Jacksonville Workshop

A few photos from the SOMMA Workshop in Jacksonville. The president of SOMMA (Society of Mixed Media Artists) Francesca was very gracious to open her home for our workshop. Everyone that attended enjoyed lunch together, which gave us an opportunity to socialize and learn a little bit about each other.

Thanks Francesca, for the photos!

Resting up to Race

Gouldian Finch, in progress ©St. Hilaire Nelson
The day before the race, I tried to relax and not exert myself in the FL heat! I walked the dogs a few times in the morning, but in the afternoon I settled in to the small table top in our RV and worked on a bird for my Carnival of the Animals series.

I packed my portable art bag, the very same one I took to the dance competition. I also packed a 12x12 bird, which was pre sketched and painted on an American Easel Wood Painting Panel, which I primed with clear gesso so that I could leave the wood grain showing.

Triathlon Results

For any of you who were wondering how it went on Mother's Day morning for me as a participant in the Danskin Women's Triathlon Series race here in Orlando, here are my results!

in Addition To Art

Another thing I like to do in my free time is play the violin. I have been playing since I was in the third grade at Moseley Elementary School in Massachusetts.

This is where the idea of my "Music" themed solo show came from. The town where the art center is: Maitland Art Center, is also the town with the symphony I play in: The Maitland Symphony Orchestra, so the tie-in seemed fitting.... Art and Music.

We have our annual Spring Concert coming up next weekend!

For any of my followers who live near Maitland, Fl Here are the details:
Maitland Symphony Orchestra
Sponsored by the Performing Arts of Maitland
Presents
Constellations - Far Away Places and Rising Stars
May 16th at 7:30pm (doors @7pm)
First Presbyterian Church of Maitland

See you there, I'll be playing my heart out in the second violin section!

Lazy Afternoon Note Cards

Lazy Afternoon, 24x20, collage on panel ©St.Hilaire Nelson
This is one of my most recent and favorite cows! Currently on display at the Katharine Butler Gallery in Sarasota, the original is framed in reclaimed barn wood.

These cards are in a clear box with a stretchy silver ribbon/tie, they make a nice gift for yourself or a friend!

In Addition To Art

In case you ever wondered what I do in my "spare time" I have been training for the Danskin Women's Triathlon for the past 11 weeks, and Sunday is the day! This Mother's day morning race will be the second year I have participated, I hope to beat my time this year. The race takes place at Disney's Fort Wilderness Camp Grounds here in Florida.

This sprint triathlon is a half mile swim, a 12 mile bike ride, and a 5K run (3.1 miles). The race starts at 7am on Sunday and participants are sent out in "waves." Typically they start with elite and pro athletes first, and then by age group, so I may be hitting the water around 7:15-7:30 if you want to send good thoughts my way.

My favorite color in art and life is purple, and you can see that's the color of my tri-suit.  Last year my age group had purple swim caps and I took this as a good sign. After all, what woman does not want to be fashionably color coordinated??

Jacksonville Workshop

Jami's Portrait ©Jami Childers
This past weekend we had tons of fun at the home of Francesca Tabor-Miolla in Jacksonville with the Society of Mixed Media Artists. Fourteen students came to learn the art of Paper Painting with me. What a great group. We even had two women from the Orlando area, Aurore and Clair, who I actually did not know previously!

Jami did a terrific job with the hair, flowing and patterned just the right amount. She took my advice and made the skin tones a more restful area, which really allows the hair to stand out. Her eyes look so real, she used multiple greens within them and the perfect highlight on each. Jami got these great skin tones by ripping up some watercolor portraits she had done, but was unhappy with. Repurposed art! I love her use of purple in the hair and in the shadows of the face, the salmon color ties in really nice in contrast with the purple, in the lips and hair and corners of the eyes.

Jami is a wonderful portrait artist and she was eager to finish her piece, she went home and worked on this so she could send me a photo to share. Now she says she is hooked.

Check out Jami's other portrait work on her website