Dreams III 20 x 16" x 1/2" Acrylic on canvas

I painted this for a class to be next week in Pulaski, TN. You can go to my calendar for details. Or send me a note requesting the flyer for it which I will gladly e-mail to you.

The treasures hidden inside all of us

I think it takes courage to apply paint on the canvas and then put it out there for the world to view; and even more to invite our friends and other artists to critique. The really neat thing is that sometimes we get it right. We'll never know those moments if we don't drum up the courage to try. What hidden treasures are we bringing to the canvas today?
"Do you have the courage to bring forth this work? The treasures that are hidden inside you are hoping you will say YES." by the poet Jack Gilbert

Star of Bethlehem Floral 18"x24" on 1&1/2" gallery wrapped canvas $300

I picked up a pot of flowers at Publix about 6 weeks ago that I don't recall having seen before. It's a bulb called Star of Bethlehem and it bloomed for weeks. It still looka really good even though it has now dried in the pot. I sent a photo to several painters and asked them to paint it for fun. Several of you did and wow are you guys good~! I first painted it in colors that were too similar in value and the urn got lost in the back ground. It doesn't really matter that they were different colors, if they are close to the same on the value scale something gets lost in the delivery. So this afternoon I repainted the back ground and I like it so much better. Hope you enjoy.

Happy Easter

This is painted on an 18" x 24" x 3/4" board. On the left is a rabbit that would look great year round but especially in the spring. The right side of the board is covered in chalk paint so you can write a personal note and change it daily if you like. You can place it on an easel or hang it from a hook that can be placed on the back. I've had a chalk board in my home for years and love the notes left behind especially when little angels have graced my home. A couple of years ago I even painted a door in my kitchen with chalk board paint and love writing motivating notes to myself. This is not for sale but I'd love to help you paint your own in several upcoming classes. I'll post them on the calendar as soon as their scheduled. The first class that is already scheduled is at Grace Pointe Church on Feb. 24th. You can let me know if you'd like to reserve a spot.

Being Creative

So many times in an art class I hear women say: "I'm just not creative".  Today I found a quote by Wolf Kahn  a well respected artist who paints mostly with pastels.  "To be creative....may mean nothing more than the refusal to be habit-ridden".
Many of you know that I am feeling drawn more and more to what I call "impressionistic abstract" work.  I was in a gallery recently when the owner related this story.  She said a gentleman was viewing an abstract painting (one that had not "moved" her).  She said he had tears in his eyes as he told her of the place the painting took his thoughts as he revisited memories.
I think this is what we as artists hope to accomplish everytime we pick up our paints.  That we can help someone re-visit a memory or a place that is special to them.  It's not all about what I see when I paint but what you see when you view what I painted.