"Tell a person they are brave and you help them become so."
-- Thomas CarlyleI used the above work, DREAMS OF RED, to illustrate how to photograph work digitally, place in Adobe Photoshop and prepare for submission to exhibits accepting digital in lieu of slides. I also went thru the process of how to email and follow the exhibit jurors' instructions (which is extremely important to even have one's work considered). I also wrote a 3-page handout, taking the reader step-by-step through the entire process (from equipment and software selection to how to position one's work to photograph properly). This demo was done for the St. Louis Watercolor Society. Over 30 members attended the demo. I rec'd. a lot of compliments on the thoroughness of my program.
If you would like a PDF copy of my handout, please let me know in the comments area of this post. I enjoyed helping others broaden their ability to submit to exhibits they might otherwise have thought was not within their reach.
Addendum: I have just learned that ART ST. LOUIS is now accepting (and prefers) digital submissions (on CD and DVD) for their members' "artists' registry." Forward thinking, as corporations and other entities prefer to view digital files for possible lease and/or purchase of artists' works.
RIVERS OF COLOR was the first ST. LOUIS WATERCOLOR SOCIETY that I submitted my work. The exhibit was held at Creative Arts Gallery on Ivanhoe in South St. Louis. Wonderful venue for an art exhibit! My painting is titled "RED" (look to right in the photo, between and above the sculptures).....one more juried acceptance in this society and I will have "signature" status. Only half the submissions were accepted into the exhibit. So I was pleased.
"When I begin painting I am in a state of unconsciousness; I suddenly forget that I am holding a brush in my hand."
-- Wu Chen
Great reception 3/16! "Sunshine" was awarded 3rd place out of 99 paintings in Flower Power exhibit at St. Peters Art Center. "Spring Tulips" (top) and "Delight In The Garden" were also in the show. Next up is my solo exhibit at CAFE DOLCE (starts April 15).
"One of the most attractive things about the flowers is their beautiful reserve." -- Henry David Thoreau
The Foundry Art Centre Paperwork: In, On, And Of Paper (520 North Main Center St. Charles, Missouri 636 255 0270). I missed the reception for this exhibit, but was honored to have "Release" (above) juried into the show. Brother Mel Meyer was the juror.
In addition, I was pleased to see that an essay appears on the Foundry's web site about my work ("Fanciful Fanstasy"). Lindenwood art history student Jay Cantwell wrote a beautiful "compare and contrast" piece for his instructor, John Troy, professor of art history at the university. You can read the essay at www.foundryartcentre.org . Click on the link "VIEW 2007 COMPARE & CONTRAST" and then click on link to "JAY CANTWELL" where the essay appears.
"Fanciful Fantasy" (written about in the essay and below) was juried into the watercolor show at the Foundry in December, '06. Students were asked to choose a painting of their choice to write about as their semester project. Thank you, Jay, for writing about my "transcendental abstraction" style. You spoke of my art much more eloquently than I could ever speak.
"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost." -- Martha Graham
Congratulations to Linda Davis on her winning bid to purchase "Country Fall" at this year's Rotary Camelot Auction Fundraiser in February. Special thanks to this year's program co-chair Brenda Wagner. Brenda wrote me the nicest letter about how excited Linda was at receiving the winning bid on this painting. I'm told that the event was highly successful and raised over $43,000 to go to local charities. I look forward to next year.
"Character is higher than intellect." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Congrats to Terri Isenhart on receiving the winning bid on "The Dance." I donated the work to support BELLEVILLE MAIN STREET. I'm pleased to see Terri win the bid on this piece and look forward to donating another painting to next year's fundraiser. Special thanks to Rick Ortiz, president of Belleville Main Street, for his friendship and appreciation. 
"Color is all. When color is right, form is right. Color is everything, color is vibration like music; everything is vibration." -- Marc Chagall
FirstBANK at Manchester and Weidman Roads just south of Town & Country, Missouri is a beautiful bank with a tall, two-story atrium in the center. The area is perfect for display of large pieces of art. The St. Louis Watercolor Society invites their members who volunteer within the organization to display their works in this exhibit. I am honored to be a part of this effort.
This is a view of half the exhibit, looking towards the entrance. My piece can be seen 2nd from the right in this photo. This exhibit will change again April 19, when I will have 2-3 new works on display at that time through July. The bank provides a list and map of the exhibit (usually about 25 pieces) along with info on artists, title of works, prices and contact information, etc. Many thanks to the Jim Dierberg family for supporting the arts! Please stop by to see the entire exhibit.
"There are two sorts of beauty; one is the result of instinct, the other of study. A combination of the two, with the resulting modifications, brings with it a very complicated richness, which the art critic ought to try to discover." -- Paul Gauguin
"Be true to your work, your word, and your friend."
-- Henry David Thoreau
Main Street Gallery 239 North Main Street Hours: T-F, 11am-6pm Saturday, 9am-5pm Closed Sundays and Mondays
Thanks, Kathryn! You are my favorite gallery manager!
"When I find myself fading,
I close my eyes and realize
my friends are my energy."
-- Anonymous
Our table was the most popular place to laugh at this year's GEAG Christmas party. We missed friend Barb Hasselhorst and pretended she was there by saving her a place setting and name tag
...however, we ate her lil candy basket. There was a drawing for all 15 centerpieces and our tablemate, Paul Greiman, won ours.Here's Helen Fritz and Paul chatting....
.....and if you noticed the video screen in the background - well, that bright idea of some GEAG member showcased the year's contest winners. It was a nice touch.La Donna Sanson and Jane Reed (our art Q&A contest writer EXTRAORDINAIRE) 
posed for me. Steve Koritta is in the background. This guy plays great guitar and sings 60's like he was born back then. V-P of GEAG, Amy Pawlitschek, is turned to Steve, whom she suggested be our background entertainment. Steve's music made for a great evening. He even had a Christmas repertoire. Thanks, Steve! (I know Steve from working at the Allegra Printing, where I have my postcards printed - I was happy to recently introduce him to Libby Reuter, director of the Schmidt Art Center. Libby can use Steve's talents at the many Schmidt receptions. Good luck, Steve. Hope you get a gig at the next reception! 
Here's a photo of Steve playing his guitar, belting out "Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water"....you're a pro, Steve!Betty Powers, my favorite 85-year-old artist and all-around fun person with a zest for life, smiled for the camera. Betty has agreed to do some sittings for me in 2007. I adore this woman. What spunk!
Then there's THIS crazy lady - she reallllly did get a WHITE ELEPHANT as her white elephant gift! Can you believe this woman is a nurse? Still, she's the happiest person I've ever known. Her face glows with happiness. She should bottle that look! We shall paint the town red in 2007! (and blue and green and orange and purple and yellow or whatever strikes our fancy!)
Last, but not least.....Michael Anderson posed for me at the next table - proudly displaying his "white elephant" surprise. Cute, Mike! Michael will have his opening reception as permanent member of the Gateway Gallery in Clayton, Mo. in February. Check out Michael's website at www.michaelandersonstudio.com
I saw this written as a click back comment on Painter's Keys (www.painterskeys.com):"Anyone who does not make art but tries to explain art is like a man trying to describe childbirth. Scientists are always trying to figure out the goo that makes us work and forget the very thing it is that makes us run - it is what leaves us when we die - and they don't know what that is either, do they? Our spirit. Run as fast as you can Einstein--you'll never catch me I'm the gingerbread man. A scientist thinks about the chewing - an artist enjoys the tasting."
I'd love your comments on this quote, please (move your mouse over COMMENTS and click on the link to make your comments). Have a great day!
Watercolor below is
"BOUQUET"
"What I mean by 'abstract' is something which comes to life spontaneously through a gamut of contrasts, plastic at the same time as psychic, and pervades both the picture and the eye of the spectator with conceptions of new and unfamiliar elements..." -- Marc Chagall
This was a great place to have an exhibit!
DREAMCATCHER II
“I dreamed of summer fields and the wild things that grow there -- and put them on my brush and on to paper.”
FLEUR“I dreamed in French - Ooh la la - a French fleur-de-lis for the holidays.”
CREATION“Ohhh, how very inspiring and wonderous are the beginnings of life - flower to fauna!”
