Bull's Eye, Principle Gallery

Bull's Eye

6" x 18"

oil on panel

sold

The game of darts was made popular in many parts of 

Europe in the late 1800's. 

It soon made it's way to America and was widely popular in 

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, 

and New York state.

In tracking down the history of the dart 

that appears in my painting Bull's Eye,

 I know it was made by DECO, Dartboard Equipment Company 

of Philadelphia, PA. It's the first company to form and make darts

and dartboards in America.

I have had a hard time tracking down the exact year 

the company began.

This is what I did learn:

John H. Pearson born in England 1861,

immigrated to Philadelphia, PA in 1873.

While working as a carpet weaver 

he started DECO in Philadelphia.

He later ran it with his son and grandson.

John H. Pearson died in 1932. reference

The company continued on until 1982

when a fire closed down the company. 

Here is a link to a great blog post by 

American Style Darts on DECO.

As you can see by my photo above , my darts

have seen better days but I still think they are 

absolutely wonderful. Their flights are made from

turkey feathers. Their bodies are wood.

Where the steel tips go into their nose,

they are fitted with some sort of weight.
Mine are quite heavy to the tip.

Not sure what year these are from, if anyone knows

anymore information about them please let me know. 

My best guess is that they are from the 1940-1950's

based on the box graphics.

 

detail from Bull's Eye 

Bull's Eye 

will be showing at

Principle Gallery

April Still Life Invitational

208 King Street

Alexandria, VA

703-739-0528

Principle Gallery

 

MicroVisions 8 : teaser

I am honored to be asked to participate in the

MicroVisions 8

 

What is MicroVisions 8?

From Greg Manchess:

"For those new to the event, each year, Irene Gallo, Dan Dos Santos, and I ask a dozen artists to create a 5x7 painting of their choosing. These miniatures are exhibited at the Society of Illustrators and then placed on auction with all proceeds 

going to the Society’s Student Scholarship Fund. 

The Society Scholarships are among the illustration industry’s toughest awards. This year, over 8,000 entries were examined by 30 judges. Just over 200 students will be accepted into the exhibit, and about half will earn cash awards. Not only do these awards help subsidize students financially, they also go a long way to boost the confidence of young artists (and their nervous parents) by proving their voices stand out amongst thousands of others. It’s not long before you start seeing the winners on their way to becoming the field’s biggest names. John Jude Palencar, James Jean, Tomer Hanuka, Dan Dos Santos and hundreds of others have become noted illustrators since the Scholarship’s inception in 1981."

Here is a link to the Muddy Colors Blog:

MicroVisions 8 

When I was in high school and college, I depended on

scholarships for part of my schooling and extra workshops. 

Not only did they help financially, but they also  

helped me feel like I had a shot out there in the big scary world.  

 I am very happy to be able to give back in some way.

Thought I would post a teaser. More to come about my 5"x7" and details about MicroVisions 8.

But please meet the characters who may show up in my painting:

      

Butch, Principle Gallery

Butch

16" x 20"

oil on panel
Sold

 Some of you may remember a mystery 
I walked in on one morning in my studio, 
concerning my still life set-up of Butch.

After a second attempt to clean up the final crumbs, 
I caught Suspect #3 after returning to the studio after 
leaving just a matter of minutes.
Here is a link to that original blog post:
Mystery in the Studio

Friends had wondered if I would paint Butch with the missing
treat and only crumbs, or if I would replace it. 
I decided to replace it for Butch. He is such a good dog, 
I thought he deserved it. 

Let me show you who inspired this painting: 

 This is Nadja. 
She was one of the best dogs in the world. Heart of gold. I taught her at a young age to hold a treat on her nose. I began this exercise to teach her to hold still, which was very difficult for her. We worked and worked at it. She became a pro. I could put that treat there, and she would hold perfectly still. Even if the bone looked as if it would slide to the side, she managed to keep it there. Holding until I gave her the release word. . . "OK!"

That is what Butch is doing. The bone is leaning just a little bit, will it stay?

detail of Butch 

 It stays.

Butch 
will be showing at 
Principle Gallery
April Still Life Invitational
208 King Street
Alexandria, VA
703-739-0528
Principle Gallery




  

Face Yourself: Yes, I can Hear You

I am honored to be part of

Face Yourself

 at  

Elliott Fouts Gallery

Sacramento, CA

Face Yourself

When EFG asked if I would like to participate in

this show,  I jumped at the chance.  

It had been seven years

since I painted my last self-portrait. 

I was excited and nervous. Painting the human form

is much different than the objects I usually paint.

I decided to go back and show you my previous self-portraits

to lead to my new one , and why I painted what I did.

Now. . . let's step back in time. . .  

  In The Garden

Summer 2000
32"x19"

Out of college I worked in watercolor.

It was the medium I was most comfortable with,

but I was itching for more, what was next? I decided to take the

leap into oils. I had taken one intro to oil course in art school. Nothing in depth, more the basics in mediums, stretching canvas, beginning color mixing. Trying not to mix mud.

At this time, I got my hands on some painting books, 

visited some  museums, and went for it.

This self-portrait above was my very first oil painting 

seven years out of college. 

I wanted to do more oil painting. 

Self-portait #2 came three months later.

 

Profile Self-Portait 

Autumn 2000
18"x14"

Soon after painting this portrait, I painted my first 

still lifes using some toys from my collection. 

At this time, I felt like  I was beginning to tap into

something I really wanted to explore in depth.

In 2002, I had my daughter and took a few years

off from painting. Always thinking and sketching.

In 2005 I picked up the brush again. 

This was my self-portrait from that year.

  Soul Searching

2005
20"x16"

Thinking about a new self-portrait I thought,

Who am I now?

How do I show where I am at now?

I am often asked, "How do you come up with your ideas?"   

My answer is always the same. 

"I hold my treasures in my hands and listen."

 Yes, I Can Hear You

2012
24" x 20"

   detail

 detail

Show reception:

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Elliott Fouts Gallery

1831 P. Street

Sacramento, CA

916-736-1429

  

Happy New Years!

Happy New Year!

I am continuously inspired by the amazing artists I have met, 

and all the people who encourage me to do what it is I do.

Thank you to all of you who have viewed my blog, 

read my meanderings,

and shared my paintings with others around you. 

Thank you to the galleries

who showed my paintings this past year.

I decided to put together all the paintings that I showed in 2012.

Above you see that collection in one image. 

Kind of fun to see them together in one grouping.

I am excited to begin 2013. The wheels in my mind are

already spinning with new ideas.

I look forward to sharing them with you as the year goes by.

Here's to another year of taking steps closer to our goals and dreams.

Now time to go paint!

King Cole Posse

King Cole Posse

oil on panel

14" x 28"

Near my easel I have a old secretary desk I use to organize my paints.  Above it I place things from my collection that I want to paint. Often times they will hang out there for some time, as I place more and more things around them. Having them there allows me to see them, think about them, and imagine with them. Imagine what kind of scenes I can set up with them, imagine what kind of story they have to tell.  I was sitting looking at a painting on my easel and a thought hit me when my eyes fell on one of these horses standing near Old King Cole.

"Of course!" I thought and I begin to play.

King Cole Posse

detail left

King Cole Posse

is being shown at

Principle Gallery

208 King Street

Alexandria, VA

703-739-0528

King Cole Posse

detail right

Nuts, Principle Gallery

Nuts

7.75" x 24"

oil on panel
sold

When I walk along, and I see acorns, I can't help but pick up one or two. When Fall comes along, and I get a jacket from the closet, most often than not, I will feel an acorn in the bottom of the pockets. In the little dish below the car radio, you will find acorns. 

I have little bowls in my studio with acorns along with marbles. 
I can tell you which ones my daughter collected, 

which ones came from my parents land, a friends farm, or local park. When I was a little girl, I thought their caps were used as fairy hats, or bowls that fairies drank dew from. 

On me and my husbands first date, I picked up acorns and gave them to him. Later, for an anniversary he took one and had it set in silver for a necklace. I have loved acorns for as long as I can remember.

 

Nuts

detail center

Nuts 

is being shown at

Principle Gallery

208 King Street

Alexandria, VA

703-739-0528

 Nuts

detail left