I love it when it rains...

OK, it's not really RAINING but it is nice and wet outside and do we ever need it! It's been way too dry for way too long and even drizzle is a welcome guest.
I took a painting to be juried for the San Antonio Art League and Museum's annual local exhibit. If you are so inclined, you can find more info at http://www.saalm.org. Anyway, I took "Joyful Expressions of Wildflowers in Harmony," a 24X36 upright gallery wrap canvas, which is posted on today's blog. I believe it is one of my strongest Wildflower paintings. I could enter up to 3 works but choose to go with only one. If (and that's a big IF) it are accepted, I am committed to leaving it on display through May 20. I have a lot going on between now and then. I decided to let that one painting stand on its own. Wish me luck!

Flood Series on exhibit at Tish's Decor & More Gallery

Thought I'd post pics of some of the works I now have up at Tish's Decor & More Gallery in Sattler. For those not from the area, Sattler is a village below the dam at Canyon Lake. In 2002, flood waters came over the spillway of the dam and created an amazing gorge between the lake and the Guadalupe River. I decided that I was obligated as an artist to document the historic event in my own way. I completed 12 paintings in the series, 5 of which are now in private collections. The remaining 7 are on display at Tish's Decor and More. I've posted 4 of the works here: Recalling the Flood of 2002 (12X24 framed, $195.00); Interpretation of the Flood I ((24X36 framed, $395.00); Canyon Gorge in the Spring II (12X24, framed, $195); and After the Flood-Spillway I (9X12 Framed, $145.00). If you are interested in adding one to your collection, they are all available for purchase at the gallery. I also have a few of my more traditional works up, as well as a sampling of my Wildflowers. And if you are in the area, Tish's is starting a montly event on the 3rd Saturday of each month: Art at Twilight. Come meet local artists, enjoy wine and cheese and art every 3rd Saturday from 4-7 p.m. Visit online at www.tishsdecor.com for more information.

Monday Art Joke

I thought I'd start this Monday out with an art joke. If you have one to share for a future blog posting, please e-mail it to me! Have a great week.

The Art Collector
A famous art collector is walking through the city when he notices a mangy cat lapping milk from a saucer in the doorway of a store. He does a double take.
He knows that the saucer is extremely old and very valuable, so he walks casually into the store and offers to buy the cat for two dollars.
The storeowner replies, "I'm sorry, but the cat isn't for sale."
The collector says, "Please, I need a hungry cat around the house to catch mice. I'll pay you 20 dollars for that cat."
And the owner says "Sold," and hands over the cat.
The collector continues, "Hey, for the twenty bucks I wonder if you could throw in that old saucer. The cat's used to it and it'll save me from having to get a dish."
The owner says, "Sorry buddy, but that's my lucky saucer. So far this week I've sold sixty-eight cats."

Sunday Morning Thoughts

While cold weather is the norm in many parts of the county, it's been absent for us in Central Texas for most of the winter. But that changed the end of the week as a double cold front hit and took our temps below freezing two nights in a row. Today we are waiting for it to "warm up" so we can get on the road and make it back over to the art show at the Fair Oaks Ranch Golf Club where we have a booth set up and waiting. It's a wonderful setting and really nice folks. We'll see what happens today.

Hoops and Yoyo

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! I just love Hallmark's Hoops and Yoyo cartoons. While I hate to give free adspace to a big company, these guys are just too darn cute not to share. Check out the February calendar link below and the many other Hoops and Yoyo links (copy and paste) or just go to www.hallmark.com and click on free e-cards:

http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/article|10001|10051|/HallmarkSite/hoops%26yoyohome/HOOPS_YOYO_ARCHIVE_CALENDARS

New Gallery Rep

I will soon have a new outlet for my artwork! I've been invited to be one of the regular artists exhibiting at Tish's Decor and More Art Gallery at Canyon Lake (www.tishsdecor.com). The owner, Tish, has a great loft space upstairs at her decorator gallery in Sattler where she features works by several artists. I'll be bringing in my work this coming week. This is shaping up to be a busy Spring season! As mentioned before, after having a month-long exhibit at Kerbey Lane Café in Austin in January, I was selected as Artist of the Month for February by my peers at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery. Had a nice little reception there on Thursday night. My work, including the 4-ft by 4-ft "Sun Dance" will be on exhibit through the end of February. The gallery is open every day (www.newbraunfelsartleague.com).

Some of you have asked where I (and my art) will be in the coming weeks/months. You know that the Casa de Linda Art Studio is open by appointment...e-mail me at linda@casadelinda.com to set something up! Also, several of my "Wildflower Square" series paintings are available at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin (www.wildflower.org) Just a quick calendar of upcoming events I've committed to and will be showing my paintings:
Feb. 12 (tomorrow) Demo my palette knife technique at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery, 12-5
Feb. 18-19 Fine Art Show at Fair Oaks Ranch (my paintings, David's photos, our birdhouses)
March 11-12 Austin Artists Harvest FACET Fine Art Show at Palmer Auditorium
March 25 Garten Festival at Heritage Plaza in New Braunfels
April 1 Wimberley Market Day (David will most likely have a booth with his photos and our birdhouses)
April 22 Canyon Lake Market Day (mostly photos and birdhouses...David will be doing this show as I will be at a Fine Art Show at the Antique Rose Emporium that same day)
April 22-23 Fine Art Show at the Antique Rose Emporium in San Antonio
April 29 Wein & SaengerFest, downtown New Braunfels (photos, birdhouses and paintings...in the street in front of our studio!)

I'm still working on additional gallery representation throughout the area and beyond. Please let me know if you have any leads!

Wildflowers in their home

OK...it sounds like a cliché, but my paintings really are like my children--or at the very least precious pets-- and it feels so good to know when they have good homes. David and I recently went back to visit the couple in Boerne who added 2 of my works to their art collection in December--and to take photos of the work in their new home. I'm posting the pic of "Spring Medley," the first 4-foot square wildflower I had completed last year, so you can see how it looks filling the wall in the formal dining room.
We are getting ready for my "Artist of the Month" reception at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery tomorrow evening, 5-8 p.m. We are hoping for a great turn out between the invitations we sent out and the fact that the historic downtown business district will be open for its "2nd Thursdays Downtown" monthly shopping event. Please come if you can!

Shows are up

I had 2 shows to work on this past week...my Artist of the Month exhibit and a children's art show, both at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery. This is my 4th year, I think, to work on the Kids Have a Heart for Art show that the art league sponsors. I'm sort of chair the thing but have some help along the way from other members, especially fellow member and friend Lynette. We invite 5th and 6th grade teachers from through out the county to submit students' work and the turn out is always so amazing. Had a cookie-n-punch reception on Friday with several hundred in attendance.

Then there was my own work that I was hanging this week. I have about 8 paintings on display, with "Sun Dance", the 4-ft square in the window. My reception for that exhibit is coming up this week...Thursday eve. Still have lots to do to get myself and my studio ready.