This is the first annual juried show that HCAC has put on - and in conjunction with the Lake Country Artisan's Guild.  35 artists were represented and 90+ pieces of art were submitted to be considered for the show.  They had an Awards Ceremony on April 7th and the turnout was remarkable, as you can see, and the artwork even more stunning!  Sit back and enjoy both the art and the people!  Thank you for stopping by!

This is the most people I have seen turn out for Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening Celebration - great outpour from the community emphasizing the need for gathering place like this for family and friends!  And we, at the Lake Country Artisans Guild, are just thrilled to be a part of it!

This was my second time to see this show and it was a spectacular as the first.  Some of the interpretations of the art into floral arrangements was spot on, other times it was like huh?  But oh so enjoyable!  Here are some photos for you to enjoy!

Please do yourself a favor and come see this show!  The quilts are just gorgeous - all unique and beautifully different!  And Sarah Bolduc, President of our Lake Country Artisans Guild has a lovely display of some of her fabric creations!  

I submitted all the forms, pics, payment, etc. to be considered for this upcoming show "In The Garden" in conjunction with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden!  These are the three funky florals I entered.  Crossing all appendages that I get in!!

Ever wonder where the creativity stops with an artist?  I don't believe it does!  Here is the Fairy Garden in front of our house.  I think there are like 120 stones with mosaic on them.  I do think I am done with those!  And the fairies got newly painted doors, new mushrooms and steps.  And the tree trunk fern holders got replaced as well.  Only took 5 years to decay!  Who knew? Anyway, here are some pictures for you to enjoy!

We could not have asked for a better turnout for this art show.  This community is so very supportive of the arts, and they were the nicest bunch of people I've met in a long time!  Several of our Guild members attended, and 3 of my favorite neighbors came!  It's been two days and I have not stopped grinning!!!  Sarah Buldoc, our President, did a fabulous job coordinating the hanging of this show and her speech about the 3 of us was so very touching.  Wish I'd have recorded it - would be a great way to start each day!!!  

I'm happy to report that two of my friends from the Lake Country Artisans Guild - Moose Yeates and George Reebals will be joining me in our booth "Three Local Artisans".  I've been painting away - here are some that will be featured:

I'm so excited about this 3 person show, thanks to our President, Sarah P Buldoc of Lake Country Artisans Guild!  Hoping many of our friends and families will attend.  This is a great prequel to our upcoming juried show, also at the Halifax County Arts Council!'s "The Gallery"/ 

I painted this commissioned piece for the RR Club and they turned around and donated it to the Chamber of Commerce to hang in their office!  Just tickled me to death and I was honored to be a part of their dedication process.

Fellow Lake Country Artisan's Guild Member, Moose Yeates and I will be displaying our artwork at the VA Ave Mall 2/1/19-2/15/19.  We plan to have the window absolutely exploding with art and color!  Please stop by while you are in beautiful downtown Clarksville and let us hear what you think!!  

I am honored to have been the one the Chamber asked to paint these historical buildings!  They are finally going to be available to the public for purchase at the upcoming Harvest Festival, October 6th!  The history of each building is on the back of the cards, along with their official historical landmark ID  Here are the 5 paintings done for these cards!

What's an artist to do?  Worry?  or Paint????  I chose paint!  6 down and 2 more to go and you couldn't smack the smile off my face!!!

I had to go back to see this show again - there were so many people at the Artist Reception, it was really hard to enjoy the artwork!  It's just lovely.  Stop in and see it if you can - just ask the gift shop staff to open the museum for you and take all the time you want!  

I am so excited!  I joined this Guild yesterday and am so looking forward to participating in the many shows they do all over the place - and mostly to get to know the artists in the Guild and learn and grow with them!!  My first meeting will be next Wednesday and I can't wait!!

As you can see, there was quite a turnout for the Artist Receptiion!!!  Kudos to local artists from the Lake Country Artisan's Guild and their many awards - three Honorable Mentions and First Place to Sarah Bolduc!  

This was a project that started with Linda Davenport at the Galleria, with much gratitude.  This lovely lady came in with a piece of paper with a small black and white photo of an old church that used to exist in Nelson, VA.  It took me 3 complete tries to get this where I wanted it.  I'm happy with the results.  I'll give the painting to Linda to matt and frame and then she will contact this wonderful woman to come pick it up!  

I submitted 3 paintings for this year's show.  The Juror is photographer Harvey Smith.  I am really excited and hope they get an amazing turnout again!  Here are the 3 pieces I submitted for consideration:

I do dearly love this little town of ours and get so excited when it's filled to the brim with people having a great time!  The decorated lamp posts added so much charm, don't you think!  And on the way home I took pictures of the Halloween decorations in our neighbor's yard! 

Six lessons with Karlyn Holman and her on-line class and I'm happy to be painting again!  I've learned so much and she is so incredibly generous with her lessons.  She taught us how to make our own stencils, create our own paper for use in collage/abstract paintings, how to make our own stamps!  The fun never ends!  I'm having the most fun with the abstract paintings done on canvas - that's right - canvas with watercolor!  I'm doing a show next weekend and will get a feel for how people like them - I hope as much as me and I'll keep making them!!!  Either way, I need to get back to the lessons - still have 2 more to do before the next batch arrive 10/22.  Here are my results so far.  What do you think?

And it's time for a break.  Karlyn Holman's on-line 12 month course begins 7/20/17 and I am so excited!  Ready for some new ideas and lots of fine tuning to get me to the next level.  3 paintings sold at Rosemont, which is wonderful, and also meant I had to replace them and quickly fill my 8 painting quota for next hanging - so I did these two.  I'm not happy with either one and hope I don't have to use them, but if I do, they are there - and hopefully will have some much better ones with Karlyn's fine teaching!  Here they are, for better or for worse....

So very honored to be juried into this show with so many amazingly talented artists!  And, much to my delight and total surprise, I won First Prize!  Could have blown me away with a feather!  Henry Kidd was the Juror and gave such an excellent presentation and very constructive, positive critiques!  Anyway, here are photos from the show - and close up of my proud winner, "God Bless the USA"