A New Project

When my workshop group was here (a month ago-I can't believe it!) several of them asked if I had considered doing a book. I replied I didn't want to do a "how to" but that I would like to do a book of images. I even went so far as to download the Blurb software about a year ago but never got beyond that. So, Lisa McShane suggested that I needed a virtual assistant. What a great idea- me here in the wilds of northeast Texas and he/she who knows where!

So a week or so later I Googled "virtual assistant" and came up with pages of listings including whole groups devoted to promoting their members. Who knew?! After a little looking around I found someone with the skills I thought I needed and a few emails later-voila! Virtual Margie (I kid you not) and I were ready to start working on the new project.

So, this is the cover. The book will have about 25 images - mostly paintings but also some drawings- and some text which will be largely taken from posts over the last couple of years on this blog. I wanted to include some of my writing about art, art history, poetry, and my work. Sadly, I wasn't able to get permission to reprint some of my favorite poems, so those will be missing.

We are nearing the finish line with the project. I hope to have it done in the next week or so and definitely by the time I leave for Telluride in late June.

Speaking of virtual things, I have posted the summer and fall schedule of online classes here.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Spring Moonrise

Spring Moonrise
24 x 30
Available at Huff Harrington Fine Art, Atlanta

Six weeks ago I promised myself I would do a few spring paintings, even if it took me until fall. Here is the first of those. I was interested in that pinkish undertone much of the foliage has in the spring and how that might play against the moonrise and of course those greens. It is an incredibly delicate balance of color harmony that only lasts for a few weeks, a limited engagement for those paying close attention.

Skies

Last week, my online class The Painted Sky started. It is a very lively group and in addition to lots of sky painting we've been looking at images of studies and paintings by other artists from Constable to the present. This week I posted several Wilson Hurley paintings as examples of "big sky" paintings and I thought I'd post them here too. Hurley lived in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains just outside of Albuquerque near where I lived for over five years. I had the pleasure of meeting Hurley at a show at the Albuquerque Museum a few years before he died. He was a true gentleman and an encouraging role model. We shared both our prior profession (the law) and a passion for painting and art history, particularly the Hudson River School. The man could paint skies. Oh yeah, and these are big. Enjoy!

Simple Pleasures

Spring brings a feast of simple pleasures. The back part of our property turns into a wildflower meadow.


Our little garden holds the promise of a bumper crop of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, herbs, potatoes and cucumbers.


And the first luscious, seedless watermelons appear at the farmer's market.

A Quiet Pause

Autumn Twilight
24 x 30
Sold

Its been a very quiet day. My students left late Saturday afternoon. They are an intense, energetic bunch and I so enjoyed having them here. All last week there was so much activity in the studio, around the house and on our property, that the quiet seems strange. I'm looking forward to planning another workshop here for next spring! Now, back to the studio......

One of the artists in the workshop, Lisa McShane, has posted a few images on her blog from the class. You can see them here. Lisa has a very interesting blog so check her out.

We are wrapping up the workshop today so I'll post more about that tomorrow. Its been a wonderful, exhausting week!

Workshop Week continues.....

I know it looks like we are just having fun, but I promise we have been working hard all week- painting, drawing and talking about building a career in art, marketing and selling art. But, we did take time out last night for a Texas version of a low country boil.

Workshop Week

My fabulous workshop artists are here at the studio this week. I limited the group to five (the number I can fit in my studio). We started out with a get together Sunday afternoon and the promptly got to work Monday morning. The weather has been spectacular- actually cool and dry. Four of the ladies are staying at a guest cottage about a mile down the road from my home/studio and another has her RV parked on our property. Here is the group- left to right, Dottie ,Tifton, GA, Lisa, Bellingham, WA, Judy, Lafayette, LA, Sara, Brownsville, Minnesota, and Pat, Dallas, TX.






The ladies and my husband Steve enjoying a late afternoon "happy hour", along with an hors d'oeuvre of Dottie's recipe for "baked bacon".

Morning on the Flats
16 x 30
Private Collection

Just a few days until my workshop group arrives, so it seems we are on a merry go round here! I did want to mention that I've had one cancellation in the Skies class which starts May 7- so there is a spot available. I've also posted a new online class- Painting Water- which will start on May 14. There is information and registration for both classes here .

Busy Spring

In about 10 days I have five artists coming for the Advanced Workshop & Mini Mentorship here at my studio. They are traveling here from all points across the country, braving the difficulties of getting to Clarksville. In fact, one my students said that getting to Clarksville was more challenging than the logistics of her former job as field director for a state governor's political campaign!

So, we are in high gear here getting ready for that. I am also organizing my materials for the online Skies class I'll be teaching in a few weeks, and finishing up the last week of the Luminous Landscape class in progress now. I've got several larger paintings going in the studio, but none of them are in "postable" condition just yet. So, here are a couple of sketches by John Constable, the great early 19th century English landscape painter, who I have written about many times on this blog (see sidebar for links). Constable undertook several campaigns of skying during his career and left us with a record of not only the weather but the very heart of his art. Enjoy!

Painting the Night

Moonlighting
12 x 12
Available at Blackheath Gallery, London

Its probably no secret to those who have been reading this blog for a while that I love nocturnes. Like many of my visual obsessions, this one goes back to childhood. Like a lot of kids, I stayed out on summer evenings to catch fireflies and count the stars. But my most vivid memories are of a cottage on a lake where we stayed for a few weeks one summer. There was long dock with a covered boat house and screened porch where I could wile away hot summer nights watching the moon rise or the reflections of the lights from the other side of the lake.

These days I sometimes wake early to watch the full moon, huge and glowing, set outside my window. Here is a favorite poem that puts words to my fascination. Enjoy.

Moon & Water

I wake and spend
the last hours
of darkness
with no one

but the moon.
She listens
to my complaints
like the good

companion she is
and comforts me surely
with her light.
But she, like everyone,

has her own life.
So finally I understand
that she has turned away,
is no longer listening.

She wants me
to refold myself
into my own life.
And, bending close,

as we all dream of doing,
she rows with her white arms
through the dark water
which she adores

Mary Oliver

Spring!

After a couple of false starts and a late snow, it appears Spring has finally arrived in northeast Texas. The red bud trees are all in bloom and the woods are filled with the intoxicating scent of wild plum trees.

Every year since we moved here I have planned to do several spring paintings but I am always in the middle of other painting deadlines. Although, I have the same problem this year, I am determined to paint Spring this year-even if it takes me until Fall to do it!







Update: I saw a hummingbird this afternoon!

Southwest Art Magazine Article

I am happy to say I have an article in the April issue of Southwest Art Magazine! The painting which is featured in the article, Autumn Light, will be part of the Spring Gallery Night show at Galerie Kornye West, opening this Saturday, March 27 from 5-8 PM.

(Click to enlarge)

Here is another new piece I'll have in the show. I'll be in Ft Worth for the opening so if you are in the area come by and see me!

Evening Pool
18x 24
Available at Galerie Kornye West

Sold

We are just wrapping up the online course Drawing & Painting Trees. As part of the course we've looked at 19th century examples of drawings and painted studies of trees. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

John Constable-Study of Ash Trees



Asher B. Durand
Study of Trees


John F. Kensett

Jervis McEntee

John Constable

My good friends Lynne Windsor and Barry McCuan are renting their house just north of Santa Fe. Its an old adobe with studios, garden and lots of charm-perfect for artists wanting to spend some time in northern New Mexico. Take a look here!