Art Show Recap

The beautiful lobby of the Memphis Botanic Gardens.

Our water aerobics class ladies came to support us!

 No class tonight!

Some of my small still life paintings grouped together.

Two of my still life paintings in beautiful Randy Higbee floater frames.

One of the four walls of our art!

Floral paintings by me (left) and Judy (right). Just perfect for this venue!

Artist and beloved local disc jockey, Ron Olson, enjoying the show and the food!

Me and my sister (2nd from left) and other friends who came to the show.

Art grouping with a "bird" theme by me and Judy - the two in the middle are Judy's and the two on the sides are mine. We had fun arranging the art on the walls at such a beautiful place!

One of my landscape paintings. 

Another wall of art!

Some of the early guests to the show
and one wing of the gallery space.

Another shot of the lobby before the show opened.

I wanted to post about the art show that opened last week at the Memphis Botanic Gardens. I hope this is not photo overload, but I wanted some of my artist friends across the country to share in our excitement since they could not be here in person! It was a great opening and there were sales (yay!) and most of all, lots of wonderful friends and family who came out to support Judy and me. We had over 100 people at the opening, which was so fun for us! As most of the artists out there know, it is a lot of work to organize and market and hang a show like this, but it is so fun in the end to see your work hanging all nice and framed at a beautiful location like we have here. The show will remain up for the rest of September, so if you are in the area, drop by and see it!

Art Show Opening

Just a quick post to let everyone know about my show with fellow artist Judy Nocifora opening this week at the Memphis Botanic Gardens. Since we are "travel" buddies (to workshops and fun art events!), we entitled the show "Memories and Mementos: Two Painters' Journeys." If you are in the Memphis area this Thursday, September 8, we are having an opening reception from 5:30-7:30 pm. The show will hang until the end of September.

I also have to mention that my heart goes out to all of those in Texas who have recently lost their property (and some lives) to wildfires. One of my past workshop teachers who many in the art world adore (including myself!), Carol Marine, and her family lost their home and her studio in Bastrop, Texas. Thankfully they were able to get out themselves though. It has been hard for me to think of much else since I heard the news. Although I have only spent one week with her, she is one of the most giving and thoughtful teachers I have had so far in this painting journey I am on. I know there are many who are affected by this and continue to be at the time I am writing this post, so please remember them in your thoughts and prayers. There are also many links to provide support for Carol and her family out there, and if you are interested in helping and can't find a link, contact me at droseball@gmail.com and I will point you in the right direction.

Workshop with Lori Putnam

"Solitary Boat"

12" x 16" oil on linen panel

Last weekend, I participated in a workshop with Lori Putnam held in Nashville at LeQuire Gallery. It was a short, intensive, day and a half experience that I truly enjoyed! Lori is not only a fabulous painter, but an excellent instructor and fun person too! We began the workshop on Sunday afternoon and watched Lori demo from a plein air piece she had done on a recent trip to the Adirondacks in New York state. The demo was wonderful and Lori is one of those artists who can demo and talk about what she is doing at the same time, which helps artists like myself who always want to know why someone is doing what they are when painting.

The following day, we each painted from either a plein air piece we brought in or from a photo. The photo I used was given to me by a good friend who visited Jamaica earlier in the year and shared some wonderful photos with me to use for painting. After doing several thumbnail sketches to determine the best use of this photo as far as composition goes, I painted the piece above. I was pleased with my day and from the help and feedback I got from Lori. I also met some very nice artists too, which is always one of my favorite benefits of taking a workshop.

I am also excited about starting a mentoring program with Lori in January of 2012. She will mentor 6 artists and I am happy to be a part of that group! I am ready for some intensive focus and work and I know that Lori is the one that will provide that work for me on a regular basis. I do have a few exciting workshops this fall (two of them with Lori!) but as of January, I will be focused on consistent instruction from her. I always loved school, which is why I like workshops so much, and this will be a little like school for me!