Cherie's Progress

Yours Truly (left) with Cherie in Spain, 1985

How about that high waist band? OMG

I'm headed to Vero Beach this morning to visit with Cherie. Thanks to donations and the kindness of strangers through her website, Cherie finally has a handicapped accessible van!! Yes, she was able to purchase a used van and I cannot wait to go "out and about" with her. It's been almost two years since her paralyzing car accident and she has been basically house-bound since September 30, 2010.

Cherie's Help Hope Live website has allowed folks to donate tax deductible donations and this is what added up to the purchase of the van.

I'll catch you all up on how much trouble we get into when I return!

Read more of my posts about Cherie here

Cherie's Progress

Cherie at Shepherd Center for Spinal Cord Rehab in Atlanta last winter

It's been a little while since I updated you on Cherie, my childhood friend who suffered a paralysis after flipping over in her vehicle in September, 2010.

Cherie has a brand new website for donations and they are now TAX DEDUCTIBLE! Yahoo!

Thanks to some big time donations, I am also happy to report that she finally has enough finds to purchase a handicapped accessible van. This is HUGE people, this means she can get out of the house. Previously she was at the mercy of public transport, which would only accommodate doctor appointments.

Can you imagine not being able to go out to eat, or to see a movie, or shopping for almost two years? There were a couple of occasions where she did get out. They rented a van and came up here to Orlando for the screening of "Defining Beauty" and we actually had dinner.

But having her own van is going to allow her something else.... She's agreed to head up the paralysis support group in her community and now can attend regular meetings. Wow, go Cherie, go!!

I'm headed to visit Cherie the end of this month, we plan to get into some trouble now that we have wheels!

If you can donate, even a tax deductible $5, please visit Cherie's webpage on Help Hope Live

ArtPrize Here We Come!

Clarissa Crab / 20x24 / collage on birch panel / 

This has been under wraps for some time but I am excited to finally share that part of my Noah's Ark Series will be traveling to Grand Rapids, Michigan this fall as part of ArtPrize.

If you have never seen or heard of Grand Rapid's ArtPrize, it's a festival that covers 3 square miles of the city. Businesses and property owners within the perimeter are matched with a variety of artists and their art, including indoor and outdoor installations. The festival also features live events such as art walks, demonstrations and presentations. The biggest prize ArtPrize has to offer for me is bringing the Noah's Ark Series to Michigan and exhibiting in conjunction with my friend and fellow artist Kimberly Kelley Santini.

Santini and I will be exhibiting at MVP Metro Club. We plan to give an artist talk on the same night sometime in September. Kim is a Michigan resident and promised to lend this Floridian a sweater.

Stay tuned for more info to come.

Asheville, NC Paper Paintings Workshop

Grand Bohemian Hotel, Biltmore Village, Asheville

Come out and tear paper with me!

in beautiful, artistic, Asheville
June 1/2/3 10am-4pm
Grand Bohemian Hotel

This will be my third year teaching and having a featured art show in the gallery at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, Asheville. This boutique 5-star hotel has a unique gallery space that features my work, and some great convention space for tearing and gluing paper. The hotel's Red Stag Grill restaurant will cater lunch, included in the price!


Grand Bohemian Hotel lobby





The first year's class in the gallery


Enjoy your evening exploring Asheville, dining at the Grill, or sitting at the amazing hotel bar.

You may still register for this class, despite online deadlines, as we have a few slots remaining.

click here for more info

Whatever It Takes 

My backyard studio at 5am

I am often asked "how do you do so much?" and I have posted about maximizing my time before here: "That's Just How I Do It"

Today I was inspired by some photos on my iPhone that were all taken at about 5am or midnight. Early to rise, I am either headed to the community pool or painting at 5am every weekday. I like to take advantage of the peace and quiet of this early morning hour. I also paint at night for the same reasons. I make use of this time to get as much done in a day as I possibly can.

Patriot Aquatics Center a few miles from my house

Most people are sleeping when I'm working. My alarm is set for 5am every day. I swim with the Masters Program at the Patriot Aquatics Center M/W/F from 5:30-7am, a great way to start the day! on T/Th I make myself coffee, let the dogs out, and head to the studio to get 2-hours of painting in before I have to make breakfast and pack lunches for my teenagers.

A sketched up and primed work on the easel at night, ready for the next morning


Remember, when I post work in progress on Facebook and it seems like I work soooo fast, that I have been working since before you were awake, or after you went to sleep! That's how I get it all in and make it look like I do it so fast. But sshhhhh, it's our secret.

Crabs in progress around midnight 

Coffee?

Dance and Art in the Dressing Room

In Good Spirits #1 / 24x20 / collage on birch panel

Yours Truly working amidst the costumes,  hairspray, attitudes and flat irons!

Last weekend I spent some serious time in the dressing room at ShowStoppers dance competition with my daughter Emilie. Most of my free time I spent creating a martini collage for the upcoming Atlanta Collage Society show at Mason Murer gallery in Atlanta.

On Saturday I snuck out to visit my favorite small art museum in Lakeland, The Polk Museum of Art. This gem of a museum in downtown Lakeland offers some pretty amazing shows. The first year I found it, they had Ansel Adams photography in their main gallery!

This year they were featuring Albert Paley: Sketches and Steel. While I enjoyed this exhibit, it was the children's room that gave me the most joy in my visit this year.

Jesenia Bello, "Bronze Peacock" grade 4, Kingsford Elementary

Having volunteered for years teaching art to elementary kids, I just love to see their work featured on the walls of such a wonderful museum every time I visit. How proud and excited these kids must be to hang in such a wonderful space. 

Arlene Navedo, "Circles" grade 5, Bethune Academy

Teaira Goodman, "Who's Lookin' At Me?"  grade 3, Floral Avenue Elementary

Cassidy Jimmerson, "Snowflake" grade 3, Rochelle School of the Arts

Amberly Marvin "Self Portrait" grade 5, Highland City Elementary

These are just a few of my favorite pieces in a room full of wonderful children's art from Polk County. If you ever get a chance to stop by the Museum, it's worth the trip!

Come to Atlanta!

Binders is a HUGE art supply store, located mostly underground

Atlanta is a fun place to spend the weekend

Binders Art Supply is a great place to take a collage class. Not only do they have a huge art classroom space, but they have a wall of exquisite papers that runs the length of your average grocery store! I have  purchased some of my very favorite collage papers at Binders, love their selection and prices

hand painted collage papers

 

students working in the Binders art classroom

I'll be teaching my three-day collage workshop at Binders May 25-27th

Friday you will learn how to hand paint your own collage papers, Saturday we start with the small apple exercise, to get you started with 3-D form via torn tidbits of paper. Sunday the students move on to an image of their own choosing.

Advanced students who have taken my class before are welcome to come again and I will work on an advanced project with them.

There are great restaurants, hotels and an LA Fitness close by. What more could you want? They are located in Piedmont Peachtree Crossing Shopping Center, which is near the corner of Peachtree and Piedmont Roads. 404-237-6331.

Come out and enjoy a weekend of making art, bring a friend or family member and make a weekend of Atlanta, which has lots to offer!


Coca Cola Atlanta

Georgia Aquarium
High Museum of Art Atlanta
The World of Coca Cola Tour
CNN Studio Tour Atlanta