11th Annual Juried Exhibition in Ozark

I can't believe that it's been over a year now that we've been living in Alabama. This art competition in Ozark is the first thing I participated in when we moved here last summer. Phil and I have come a long way. More significantly, my art has come a long way. Like last year, this year I have two entries. The first is a chair lift at a ski resort and the second is a girl. I didn't realize until recently, but I guess I like painting girls and resort vacation themes. (maybe I should start to combo the two)

I'm sure you've seen these works before, but here are my entries.

( I appologize for the picture being kinda-bunk. I took it with my phone.)

Those of you that have seen Eat Cake before will be delighted to see it framed and decorated.

The other painting is a portrait of a chair lift at The Canyons in Utah.

The chair lift exemplifies my love of winter sports, and also that of the use of spray paint in combination with oils. I handmade the canvas it is on. It's a bear of a canvas. (for my standards anyway)

Eat Cake is a celebration of the quirks of feminity. It's a page in a chapter of a book about the love/hate relationship that I (and all women) have with fashion and society. This piece is also a celebration of the art making technique of collage, and garbage art, and the marriage of found objects.

Both of these pieces, along with many others from great artists in my area will be on display at the Ann Rudd Art Center in downtown Ozark, AL until September 23, 2011. The opening reception is August 13th at 7:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.

From the entries I have seen so far, it will be a wonderful show to come and see. I am excited for the reception. This show has wonderful prizes thanks to the Alabama State Arts Council.

Oh, before I forget...

I took some photos of my process of making a picture frame out of garbage.

If you're interested read on, it's a semi-tutorial.

First I get a huge cardboard box and measure out the three sides of the frame.

Then I cut the cardboard on my lines. From here I fold it to make sure my calculations were correct.

Then I cover the cardboard in the most ridiculous fabric scrap I can find. Mod Podge works perfect.

Once the glue dries on the fabric frame I glue the canvas down in the center. That's when the fun really starts. I dig through my boxes of tchotchky to see what else I can find to glue down around the painting. Here I have chosen a couple of big fake flowers, flowers I constructed from old lace trim, some vintage buttons, and also some painted wooden buttons.

And what, may I ask, would a piece of art from me be if it didn't have an anchor?

Allow a few mintues for everything to dry before testing on a wall.

Seasons Change

Time doesn't go by any faster in Alabama. In fact most things are done slower. It seems to me however, that the seasons change so quickly. Spring is here in full force, and has been for weeks. I'm actually contemplating putting the A/C on soon. (this thought actually purturbs me) My favorite thing in spring is blossoming foliage. I love how some new flowers and buds can make even the yuckiest area look pretty. My hideous fence can attest to that.

Seeing all these lovely roses on the bush makes me wish I had tended to it (at all) earlier. The same goes for a tomato plant I left for dead after never getting a tomato last year. Of course it's got one now, so I've begun watering it again. The tree in our front yard is pretty awesome too.

As much as it may seem that I love spring right now, no season could ever take the place of winter. It is definitely my favorite season. In fact, I just finished another chair lift painting! It's one I've had for a while and am just now completeing.

This is a nice big size. I think I was a bit intimidated by the size and that's why it took so long. For anyone not familiar this Chairlift Series is one I've been working on building for a while. This painting (from The Canyons in Utah) is third in the series. I'll be starting on one from Steamboat, CO next. If you are wondering what the other two look like I can post them now.