I retired from teaching and I wanted to do MY ART .  I just couldn't get motivated to do it.   A artist friend told me, if I wanted to get serious about my art, I had to get a studio away from the house.  So I did.  Then came the website a few months later, the end of April 2011. 

I still wasn't as committed to MY ART, but I loved the Tannery Row Artist Colony where I had my studio!  Then in August 2011,  I was told I had CANCER, medullary thyroid carcinoma.  They removed my Thyroid and I was fine, all was well. It was a wake up call, a big scare, so I got busy doing My ART!  
Here is something I wrote on my blog just before the surgery:
I  decided to commit  . . . . . to get myself  motivated to do my art.  I’ve  painting more than ever but not what my inner self wants to paint.   I’ve done a lot of landscapes when I want to do painting with feeling,  something that touches someone and makes them think. 
 . . . .  
Well, I'm getting closer but I'm not where I want to be yet or maybe I should reevaluate my goals. The paintings at the top are some that I consider have meaning.  

The workshop was great, Don Andrews is a wonderful instructor.  I would say one of the best I've ever had.  He's great teaching color and putting the human form into a landscape.  I learned so much in five days. His explanation of color harmony was the best I've ever heard.  He also has online classes on his website: https://www.donandrewsstudio.com/#/ Watching him paint the figures in the landscape was actually entertaining,  I wanted to paint a crowd into just any space. 

David did get the camper ready to go for me and I enjoyed having it.  I get migraines (hemiplegic) and I suffer with trigeminal neuralgia which triggers the migraines, they think!  The camper is a small toy hauler with few window and it can get very dark inside even in the day light.  It's also well insulated so it's extremely quiet in there. When I feel bad on a trip or during a workshop, I can always find a dark  place to go and lay down, yes it's air conditioned.  It's also is so easy to clean.  The floor is Teflon coated so my paint comes right up.  The camper has a bathroom and a kitchen and then the back in a roomy box.  The bunks/ couches  fold up on the sides and the floor is wide open. The back lets down and you can load your bikes, motorcycles, kayaks, etc. I load up my, air mattress,  rocking chair, art easel and art supplies.  You can make the ramp into a little patio because there is a screen (tent like) that lets down to keep the bugs out and allow privacy .  It works out great for me.  David says that most women would hate my camper but I love it.  It's not fancy or not pretty.   I allows me to paint and draw and be left alone.   

I wanted David to get the camper ready for me to use again, but it's not working.  So I thought I would place a few pics of the camper to help him remember the fun times we had traveling.  I have to admit, I used the camper more than he did because I used it for workshops,  I miss it.  It worked out so well for me to paint and work in.   I'll let you know if it works but I'm not holding my breath.  .  

I'll be headed to Milan, TN for my annual learning workshop through the GCVAA (Gibson County Visual Arts Association).  I leave Sunday! Don Andrews will be teaching the week long workshop in Watercolor!  I'm not as familiar with his artwork but I've never been disappointed with any of the workshops I've taken through GCVAA.  These workshops take me out of my comfort zone and are always challenging in many ways.  The group of artists that attend annually are amazing and it's always so good to see them each year.  I did miss not seeing everyone last year. 

Also, David might get the old camper up and going again for me to use it.  I love the toy hauler for these workshops.  I can make a mess and hoses it out. I'm so looking forward to my trip. 

I went down to our creek and the blue bells are so beautiful this year.  There's a few red buds still and the dogwoods are gorgeous.  I had a few blue bells last year and a friend gave me several to plant.  They all came back this year and they are so pretty.  I love this time of year.  I like to go plein air painting (in the open air) this time of year and in the fall when it's nice out.  The painting above was painted 8 years ago in Chattanooga, TN.  at the Reflections Riding Nature Center.   If you are in the area you need to at least drive through it.  ​https://www.reflectionriding.org/www  I'll be painting plein air again tomorrow in Clarksville with the DAC Plein Air Painters.  
Two more pics from Chattanooga plein air trip:

Delivered this commissioned piece a week or so ago.  It was to be a gift.
It's done in Acrylic and is 18" x 24".  There is a huge wooded area in front of the front yard (shadows in the foreground are from the trees).  It's a beautiful area in Tennessee.  The house sits up in this large clearing and more woods are in the back.  Trees, Trees beautiful trees. 

The photo isn't the best, I used my phone and in a hurry!

The Opening Reception is Thursday, April 9th from 5-8 pm!  

I started this pen and ink yesterday while waiting to get my car serviced.  I finished it up today!  I go past these trees every time I go to my studio.  Last year, I stopped and photographed them.  I am so glad I did, a storm blew down the large tree soon after.  Now, when I go by it's just sad!  
I carry a little drawing kit with me for when I have appointments where I have to sit and wait.  The drawing is 9" x 6"!

Six plein air painters met at 9am to paint at Rotary Park today.  It was great seeing our painting buddies after a year!  We had a new artist join us and I'm hoping she enjoyed it and will be back next week.  I loved it but I was a little nervous about it .  It's just so different from painting in the studio.  I managed to get a good start on a watercolor, which I'll finish in the studio.  We finished at a little after 12. 

After I painted, I had to get my car serviced.  I always take my pen and ink with me.  I started one and almost finished it.  I'll finish it at the studio too!  All in all, it was a great day for friends, painting and drawing.