A lot has happened since the last entry.  Of course, we still worry about the pandemic, but many of us have been vaccinated and feel somewhat protected from Covid 19.  Now we have art exhibitions again and even meetings of the local art league, the Visual Arts League of Allen. 
However, i am still gathering by zoom, especially with a national art group that I have belonged to for years, about 25!  It's called the Society of Layerists in Multi - Media.  www.slmm.org   It's different from other  groups in that the artists believe  in a holistic approach to art.  The artists are excellent and encouraging.  We all support each other and encourage each other.  I'm really grateful for this group of friends that I have made, most of which I have not even seen in person.  They live in states across the US and some in Canada.  It helps bring in a different perspective.  Some of us meet every Tuesday to show what we have been creating and discuss processes and ideas.  I always learn something new each week.  Currently we are doing a couple collaborative projects.  I'm doing one digitally with an artist in Seattle, Liz Ruest and anther with Joanne VanGenderen in Scotia, NY.  Liz and I exchanged images by email.  Joanne and I exchanged by mailing materials and papers to each other.  I will post them soon.
Here in the studio, I have solved the climate problem with a mini split which is doing a great job of keeping the studio nice and cool!  I love it!  It also will warm it in the winter!  I've been starting small with the collages and a couple small paintings.  So I have things to photograph and show you.  I hope to do it tomorrow....

We are already in the Holiday season.  Usually this would mean parties, openings, sales etc.  Although I appreciate the quiet time to be creative, I will admit that I am very tired of the restrictions.  I like to be able to go to the store, to travel etc.  Instead I am trying to help by not going out.  My groceries are gathered by a list online and and then a curbside pickup.  
I do see my local family, but we are careful about that too.  Enough!  This being careful makes me worried that we will be so careful about protecting life, that we will forget to live it!
Zoom is a good thing that has come out of this time.  I have taken classes on zoom, critiqued on zoom and enjoyed my book club on zoom.  Since I moved just before the Covid outbreak, I am more isolated, zoom has helped me stay connected. When everyone is able to gather again, the impact of my move may sink in, but the joy of being near family is great.  This is not the usual artist post, but I think the Holiday time brings out feelings and hopes for the future.  
My critique zoom helped me find a problem with a painting.  I have redone Desert Winds and I will post that here.  Stay strong my friends, we will get through this time.  Create, it's good for the soul!
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So, almost a year since I have blogged, not good!  A lot has happened.  I moved to Lucas, TX, to be near my family.  It was a lot of work, searching to find a house, packing, moving, etc...   I did not do a good job of packing and I have too much stuff, so I used 2 moving trucks, if you allow for the fact that Square Cow Movers is terrible and kept 1/4 of the last truck for their supplies.  If you are thinking of moving and especially if you get a head person named Aaron, don't use them!  Everything had a scratch, I am still missing some things.  However, here I am.  Now, I'm working on setting up mu art studio in a double garage.  It's been difficult, but now a sink is installed, the kiln is wired, and there are more lights and outlets.  
We are all inside with the fear of the Covid 19 virus.  To go to a store, we have to wear mask and gloves, but stores are finally open here in Texas.  I've done a few digital works, which are in the digital slide show, but here's a couple for this page.
 

The last day of July, the low today was 73, but I missed it by sleeping in until after 8, darn!  The high is 94, if the humidity was not also 94, it could be tolerable.  We often are thankful for the invention of air conditioning, otherwise I'm not sure paint would dry easily. 
I recently finished a painting with a friend/ client in mind.,  I don't have a photo, but as soon as I do I will post it.  It's titled GT Time, as we often have gin and tonics while discussing our lives.  Sharing ideas with friends is so important.  In a way blogging is sharing ideas, although it's sometimes a one way conversation.
I have done a few oil paintings lately and I'm enjoying getting back to the smells of oil and mediums.  In fact as new medium for me is wax.  It adds a lot of texture and some translucence to the paint.  I do have a couple of photos from that.  I'll add them to this blog.
I hope everyone's having a creative summer! 
Mother's Garden was my first effort into the wax medium world.  It is sold.

Friday I gathered with my art friends, we call ourselves Synergy because our energy is greater as a group than as an  individual artist.  We share ideas, help critique each other's art works and support each other as friends.  I am fortunate to know these talented people.  
We turned in our latest art work to the Pearl Fincher Fine Arts Museum Friday, we will have a group show in the community gallery beginning June 2.   The show will be up thru the end of June, I hope those in the area can visit it.  The show is called New Directions.  All of the works are 12" x 36", which was a challenge.  
https://www.pearlmfa.org/

Baby It's Cold Outside!  Indeed it is and that song's intentions are now in question.  It's a crazy world we live in!  I deal with it by doing art and meeting with friends.  I enjoy a good book as well.  Life is full of joys and pain.  Hopefully we all get more of the first.  
My day begins with coffee and a sketch, now that the weather is not so hot that I have to rush out to beat the heat!  It's cool here today, in the 40's, unusual for the Texas Gulf Coast.  I enjoy the change, even when it comes with some rain.  Actually, give me a crash bang thunder storm and I'm happy as can be! Rain is good, until it's not...Harvey for instance.  
After the sketch, I catch up on news, walk the pups and go to the studio.  I love spending the day creating, making new things, dreaming ideas...Life's good! 
One problem with my creative time, is that I forget about some practical things that I should take care of.  Yesterday I left out chicken and my freshly made chili....all night!  Bummer!  No chili today!  Soup?  
Yes, soup... there is a can of clam chowder!  
​Keep warm and enjoy whatever comes to your today!! 

August was such a busy month with all the preparations for the art exhibition at the Jung 
Center in Houston with my artist friends Rosanne Hudson and Michelle O'Michael  As we prepared to deliver our works, hurricane Harvey hit Texas.  The Houston area was hit with heavy rain and flooding.  We could not deliver our paintings as planned since the roads were flooded!  We were supposed to hang on the 1st of September, but it was actually Tuesday the 5th when we hung with the assistance of Dianne Griffin Gregory, who made curatorial decisions and hung the show.  Michelle's husband, Steve, and assistant brought in the sculptures. It was exciting to see the show come together!  The opening was on the 9th, Houston had not quite recovered and still has not, but a good crowd showed up and a good time was had by all.  This coming week is the last, so I am hoping to get some more friends in to see the show!  It's a good one.
Let me know if you would like me to meet you at the show!!
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Summer in Texas, is a good time to stay in and paint!  As a Michigander, the winter often trimmed our sails and we got projects done, here it's the summer!  As you may have noticed on Facebook, I have been updating my Artist page and now back to my web page!  Meanwhile, two new paintings are in progress.  As each layer dries, I take a moment to catch up on photographing artworks or organization....not my best suit!  However, I keep working on it!!

The day always begins with coffee, a bit of caffeine to get the motor running, and feed the furry ones.  Off we are into nature, regardless of the temps.  Of course this time of year, the earlier the better.  I take that time to reflect and contemplate the works that I have going.  I really enjoy being out in nature, especially with a bit of breeze...

Then the dogs come home to relax while I get to the studio.  It is in my house, so it's busy day and night.  Right now a small group show at the Jung Center in Houston, September 2017, is also getting attention!  I am sorting and making sure that all paintings are ready to hang.  The opening is September 9th, but we deliver our art on August 31st.  

May already! I continue to paint, but have found that some challenges are better met with digital imaging, there is an intellectual challenge to combing photos, while creating an interesting composition that will bring the viewer in. As with my paintings, I like some structure such as bridges to unite ideas. I have posted some of my digital works, linking them to the digital image on the home page. More will come soon.