"Mr. Hoots" is back with his friend "Hoots in Boots"

I have some new art that I am showing at the BAL Gallery.  The Burlington Artist League has a great website.  I now have a bio posted there.  Go to Exhibiting Artists and look for my name to see it. Here is the website address:
  https://www.balartist.com/


 This is the new version of "Mr. Hoots" that I did for the gallery.  This one is 11X14 on stretch canvas.

I've done a number of "Mr. Hoots" paintings in the past few years. My inspiration for this subject came in 2015 shortly after we moved to Michigan.  My grand-daughter Samantha who was 16 at the time bought a wooden owl and asked me to paint it for her in my colorful style.  Here are before and after photos.

We called him "Hoots in Boots".  I had fun painting him and decided to do an owl painting on canvas.  That was my inspiration for "Mr. Hoots".  Samantha keeps telling me that I should to a painting of Mr. Hoots wearing the boots.  I think she is right.  I will put that on my list of future paintings.

I also completed three boxes that I took to the gallery along with the painting.  Two are round and one is oval.

I love painting the intricate designs that are on the first two boxes so am now working on an 11X14 painting that features this style of designs.

 I have never been sure what to call these designs so I did a little research and found they are a mandala which is a complex abstract design that is usually circular in form.

That is not to be confused with the Mandela effect which is where many people remember something clearly that actually never really happened.  Two popular theories on the Mandela effect are time travel or a parallel universe.  I thought I would throw that in to let you know the kind of things you can find when you do internet research!

Occasionally my husband and I think we may be in an alternate universe meaning our being here in North Carolina.  We often ask each other "How did we get here?"   We knew when we moved to Michigan we would eventually leave and move somewhere warmer we just didn't think it would be this soon.  Six months ago we were not even thinking of moving but suddenly things changed and our house sold in 3 days and here we are living in this new place.  I guess you really never know what God has planned for your life.

Burlington Artists League Gallery

I have had a busy week and am finally finding time to post photos of the Burlington Artists League Gallery.  These were taken at the opening reception of their Regional Art Competition. 

The gallery is large with over 30 artists who are participating members of the gallery.  There are also more artists who are part of the regional show.  You do not have to be a member of the league to enter the competition.  I have three paintings in the show.  Here is what I entered.

I also have more art in the gallery including a number of paintings and craft items.  Here is a photo of the paintings.

When we moved I gave a number of paintings to friends and relatives. For that reason I do not have much of an inventory of art to put into the gallery.  I am trying to find time to paint most days so that I have more items to show closer to Christmas.  I just finished a new "Mr. Hoots" painting that needs to have the polycrylic applied.  I am working on a box and another painting and both should be done soon.  As soon as they are finished I will post photos.

I have had one training session at the gallery and will work again on Friday and next Tuesday.  That should complete my training.  I am getting to meet more of the artists and they have been very welcoming to me.  I am happy to be a part of this group.

First paintings done in my new NC home studio.

Life in NC has been very busy.  We have been here eleven weeks.  In that time we have met many new people and got involved in many activities.  We  have found a church and a Sunday School class, we bowl in a couple's league and I bowl in a ladies league.  We have started taking ballroom dancing lessons.  I joined the Burlington Artist League and now have my art in their gallery.  I have entered their regional art competition and have begun training sessions to work in the gallery. 

I will post photos of the gallery next week.  The opening reception for the art competition is on Sunday.  I'll be attending and will take photos then.

I have completed 5 art projects in the past few weeks.  You will probably recognize the subject matter.  Since no one here has seen my art I decided to start with things I have painted in the past that have been good sellers. 

The first is my signature "Endless Rose" painting.  Size on this one is 22X22.

 While working on this painting I "christened" my new art studio.  I accidentally dropped a jar of red paint.  The paint flew everywhere.  It was on the floor, my CD player, my chair and all over me.  It looked like a blood bath.  Roger was working in the garage so I called him on the cell phone and told him to come up to my studio because I needed his help.  I told him not to panic when he saw me because it was paint and not blood.  We were able to soak up most of the paint but the red stains will be there forever.  Luckily my CD player still works even though it is now red.  I'm glad I had enough foresight to cover the carpeted floors with rubber mats.  My new art studio is no longer pristine.  It looks like I have been working there for years.

Next is "Mare & Foal" size 11X14

The third painting is "Rooster Reveille" which is also 11X14

All of these paintings are on stretch canvas.  I did not bring any frames with me and have only gotten a few at garage sales since I got here.  For that reason I will be painting on stretch canvas for awhile.

Not long after I started work on the first painting I received an email from someone in Surprise, AZ with a request for 2 of my domino train stations.  They were special order so I took a break from the canvas painting to do them.  Here are photos of both.

It is over three years since I moved away from AZ and I am still getting orders for the train stations!