My solo show at the Deines Cultural Center in Russell, KS opened on Friday, January 13th, 2017. The biggest ice storm to hit the state in years was forecast to hit Russell at 6pm and last 3 days. We were not to get the ice until Sat. night, so Charlie took me to Russell and Josh and his family also were able to make it along with 5 others from Downs. None of my friends from eastern Ks. as well as Seth and his family were able to make it. There was a nice turnout of people from Russell so there were enough people there to make a nice celebration, but I have to admit that it was a disappointment that my friends didn't get to come celebrate as we had planned. I do so appreciate all of those who made the effort to get out in that awful cold with the threat of bad roads just to be there with me on opening night! I will never forget it.
There were 173 pieces total, both mixed media 2D pieces and my ceramics hand built sculpture. The pieces filled both large galleries and Shannon did an outstanding job of displaying the pieces to show them off at their best. It was a thrill to see my pieces up on display as probably at least 85% of the pieces had never been on a wall.
Reception area in main gallery
Joshua and Calleah looking at the ceramic faces and feather paintings.
The big surprise of the evening was Kelsey Kahrs and her boyfriend, Eli, showing up. It was so good to see her again. She had been my work-study and student at CCCC in 2013.
Mary Kottman, from the Artists at Large group out of Great Bend of which I am also a member, and her husband were in attendance also!
The upstairs gallery.
Miss Lillee and I discussing one of the faces.
The opposite end of the main gallery from the reception table.
I have completed my last painting for 2016, Spirit of Angels. I started this painting last winter. It was the first large spirit painting I tried and I was never satisfied with it. So I pulled it out this week and worked on it some more and I am more satisfied with it. It seems an appropriate piece with which to end the year!
Spirit of Angels, 30"x40", Mixed Media on raw canvas with cheese cloth, acrylic, pastel, ink, prints.
I just received the announcement/invitation to my solo show at the Deines Cultural Center from January 13-February 18th, 2017. Thought I would share it and the poster advertising my show.
Postcard invitation from the Deines Center in Russell, KS.
This is the poster for the solo show. Thanks to Shannon, Director of the gallery and to her assistant, Kristen, for the awesome design!
I completed this piece in March, but never got a photo of it to get it posted. So the day after our first SNOW, I'm posting Spirit of Summer Dreams! :D Maybe it will bring a little warmth to these cold winter days. 15"x30" Acrylic. I hope it gives you the feeling of looking up through the branches and leaves of a big old tree, with the sun shining through the branches, sparkling and touching one with its warmth in the cool shade of the tree.
Spirit of Summer Dreams
I just finished a piece that has been sitting in my art room for about 8 months! I had the background completed and really liked it, even though it is very different from most of my backgrounds. I just wasn't sure what I wanted to put in the center of the painting. I'm glad I waited and took my time.
By now, if you have looked through any of my past work, you know that I love Native American Lore and have used the stories for the basis for some of my pieces. This is one of those paintings. It is based on the story that the Raven is black so that he could fly into the Darkness and bring the Light out to the People. The story is lovely and is told in various ways in many of the different nations.
Here is the 'Spirit of the Raven--Bringing The Light Out of the Darkness', 24"x24", mixed media--acrylic, white gel pen, white pastel--on stretched canvas.
I am making floating frames for my larger canvases for the first time. I am learning to use my mitre saw and a hand held router. It has been a longer process than I anticipated, but I am on the downhill slope now. i have finished all the cutting and routing and sanding and today I started gluing and nailing the frames together. I bought myself a brad nailer a few months ago and it is the absolute BEST! I had always tried to hold my frame on the edge of my canvas while holding the tack and hammering it in. The brad nailer is like a miracle! It also helps that my husband bought me framing clamps last year for Christmas and they work SO GREAT! I love them. Easy and accurate. Here are a couple photos of my efforts. I'll keep you updated as I continue to work on these large frames.
My last 3' routed strip. Notice the pile of sawdust to the side!
This is the completed wood pieces that have been cut to size on the mitre saw, routed, and sanded ready to be put together.
Here I am all decked out in safety paraphernalia and SAWDUST! Who knew?
Frames glued and nailed together.
Many of my completed frames, with mesonite backing, painted, with canvases glued and then nailed into the frames.
The rest of the big frames. It feels REALLY good to be finished with them. Now to wrap them in bubble wrap to await delivery to the galleries! YEA!
I am experimenting with different ways to use the underglazes on my thin ceramic pieces. I have never used bright colors until this summer and have never tried any graphic painting techniques with the glazes. So this is all new territory for me. I like this and am looking forward to trying some more designs.
Top of 18" hand built, VERY thin ceramic square tray with graphic design on top surface.
Bottom of hand built tray pictured above.
Reception area in main gallery
Joshua and Calleah looking at the ceramic faces and feather paintings.
The big surprise of the evening was Kelsey Kahrs and her boyfriend, Eli, showing up. It was so good to see her again. She had been my work-study and student at CCCC in 2013. 
Mary Kottman, from the Artists at Large group out of Great Bend of which I am also a member, and her husband were in attendance also!
The upstairs gallery.
Miss Lillee and I discussing one of the faces.
The opposite end of the main gallery from the reception table. 
