"Shutters Blue, Garden Green, Roses Pink" SOLD

Shutters Blue, Garden Green, Roses Pink

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

SOLD

Workshops.  

Preparing, packing, schlepping--all part of the necessary requirements for having one.

I'm not gonna lie to you. 

 If I had a personal assistant I would hand those jobs over so quick--- I would run the risk of whiplash:))

HOWEVER, lacking an assitant (Ed doesn't count)...

If I didn't prep, pack and schlepp I would be forfeiting...

So Much Awesomeness!

(If video does not appear on your page, click here)

For instance, this past week I got to hang out several evenings with Kathleen O'Neil Stevenson, talking about things like....water based oil paints and which ones are the cadillacs, where can I find those neat containers she has her art supplies stashed in....and of course a side trip to the local art store to check out paint colors like they were new shades of nail polish:))  

And then the 18 artists who gathered into Kathleen's Renaissance Gallery in Carmel were such a talented , fun loving group!  Getting to hear their stories of when and why they started painting, and how much they simply loved the doing of it--just such a gift to listen in!

AND did I mention....they were really talented?!

Artists at work 

 (one of my larger paintings is hanging at the far end --a whopping 30 x 40, you can click here to see it close up:)

Melody created an awesome color chart based on my palette. 

 I threatened to steal it, but had to settle for a photograph.  

Just too many artists with their eye on me...dang it!!

Lots of room to spread out in Kathleen's inspiring gallery space. 

 Love how she had my paintings hanging out in her shabby chic chairs.  

Again, wanted to steal chairs for my studio, but too many artists watching.

Foiled again!!

More details and paintings to come from the Carmel IN Workshop:))) 

 Stay Tuned!

Carpe Diem!!....Due to a late cancel, I have an opening in my workshop next week in Lexington, KY, March 8-10.  Contact me by clicking here if you would like to slide in the open spot:))!!

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"Wisteria Steps of France" SOLD

"Wisteria Steps of France"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

Wisteria hugs whatever it touches (including the roses is this one). 

And it continually reaches and grows to embrace more. 

2012 Workshops --Click Here:)!

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"Beautiful Simplicity" SOLD

"Beautiful Simplicity"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

There is a sweet roughness to clothes dried on breeze, bleached by sun.

Laundry that is beautiful in its absence of complexity

With all of life's mysteries, this one we get

"Curl laundry over line, clip firmly with wooden pin

Let hang 'til dry"

Simply beautiful:))

I love the simplicity of acoustic guitar.  Michael Dowdle plays "A Simple Life". 

 Savor the beauty of this day and this moment. 

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"Be Open" SOLD

"Be Open"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

"Above all, watch with glittering eyes,

the whole world around you,

because the greatest secrets are always hidden

in the most unlikely places"

                                                                                                               ~Roald Dahl

Open window in France = An eyeful of roses

Be open.

it's a good thing:))

 

In Other News:

• More Eddie and Phyllis headed your way.  Stay tuned:))
• If you haven't had a chance to check out the workshops for next year, here's your chance:))  click here.
• All the Catalicious series of paintings are now in one place on my website for your viewing enjoyment:))  click here  and all of Eddie and Phyllis series are now in one place as well...click here

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"Candy Colors of France" SOLD

"Candy Colors of France"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

Pastel spring candies and aged French buildings have a lot in common. Both are easy on the eye, leave you wanting more,  and we can each have a favorite:)) 

I am a sucker for pastel M & M's and French blue awnings that have faded in the sun.  How 'bout you?

I have uncovered something that you French-a-holics will enjoy.  It's Fabulous Fifi....A French-influenced weblog featuring unique decorating, styling, gardening, crafts and food ideas for incurable romantics.  Only visit if you have time--I like to have never got out of there yesterday:))  Have fun! Pin It

"The Light Falls Softly in France" SOLD

"The Light Falls Softly in France"

12 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$350

   

In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.

                                                                                                           ~Aaron Rose

Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space. It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe. It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished.

                                                                                  ~Michael Strassfeld

How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!

                                                                              ~John Muir

The windows of my soul I throw

Wide open to the sun.

                                                                        ~John Greenleaf Whittier

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering.

There is a crack in everything,

That's how the light gets in.

                                                        ~Leonard Cohen

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.

                                                                ~Kahlil Gibran

Your life is something opaque, not transparent, as long as you look at it in an ordinary human way. But if you hold it up against the light of God's goodness, it shines and turns transparent, radiant and bright. And then you ask yourself in amazement: Is this really my own life I see before me?

~Albert Schweitzer

Thank you for the light you shine into my life and those around you. 

You are

An extraordinary gift.

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"La Grand Opening in France"

"La Grand Opening in France"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

With each group of artists that I am honored to spend time with---I am always so touched by their talent, their unique way of being in the world, how they share and care for each other--and cheer each other on as well.  I find each group has its own energy, each its own joy---and I am the lucky person that gets to soak it all in! 

This group of ladies at my Lexington, KY workshop made for a delightful 3 days! Karla made and brought home made candy, Brenda shared her great organizing techniques, Anne decorated her eye especially for us:)), Nita gave us the quote to remember, Anna made sure everyone got to park cheaply, everyone shared paint, forgotten palette knives, mediums, ideas---and this group totally  painted the hours away! 

A very big thank you to each one of you for choosing to study with me--you were a blast!!!

Look what a beautiful crop of day one paintings this group of artists produced!!

Memorable quote of the workshop??  After everyone shared their thoughts on the musical easel session, Nita concluded we were all just a bunch of "loose" women.  (She was referring to our brushwork...I think.  Anyway, what happened in Lexington, stays in Lexington....)

"The Girls"

Moi, Rhojean, Trudi, Karla, Debbie, Faye, Roni, Sherry, Anne, Sarah,

Nita, Linda, Pris, Brenda, Anna, and Sue

AKA.....Loose Women:))

Next workshop??  Nashville Tenn:))  Ready or not--here I come!! (David Gillihan and the Artists on Main--I'm headin' your way and can't wait!!)

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"Opening in France" SOLD

"Opening in France"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

There is always, always, time for the sweet breath of life to blow across the soul.

It is the other things that there may not be time for

And if they fall away

No one will notice

They will not be missed

This quietness, this time of pausing, this is what the world is hinged upon.

It is what must be

 so that all that is unnecessary will fall away

For it is that other that weighs  down, that would prevent the taking of flight

There is always time, time for the sweet breath of life to blow across the soul.

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"France and Colorful Addictions" SOLD

"France and Colorful Addictions"

©Dreama Tolle Perry

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

The study of color.  I know as it relates to art, their are volumes written on just that.  Well, I guess I may as well come clean here on the color thing as applied to my paintings.  Color theory is not what drives my wagon.  I am just not a complicated person.  Color makes me happy.  And particular combinations of colors only make it worse (or better, depending on how you look at it..:)  It's that simple. 

Which brings me to this combination.  Blue shutters (with touches of Caribbean blue, magenta and  radiant blue) nestled up against a crush of boisterously pink flowers ( with hints of transparent red, permanent rose, and indian yellow) all on a building in France.   Well, it's just nearly more than a fellar can take.

And that's my excuse (and Lord knows I need one) for being fixated on color. 

Wishing you an exceedingly color filled day!!

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"France, the Cat's Meow" (According to Eddie) SOLD

"France, the Cat's Meow"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

Okay, it was late, I had been painting all day and in a weak moment, I asked Eddie to name the painting.  And yeah, that's him, up in the window, doing what Eddie does--acting catty.

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"France, Friends, and Sunshine" SOLD

"France, Friends, and Sunshine"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

Certain things bring a smile to my heart every time I see them.  French windows are one of them.  If eyes are windows to the soul then French windows like these surely must open into happy places.  Window boxes bursting with blooms means someone has a generous heart.  If you have ever grown plants in a window box you know it takes much diligence and attention.  They dry out much faster and of course, getting water to them is not as easy.  So for many reasons (including color and sunshine) it gladdens my heart when I see them.  Someone is loving their plants and sharing them with all of us.  Just a reminder when we are doing the things we love, everybody benefits..:))  Keep doing the things you love and let it slosh over onto the rest of us!  Thanks to each of you for the joy and warmth you bring to the world.  We need each other's sunshine.....:))!

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"Light Hearted in France" SOLD

"Light Hearted in France"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

Hmmm....talk about heart healthy..a stress free jaunt in France...that should do it!  If it looks like one of the roses is missing here, it's because you just cut one to tuck  behind your ear (after first having buried nose in said rose and inhaling deeply)  before you headed off to class--it helps when you're local to speak the language...:)--no one said it hurt if the teacher happened to be cute as well.

Of course, listening to Stacey Kent's Raconte Moi helps put you in the mood....to learn the language of course. 

And in other news:

• 
  
  Carol Marine, one of the most well known of the daily painters and a super artist and lady will be our guest this Thursday, July 1st, 12 noon EST,  on Artists Helping Artists blog radio show.  We have lots to talk with Carol about and will be opening the phone lines for all your great questions and comments!  Check sidebar on my blog for details on calling in.  Remember--the shows are recorded as well for later listening.  Please help spread the word to your fellow artists about the show--Thanks!
• 
  
  Leslie Saeta and I have been having some awesome discussions via phone on how to make our September workshop an unforgettable, extreme learning experience.  I am learning things from Leslie about color and how to make your work have it's own signature look--and that's just with talking to her--just think of getting to see how she lays the paint down with the knife!  Stay tuned as we are each going to have a video addition on our sites to give you more information on what we plan to cover in this workshop set.  Click here for more info
• 
  
  And another thing--a bit of an unusual request.  But no one as ever accused me of being...usual.  Romiley Jack took my women's artist retreat back in the spring.  Romiley is an artist without brushes....she's an actress!  She has sent in her audition tape to "host your own show" that Oprah is sponsoring.  We can vote on our favorite.  Romiley is one of us--a generous, talented, lovely human being---and who doesn't like to see good girls win??  Here is the link to see her video audition and to vote.   Let's be part of pushing her to the top! (hint, you can vote more than once..:)
• 
  
  And, the pressure is building --- people are wanting to see paintings of Eddie.  I am hoping these are genuine requests and not something Eddie has engineered....so if he agrees to model, I will be adding a painting or two of Ed to the mix.  Just a heads up in case you are a fan of Eddie's.  He tells me has fans.  He also says he doesn't shed.....

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"A Very French Welcome" SOLD

"A Very French Welcome"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

I found the perfect spot to sit and sun and eat and  talk.  Even Eddie likes it--although he just slipped inside the open door to check and see if the the fish is fresh...

There's room for two on the bench.  I thought it looked so....well, welcoming!  Like, hello friend, sit awhile and soak up the good things in life.  Plenty of  fresh air, incredible colors, and most of all---shared laughter amongst friends to go around.  I'll save your spot...:)) 

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"Bicylette Francaise" (French Bicycle) SOLD

"Bicylette Francaise"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

Don your comfy clothes. Put on your favorite hat and stylin' sunglasses---and get ready to ride!!  Meet me at the patisserie and we"ll grab a few things to stick in our picnic basket.  It's a perfect day for coasting the French countryside..:)) 

Eddie says he can hardly wait to feel the wind in his whiskers....I knew I shouldn't have told him I was going to France....

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