Top 15% in Bold Brush Online Art Competition

One of the fun things in my life is to always compete each month in the Bold Brush Online Juried Art Competition.  I haven't made the top awards yet, but have made top 15% about 80 % of the time.  Since there is usually some 350 to 500 paintings entered each month, I feel very happy to have this percentage.  And, I'm always looking forward to the awards.

     An aside here:  I LOVE to compete.  For some reason, rejection doesn't bother me that much.  Feel some disappointment momentarily and then am immediately on to the next item of the day.  And, since I enter a lot of competitions, am always excited about getting into a show, and if I get into the show, about the possibility of an award, or the possibility of a sale.  Don't negate the possibility of sales.  American Impressionist Nat. Show has been wonderful along with National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Oil Painters of America, Western OPA, Salon International at Greenhouse, Bosque International Show, and Blossoms.  ALL have sold at least two paintings for me, and I am very grateful.  Another show that has done even better is the Outdoor Painters Society Annual Show held at Southwest Gallery.

THIS IS MY TOP 15% in the October, 2012, BOLD BRUSH ONINE JURIED ART COMPETITION:

Just back from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and American Women Artists National Exhibition Award

Just back from an exquisite time in Chattanooga.  Loved the entire experience, but what really stands out in my mind is the sharing of life with several people:

Fell in love with a family named Elder.  Martha (my sis's name) and George (my Father's name) are the two Elders.  Both are very sensitive, kind, and thoughtful in their dealings with the world.  Besides that, Martha is truly beautiful and George is handsome.  George had polio and another dibilitating disease when he was 3 and lost a leg.  Wears a prosthesis which is removed when driving a car and sitting for long periods of time.  Prosthesis rode beside me on floor of front seat when George was kind enough to take me to the airport.  Martha and George are remarkable.  Hope they know it.  I sure do.

And, I had the privilege and joy of sharing a bit of life with Joyce Metters.  She provided transportation and shared a lot of meals with me.  Thus, we shared a lot of life.

AMERICAN WOMEN ARTIST's National Exhibition Award:  Tubac, Arizona, at the K. Newbie Art Gallery and Sculpture Gardens, Month of November, 2012.  Also sponsored by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  Here is my entry and "Best Painting" award.  This was a bigger for me.

Halloween is Today and here are some tidbits I gained from reading an article from Lori McNee:

This is what I want.

Had a wonderful, cathartic reaction to getting rid of some paintings that I have had around for many years. Even threw a watercolor out IN the frame! How is that for a spendthrift! Had a fun Saturday in Grapevine. Sold 9. Here is one of them to a long time friend in my Sunday School class. Thanks, Joycelyn. Honored to be hanging with you.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism-can be a healthy route to trying to be excellent or it can stymie and make us dysfunctional by the thought of it. (I am paraphrasing a Genn writing) When you fail, be practical and go forward. More joy comes from questioning instead of giving pat answers. BE HAPPY YOU HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND THE HEALTH TO PURSUE. I consider my schooling a privilege. And, I, most probably, will be a student for the rest of my life. Here is a recently done painting:

Gearing up for Grapevine, Texas, Lancaster Theater on Main Strree

This coming week end, October 19th and 20th, I will be in the Lancaster Theater in Grapevine, Texas, on Main Street. Friday from 5pm until 9pm and Saturday from 9am-7pm. Might do a demo on Saturday if the traffic slows down. Including an advertisement and a photo of a painting that will be shown. All paintings are out of frame and will be at sacrificial pricing. Last Saturday was a great success with 36 paintings finding new homes. Even sold a couple of abstracts (what? me? abstracts?) done in my starting years.

My 23rd Mentored person, 12 year old Elizabeth Ellis from Garner, Texas

Elizabeth's Dad brought her from Garner, Texas, on 10/10/12 for mentoring program from the Garner ISD gifted and talented. The entire family had to make plans for Elizabeth to be here, such as Becca, 6 year old sister taking the bus by herself to school without Elizabeth, and Daddy driving into Colleyville from Garner, Tex., to deliver and pick up Elizabeth. We looked at gallery, treehouse studio, office, freighting area, drying area, varnishing area, photo area, framing area.  Elizabeth did an upside down drawing, continuous line drawing, timed drawing, and color drawing,  opened a freighting box for me, varnished a painting, did a support, all with confidence.  

Below is a photo of Elizabeth: