It’s been a busy couple of months. The shows are winding down and it’s time to get down to the serious business of summer! It has been fun to attend all of the great events. The first fun event was the Flower Show. It was a 10 day extravaganza in a tent. Although the tent provided shelter from the rain… sometimes… it did little to repel the sleet, cold, and wind. We began the week with boots, heavy coats and gloves, and ended the week with shorts and flip flops! It’s April in Ohio! It was a very successful show for me and I enjoyed getting to know the other artists. That’s a good way to get a group to bond-put them in a tent for ten days together under extreme conditions! Thanks to all of the people who attended and sent such good wishes my way. I had a blast and hope to see you all at the Pendleton Art Center!

The next show on the agenda was the show in Rising Sun for the Pendleton Center there. Pictured above is the Best of Show winning horse sculpture. It is truly amazing. Jackie Braden, Shannon Godby and I were all represented and had fun at the opening.

My show at the Pop Revolution Gallery remains up through June 9. If you get a chance, stop in to see it. Jim Crosser’s work and mine meld well for a great show titled “May Flowers”. This gallery is staffed with two hard-working owners, Fran Michaels and Ben Jason Neal. They not only are accomplished artists but also are excellent framers. It’s a great place to view shows, get frames and just talk art!

The Day/Evening in the Garden at the Taft are over. What a beautiful event. The weather was perfect and the decor was wonderful. The table settings were spectacular. It was a magical evening made even more special by good friends to share it.

Finally, the Fitton Center for Creative Arts is a place to check out. If you haven’t been there, it is a beautiful facility on the Great Miami River in downtown Hamilton. The 44th Regional Art Competition is still on display through the second week of June. The show is spread through the first floor common area (where my piece entitled “Sunday” is) as well as two galleries upstairs. It is a wonderfully eclectic show; ranging from the very realistic to the playful and abstract. Judges awards are scattered throughout the show. Try to get there to see this show and top notch facility if you can.

Now it’s time to get back to work and look to upcoming events. Of major importance is our big STUDIO MOVE! Allison and I move in the #315 at the Pendleton on June 1st! Details to follow for our big opening celebration!

May is a busy month in the Cincinnati art world. There are openings every weekend in galleries around the city. Saturday May 9th is no exception. The Pop Revolution Gallery in Mason opens the show entitled “May Flowers” that will showcase my work with the work of Jim Crosser. It is a relatively new gallery that is right next door to Gallery 42. It’s at the intersection of Rt. 42 and Mason Montgomery Road. Gallery 42 is showing work by Stacie Seuberling, Kay Hurley and Barb Chenault. The opening hours are from 4-8.

May 20 & 21 are the dates for the Evening/Day in the Garden event at the Taft Museum. This is a ticketed event which promises to be elegant and an evening/day to remember. We will be attending the Evening event and look forward to it. I am showing 9 of my favorite collage paintings for this event. Other artists participating are: Bruce and Nancy Neville, Kay Hurley, Trish Weeks and more.

Thanks for your continued support and I hope to see you at one or both of these events. For details of either show, consult my website for links.

I just got word today that this piece entitled “Sunday” is accepted for the Fitton Center’s Regional Juried Show. The show opens April 26th, the last day of the Flower Show… not sure how that will work. The opening is from 2-4. Maybe someone will cover for me so I can attend. New venue for me and certainly an impressive building and gallery space!

Okay, so the Cincinnati Flower Show is only a week and a half away… I should be talking about that. I will post some images later that will be on display there, (and hopefully, sold). But, today is a milestone. I finally finished the last piece for the Taft Day/Evening in the Garden event in May. I am pleased with this one. It is called “Grace”. I thought of the name when in church yesterday. I was listening to the sermon and Dr. Kent mentioned living with grace. It is something to aspire to; that’s for sure. The dictionary defines the word grace as:
1. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.
2. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.

The beauty of nature inspires me. The anticipation of a family gathering inspires me. My home and a beautiful table inspire me.
I’m working on acquiring grace.

New for the Cincinnati Flower Show…. Matted 5″ x 7″ original collage paintings. Lace tablecloths and vases and flowers in the garden; all these and more. They are matted to fit in standard 11″ x 14″ frames and are very affordable. I will have a couple at Pendleton Final Friday this weekend, March 27th & 28th. I hope that you like them!

Seventy degrees outside and the bulbs are beginning to pop! It is time to think about cleaning up the winter debris and enjoying the spring bulbs… and planning the summer gardens. We will no doubt have another blast of winter, but there is a hint of spring today. There is no better time than now to plan to attend the Cincinnati Flower Show in Symmes Township Park. Last week the 20 artists selected for the Artists’ Studio for the Flower Show assembled for an informative meeting. We learned a lot about what to expect. The new venue promises to be spectacular. There will be 80 vendors, Daveed’s food, and many exhibits to see. Everything from planters to table displays will be showcased. It is a huge undertaking and will be well worth the price of a ticket. Parking is available at Rozzi’s Fireworks across the street. Check out the link on my homepage for ticket information and directions. Plan to attend this special Cincinnati event. See you there!

Stop by Studio #414 this Friday between 6-10 for Final FRIDAY. It’s SPRING in our studio. It’s time for “out with the old and in with the new”. Come see my new spring gardens and birds. Valet parking is available so come early and stay until 10.

This is special! Yesterday I was invited to participate in the upcoming “Garden” shows at the Taft! I don’t have the details but the dates are: May 20th and 21st. It is a show of current artists considered by the museum to be “collectible” and a fundraiser for the Taft docent program. I am very excited to participate in this event; also to see who else has been invited. I think Bruce and Nancy Neville are going to be there.

It looks like the spring will be very busy. Pop Revolution show opening April 4th, the Cincinnati Flower Show the 18-26 of April, and now, this event at the Taft. Of course, every month, Final Fridays at the Pendleton. I will keep you posted with details. Hope to see you at any/all of these events. wow.

I am among the 20 artists selected to exhibit in the Artists’ Studio for the Cincinnati Flower Show! The dates are: April 18-26. The venue has changed from Coney to Symmes Park in the Loveland area. I will post details soon. The artists selected will be attending a meeting soon to receive more information. What a great opportunity and source of motivation to be surrounded by the flowers!

Valentine’s night will be a busy one. What perfect timing that it falls on a Saturday night this year. My work will be featured in two Valentine’s Day shows, each with a charitable goal.

The Loveland Studios on Main “Factory Cats” night is February 14th from 6-10. Art has been donated to help groups who rescue forgotten and abandoned animals in the greater Cincinnati area. Last year’s show attracted national attention and was inspired by 63 cats rescued after being left to die in a foreclosed house. This year’s inspiration is a group of 42 cats and kittens found in an abandoned ammunition factory just north of Cincinnati. At this opening some of the “Factory Cats” are still looking for a home and will be in attendance. Also, this year, student art work will be displayed and auctioned along with the professional artists’ work. The Loveland Art Studios are in a former elementary school just off Loveland-Madeira Road in the “heart” of Loveland. What better place to spend Valentine’s night than in LOVEland?

Also on Valentine’s night is a show called “The Art of Love” being held at the Baum Opera House in Miamisburg, Ohio. This event includes dinner, dancing and an art show featuring my “Hearts” as well as the work of Mike Crass, owner of Alley Fine Art and Framing. There is a silent auction and funds will go to AIDS research. Another wonderful charity event; glad that ticket sales are now sold out. Here’s hoping they raise lots of $$$ for this event and everyone has a warm and LOVEly time.