Sunflowers

Sunflowers have always been one of my favorite subjects to paint or draw in a very tight, detailed style as you can see by these pieces I did a few years ago.

Sunflower Window

Watercolor & Ink

Sunflowers

Colored Pencil & Ink

 

Sunflower Forest

Ink

 



I haven't actually painted since about 2008. Most of the images I do these days are photo manipulations and the occasional collage that might have just a little hand painting or drawing.

Lately though I've been kind of jumping around ... doing different things, trying my hand at things I have never done before (like jewelry) and experimenting with a new take on some of the mediums I've used in the past.

So it was time to do something different and a little challenging.  I wanted to try something a little looser and vivid.  So ...

Sunflower On Red

Acrylic

 

This was really an experiment with acrylic on a 14" x 18" canvas.  But, I think I really like it and will be doing some more along this line.

A Day In My Neighborhood

A day in my neighborhood might include ...

Fishing at dawn.

A drive through the countryside.

Or,

a deadly encounter.

Now, what would a blog about living at a lake be - without the occasional snake?

Thanks to John Peddy  at Sweetvalley Cabin Rental for the photos.

Jewelry Updates

Jack Jones Flowers & Gifts, which has carried my art prints for several years, now also carries my jewels made from upcycled buttons, paper and other doo dads.  Here's a little sampling. 

Fluttery and unbelievably light earrings.  You won't believe these are paper! All paper items have been sealed to be water resistant.

Button bracelets are eye catching and fun to wear.  No two are exactly alike.

Old Levi buttons for the Boho style.  Unique, fun and swingy.

Eye catching red with black edges and brass fittings. 

Feather light!

Also availabe at T.F. Rice & Co. and on my Etsy shop.

Lake Signs

Love this sign I saw at T.F. Rice & Co.

Some of the folks who sell my art.

Went by Merison’s today to check on my artwork sales.

Just one of many art pieces I have at Merison's.

But when I came in the door ….

I fell in love with this chair. Isn’t it great! It’s round and it turns. My inner child just loved it!

And apparently … so does Susan Jones!

While I was there I saw some paintings by two of my favorite local artist - Eleanor Baker and Ann Stapp.

　

And gorgeous pottery by Ridgehaven Studios.



Snapped this photo just because I thought the set up was so purty! Someone needs to make this into an art piece. Maybe I will. Check back later! …. Seriously.

　

Back to my art work and Merison’s. Yes! Merison’s is one of several places that carry my art.

And it doesn’t hurt that they are happy, fun loving folks.

The following was originally posted on July 12, 2011.   A special thanks to Paris! Magazine for writing such a nice article about this in their June 2012 edition.

____________________________________________________________________________
I know you ask sometimes, “Where does she get these ideas?” Well, this is how “Elvis at the Paris City Auditorium” came about.

During the North Poplar Street Yard Sale last month, my Aunt Jane took me on a tour though some back yards. There was a sign she wanted me to see at the old Paris City Auditorium. The sign had something to do with Elvis.

We traveled down the driveway of Carol & Kenny Doster. We passed this Peace Sign.

Then we passed this really big paw print.

Did you know Bigfoot lived on North Poplar??

Then we came upon the old Paris City Auditorium.

It was a little sad to see it this way. According to Visit Downtown Paris - “This building was used for everything from basketball games to concerts. In its hey day of the 50’s and 60’s, everyone from Elvis to Jerry Lee Lewis to Flatt and Scruggs performed there. There are a million memories and songs permeating that building!”


We went inside.

There was a little old ....

And some new ...

And then,

I saw this.

And ... well, I became inspired.

So, I took this photo ....

And turned it into this.

Then I added the Elvis sign I had seen inside....

and put it on the front porch to get this.

And then I really got carried away. It just needed a little more Elvis. I won’t keep you in suspense anymore. This is the final product.

Hope you like it. I’m adding it to my “Windows On The Square” series.

Prints are available in the Paris/Henry County area at Jack Jones, Merison's and T.F. Rice & Co. 
Online, you can order a limited edition print here.  The edition is limited to a maximum  of 20 prints.  Size:  7" x 8.752" printed on archival paper with archival inks.  This is for the print only (no mat).  $20.00 plus $3.00 shipping.

Tennessee River Fine Arts League

I take a lot of photos ... and sometimes I forget to download them all.  So I actually took these photos in April.

Went by Lee School Academy of the Arts to see what was going on with the artists at the Tennessee River Fine Arts League (TRFAL). 

Ken Alexander was working on this mountain landscape.  I love the colors.

By David Carrico.  I'm speechless.

Another by David Carrico.   David's artwork is also available at Merison's. 

This is "Night Storm" by Harry Burton.  I'm impressed.

This is Harry working on another painting.   Can't wait to see this one finished.