Annual Art Show at the NICI in Centennial

Secluded Pond Pastel 12x9

Arlene Gregory is the organizer of the art sale during the 4th of July celebration at the NICI Self Museum in Centennial.  This is a great museum and a portion of the  proceeds from the art show help support the heritage of Centennial.  This year the sale is July 6th and 7th.  I have three pieces in the sale and you will also see photography by Don.  I know Gail Watford and Barbara Wolf also have their art along with Linda Gregory.  So pop over the hill and see this unique show with many regional artists. NICI Self Museum

Governor's Capitol Art Exhibition

Brushes of Brilliance Pastel 

Woopee!

For the second year I had a piece in the Gov's show.  I was delighted to be at the reception this year as Kristin was here from Seattle to share in the event.  She is a big supporter of my art avocation called pastel.  She sent me my first set of Terry Ludwig pastels for mom's day several years ago. 

The Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition and Sale began when Governor Jim Geringer realized that there were not enough pieces of Wyoming artwork to display in the Governor’s office. The other elected officials’ offices also wanted artworks to exhibit. Several pieces are added to this collection each year.

Even more exciting was my email from David Newell to tell me my piece sold.

Art of the Earth

Jennifer Rife invited me and two other artists, Connie Norman and Georgia Rowswell, to exhibit this summer at our Laramie County Library with a theme of the summer reading program, Dig In.  Jennifer is so creative to focus the work with the title, Of, Above and From Art of the Earth.  Connie's clay sculptures are of the earth, while Georgia's inspiration for her series of topography is above the earth.  My flowers stem from the earth.

Please meet the Artists on Tuesday, June 11th and enjoy learning a bit more about each of us as we present our vision and inspiration.

Connie Norman
 



Georgia Rowswell

Show Season

What About Those Ames Boys - Pastel 20x10

I took a deep breath today as I realized how many shows were on the horizon.  Tomorrow the RailArt show opens at the Cheyenne Depot.  It is just part of the Depot Days with so many activities. The Reception is at 6 PM Friday the 17th.

Photo of Ames the night we were STUCK

We visited Ames a few months ago but the spring palette were the hues I wanted. I am enjoying the feel of the panorama size.  Come see it in person and let me know what you feel.

The 47th Annual National Greeley Art Exhibition and Sale will be at the Greeley City Hall, 1000 10th Street, from June 3 through June 14, 2013, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I have two pastels juried into this show and Don has three photographers. That reception is Saturday June 1 from 5:30 to 8 PM.  Tickets are $10 and benefit young artists financial aid.  Sixty artists were chosen with 130 pieces of art on display. Summers End , 10x20, is a new piece for you to see.

Check the Locations Link to see more shows coming up this summer.

 

 

Meet Romy Owens

http://romyowens.com/

 

You might know we love to travel.  World wide as well as to the smallest city in each state.  Last week I was at the Skirvin Hilton in Oklahoma City and had time to take in the city with an amazing Art Museum.  http://www.okcmoa.com/ It featured a 40 foot tall Chihuly glass sculpture and an exquisite collection of his glass.  But the high point of the trip was meeting Romy.  She was selected as the first Artist in Residence at the Skrivin hotel, a historic building completely restored in 2007.  

 http://journalrecord.com/2012/10/02/romy-owens-x-skirvin-cool-squared-opinion/

 

Romy creates in photography.  She also knits.  A creative spirit at work.  Her large pieces don't resemble any traditional photography, but are a mosaic of her images, carefully spliced with intricate hand stitching to form her impressions.  The piece in the picture took 600 hours to complete and will someday be sold for $39,000, as Romy states, most likely to a business. 

 

To know more abut this creative force click her link and go to her blog.   Tell her Vanda said Hi.

Take Three Snow Days

 

 

It started snowing Sunday, and by Tuesday schools and offices were closing. I pulled out some reference photos from last spring, the iris were irresistible. Having just finished a workshop with Mike Beeman I worked through the steps for creating a great painting. First find the value map. I keep it simple. Not having the Value Viewer, a great little app created by Mark Putman, I make a copy of my reference photo in black and white.  I was happy with the composition as I had cropped the original photo.   Next I chose a palette and realized I needed an even a darker purple to create the shapes of the iris.  I used the analogous color wheel to find a discord to keep the eye moving.   The snow has stopped so the time to really paint, not just do a quick study, may not begin again for a bit.  This painting in pastel is 10x20 and is Irresistible on this cold April day. 

Our early summer iris from last year... oh for Spring...