Living Artfully.......

Happy Earth Day!! After almost 40 years of experiencing Earth day and trying to live as green as I can (and often laughed at in the process) which by the way does not give me pause at all....I see we have not moved too much closer to our original resolve. I would like to ask just one thing of everyone who reads this blog. Please do not buy water in plastic bottles anymore...this is one thing everyone can do to cut down on pollution and reckless waste of energy. Get a filter and attach it to your faucet....or a pitcher that drips through and makes clean water. Also if you eat less prepared food and use fresh and cook...there is less packaging required. These two things will make a tremendous difference if everyone does it. I have been living this way for a very very long time and it is really very simple and something everyone can do and feel the effects of. To those of you who are already doing so...Bravo!! You are making a huge difference. That said on to other news!!!

Thank you to every single person who comments here visits here or passes by in one way or another! I have been so busy I have not had a chance to personally reply to everyone's comments or visit everyone's blog...sadly...as it is my loss. On the other hand I have had many new and exciting experiences! The party for The Edward Jones Financial Group was a delightful success. Many of my personal clients dropped in and want commissions or have a painting they saw on my website that they want. Several people wanted prints and a few paintings are marked on hold! But........here is the best news!!!!

RICHARD SCHMID HIMSELF HAS PICKED MY PAINTING! The rules changed this year and everyone who was an automatic entry based on there quality and selling was no longer automatically invited. He decided to limit the entries to 52 this year instead of 75 as in previous years. Believe me I was really worried that I would not get juried in ( Max...the big show off never once doubted in me....the man amazes me!)....there were 100's of entries....here below is the copy of the letter I received...in part:

Dear Theresa,
The selection of art for the 2009 Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction has been made. Richard tells us that it took longer to choose than he anticipated because he agonized over trying to limit his selections to 50 works. In the end, of the hundreds of images submitted, he chose 52 pieces.

Richard chose those pieces strictly based on on his opinion of how well they might sell in the auction.
Images were identified by a number only and he did not know who the contributing artist was.

Your work, "House on Harmony Road" was chosen for the live auction this year!

Thanks for taking part in the selection process.

Thanks,
Wes
www.RichardSchmidAuction.com (last years auction list)



House On Harmony Road 16x20 oil

On other fronts...the demo and workshop went great!! I had a wonderful audience and managed to begin a lovely little still life (below)....painting in front of people has always been a little disconcerting for me (it is such a private thing for me) but as time goes on and experience and confidence grow...it starts to become fun and....thank goodness....not so traumatic!!. I might add that no one.....absolutely no one has ever recognized my shyness or nervousness in this area of being around people...but what goes on inside is like a tempest!! Hmmm....I guess I can act, too! LOL! The workshop will last one more day and then that is done...some money made at these events too. St. Avips a local invitational event is coming up...the artist's party for this event is April 24 and the silent auction is May 1. I will try to have three pieces for St. Avips....no promises though. I need to get a couple of paintings scanned for entry into some shows and deliver some new work to Cherry's Gallery and get some frames made. Things stay busy I guess I like it like that!

Neosho Demo beginning 14x18 oil

In the gardening world...it is too wet to do much and some of the seedlings I started got damping off disease from it being on the cool side. I will restart a few more and call it good. The rest can be direct seeded outside.
Back to the easel for the next few days, and here is something I said while giving the demo that tickled the ladies and gentlemen.
I was describing how art begets art...for me living in an artful and beautiful surrounding helps me create. I mentioned that I try to live artfully. I am certainly not the only one nor am I the first one to say this....but it was the first time some people had heard it. .........Now I am being quoted......ha!
Life is good no matter how you slice it,
Theresa