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Archive for the ‘Serendipity’ Category

Warhol Said It Best

Posted in Serendipity, tagged Warhol on December 27, 2015| 1 Comment »

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CREATE!

Posted in Serendipity, tagged create on December 22, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Found on dazeddigital.com

This has been an amazing year at The Studio. While I have done less commission paintings I have done more paintings than ever by teaching. We have had a huge number of Paint Parties. These are the ones where people come and follow along step by step until they create a work of art. Many of the people who attend have never picked up a brush!

I love helping people see that the only magic to painting is the desire to do it!

And if you like your art then it’s good art. You can’t let others determine what is good for you. Enjoy what you do.

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Missing Mamie

Posted in Dogs, Serendipity, tagged Mamie on November 27, 2015| 1 Comment »

Mamie Patriotic Mamie with Boys 1 in Window I can’t let the day pass without saying how much we miss our Miss Mamie. We lost her a year ago and still miss her so much. Love to you Mamie from me and your brothers. We hope you have a toy pig to play with today! (You can read more about her here.)

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Giving Thanks

Posted in daily painter, Serendipity, Small Town Life, The Studio/Classes, tagged thanksgiving on November 26, 2015| Leave a Comment »

11828779_10205119460761261_9001183853342394374_n Today I am giving thanks for all the wonderful things in my life. There are way to many to list. Life is GOOD!

But I do want to make a point to say how thankful I am to have Allen, a wonderful partner, who has encouraged me on this adventure as a full-time artist. His support has meant everything and there is no way I could have been successful without him. And I am thankful that he loves the “Boys” as I do and comes to walk them when my knee is out. 🙂

http://www.thestudioforlearning.com

And I am especially thankful this year for the wonderful, supportive and creative friends, both old and new, who have supported The Studio and made it a place of fun. I love being at The Studio and am so, so grateful that you do too.

Many, many thanks on this Thanksgiving Day.

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Papa

Posted in daily painter, Serendipity, tagged family on November 24, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Big Mama, Papa, Mama, Daddy, Granny and Pop at my parents wedding

Papa and Big Mama, Christmas 1983

Papa in his favorite chair eating cake

Big Mama and Papa at their 50th Anniversary Party

I have written many times about Big Mama who taught me crochet and gave me so many wonderful recipes but I haven’t said much about Papa, her husband. Today would have been his birthday.

Papa, Ephriam Chancey, was a wonderful Christian man who loved his family and his church. He was a carpenter. He served as Sunday School Superintendent at Offerman Baptist Church as well as choir director for many years.

He loved to fish and he and Big Mama went on many fishing trips. He had a quiet humor and was fun to be around. He lost a leg to a blood clot later in life and one of the funniest stories we tell about Papa is about how much he loved sweets. At any large gathering where a covered dish dinner was served (church socials, family reunions, large dinners) we often prepared a plate for him and brought it to him. After the main course he would say to Big Mama, “How about some dessert?” And she would bring it to him. If Mama, Sister or I asked if he needed anything he would say, “I haven’t had any dessert yet”. And he said the same thing to anyone who walked by….often ending up with three or four different desserts…..which made him very happy.

Happy Birthday Papa! Hope you are getting several servings of CAKE!

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Unexpected Painters in Unexpected Place

Posted in Serendipity, Small Town Life, tagged kids holiday art, public art, Town of Front Royal on November 18, 2015| Leave a Comment »

When I arrived at The Studio late yesterday afternoon to set up for Coloring & Cocktails I heard what sounded like a gaggle of excited geese on Main Street. When I walked around the corner to open The Studio door I saw what was making that loud sound. Children! Excited children painting the windows at the Town Administration Building with some fun holiday scenes. These kids are from local elementary schools.

Who knew that a dozen painters could make so much noise!!!

Great job kids. The windows look great! And thanks Town of Front Royal for giving these kids such a public place to show off their art.

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Modigliani Sells for $170.4 Million

Posted in Serendipity, tagged art auction, Modigliani on November 12, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Amedeo Modigliani’s “Nu Couché” (1917-18). Credit via Christie’s

“A painting of an outstretched nude woman by the early-20th-century artist Amedeo Modigliani sold on Monday night for $170.4 million with fees to Liu Yiqian, a former taxi driver turned billionaire art collector, in a packed sales room at Christie’s. It was the second-highest price paid for an artwork at auction.”

“The sale propelled Modigliani into the $100 Million at Auction Club, whose members include Picasso (three times), Bacon, Giacometti (three times), Warhol and Munch.” Read the New York Times article here. Fascinating!

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Happy Birthday Alfred Sisley

Posted in Serendipity, tagged Alfred Sisley, impressionism, impressionist on October 30, 2015| Leave a Comment »

The Lane of Poplars at Moret

Born on this day in 1839 Alfred Sisley spent most of his life in France even though he was a British citizen. He is known as the most consistent of the impressionist painters as he felt that the style suited his needs and his work concentrated mainly on landscapes. Learn more about Sisley here.

Flood at Port-Marly (1876)

Sisley’s “The Lane of Poplars at Moret” has been stolen three times from the Musee des Beaux-Arts in Nice – Once in 1978 when on loan in Marseille (recovered a few days later in the city’s sewers), once in 1998 (in which the museum’s curator was convicted of the theft and jailed for five years along with two accomplices) and in August 2007. On June 4, 2008, the French National Police recovered it and three other stolen paintings from inside a van in Marseilles, France. (From Wikipedia) You can see his complete works here.

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Remembering Sweet Boo

Posted in Dogs, Serendipity, tagged dog, White German Shepherd on October 25, 2015| 4 Comments »

The Beautiful Miss Boo!

Miss Boo in Watercolor

Jeffie, Boo & Truman

Miss Boo

Painting of “Boo Looking Beyond”

Today we are remembering Sweet Boo. She was born on this day in 1990 and was a White German Shepherd that had been abandoned. We adopted her from our shelter years ago. We didn’t get her until she was 12 years old! I know, right? That’s old for a big dog. We brought her home in hopes of giving her nice couple of years. Instead, she gave us a nice couple of years.

She was such a sweet girl. We are so grateful to have had time with her. As a tribute to Boo I would encourage anyone thinking of adopting a pet to consider a senior. Older pets need good homes and they are often the best pet to bring into a busy household because they don’t need housebreaking and training. They just need love and companionship….and they give all of that and more back to you. Think about it.

So today we miss and celebrate sweet “Miss Boo- Bella Boobarina – Princess of Sweetness”!

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Happy Birthday Allen!

Posted in Serendipity, tagged Art Collection, birthday on October 23, 2015| 2 Comments »

We are wishing a Happy Birthday to our sweet Allen. He is the best guy we know. Hope you have the best day ever!

One of Allen’s Cats – Bob

Allen’s Favorite – Chocolate Chip Cookie

Riding the Drive

Flying

Allen is my biggest supporter. He is the one who encouraged me to become a full-time painter. I never would have had the courage to try without his urging and support.