Art Opening this Friday in Petersburg

Occasionally I will show artwork other than my female nudes.  Last month I had my color studies on display at the Bon Air Library in Chesterfield.  This month I am showing my Ocean Scenes from the OBX (Outer Banks of North Carolina) at the Petersburg Regional Art Center.  The center is a great old building built in 1858.  It was formerly a department store and a furniture store before becoming the art center. It has four floors and a basement. Three floors and the basement have studios. There are two large art galleries.

Each month on the second Friday they have a Grand Opening where around 100 artists show their work in a juried show and the residents of the center open their studios for folks to peruse. In addition, they have a very long hallway where individual artists can have small shows of their works for the month.  That is where my work is hanging. 

The pieces are all pastels.  Most are 6"x9", framed in beautiful Chris-made frames to 14"x17".  They're perfect for a small wall.  I have reduced the prices of the small pieces to $250 or $295 (depending on the frame) because I'm ready to let them go.  I would be delighted if you decided you would enjoy having one of my pieces in your home. 

I'll be at the Center Friday from 7 - 10 PM and look forward to seeing you there if you can make it!  Click on the link for directions.

Petersburg Regional Arts Center

I had great news a couple of days ago which I heard in a rather roundabout, funny way!

I was reading through Facebook when I got a message from my son, Dylan, who's away at college.  He said he had read on my mother's Facebook page that I had won First Prize for a piece I entered at Petersburg Regional Art Center!  All that before I even got a phone call from the center itself!

The piece I won for is Bling Lady.  The awards ceremony is tomorrow night, but I can't be there because we're going to the Outer Banks for the weekend to celebrate my birthday and to relax a bit for a few days.  It is a wonderful feeling to get a prize for my artwork.  To me it means that other people have seen what I'm trying to do with my art.  Perhaps they don't get the exact same message I want to be giving, but apparently they see something which moves them in a good way.  That makes me feel good.

I'm aware that once I put my work out into the world, it is no longer mine.  I might still own it, but it is on its own, just like my children are, doing its own work, sending its own message, moving people on its own. 

One of my students asked me the other night if it's difficult to let my paintings go when I sell them.  I asked my stepmother the same thing when I first started doing art.  She told me that it wasn't hard for her at all because she had done so many pieces (she used to paint portraits).  I told my student that at first it was very hard.  I still have the first drawing I did because I'm still completely attached to it.  But now that I've been painting for a while, I'm very happy to let my work go into the world.  I love it, but I love for it to find a new home too.  My assumption, if someone is putting out money for it, is that they really like it and will get pleasure from having it in their home.  That makes me happy.   Again, it's like with my kids.  I couldn't love them more, but I'm delighted to see them getting out into the world and finding their own happiness.  I don't want to keep them here at home with me as they move into their 20's.  It's time for them to go out and make their own mark on the world!

So, paintings, time to fly off the walls and into your own loving homes!!