Deeply Rooted

In our Appalachian forest, trees are often revered. Along a ridge line at dawn they salute the day. In late fall and winter, bare trees evoke mystery.

Lately I've been painting trees a great deal using negative painting techniques. I have a lot to learn but have gotten the basics down pat. If only I could invent a camera chip for my eye. Everyday I see trees that blow my mind and want to recall them. Tulip Poplars are one of my favorites.

When I was growing up a family friend told me he was a Druid. I believed him! Of course I was gullible and still am but worshiping trees seemed normal. One painting is called, Deeply Rooted; the other Fanciful Forest. Catch them at ArtWalk in Whitesburg, KY on Dec. 11th.

The Big Picture

Oil painting takes a steady hand and uncluttered mind. Here is Nellie Vanover from our group Art in the Mountains at our Christmas at the Cabin 2009 event. She creates paintings that almost breathe. It is pure joy to watch her paint.

For three days last week I hit the local craft fair circuit. Last year I mostly sold books. This year I sold out of my book and sold two big paintings and a bunch of prints and knick-knacks. It was a series of sales as perfect as one of Nellie's paintings. On Nov. 20, and 21st, I hit the road with my art again and have a store opening on Wednesday where they have asked to display my art. Just wanted my blogging friends to know where I am. Jingle bells, shotgun shells....

Passing It On!

Young hands and minds creating art! This group of 14 kids who visited AAC were amazing. We used masking tape to block out our main images. Loved what they came up with... negative motifs of trees, buildings, flowers, animals, meadows and messages. You have inspired me!

On Display

Feeling froggy here. Today I do a workshop with about 15 homeschoolers at the Appalachian Artisan Center. We have a couple of dazzling projects to play around with. After all, painting with watercolors is mostly play. Lately I've painted for longer stretches in hopes of coming up with amazing work for the ArtWalk show on Dec. 11th. This is a pic from the last ArtWalk. My work is behind this fine sculpture.

My work side is barreling along. After meeting with my publisher in Louisville, I have another new short story collection going. This one is to be... horror in the sports world. Need to do research on this project. The Wide World of Sports... remember those commercials? Sports with monsters, dragons, psychopathic fans or line judges; the sky is the limit.

My novel is in the hands of another publisher. They are kicking it around. Maybe I will score on that one too. Today my Muse is wearing running shoes. How do you keep up the pace?

Being a Sponge

Spent the day in Louisville absorbing culture. We began at the Galt House where I mingled with fellow Blackwyrm authors at the Almost Famous Book Faire. It was thrilling to see books fresh as newly baked bread. Then we went out to find an arts and craft store on Mellwood Ave. What we found instead was this old Fisher Meat Packing plant that has been converted into an array of shops, galleries and bistros. It felt like being in a building designed by Dr. Seuss.

We stumbled into the gallery of the Kentucky Watercolor Society. There a wonderful artist left a little early to allow us to follow her to another art store. She led us to a mini Mecca for artists on Frankfort Ave. Like a sponge, I tried to soak it in. Stocked up on good quality papers. Bought a couple of tubes of paint.

Loved every minute of this day! Can't wait to go back soon.

The Back Way In

Here you see the back entrance to our studio. I found out that this building once was a flower shop. Now everything blooms with art. I have been so busy there that I haven't read many blogs or commented. So today, on Halloween, I'm filling my head with blogs not candy. Believe me, I miss dipping into the well of computer chat every couple of hours. The studio of course has an online computer, but I steer clear of it for now.

So, the weekends may be when I take the back door into blogging. I will read week long posts and soak in the humor and wisdom. Blogs are like protein to me. Gotta have it!

Sit a Spell

Time to get off my feet. This week I worked four long days at the Artisan Center. All in all, I got settled in and practiced some advanced watercolor techniques. Also, I came up with a design for the poem I need to represent in the University of Kentucky at Morehead Ekphrasis show. I practiced writing my own poetry on some mountain designs just for fun. My file cabinet is full of washes in spice jars. Mixing these was like child's play. At the end of the day on Friday, I finally got a painting done of trees and exposed roots that I like.

Working in a studio with other artisans is somewhat distracting but fruitful. We ate lunch together on three days. The cafe had food giveaways on Wednesday for their anniversary. On two different days, couples from Mississippi came in to see our work. One was from Hattiesburg; the other from Natchez. Also we had a group from the Appalachian Regional Commission in Washington D. C., take a tour. Now that doesn't happen every day.

So is it worth it to drive across the county to work in a studio? Had I painted at home, I might have produced a quality piece. Over at the studio, I did six paintings all in various stages of completion. My cup runneth over. I need a long sit outside this weekend to get back to reality.