Is Anybody Out There?

I don't know if anyone looks at this blog anymore. And why would you? This blog is about making art and I rarely seem to make any. A recent rejection letter from Horace Williams House regarding an exhibit in 2011 stings a bit. I see good art all around me, but I just can't make it happen in my studio. This is not a new phenomena for me. Over the last 8 years of learning to draw and paint, I have had lapses of creativity that are frustrating and sometimes debilitating.

In the meantime, I highly recommend a new gallery in Chapel Hill. This co-op gallery is sleek and chock-full of high quality art. Check out Frank's website at: http://www.frankisart.com/.

Spring Break...Part One...

Renee, Caroline, Jack, and Emma in Anapolis with ice cream cones.

Renee and I headed to Crofton, Maryland to spend a few days with Caroline and her family this spring break. Painting and playing with Emma and Jack was a blast. A day trip to Annapolis provided a delicious opportunity to admire the boats, eat Mexican for lunch, and end the day with huge scoops of vanilla ice cream with sprinkles while browsing the storefronts.Beautiful boats at the harborEmma's princess creations with wicki-stix

Emma painting masterpieces!

Hey now! Jack's a Rock Star!

Jack is too cute!

Mary Cassatt at Boca Raton Museum

Also at the Boca Museum is an interesting exhibit of Mary Cassatt's Works on Paper. Many of the pieces in the exhibit were "counterproofs."

M.C. Escher at the Boca Raton Museum

I traveled to south Florida this weekend to celebrate my father's birthday. We headed to a M.C. Escher exhibit at the Boca Raton Museum of Art on Saturday and were mesmerized by Escher's magical world.

Birthday Weekend in Asheville

Caroline and I celebrate our birthdays together every year. This year, we landed in Asheville and had a blast! Leah was invited along for the first time. At lunch on day two, Leah asked, "How do I know when I am grown up?" I responded, "When you get invited to join Caroline and me for our birthdays!

Be Still My Beating Heart...

A drive to Raleigh with Luna to take advantage of Jerry's sale this morning. If you are not a "color geek," you may not have experienced the goose bumps associated with discovering Golden's Pyrole Orange on sale. I am a color geek! And I love Jerry's annual sale!

"Pile of Sadness"

Renee came in to my studio this afternoon and asked if she could move my "pile of sadness" to the floor so that she could sit and visit for a few minutes. I replied, "Of course, Renee. I am sorry that I left my clean, but unfolded laundry on the chair. Unfolded laundry, while a constant in my home, is a pile of sadness that begs to be folded and put away. Please move it and make yourself comfortable." Renee replied, "No, Mom. I am referring to the stack of books on the wicker ottoman." I replied, "I don't know what you mean, Renee. These are books that I am reading for the service learning classes that I will be facilitating this semester. These are books of hope, not sadness!" Renee refuted, "How can books about poverty, homelessness, hunger, and racism be books of hope?" In my infinite wisdom, I replied, "Darling, awareness of the social issue is step one in participating in eliminating the issue."

How's Lucky Adjusting to His New Home?

Seems pretty comfortable so far!

Wrapping Paper and Ribbons

Unwrapping gifts at Christmas at my house takes very little time! We are all excited to discover the gift inside the paper and ribbons. As I cleaned up the scattered and torn wrappings and bows under our Christmas tree yesterday morning, I wondered, who would have thought that the birth of a baby in a horse stable to an unwed teen and her fiance' would be a glorious gift to all of God's people? Really? What an unlikely package for such a gift. And yet, how like God to present us with something that appears to be a difficult situation; something awkward, hard, or unsavory.

In my life, God appears to delight in presenting me with the rough and unsightly packaging of gifts. This past year in particular, has been a year of gifts from God that have required trust and obedience. I have had to work hard to trust that the ugliness of a situation did indeed include the perfect gift. His gift giving is extravagant!

Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars,who does not change like their shifting shadows.

James 1:17

Sweet Sixteen

Her last birthday party with friends was 6 years ago! Very sad, I know. Knowing that Renee would be celebrating her 'sweet sixteen' this December, I planned a surprise luncheon for her at Outback on Sunday. She was SO surprised! Happy Birthday, Renee.