Thoughts from the brush...by doris britt

DOGGIES 'N PONIES 'N DUCKS... OH MY!

2009-08-02T17:29:00.006-04:00

CLICK TO ENLARGE

I'm back...after what seems like a very long time! Actually I was busy running a big Pet Fair that we had at the LW Emporium. If you want something to gobble up your free time, try running one....it's amazing.....fun and amazing! I can't believe all the details that crop up in the processing of this kind of event! Sign painting, advertising, passing out posters to Veterinarians and pet stores, calling pet rescue groups, vendors with pet related items, hot dog people, and then marking out all the spaces, getting ads and free community notices in on time to the newspapers, tv and radio stations, blowing up baloons,,etc,....etc......you get the picture...and after it was all over, you have to do everything all over again in reverse! Take down the signs and balloons, write thank you letters to all the vendors and animal rescue people, gather the earnings to present to the dedicated animal shelter and arrange for a time when all could gather for a happy picture! Was it all worth it? Oh yes, it was.. Everyone had a great time and are asking for another next year! Not to boast ,but we did a pretty good job and some lucky animals at the Cracker Box Palace will have food for awhile longer because of the fair...very worth it! I just want to apologize and explain why I was gone so long...and thank you Janine for your note which shook me out of my euphoric high flying animal party! Check out the pictures.
JUST CLICK TO ENLARGE!

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!

2009-07-03T17:41:00.002-04:00

Thoughts from the brush...

A LITTLE HELP...?

2009-06-28T20:03:00.008-04:00

Here I am, still playing with glass but I have a dilemma. It's just that little bit of red netting over the fish. I am being very brave putting the netting there at all and I'm still not sure, but wonder if I can get some feed back on which version looks better. If you think the red should go, that's ok just say so. My question has to do with whether it should hang down (1st picture) or drift to the left (2nd picture).
The fish look black but are actually multi-colored mylar which changes with the light. I have partially mirrored the glass so it has a reflective quality and plan to layer it on to something else... don't know what yet. Here's the second one: This seems like a pretty dumb question for me to ask but I've looked at it too long today and need fresh eyes.
BTW, in case anyone else is trying to carve up glass, I have discovered an absolutely wonderful tool called a 'running pliers' that will snap off that edge of glass that you've scored with no trouble at all and no cut fingers! They are available at stained glass stores. I can't tell you how many pieces of broken glass I have left all over the country while trying to frame my paintings. If only this marvelous tool had not been kept secret during my long painting and framing career!
Any red net (red neck?) advise you can leave will be greatly appreciated.. hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

BLACK BACKGROUND

2009-06-18T13:51:00.005-04:00

Just thought I'd try the clear glass boat on a black background to see how it presented itself.

PHEW.... IT WORKED..AND NOTHING BROKE!

2009-06-17T19:58:00.018-04:00

Here they are boys and girls.. What do you think? I am really going to have to figure out how to display them. I dribbled some glass paint on this one to see what would happen..I sort of like it even though I used 3 colors and ended up with only one! All the shards fused together and the edges rounded so they are nice and smooth. This one has 3 different levels of glass on it . It is about 12 inches tall.

The next two shots are of the second boat which I did not paint . Here goes...........

These were a lot of fun to do and I still have a lot more broken glass . I aim to try doing a cat next time but will probably consider this as my hobby ...As much as I am enjoying something different, I don't think I'll give up my paint brush for long!

But then again, it is such fun!

HOLD YOUR BREATH

2009-06-16T19:43:00.002-04:00

OK..the two glass pieces went into the kiln this morning. Karen says that they will probably be viewable tomorrow morning...I'm so nervous !!!! Cross your fingers everybody. What if they blow up? Ohhh no....

GLASS ATTACK 2

2009-06-14T20:03:00.005-04:00

Here's the second 'glass shard' piece. This time I added some little pieces of my broken gazing globe. It's an irridescent blue/green and a much thinner glass...wonder what that will do? I love doing things I've never done before! Should be fired on Tuesday.

Now I've got my own reflection in the picture...there must be a way ...

GLASS ATTACK!

2009-06-13T20:48:00.005-04:00

AT LAST! For years I have saved glass that I broke when framing my paintings..something about certain shapes made me just sling them up into the basket that hung from the upper deck in my studio. I just knew that someday I would want them (the universal artists' defencive credo)! Well here it is....my friend Karen has decided to become a glass artist and has purchased a kiln for that purpose! Yea!... Here is my first attempt at organizing the shards and slivers of glass into some semblance of reality. I used dabs of super glue to hold them together and Karen assures me that they won't show once the piece is fired! Thought I'd share these beginnings, with all the messy fingerprints and glue spots on it, because I have absolutely no idea of what to expect once it's fired! Such fun ! Sorry about the glare. Glass is harder to shoot than paintings!

AN AWARD FOR ME... YEA!

2009-05-26T12:49:00.016-04:00

Noblesse Award!

I can't stop smiling...my first award and such an amazing one! I received this award from Lynda at HAUNTED SWAMP DESIGNS. Thanks so much Lynda!

I am to write something about what my blog has achieved for me (besides this wonderful award). Here goes:

When I began blogging this past February, it never occurred to me that it would be so life changing. I know that sounds pretty corny but it's true. I have met some wonderful people, not only by name but by heart and soul! To be able to share another person's loves, needs, dreams and even sorrows, in a safe environment , makes for a friendship that is not often met in the walking-talking world! To share the creative spirit with others who do the same is the life blood of any creative person, and blogging makes that sharing possible.

Watching the little Live Feed Gadget at the bottom of my blog screen makes me feel like I have friends from all over the world...and there isn't even a language barrier! Where can life be any better than that?

Details of Noblesse Award:
The recipient of this award is recognized for the following:
- The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervade amongst different cultures and beliefs.
- Their Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage, and offers solutions
- There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economic, the Arts, Cultures, Sciences and Beliefs
- The Blog is refreshing and creative- The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.
The Blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following:
- Create a post with a mention and link to the person who presented the NoblesseOblige Award- The Award Conditions must be displayed at the Post
- Write a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved
– preferably citing one or more older posts as support
- The Blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the Award conditions
- Blogger must display the Award at any location at their Blog so I'm going to pass this one on to:

Irisz Whose whimsey makes me smile and who is so caring about her customers.
Lisa Who is always generous and kind with her comments and is an amazing artist
CarrieWho finds time aside from her blogging and precious little creations to help our furry friends in need. She goes above and beyond to CNR ferral cats who can't help themselves. Standing O Carrie!
Akiko Whose artwork is so awesome it makes my legs weak. I hesitate to give this award as she must have so many already but I can't help it . Akiko gives a percentage of all her sales to help needy animals,. a very generous thing to do

I hope you'll take time to visit these wonderful bloggers!

GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT

2009-05-22T15:21:00.010-04:00

The weekend coming up is all about the flag....and the flag is all about our beliefs as a country.

I thought this painting would be an appropriate image to wish everyone a happy Memorial Day!
I've entitled this watercolor "PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT" from the line in the Star Spangled Banner. I think that says it all.

Be safe and well this weekend, enjoy your travels and the friends you meet along the way, but also say a little prayer for the men and woman fighting for our country while we enjoy the fruits of their labors!

BEING 'TAGGED' BY A MERMAID

2009-05-15T14:37:00.014-04:00

I just learned that my friend Janine has tagged me. Thank you
Janine! I, in turn, must now tag 6 bloggers of my choice.

So splish, splash and all that dash......two mermaids do the job in a flash! These watercolor mermaids were hanging around my website not busy with anything else So if you get slapped by a wet fin (or find a comment on your blog) you've been tagged!

Here are the rules:
1. Name your tagger
2. Write six things that make you happy
3.Then tag 6 bloggers

Here's my list:
1. the smell of newly cut grass
2. the sight of kittens playing
3. the smell of lilacs
4. tea with friends
5. collecting shells on the beach
6.reading a good book

Ok, here are my six bloggers , all great people with enjoyable sites! You might like to go visit them!
1.Kathleen
2. Gail
3.Terri
4.Lisa
5. Anne
6.Jan

JANINE IS GIVING A PRIZE!

2009-05-13T16:40:00.005-04:00

Janine is having a drawing to celebrate her 1000 click.

She will give away this precious little angel painting....

hurry, hurry go check it out!

HOORAY, HOORAY, A PRIZE TODAY!

2009-05-12T13:31:00.004-04:00

I'm so excited! I won this wonderful bar of Honey Oatmeal Soap from Village Gift Shoppe! This is so generous of them and I can't wait for it to arrive! Thank you Lori and Hope!

GOURDQUEEN posts first BLOG GIVEAWAY..come one, come all!

2009-05-11T18:39:00.008-04:00

The Gourd Queen aka Linda Kennan is staging her first Blog Give Away..and it's a doozie! Rush right over to see those precious little Gourdie-Do's ! They are the cutest things and I hope, I hope to win one..maybe.....?
This blogging stuff is soooooooo much fun!

Sequel to 'Snooze Alarm'

2009-05-09T18:19:00.013-04:00

This is a sequel to "There's no snooze alarm on a cat who wants his breakfast". Janine told me about this one and I finally found it and want to share with all those who enjoyed the first one. Somehow I can't stop laughing at them. Maybe it's just me, but I think it's anyone who has ever lived with a cat...recognise the situation? Thanks Janine! giggle, purr....

Click on link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s13dLaTIHSg

There's no snooze alarm on a cat who wants his breakfast!

2009-05-04T20:45:00.009-04:00

SCROLL DOWN...................

KEEP SCROLLING...VIDEO BELOW......

these little beasties are making me crazy.....

Sorry about these dancing cats...I can't make them stop..at one point there were 27 of them and they just kept coming...I typed as fast as I could but they caught up and I had to keep starting over. I swear, I ordered only one...what do they think they are....rabbits?

There seem to be a lot of bloggers out there who love kitties so I just wanted to post this video. I hope you haven't seen it but even so, you'll laugh again anyway! Have sound turned on.

BEEN THERE....DONE THAT!!!!!!!

FAST CAT FERRY

2009-04-30T19:01:00.009-04:00

SPLOSH... SPLASH...SCURRY and DASH ! These ships are really moving....!

This piece just had to happen. My studio looks out over Lake Ontario where, several years ago, we were witness to the flopping and floundering of that monster hydrofoil named ' Fast Ferry' AKA 'the cat'! Every day it set out for Toronto from Rochester's port on it's round trip voyage, and every day my two cats would run and jump on the windowsills to see what was causing the huge waves and after shock which could clearly be felt in the studio. The ferry was such a wonderful idea and those who managed to get a ride on it free of incident during it's short lived infamy said that it was indeed, a wonderful way to get to Toronto... and points beyond if you brought your car as was encouraged! Unfortunately, 'the cat' seemed to be born (in Perth Australia) under an unlucky star and troubles followed it wherever it went . I can't document all the things that went wrong with it here but suffice it to say that there were many; bungled permits, missing permits, motor troubles, financial troubles, navigational problems involving damages to all involved, and , I believe, very poor planning from the get go. Fast Cat Ferry flew the wrong flag, I think it was from Nassau, and therefore the city of Rochester was forced to divvy up $6000 per day to have a captain licensed by that country present while berthing the behemoth both here and in Canada even though an American captain was on board, managed fine during the travel times and was very capable of berthing it himself . Another missed opportunity, and one which prevented the Fast Cat from bringing in the income that was hoped for , was the missing permit that would allow large trucks, 18 wheelers , to use the ferry to cut out many miles and hours of travel time between Rochester and Toronto. It would appear that someone must have neglected the arrangement for this particular permit because in the planning stages, the large truck cargo was to have constituted the biggest part of the revenue , ensuring the success of the entire venture!

If you are reading this, I am going to assume that you have had some acquaintance with the workings of the creative process, and will find it quite a reasonable jump for my mind to have absorbed all these facts and blended them into a merry little story depicting the hero's of the tale as frisky feline sailors who could probably sort out the problems with only a few ounces of catnip, a sardine or two and some friendly, internationally flagged, transport fish to get the job done. Here then is my own personal version of the "Fast Cat Ferry" with due credit going to Widget and Sadie who thought of the idea in the first place! We hope you like it. Gentle snickering and giggling allowed.

Giclee prints of Fast Cat Ferry are available from my website.

THE SPIDER AND THE SNAIL PART 3

2009-04-17T19:30:00.038-04:00

The saga of the Spider and the Snail , I think, will be resolved thanks to some wonderful advise from Lisa and Akiko who seemed to know about such things. I have been advised to put him in a nice little glass environment with lettuce and soil until he is through hibernating.. I will do that...just as soon as I can get up the strength and courage to pull him off the wall. It would seem that he must be stuck pretty good to have hung there all winter long.

I'll let you know how that works out but this is too good a segue not to use to bring up an event near and dear to my heart which happened awhile ago. My all time favorite cat, Pushkin (after the Russian Poet) came home one sunny afternoon with the most woebegone look on her little round face and a snail stuck tight right on the top of her head. She sat herself down in the kitchen (that room again) and gave me a look that implored me to help her out of this predicament..there was no question about what she wanted me to do and I've always hoped she forgave me when I sat down and did a quick sketch of her instead! It couldn't be helped...she was so cute and funny!

OK, so before you call the SPCA....I did relieve her of her burden within a reasonable length of time...everybody should look so cute with a snail on their head!

Well, I can't just leave it at that can I? ...how often do those two species get together in such an intimate way?I couldn't help myself... I just had to carry the inspiration a little further and so I sketched in a few more cats and a few more snails to help satisfy my ever present lust for the whimsical ...and the bizarre!

Oh, this is fun...wouldn't it be even more fun to make it taller....with more cats and more snails?

I'm getting in a rut here but for the life of me, nothing else came to mind to add to this menagerie.

Tall cats, tall snails, on and on I go...can't seem to stop..... Most artists spend a lot of time trying to explain to viewers what 'inspired', or more often 'what caused' them to draw that one?' Those of you who practice art of any genre will agree with me, I am sure, that the viewer's interpretation is equally as valid as the artist's but the viewer still insists upon hearing the story from the artist as well.

I have happily spent hours at art shows just explaining to people how all those shapes and colors got onto the paper in just that particular manner and why! Most importantly ...why? I love the story telling but am still somewhat surprised to realize that there really was a story, a why, an inspiration, a magical moment that prompted me to put down those visions in just that manner. Sometimes when we paint, we are lost in the essence of what we are doing and are unaware of the Muse's hand on ours so it's a pleasure to ,now and then, stop and realize how we got where we are.

Well now, it's finally become evident to me

what is missing from this little adventure on

paper and that is...the human element.and so

without further ado, I plopped Grizabella from"CATS"

right down the middle to complete

the muddle which I like to call ...

CATS 'N SNAILS 'N
BROADWAY TALES!

With, of course, full acknowledgement and profound thanks to my best pal, Pushkin!

THE SPIDER AND THE SNAIL part 2

2009-04-14T16:14:00.011-04:00

OK, here's the snail shell I promised...sitting on the windowsill right next to the candle. It's a cute little thing and would bring nice summery thoughts throughout the cold winter which would soon be upon us.

This was my thinking when I rescued it from the laundry room to give it a place of honor for the duration.....

NEXT MORNING...
Surprise, surprise!

Not only has the red arrow moved (you noticed that?) but
the "shell" also appears to have taken a walk! Evidently the little guy was still using his house...and now mine!
This is OK with me...we can share..as long as he stays pretty much where he, or she, is. What do snails do in the winter...do they sleep..hibrinate..? Do they need to eat...what do they eat? If the house is warm do they think it is summer and start doing 'summer' things?

I considered these to all be legitimate worries but
thought it prudent to adopt a 'wait and see' attitude. It was much too cold to put the poor little fella outside . Actually the snow came in earnest the very next day.

I had no idea what to do if he started walking around so I
was particularly careful when doing dishes at the sink, right below the window, least I should wake him up and have to introduce myself!

As the winter went on, it seemed that all would be well, as Sleeping Snail, AKA Snidely, seemed content to just stay suctioned to the sill plate and it wasn't until February that I became aware that he had invited company! It seems that a little house spider has also been staying at my place for the winter. I'd catch sight of him first thing in the morning when I started to draw water for coffee. He tends, though, to be a bit shy and scurries away when he hears a noise so I had to tread softly and using no lights, sneak up early one morning with my camera to get a shot of him by shooting blindly and frequently in the dark. Here then, is Simon Spider still sort of curled up in what surely must have been a long night's slumber in company of his buddy S.Snail.

And yes, Simon does come home and roost in the same spot every night...as a matter of fact, I have often caught him catching an afternoon nap in just that spot.
Now my question to you, dear reader, is this: does anyone out there know about the hibernating habits of snails? The reason I ask at this time is that I have noticed a very gradual lowering of the snail from his original position in recent weeks...Is he sliding down....does this forebode an awakening? The weather is still too iffy to put him outside but if he begins to move faster than a nano-second per hour, my other roommates, of the feline persuasion, might become very interested in him. Sadie particularly, loves anything that moves and continually amazes me by the variety of found objects she brings to me while I am sleeping! She doesn't just bring them to bed, she tucks them in around my face so that I will be sure to notice them should I open an eye... This would not be a good thing should one or more of those objects be Snidely or Simon. I can't fathom a good day being salvaged out of one which began by such an awakening and therefore must ask for your help in avoiding, by any means, the extreme view of the Spider and the Snail!
All comments and suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

THE SPIDER AND THE SNAIL, part 1

2009-04-13T18:22:00.016-04:00

Now that Easter is over and I am feeling better, I have a kind of funny little story to share with you. Let me preface this story by saying that I've always liked snails, not to eat, just to look at.

I once read a story about how someone let a whole gaggle of snails loose on an artist's wet pallet and then encouraged them to slither and slide over a clean sheet of watercolor paper. It took awhile but the end result was fascinating...sort of like a slow motion Jackson Pollock painting, but with a few extra squiggles and blops here and there! I was intrigued by the process and the end result, and understand that the 'painting' actually sold for quite a sum on an art auction held somewhere! Imagine, the lowly snail as an artist!

Thus began my interest in the curlicue little artisans and I did this small painting as a greeting card for a friend. It was a long time ago, at the beginning of my 'snail enamored days,' and I never would have thought of it had it not been for the intrigue of a little saga that has been playing out in my kitchen over the winter months.

Sometime last fall, I was about to do a laundry when I was surprised to find a pretty little snail shell in the pocket of a pair of blue jeans.. It is not an unprecedented discovery , as there is a high north facing wooded embankment behind my cottage where it is always shady and moist. The little guys flourish there and I often pick up their left behind shells once they are done with them. I just didn't remember collecting this particular one . Never mind, I'll just put it here on the kitchen window sill where all can see and admire it! The thought occurred to me to take a quick photo of it to send to a friend who also enjoys the charms of La Petit Escargot.

"Get on with it" you say?...OK, but have you ever seen a snail try to hurry?

It's dinner time now and the 'girls' want their meal so I'm afraid that this will have to be continued first thing tomorrow. I promise, and I'll post that picture I took. Thanks for hanging in there!

2009-04-09T16:40:00.007-04:00

I hope you are all having a wonderful time this Easter no matter where you are. I am staying home to , hopefully, whip the last of the coughing thing... Much better, thank you but still reluctant to let completely go!

The sunshine promises a good weather weekend and that bodes well for those who are travelling to distant places to be with family or friends. I am so grateful for computers and their wizardly gift of spontaneous and immediate communication. Our loved ones are never further than a few keystrokes away!...Magic!

Under the weather...........

2009-04-03T19:48:00.003-04:00

Sorry to have let things go so long. I've been in bed for 5 days with a viral, sinus, asthma, coughing, sniffing thingy...Hurt so bad! But I finally got to the doctor today and she thinks she can put me back together again so looking forward to more paintings and gossip soon! me

2009-03-27T20:35:00.003-04:00

What a wonderful, beautiful, bright blue day! No question that Spring is finally here. I saw my first boats today... If you live on a lake that's akin to seeing your first Spring robin! It happens every year and yet I'm always surprised to see life being lived on the north side of my studio! Just 2 small boats, going in different directions but a true promise of the lofty sails that will be hoisted in just a few month's time! I love to watch the sailboat races...a soundless struggle of canvas and wind.... I love to paint the motions that they create...the excitement of pure freedom as they glide along the surface of the water.
This watercolor entitled "Blue Gulls", seemed the perfect pick for today so I brought it out for this occasion! Reproductions are available from my website.

The First Notes of Spring

2009-03-19T19:16:00.008-04:00

With Spring about to arrive we look forward to the blooming of flowers in the garden and the sounds of our favorite birds singing their return songs. Here in watercolor are two of my favorite feathered friends. The Chickadee is the state bird of Massachusetts but that's close enough for them to settle in my part of the world too. Upstate NY is not so far as the bird flies. Welcome, welcome little harbingers of Spring!

REMINISCING ON THE SUBJECT OF THE 'GREEN' YEARS

2009-03-17T13:59:00.012-04:00

As I scrumbled around the jewelry box looking for this Celtic pin
this morning, It came back to me that it was the one I bought on the first of nine St. Patrick days I spent in Dublin...lest you think I am rich and can travel at will , let me be quick to point out that
those 9 trips to the Emerald Isle were actually job related.

I was a coach and moderator of a very good marching band at

the high school where I taught and 9 times we were invited
to march in Dublin's St. Patrick's day parade. A thrill
for all of us of course, and seemingly even more of a thrill

for the Irish who , at that time, had never witnessed a really large
(125 member) marching band . I remember the lump in my
throat as 100,000 people stood and roared their approval when the first notes were played as those
kids (they were very, very good) stepped onto the Croak Park Field. This is where the final hurling matches were being played, an event equivalent to our Superbowl and
the sight of the stars and stripes being so honored in that far away country was a thrill that can only be understood by those who were there. I've been blessed with some wonderful memories and I'm happy to be able to share them here..

Rag Tag Cats

2009-03-16T16:48:00.015-04:00

One of the things I have been amusing myself with this long , cold winter, is the creation of stuffed kittie faces out of coffee filters! New or used...it doesn't matter, as I paint them anyway and a little coffee color sometimes makes 'fur' fun.

MEANDERINGS IN MARCH

2009-03-15T18:08:00.016-04:00

Here we are in the windy month and as I sit here in my studio listening to the waves dashing against the break wall, I am reminded of all the years I have been doing just that. Living on one of the Great Lakes can be wonderful, awesome,amazing or just plain awful! There have been times when Mother Nature has besieged my little cottage with such force and wind driven waves as to threaten all life within. There was even one March when just such a thing happened and the lake gobbled up and destroyed so much land that the 14 homes on my little spit were officially condemned ! It took 2 &1/2 years to rebuild and move back in...but we all did. If you are a lake person, you are a lake person forever and in every way, even through the vagaries of bad weather and the trauma it can bring. We never forget the offsetting joys of the daily sunset over water, the cooling breeze in the summer, the cry of gulls ...all the wonderful things that decorate the life of a water dweller such as I. These things come to mind right now because that most terrible storm happened on St. Patrick's day many years ago....and I am reminded that we are, once again, about to celebrate the wearin' of the green...and so "Cead Mile Failte", Gaelic for 100000 Welcomes, to you my reader, as I embark upon this amazing adventure called "blog"!

I hope you will share my thoughts as I consider my options at the start of yet another facet of my career. I have been a commercial artist, an illustrator, an automobile dealer, a teacher, a gallery artist and lastly a gypsy artist who traveled up and down the east coast selling my renderings at fine art shows and fairs!
Since doing the last of those shows in November, I have been hard pressed to decide what comes next..an artist can't just retire you know...I must paint, but the painting without the interpretation and reaction of others is not an acceptable prospect to me. Therefore I'm looking for ways to stay in touch with all the wonderful people I have had the pleasure of interacting with over the years. I so enjoyed our times together. It seems that almost everyone who ever came in my booth to look at work had that special sense of humor and good will that leaves no doubt, that under other circumstances, they could become an instant best friend. In many cases, that's just what did happen and I treasure those many friendships, both nearby and at a distance.

Since November, I've frittered away a lot of time just enjoying the winter as I have been devoid of that season for too long. Living in Florida during the cold months has it's advantages and the Art Festivals there are great, but there comes a time when one longs for the old ways, tires of the 'bright blue' after 'bright blue' days and follows the compass back home. Been there , done that, and it was very good, even better now that it's put to rest. I'm going to rewind a bit and start in a new direction ...no matter how long we live or how old we get, we never get to try it all do we? I'm going to give it my best shot!

I'll be back soon, got to feed the 'girls" now. Widget (aka Garbo) and Sadie are my "four on the floor, good upholstery, low mileage cats "(shades of the old auto dealer here) who understandably blame me for this northern cold weather Winter thing and guilt me up enough that I still jump up and serve them their meals whenever they ask...even in the morning! After all, there's no snooze alarm on a cat who wants her breakfast is there?

MY LAST SHOW

2009-02-17T20:44:00.007-05:00

After 28 years, 2008 marked my final year on the art show circuit. It was with mixed feelings that I participated in my last show but it was a beautiful way to go out. Christkindl Market held at the Granger House
Museum in Canandaigua in November was one glorious experience
and it holds bittersweet memories for me now as I look back. The venue included
several very large heated tents decorated with all the trimmings that the
Christmas season could inspire. There was entertainment throughout the
three day festival and the most wonderful food available at all times.
Buggy rides around the extensive grounds of the Granger House and tours
of the home were a particularly nice touch and if people in charge of an
event could be nicer or more helpful, I don't know where that would be. I
saw many old friends there, people came from all over and there was an
air of festivity throughout the entire weekend....I even won 1st prize
for painting and was awarded a big blue ribbon...well, actually it was a
big red and white ribbon but you get the idea. It made my weekend
special.

I wish to thank everyone who ever stepped inside my booth over all these
years. You have made my chosen life very special. I loved talking to you
about art, your family, your pets and just life in general. If you bought
a painting, then thank you for that ..I will always be in your life, and
you in mine. If you just came to browse, that's fine too, I get a special
lift when you care enough to do that! You can still do that through my
website and this blog which is finally up and running.

I expect to have more time to create new works now and they will be
posted on my website as soon as they are dry! I do hope you will come to
look at them and email me with your comments. After all these years it
would be very lonely without you!