and a good time was had by all

The party at the art center last night was a tremendous success and we all had a blast. It was a combination of the art center's First Friday Event and my studio warming, and a huge crowd gathered. About 120 of my good friends, collectors, and invitees showed up...... some that I was not expecting to make it.... and it was a glorious night to share time and space with all the people who have come to be so improtant in my life.

The flowers were gorgeous, the catered food (I hear) was delicious, the band was great and the company sparkled. There was a drawing for a Chocolate Lovers gift basket that I created, and food and wine and conversation flowed. I sold several pieces of art and have nibbles on two more pieces, and all the artists either sold work or made good contacts with people.

One of the delightful happenstances... two of our "neighbors" across the street from the artist concourse, who live in the building next door, came by when they saw the lights on all 166 people on the second floor... and they came to introduce themselves to me becuase I am always the artist there with the light on working. We all laughed so hard when I was able to tell each what I knew about them from what I see on their patios... one has a black dog with a pink ball who comes outside (she bounces the ball off their patio into the street below) and the other man steps outside to smoke and favors ball caps on the patio. I told them we can all wave now when they come outside:) New friends.

I got to meet some wonderful friends in person for the first time and also got to introduce dear friends to my artist friends, and the night flew by. If you were able to come, I am glad you were there. Friends who sent flowers.... I love you. For people who were too distant to attend I will get the photos uploaded into a flickr file soon so that you can feel like you were there. If you were there and got great crowd shots let me know!!!!!

So much more to tell you about the evening, but I need a day or two to recover and digest it all...... so many good people all in one place and I am overwhelmed by the love and support my friends gave me last night. I cannot stop smiling at how it all turned out. Lots more to come!

allegory in yellows

This painting has been with me for a long time now and last year it was placed on layaway by an old and dear friend of mine that I have known for more than twenty years now. The friend was in the process of building a new home in North Carolina, and this painting will be a focal point over their brand new fireplace. This friend staunchly supported me when I left my old life, and has never strayed from his support of me and love for me.

I got an email a couple of days ago to say that the house is finished and the painting is being called for, the final payment is on the way.... and I am delighted that this piece will live in my friend's gorgeous new home on a mountaintop. I will crate it for shipping and send it on its way with blessings for my friend and their new home, and hopefully they will send images of it in its new space.

I am really fortunate that my work always seems to find good homes, and eventually I seem to release everything I have painted to journey into the wider world. Now past the mid-point of my painting career, it is interesting to survey where I have been and where I am going. I have learned a lot over the years and am still exploring and growing in my mediums of choice, and recent events in the last several years have sharpened my sense of self and have honed my art.

Critics (I have a few) will always have an opinion, but I am fortunate to be at a place where I feel I have found my voice and message, and there is nothing more to do than to work. Hard. Whatever disagreements I may have had with my father over the course of his lifetime, he instilled a work-ethic in me that is powerful and true. I work hard for everything that comes my way. I see the same dogged determination in my oldest brother. Out of the nightmare that was my childhood, I will take that one legacy.

Over the course of a career, artists have favorite pieces that resonate and "work" in all the right ways. Allegory is one of those defining pieces. There are some reasons that I paint sunflowers, some crystalline and very personal childhood moments, that cause me to come back to the subject matter again and again. In all that has occurred in this lifetime of mine, sunflowers=goodness in some lobe of my brain. Allegory is one of the Princess Cruise Line prints, and maybe now I will take one of my artist proofs to be framed or box mounted to hang in the studio.

One last note today, speaking of artist proofs. I got a tremendous surprise in the mail from a wonderful artist friend of mine, Michelle DeMarco. She sent me one of her artist proofs of a very favorite painting as a studio-warming gift, and opening the package provided an amazing goosebump moment when I realized what she had done. Thank you Michelle, it is gorgeous. Please see her work here, and her blog here.

thanksgiving syndrome

::::chuckle::::::

I was told yesterday that I might be afflicted with Thanksgiving Syndrome. We ordered two more party platters yesterday and bought more wine last night at 8:30, and all of the accoutremonts have been moved to the art center. The guest list continues to grow and we are taking care of final details feeling quite organized and pleased with ourselves that this has not turned into a monster with three heads, but is instead something we are really looking forward to.

Virginia says this may be the biggest party I ever host. My sister-in-law (who has been a caterer) will decide when food will come out of the catering kitchen in stages, and Virginia will take some pictures. I have still got a lot of work to do in cleaning the studio, washing the floor, and possibly washing the windows if I have time.

I had a conversation late in the day with another resident artist who is a friend of mine. These people have known me for years now, but they have not known a lot of the details of my history, and the details are something I really try not to burden people with.

We talked some about how I came here and starting over, and the fact that most of the people that I love (who are within driving distance) will be under one roof on this night of the party..... and I got a little misty just thinking about it. What a cool and wonderful thing! To have friends who care and want to celebrate the good things and support you through the tough times is such a wonderful gift... and I have had more than my fair share of wonderful friends.

I will make a Flickr file of photos to share with people who cannot come and all of you who are in distant locales, and hopefully all of the party-goers will meet new artists and see lots of art, and share in this incredibly inspiring place that we love so much. For now there is still plenty of time to take care of all the last details before the weekend, and to just enjoy the anticipation of a good evening with good people surrounded by art and wonderful creative souls.

On the COOL NEWS front I have good news (but no photos to go with it.) I have work in TWO store windows at the moment... In Cleveland Park (DC) and in Rehoboth, Delaware. We drove by Transcendance and Bliss the other night and saw my work there, and when I talked to my gallery in Rehoboth she told me that my work was featured prominently. It is always good to be in the window display!!!!!

case discount

Last night after our respective days we went to the liquor store to buy wine for the warming. People who know us will know how funny this is as Virginia doesn't drink and never has.... and I quit drinking just before I left my very bad marriage and have never touched it since. We picked out a variety of wines because our ever-expanding guest list is growing to wonderful proportions and we want to be sure that there is something for everybody.

At the checkout the nice owner of this tiny, privately owned shop (who only sees us when we buy wine as gifts for family right before Christmas) looked at us with mild surprise as he surveyed our intended purchase. I watched him and just tried not to giggle. He rang up all the bottles as his son put them in boxes for us, and he then informed us that he would give us the case discount because we bought so much. I just had to laugh, and Virginia, looking mildly horrified, said that those words had never been uttered to her before.

Stick with me Baby...... There's always a first time for everything!

seeing red

When I originally put my half of the studio together, I had planned for the very industrial-feeling concrete floor to stay bare. The studio needed color and life and artistry...... something I am very good at - providing a visual. I have always been good at putting disparate things together and making a "whole" that is visually pleasing. Making things beautiful gives me great joy and is a natural as breathing for me.

Once my belongings were in a couple of people mentioned that a rug on the floor might add to the appeal, and immediately I saw a red shaggy rug on the floor under my very special desk that sits in front of the display window. The picture in my mind was crystalline and clear. We went shopping for, and found, my rug. (Ikea) When we settled on the timeframe for the studio-warming, with Valentine's Day so imminent, I knew that the theme for the party should be RED. It has been a delight to put everything together, and once the artists' concourse is all decorated for the evening I will hopefully get pictures to remember it by.

I am going to wear a favorite red sweater, and was delighted to hear that the young daughter of a friend of mine actually went out and purchased brand new red shoes with her mother's help for the festive and arty occasion... a girl after my own heart.

here there and everywhere

We spent the day running all over town yesterday.... the catering has been ordered, balloons and gorgeous flowers have been ordered from my favorite florist, assorted paper products, plates, cups and plasticware, beverages, tablecloths, and all the little things needed for a good party are being checked off the list. (Think red EVERYTHING for Valentine's Day.) The list of people coming to the studio-warming and open house is growing and lots of good people will be brought together under one roof for one night.

We got all the makings for a "Chocolate Lovers" basket that will go to the winner of the free drawing, and today I will assemble it all together. All the heart canvases are dry and waiting for a signature, and they are starting to find homes already. I have a week to think of all the things I have forgotten, and then hopefully we'll enjoy a totally stress-free party.

It is a gorgeous blue-sky morning in the burbs of DC.