These adorable puppies, named for characters from heir owner's favorite movie, "The Color Purple" sensed they were destined for stardom.  Celie and Avery posed for the camera like old pros.  Apparently they knew they were going to be the star of their very own portrait.
Our pets give us so much love and companionship, yet ask for so little in return.  Commemorate that special critter in your life with a portrait in oil or pencil.  Marie will gladly arrange a photo session to capture your loved one's personality or she can use one from your collection.

Knoxville, Tennessee's Mobile Meals selected three works of art from local artists represented at the Art Market Gallery to feature on cards benefiting  the Office on Aging and Mobile Meals.  I was honored that my original oil, "Serenity of Spring" was one of the three.  The paintings and cards were unveiled at the First Friday Gallery Walk.  Pictured are Marie Alcorn from Mobile Meals and artists George Rothery, Brenda Mills, and myself.  My thanks to Erline McKay and her husband Tom for the photo. 
The Art Market Gallery is located on Gay Street between the Brewery Restaurant and Mast General Store. 

This winter has been a busy time for me.  After many years of being home, making my own schedule and painting most every day, I have had to re-enter the 9-5 schedule.  We have an agency that provides supported living for the mentally challenged and it was right that I become more involved in the day to day operations.  To say that this change has altered my schedule is an understatement, but working with our people has many rewards.  I know that I am where GOD intends for me to be now. 
Relieved of the pressure to produce works for shows, I have decided this is a great opportunity to experiment and try new techniques and styles. Artists tend to develop a technique they are comfortable with and that produces a cohesive body of work, and I am no different.  Stepping out of one's comfort zone, is scary, but it also allows one to grow and develop.  Hopefully, my experiments will be successful and when (or if) GOD decides it is time for me to get back to my art full time, my work will have achieved a higher level.

 I do enjoy testing my skills when working from life.  Plein air  forces the painter to work very quickly due to the changing light, whereas the technique employed for this still life allows for lots of time to achieve accuracy in the drawing, hue and values. 

I hope you enjoy viewing "Orange Tea" a set up that I did on a cold wintery day.

So what does Body for Life have to do with an art blog?  Plenty!
The Tennessee Body for Life group hosted a Champions' Weekend this past and what a fabulous time it was.  Over a hundred  people came from as far away as Australia, South Africa, England, Canada and all over the US to share motivation & inspiration and enjoy the company of each other.  Several in attendance had earned the designation of "Champion" and received the leather jacket and check from EAS, but everyone there was a champion in their own right. 
The BFL program teaches us to set goals and push ourselves toward a healthier being over the course of a 12 week challenge.  Almost everyone  who has accepted and completed the challenge finishes with much more than a smaller waist line and bigger muscles.  They find a new person inside as well.  One who is stronger emotionally and spiritually. That carries over into every aspect of your life.
Bill Phillips, the author of Body for Life, says that while it appears to be an individual sport it is actually a team sport, because when one succeeds, everyone succeeds.  Everyone cheers the others on and that was very evident this weekend. 
Richard shared his amazing story of dying twice at the age of 38!  Talk about a wake up call!  He totally changed his life-style and now is healthy and fit.  Denise shared how important it is to be strong and take care of yourself in order to set an example for others.  Her motivation was her teenage daughter who suffers from luekemia.  She competes in triathlons. Mac, a truly inspirational man, told me that I was an inspiration. HA! His words sure made me think.  I am often more of a negative influence and I would prefer to be an inspiration.  He reminded me that we never know who is we might inspire.  That was my hour of decision, to get off my duff and clean up my act.  It is time to  get and stay fit.  I've completed BFL challenges in the past successfully, but hadn't committed to it as a LIFE style.  Now is the time.

Stephanie Workman was the brains and most of the brawn behind this successful event.  She and her husband Don, along with some other TN BFLer's presented Porter Freeman, every BFL follower's idol, a print of my "Hour of Decision".  Porter  walks the walk and talks the talk of  BFL and is a true friend and encourager to everyone who tries.  He is also a Civil War buff and has a lot of the attributes of The Old General.   I was thrilled that he liked the print.

What a difference a few days make!  Last week our temperature was in the high 90's and today was in the mid 80's.  The evenings are in the high 50's and that crisp morning air certainly  feels like autumn. 

I love the clear blue skies that accompany fall.  Contrasting the blue to the yellows and oranges of the dried fields makes for lovely complimentary color schemes.

Lately I have been working on figurative paintings in the studio.  While I enjoy painting anything, portraits and figuratives are my favorite.  I'll have to post pictures of them when I get photos done.  In the mean time, I'll feature "McNeil's Crossing" which shows the colors of early fall.  This original oil painting measures 16x20 and comes in a lovely wide plein aire frame. Price is $750. 

I will be exhibiting in Blowing Rock, NC Saturday, Sept. 8 for Art in the Park.  The Chamber of Commerce sponsors this show each month from May through October and I have been invited to exhibit in October as well. 

The weather will be warm, but there is already a hint of fall in the air.  Perhaps it is due to the unseasonably dry weather we have had, but then it is September and autumn is just around the corner. 

Blowing Rock is a picturesque mountain village that offers delightful shopping and sight seeing.  It is just a few miles from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.  That is the little team that upset Michigan last week in football.  I expect all of western North Carolina is still celebrating. 

"Signs of Spring" is one of my newest works.  This original oil measures 22"x28" and features a red breasted gross beak and purple iris .  The white picket fence adds to the nostalgia. 

It is hard to believe that this is the first of September, the unofficial end of summer and only 4 months remain in the year.  It means that I have got to get BUSY if I am to accomplish the goals I set.  One of those goals is to do more painting on location.  I've used the excuse of the weather being too hot, but that is changing, so now I need to just do it.
The painting shown is "Better Times".  As we approach this Labor Day holiday may we mindful of all who labor to provide for their families. 
This original oil was painted from life on a linen canvas.  It measures 20"x24".  Fine art giclee reproductions are also available.  Contact me for information or to purchase.

Several artists get together on Friday afternoons at the old Cordura Marble Building in the Vestal community of south Knoxville to paint or draw using a live model.  They also meet on Saturdays for life drawing classes, but unfortunately that schedule doesn't work for me.  I don't get to attend this session as often as I would like, but I go when I can. Mr. Gifford Nicolaides is our moderator.
Other than adding the appearance of about 20 years to the young lady (something no woman ever wants!) I felt like I had a pretty good likeness for a quick study. Next time she models, I'll try to make sure she is closer to her current age.  I'm sure she would like that.

I'm teaching a portrait of Madison entitled "Pretty in Pink" at the Heart of Ohio Tole Convention this week in Columbus, OH.  It should be a fun, yet challenging class for the students.  I throughly enjoy painting portraits and equally revel in teaching.

The Virginia Highlands was a nice festival as there were lots of things going on.  People dressed in their clan's tartan plaid came to participate in the Celtic events.  The lively and upbeat music wafted through the air and entertained the exhibitors as well as the people attending the art show.
The best part of any festival is meeting so many wonderful people. 

Faith Lutheran Church in Farragut, TN invited me to hang some of my paintings.  "Faces in Time" is a collection of 10 of my portraits.  I thought the Madonna portrait, that I did from life, was appropriate for the location.    Their web site is http://www.faithlutheranonline.com