I'm off next week (Sept 8th and 9th) to Springfield, Illinois for a new art show. It's the "Art Spectacular at the Carillon". It's not only a new show for us, but a new show period. Only in it's second year and the first year was a bad weather year, so I really don't have much to go on. What I DO know after years of doing shows is that I like shows put on by local people in the community and I like small shows. Much more personal. I did a "producer" show one year (those are shows put on by people to make money for themselves) and swore never again. They just want your money and could care less about you. The other thing I have learned is that you have no idea what a show will be for you until you do it. So....off we go and we will see............

I'm in a funky mood. The Art Show in St. Louis was a bummer...worse one I've had in 7 years, but I don't take it personally because it was that way for everyone there. Not many buyers were present. A lot of factors played in this, but bottom line is...it was a bad show. Now, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW it was not me or my art, as a "sensitive" artist, I DO take it personally (Did I just contradict myself?). It makes me want to stop painting, forget it, close the doors to my studio.....but this too will pass. I'm kind of at a cross roads anyway. I love doing images of my trip to Italy

and trees.....I love doing trees and sunsets and Moons........

BUT, I love my abstracts and Ancient Word Series and Paper Quilts.

I'm going in several different directions and so I guess I need to stop for awhile. I have a commission to finish (which is going very nicely) and I'm MORE than ready for the next 2 shows....so think I'll just stop for awhile.

Right................(wonder how long that will last!!)

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I think every artist (who didn't start out as an abstract artist) has a yearning to escape now and then into that world. I have bordered on it for years working in abstract representational, but sometimes I just want to get that "representational" word out of it. So....I started a sketch book called "The Abstract Book" and it is a place I can go and remove all thoughts and pre-conceived ideas about anything and just start painting, glueing and sewing. I have had a ball!! And what has been amazing to me is that before I finish each piece, there is a title floating around in my head. Sometimes the title fits and sometimes not, but this is an excercise in "letting go", so I'm just going with it. I highly recommend it to all my frustrated artist friends out there, especially those of us who do this for a living. It has been freeing to me to the point that I am now actually putting my toe in the water, so to speak, and am actually going to present 3 small ones at my next show in St. Louis. We will see what happens! I would love to have feed back on what ya' think. On my website you can check out my 3 pieces for sale under "Squares"THIS IS A MONTAGE I DID OF MY BOOK WITH INSIDE PAGES ON TOP

THIS IS ONE OF THE IMAGES TITLED "PIECES OF MEMORIES"

CHRIST THE TEACHER


This is a sample of some of the wonderful art my son is producing while serving time in prison in Missouri due to consequences of years of drug abuse. He is 37 years old and I never knew he had this in him. He didn't either! I think it's the first time he's ever had something he genuinely enjoys doing. Naturally, I am encouraging him to continue on with developing his own style. Right now he only has ballpoint pen and colored pencil to work with and is doing an awesome job! I wouldn't have to patience to do what he is doing. These pieces are for sale and can be seen on my site under Pooleart. This one is all I have right now because they have been selling so well and you can see the progression of how much better each one gets. Dare I believe that expressing his faith and struggles through art could bring him out of the darkness he found himself in? I think I will...............