Friends in Dallas, I hope to see you at the Dutch Gallery Reception. This will be a great collection of art in various styles and mediums from a select group of artists. Each artist is allowed to put in up to 7 pieces so if there is an artist you like, you will get to see several pieces. This will be a large show, so I am sure you will find something you like.

Apologies for having few posts. I have been working on commissions of home portraits for the Christmas deadline. I cannot post any of those paintings until after Christmas since they are going to be given as gifts. I do want to post my work from the Andy Evansen workshop as soon as I get a chance.

Highland Park Village

11x14

This is a scene in a shopping center in Dallas. One can park their car and walk around to the various shops and restaurants here. I painted this last week in preparation for the Andy Evansen workshop I have been partipating in this week. I cannot tell you how great it is to do plein air painting with Andy. He is ovbiously a great artist, but, he is also a great teacher, too. We have been all over Dallas painting street scenes, landscape at parks, boats at White Rock Lake and today, trolleys on Mckinney St. I am very happy with my value paintings, but, the color ones are not so hot, yet. Maybe I will post next week.

Fair Day

Cotton Candy

11x14

Photo of Big Tex

Yes, it is time for the Texas State Fair. This is my husband's favorite event. Although, he would never tell you that, you just know by how many times he says how great the fair is while we are there. For years I have taken pictures at the fair for paintings, but, I have never painted one, yet. When I saw the Cotton Candy stand, I was inspired. I specifically took the photo of Big Tex for everyone who does not live in Dallas. He is 52' tall, talks and makes announcements and has his picture on the cotton candy bags. Do you see the ferris wheel in the bottom of the photo? It is in my painting, too. P.S. my toddler HAD to have the beautiful cotton candy. When he tasted it, he started crying and saying, "Hair, hair, get the hair out of my mouth." I guess he will be scarred now.

Fall Harvest

11x14

I have never really been one for painting holiday themed art, but, the weather was so amazingly gorgeous with beautiful, bright sunlight and just the perfect mild temperature I had to sit outside and paint this gorgeous fall display created by my friend, Richard. Richard relocated to Dallas from New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. He and his family were actually considered refugees for a time when they first evacuated their home. They didn't bring much when they left and when it was safe to return to New Orleans, they found very little to salvage. They have been living in Dallas since. He is extremely creative in making the most beautiful garden scenes using flowers and plants one would not typically put together. This is just a part of the display. That pumpkin is so large, it makes the perfect seat for my kids. Every time my toddler sees this display he shouts out, "Look at all of those pumpkins!" Then he goes to sit on this giant pumpkin.

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Alan Barnes Gallery
2011 Juried Exhibit
(I am in the show!)
Tuesday, October 14
5:30 - 8:30 Reception

Grapes in the Sunlight

The photo that inspired this painting was an ad for Mexico on the back of the Conde Nast Traveler magazine. The way the sunlight was coming from the side/back creating interesting shadows and then even illuminating some of the grapes. Two other things came to mind, the Grape Escape which is a fundraiser for Heart House, coming up (my friend is chairing it, so I hear about it daily right now) and one of my favorite watercolor artist in the blogger world, David Lobenberg. He has been blogging about his vineyard experience. He paints with very clear, clean wild colors and has the best sense of humor.