My First Gallery Representation at Essence Gallery & Boutique in Old Town Albuquerque

My exciting news is that the owner of Essence Gallery & Boutique in Old Town Albuquerque is now representing my artwork in her gallery in Old Town and yesterday we took the ten paintings to the right in to be displayed and available for purchase.  So, if you are in the area please stop in.  It is a beautiful two story gallery with a variety of colorful, fun and wonderful artwork and creations.  Make sure you visit the second floor as this is where my art is being displayed.  I'm grateful to Jillian Maresco for connecting with me and asking me if I would let her represent my artwork in Old Town and to my husband, family, friends and art friends on this art blog, Facebook and Twitter for giving me opportunities I never expected and am more than excited about.

More exciting news will be upcoming in the next few weeks so please come back and visit again and thank you for your interest in my artwork.

Update on Challenge 7 Let's Paint New Mexico - "Ying & Yang in Lavender" and #twitterartexhibit, Moss, Norway

Pictured above is the photograph sent to all participants of "Let's

Paint New Mexico" a couple of weeks ago for Challenge 7.  To the left is my initial acrylic under painting and to the right is my submission "Ying & Yang in Lavender" oil painting, both are on the same 10"x8" canvas.

The #twitterartexhibit was held in Moss, Norway beginning March 12, 2015 and was to run through March 26th, however, it has been such a success that it has been extended through tomorrow, Saturday, March 28th.  I was notified by the founder, David Sandum, that my postcard sized submission (Taos Inspiration, shown in a previous blog post) was no longer on the rotational display which means that it sold. Next year the #twitterartexhibit will be held in New York City and I am excited about the prospect of being a participant again and maybe even being able to attend for my first time.

Challenge 6 of "Let's Paint New Mexico 2015" & #TwitterArtExhibit Opens in Moss, Norway

To the left is the photo sent to all participants of "Let's Paint New Mexico 2015" for Challenge 6.  Each photo provided for the challenge is usually sent out to all of us on Sunday night and a new photo provided the following Sunday night.  I have been enjoying having my submission in within the week after receiving them until this one arrived two weeks ago tomorrow.  I'm happy to say I was only a few days over the weekly deadline I've silently placed on myself.  As you can see in the photo the sky was pretty much colorless.

To the right is my 10"x8" oil painting on canvas "Pedernal from the Rio" submission for Challenge 6. I decided that because of the subdued light I would make the sky in my painting a bit cloudy. I'm happy with the way it turned out. 

The #TwitterArtExhibit opened in Moss, Norway yesterday.  Artists from around the globe submitted one postcard sized work of art in different mediums and different subjects. Each of these postcards are being sold at the Moss Public Library for $35 each with 100% of the profit benefiting Homestart of Moss.  So many postcards were submitted that they are being displayed and sold on a rotating basis for the duration of the exhibit.  This year there will be no online sales, however, it is already a huge success.  Opening night more postcards were sold and profit made than the entire event held in 2010.  What a wonderful tribute and success for all those involved, especially the founder of the event, David Sandum.  It has been so enriching and wonderful for me to be involved with this event the past three years.  My postcard submission has not been rotated into the exhibit as of yet.  My hope is that someone has as much enthusiasm for these small pieces of art at such an affordable price that will bring even more success and benefit to Homestart of Moss.  Next year #TwitterArtExhibit will be held in New York City.  Stay tuned for more information and updates on both this year's event and the upcoming 2016 event.

Challenges 4 and 5 of "Let's Paint New Mexico" and my Process

To the left is the photo  "Let's Paint New Mexico" 2015 sent as Challenge 4.  I decided to go back to my process learned through an art workshop with sketching out the subject matter and then using tonal shadings to start.  My first sketch is to the right.


To the left is more sketching
and watercolor added. I then decided that rather than doing my usual oil painting I would try out my new Arches Watercolour Paper I'd just received and do a watercolor translation for this challenge. To the right is the final watercolor rendering I did as my submission for Challenge 4.  I named this 9"x12" watercolor "Terra-cotta Taos".

For Challenge 5 I was sent the photo to the left and to the right is my 8"x10" oil painting submission "Nature of New Mexico".

I had just finished painting my submission for Challenge 5 of "Let's Paint New Mexico" when my cousin in Oklahoma passed away.  She had Alzheimer's, had been placed on hospice just weeks before and was blessed to have had a visit by many family members just weeks before.  Her husband passed away last year just after both of her brothers had passed within weeks of each other.  In the process of trying to comfort her granddaughter I found a photograph that was taken when my cousin and her brothers were just children.  That photo was such a comfort to me and others in our family.  In it an aunt had her arms wrapped around my cousin, in back of her were my parents, her mother, and an uncle who had his hands on one of her brothers shoulders.  All in the photo were laughing and smiling.  All with the exception of my mom have now passed and the comfort comes from knowing that they are all together again.  Each day of life is a gift, I'm so grateful God has blessed me with many gifts and the ability to share them with others.

The picture to the left is the inspirational little teapot I used to paint "Fascinated by the Teapot" an original 10"x8" acrylic.  The teapot was a gift from my mother-in-law and I continue to do paintings of it here and there, always fascinated by it.

In December I started painting a birdhouse for a dear friend.  Here is a picture of the first of a variety of different scenes and painting I'm doing on the sides of it for her.

I have some exciting news coming up though saving my announcements for a post closer to the end of the month.  Please come back and visit.