News & Notes
Recent Awards and Events
In April 2016 an oil painting "Night Lights" won Best of Show at the Spring Art Exhibit of the Conway League of Artists in Conway, AR.
In May 2016 one of my watercolors won 1st Place in the "Art for the Birds" exhibit at the Rialto Gallery in Morrilton, judged by Kurt Jones of Russellville.
In June 2016, I received a $500 purchase award for a plein air watercolor painting of a Steelville resident's beautiful home. There were 52 artists attending this year's plein air event, with a different judge each day. The weather was perfect! It's always so much fun seeing all the friendly people in Steelville, and being with the artists for the receptions, dinners, and delightful events planned by STARCO. We are treated like royalty but we really do work hard. I got 42 ticks at one farm site, got poison ivy at another, and nearly lost it all crossing a swift river at another place, all to get to the most paint-worthy locations. While crossing the Meramec, a fish hook caught in my leg (ouch!), but happy news...it was attached to a nice rod and reel, just floating downstream...thanks to whoever lost it, capsized or...? We stayed in Cuba, MO, on Rt. 66, which has great sentimental value for us. We stopped along the highway at one spot, the roadside densely covered with beautiful coneflowers. I had to paint it. Lots of car honks, many from artists and people helping with the plein air event, but it was getting so dark I couldn't tell who they were. I really love painting the beautiful Ozark countryside scenes. At the Saturday sale, I sold most of the paintings I did that week...as they say, "a good time was had by all."
In June, 2015, Bob and I spent 10 days in Steelville, MO, at a plein air event. I painted and framed a watercolor every day, and even did an acrylic for a nocturne one day...true to the plein air mode, all paintings were stamped on the back for authenticity, and painted on location. I was very pleased to sell 7 of the 8 paintings I completed, and to win a juried award for my piece "Onondaga Queen", a rock formation with reflection in Onondaga Cave. Painting in a cave was the highlight of my trip...so much fun! We also visited for another plein air event in October 2015, painting the lovely fall Ozark colors. We depicted the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. I sold 3 of the paintings I did there. The people of Steelville all are so friendly and warm...thanks to them for such great plein air events!
"Onondaga Queen", an underground formation and reflection, painted plein air
Also, while I was in Steelville, I gave the "104 and Holding" portrait to my model, Frances Yeary, who held all those cats...and held court...dozens of artists painted on her ranch and showed her the pictures they did, and visited with her. Her secret to long life is "Be content." Everyone in town calls her "Nana" and loves her dearly. She taught my husband's mother and aunts back in the day.
Sadly, she died in October 2015, at age 105, before we could visit her again. She was surrounded by her loving family, at home with her cats, and on hospice care for only a few days...such a wonderful long life.
"Fresh", concept for the element Air, October 2015...11x14 watercolor...leaves, laundry, birds (including the Red-bellied Woodpecker who kept me company all day). Breathe deeply...ah, that pure Ozark air.
In May of 2015, one of my watercolors won 1st place in "Art For the Birds" juried show in Morrilton, AR, judged by Guy W. Bell. The winning piece was a full sheet watercolor of a Pileated Woodpecker who visits our place frequently. This one was called "After the Rains", and shows the bird looking up from a walnut branch festooned with lush moss, ferns, and lichen. The show consisted of 35 pieces of art by about a dozen artists from the area. A reception featured violin music by Bill Thurman, great food (chicken in keeping with the theme), and actual live birds, squawking and talking with the visitors. An educational program was given by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on the importance of habitat to birds, and how loss of habitat has adversely affected the quail populations.
Other recent awards include both 1st and 2nd place in watermedia at the Conway League of Artists annual exhibit in October 2015. 1st place was "The Web", a fantasy watercolor of underwater life; 2nd place was done from a photograph of my husband Bob kayaking on the Buffalo River, which I titled "Bobbing on the Buffalo".
"The Web"
"Bobbing on the Buffalo"
This year also my art was awarded Best of Show in watercolor at the 6-county District Fair, and at the Van Buren County Fair, as well as blue ribbons at the Arkansas State Fair, for the Pileated Woodpecker watercolor and a painting of my artist friend showing me an unbelievable backbend stretch. (Wouldn't it be great to have his flexibility?!)
"Zen", 11 x 14 watercolor
Posing with several fair entries...I think I have 5 Arkansas State Fair BOS ribbons, dozens of blues...always try to make our Van Buren County proud...
Visit my Facebook albums to see my most recent work. I've filed them by work completed each year. You'll find them under "Art 2016", "Art 2015", and so on.
Or just go to my "Galleries" page on this web site and click on the links.