Red Door Gallery in Dandridge, TN held Holiday Open House November 14 & !5.  Pictured with me are my good friend and fellow artist, Lois Armstrong   and Vickie Bolduc, gallery owner.  Other artists featured at the holiday gathering were Kay Alexander, watercolorist and Jeff Bolduc, photographer.
Dandridge is a quaint and lovely town just off I-40 in East Tennessee.  The exceptionally warm weather brought out the holiday spirit or maybe it was all of that good food and the beautiful decorations!
It is going to be a good holiday season!

"Tennessee Vistas", a collection of some of my landscape paintings  is on display at the Jonesboro, TN Visitor Center through November 24.  Jonesboro is a quaint little town that is noted for story telling.

I exhibited at Ramsey House this weekend and had a wonderful time reconnecting with my friends from the Civil War re-enactment community.
Those guys (and gals) are dedicated!  Braving 100 degree temperature to play soldier!  But for most of them it goes beyond the fun and games, it is important to preserve our history and heritage through educating the public as to what our forefathers did.  Tracing their family lines to either or both sides of the war between the states.  Researching the paths their forefathers followed and battles fought and then passing that information on to the next generation is a way honoring their memory.
Roger Kelly, better known as "Butternut" served as my model and inspiration for the latest addition to my Heritage Series, "The Sharpshooter." 

Where has time gone?!?!  It certainly does not seem like it has been 40 years since 82 kids walked across the stage at North Greene High School to receive our diplomas.  Times were simpler then. We were all country kids and had responsibilities of feeding the calves before going to school.  We mowed lawns and hoed tobacco. We played ball and rode bikes everywhere.  Doors were never locked and everyone knew everyone else. God forbid if you did something you weren't supposed to do, because the grapevine of communication notified your parents quicker than the speed of light.
The Class of 1969 celebrated Saturday night at Locust Springs Christian Retreat, a lovely and peaceful site just about a mile from our old stomping grounds.  It was a lovely evening renewing friendships. 
 

I am pleased to announce that James-Ben Gallery in Greeneville, Tennessee is now carrying my art.  They were recently voted the best fine art gallery in the Mountain South which includes Western North Carolina, South-west Virginia and Upper east Tennessee. 
Catch up on some of my recent plein air paintngs at my http:/mariebmerritt.blogspot.com

Plein air, or as we say in Tennessee, pantin' outside!  I finally mustered enough courage to venture out into the weather with painting gear in tow.  I set up the easel, decided on my composition, started to paint, and then one drop...10 drops... deluge!  Ahhhhh, April showers bring May flowers, and oil and water do not mix.  But I'm proud to say that I stayed with it.
Perhaps that would be a valid excuse for making the dogwood look more like a Bradford pear tree.  I did not take the time to do the lacy detail that was needed to have the painting read as a dogwood.
So what was my excuse today on the azalea bush?  Wind, of course! Plus Paul made me move my easel so he could get the lawn mower out of the storage area that I was blocking. 
Some artists make painting on location look so easy.  Roger Dale Brown, a marvelous artist and excellent instructor, told us in the workshop this past weekend, that if we wanted to improve our work that we needed to paint, paint, paint.
I will get better at this style of painting!  Yes, I will.

Today's landscape is from the photo files.  I have plenty of farm scenes photos, but wanted to get on with painting this morning, so visited the image files at wetcanvas.com.  I had intended to paint a summer hay bale, but really liked the winter scene.  Note to self....get photos organized!!
I am taking a workshop with Roger Dale Brown later this week and thought I needed to brush up on some landscapes. 
Original Oil "Winter Hay" 9x12 on canvas.  Contact Marie to inquire about purchasing this or any other art work.

I had planned to paint outside today, but the weather forecast was for rain.  Being a wussy when it comes to braving the elements, I decided to paint a landscape from one of my photos. 
The Artist's United Convention at Surf Side Beach, SC is in a couple of weeks and since I intend to do some plein air painting while there, this was a good exercise.
I probably will add a figure on the beach or a sea gull in the air when the painting dries. 

4-13-09 "Surf Side Beach" Original Oil 11"x14" To inquire about purchasing this or any other painting, contact Marie. 

4-11-09
I could call this painting a mulligan. They take mulligans in golf, don't they? Well, I took a mulligan on this painting. In other words, I did not count my first attempt. Thursday I set up the design and drew it on the canvas, but did not have time to start the painting. By the time I returned to my studio on Friday, the poor little tulips had drooped. They looked pitiful and the drawing no longer resembled the arrangement of flowers. I had no choice but to cut more flowers and redo the drawing. Oh well, I needed the practice!
Throughout the painting process, I was tempted to take another mulligan, but in golf they only allow one false start, so I struggled through the process. Whether it was due to taking several days off from my daily paining projects, or because of the challenge of the light yellow flowers in a very dark setting, I was sufficiently challenged. Whenever I struggle, which is normally with every painting, I do what I know to do...  I remember the basics. That involves asking myself the usual questions....is the next color lighter or darker? Is it warmer or cooler? Is it brighter or duller? Is it more yellow, red, blue? Between finding the illusive answers to these questions, trying to paint the shapes of the light and dark patterns, and chasing the wilting flowers, I completed the painting of this bouquet today.
Golf's objective is to complete the round in the fewest strokes possible. When painting fresh flowers, the objective is to capture their essence before they expire. Both tasks take practice in order to master.  I could go watch the best golfers in the world pay at the Master's, but instead, I better go practice my craft of painting.  I do not mind admitting that I struggle with a painting.  If it were easy, it would not be as much fun.  Besides, several of those guys in Augusta are struggling with making that little white ball go where they want it to go.  I bet they will be on the course this afternoon and again tomorrow when they are not playing, practicing their basics.

Daily Painting 4-11-09 "Yellow Tulips" Original Oil 14"x11"
Contact Marie to inquire about purchasing this or any of the other paintings.

Friday evening I spoke to the Rutledge, TN General Federation of W oman's Club about my art. Since no one died during the meeting, I think it is safe to assume that I did not bore them to death. Several of these gracious ladies have collected my paintings or prints for years, for which I am appreciative.
I showed several of my early paintings, even the first one I ever did in 1991. That simple little stroke work wooden heart shows me how far I have come, but it also reminds me how much more I have to learn.
Clarissa Ellis entertained the group with her singing and piano playing. Talk about talent!! Not only can she sing and play, she is one of the premier floral designers in the United States. She shared a bouquet of red carnations with us. I hope you enjoy my interpretation in oil of these lovely flowers. It was fun to paint!

Clarissa' Carnations, Original Oil on panel, 4x6 $100