Road-Trip: Kellogg Bird Sanctuary

Recently my husband and I visited the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary in Augusta, Michigan, for the purpose of obtaining potential photo references. Originally developed in 1927 as a refuge for migratory birds, the 180 acre sanctuary also became an important part of Michigan's Trumpeter Swan restoration project in the 1980s. It features numerous species of waterfowl in their natural habitat, as well as birds of prey enclosures displaying a number of raptors and owls. I found that we were able to get so close to many of the bird species with our camera equipment, that I have many more resources than I could ever dream of using. Bird photos, anyone?

While en route to the bird sanctuary we accidentally happened upon quite a gem. Much as I hate to admit it, I was more than a little cranky that we had not stopped for breakfast prior to arriving in Augusta which is more than an hour from our home...............because upon first glance it appeared that there was no food to be had in Augusta! Then just slightly off the main street we happened upon 'A Food Affair Cafe', a gourmet restaurant owned by chef Jared Dellario, and his mother Cheryl Dellario. 'A Food Affair Cafe' strives to use products made and grown in Michigan in an effort to help sustain the state's economy, and rightfully prides itself on the fact that all menu items are made from scratch and from the freshest ingredients available. It is truly fine dining, in a comfortable and casual atmosphere adorned with fine art by local artists. Both of us felt that it was one of the best restaurant meals we have had in quite some time.............and enough cannot be said about the level of hospitality we were shown. Because we arrived earlier than most Sunday patrons we had the opportunity to talk with the owners as well as "Rachel" our waitress, and we truly enjoyed meeting and chatting with them. So in sum, stop in to 'A Food Affair Cafe' for a great meal; even if Augusta is a little off of your beaten path, you will find it well-worth the detour.

The past couple of weeks it may seem as if I am doing more running around than I am drawing -- and relatively speaking that may be true when compared to the big push I experienced in July and August just prior to the gallery show. But truly, I am drawing; and in fact am working on the largest piece I've done to date. It is currently experiencing its "ugly-phase" -- or one of the many, considering its size. A work-in-progress photo will be posted soon.

Thanks for reading.

"Quest for the West": Road trip to Indianapolis

Over this past weekend I visited the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The Eiteljorg is the type of gem rarely found east of the Mississippi River, and is currently host to the fourth annual Quest for the West Art Show and Sale.

Quest for the West features still lifes, portraiture, landscapes, wildlife, and narratives that focus on the culture of the American West. Though much of my own work is similarly themed, I have not had opportunities up to this point to see original works by some of today's top western artists. Living near the overlap of the rust belt and the corn belt one is, shall we say, western-deprived. I was absolutely thrilled to see original works by artists such as David Mann, John Buxton, Robert Griffing, John Fawcett, Roseta Santiago, and Daniel Smith, to name but a few.

However, it was while I slowly perused one of the museum's regular collections that I came upon what I found to be absolutely awe-inspiring: Howard Terpning's "Blessing From the Medicine Man". I consider myself to be fairly familiar with Terpning as an artist -- I have seen his work in books and magazines many times, and in our home we have several of his limited edition prints. Despite this, I was not prepared for how powerful his work is in person. I believe it is safe to say that I began to make the security guard a bit nervous, as evidenced by his repeated strolls back-and-forth behind me as I stood with my nose about fifteen inches from the surface of the painting while taking copious notes on a small piece of paper. I was bound-and-determined to discern what specific colors Terpning uses in his amazing skin tones. (I don't know if I figured it out exactly, but it sure gave me tremendous joy to try!)

My description of the Eiteljorg excursion would not be complete without mention of the Art-o-mat -- a retired cigarette machine which vends original pieces of art for a mere five-spot! I came upon this bit of intrigue while wandering the museum's second floor. The Art-o-mat was originally developed by artist Clark Whittington in 1997, and there are now 82 of them in various locations around the United States. One can even become an Art-o-mat artist: just follow the above link to find out how. (Please pay no attention to the photographer in the mirrored front of the Art-o-mat above!)

So in sum, the Eiteljorg Museum is a great way to spend an afternoon for those with an interest in western or Native American Art. If any readers have been there or visit in the future, I'd love to hear your impressions.

Opening Reception: "Line by Line"

There are times when one wishes there were three of oneself, and for me the "Line by Line" artists' reception, with fellow Michigan artists Bonnie Auten and Dianna Soisson, was one of those times. I thoroughly enjoyed mingling, chatting, and yes.........at times laughing way too loud.........with those who attended. We truly appreciated the many who came out to see us and our work - even given the great football games whose air times overlapped with the reception! Many kudos to Scott and Barbara Hudson for putting on a very nice event. The exhibition will continue at the Hudson Gallery in downtown Sylvania, Ohio, through September 29, 2009.

Now its time for me to attempt to regain increased focus on my work, so look for new work-in-progress in the near future. I have spent much of the past few days acclimating to a new Toshiba laptop computer with a different operating system than what I have become accustomed to, and an unfamiliar photo imaging program. Thankfully however, I have a couple of close friends who are much smarter than I concerning computers, and they are ever-gracious when I repeatedly call on their expertise. The laptop will be used primarily for all things related to my artwork -- digital submissions, storing photo references, reformatting art images, blogging, website maintenance, etc. -- and will be adorned with a large sign which reads, "NO TEENAGERS ALLOWED". (I know some of you are feeling my pain.)

"Line by Line - Three Women Working in Colored Pencil": September 1 - 29, 2009

Throughout the month of September, "Line by Line: Three Women Working in Colored Pencil", will be on display at the Hudson Gallery in Sylvania, Ohio. The artist's reception will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2009, from 5 - 7 p.m.

The show features approximately thirty colored pencil works by Michigan artists Bonnie Auten, Dianna Wallace Soisson, and myself. It is a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to exhibit with two such gifted artists. From Bonnie's engaging and vibrant still lifes, to Dianna's lovely florals and water themes, to my western images -- this display provides a great deal of diversity, and has something for everyone.

The Hudson Gallery itself is located in the historic section of downtown Sylvania. It specializes in custom and archival framing, and is recognized as one of the area's top venues for original artwork. Owned by Scott and Barbara Hudson, the gallery is also a representative for Labino Glass and features contemporary art by various artists..............And an additional note regarding Scott and Barbara must be made here: one would be hard-pressed to find two lovelier and more genuine people. They are an absolute pleasure to work and talk with.

We hope to see you at the reception!

(In the above photo, clockwise: Whiskey Mountain Cowboy, by L. Schumacher; Rendezvous 1946, by B. Auten; and It's not the destination, it's the journey, by D. Wallace Soisson)

Work-in-Progress: Close-up of "Rope & Pulley"

On our small horse farm we are fortunate to have one of those 100+ year-old, three-story wooden barns, and are even more fortunate that it is in exceptional condition. Over the years I have found various 'treasures' in that barn, such as the writing on a wall indicating that it was built in 1884. But more often than I'd care to admit I am guilty of running through my life on auto-pilot. Consequently I sometimes do not really see what is around me. Such was the case with the subject of "Rope and Pulley", the current piece which I am very near to completing.

The old iron and wood pulley hangs on an oak beam near one of the barn doors that I rarely use. Despite this I have walked by it countless times, never really noticing what a fascinating object it is............until one morning in early July it captured my attention. According to my neighbor Wilbur, an eighty-five year old gentleman who owned and operated our farm for several decades, the pulley and its accompanying iron hook were used to lift hay into the hay mow. One end of the rope was attached to horses outside the barn, who would lift the hay via pulley when driven to walk forward.

I look forward to finishing this piece -- hopefully a couple of more days will do it -- and then plan on taking a brief 'break' from drawing during which I'm going to embark on a search for a new laptop computer. Incidentally, when talking with an out-of-state friend today I described our barn as structurally resembling one of the old "Mail Pouch barns" , and was surprised to find that not everyone knows what a "Mail Pouch barn" is!.................(I won't mention any names, but..........the link will further the education of those not familiar with this agricultural icon!)

Art Kudos Exhibition and Upcoming Hudson Gallery Show

On August 15, the 2009 Art Kudos International Competition and Exhibition opened featuring artists from fifteen countries. I'm pleased that my graphite, "Canadian Cowboy", was accepted as one of the 132 finalists in the exhibition. Fellow Colored Pencil Society of America member Holly Bedrosian was also accepted as a finalist. The finalists and award winners will be posted online for one year, after which the exhibition will be available through the Art Kudos archives.

It seems to have taken me a long time to recover from the CPSA convention week in Atlanta, Georgia, which was followed several days later by a quick trip to my brother's home in Michigan's upper peninsula. Both my 17-year old son and I were challenged by 20 hours of each other's constant company during the drive there and back over four days!

In the mean time, I am excited about and have been preparing for my first gallery exhibit: a three-person show with fellow colored pencil artists Bonnie Auten and Dianna Soisson, both of Michigan. The show will take place at the Hudson Gallery in Sylvania, Ohio from September 1 - 26, 2009, with the opening reception on Saturday, September 12, from 5 - 7 p.m. I, who am not accustomed to working under rather short deadlines, am scrambling to get the last piece finished in time to be photographed and framed for the show. (I've realized it is good for me; I need to put myself in the position of having a deadline more often.) More detailed information regarding this exhibit soon.

Colored Pencil Society of America 17th International Exhibition

What an experience the past few days in Atlanta, Georgia have been! Though tired and feeling somewhat bedraggled since my return home late yesterday, the Colored Pencil Society of America's 17th International Exhibition was a tremendous experience. I so enjoyed the time spent with good, old friends, as well as developing friendships with artists I'd not met before. As usual, the quality of artwork in the exhibition was exceptional. Many thanks are due to the CPSA board members who keep the wheels of this large organization turning, in addition to planning the exhibitions, convention week, and other events. The exhibition will continue on display at the Jacqueline C. Hudgens Center for the Arts in Duluth, Georgia until August 29, 2009. Award winners can be viewed at http://www.cpsa.org .

In addition to the exhibition and convention itself, a highlight for me was the fact that several family members from the Atlanta area, as well as up to several hours away, attended the exhibition and opening reception. I am so fortunate to have such supportive family and friends: it means so much to me.

Photos from top to bottom are: 1) awards night banquet; 2) Neil and Jean Fletcher, my uncle and aunt from Tallahassee, Florida, and I with my piece, "This Above All"; 3) Deborah L. Friedman of Massachusetts, with "Garden, Late Summer"; 4) Dee Overly of Michigan with "Crossing the Elements"; 5) Bonnie Auten of Michigan, winner of an Award for Excellence for "Sweet Temptations"; 6) Elizabeth Patterson of California, winner of the Robert Guthrie Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement for "Sunset at Sweetzer, 11 pm".