Carolina Elizabeth

Our snow days have been perfect for getting much painting done. Some of my students will be studying the Civil War and African American art of the time. I found a quilt online created by Harriet Powers and wanted a poster to show them, instead of just a quick powerpoint picture. So, Ezri and I made a painting similar to it on a large canvas. I changed things around a little bit, but I still want the children to get the idea of Harriet's applique quilts. We had so much fun Ezri painted the below by herself. I love them both. Alexia is preparing work for contests. I will have to share that later. On my easel right now… The problem with wanting to create a painting a day is that I work on several at one time, but I am still painting every day. If you are not currently recieving Art Splash , you are missing out. Here is some of the information Melyn sent out this month. January 2010 Annual Juried Art Show at Studio 107 Studio 107 in Ardmore has this art show exhibit January 20 to Febru...

I've been catching up on TV lately, specially enjoying OETA's Art:21 . My favorite artist, well I should say the artist that I drew the most from was the talented Kerry James Marshall. He recalled how he was impacted by the introduction to Charles White. What stood out was that he noticed how ugly great art can look before "it was brought to the point of refinement". He also mentioned that he enjoys looking at artwork that is unfinished, because it shows that it is not by magic that art is made, rather through hard labor and time. This of course, means I must get back to work and remember to labor with patience. I watched ART:21 through NetFlix, which I absolutley love!

Nandina, I Oil on Canvas 4"x6" A Painting a Day? That is my New Year's resolution. This is practice for it. The OKCPS Fine Arts Department met last week at Gail Sloop's home, a wonderful artist and friend. Gail had some beautiful berries for decoration. They are so very festive. The next day I found a bush in front of my eye doctor's building and they were so kind to share a few branches with me. It's amazing how things work out that way. My plan was to use it for a still life for the kids to draw, but we ran out of time, so I brought them home. The little green ceramic piece is one that I purchased at the City Arts Center Pottery sale. I still have to work on it. I don't know why my shadow, among other things looks a bit off. I'll finish it before the Christmas and place on Ebay along with other paintings. I am very thankful that you have visited my blog throughout the year and left or e-mailed me your wonderful comments. They have been extremely del...

Pomegranate , I 6"x6" Oil on Linen Queen Elizabeth's Hips Oil on Linen 4"x6" A few years ago I planted a rose bush with enormous pink roses called “Queen Elizabeth”. Aside from the name, I chose it for its luscious orangey-red rose hips which I thought would look wonderful in a painting. The rose bush is planted in front of the house where every time I passed it, I noticed this one last rose hip. It stood out among all the dark greens and browns of winter, calling me to record its existence on canvas, and so I did. I am still working on it, along with the pomegranate and a painting of red berries, but I wanted to share it with you while wishing you very happy holidays.

Life is wonderful! I had a great day at school today. The kids were specially good and created beautiful work. I had my committee meeting and it went pretty well. Woo! Alexia had her guitar concert at Harding Fine Art and everyone sounded like heaven. It is an awesome program that they are growing at the school. WSe are very fortunate that she attends school there! For icing on this incredibly yummy cake, I get home and find out I was the winner of a drawing. I won a glorious enameled ring created by Danielle Embry , an artist whose work I absolutely love! Danielle’s work has appeared in publishing such as Metalsmith, Exhibition in Print and 500 Enameled Objects. She uses natural objects as her inspiration, but her genius shows in her way of portraying them in contemporary designs. It is as though the eyes and mind dance between the familiar organic items that they’ve seen before and something that is alien or fantastical. I wanted to share with you my great news! I love to hear yours....

Art & Culture Series at the JRB Sunday, December 6, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm the JRB is hosting a TEA & GALLERY TALK by Charleen Weidell & Barbara Broadwell Professors of Art, University of Central Oklahoma Curators of FUNCTIONAL & SCULPTURAL TEAPOTS exhibition. I can't wait. All the "I have to's" will have to wait! I hope to see all of you there!

No, I did not really spend my birthday with Donald Longcrier, rather I spent some time celebrating by viewing his work. Let me explain. This weekend was the weekend after my thirty-fifth birthday. Although the birthday itself was not the best, the weekend more than made up for it. I went to the Farmer’s Market and got an orchid-my favorite flowers. You can see them above. They are even more mesmerizing in person. Then I snuck into the City Arts Center for the pottery sell at and got a few pieces that I had to come home with me. The prices that they had made me feel that I was almost pirating them. They are great pieces for which find a home around my home and can be added to other items in a still life painting I plan to start this coming weekend. While at City Arts, I walked through Donald Longcrier's exhibit. It made up for all the events that went wrong on my birthday (starting with my car not wanting to start). It was one of the most peaceful experiences I have had in a long ...