Puppy Love
February 15, 2010
Puppy Love, ©2010, 12″ x 14″, watercolor on paper
After seeing a photo of this little lady and her puppy, I wanted to do a painting. Aside from her cute and sophisticated look, I thought this would be a good exercise in watercolor painting and would allow me to continue to learn techniques. Her crocheted dress presented a challenge. But, I am pleased with the overall results.
Puppy Love has been accepted into the Arlington Visual Arts Association 34th Annual Juried Regional Exhibition. The artwork will be on display from February 12, 2010 - March 26, 2010 at the Bob Duncan Center at Vandergriff Park, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington Texas.
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Watermedia Workshop, Myrtle Beach South Carolina
January 16, 2010
Last November, I flew into Charleston, South Carolina to meet with my friend, watercolorist, Andrea Hazel. After I visited with a few friends, we headed for Myrtle Beach for a 5 day watermedia workshop. From Abstraction to Realism Through Design was taught by John Salminen, NWS-DF, AWS. The workshop focused on using design principles and elements (line, color, value, etc) to create stronger paintings. The first 4 days were spent developing an abstract painting using watercolor and collage. John conducted mini lectures and demos each day. Afterward, we would go to our work tables and apply what we had learned to our paintings.
Monday and Tuesday evening after dinner, there were 
lectures by instructors Don Andrews and Mary Ann Beckwith. Wednesday evening there was a Studio Walk Around. All of the studios were open so students from the 5 classes could see each others works in progress. Thursday evening we had free admission to Burroughs Chapin Art Museum. One of the exhibits was 25 Years of Jonathan Green: Selections from the Barbara Burgess-John Dinkelspiel Collection of Southern Art.
On the last day, John critiqued our work. We prepared our paintings for the evening exhibit and reception. Overall, it was a very positive experience. Five intense days immersed in painting in the company of artists from all over the United States and Canada. I developed a greater understanding of the principles and elements of 
design, which are a basis for both abstract and realistic art. I will make a conscious effort to apply them in my future artwork.
The Springmaid Watermedia Program offers 3 weeks of workshops during the spring and fall. The workshops are held at the Springmaid Beach Resort on the Atlantic Ocean. The workshop fee included our room and meals in Marlin’s Restaurant cafeteria at the resort.
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My Son the Biker
December 23, 2009
My Son the Biker, ©2009, 16″ x 12″, watercolor on paper
This is my son on his 1993 Honda CBR 600F2 motorcycle, which he purchased in January 2009. I liked the areas of blue in my reference photo. Since the bike is black, I assume that the blue is a reflection from the sky. I intensified the blue and included it in the shadows. My Son the Biker is a birthday gift that serves as a memory of this bike which has already been sold and replaced with another bike.
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Guitar Journey
November 11, 2009
My mis-adventure in learning to play the guitar.
I’ve always wanted to learn to play an instrument. My first choice was the piano. But, I thought the guitar would be more portable. Guitar Journey was inspired by both the fun and frustration of learning to play the guitar. In the painting the triangular shapes represent guitar picks. The words to a song are on the black picks. These are the words on the yellow picks and guitar that describe my adventure:
I thought I wanted to play the guitar. After 1 lesson, I could play This Little Light of Mine. Kim, my instructor loaned me one of her guitars. After 2 weeks of practicing; picking with my right hand and E, A and B-chords with my left hand, the fingertips on my left hand were sore and numb. Eventually, calluses would form. I said, No way, I’ll try the piano.
Guitar Journey is a combination of acrylic and paper collage on gessoed watercolor paper. It will be in the 9 x 12 Works on Paper Exhibit. Artwork in this exhibit must be mailed in a 9″ x 12″ envelope. The exhibit will be at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, 1300 Gendy, Fort Worth TX 76107, from December 4, 2009 – December 26, 2009.
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Arts Goggle, A Near Southside Experience
October 10, 2009
On Saturday October 3, 2009, I participated in an event in Fort Worth, Texas called Arts Goggle. It was sponsored by Fort Worth South, Inc., which focuses on the revitalization of Near Southside Fort Worth. Businesses allowed artists to display their artwork. Local people go from business to business looking at artwork, listening to music and feasting on hors d’oeuvres and wine. Five artists, including myself, were assigned to Hanger Prosthetics. The event was from 3PM – 10PM. I spent some of that time working on a painting, Sweetgrass Hat and Magnolia #21, which is part of my South Carolina Lowcountry Series. I finished the 8″ x 10″, oil on canvas at home.
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Finding Shelter Wins an Award
September 15, 2009
Finding Shelter, ©2010, 10″ x 8″, watercolor on paper
Finding Shelter, which deals with the plight of refugees from Darfur, Sudan, was accepted into the Grand Prairie Arts Council Annual Juried Art Show. It won the 3rd Place Award in the Acrylic/Watercolor Category. The exhibit will be on display at the Grand Prairie Memorial Library, 901 Conover Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas, from September 13 – September 26, 2009.
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Connections Traveling Exhibit
March 03, 2009
Last year, I had the privilege of participating in a traveling exhibit sponsored by The South Carolina National Heritage Corridor. The Connection was exhibited in 5 cities in South Carolina and Barbados West Indies. It explored the settlement of The Colony of Charles Towne in 1670, and the influence of Barbados on Charleston an
d other areas of the South Carolina Lowcountry. My paintings dealt with African American history and the cultivation of indigo as a cash crop. Indigo Lady was purchased when The Connection was on display in Beaufort SC. I was asked to put a second painting in the exhibit, Basketlady #16 With Indigo Scarf, which traveled to Barbados West Indies. The exhibit was on tour from December 2007 – December 2008.