At the Occoneechee Pow Wow, Joseph Epps announced that his tribe would be having their Pow Wow 7/25. He is the Director of the MacCallum More Museum and Gardens and has been so very good to me. I met him when I did my art show there last year, and we have been back to see him many times. We always bring company we have and he always gives us a wonderful tour and spends so much time talking with us. Wonderful, wonderful man - and he has lead such an interesting life. So we get the program at the Pow Wow - he's not only a member of this tribe, he is the War Chief! How cool is that??? We are very glad we went and we had such a nice time. So much passion in the dancers. Several are the same dancers from the first Pow Wow - this time with different outfits, and one couple has 3 children that also dance! They are the "lead dancers", Osceola and Tina Mullin. Sit back and enjoy the pictures!!
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It's been awhile since I have painted - finished my 30 day challenge in time for Auntie Di and the 4th of July weekend - then hustled to get ready for sister RaNae and played with her for a week - then Lakefest was upon us - busy month!!! But wonderful month and I wouldn't give up a second of any of it! I finally finished the last 2 that I began in the 30 day challenge:
Well, this is our second Lakefest we've been to, and this year is just as wonderful as the first! So many activities - so much preparation by the Chamber and all the Vendors - so many people involved. And the massive crowds (60K??? 80K???) are well behaved and having fun! We don't attend all the activities - night time concerts....but have hit most! Please relax and enjoy the show - I will post more pics from tonight's firework show - and tomorrow's hopeful sunrise hot air balloons! II took a rather long break from painting to work in the yard. We have a circular driveway and in the middle is a huge area - probably 60 feet by 40 feet that was filled with leaves and very old trees. I cleared out the leaves and created a path out of cut tree stumps and put in a bistro setting so they had something to go to. Then I made a small Hellebore garden - and soon came along 4 more Hellebore gardens, then some more ferns....then I got the bright idea of transplanting moss into the circle as it is mostly shade, you don't have to mow it, and it just thrives here! Then Jim had an old stepping stone cement form - 1 60 pound bag concrete per form - 39 bags of cement later, we have a winding path that goes from one side to the other. It's been such fun and quite addictive! I gave myself until 6/1/2015 to finish and once again begin painting. I'm having such a hard time sitting still and painting - need to water the moss - oh, wouldn't a ladybug spin thing look cute there - oh, and she needs rocks painted like lady bugs....doesn't take much to distract me! So, here I am again, with my best solution to getting serious. Another 30 day challenge with painting each day and posting my results. It's like I have someone to be accountable to and it really helps me do a better job!!! The statue at MacCallum More is finished, the 3 Pow Wow paintings are just beginning - I think they are going to be very fun to paint! I often do the backgrounds first in case I screw them up - I won't have ruined a painting! :-) Here are my first 4 new paintings for The Prizery Show:
I just can't say enough good about our sweet little town! Population 1200 - and heart the size of Texas! Here is the 4th of July parade - so many people participating and so many enjoying watching! Love it!!! Many more layers to go on this one, but she's off to a good start! I tried something different on her dress - dropped in various shades of red and pink and then masked flower shapes on it so I can cover entire dress with black. We'll see! The size on this is currently for 18x24 and I think I need to crop it - her eye is NOT in the sweet spot - and there is no rhyme or reason to the person dancing in front of her! 16x20 will work much better, I think!  OK - I'm happier with this one! I'm using Fabriano Artistico 140 lb paper - I'm thinking I like the Arches Hot Press 140 lb much better - and the very painstaking process of many many layers and lots of water as taught by Susan Harrison Tustain. It's time to give up the speed and go for the quality. I have 2 more Indian paintings from the Occoneechee Pow Wow that I will finish using my various old teachings - the next two flower paintings will be much better quality. This sweet little girl stole everyone's heart at the Pow Wow. So dainty and graceful.  Rather a slow start - but I'm happy with the feathers so far and his shirt! Lots more to go, but another fun one. This Indian danced with his Soul. I really enjoyed watching him and all his purposeful moves! I'm playing with wet on wet, but not as effective on cold press paper as hot press. Upward and Onward!!!  Sometimes I feel like I'm coloring in a coloring book when I paint - getting the basic colors down where they belong until it begins to take form. That's the stage this is at - the next parts are fun when you get to bring it to life - define the shapes within the shapes better, and the greatest part is putting in the face and hands to really make him come to life! Happy with where it's at so far - and love the background as taught by Laurie Goldstein-Warren!  This one is almost done. I need to either put another wash of rust on the pants, or play with some watercolor pencils to see if I can make the fringe a little better on the pant legs. I'm loving his face - he was such a determined, serious, passionate man and I think this captures that! What do you think???  |
AuthorAndrea Burke, WVWS Click on this if you'd like new blog posts emailed to you!
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'This world is but a canvas to our imagination' - Henry David Thoreau