Hi everyone.  This is my official entry into blogdom.  My husband, Marty, has dragged me kicking and screaming into the 21st century.  He insists that this is the best way to get my name, as well as my art, into the public consciousness so here we go. 

I am part of a group art show and wine tasting event at Blackstones in Fern Creek.  The reception took place on Saturday, November 14th and the work will be on display until December 1st.  Dennis Shaffner, the organizer of the event, graciously agreed to pose for me so that I could paint him from life.  While everyone else was having fun drinking wine and mingling with the crowd, I had an even better time painting Dennis. 

I love painting from life:  people think that because the artist is concentrating intently on capturing the moment and the sitter's likeness, that they are unaware of the conversations going on around them.  I heard everything from, "isn't it cute the way she's wrinkling her forehead?" to "Wow - she looks like she's really having fun."  And, of course, I'm always covered in pastel when I'm done so people find that very amusing.  The comments on my work ranged from total silence to rousing enthusiasm.  My live work tends to be edgier and more interpretive than the work I do from photo references.  I was actually very pleased with the finished results (see the photo of the painting above).

Dennis tells me that the local media will be conducting interviews with the participating artists.  At this point, it looks like the media may be interviewing us on Wednesday or Thursday this week and the video will be featured on Fox in the Morning.  It's all speculation but I hope to have a firm date and time in the next day or so.  Please  check this blog if you'd like to know more details. 

Since this is my first foray into blogdom, I'm not really sure how to end this thing so I guess I'll just sign off.