Selfie, Women Artists Mentors, and travel

Top Hat selfie

16 x 20

Oil on Raymar panel

I try to paint a self portrait from time to time.  It gives me a chance to paint from life and I get to wear some of my wonderful hats!  This time as I was painting it reminded me a funny story...

I belong to a mentoring group.  Women, Artists, Mentors...we refer to ourselves as WAM.  Debra Kierce, Helen Beacham, Carrie Roets Waller and Kim Minichiello are the members.  We work towards helping each other by advising, encouraging, cheering, commiserating, informing, and mutually admiring each others work with a genuine feeling of love and affection.  We have been fortunate to be able to travel together from time to time.  Our first meeting was a show in Charleston...we were all able to attend except for Carrie who was living in Japan.  I hated to see her left out so I decided to take a page from "flat Stanley,s" playbook and printed out a picture of Carrie that I mounted on a stick...so we could include her in all the group photos. 

A few years ago Flat Stanley was all over the internet.  Classes would send a cartoon character to friends and relatives to see how far and traveled he could get.  It was quite a phenomenon.  I decided it was a great way to include Carrie in our show!   I often have these ideas and they are not always met with enthusiasm...so you can imagine my delight when my fellow WAM members embraced the idea and it has become part of what we do when we travel.  We have pictures of each of our faces and we bring them along whenever two or more of us meet.  It is a fun way to keep everyone included.  We started calling them flatheads.  You can see my four flatheads that grace my studio...my WAM members are always with me.  

Funny story...we recently had a show at a wonderful museum in Miles City Montana.  Waterworks art Museum, coincidentally WAM also, hosted us.  Deb and I were able to attend so we dutifully brought along the other three flatheads.  As we were recounting the story of the flatheads to those in Montana we were quickly told that there is an Indian tribe nearby that are known as the Flatheads!  Who Knew????   We certainly did not want to offend and so refrained from using the name for our cutouts.  

Our next WAM adventure will be to Montreal to see Helen's hometown!  There will be sightseeing, sketching and we will get to meet Helen's sister.  No flatheads will be necessary as all of us are able to make the trip.  

The Old Violin - Maria Bennett Hock after William Harnett

The Old Violin painted by William Harnett in 1886.  This is my copy of "The Old Violin".  It was painted as a commission, Christmas present, for a client.  He remembers seeing a copy of this work in his home growing up and this reproduction brought back fond memories.  He requested it because he knows I am a copyist at the National Gallery of art. Unfortunately this particular painting is in a gallery that does not allow copyists...a small gallery.  I went to the National Gallery and took pictures and color notes... also used reference materials from the internet.  I also studied up on William Harnett and his nostalgic compositions.  It was a great experience and I am happy to say my client was pleased.  Great way to start the new year.

Working

Working

12 x 9

Oil on Raymar Panel

Still working on the 30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.  This is a quick sketch of yours truly...hard at work.  I am still fighting the mystery illness that has me under the weather but got up for a bit to get my painting done.  

Sue ChurchGrant - Hilton Head Mug Shots continue

Sue ChurchGrant

6 x 6

Oil on Raymar Panel

Sue is a wonderful artist who constantly amazes me with her knowledge of all thing creative. check out her blog here

Here is Wanda's humorous prose...

Egad!  We have word that another of the notorious Hilton Head felons has a Canadian connection, eh!  Sue “Doc” Church Grant claims to have a Canadian birth certificate but an American passport.  One is immediately suspicious since Canadian passports are highly coveted by international bad guys.  It appears her felonious activities are rooted much closer to home. 

“Doc”, not unlike one of her fellow felons, has infiltrated the medical profession to get closer to her prey.  By her own admission, she enjoys capturing children.  We speculate she pokes and prods them and engages them in conversation.  She also immortalizes them in paint and we know she has displayed them in CAPE FEAR.  This is truly shocking! 

Although “Doc” claims to have left the more heinous aspects of this practice behind we know she continues to capture victims in both oil and water.  She also exhibits with the Back Porch Painters.  Does this mean she has moved on to more senior victims?  Or are puppy and his rabbit sisters in mortal danger?  We can only watch and wait.

Hilton Head class challenge 2012 - Lydia

Lydia

4 x 4

Oil on board

The Hilton Head challenge is still going strong....but I am afraid I have fallen off the wagon.  Here is my attempt to almost get caught up!!! I have two more to paint and then I will be up with the rest of the gang!  Wanda Rottenfusser has done a great job with the story lines and getting the source photos out every week. 

This is lydia!  She has a great blog that you can check out by clicking her name.  Her blog consists of not only her fabulous artwork but also great tips on painting, videos, and anything else you can think of that is art related!  She is a great resource.

You can scroll down to see my other "catch-ups"

Now off to the easel I go...

30 artists 30 days - Leslie Saeta's challenge - Judy

Judy Joy Nocifora

6 x 6 

Oil on Raymar panel

Judy is another wonderful artist I met through Facebook.  It has been such a wonderful vehicle to help me discover this world of artists out there.  I love seeing their work and following their journeys.  Visit her blog to see her work and find out more about this amazing person!

For Judy I decided on an action shot...this is a view of her during a plein air outing.  I wish we  could see what is on the other side of the easel!!!

Nearing the end of Leslie Saeta's 30 painting in 30 days .  Check out her blog to see all the entries.  

30 in 30 - Artist Series Challenge - Susan Norman

Susan Norman

6 x 6

Oil on Raymar Panel

Susan Norman is a wonderful artist and instructor who shows her work at the Loft Gallery in Occoquan, VA.  She specializes in portraits and figurative pieces.   I just had to paint her when I saw this beautiful picture...

Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days continues...only a few days left!!! What a trip it has been!!!

30 in 30 halfway point with Claire!

Claire

6 x 8

Oil on Raymar panel

We celebrate the halfway point of my 30 in 30 Artist series of paintings with Claire Beadon Carnell.  Visit Claire's blog to see her fabulous artwork.  She is also participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  Check out Leslie's blog...there are still over 200 participants so there is lots of wonderful artwork to see!

Nancy Van Blaricom

Nancy Van Blaricom

6 x 6 

Oil on Raymar Panel

Nancy is a wonderful artist whom I met through blogging.  She has been very supportive and generous with her comments and encouragement of my art journey.  When you visit her blog (as you should!) you will be guided through her thought process and then rewarded with visions of her work.  She often features pages from her sketchbook.  It is so fun to share my creative friends!  

This is, of course, is one of my 30 in 30 artist friends who are featured on Leslie Saeta's blog.  

Little Artist and Big Sketch Book

My Big Sketch Book

9 x 12

Oil on Board

$100.00

I love this little girl so engrossed in her sketching she was oblivious to the rest of the world around her...just like most of the artists I know!  I painted her for the Daily Paintworks "lying down" challenge.