New Display Space

I am so thrilled with this new space to display some of my work…

It’s at CrossRoads Art Center.  A wonderful place to go hang out, take a class and look at a lot of great art.  An added bonus is it is right by one of the best antique store in Richmond!!

Thanks so much to Jenni Kirby and the gang there for making me feel so welcome!

Valentine’s Day Passion

“It’s a good thing I have my library card, because I am checking you OUT…;)”

This is the cheesy valentine devil that makes an appearance in my art room every February 14th.  He is a great way to celebrate, whether or not my students have that "special someone”  (in fact it is really good if they think they don’t and are feeling left out)

some other cheesy V. D. sayings...

“Well, here I am.  What were your other two wishes?”

But what does this have to do with art you may ask? Well doesn’t art help us to tap into our passions?  Either as a viewer or participant?  

“Do you have a license?  Because you are driving me crazy!”

Hope this is a wonderful non-overated Valentine’s Day for you and that you get to indulge in your favorite creative passion!

Let me leave with this final closing V.D. ditty…

“if I could re-arrange the alphabet, I would put I and U together…”

Makin’ It Happen at Boka Tako Kantina

So my husband and I went to this cool place for lunch a few weeks back.  I already knew the food was incredible without having even stepped inside the place (and not just because it is getting rave 4 star reviews from many sources) 

Just how is that, you ask?

Well because it is also one of the food trucks downtown at just about every fun event.

If you want to see a fantastic menu hit this...Boka Kantina. Richmond, Virginia

First thing we notice when we walk in is … bland walls, meh.  Of course, no wonder since food trucks do not have to ever worry about decor!  Which then prompts me to ask Patrick Harris, the owner, if he would just like to display some of my art.  To which he responds, 

“Sure.  Do you do murals?"

Next thing I know we are planning on a series of three of them and the rest is (unfolding) history…

First the rough sketch for approval of mural #1…

Then marking off the space 

(Patrick was beginning to wonder if paint was ever going to hit the wall)

But don’t want to paint it crookedly or not space it right…

Slowly but surely the paint finally did appear...

Every heard of “measure twice, cut once”?  

Well my take on that as a painter is to gesture in and rework easily.  Yeah I know it does not flow like the first saying but I think you get the idea...

Chalk transfers really help with readjustments and composition...

In the end Patrick persuaded me to go darker than I thought would work (I was wrong, he was right).  

A combination of dark rust and tinted highlights help to make the rusted screw “pop” away from the sign

The rust and corrosive metal look was more successful than I had even hoped for

FINISHED!! (I think, guess I should check with Patrick on this)

Now onto the next one…