Winter Wonderland (not yet)

Baby it is cold outside.....but no snow yet....

I'm beginning to gear up in my studio....had a couple months break with the puppies, but am anxious to get back in there slathering paint...

The new Meritus hospital opened on Dec.11th, and along with my "Forest....Trees...." painting, they also have installed an almost full size print on canvas of my original "Free At Last".....see above.

I am delighted they chose that one to decorate the hallways too... It is a lovely hospital, and they are putting interesting and uplifting art on their walls....

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas and a very happy new year! Bless, Elisabet

Fall Excitement

" Forest Trees Forest Trees..."

I was delighted to learn my painting above was chosen as one of the original pieces of art to be purchased to decorate the halls of the new Meritus Hospital opening in Dec.2010 in Hagerstown.

ALSO....

I was delighted when my Icelandic Sheepdog gave birth yesterday (Sept.25,2010) to 7 amazing little pups. Mom and babies are doing great....I'll post more pics on my website as they grow.
Have a great fall.....I know what I'll be doing for the next couple months....
Elisabet

Summertime

Hi, Hope you are having a great summer....I'm trying to keep my flowers, shrubs and trees alive....we are having a serious drought here.

Also, my dogs have kept me busy (showed some of them in the AKC shows last month...they just became a recognised breed on the 1st of July....I HAD to show some of mine at least once!

Been waiting for 16 years for the opportunity. One of my girls--Tasha---won a 5 point major her first time out (BOS)...and now I have had her bred and am hoping for the pitter patter of little Icie paws soon....wish us luck).

I promised to show you the little painting I told you about in the spring.

It is entitled "Miller House Herb Garden" located in downtown Hagerstown. I do plan on going there more often...a charming old style garden....The Miller House is well worth visiting if you are interested in history and antiques....beautiful place!

Now to update my website....been neglecting the computer work....I'd rather work at my easel....

Have a good rest of the summer...keep cool!

Elisabet

Springtime

Hello, I did one painting at the Miller House herb garden.....I'm studying it now....I like to set a painting aside for awhile to decide if I need to do anything else before I varnish it....

so will put up a photo after I decide...

Meanwhile, visitors and my gardens (flower mostly) have been keeping me busy....spring is the time for weeding, mulching and planting and shuffling.....

soon I'll be back to painting full time....I'll have plenty of flowers to paint this summer.....

Paintng above is "Still Life w/Dragon".

Update

Hi, Just got a email from the WCMFA....guess the judges this year don't like "Magic Realism"....

ah well, will try again next year.....

But, just want to let folks know that the Spectrum Seven will be having a reception for their upcoming show at the Mansion House on this coming Sunday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00.

the show will run thru the month of May. During the hours of the reception some of us will read our poetry and there will be books on sale as well. Becky Deitrich will offer her book about Cumberland Valley artists, and Marguerite Cyr will have copies of her brother book of poetry "Castles in the Sky".

Hope to meet some of you there....

or, at the WCMFA on May 14th between 11:00 and noon for a presentation about artists careers...

or, on May 15th I will be doing a 'en plein aire' demo in the herb garden behind the Historical Society's Miller House in Hagerstown. I will be painting there from 10:00 until noon....

There is an 'Art Walk' scheduled for the same day in downtown so there will be many artists to meet and see their work....

The painting above will be at the Mansion House for the May Show of Spectrum Seven. The title is "Brushes in Beer Stein" from my studio.

Elisabet

PS. there is a show at the Washington Arts Council Gallery in Hagerstown this month of some of Cliff Springers painting collection. I have one of mine in there....one that was inspired by a dream that I titled "Mouse Dragon".

Catoctin Fantasy

Hi, I just thought I'd show you the one and only painting I have entered in the upcoming Cumberland Valley Show that is held yearly at the WCMFA in Hagerstown. It is a juried show and I may or may not get in....depends on the judges. I'll let you know if mine gets accepted sometime after May 4th.

One is the only one I could manage to get onto a CD in time for the closing of entries. My computer skills are minimal....and although I have put images on a CD before, it was years ago....and I forgot. I tried for hours to put two on a CD-R....no matter what I tried, it didn't work....

Shortly before my class was due to arrive, I desperately tried one more trick...a CD-RW....it worked like a charm. But, I only managed to get this one on and ran out of time....so, I said heck with it, I'll just enter one this year. My husband (thank goodness for a good husband) ran the CD to the museum for me.

My tip for today: Don't wait till the last minute!

"Catoctin Fantasy" is the title of this painting. I took photos of the Catoctin Creek near Thurmont last fall, and decided to paint it this spring. I call it a fantasy because I loved the yellow glow in the background and exaggerated it a bit....quite a bit....Some would call it 'magic realism'.

The little painting I didn't manage to get entered entitled "Mother Goose and Babies" will go into the Spectrum Seven show at the Mansion House Art Gallery next month....This goose is one near and dear to my heart....I raised her from a tiny chick....she used to ride around in my pocket....and sleep with me in our hammock...quite a story here...some have encouraged me to write a children's book about her....Might just do that....

Happy Spring!

Elisabet

Bogged Blog

Well, I tried, but my life just doesn't allow time for much blogging....I started this during a giant snowstorm when I had a touch of cabin fever, now spring has sprung and I'm out and about enjoying this glorious spring! (above is my "Elf Home Sweet Home")

I think from now on, I will mostly use this blog to announce shows and show some of my new paintings.

Currently I have a painting in the Washington County Museum of Fine Art in Hagerstown, MD

in a VAA show. The show is up through the first week of May.

In May, I will have 5 paintings in a Spectrum Seven show at the Mansion House Art Center in Hagerstown.

This coming week I am entering a CD of a new painting into a regional show....I'll let you know if I get accepted....or rejected...one never knows does one? I'll put a coat of varnish on it and photograph it soon...and add it to my next blog....

Happy Spring!

Elisabet

This evening I feel like I'm in "Middle Ocean" above....

the only difference being it is swirling snow instead of water...

but at least we are staying warm and dry inside by the fire....

with our fuzzy little Icies to keep us warm...

tonight will definitely be a three dog night...maybe more...

Hope you all are enjoying being snowbound....I know I am.

stay warm....

Art and Icelandic Sheepdogs

I told you I had A.D.D.
Will probably not do this bloggiing everyday....

but, we had our Prometheus gathering on Thursday evening....
Started out watching the Leffel video of him doing a still life....but the group seemed to grow bored with it halfway though...David Leffel is a marvelous artist, we all love his work, but his painting and talking at the same time talent leaves something to be desired....
so, when intermission came up, I turned it off and we went and sat around the dining table and just talked art.....When I asked it they wanted to resume the video, it was overwhelming vote to just keep discussing what we were discussing....(and of course sampling the snacks and drinks).
We certainly learn from one another....

Today we have a blizzard....about 2 feet and still coming....had to go out and shovel and break a path for the dogs to go out .....they could barely get out the doggy door so I knew I had to do something.
I am drying out now....and am hoping the blowing and drifting snow doesn't fill in the paths I and the dogs made this morning....but, if it does, I'll go out and do it again later today.....

but, right now I think I'll start a new painting...I have the rest of the day to paint in peace....I think! A view of Catoctin Creek near Thurmont....I took a photo last summer....printed it out on my computer....oops, found out my color cartridges are shot...oh well, I rarely use the colors literally anyway....I make up what suits me for the painting...

Stay warm....

Art and Icelandic Sheepdogs

Hello, Monday...class day. I teach a small oil painting class on Mondays from 9:00 til noon.

My students and I then went to lunch together and met some other artist friends...

I think it is so important for artists to get together to talk "art", we learn from and inspire each other.

(just like other Icelandic Sheepdog owners need to get together to talk "dog".)

On the first Thursday evening of each month some of my oil painting artist friends and some students get together here in my living room to talk about art....We call ourselves the "Prometheans". (read about Prometheus in Greek mythology). We talk, and sometimes watch videos of artists we admire....this month it is one by David Leffel....doing a still life demo. He is one of my favorites today.

Thought for today: Paint with both sides of your brain.... the rational and the emotional.

Painting entitled: "Salmon River II" (in Iceland)

Art and Icelandic Sheepdogs

Hello out there in the blog world....I have no idea what I'm doing here....but all my friends say I should blog.....so here I am...giving it a try...

If anyone reads this, please let me know if you have questions about my paintings or my wonderful Icelandic Sheepdogs...

both are my passions....

As the days go by, I'll try to learn more about this blogging business and perhaps keep folks informed about what is happening with us regularly....and perhaps a daily picture and thought...if I have time....

Thought for today:

Yin / Yang..... artists must understand the importance of this concept in all aspects of their work ... in composition, subject matter, color, value, shapes and sizes, mood, etc......and of course in their life as well.

The picture is entitled : "Manifestations of the Shekinah"....look it up...