Greetings! Things have been verrrrrry busy around 'ol Studio 8 and beyond! I now have 3 art students, and they are keeping me on my toes. I have also been working on building an artist networking forum site. I would like for all of the artists that are associated with the CrazyLake Gallery and the National Road Creative Arts & Events Center to have a place to talk art, debate art, critique art, and laugh with each other. But most importantly I am hoping we will be able to put our heads together in finding fun and creative ways to keep promoting our 2nd Friday events and keep the great people coming back and new people aware. 

Shout out to my friends at WQME! They have promised to add our event to their community calendar, and give it some promo reads. By the way, the next event night is Friday, August 8th! So spread the word, mark your calendars and tune in to WQME!

Well it finally happened. I got to see NEIL DIAMOND LIVE!!! What a night! It was a GREAT show, and bless his little sexy singing heart...he gave it his all! And yes, for those of you wondering, I did cry on and off for at least the first 30 minutes of the show. All those songs that I have grown-up with just brought back all kinds of memories! ...and I thought another brick was secured in my life when Sirrius Radio added an all Neil Diamond station!

When I was walking into the arena, I was saying - I just hope he sings my most favourite song ever..."Holly Holy" - and you know WHAT!? He opened with it! So yes...I was done and overwhelmed...he had me at Hello!

 I am just sure he did that for me! I know he overheard me and didn't want to let me down. Plus, I have always wondered if those arenas were bugged...now I know...those arenas are definitely bugged.

The reason for the headline of today's blog is because I could only afford to sit in the nose bleed section...thus Diamond and I was in the sky! But no matter, as I sit here today, blearry eyed from my late night out with Neil, in my new concert tee...and forever in blue jeans babe! I know it was all worth it!

Well tonight is my working night in Studio 8, and I have a lot of work to do! So enough of this lighter-in-the-air  hippie stuff and back to work! Or maybe...I'll just watch the Jazz Singer...one more time!

Until next time!

ROCK ON!

Hello everyone! I have had several requests of which I will address in this blog post...one request was to see Pedro in his hat! I mentioned several weeks ago that I finally figured out how to get the poor boy in a sombrero...well - here he is!

Folks have also been asking when I might get around to making another video. So...here it is!

I have been having great fun with a super cheap digital camera I found for $8 bucks! Hilarious! It doubles as a web cam...as you can see. I think I might use it for my character animations if I ever get around to it. It is only about 1.5"x2" big, so it is very easy for me to carry around in my pocket and be wierd with...and I tend to lean toward spontaneous wierdness! You will have to jump over to the photography page and check out the photo slide show with some of my favourite photos that I have taken! I have had great fun capturing the things that I always see and try and take mental pictures of...now I can just be mental and take pictures!

The next request was to get a peek at the painting that I did while on my en plaine aire adventure (see post 7/18). Well, I need to get it back to Studio 8 to put some finishing touches on it, but here it is!

You might notice that in the background there is not a fire truck to be seen...that is because they had to go! Once I finish the painting in the studio, I will post it in the gallery for all to see. I had a great day, enjoyed talking to the people that stopped to chat, and managed not to pass out from the heat. Although the back of my legs are a bit pink! I'm happy to say that I only suffered one minor industrial hazmat accident when the wind blew my turp and liquin all down the front of my shorts. If that wasn't bad enough, when I went to wipe it off, I managed to smear oil paint all down the front leg in a lovely colour of orange. Oh well! One more pair of painting pants can't hurt!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Until next time - ROCK ON!

And so the work continues! As you can see, my time has been spent working with the white blouse and the white bib of my Juarez girls. I have to admit, I've been struggling, as white paint doesn't generally hold the brush strokes I want to see as I move and shape the paint...but, I finally think I'm getting somewhere. Layer on layer I'm starting to get some results that I like. Few more layers for shaping and contrast are in order I think...Thanks to everyone that has stopped by studio 8, or left me comments on the work in progress...great help, and HUGE encouragement.

This weekend will be a very busy one! I have been invited to paint with the Hancock County en plein air Society, and I am looking very forward to that! We will be at the By Air, By Rail Festival in Fortville, Indiana. There will be hot air balloons, booths and lots of activities going on...and thus lots of things to paint I'm sure. Plein air painting is rather new to me, as I don't often get off the easel...so I am looking forward to stretching my boundaries a bit. I will keep you all posted as to how I do, and if I have a painting that is worthy, I will share that as well. At the very least, I will try and remember my camera to get a picture of the group. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Until next time - Rock on!

I would like to thank everyone who came out to July's 2nd Friday event! It was great fun! I am always glad to see you, especially those of you who suprised me! How lovely! I am just overwhelmed. I was visited by some friends that I have worked with for nearly 12 years+ and consider so dear to me! Then, I was suprised by my best friend from...high school! Can you believe it! We have kept in touch all these years (I won't count them out for you!) but we have never actually gotten together. I am still reeling from the night. I also got to spend the evening with my favourite sister and my Nephew. This is always so special - even more so since He and I share the same birthday! Aries unite! Between all the great people in my life that are supporting me, and all the new people I meet each time, I just LOVE the positive energy that Studio 8 has brought into my life, and it has also created the reason for people to get together and enjoy art and reminiscence about life, friendship and the importance of sharing and not just getting together, but staying in touch. I hope that Studio 8 remains an open portal to this on-going communication and encourages more reunions!

Well, now back to work! Here is another photo of my young Juarez girls (see blog entry 5/29). You can see that I am now moving out of the blocking phase and into more detail and depth building. As I mentioned before, I have been having to take breaks because I was getting too tight. But now I am getting energized as I start to see the whole painting fill in. I have added some freelance detail to her head scarf, and will keep working away at the layer building of the white blouse and the babies white bib. As usual! I would love any feedback, and if you want to see her in person, stop by Studio 8 for a chat!

Hello everyone!

I hope everyone had a very festive and happy 4th of July! I personally took some time out to go camping and take in the fresh air, as well as a very emotional and dedicated tribute to our vets that have served and are serving. The fireworks mixed with music and messages from our troops and political leaders was very touching. I know that I am so very thankful, as well as sad, for our troops that serve and allow us the freedoms we enjoy. It makes me very sad to think of all the loss of life that happens in our world everyday, but when it occurs as an aimed act of violence, it particularly makes me very weary.

OK! As promised...please meet Plunky Pinkerton! My latest character development in my series of the moment. She is a very mischievious little girl, that enjoys sweets and yo-yo tricks. She is not very pretty, but her personality and sense of humor make up for that!

I have one more character that I am working on (a mad scientist!)...and then I am going to turn my attention to set building and props! I think this will be just as much fun! I have also been making a list of character requests! For those of you that have e-mailed me...what fun! By the way...Pedro now has a new hat! I figured out how to make him his own little sombreo!

I have very much enjoyed everyone's comments, but have also really enjoyed watching people interact with the characters. It is fun to see how they begin to associate little plot lines and stories about them as they hold them and take them all in. I love how people begin to project their imaginations into the character. So if nothing else, I feel I have succeeded in making people laugh, and live a little bit of thier imagination through the characters. So much fun!

Remember - the characters will be on display in my studio as I get them done. So if you would like to see them up-close and personal and release a little of your own imagination...please consider coming to the next 2nd Friday event which will be July 11th! I will soon be sending out a reminder e-mail, so if you would like to sign-up to receive those reminders, if you haven't already, you can do so on the opt-in form on this blog page located in the right hand column!

Until next we meet or speak - Rock on!