Open Water

Before moving to Virginia, I lived in southern California. Somehow, living near the beach, the water begins to draw you in. There, I discovered "open water" swimming. When surrounded by motion, the ocean feels alive, every drop moving with some unified purpose.
My intention at this early stage...simply to capture the perpetual movement of the water. My next challenge, organizing the movement.

Black Bear

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We're going on a bear hunt,

We're gonna catch a big one,

What a beautiful day,

We're not scared.

Oh ,oh! Grass,

Long, wavy, grass.

We can't go over it,

We can't go under it,

We've gotta go throught it!

Swishy swashy, swishy swashy.

OH NO IT'S A BEAR!!!

Brown Bear

This week I am working on a commission for a couple of bear "portraits." Honestly, I don't really think of myself as a wildlife painter, but I just love doing them (and do many of them). Who doesn't love a cuddly teddy bear?

If you ever, ever, ever

meet a grizzly bear,

You must never, never, never

ask him where

He is going,

Or what he is doing;

For if you ever, ever dare

To stop a grizzly bear,

You will never

Meet another grizzly bear.
Mary Austin

And the word is...

...Chair. Seriously, how could 10,000 people be inspired by the word "chair"? But I guess they were, including me (or at least if not so much the chair itself, by the negative space, shapes and shadows around the chair). You can check out some of the submissions for the project. The opening for The 10,000 People Project will be in Atlanta, Georgia at the Art House Gallery on Dec 11th from 7-10pm. There will also be a book published with 1000 of the entries.
The Space Between
Watercolor on Aquabord
6X8

The 10,000 People Project

Last October, just for fun, I joined a project hosted by the Art House Coop in Atlanta, Georgia. The concept... 10,000 people would receive a mystery word in the mail and then create a piece of art using that word as inspiration. I was intrigued by the idea, potential, and possibilities. Then I received the word...

Afternoon Thugs

Afternoon Thugs

Watercolor on Aquabord

6X8 (2)

From There 2 Here

As part of the Torpedo Factory's 35th anniversary celebration, Target Gallery presents From There 2 Here, an exhibition featuring artwork from three regional art centers that were inspired by the Torpedo Factory's groundbreaking concept. The participating art centers (including LibertyTown) are similar in design to the Torpedo Factory in that they have open studios and galleries inside of re-purposed architectural spaces. LibertyTown was an old plumbing supply warehouse in Fredericksburg converted to 30 or more unique studio and gallery spaces by the vision of Dan Finnegan.

My Pelican Party was chosen for the exhibit and will be on display in the Target Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia from September 10th- October 18th. The gallery will hold an artist's reception September 10th from 6-8PM.