Show season is coming early this year.  Already shipped a painting to Richmond. VA to participate in a show at Braziers Studios in Richmond.  The show runs through the end of January.
February is shaping up to be a very busy month.  I am coordinating a show "Painting Prairie Ridge" at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh.  This is a pleinair show featuring works by members of PAINT NC who painted at the museums ecostation called Prairie Ridge. This show runs the month of Feb. with the artists reception from 6-9 on Feb. 5th.
I am honored to be asked to present a solo show at the art department of Brunswick Community College, Leland, NC.  This show "Southern Accents" will feature landscapes and still lifes with a southern flavor.  The show runs Feb. 1st -25th with the artist's reception on Feb. 9th, 5-6pm. 
Would love it if you'd all come.

Le Vieux Couvent...this is a magical place.  As a young girl, Corinne accompanied her artist mother on an artists retreat.  She saw how special these artists were and how on this retreat they were treated as the special people they were. She decided that someday she would have such a place and make this her life's work.  Along with her husband, Bill, she created a magical place where creativity flows in southwest France.  The gardens, the comfortable accomodations, the superb, gourmet meals, a well equipped artists studio, tours to local villages and prehistoric caves...all the details are taken care of by the resident magicians.  This is Corinne's vision and I was fortunate enough to experience this pampered, outstanding, creative retreat.  I am looking forward to sharing this experience with others in Oct. 2010.  Contact me at ahair51@aol.com to inquire how you can join in on this creative journey to the place where art began.

I've been home about a week and the memory lingers.  7 wonderful, inspirational days in SW France at Le Vieux Couvent. Our every whim was catered to.  Most inspiring to me was visiting the caves of Lasceux. It's where art began.  I studied it in ancient art history and became one of the places I dreamed of seeing. It was emotional to actually experience a dream come true.  The entire trip got better each day; picnics on the banks of the Lot River, touring and shopping, painting in a well-equipped studio and in tiny villages nearby, gourmet meals magically appear. I'll definitely have to return.  Check out our group blog: annsvivalafrance.blogspot.com
3 nights in Paris was the perfect end to our journey.   

Yesterday, I was juried into the Triangle Artists Guild.  This a group of very talented artists who meet monthly to share work and information and have wonderful shows.  I'm looking forward to being a contributing member of this talented group. 

Rita Wade has done it again.  She has opened a second beautiful retail space offering gifts and fine papers.  It's called "Bliss" and is a gorgeous store in Rocky Mount, NC.  I am pleased to have more wall space to display my work and this store is different than the connecting Wade Designs Jewelry.  The original store has a beautiful, warm gold faux finish on the walls whereas Bliss is an icy, cool aqua with a sparkle in it.  Both are beautiful spaces and it's interesting to see where my paintings work best. The grand opening is Tues. Sept. 15 and will be a grand event.  Rita's events are always grand!
The painting attached is called "Poppies in Blue".  They are a painting of an arrangement in a Vietri jardeniere that is sitting in the window of Bliss.  Come by and see us at Bliss.

Another Tuesday painting with our plein air group PAINT NC.  This week we were invited to Jean's in Wake Forest to paint en plein air or still lifes if we chose or if the rainy weather chased us inside.  It was hot and humid but the garage offered shade and fans. I had a hand stretched jute canvas I was anxious to try out.  I thought it lended itself to a still life.  Trying to remember what I learned at a composition workshop a few months ago, I tackled one of the still lifes. I like the results...don't you? 
Thanks Jean, for having us.

The Thundering Niagara...the setting of painting with two other talented artists...Awesome!  I recently spent 2 days painting in Niagara Falls.  One in the US and the other in Canada.  The first day was spent trying to adapt to the local color and capture the roar of the Niagara River as it cascaded over the brink forming the legendary falls.  Cascade is not a word that can describe this.  Careened is more the term.  The roar of the water is indescribable. Jacqueline Baldini, a local artist who has the Falls in her backyard, was our guide.  She was invaluable in helping interpret the color and to capture the force of this magnificent wonder of the world.  Day 2 was painting from the Maid of the Mist Dock area looking up at the water crashing on the rocks below.  I can't believe we had access to this vantage point.  It pays to know people with connections. 
Just had to put the icing on the cake with a ride on the Maid of the Mist after a long day of painting! 

* Third Prize winner at Scope the North Carolina Landscape Show at the Visual Art Exchange
Just received notification that this painting has won a cash award at SCOPE the North Carolina Landscape Show at the Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh, NC.  I'm excited and honored.  Unfortunately, I can't attend the reception to receive the award.  I'll be painting in Niagara Falls. 
This painting was the first plein air painting I did this year.  It was early March and I was itching to get out and paint.  Beautiful, crisp, cool day and the winter light illuminated the trees and cast long shadows across the path near Bond Park.  I was pleased with the results.  Guess I was right...the judge liked it too.

Thank you to Lynda for another inspiring trip to Carolina Beach.  6 special friends and talented artists visited Blessings at Three Waters one last time (it's sold) to make more memories.  We painted, shared stories, drank champagne, dined at Circa, laughed and simply enjoyed each others company in a beautiful setting.  The sunrises were brilliant, the days were beautiful and sunsets spectacular.  Dropped off a few paintings on the way and "Poppies" is already sold.  Who says art isn't selling in this economy?
Thanks for the memories, Ladies!

Just returned from painting at Spectrum Art and Jewelry as part of their Spring Fling.  Had lots of customers observing and asking interesting questions.  Great meeting all the folks at the Forum Shoppes in Wilmington, NC.  Thanks for your interest in my work.  The weather was great, the sun was shining and it was also a great fundraiser for the local food bank.

Just returned from a composition workshop with Maggie Siner.  Loryn Brazier Studios hosted this event in Richmond, VA.  Other than being in awe of Ms. Siner's work, there was a wealth of information to be learned from her.  We approached each still life looking for the darks and lights.  We discussed the geometry of painting reinforcing how the eye is lead through the painting by how the artist orchestrates the composition. Feeble attempts were wiped out.  Seems like we wiped out more than we put in.  The end result was on a whole different level.   At any rate, it was definitely the best workshop I've attended and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Richmond.