THANK YOU, Clarksville Athletic Club for exhibiting my artworks now until the end of August.  The athletic club has a hall gallery displaying 10 of my artworks mostly related to Clarksville and over half were done on location (plein Air) in Rotary Park, Liberty Park, downtown and other areas. ​Thanks to CAC for being community minded and supporting the ARTS in Clarksville, TN. 

Last Friday I framed these three small pen and inks with watercolor washes and two  larger ones to go to the DAC for July. The ones above are each 5" x 7" and in a 10 inch frames.  I also framed two 11" x 14"  with  a 6" x 9" color pencil and another pen & ink with wash.  I wanted to get some new work in at the DAC and bring some of my other works back to the studio.  The art walk is the first Thursday of the month in downtown Clarksville, TN.  There is always a nice crowd with wonderful food.  So come on out Thursday,July 7th from 5-8pm for the Clarksville Downtown Art Walk. Stop by the DAC first and we can tell you some of the other galleries to visit. 

Since I volunteer one morning a week and I join a group I like to paint with on Monday mornings, I've decided on trying regular hours at the studio.  Two in the afternoon until 6:00pm.  I don't know how it's going to work out.  I was doing very well until my air conditioner started freezing up. Around four o'clock it gets really warm in the studio.  All last week I left early. I'm suppose to get a new air conditioner but until then, the little sign ion my door my have to be retired.  It's hard keeping regular hours sometimes, something is always popping up.  

Follow DAC artist  Larry Richardson  presented a guided tour of his Cumberland River paintings today during  the museum’s monthly Art & Lunch program.  I was surprised to see so many people I knew at the gathering. Aritsts from the DAC were there and some fellow Erin folks. Larry had a full house and I enjoyed his artwork and his presentation today.  Larry's artwork is now on display in the Kimbrough Gallery at the Custom House Museum in Clarksville, TN. until July 31, 2016.

My wonderful husband is the reason I can do what I love to do.  His support through out our lives together allowed me to study art.  While I was a teacher, he helped me load up student artwork, help hang and take down shows.  He has worked beside to make my classroom better for the kids. He's helped me mat artwork for my senior show to student artwork going to county shows.  He has moved me five times into and out of studios.  He loads my heavy framed artwork for exhibits, helps hang and helps bring them down just to reload them back into the truck.. He has build display platforms for student works to my works.  He has hung signs, repaired building and stood beside me during my art shows and student shows and smiles the whole time. And this is the big one, he goes with me to art museums and acts like he loves it.  Most of the time, I think he does because he never rushes me .Thank you David and Happy Father's Day.

I still can't share my commission piece ! but It will be leaving the studio to go to the frame shop and then to settle into a new home.  I love it, it turned out really nice.The photo above in a charcoal drawing of a model I did about a year ago at Warehouse 521 in Nashville.  A group of artists pay a model to come in so we can work from life. It's a great place.  

The watercolor commission has one more step to go before it's finished.  I'll Ink it tomorrow!!  With watercolor I always I have a little downtime between steps to let the paint dry.  I did the tiny painting yesterday while waiting for the painting to dry.  They were a lot of fun to do, especially the horses.  These are minis, about the size of a business card only a little wider. They make nice gifts for shut- ins and hospital patients  I like to keep several here at the studio and some upstairs at the DAC. You can put them on an easel or use them as refrigerator magnets. I want to get here early tomorrow so I can finish the commission and start something new.. I've enjoyed my day.

The commission piece I'm working on is doing very well, The gouache worked perfectly.I didn't have to "can" the second painting, yet!.  I was able to save the painting in time for my client to stop by and tell me which direction to go next.  It's a watercolor painting and she decided she wants to add just a little ink for accents.  I was hoping she would go with the ink. I love working with ink.  It gives the painting a crispness I like. The painting should leave here Friday, but I don't know when she will present it as a gift.  I wish I could share it but I can't just yet.

I was looking up while I was typing the first paragraph and the photo above is what I see.  Pen and Ink drawings I've done, one is an 18"x24", that's a big pen and ink. Mark marking, why do I love to do it.  why do I draw?  I've always been able to draw. When I went to school in 1st grade, the other students were amazed.  They would ask me to draw pictures for them.  It got me a lot of attention and I loved drawing for them.  Making the marks that build into shapes and forms.  The contour lines that say so much about the subject. I build up the marks and layer them carefully to tell the viewer something about what I want to share.  

I've been at the studio to work on the commission and I sitting here waiting for it to dry, so I can get busy again.  It's been a great day at the Studio.  

This poster has been with me for at least 20 years.  I looked at it today and just stare at it.  Yes, I messed up on the commission.  I hope to be able to repair it but if not, it's plan "C".  This is the second one I've done.  I've already messed up one.  I'm hoping it can still be the last one.  I covered the area with gouache and I'll see what I can do tomorrow or Monday!  I'm a little up set, but the third one will go quicker.  I sat the painting aside, and cleaned the studio.  Doesn't it look nice. 

Since Father's Day is around the corner and I haven't been able to get to the studio to work. I thought I might share paintings I've done for Motorcyclist's. My husband enjoys motorcycling and I rode behind him for years and loved it, until I got hurt.  I laid down my son's bike, in the grass and I got my legs really messed up.  I was 42 years old and it hurt so bad.  When I was 32, I did the same thing only on a tiny little Honda bike when he was 7 years old.  I got hurt riding with my husband three times (minor, but it still hurt).  The third time at age 59 I called it quits, I felt like the good Lord was trying to tell me something - stay off the bike.  Hey I'm not great on a bicycle either.   Sometimes, when the weather is gorgeous, I can almost feel the wind on my face and smell of honey suckle, and fresh cut hay or grass, I miss riding so much. So, I go get in my PT Cruiser Convertible, put the top down and ride, but you don't feel the curves like you do on a bike.  I miss it!