Lilla Roger's Global Talent Search

“The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.”     ― Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

I LOVE this quote from the opening lines of Tuck Everlasting. It is exactly how I feel when summer is coming to an end. And like a kid I always feel a little sad when it does.
Hello September!



This journal cover image, inspired by the playground that is always waiting just outside, was my entry into the first round of Lilla Roger's Global Talent Search...an amazing contest full of talented artists competing for representation by Lilla Rogers. 
It will surely change the winning artist's life!  

New Chapter Book for Magic Wagon

I love to answer the door when a new box of my books arrives!

"The New Girl" is a chapter book for young girls that allows them to choose their own ending.
This is the first chapter book I have illustrated and I really enjoyed it!

Written by Anastasia Suen who is the author of 169 books for children and adults (wow!), "The New Girl" is published by Magic Wagon Books, a division of Abdo Publishing.

My Paintings at Beautiful Bear's Mill

My artwork will be on display at the gallery at Bear's Mill in Greenville, Ohio from August 30-September 22, 2013.  My work is paired with another artist, Jay Harrison, who creates incredibly cool industrial style lighting with antique beer bottles. 

Just east of Greenville, Bear's Mill is a treasure!  
If you have never been there, it is worth a country drive to see the mill, enjoy nature, shop in the mill store and check out the art in the gallery.

Don't ya love their old truck?

Bear's Mill, Greenville, Ohio

Make Art That Sells-Part A-Final Week!

I am currently being challenged (and getting my butt kicked!) in an online class with Lilla Rogers, an artist rep whose personal work and artists' work I have admired for a long time. These two collage paintings are my work from the 4th week of the class which covered "wall decor". So-o-o-o much fun, taking the collage techniques of my farm paintings and creating something new and fresh and using words for inspiration.

Through the class, which is on the last and final week of Part A, I have found Lilla to be an inspiring and thought provoking teacher and leader.  She understands artists because she is a very talented one first and foremost!  From my point of view, Lilla has inspired each artist to hold on to the part of themselves that is different from everyone else!  That is where your magic and uniqueness as an artist will come from.  The more personal you can make your work, the better to connect with an audience who appreciates it.


Join Part B of 
Make Art That Sells 
Oct.7-Nov. 10, 2013
-----via this link.
This five weeks of the class will cover the categories of Papergoods, Children's and Baby Apparel & Decor, Scrapbooking, Editorial, and Party Paper.

Each week has time for design research, inspiration, sketching, inspiration, painting, inspiration, interacting with other artists, a final assignment, and did I mention...INSPIRATION?!  

All in all, a great big creative brain wake up call!

I Love Green!

A new collage piece that started with my favorite color..uh, yeah...GREEN!

Without input from the other meddling members of my family, my whole house would be shades of green...

This color looks so good to me for a dining room.  Who knew I could have anything in common with George Washington (or maybe it was Martha doing the color picking)?  Lovely COLOR!

Mt. Vernon Breakfast Room

Winning at Wassenberg

These two collage paintings of mine were accepted in the juried Wassenberg Art Center, 57th Annual June Art Exhibit in Van Wert, Ohio. Both paintings depict barns, but I think in both cases the sky stole the show.

Sinking Sun  12x12"  Collage on Canvas

North Star Schoolhouse  14x18"  Collage on Canvas

North Star Schoolhouse won the Douglas Edward Koch Memorial Award. I was very excited about that and able to enjoy a very nice evening at the Wassenberg Art Center with music, great food, and my favorite, lots of art! Thank You!

If you would like to visit the exhibit in Van Wert, Ohio, the dates are June 8-28 from 1-5, Tuesday through Sunday.  The Art Center is closed on Mondays.

New Collage Painting

North Star Schoolhouse 2013 - Collage on Canvas

“Earth's crammed with heaven...

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.” 

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning