A Crazy Month

It has been a crazy month. I don't know where the time has gone but I have been so busy I haven't had a chance to write. First, because the weather was so good, I spent a lot of time getting my bedding plants into their pots.

This is a photo from last year as this years flowers are still too small to make much showing. I have about 70 pots displayed around the house all planted and waiting for the sun to shine. Now I just have to do my flower beds!

In between planting sessions, I made some more Hot Weather Scarves and Art cards to go with my displays at a couple of galleries up the lake; The Mervin Robertson Gallery and Faeries' Landing Art Market and Bistro.

hand made, hand painted gel scarves

local scenes photo cards

Next, a few members of the Creston Art Club decided to mount a small art show in an empty store during the annual Blossom Festival last weekend. It was only partly last minute but it still took time to organize and to 'staff' the show for the 3 days.

We had a pretty decent weekend and all but one of the artists had sales. Although the building where we have the art is For Sale, the owner (one of the artists) is going to let us keep the display intact so that we can open off and on over the summer until the building sells.

I know there have been other things over the last few weeks that have kept my nose to the grindstone but I really can't think of what they were - like I said, it has been a crazy month.

Playing, not Working

I volunteered some time this morning at the Creston Focus on Youth art display. This year is the 30th anniversary of the event which celebrates youth and the arts. Music, dance and other stage displays were held in the high school auditorium and the visual display was at the Community Centre.

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Most of the art was by the children but this year they invited adults to participate too with paintings, quilts and pottery. It was a wonderful display and very interesting to see what the kids are learning - studying van Gogh or Greek amphora, trees or photography - the list is impressive.

I was supposed to be greeting any visitors and making sure the exhibits were treated with respect but my friend Emmie Roelofse was doing a demo of her  ArtFoamies.

Emmie invited me to play and I got so involved that I sort of forgot why I was there (not completely - lol). Any way this evening I decided to check out some of the YouTube videos that have been made about the product. Here is a really short one that Emmie made - it will give you an idea of what the foamies are all about. ArtFoamies video

Although the population of the Creston Valley is only about 15,000 we are very lucky to have a vibrant arts community. Art is all around me - such a wonderful life!

More than I can chew!

For the last two days I had a display at the local Trade Show, sharing a booth with a friend who is starting a new business. For both of us the idea was to promote our businesses.

Over the Valley and Mellowood Studio display

I had a number of pieces to show the variety of art that I do but my primary focus was promoting the "Watercolour Painting Parties". I am very pleased with the response as I ended up with about 33 names on the sign-up sheets. I am beginning to wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew - lol

Although the chances that a number of those who signed up will drop out are pretty strong, I am going to assume that won't happen. So, I have to plan more parties: instead of 2 dates I will be offering 5 - 3 in June and 2 in September. I am going with 5 dates because I feel that a maximum of 8 people works well for instruction purposes and once I post on FB I might get more people interested in participating.

#948 Derelict #1

#949 Derelict #2

#947 Lakeside Living

#911 The Old Red Barn (sold)

#946 A Veranda for Summer

#950 Flowers by the Sea

#951 Beached

As I really don't like classes where everyone paints the same thing, I have a number of scenes prepared and everyone can pick the one they prefer. AND, they will have the option to choose their own colour scheme too. Participants will take home an 11 x 14 painting with a 16 x 20 mat and a clear bag to protect their work. I think we will have a blast!