2009 CPSA Exhibition in Duluth, Georgia

Gee, its taken me all week to think about what I was going to talk about in this post about the CPSA convention! I usually have a photo to go along with everything, but there are a few things that I just didn't have the appropriate photo to go along with the story!

I came back from the Colored Pencil Society of America Convention on Sunday and I've been trying to catch up and recover all week! It was a wonderful week spent with other colored pencil artists from all over the country and even Canada (Teresa)! I enjoyed getting to see artists that I have met at previous conventions, online artist friends, and making new friends as well. I left on a Monday to pick up my traveling buddy, Toni James, at the airport in Memphis. From there we drove, well I drove, Toni read the maps, to Georgia. It seemed to be a very quick trip, but I'm sure that had more to do with the fact that Toni and I talked the entire way, across 3 states! We had lots to talk about, so the time flew by! We were given the nicknames of Thelma and Louise for the adventure that we were taking, however, we behaved, unlike the movie version of Thelma and Louise!

We were able to get to our destination with the help of preprinted maps to Duluth and some additional help from Charlene, the good lady on Toni's cell phone! She gave us turn by turn instructions to the hotel! (I must get one of those phones that can give me directions!)

Tuesday and Wednesday we had the privilege of going to the Presidents forum as representatives of our CPSA Chapters, where we learned about what other chapters are doing as a group. We also took a trip over to the gallery to view the exhibit. If you haven't seen a colored pencil exhibit in person, you should try to do so. This show is an international show, with the most amazing work in Colored Pencil. The CPSA website has the winners pieces posted here: 2009 17th Annual International Exhibition • Atlanta, GA•

I also attended two colored pencil workshops while I was there. I like to attend workshops to get ideas for myself, but also for my high school art students. Both of these workshops were full of ideas that I can take back to the classroom. The first one was taught by Betsy Holster, who gave us many ideas on how to be more creative with our work. She had a table full of supplies that we could use to experiment with. It was a lot of fun to play with the supplies and techniques. Then I went to the workshop given by Pat Averill about rendering water with various techniques.

In between the meetings that I attended were the other activities such as the members meeting where we viewed a dvd of all of the entries for the show and they gave away many art supplies as door prizes. There was also a silent auction of small cp works that are donated by artists who have been in the shows in previous years. The banquet on Friday was also a highlight of the week. After the banquet meal, the awards winners from the show were announced. Those are listed in the link I gave previously.

Saturday morning was the only free time that I had all week, so we had a late breakfast at IHOP and went to Joann's Fabric and Craft store. I didn't buy anything, but I did get some ideas for some drawings! Saturday afternoon we attended the Artists reception at the Hudgens Art Center where the show is on display. It is a must see if you are in the area!

Finally, Saturday, after the reception, some of the artists from ScribbleTalk got together at Luciano's Restaurant. We had 2 tables of ST members and guests. The food was wonderful, but the visit with online friends was even better! Its great to get to know people that I've talked with online for years!

Sunday we left Duluth, for our drive back to Arkansas. This time we took a different route, taking us through Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, and into Arkansas. The weather was great going and coming, but while we were in Duluth it rained off and on all week, but it did keep the temperatures cool and comfortable.

This week I've been catching up on sleep, rest, putting up art supplies and all of those things that don't get done while away from home. But I have been working on my Paris Cafe piece as well, so I hope to have an update on that soon.

~Beth

Working Vacation?

I am attending the Colored Pencil Society of America Annual Exhibition and Convention next week in Atlanta, Georgia! I call this a working vacation, but I think it will be alot more fun than work. I will be attending 2 workshops, plus all of the activities of the convention and spending time with other artists! So I'm sure it will be an enjoyable, but busy trip.

I am working on some ATCs for trading at convention. One of the new activities for this year will be a groupwide ATC (Artist Trading Card) exchange. I have one completed and hope to do another before I leave. So, I have to get busy packing and drawing!

~Beth

A New Colored Pencil Painting...

...is on the drawing table! Finally...at last!

I took the photo reference when I was in France last summer and have been wanting to do this for awhile. It may take me awhile, with all of the interuptions and responsibilities that seem to creep into my life. But it is started and so far I am pleased with my results. So I will post the first couple of steps now and hopefully sometime over the next month or so, I will be able to work on it. Next week I will be attending the annual CPSA convention and exhibition, so I will not be able to work on it then.

This drawing is on UART 500 13" x 15" approximately. It may be larger or a little smaller. I will be using Prismacolor pencils.
I hope you will follow along with my progress and push me for updates for motivation! I tend to get distracted on other little projects.

Oh and by the way, the 2 photo, the 1st drawing photo, is a little crooked. Please excuse that. I will try to shoot the rest of them straighter. My little easle slants a little and I forget about that!

So, what it on your drawing board or craft table?
~Beth

Home Decor Art Project

With all the moving going on, my daughter and I did manage to get in an art project. She wanted something unique for her new apartment wall. Well, she was downsizing from a larger apartment with more wallspace, but she did manage to save some space for our project. She found an old window at a junk store. So she decided to add art paper with her kitchen/living room colors in the glass areas. We painted brown paint on top of the white paint that was already on it, then wiped away some of the paint to make it look old and weathered a little. Put a hangar on the back and it was ready to go on the wall. It looks very nice on her kitchen. It is also a neat recycling project! What better way to create beautiful art, by using old building supplies?

What other ideas do you have for recycling old windows or building supplies?

~Beth

Moving, moving, moving...

...I feel like I have moved so much, but actually I have lived in the same house for 13 years, and probably will stay in that house for several more...if not until I die! But my children are in college and they move in and out of apartments, dorms, etc...on a regular basis! Did I mention that I hate to move? It is so expensive and stressful to pull it all together. This week both of my children managed to schedule moving on the same weekend in two different towns! Good thing about it was that we used the same moving trailer for both moves. Bad thing is that it means getting two apartments situated with furniture, groceries, etc etc, all at once!
So that is why I have no art updates or photos to share for now. I hope to go on a photo taking trip around the college and mountains in the area today. So when I get home tomorrow night, I will share some photos.
Have a wonderful Sunday afternoon!
~Beth

Christmas in July?

Well, not really but I am participating in the Christmas in July Sale on Etsy, along with many AREtsy Team (Arkansas Artists on Etsy) members. I'm sure many people are wishing for some of those cooler temperatures, but then summer vacation wouldn't be the same, now would it?

In both of my Etsy shops, I am offering FREE SHIPPING on purchases of $20 or more. With $50 or more, you also get a free gift! So, if you are interested in anything that you have seen me post here, then hop on over to my shops to see if it is still available!

HeartHomes.etsy.com is all clay items featuring the Home is where the heart is!

bmacre.etsy.com is mostly paintings, drawings, and a few prints, and a few clay items.

SALE ITEMS

Check out the Sale section as well! I have a few items that have been marked to down to clear out things to make room for more items! My studio is getting crowded! Please help me clear out some items!

Check out the Arkansas Artists on Etsy blog for information about some of the other sales.

Its already July?

Where has June gone? It went by soooo quickly! I have a feeling that July will go by even more quickly. I will be going on a couple of trips this month and have plenty to do around the house, so time does fly...when you are very busy!

We will not be traveling for the fourth of July, but we will be having company, so I am looking forward to the holiday. Hope you have nice holiday plans.

I created a patriotic flag heart a few weeks ago and just listed it in my Etsy shop. Here is the link and a photo to celebrate the arrival of July!

What do you plan to do on the Fourth of July?
~Beth