It’s only a month until Valentine’s Day… time to come out of the cold and express your undying love to your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, your dog…anyone and everyone who makes your life better. Why not check out some hand-crafted items at The Pendleton Art Center on Final Friday (that’s January 30th)…or stop in Indigenous anytime to see their seasonal collections. Just because Christmas is over is no reason to stop the SHOP LOCAL initiative. Support your local artists!

Is it too early to think about spring? I think not! There are so many things about spring that I love to celebrate in my work. The flowers, most of all… but also the birds and the sun… it’s not to soon to think about these things when I am creating new work.

There are so many new opportunities for this year that I hardly know where to start. I am excited to be a guest artist at the Loveland Studios on Main for the next few “Second Saturdays.” It’s a fun evening out like Pendleton, but in beautiful historic Loveland. I will begin this relationship on February 14 from 6-10PM. Jamie Morath is my hostess. Come enjoy Valentine’s Day with some “Hearts and Flowers” from my collection.

A one person show of my teacups/coffee cups opens in March at the Heaven’s Roast Coffee in the Loveland area. The opening is March 21st- a Saturday afternoon. It is a beautiful space that hosts artists for one month shows and, of course, has the best coffee and tea in the area. The last show that I saw there was a beautiful collection by Maureen Holub.

April will be a huge month for me…first, the opening of a two person show at the Pop Revolution Gallery on 42 in Mason. It is a beautiful space next door to Gallery 42. The main street in Mason is fast becoming the in place for the arts in the northern Cincinnati area. My show will focus on Pop Portraits as well as some mixed media work. It promises to be a bold and colorful show with a lively opening. (their last opening counted near 1,000 people!) That date is yet to be determined… I will get back to you on that. Also in April is the annual fundraiser/silent auction of art celebrating nature at the Cincinnati Nature Center. Again, I don’t have the exact date but will have it soon. I have again been invited to contribute and plan to submit three pieces. Last year this event was a great success and this year promises to be equally successful. Great art and a worthy cause!

There are some other opportunities in the works that I will fill you in on when they happen. I hope to be involved with the Cincinnati Flower Show this year and am exploring several other options. As always, I look forward to seeing you at any/all of these events. I will be absent from the Final Friday at Pendleton this month due to this week’s foot surgery… but my work will be there! My three buddies in Studio #414 will be there and will be happy to greet you should you visit.
Happy 2009!

Come to the Pendleton Final Friday and Second Look Saturday this weekend! We are having a sale of works priced for all budgets. It’s time to make room for new work coming in the spring. Everything on my sale wall is only $50. We look forward to sharing a Christmas cookie and glass of wine with you. It’s 6-10 on Friday and 11-3 on Saturday. Valet parking on Friday night.

It’s the holiday season and lots of shopping to do. Why not SHOP LOCAL and get a gift or two from one of the local art galleries. Reasonably priced works of art, mostly by local artists, can be found at Redtree, Indigenous and Sandra Small… and of course, Pendleton Art Center. This Friday marks the opening of new shows at both Redtree and Sandra Small. Redtree’s show is called “Mixed Up” and is a collection of mixed media works. My small piece called “Snowyday Roses” (pictured above) is front and center in this new show that actually went up yesterday. (they sold a piece already) The show will remain until Jan. 2nd. The Sandra Small show, curated by Daniel Brown, is an eclectic mix of jewelry, paintings, painted pillows, minature rooms and sculpture. The “Holiday Boutique” includes three of my pieces, “Girl Party” pictured above, and also “Teapot” and “Dining Room Table”. The show will be in place until January 3. Indigenous can always be counted on for fun and reasonably fine art/craft gift items. I was in there a couple days ago and found some awesome Leandra Drumm ornaments for only $20 and they are stunning! There is so much to see that your head spins but it is worth the visual overload in there. And, Diane and Co. are ready and willing to be so helpful in assisting you and wrapping your gift. The wine walk this month in O’Bryonville is Thursday night, the 18th, and all of the merchants will have doors wide open with great gift ideas and plenty of good cheer.

Pendleton Final Friday falls on the day after Christmas this year. That is good for buyers who want bargains. Our studio will have lots of sale items marked down to make room for new work. I have some new works that are nature-inspired and ready to hang but need some space. Many of my fall pieces are marked down to as low at $25-$75. Stop by for Final Friday or Second Look Saturday…I would love to see you. This is my final show for a little while… foot surgery on Dec. 29 will keep me down for a while. Lots of time to work on new pieces… hope to make it to January Final Friday. If I don’t, my buddies at PAC #414 will happily sell my work! If you want some of my work but can’t make it to PAC for Final Friday or Saturday, check out my website/Paintings, and if it’s still available, contact me to buy directly… I can deliver by Christmas.

Enough of the hard sell. I wish you, my friends, a wonderful holiday season and blessed 2009.

It will be a big night at the Pendleton Art Center tonight. The biggest shopping day of the year is here. Come down to Pendleton to find the perfect gifts for those on your list. We will be open from 6-10 tonight and from 11-3 tomorrow. We have ornaments, cards, jewelry and lots of wonderful paintings. Things are priced for every budget. Most artists will be in attendance tonight and, of course, there will be valet parking to make it easy to get in and get out! Support our local artists.

It’s going to be especially fun for me tonight because Mickey will be in the house! She is in town from Minneapolis for one night only. Can’t wait to see her reaction to the greatest assortment of artists under one roof. (and her portrait in the hall) Too bad she doesn’t live close enough to be a permanent fixture there. No doubt, she will grade my jewelry. I hope to pass her high standards.

It has been a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. We feel truly blessed. This year has given us a bounty to be thankful for. The new year promises to hold much more for our family.

We hope to see you at the Pendleton tonight or tomorrow. If not, the next show of my work is at the Sandra Small Gallery in Covington where I will participate in the Holiday Show on December 12th. The next Final Friday weekend is December 26th and 27th.

Alley Fine Art and Custom Framing in Springboro, Ohio will now show my pop portraits! Maria is now residing in the window and the “family portrait” is also there. Sammy is on display nearby in the local dog grooming business. Proprietors Mike and Donna have a wonderful gallery with an eclectic mix of contemporary paintings and sculptural works. Most are the work of local artists. There are a few pieces from ADC and lots of work by Dayton artists. If you are in the area, stop by and check it out. It’s on Rt. 73 just east of I-75.

Okay, you can go home again! Last night was the FunRazer at the barn in Mariemont, home of the Woman’s Art Club. I was invited to participate in this event due to my long relationship with Mariemont High School. (25 years is long, right?) Imagine my surprise when I walked in and found a blue ribbon on my latest piece, The Finish Line. I didn’t realize it would be judged. Wow. The event raised lots of dollars for the barn renovation with the abundance of gift baskets and silent auction items. Some of the art sold… not sure how much. My pieces did not sell, but I was actually happy to bring them home. I am not ready to part with them yet. Strange, but, true. You will be able to see Finish Line at Pendleton Thanksgiving weekend. Thanks to the Mariemont community and the “ladies of the club” for making me feel so welcome.

What a great night at the Viewpoint opening! Not only was I honored to be included in such a prestigious show, but my family was able to view the show! My 91-year old mother was escorted to Cincinnati by my brother and sister-in-law from Evergreen, Colorado. Also, my son, Dan and his glamorous bride, Gretchen, was in the house! We all mingled for a drink and bite to eat to wait for the awards. It was great so see so many local people win awards. Congrats Bruce Neville! Lots of Pendleton artists were represented. After the awards, the entire family went to dine at The Celestial! We were treated like royalty and had a wonderful dinner. After we bid farewell to everyone… Mark and I went to the bar at the Celestial and listened to the musical stylings of the lounge singer and enjoyed the spectacular view. What a wonderful night it was!

It was another great Final Friday weekend at the Pendleton this weekend. It was also the first time our studio was open on Second Look Saturday and there were more people than expected. I finally have most of my “lace tablecloth and teacup” pieces all together in one place. I have to admit that I am still pleased with them. The latest one, “Sweet Caroline” was purchased less than 24 hours after it was completed! I have big plans to continue this series. More chandeliers and wallpaper… more lace and teacups.

The next couple of weeks are going to be busy. Friday night is the opening of Viewpoints 2008 at the Cincinnati Art Club. I am especially excited for this show because my family will be there, complete with my 91-year old mother and brother from Colorado. We plan to celebrate a great family night with dinner at the Celestial! Yum….

The weekend of the 14th also promises to be a great one. The 14th is the Leslie Birkhead opening at Sandra Small and the Indian Hill art show featuring “goodNancy” Neville. Then, Saturday night is the FunRazer… fall fundraiser at the Cincinnati Woman’s Art Club at the barn in Mariemont. I hope to see some old friends in Mariemont… looking forward to that. My new piece “The Finish Line” will be in that show. (named so because of the race to the finish that most women feel when they enter the month of November and the holiday season… how will we get everything finished?)

Thanksgiving weekend at the PAC will be big… then the holiday show at Sandra Small…wow. Hope to see you there!
I am grateful for so many wonderful opportunities!

It’s going to be a shopper’s delight this Friday night at the Pendleton Art Center! Allison and I are offering some blasts from the past with jewelry, ornaments, and stained glass purses along with our other works of art for holiday shoppers this month and through December. I also finally have my entire collection of “lace tablecloth and teacups” paintings together in our space in #414. Some have been shown in other places and 3 pieces are new. We look forward to seeing old friends and new this month. I will hold down the fort on Saturday from 11-2 for those of you who can’t resist the urge to hand out candy Friday night.

Next weekend, Viewpoints 2008 is opening at the Cincinnati Art Club in Eden Park. My piece, “Get Out!” is included in this year’s show. Also showing are Bruce Neville, Trish Weeks, Kay Hurley… and many others from around the country. It promises to be a great show.

November the 15th is the Women’s Art Club fundraiser at the barn in Mariemont. I was contacted today with an invitation to show in this event. A portion of the proceeds will raise funds for the barn renovation. More details will follow as I have them.

December the 12th is the opening for the holiday show at the Sandra Small Gallery in Covington, KY. Again, I don’t have all the details yet to know how many pieces will be included… but it will be a selection of different sized pieces of the lace tablecloths and teacups series.

Also, it is the last week to see the Art at the X at Xavier University art gallery next week. Try to check it out- it’s a wonderful show!

This assortment of shows and openings is certainly exciting for me, and, I hope you will be able to attend one or more! Happy holiday season!