Paintings of People Show Venice Art Center, Venice, Fl

This is a series of paintings that I did from a trip to the Market in Charleston, SC. I went with the ladies from All About Art in Sun City Hilton Head, SC. When I returned, I used the photos that I had taken in the market to compose these paintings. They are composites of the women who were weaving.

One of the sad things that I learned was that the art of weaving these sweet grass baskets is dying with the generations, as the young women do not want to learn the craft. Another sign of changes in our plant.

These baskets are made from the grasses that grow in the low country of South Carolina and are part of the heritage of this great nation.

Hopefully these paintings will get into the show next week. But I certainly did enjoy painting them and recording the feelings and attitudes of these wonderful Gullah Women.

We also went to a Gullah Festival in Beaufort, SC to enjoy more of the traditions of the people of this area. There was great gospel music, local food and crafts. It was one of the highlights of the summer.

Holiday Party with the Women Contempary Artists, WCA. I am the one in the middle in the red. We each brought art projects for children in the Sarasota County, Florida, Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center SPARCC. WE got them wrapped in clear plastic bags to be delivered this week for their Christmas. Glad we were able to do this with all the things from China being recalled this will give some children a small surprise for Christmas

Painting from Last week's class

Did this little painting in the sweetest garden, the community gardens for Nokomis and Venice, Fl. The weather was wonderful and the flowers and vegetables were great. It is amazing what blooms down here on the Sun Coast during the winter. While others are under snow it is our spring and summer. Wonderful pentas, butterfly plants and numerous others. What a treat.

New Painting from Plein Air Class

Went to Carlton Preserve , a Sarasota County Park, near Venice, Fl. yesterday and did this little painting of the open space. It was a beautiful day, a little chilly for Florida, but great in the sun. The birds and insects were out and it was a wonderful experience.,

Finished this small acrylic painting yesterday at a Paint out for Alzheimer's. It was at a local retirement assisted living facility in Venice Florida. The turn out was about 30 local Plein Air Artists from the area. They provided us with an extremely delicious lunch and after there was an cocktail wet paint sale with invited guests. Four paintings sold and I was honored to be one of them. So it was a very productive day. Has any one else done one of these paint outs?

I entered this painting at the Venice Art Center Abstract show. It is an acrylic "Cannas No 1". opening is tomorrow. Hoping for the best.

First Blog

This is my first blog, but I hope that this will be a journal of my art life.
Complete with paintings , feelings, questions and hopes and dreams that I will be able to share with other artists. I have looked at many blogs out there and they all give something that is good and should be shared. As artists, we are often separate and alone in our life and studios. Here we are able to share our hopes and dreams, as well as our fears and questions.

I hope to make some friends and share ideas.