"Senior Moments" 9/26-11/3/08 at St. Peters

"I've developed a new philosophy....
I only dread one day at a time." --Charlie Brown

Ahhh, SENIOR MOMENTS....I've had a few. At 66 what we learn most is that there is a lot more to learn. I learn about myself when I paint. I learn of the mysteries in my head reaching out of my mind and on to my watercolor brush and to the paper. It is a glorius feeling!

Below: "Cottonwood," "Crucifixion," and "Eruption."



NEXT UP: "What The Eyes See" November 8 through December 8.

St. Louis Watercolor Society's BIG SPLASH '08 - August 23 thru September 22

"Imagination is the highest kite
one can fly." -- Lauren Bacall

There were 135 paintings exhibited in this year's BIG SPLASH. 14 awards were presented and I was happy to receive an HONORABLE MENTION for "FIRE FLY" (on right, my painting "GALILEE" is pictured to left).



John DenHouter, an art professor at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, was the juror. I love John's work so I was especially pleased to receive a nod from him. The St. Peters Art Center is a great place to have an exhibit. The reception was warm and friendly as usual.

I especially enjoyed seeing friends come to reception. Barb Singer even brought her Uncle Al and Aunt Gert. That was special as they are both in their 90's. I can see where Barb gets HER youthful looks.

I was moved, too, by a couple that spied my shooting a photo of my work. They walked up to me and said, "Is that YOUR work?" "Yes," I replied. "Well, we thought is was beautiful and one of the best works in the show!" You can imagine what THAT did for my EGO. ha ha ha

Thanks to all friends and acquaintances that stopped by. The works will be up through September 22. So stop by.

Dottie Metroulas & "PEACE"

"There is a friendship that makes us sisters.
None goes her way without the help of others.
That which we give comes back into our own."
-- Unknown



I've known Dottie for almost 50 years now (we lived in the same hall in the dormitory at Southwest Missouri College, Springfield, MO). Dottie says we're "kindred spirits". We have been through ups and downs - sorrow, joy and most of all - laughter. Through it all we know that we are forever friends. Dottie took home "PEACE" today (June 1, 2008). Thank you for your support of my art, Dottie. Thank you for being my friend.

Dottie was also an art major in school and wound up teaching art. You can bet her students learned a lot from her.

Peggy & David King, Evergreen, Colorado, holding "Gathering Storm" - '08 Visit to Belleville, IL

"There is no wilderness like life without friends.
Friendship multiplies blessings and minimizes misfortunes.
It is a unique remedy against adversity and it soothes the soul."
-- Baltasar Gracian

My friends, Peggy and David King of Evergreen, Colorado, visited the Midwest not long ago. We spent a delightful afternoon together at Southwestern Illinois' Schmidt Art Center in Belleville. I was pleased to have them take home one of my paintings - GATHERING STORM. Peggy said the painting would be perfect in their home. How nice.



Peggy is a sculpture artist who works in large metal pieces and in beaded sculptures of fish and other fowl. Libby Reuter, executive director and curator for the center (www.swicfoundation.com), is interested in Peggy possibly having an exhibit of her work sometime in the future. I'm excited for Peggy. If you haven't visited this state-of-the-art gallery, don't miss it. There's a MetroLink stop across the parking lot from the entrance.

Peggy, David and I attended Southwest Missouri State College (now MSU) together. Peggy and I were both art majors. I have fond memories of those days (I chuckle to myself about some of the fun times we had).

UPDATE: David sent me some of Peggy's "fish" beaded sculptures. Do you have a whimsical name for each of these fishies? Aren't they CLEVER? Lots of hours went into making these, you can be sure.


And here is a gorgeous photo that David took on his way along the trail of Lewis & Clark....Bitterroot Range, south of Lolo, Montana (where A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT was filmed and my favorite state!)

Collectors' Choice VII, June '08

"How difficult it is to be simple." -- Vincent van Gogh


I love this room!
My donated painting hangs in this room until June 8 when it will be auctioned off.

Yes, Collectors' Choice VII is once again on display at the St. Louis Artists' Guild. The auction date is June 8. Viewing of all donated works runs May 17 thru June 7. The reception to meet artists was held on May 16. This is my 3rd year to participate as a donor. This year's painting is called AURORA.

If you would like more info about this event, please go to http://www.stlouisartistsguild.org for additional information.

Sacred Grounds, Edwardsville Oct '07

"We don't accomplish anything in this world alone... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something."
-- Sandra Day O'Connor

My solo exhibit at Sacred Grounds Cafe in Edwardsville, Illinois was wonderful. I love the location and how they displayed my work. It was nice to see my name in big, bold letters on the wall. I was pleased to see my work - THINK SPRING - purchased by Brian Kalb, a local attorney. Brian thinks this work is "vibrant" - I agree, as THINK SPRING is one of my favorites.




Here's a sampling of photos from the exhibit plus a photo of the exterior of my favorite restaurant across the street - Laurie's.

SMALL WORKS '07 NO. 1

"The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind." -- Bob Dylan

I've begun matting some 8x10, 12x14, and 16x20 works. I'm in the process of picking frames. In order left to right, left to right (click on each work to see enlarged detail)...Let me know what you think (click on comment link):

8x10 Spring Rain








8x10 Spring Storm

SMALL WORKS '07 No. 2

"Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why."
--Eddie Cantor

8x10 Arizona Winter I

8x10 Arizona Winter II

SMALL WORKS '07 NO. 3

"Life, I love you. All is groovy." -- Simon and Garfunkel

Here's some more 8x10, 10x14, and 16x20 works. I am in the process of choosing frames for each of these works. Let me know what you think (see comments link below - I would appreciate your leaving your name, but email address is not necessary). In order (measured as matted):

10x14 SOULARD MARDI GRAS I


8x10 SOULARD MARDI GRAS II


8x10 SOULARD MARDI GRAS III


10x14 BLOSSOM I


8x10 BLOSSOM II


8x10 BLOSSOM III

August '07 BIG SPLASH

This year's St. Louis Watercolor Society's BIG SPLASH was held once again at the St. Peters Art Center, a truly lovely place to hold an exhibit. There were over 200 pieces in this year's show. All members of the society. I was fortunate to be awarded a Honorary Mention award for my painting entitled LEAVES. It is a half-sheet work framed to 22x28. Here's the piece as it was hung on the wall. This link takes you to a page on the society's web site that features my work along with other winners. This is my first year in the BIG SPLASH. I am honored to be given this award by Carole Carter whose web site illustrates her work at carol-carter.com.



"Nothing can cure the soul but the senses,
just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul."
-- Oscar Wilde

C J MUGGS Webster Groves 7/19-10/16

"Those persons who have perceptive eyes
enjoy beauty everywhere." -- Paramahansa Yogananda

I hung two paintings - RELEASE (accepted into THE FOUNDRY Dec 06 Watercolor Exhibit) and GALILEE (pictured - 3rd place in Our Lady of the Snows Gateway Exhibit in late 06) - in C J MUGGS RESTAURANT in Webster Groves, Missouri. Nice neighborhood restaurant in what is called "Quiet Webster Groves" ...lovely part of town....big old, houses and lots of mature trees. C J MUGGS hosts a new exhibit on its walls every month or so (through the St. Louis Watercolor Society). The painting is my award-winner - GALILEE. The exhibit is titled DRIVEN TO ABSTRACTION and the next exhibit will be DOUBLE VISION - PAIRED PAINTINGS.

WARM WASHES/COOL COLORS June, '07

My work titled "Mountain Meadow" was accepted into the WARM WASHES/COOL COLORS exhibit at the ST. LOUIS ARTISTS' GUILD in June, '07. I've included some more photographs below of the layout of The Guild (see more photos below - COLLECTORS' CHOICE VI) which is located in a stone English-styled building in Oak Knoll Park. The park is woodsy, with rolling hills and a beautiful lake. I always enjoy my visits to Oak Knoll and the Guild. Let me know if you need directions, eh?





"The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life."
-- Frank Lloyd Wright

COLLECTORS' CHOICE VI June, '07

I enjoy donating a painting to the St. Louis Artists' Guild COLLECTORS' CHOICE every year. The Guild is such a classy place (in Clayton, Missouri's Oak Knoll Park). My painting titled "Fall Walk" (top photo, at far left) was donated to the fund raiser.



"The longer you spend working on something – loving it into being, almost – the more you get attached. It's silly, but you do hope they go to good homes."
-- Anne Desmet

My Digital Demo 5/15

"Tell a person they are brave and you help them become so."
-- Thomas Carlyle

I 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 May, '07

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

CAFE DOLCE 4/15 thru 6/15

My first solo exhibit was held earlier this spring and early summer at Cafe Dolce, a wonderful little European style cafe in O'Fallon, Illinois. I hope to have a invitational gathering next spring at this stylish little place that serves excellent pastries for breakfast and luncheon soups and sandwiches. Paintings displayed:




"One can do good things without being very much of a harmonist or a colourist. It is sufficient to have a sense of art – and this sense is doubtless the horror of the bourgeois."
-- Paul Cezanne

Flower Power at St. Peters 3/16-4/23

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