Planters Bank, at the Hilldale Branch, supports local artists every month by exhibiting our works in their lobby.  Now until Janyary 30th I have the privilege to share my work with the Clarksville/ Hilldale community at Planters Bank.  I exhibited my pen & inks two years ago at the Bank.  This time I will be sharing all Tennessee Landscapes in watercolors, oils, acrylics and one charcoal.  There are four award winning paintings in the exhibit.

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas was family and friends.  "May the Blessings of Christmas be with you.  May the Christ Child light your way. May God's holy angels guide you., and keep you safe each day" an Irish Blessing.  I'm only a little Irish but when you live in Erin, everyone is Irish at least in March.  Be safe and joyous! 

These are ready to go to the DAC (Downtown Artist Co-op) in Clarksville.  Several artist, including myself, will have all their Bazzar items on SALE for 10% off starting Sunday until Christmas Eve.  Yes, the DAC will be open Christmas Eve and this Sunday.  I'm working the morning shift on Christmas Eve.  

I picked up four new Note Cards from the printers, All four scenes are of Clarksville. I delivered some to the DAC (Downtown Artist Co-op) on Tuesday of this week.  The scenes are, top to buttom, 136 Commerce St., The Old Waterworks Building (looking at it from Liberty Park), The Sigma House at APSU, and the Upland Trail (Greenway in Town).  You can pick them up at the DAC on 96 Franklin ST., Downtown Clarksville, TN

Pen and Ink with watercolor wash and some color pencil. This drawing is of a tree that is on our property at the creek.  It's another small drawing 6" x 9" . For this drawing I did the ink first and then the wash and color pencil.  

This pen and ink I layed in the color wash first (with the image in mind) then I drew the shapes and into the shapes.  I exaggerated the colors.  I'm going to add some more shadows and then call it quits.  I did this drawing while on Amtrak last May, I think it's time to finished it up.

One of the first practices you learn in any art class or workshop, etc. is to always step away from your work.  As you work, you get too close to it and you can miss design malfuctions.  The pen  & ink of the" lime kiln" I shared two days ago is an excellent example of just that.  I was paying too much attention to my photo I took, I didn't stop and look. It resulted in a poor drawing.  I posted the drawing and when I published the site, there it was for me to see, BIG AS LIFE.  The tree with leaves were coming out of my kiln like smoke. Or a vase with a poor flower arrangment.  The viewer's eye goes right up and off the page.  Design elements, must be considered to make your drawings better.  I needed my kiln to be the point of interest and not share it with the tree .  The shape of the leaves followed the shapes of the kiln, making it one shape and not an interesting one.  I went in and made the leaves an interesting shape that guides the eyes through out the design of the drawing.  

I started this one last week and got busy with all the Holiday Craft shows.  I wanted to finish it before the Erin Show, but I didn't.  So I worked on it at the craft show. It is one of the Lime Kiln that were deserted in the 1940s. The Lime industry started in the Erin area about 1870.  The drawing is small, 6" x 9" ( that size seems to sell well in this area). I enjoyed doing it, I do enjoy doing the pen and inks, it my first love. It is for sale if you're interested,.
more about the kilns and the lake, some beautiful photos
www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/12377229913/in/photostream/

Everyone had a fun time at the Houston County Christmas Arts & Crafts Show. The entertainment was very good, especially this guy who entertains at my house all the time.  Yes, my husband was there with his dulcimber group.  I also had a visit from my best friend  from Clarksville, I loved seeing her and visiting with her.
I sold a lot of note cards, minis and ornaments.  It was truely a wonderful day and I won a country ham!!!!