more ground with the sky and then my palette knife just wouldn't stop...I love the texture of it and the challenge of being this loose and putting down the right color the first time. And the sky was great fun--I started the right side with a mixture of blue black, by Winsor Newton--a great muted blue that mixes well with white with no neutralizing necessary--and white. Then began on the left side with a mixture of cad yellow medium, cad red and white and spread it right into the blue, continuing on over for some cloud effects. Wet into wet--it really was a cool effect and one I will employ often for nice sunset skies. Be prepared to use a LOT of paint for this type of painting technique.

Great Artist Blog!

Ok, I think I'll trade in Facebook to read more blogs (because who has time to do both?) I was told about this blog by an artist friend in Charleston (thanks Lisa :) and it is FANTASTIC!!! A lot of useful information in his posts--many answers to questions artists want to know, from pricing art, making prints, to what I've been reading all night--how to mix greens! It's funny how many artists seem to struggle with the same things. This one is one to follow!

Italian Vinyard with homemade paint

Just completed this commission--this one was fun! I worked mostly with hand made paint from pigments I had bought in France--those earthy tones that came straight from the source--the mountains of Roussillion. Making paint is not that hard, just time consuming. I found a great guy in Asheville who makes it in bulk http://www.blueridgeoilpaint.com/. Much more efficient! I have tried some of his paints and they are nice and buttery--he definitely has perfected the craft...

Student show

I am proud of my students, who are SOOO talented! We had a fun show on Thursday where they got to show their friends and family what they have been doing in class--more than just drinking wine :)

Two New Artists!

Robyn Willman out of Sneedville, TN, who makes beautiful jewelry out of
antique silverware and funky windchimes out of found objects.

Lisa & Alex LaPella, from Unicoi, TN, who make unique stamped pottery.They make a beautiful custom platter that can be personalized for a great wedding gift!