WEDDING IN NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS!!

Just returned from the Bahamas for my precious daughter, Shari's, wedding to Emad!! What a glorious time it was and what an awesome trip!! 4 days in the Bahamian Sun while people are scraping ice off their cars back home! Can't beat it. Shari and Emad were married on my 62nd birthday, Dec. 15th which was also the wedding anniversary of mine and Shari's Dad who was killed in a car wreck when she was 13. This was her way of honoring her Mom and Dad's union in marriage. Did I cry??? What do YOU think?? We were there 4 days and I took endless pictures, so guess what.....look for tropical paintings!! That's next!!!

"THIS OLD HOUSE"
THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

I wrote not long ago that this piece was chosen for the 2009 Arkansas Artists Calendar, but more neat things are happening with this piece. It has now been chosen to hang in Senator Mark Pryor's Little Rock office in a special exhibit called "A Celebration of Arkansas Artists". The Reception is Friday, November 14th, 2008 from 4 pm to 6 pm at

The Museum Center in the Rivermarket District,

500 President Clinton Avenue

Suite 401

Little Rock, Arkansas

I was also very pleased and shocked to receive the postcards for the event and find my painting, "This Old House", was chosen for the postcard! What an honor!!

I truly feel blessed and am grateful.

"When Day Fades"

(click on image to enlarge)

RETURN TO WATERCOLOR.....SORT OF.....

I've picked up my watercolor brush again after a 13 year retreat. When I went back to painting in 1987, watercolor was my medium of choice and I did it for approx. 10 years. I was a watercolor purist..."nothing else will touch my paper" was my cry. Boy did I get bored! Finally, with the help of some classes at our Community College under the direction and encouragement of Thad Flenniken, I broke loose and have been exploring Mixed Media ever since........AND, I still am a mixed media artist, however, I have started back incorporating watercolor into my art. This came about mostly out of necessity. Now that I am back in the "real" work world 3 days a week, I found myself going to the studio and unable to get anything done in the short time I now have. I realized that I need to be able to just go into the studio and start painting without a lot of preparatory work, thus, the re-birth of watercolor. I can now start painting and get an image going and then work my painted papers into that image. This paining is my first attempt. I really never dreamed I would revert back to watercolor....I was so bored with it, but it has been a long time and it's kind of like renewing a relationship with a long lost friend. So.....we'll see where this relationship leads.

LIFE CHANGES

Life goes on and so do the bills! I recently completed my refresher to re-instate my LPN license I let go 18 years ago and am back in the world of nursing (better known as "reality"!) I work 3 days a week in a Surgery Clinic and do love it, but am missing being in the studio. Seems my 4 days off are filled with "life" and then it's back to work. I thank all of you for your encouragement and hope to be able to get back to creating. I do miss it, but with the economy, Art and framing are low on everyone's list and so the bills have to be paid.

Thanks to those who stick with me and keep watching my website for new things.

I WILL be in Little Rock for the Arkansas Christmas showcase in December so hope to see you there.

Keep watching....................and thanks again,

Suzi

"THIS OLD HOUSE"

I'm proud to announce that this painting was selected for the 2009 Arkansas Govenors Mansion Calendar! This is my second year to be selected and I am honored. 88 artists work was chosen from 320 submissions. This painting speaks to me of how as I age I am much like this old house...a little crooked, a little beat up, but the light is still on!

Time to take a break from art shows. As I stated before, we are going to Huntsville, Al. but have decided not to do anymore shows until the Arkansas Craft Guild Christmas showcase in December. The gas prices and economy definitely play a part in our decision, but lots of other things are happening in my life too this year that have played into my need to stay close to home. I also may be going back to work part-time as a nurse. I let my license expire 17 years ago and decided to get it back. I've been studying for that and just took my test last week and passed with flying colors. (The old gal has still got it!!) I have to do my clinicals and then I'll be licensed again. Artistically, I'm ready to make some changes there too, so watch for new work. I also was juried into WholesaleCrafts.com and hope to be selling some work wholesale. Time will tell. Changes, changes.....isn't that what life is all about anyway!! (I really don't think anyone reads all this, but just incase someone out there is....I'm keeping you informed)!!!!
Tata for now..............
Suzi

Spring is here and time to get on the road. First stop is St. Louis for the "Cool Art, Hot Jazz" spring show at Queeny Park. Check it out at http://www.gslaa.org/. Then at the end of the month we will be doing our favorite show in Huntsville, Al. "Panoply" at Big Springs Park in downtown Huntsville. You can check that show out at http://www.panoply.org/. The St. Louis show was our first ever art fair in 1993 so this is the 15th year for that show with one small break and our 11th year for Panoply. Not sure what other shows we will be doing this year. The price of gas is governing a lot of our decisions. No point in going if you can't at least make expenses! Right? So hope to see all our favorite customers and new ones too at these shows!! I have lots of new work so come enjoy!

I'm tired! I've just spent the last several days re-modeling my website. Still have a few things I'm going to be doing as time goes on, but this is it for now. My object is to make it more "user friendly" and hopefully easy for you to shop! Anyway....I hope you enjoy it! If you are here on the blog because you clicked on "News" on my site, then you have seen it. If you came in the backdoor then go to www.paintedpapers.com to check it out. Would love to hear how you like it!