Mark and I hope that you will join us for Final Friday this month! It is November the 26th from 6-10 PM. As always, there will be plenty of wine and snacks and valet parking available. Plan to visit Studio #315. Last month boasted over 1,000 visitors. This month promises to equally great! Come to visit and do some holiday shopping. Shop Local!

Reminder- the “Final Friday” in December is December 17th. (We doubt that you would want to come to PAC for New Year’s Eve or Christmas eve!) Plan to come to #315 that night for a great time and some birthday cake!

The other day I was parking my car when I was told “Don’t  park there. You’ll need to make room.”  They didn’t say what to make room for, just make room. I wondered, for what, a delivery, an ambulance, someone more important than I?  That has been nagging at me; that comment. Sometimes we all need to make a little room. We need to de-clutter our  thoughts and pull back to make room for the big picture. It is hard in day to day life to zoom out, as Photoshop would put it, and look at things from a different perspective. We get so caught up in details and clutter. Yesterday I was thinking about how excessively tired I was and that I am suffering from a cold. Then I talked to a friend who has fought a huge battle with breast cancer, and now, she has to have another surgery. I thought immediately how blessed I am and felt ashamed for complaining about a little head cold. I was getting my hair cut and my hair dresser talked about how lonely she is lately. She doesn’t have a significant person in her life right now. I had been thinking how much I don’t feel like cooking the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Now I feel so blessed to have a family to cook it for, no matter the amount of work and cost. It’s time to zoom out and look at things from a wider lens. We all have such blessings in our lives. Let’s count them and forget the details.

Sunday’s performance of “Mahler Unplugged” was emotional and inspiring for me. I had forgotten how much I loved the symphony. Guest violinist Chee-Yun is as nice as she is talented. Her addition to the symphony provided listeners with a rare treat.

I was impressed with the warm welcome that I received from the volunteers who were there to greet us. Before the show and at intermission (or half-time as I unfortunately called it) I was in the lobby to sign tote bags and greet people. My painting was on display during the performance and its image was used for the posters that are pictured as well as tote bags. (The proceeds of the bag sales are for arts education. Now that is a cause that is near and dear to my heart.) Hayley Savage was also posted in the lobby to sell “Musical Minis” which are based on the original painting.

Thank you to the symphony for making me feel so welcome. Also thanks for re-awakening my love of classical music. I am honored to be a part of such an amazingly talented group of individuals.

Every day we make hundreds of choices. What to eat, what TV show to watch, which bills to pay, when to run errands, when to go to bed… it goes on and on. Sometimes we are confronted with situations that force us to make hard choices. Do we do the right thing? Do we help others, stand up for what we believe in, do we contribute in some small way? Making choices can be exhausting and stressful.

Pendleton artists are sent emails every week with opportunities for participation in shows and competitions. Choosing the right venue for your work is so important . My work is certainly different than the traditional oil paintings of my colleagues. My new “Seeds” series is even more unique than my earlier work. When I choose a venue it is important to have a vision of where it will hang and who will view it.  Today I choose to put myself out there and apply for a venue that is dear to my heart. The new Springfield Regional Hospital is in the planning stages. It will be the end result of combining  Community and Mercy Hospitals in my hometown, Springfield, OH. When my parents were in their final few years, I spent countless hours in both of those hospitals. I was hospitalized a couple times at Mercy and born at Community. My grandparents both endured stays in both locations. I know how it feels to sit in the lobby, the hallways, the ER and the patient rooms. You want something good to distract you from the reason that you are in the hospital. You want something to give you hope and optimism. You want something to look at other than the monitors, equipment, pills, and the view out of the window looking over the parking lot.  I think my work would  liven up those halls and rooms. I think my work would add some bright color and inspire optimism. That is my choice today. Instead of participating in “Pimp Your Pumpkin” (a fun competition sponsored by PAC), I choose to submit art that may, just may, brighten someone’s day.

What choices are you going to make today?

This is one of my favorite months and it has just flown by me. It is Final Friday weekend already! Tonight promises to be a great night at Pendleton. We celebrate The Pendleton Art Center’s 19th anniversary with a special silent auction on the 8th floor as well as plenty of food and spirits. The auction features over 100 pieces by PAC artists that all are available for under $200. The bidding begins at 6 and will close at 9PM sharp. You may want to check it out as there are some well known artists participating this year. Hint hint. I have 5 small pieces available.

Just around the corner is the LADD fundraiser. It will take place at the beautiful South Shore Towers in Newport on October 9. Curated by Daniel Brown, this group of artists is top notch. Can’t wait to see this show. Contact Sandra Small gallery for ticket information.

November 12 & 13 is the annual Indian Hill Church art show. I plan to participate again this year. The show hosts many of the finest artists in the area. Last year I was proud to be in the company of Chuck Marshall, Leslie Shiels, Trish Weeks and Bruce and Nancy Neville. Wow, what a show!!! Mark your calendars now to attend. There is a small fee on Friday night to cover the wine and appetizers. Saturday admission is free. It will be packed so get there early!!!

Have a glorious weekend and enjoy this wonderful time of year. Don’t you just love the crisp morning air? Enjoy!!!!

The quote “It hit me like a ton of bricks” is the motivation for the annual Cincinnati fundraiser for breast cancer research. The “Bricks Along the Journey”  website states: “

The “Bricks Along the Journey” Project was established as a symbol of life, rejuvenation, and hope. Bricks salvaged from the rubble of old buildings have been transformed into stunning works of art. This transformation is the perfect metaphor for the experience shared by all Breast Cancer survivors. We take these bricks that have been knocked down and bring them to life again.”

Tomorrow is the drop-off date for this year’s bricks. Here is my brick, nicely framed by Mark. The auction is on October 10th-10.10.10. My stepson is getting married that day, so, I won’t be able to attend the auction. It is being held at the Cintas Center on the Xavier campus. The hours are from 2-5 PM. You will want to attend. Along with all of the hundreds of bricks to bid on, there will be wonderful gift baskets and lots of food. A worthy cause+a good time=a great way to spend a Sunday!

Here are some new studies for the Seeds series.

They are all 5″x7″ and will be for sale at  the Pendleton auction &

anniversary celebration for

September Final Friday. I am going to expand on one or two of

them in a larger piece. Which one(s) do you like?

Another artist once said to me, “It’s too bad you can’t put the energy of your drawing into your paintings.” I have never forgotten that. He was right. So,in these new pieces that I am developing for my “Seeds” series, I am drawing into the wet paint. I am obsessed with the concept of seeds-how they represent the faith we have in others and ourselves. “Seeds and Weeds” is another thing I am contemplating. How others affect us by their actions and words. Some people exude positive energy. Others give off so much negativity. What we accept is our choice. Find those who are sowing seeds, not growing weeds. These studies are preliminary work for larger pieces. Stay tuned.

These pieces, along with 3 others, were selected by Cincinnati curator and critic

Daniel Brown for inclusion in the annual LADD Fundraiser which will take place on

October 9th.  I am honored to be a part of this event. I will post details later for ticket

information.  It is being held in Newport at the South Shore Condominiums.

Thanks Daniel!!!!

Seeds are the source of everything. They are the beginning of an idea. Seeds are the source of growth and faith. Seeds are essential. We plant them to grow crops and flowers. We have to have faith to believe that the seeds we sow will bring forth a harvest. As artists we “sow seeds” by giving our business cards to potential customers. We do this with faith that we may hear from these people at a later date. Many things can get in the way of the harvest of opportunities. Just as the weather can ruin the growth of crops, the economy can dissuade buyers from fulfilling promises of return to our studios. In this difficult time of uncertainty we must hang on to our faith and continue to plant seeds. We have to remain strong and confident. Optimism is necessary now more than ever. That being said, I continue to plant seeds in my studio and with my work. This piece is the first one of a series dedicated to the sowing of seeds. I look forward to exploring the theme of seeds, be they creative or literal. It is time to be confident and plant our seeds. I can’t wait to see what the future will bring!