Fiesta de los Muertos

Fiesta de los Muertos

(Dead Party)

6"x8" transparent watercolor

I am totally thrilled to be one of the invited artists to join organizers Chris Beck and Pablo Villicana Lara for a Halloween Painting Challenge. Chris and Pablo (with whom I share a birthday, by the way) have been doing fabulously whimsical challenges for Easter, which showcase their famous "peeps" and I have been big fans of both of their work. These two amazing artists have now extended their fun challenges to a small group of artists for this ghoulish season.... and here is my entry. Living in Corpus Christi with such a huge Hispanic influence, Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) is a big deal. Everywhere one can find skeleton cuchinas in bright colors. Even my wooden art mannequin had to get in on the act.

To view the other artists's works, please check out both Chris and Pablo's blogs where they will be showcasing all of the paintings for All Hallow's Eve...

Chris Beck:  http://chrisbeckstudio.blogspot.com/

Pablo Villicana Lara:  http://www.mylittlepaintbox.blogspot.com/

An Arwenian Christmas

I have this fabulous tiny dashund-terrier rescue dog that I got last year who is now my constant studio mate. We named her Arwen and I've decided she needs to be my Holiday focal point. I kept telling myself I was going to paint a Holiday card this year... so Arwen became my model. I haven't done a lot of painting lately. Since my September exhibition, I've been doing more traveling and teaching than painting. But with the "winter" months coming (such as it is in Corpus Christi), I'm hoping to do a lot more painting.

Going, Going, GONE!

My solo exhibition in Baton Rouge was a success... these paintings were sold at the opening, and a number of giclee prints were ordered of Tiger Country, Grapes Durand, and Shoot for the Stars. But most of all, I enjoyed having my highschool reunion the same weekend and sharing my love of watercolor with my old classmates.

Tomorrow I take off from Corpus Christi with stops in Oklahoma City, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Madison, Chicago, Nashville, Birmingham, and finally going through Baton Rouge and visiting the family before heading home. I'm hoping to get just a little painting done, but I'll pretty much be in the car most of the way. At least I'll have my brand new camera to take reference photos of the beautiful fall color that we do NOT have down here in Corpus Christi! When I return, two days later, I will be teaching a three-day workshop at the Art Center here. I will certainly be exhausted after all of that!