I love walking the beach searching for the raw material I can use to create one-of-a-kind pendants!
At Work On the Beach
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Category Archives: Art
New Shell Jewelry!
Getting Excited, But There are Still Things to Do
I now have my new passport! The old one has been expired for several years, and it feels good to have an active passport again. Besides, this new one looks much nicer--even down to my photograph! Don't think I've ever had a passport photo that looked this good.
Now for the visa and...the dreaded S word...shots....
I'm trying to learn a few words of Dutch since that's the official language of Surinam. That's been interesting...! I do have to say that it's a heck of a lot easier to retain other languages when you're a bit younger. But I do like to know a few words that could prove to be useful before I go to other countries. (I just may have to take a "cheat sheet" though.)
One of the artist prints is almost finished. I am enjoying creating them!
Official Art Museum Board Member!
Went to my first Springfield Art Museum board meeting this evening; everybody was very friendly and I enjoyed being there. It took about two months to become official. Of course first there was the interview with the assistant mayor and the director of the art museum. Then the city council had to approve my nomination, and finally I was sworn in at another city council meeting. Verrry Interrrresting…. 
Finished Illustrations for Book
The illustrations and cover are finished. The book, Chloe Starcatcher, written by Beverly Crandell based on a story by Chloe Pierce, will be privately published. I will post a few illustrations from the book later.
Cloud Gate in Chicago
Cloud Gate, nicknamed The Bean
This piece of sculpture is officially called the Cloud Gate, but has been nicknamed The Bean. It was designed by artist Anish Kapoor and draws thousands of tourists. The reflections in some places are like funhouse mirrors.
Under the Bean
Standing underneath the Bean provides funhouse type views of your reflections.
The last photo is one taken to prove I found the geocache that is there.
Me standing at the Bean
Discovery at a Garage Sale!
Portrait of a Gentleman
Yesterday morning I stopped at a garage sale near my house. I was enjoying seeing what all was there. My eye was drawn first to a small yellow frame, then to the small portrait. It looked very much like my work from several years ago. Looking closer, I discovered my own signature on the painting! What a find!
In the late sixties through the eighties I painted quite a few miniature portraits on commission. Needless to say, I no longer remember who this gentleman is. (Does anybody happen to recognize him? If you do, I would appreciate your letting me know.)
When I went to purchase the painting (along with a few other items), the fellow in charge of the garage sale started “singing the praises” of this “actual painting” (as he put it). When I told him I had painted it, he smiled and said, “Well, you can just have it!”
And now, one little painting that left my hands twenty? thirty? years ago is back with me. It brings a smile to my face.
The size of the painting
A quarter helps to show the actual size of the miniature painting.
My Artwork at The Creamery
These are the two pieces of my artwork on display in The Creamery during the month of March. This exhibit, in the office, shows some of the work of members of various Artist’s Way groups.
The painting on the left is a watercolor based on time spent on Amelia Island.
The pen and ink drawing on the right is one of the illustrations I did for a children’s book published in Holland in 2008. It was written by Inge de Graaf and titled “Matthijs in Honderdland.”
March Exhibit at the Creamery
This month’s art exhibit at the Creamery, Springfield, MO, will kick off at the First Friday Artwalk. It will feature works created by members of the Artists’s Way groups. I have two items in the show. One is a watercolor I painted that embodies Amelia Island for me with its sand dunes, birds, and lighthouse. The second is a print from a pen and ink illustration done for a children’s book that was published in Holland in 2008.
Het is bekend!
It’s published!
It’s a great children’s story. If you can read Dutch, I encourage you to buy it for your children.
(Maybe one day it will be translated into English.)
The Magic of Illustration
I’ve had two vacations this summer, each one working its own magic of relaxation a bit differently. But the most magical time of this summer washed over me and engulfed me completely while I was totally absorbed in a delightful new children’s book. It began in Honderdland with a little boy named Matthijs.
I read it once for the story itself, enjoying and appreciating the author’s imagination. Then I read it again with an eye for what would make a good illustration….
My hand reached for the mechanical pencil I use for sketching. It seemed a bit slow at first–it always does–as I sketched a variety of faces for possible use. Then an idea for an illustration came. As I worked on that one, another idea crowded in followed by others. Soon I was very busy.
The creative process took over. I am constantly amazed by it. I start out with an idea; I’m in control of that idea…well, for awhile anyway. Then suddenly the drawing, the illustration, the painting, demands to be changed. It doesn’t want that bush, cloud, or color there, or it wants darker trees in the foreground; or it won’t stay just a small drawing, it refuses to be complete without more added to it. Or it says no to all the color I had planned, or it cries out for more color than I had planned. The details I worked so hard on just don’t fit or draw attention away from where it should be and have to be taken out. The passage of time means nothing. My whole focus is this emerging creation. It’s an enjoyable challenge. It’s my high.
This particular project is now complete; it’s at the publisher. Matthijs in Honderdland, by Inge de Graaf, illustrated by Nancy Dailey, will be out soon. 
Woohoo!
Catching up
Unfortunately there was some “interference” and I no longer felt like posting for awhile. I did finish my second watercolor seascape painting. In the foreground I added a little girl playing in the sand and a dog. I remember that some other things went wrong with that painting and so I learned so more, but the only thing I remember was how hard it was to work with skintones. That was frustrating because I have had no trouble whatsoever with skintones when I’ve used oils. But then finally getting it to work with watercolor was certainly a big relief!
I am happy to say that both of these paintings are now in a private collection in Florida!
I have also finished a third watercolor seascape painting. This one, however doesn’t have as much of the sea showing in it. Instead I painted a short, squat lighthouse on the dunes. The one I worked from is not a real lighthouse; it was originally built as an artist’s studio. It must have been absolutely wonderful to sit up there and watch the clouds roll in and the surf crashing on the beach. I’ll bet some fantastic paintings were created there! I would certainly love to work there.
I also added a mailbox that I had seen on the dunes side of a cottage–not the street side, the dunes side. Makes me wonder if people used to leave messages…? The mailbox disappeared after the last storm season. But I still have it in my painting and can still dream up all kinds of stories about its existence and use. : ) The painting still needed more, so I also added some birds and a little dog.
This one is hanging on my wall for me to continue to enjoy.
Painting number four is sketched, ready for me to start either masking or painting, whatever I decide is best. And while I did add two children and some birds, I really want the main focus to be foam, both huge foamy waves and foam floating towards the edge of the water at the beach. And, I just might try painting “flat” foam instead of using a gel to give it some dimension. The children in front of the foam is my problem, you see….. It will be interesting to see how the painting plays out.