"Addison's Walk"

My mother and step-dad just returned from a four week jaunt across the pond to some wonderful-sounding places: Bath, London, the Cotswolds, and finally Cambridge. They had time to really enjoy each place and to do some things that my mother had always dreamed of doing. They are in love with England, and I am trying not to be too jealous. It is somewhere I have always felt a fondness for even though I have never been there, and I still hold dear my dream of traveling there someday. I am looking forward to seeing their photographs and hearing their stories ...their adventures fresh and filled with delightful people and places.

Last year they were there for a shorter trip, and it was my mother's first time there. She came back thoroughly smitten with the places they went and people she met. She took some lovely pictures and has graciously allowed me to use some for reference in my artwork. One thing I am particularly drawn to (being the architecture lover that I am) is the beautiful golden tones of so many of the buildings in and around the Cotswolds. The photograph from which this painting was done was taken on their trip last year, and the house in it has that beautiful golden glow. It was a beautifully composed photograph, and I couldn't resist painting it.






"Addison's Walk"
16" x 20"
acrylic on canvas

For a view of the photograph from which the painting was doneClick Here.

News, news for fans of the original Victoria magazine...

If you've been around my blog or website any length of time, you know how I feel about the lovely Victoria magazine. I began subscribing in 1987, the year the magazine was introduced, and still have all my copies. I have carried them from pillar to post through six moves.



Nancy Lindemeyer, who was the original editor of Victoria magazine, has started a blog. She was the primary influence in shaping that beautiful magazine back in its original heyday, and she will be sharing about the projects she is involved in and writing that she is doing now. So, if you are a kindred spirit and would love to check it out, here's the link:

Nancy Lindemeyer's Blog

Fresh From the Garden... errr, Drawing Board

I will post the artwork from the show in future posts, but thought I would post this piece I just finished yesterday. I have begun experimenting with pastels and love the way they worked for the soft petals of this rose:



I pray that you are all having a blessed week!

Blogging Break Longer Than Intended...

Hello world and especially hello to all my wonderful blog friends. You all have encouraged my heart so much with your well-wishes while I was away. Life has settled down a little now... let me see... where shall I begin?

Since I have been gone, I have participated in not one, but three art shows. They were spaced out just enough for me to recover then get ready for the next one. I have also been working on some commissioned pieces in between. And finally, I now have a high school graduate for whom we are trying to get "all our ducks in a row" with college plans. This has been a full and blessed spring and summer. I have enjoyed the break from blogging, but I have missed you all terribly.

A brief report on the art shows... the first one (the one I posted the link to in the previous post) was my first show ever. It had ups and downs, but all in all was a great learning experience for me. I didn't make much money, but I felt that the education was worth the time and expense I put into it. I gave away tons of brochures and cards and had some wonderful comments about the artwork.




The second show was a total disaster from start to finish... from the setup at 6 am where I was assigned the space next to a fresh stump of a giant oak that smelled like soured sweat socks.... to the wind blowing sand all over my artwork and eventually blowing over my painting with the most expensive frame so that it slammed into the sidewalk... to the judging that totally seemed "political" (and me a "newbie")... to the unseasonable 98 degree temps... to the fact that it was held in a locale that had a number of softball fields and plenty of parking -- only the parking was all taken up by softball moms and dads and grandparents -- leaving no spaces for those who would be attending an art show... and I could go on and on. Suffice it to say, I ended up in tears and will NOT be participating in this particular show again. (I am sure that the Lord had something He wanted me to learn, but so far the only thing I know for sure I learned is that I will definitely not be doing that show again!) :)




The third show was a beautiful show at Aldridge Gardens, which I did a drawing of last year. The weather was perfect, all the artist's booth spaces were in shaded places, and the crowd was there for only one thing: to see the artwork. It was a huge blessing, and on top of all those things I actually made enough to recover my costs for the show.




I have learned so much during these events and feel all the wiser about what it takes to be an "art show artist." I am not sure whether it is something I will continue to do. It is certainly not for the faint of heart, but I wanted to really put myself out there and let the Lord lead. I am trusting Him for the fruit of the work and money I invested in doing the shows. And for now, I am glad they are over. Summer has given me some time to experiment with new things, but also to work on some commissioned pieces.

I have a LOT of catching up to do in my blog reading, so please bear with me as I catch up. It has been a while, so it may take a while. :) I hope to be posting some of the new artwork I have done in future posts. I love you all!