Some days painting brings sanity and peace of mind

Underwater Secrets

Today was one of those days -- after the rush and bother of putting together the Dolls in the City exhibit and trying to keep all the other pieces of my life together --then there was painting. Like most of the paintings I like the most -- and enjoyed doing the most -- it began without a plan, just materials and the freedom to ride.

This one, a return to the beauty of pure color and reminders of oceans with their depths and their mysteries.

Dolls in the City -- Art Exhibit with a message

This is what I put together with some of my most awesome artist friends...Yes, I have one painting in it, too, my "Children of the Night," but it's about the sum total:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8_lLuICVDQ

Debbie Smith -- Doll Maker Extraordinaire, Amandine Drouet --  Sculptress and Photographer, and Maggie Vicki Bethel, Photographer and Mistress of Collage. At the opening, I asked Maggie to lead a group collage project -- and lots of people stopped and participated. It was wonderful to give guests a chance to make art, too.

Material Witness

"I Swear by the Stars Above" -- 30"x22"

"The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth," 30"x22"

Prodded by a juried art exhibit sponsored by Women's Caucus of Art of Georgia, I pulled out a couple of sheets of precious, hand crafted paper I found at Binder's a while ago. With watercolors and India ink , I found myself getting into the blood and guts of crime scenes, thinking of shadowy figures and witnesses who see things they will never forget. Testifying and saying things in a way that will convince a judge and a jury is not always easy, but pictures don't lie.

My very own weird, weird Valentine to loved ones

This is something of a self portrait, but not really. A dog ear on the left side of my head, my kids and folks embedded in my heart. I just wailed on the watercolors and then attacked it with pen and India ink. Fun!

There is no place like Hawaii

I was lucky enough to be in the Islands over the Thanksgiving holiday. There is so much beauty it startles the senses and warms the heart. I woke up mornings and had to make a painting. I brought some watercolors with me and when I wasn't painting I was looking through my lens and taking photographs. Knowing I had to leave, I wanted badly to take some of it home with me.

Change of seasons -- A Halloween Spirit

This morning I finished a painting I've been working on for a couple of nights now. It's got a two-sided feeling to it -- excitement and shadows. I like it. I like it a lot. Would love to hear other opinions besides my own. The dogs really didn't show much interest. FB friends commented, but there is something about that -- here today and gone tomorrow. Who said what?

Hey, I'm famous -- in Roswell and Alpharetta -- maybe

A couple of weeks ago, I walked into the Appen newspaper office on North Main Street and asked the receptionist if they might be interested in a story about my exhibit in the Roswell Cultural Arts Center. Lo and behold, an arts-savvy young reporter, Jonathan Copsey, appeared. We sat down, he interviewed me and the rest is history. He wrote an article my mother will love:

http://www.northfulton.com/Articles-COMMUNITY-NEWS-c-2012-09-12-195008.114126-sub-Roswell-Cultural-Arts-Center-features-local-artist.html