Small Town Life | The Studio

Archive for the ‘Small Town Life’ Category

A Paint Out

Posted in Small Town Life, tagged Blue Ridge Arts Council, daily painter, impressionism, Landscape, Paint Out, Shenandoah Valley, Small Town Life, Virginia Artist on September 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday afternoon I attended an event for the Blue Ridge Arts Council (BRAC) here in Front Royal. This event is held every other year and several artists are invited to paint on location while attendees watch their progress. Then the painting is auctioned off for the benefit of BRAC.

Here is Michelle Summers hard at work.

And Charlie Logan….

And Elizabeth Sholder working on her painting.

Kathy Chumley working on a wonderful piece.

And Wilson Webb with a gorgeous painting of the trees with the house in the background.

And I didn’t catch Chris Stephens at the easel but this is his painting. Terrific!

The event was enjoyed by a large crowd who munched on wonderful food provided by local businesses including our great friend Katie Tewell of The Apple House. Many thanks to everyone who helped make the event a success and for supporting the Blue Ridge Arts Council and local art.

Read Full Post »

Plum Jelly Time

Posted in Small Town Life, tagged daily painter, fruit, jelly, jelly making, plums on August 24, 2010| 1 Comment »

It’s plum time again. Last week while at the cabin, the boys and I walked past the plum trees everyday and when we got ready to leave we picked enough to make jelly.

I enjoy making jelly and jams and plum is one of my favorites. I posted the process when I made jelly last year. You can see it here. (You can even see Truman in the final picture. We miss him.)

Now to paint the picture….

Read Full Post »

Helping Haiti

Posted in daily painter, Small Town Life, tagged acrylic, daily painter, Haiti, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Artist, volunteer, volunteer work on August 20, 2010| Leave a Comment »

The Blue Ridge Arts Council (BRAC) is helping with a Haiti project for schools. There are several really large wooden boxes that they have asked to have painted that will be filled with supplies for school children and delivered soon. Our job, as volunteer artists, is to paint them in fun and exciting ways. I am working on a checkerboard top for one of the boxes.

Another artist worked on painting a scene on the box. These should be finished very soon and will be on the way to Haiti to aid the children there.

Read Full Post »

Strasburg Art Walk

Posted in daily painter, Small Town Life, tagged Art Walk, daily painter, daily painting, impressionism, Landscape, oil painting, Shenandoah Valley, Strasburg, Strasburg VA on July 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

As I mentioned last week, I was invited to paint in Strasburg Friday at their first Art Walk. It happened to coincide with their annual Fireman’s Carnival Parade so there were loads of people downtown to watch the parade and they watched me paint.

You can see the progression of the work here. Also, I had help from a few young people in selecting which picture they wanted me to paint.

And they even helped me put the finishing flowers in the painting. I think they enjoyed it almost as much as the parade!

And the painting was about 90% finished by the time I left. Finishing touches will go on this week and then I’ll post again.

Read Full Post »

Twins!

Posted in Small Town Life, tagged daily painter, deer, fawns, Virginia, Virginia Artist on July 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »

There are the cutest twins in our neighborhood. Jed and I see them daily when we take our early morning walk. A few days ago I caught this shot of them with their mom in front of my neighbor, Clara’s house. She waters early and they like the morning drink.

They, along with about a dozen other deer, we see on a regular basis in the yard. It’s sad that they don’t have a better place to live. I’m worried that the little ones will get hit by a car driving by. Hopefully people will be on the lookout for them.

Read Full Post »

Show Comes Down

Posted in Abstract, daily painter, Small Town Life, tagged Abstract, abstract art, acrylic, Blue Ridge Arts Council, daily painter, Gallery Show, Small Town Life, Virginia Artist on June 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »

It’s always exciting when a show goes up but the coming down is kind of sad.

This was my favorite piece in “Minds Wide Open” abstract show that just ended at the Blue Ridge Arts Council.

Now to find a place for all these large paintings.

Maybe some will go to Delilah’s….and some may go to other shops.

The gallery is so empty and sad. Good thing that the Arts Council member show goes up this week. It’s a terrific show featuring new work by arts council members. Don’t forget to stop in and see it. The opening reception will be Thursday at 5:00….same night as the Art Walk downtown. Plan to come down for a great evening of art!

Read Full Post »

Company Comes

Posted in daily painter, Small Town Life, tagged company, daily painter, Dogs, family, overnight guests on June 7, 2010| 1 Comment »

My niece Morgan and sister-in-law Debbie rolled in Saturday evening for an overnight. They go to their cottage in Maine for the summer and my house is half-way along the route so I am the wayside stop for them. 🙂 Jed is thrilled it works out that way as you can see he and Morgan have a mutual admiration society going.

Their little dog Tam, a Westie, and two cats, Star and Stripes, are with them too. Tam is a cute little guy but has had a couple of health issues and he has been licking his leg. His mean mama, my sister-in-law, puts a cone on his head to make him not lick at night. He looks pitiful.

While Tam had the cone on head, he came into my bedroom and looked into the bathroom and saw himself in the mirror and started growling and barking….and wouldn’t stop. He thought that dog looked weird too! Poor little Tam. Hopefully his leg will heal soon and he won’t have to be a conehead any longer.

Jed and I will be looking forward to the return trip in August. On the return they will stay a few nights and maybe Tam won’t be a conehead any more!

Read Full Post »

A Fun Evening!

Posted in daily painter, Small Town Life, tagged 3rd Thursday Art Walk, Abstract, abstract art, acrylic, Art Walk, daily painter, Small Town Life on May 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

The Art Walk last night was great fun. Many different people helped to paint the two canvases that I had down at the Blue Ridge Arts Council. There were three other locations where people were painting as well.

Here are some of the artist hard at work!!!

Be sure to mark your calendar for the 3rd Thursday in June and come down and join us on Main Street.

Read Full Post »

3rd Thursday Art Walk

Posted in daily painter, Small Town Life, tagged 3rd Thursday Art Walk, Abstract, abstract art, acrylic, art lessons, Art Walk, daily painter, daily painting, Shenandoah Valley, Small Town Life, Virginia Artist on May 20, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Join us from 5-8 p.m. tonight for the 3rd Thursday Art Walk. I will be painting at the Blue Ridge Arts Council and I invite you to join me. Tonight’s theme is “Minds Wide Open” and we will be working on abstract pieces…and you can join in. I’ll have all the supplies. You just come ready to paint!!!

And abstract doesn’t always mean non-representational. As you can see here there is a representational element to abstract art as well. Come on down and see more.

Read Full Post »

A Great Festival

Posted in daily painter, Small Town Life, tagged daily painter, daily painting, Festival, impressionism, oil painting, Virginia, Virginia Artist, Virginia wineries, Wine Festival on May 17, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Saturday was a beautiful day for a festival and we had a great one downtown Front Royal. The Wine & Craft Festival brought lots of people to Main Street and many stopped by to see us at Delilah’s.

And I worked on several paintings that day. I even had a couple of children who helped paint a little.

I used to get really nervous painting in front of others but now that I have done it so often it doesn’t bother me. I enjoy it in fact. People generally have interesting questions about painting and are very encouraging.

We had a drawing for those who came into Delilah’s to register and this was our winner. Sheron Nicodemus from Richmond was the lucky one and this was the painting she selected. I got to spend a few minutes chatting with Sheron and she was just delightful. Congratulations!