Demo Day in Potomac

Art Gallery of Potomac

Saturday, April 27 we had a demo day and talk in the Art Gallery of Potomac.  At the end, I took my paintings down so I could drive the two and a half hours home, to be ready for the Bluebird Ride the next day, April 28.  It was a really nice day to reconnect with my new Potomac artist friends, as well as selling two more paintings to a really interesting former nurse/torch-singer now living in CT.  I was told that another painting sold on Friday, which was really encouraging.

Today, Sunday, April 28, I will be setting up as many equine paintings as I have at home, which isn't many, for the Bluebird Ride.  This was organized by a neighbor.  The idea is to raise money for more bluebird houses to go up, and for James Madison University professor, Ziegenfus to bring JMU students around to see them and other birds in our area.  The ride starts out at nearby Mill Creek Farm, the 20+ riders (on horses), ride to our farm, where I will be talking and showing them some of my equine artwork.  Then the ride off to another neighbor's farm, where he will talk about local history, and then to one last farm where they will be eating.  A total of six miles for the walking tour of our "neighborhood".  I am very much hoping the rain-soaked grass drys a little, and the clouds part for a lovely day.  Photos to come!

Working on the Next Show

Blocked in Paintings 

A rainy day here in the Shenandoah Valley.  Rain and more rain.  A soft day as they say in Ireland.  So, I put it to good use blocking in several paintings I want to work on for an upcoming show in September at The Arts Center of Orange.  The show will be an all equine art show, going on while I teach a week long workshop for The American Academy of Equine Art.  Although I have not been able to paint for a while, due to rotator cuff problems, I decided that I had to do something in order not to fall behind.  So, I kept everything VERY LOOSE, and quickly scrubbed in five, yep, five, paintings!  Four were 16"x20", one a square 12"x12" canvas.  The one on my easel, a 16"x20", is a bit less loose, since I had blocked that one in a couple weeks ago, before I had to give my arm a rest.  I have an appointment with an orthopedist to look at my ailing shoulder, and I am going to brace it until then to be able to paint a bit with it.  Yep, my studio is a mess, but let's just consider it a controled catastrophe!

Fantastic Art Opening!

Ballycurrin Lighthouse (1752)

oil on canvas

I had a wonderful art opening yesterday at The Art Gallery of Potomac.  It was a beautiful spring day, which started out with a paint out down by the C & O canal and Potomac River, near the Angler's entrance to both.  Such fun reconnecting with places from my youth.  Although I couldn't paint due to shoulder problems, I did sketch a little, and enjoyed the scenery and people.  The reception was wonderful!  Many family and friends from so many different places and times in my life came to the opening, which made it just fantastic!  I only wish I had thought to take pictures.  Another super part of the reception was that I sold three paintings!  Two before the opening even started!  I had to call my husband and tell him to pull paintings off the walls at home to bring in to take the place of the sales.  So the my side of the show is not totally Irish anymore, but I think it still looks pretty good.  So, THANK YOU, to everyone who came!  Now, I hope I can get my shoulder to heal so I can get back to painting.  I have a show in September in Orange, VA of equine work, which corresponds to a workshop I will be teaching on equine painting for the American Academy of Equine Art, at The Arts Center in Orange.  So, I need my right arm back!

Irish Paintings

By The Ferry

Oil on Canvas

By The Ferry is one of the paintings I have in the show at the Art Gallery of Potomac, Potomac, Maryland.  This painting was done from memory and photos taken on Inis Oirr, the smallest of the Aran Islands, in western Ireland.  As you get off the ferry, you can either walk around the island, rent a bike, or take a pony trap.  Inis Oirr feels like it has been lost in time.  Filled with stone walls, only about 252 residents, and history from the 5,000 years of being inhabited, Inis Oirr is a wonderful place to visit.  I had wanted to stay on the island, but wasn't able to, maybe next time!

Irish Art Show in Potomac Maryland

 Art work going up, things being move around

 My corner of the gallery

Art Gallery of Potomac, formally The Surrey

Monday, I spent most of the day driving to, then hanging artwork in the Art Gallery of Potomac, in the village of Potomac, Maryland.  I grew up about 5 miles away, so this is a specail show in many ways.  The building that the gallery uses was formally a shop called The Surrey.  It had been there since the early 1950's as an equestrian tack shop, and gift shop.  It has special memories for me.

There are two of us sharing the limelight for this show, myself with paintings about Ireland, and 

Dot Procter, with primarily her paintings about her trip to Italy.  Along with our paintings are paintings in the gallery belonging to 10 talented, local artists.

If you are in the area, the show will go on April 2 - April 28.  The opening reception is April 14, 

4:00 - 7:00 pm.  That same day, in the morning there will be a paint out open to anyone interested.  We will be painting along the canal, near The Old Angler's Inn.  There will be an awards time back at the gallery, where we will all take out lunches, and take a look at everyone's work.  Children are very welcome!  Also, on April 28, there will be demos put on in the gallery, both by myself, and Dot Procter.  Hope to see you there!