Today’s Post

Messing around with markers and cereal boxes. 

Virginia Preparations

In a few days I fly to Hampton, Virginia for my second Art & Soul event there… this year I’m teaching two classes: Practicing Whimsy and Junk Mail Artist Book. I’m really looking forward to seeing all of the work from these classes… I am so blessed to be able to “teach” like I do, because I LOVE IT!!

As far as vendor night goes, I’m sharing a table with the wonderful Alma Stoller. (I only need half a table because I’m hardly bringing anything at all this time! A few Imaginary Creature paintings—including “Angry Elephant”, above—a handful of Girls prints, and some Coloring Books… that’s it!)

If any of you are in Virginia this weekend, please come and say hi!

This & That

Hello! I’ve fallen silent here the last few weeks, a combination of lots going on and also just not feeling I have anything of note to share, both. But here’s a rundown:

• Wes started track so we have an extra “wiped” 13-year-old around the house… plus I’ve noticed his appetite has increased A LOT (lots of extra trips to the store). Go Wes!
• Natalie gave me an inch-long scratch on my finger this morning. She is such a ferocious tiger…
• My hard drive crashed a week or so ago… kind of annoying but strangely freeing as well. Such is life!
• I am fortunate to have recently signed a contract with Rockport/Quarry to write a book, tentatively titled: “Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists.” Yay.
• I spent six hours last Sunday painting the front porch of our house… we are trying to get it ready to put on the market June 1st… it’s going soooooooo sloooooooooowly!!! 
• I’m working on a few commissioned pieces… here’s part of one!

What is new with you? I hope you are well. Thank you for hanging in there with me!

This is the cutest thing ever…

http://ffffound.com/image/2f76a2b816b78feccce2d0b2b4fc7bb3465014ee

I just got my computer up and running. Talk soon!

*Blech*

Darn. My hard drive crashed and is at the Mac Doctor… I’m HOPING he can retrieve my files! (And a gentle nudge to all of you to back up your files…)

I barely took any photos in my Junk Mail class at Artfest, but I do have some images from Tiphoni’s excellent Watercolor Self Portraits class that I was in… she really pushed me, which was great. Will post those when I get my computer back!

I hope you are all well today!

Imaginary Creatures Class: Part 5

Elephant by Sue Burton.

Above creature by Pat Eberline.

Sleepy hippo by Helen Rice.

______

Phew! I know I missed at least one of yours (Betsy? So sorry!). Thank you to each and every one of you for taking the class!

All images copyright individual artists.

Imaginary Creatures Class: Part 4

More works from the talented Artfest students!

Dog by Jill Holmes

Bird by Lani Gerity.

Pink Dog by Doreen Carscadden.

There’s one more batch coming… all images in this post are copyrighted by the individual artists (and I apologize for not getting your names during the flurry — contact me and I will attribute your work!)

Imaginary Creatures Class: Part 3

All of the above images were created in the Imaginary Creatures class at Artfest 2009; images are of course copyrighted by each artist!

Imaginary Creatures Class: Part 2

Bear and Horse…

Turtle by Jill Holmes.

Elephant and ???

Dog? So sweet!

More incredible work to come! (There were 29 students… it’s taking me awhile!)

All of the above images were created in the Imaginary Creatures class at Artfest 2009; images are of course copyrighted by each artist!

Imaginary Creatures Class: Part 1

Here are some exercises and then a few finished pieces from the class… more to come!! (And artists, please comment or email and I will attribute your work accordingly…)

The above images are from an “ink-blot” exercise in the morning…

Elephant and Octopus by Brenda Beene Shackleford.

Student work: Cat, Dog and Horse.

And the above four are by Sue Hadden.

OMG… aren’t they wonderful??!! More to come!!

All of the above images were created in the Imaginary Creatures class at Artfest 2009; images are of course copyrighted by each artist!