Chez Gizelle Figure Group Show

Today our Figure Group delivered artwork for a show at the Chez Gizelle hair salon. Lydia Host arranged this showing opportunity. I assisted Lydia and Mary Elizabeth Kimbrough in the hanging of the show. Many in our group participated, including Lydia, MEK, Kathy Friedline, Claire Noojin, Jami Buck, Gail Bramer, Bill Bailey, Terry P., Conroy Hudlow, and Devlin Wilson (I think I remembered everyone?). It's a good show for the space. Here are a few photos.

Here are my two watercolors next to Terry's ink drawing waiting to be hung. I entered two drawings of the pregnant model, and called them "Seated Madonna" and "Reclining Madonna" (both were included in an earlier blog posting).

Lydia and MEK begin the hanging.

Here's some of the artwork after we completed the hanging. I think this show will hang at least through February.

Still Life with Baby Silas

I thought I'd continue with the third generation of my family portraits I've completed in recent years. I've already posted my husband, his daughter (my beloved stepdaughter), and now for her first born - our first grandbaby Silas. Amanda sent a photo of Silas sleeping on their bed with some winter light streaming in through their window. I loved the photo and the shadows on the sleeping baby, so decided to paint it like a contemporary still life - abstracted background with baby sleeping as though on a kitchen table top. At least that was my concept. Here is "Still Life with Baby Silas", acrylic on canvas, 12"x16", completed in 2006. This painting was started and mostly completed during a couple of painting sessions with my Mama Lisa painting group. This reminds me that I am behind on my family portraits - Amanda had a precious little girl, Priya, a year and a half ago, and is now expecting number three in May. I guess I have some catching up to do!

Sunhats

It is a rainy day and I'm still recovering from bronchitis. I thought today deserves a bit of cheer, so decided I'd post one of my previous portraits. This is a painting of my stepdaughter Amanda and her little second-cousin Claire. I called this painting "Sunhats". This is acrylic on canvas, 24"x30", and was completed in 2004. I entered this in the first People's Art Show at Space 301, which was in the summer of 2005. I had fun with the folds in the clothing and Amanda's hair, as well as the hats.

Mobile Botanical Gardens and Semmes Library Grand Opening

Happy New Year Y'all!

I've been distracted by the holidays and then under the weather with bronchitis, so am very behind with my blog. I have a couple of events to report, however. Tuesday last week (Dec 30th) Jami Buck, Mary Elizabeth Kimbrough and I gathered at the Mobile Botanical Gardens for some plein air painting. We each picked a view inside the herb garden arbor area. Mary Elizabeth did an amazingly colorful fun piece, and Jami did a pretty view of some trees (both are posted on MEK's blog). I was so slow getting everything together that I basically just blocked out my scene of St. Francis of Assisi under the kumquat tree. This was right before I got sick; so I will post the finished (after) painting (oil on board) when I can get myself back together enough to finish it. In the meantime, here is photo of MEK and me discussing our work; and the before view of my painting, compliments of MEK.

I took photos of Jami and MEK with their paintings with my new compact digital camera (Christmas present!), but unfortunately due to my unfamiliarity with the new camera they did not take. I'm still learning how to use this simple little camera.

Wednesday last week (Dec 31st) I delivered my painting of the Dodd and Dodd Nursery greenhouses for a small art exhibit as part of the grand opening of the new Semmes Library. This show was organized by Mary Rodning. They did a wonderful job on the new library, which was formerly a Walgreen's Drugstore, and designed an area near the front to display rotating artwork. Here is a photo of Phyllis Jeffery of Mobile Public Library with some of our artwork behind her. The Sumi-e/Haiku foldout on the shelf is by Mary and Charles Rodning (photo compliments of Mary R.). Jami Buck's painting of Dodd and Dodd Nursery trophy trees is peeking out from behind Phyllis' head. Phyllis has been great in sponsoring public display of local artwork in the city's libraries.

I missed our first session of Figure Group tonight, but hope to be well enough next week to catch back up with my figure artists!