Impressionist's Poppies
There are many days as a painter when I spend a great deal more time on marketing and promotion than I ever do on painting. Yesterday was one of those days.
I spent the morning with a group of ladies from the Garden Club in Front Royal, where I did a demonstration for them and talked about painting and what it is like to sell art for a living. They were a delightful group of ladies and we were hosted at a the lovely home of Jean Orsi. While doing the demo on the screened in porch at the back of her home we got an unexpected surprise. A HUGE black bear went running across the yard and over the fence into the woods behind her home. What a shock! And he was big! I wish I could have taken a photo but I had brushed in hand instead of my camera. Darn.
Many thanks to Darlene Goldman for inviting me to speak to your lovely group of ladies. It was great fun for me.
Set up to Demo
And since yesterday was the 3rd Thursday, it was Art Walk Night in Front Royal and I set up to do a demonstration at Delilah’s Art & Gifts on Main Street. It was very hot outside last night so I set up inside. I couldn’t decide what to paint so since I had the palette from the morning’s demo, I decided to do another version of the poppies that I had painted for the Garden Club.
The good news is that we had a lot of people come out for the art walk last night. It was a great crowd. And thanks to all who came into Delilah’s.
It’s always fun when little ones come with their parents. I was painting and this young lady came in with her folks and she was obviously a little tired but when I asked her if she would like to try painting she immediately said yes!
So her dad helped her stand on the stool and she took the brush and went to work.
She wasn’t bashful at all about putting the brush to canvas….
And I always like getting a little help with my work! Thanks!
“View from the River Bridge” is an oil on canvas panel measuring 9″x12″. I started this painting several weeks ago as a lesson in the Wednesday night art class. We did the landscape work with the fields, mountain and river. Then when I brought it home and looked at it for awhile I decided that it needed something more. The photo I used was one I snapped while driving along. (See the photo by clicking this link. 
One of the hardest things to deal with as a pet owner is when one of the babies we love so much is frightened by thunderstorms. I’ve had a couple of dogs that have thunder fear. 
My “boys” are always thrilled when they come because Morgan has loved them forever. Especially Truman. She came to see him the first day he came to live with me when he was 5 1/2 weeks old and she was just 6 years old. 
And ever since she has squeezed, and kissed, and hugged, and anything else you can do to love an old basset hound.
Jed is learning how much fun it can be too when he sleeps in the bed with her. He knows that he is not allowed under the covers but when Morgan is here he jumps right in, knowing that it will be all right. (Look how grown up Morgan is now!)
Truman knew that he wasn’t allowed to lay on the quilts and sheets but because we had company, he took advantage.
And because Truman was so tired from doing all the things he is not suppose to do, Tam had to take up the watch out post on top of the sofa to guard us all from whatever might show up in the front yard to bother us. He did a good job!
And just because we always have, Morgan and I played dress up with Truman one night. We found a prissy rose collar that once belonged to Rosie and we decided to put it on Truman’s head. 
…But only because he was very tired. Having company really wears an old boy out.
Isabella is my private student. She comes once a week and we work in acrylics. She’s a very quick study and has done some really nice little paintings.
Here she is hard at work.
Here is a sunflower for Carol Ann! It’s her birthday and sunflowers are her favorite. Happy Birthday!
Tug of war is their favorite game and Jed thinks he is as big as they are. He says, “It’s hard to be a Great Dane when your legs are this short!”
Lucky me! I got a new easel for my birthday last week so I did a practice run with it this weekend out at the cabin and painted the Red Chair that I posted about a few days ago. 
And here is the finished sketch. It is an oil on canvas panel measuring 8″x10″ and is 
Do you ever see something, an object that is fairly common, but it reminds you of earlier times? That is what I think every time I see one of these old metal chairs. My grandmother, we called her Big Mama, had chairs like this in her yard. When we were small kids we would go visit at least once a week, and Big Mama, Papa and Mama would sit and rock while the three of us kids ran and played in the yard. I can still see them sitting there each time I see one of these chairs.
The Studio 