from my studio...

American Miniatures

2012-01-16T15:02:00.000-05:00

Just finished up two small paintings for the American Miniatures show at Settlers West Galleries in Tucson, Arizona. Opening is February 11, 2012...

DRYING OUT 8 x 15 oil on linen panel

"Drying Out" depicts Oregon Trail emigrants of the 1850s. At times, the emigrant trains would stop for a day or two to allow their livestock to feed and rest. Grass was not always abundant, and a lot of the time, non existent, so if they came to a spot with good grass and water, they'd take the opportunity to rest and catch up on chores, like doing laundry. I thought it would be interesting to include supporting quotes from journals with each of my trail paintings...

Friday July 28th, 1854..."We have concluded to lay by here to day to rest our worn out teams...the girls are washing, and baking aple and peach pies, stewing beans, and rabits and appear very happy. Are all in good health and know no trouble. -Sarah Sutton

The painting below depicts a mid 19th century stagecoach traveler...

STAGECOACH STOP 10 x 10 oil on linen panel

Home again, home again...

2012-01-02T16:22:00.000-05:00

This year, for Christmas, we traveled to both of our families' homes. Everyone lives in either Louisiana or Texas (except my brother-in-law, who, like us, is doomed to travel every holiday. Except he only has to go to one state....lucky him!) We are expected to travel to two states. Since our relatives live 5 hours' drive apart...mine in Texas, and my in-laws in Louisiana...it seems foolish to travel all the way from Florida and not go see both. I can never make up my mind if this is convenient, or a major pain. How do you tell one side that you're not coming over? So, while it's definitely a pain to do all that driving around, it is convenient to see everyone in one trip. Let's just say that we are usually quite thrilled to get back home again!

This year was our son's 20th birthday, and we decided to take a detour into New Orleans to celebrate. I sort of took a rest from my camera on this trip, but managed to get a few shots here and there.

In New Orleans, we stayed in one of the old mansions in the Garden District. I've always loved those old houses, and it was a great location. None of the chaos and parking issues of the French Quarter, and only one block off of St. Charles Avenue.

Sully Mansion on Prytania Street in the Garden District

Sitting in the early morning sun and looking out of our window. I can hear the Sunday bells of a church. I love bright sunshine in the morning...helps me wake up.

Let the festivities begin...time to get up!

...and, by the way....he's being kind to me and growing out the whiskers so I can transform him into an 1850s overland emigrant for a photo shoot in January. There's been no end of complaining...and he won't admit it, but I suspect he's starting to like the way he looks.

On Sunday morning we went to mass at St. Stephens, near our B&B. My husband went to grade school here, so it was a nostalgic visit for him. It's a beautiful church built in the 1880s, but the parish was established in the 1840s.

The source of the bells that I heard when I woke up...

Traditional cathedrals are so beautiful...love the atmosphere and the stained glass windows.

He is born!

Alex wanted some beignets, so we drove over to the French Quarter to Cafe Du Monde

Next day it was time for po'boys...eagerly consumed at Mother's restaurant. Delicious, but Jim and I thought they weren't quite as good as in the past, and boy are they ever pricey now!

I don't think words are necessary here

father and son

Love the porches!

Alex makes me feel so short...I'm 5'8", but he's at least 6 inches taller. It's nice to have a tall son to look up to...

On our drive up to Natchitoches (in-law territory)...we stopped for lunch at Oak Alley Plantation. They have a pretty nice restaurant in one of the original outbuildings. The shrimp gumbo was very good...

The live oaks are as beautiful as ever..

Then we continued a few miles up the river road to Laura Plantation. They have an interesting tour about the Creole family who lived there. One of the daughters wrote her memoirs, which are now published as a book. The house is a typical style built by Creoles, and these are the original colors. This plantation produced sugar and syrup from cane.

Laura Plantation

After visiting Jim's family in Natchitoches, we drove over to Dallas for my folks...

We drove over to McKinney to walk around and look at the shops and meet my brother and his family. This is Alex, my dad and me...it was cold!

...and, even though these sorts of trips tend to be hectic and full, I made sure we had one day to spend with my great friend and fellow artist, Sharon. She and her husband have a beautiful home on a lake, where Alex had a great time kayaking.

And now it's back to painting matters....this new year is already quite full of commitments. But, that's a good thing! Next post will show some new paintings and show information...

Summer to Fall...

2011-12-07T18:05:00.000-05:00

Here we are approaching the Christmas season already! Since this summer, I've mostly spent my time painting to meet a few deadlines for shows, and working on compositions for future work. Here are three paintings that I've sent to Astoria Fine Art in Jackson, Wyoming.

EULALIE'S PLACE 30x40 oil on linen

"Eulalie's Place" is a tribute to my Louisiana heritage. The setting is an old creole cottage that sits on the bank of the Cane River near Natchitoches. Whenever we're in the area visiting family, we used to drive past this old house and I always loved looking at it and wondering about the people who have lived in it over the years. One December day, we stopped and I photographed it and we met the owner who lives in the plantation across the street. He's since restored the little house, and it looks beautiful today...but, I miss the character of the original, because it just doesn't look like this anymore. I'm so glad I stopped to photograph it that day. And, I named the painting for my great grandmother on my father's side, who lived in south Louisiana, Eulalie Boudreax Dubuc.

YOUNG EMIGRANTS...1850 Oregon Trail oil on linen panel 12 x 12

BARTLETT AND BOSC oil on linen panel 10 x 10

Just finished two small paintings to send to Lord Nelson's Gallery in Gettysburg for their December originals show...one of them seen here...below. They'll be shipped in a couple of days...

FRAGRANT FIELDS 7 X 15 oil on linen panel

I've been invited to two shows...Settlers West Gallery's American Miniatures in Tucson, Arizona, and the Eiteljorg Museum's Quest for the West in Indianapolis, Indiana. I'm so excited that my trail paintings will be exhibited in such a fine museum as the Eiteljorg. More on that later, both shows are in 2012.

Needing some things to use in photo shoots for my trail paintings, I've been collecting period items...reproductions and antiques. In November, we went to the huge antique market in Mt. Dora and had a great day, and I managed to find a few treasures that will be useful as painting props.

I've also been researching, and have come to the conclusion that most overland emigrants would have used candle lanterns in the 1840s and 50s. There are some tinsmiths that make accurate reproductions, so I bought a few to use in my paintings. I love to play around with lighting!

Right now I'm working on two paintings to send to Settlers West, so I better get back to it!

Pictures from the trail...

2011-07-04T00:15:00.003-04:00

Winding up my trip along the Oregon trail....here are a few of the places and people...
I've now got plenty of reference to start my paintings depicting the overland pioneers...more to come soon.

here we are at Independence Rock...and yes, I climbed up about half of the way to the top. Got some great reference for paintings!

Grave of an emigrant...a young girl

an emigrant carved his name in this rock in 1852

another emigrant inscription

my new friend Janet...absolutely the best trail guide and pioneer!

looking for a good place to do laundry along the Sweetwater River

Janet and her friend, Michael "Bad Hand" Terry....at Fort Laramie, Wyoming

thousands of wagon wheels wore deep ruts into these rocks

Kim....graciously hosted our photo shoot at his beautiful place which is on the original trail...just outside of Casper, Wyoming. My friend Nancy sits alongside with baby Nora...

young emigrants...

the little ones enjoyed their wagon ride....

A stroll through 1856...

2011-06-29T00:18:00.001-04:00

Visited a museum today, in Kansas City, that displays the intact cargo of a steamship that went down in the Missouri River in 1856. So very interesting!

The Arabia Steamship Museum.

Lost in Cottonwood Falls...

2011-06-28T00:11:00.000-04:00

...well, not really lost, but we did have some difficulty finding our overnight lodging. It was funny because the place is really really small.

I'm following the trail traveled by the overland pioneers in the years spanning the 1840s until later in the century. Collecting reference for upcoming paintings and visiting museums. I'm finding lots of inspiration.

We went to Kansas first to photograph the tall grass prairie landscapes. I'm also looking to photograph lots of livestock and wanted shots of grazing cattle. Did you know that this is what cattle do when you get out of your car to photograph them...?

...then they come as close as they can possibly get...to get an even better look. Don't they know I need natural shots of them...LOL...randomly spread about grazing?

Historic courthouse in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas

Cottonwood Falls....not much there...beautiful rolling hills and prairie...lots of wildflowers...and you can get a really good steak...

Fresh from the easel...

2011-05-10T12:58:00.006-04:00

EMMA 14x10 oil on linen panel

Just finished a small portrait of a young lady. I'll be taking it to the History Meets the Arts show in Gettysburg, June 16-18. Please click here and here for more information...
If you're in town, please come by and see me at the Lord Nelson's Gallery showroom at the Gettysburg Firehall on Stratton Street.

"Emma" and "Snapping Beans" in frames

Last year when I was in Gettysburg, we went to a historic farmhouse to do some photos, and Emma is sitting just inside a shuttered window in a room that dates back to the 18th century.

Springing forward...

2011-04-13T15:18:00.003-04:00

So...four months after I decide to start this blog, I'm finally composing my second post!
Life can be unpredictable, and in January I had to go in for some fairly major surgery, which took me out of my studio for almost two months (it was not comfortable to sit at my easel during recovery). But, God is good, and life has returned to normal, and I'm feeling great, and have been back to work these last few weeks. My studio is a major disaster area, but that's how I am when I'm deep into working...so all is good and I'm perfectly capable of stepping over the mess on my way to the easel. How can you be tidy and be creative at the same time?

During my recovery, I spent time hand quilting my appliqued top, featured in the last post. I used a 14 inch hoop so I could work in my lap. It's almost finished and has been a great learning experience. I think it's turning out nicely, but it's heavier than I thought it would be. Next time I'll use a different backing fabric and cut away the extra fabric on the backs of the larger, layered applique designs...that should lighten it up I think. I'm already planning my next quilt...

This is my latest completed painting...and is the result of a photo shoot with a couple of friends in the Gettysburg area. We went to a privately owned historic farmhouse and they are sitting on the front porch catching the breeze on a sunny summer afternoon.
You may see a better image at my website.

SNAPPING BEANS 16x16 oil on linen panel available at Lord Nelson's Gallery

I'm currently working on a few paintings that I plan to take to the History Meets the Arts show in Gettysburg in June. I'll be with Lord Nelson's Gallery in their showroom...please look here for more information.

I've also been sewing mid 19th century clothing in a range of sizes for children, which will be needed later this year for some photo shoots.

sewing sewing sewing

ready for new paintings....

Quilting

2010-11-27T20:06:00.005-05:00

Earlier this week some friends participated in a photo shoot for one of my painting ideas. A mid 19th century quilting. I'm thankful to be friends with some wonderful ladies who always have the time to take a break from their busy lives and dress up and pose for me.

My love affair with quilts began sometime in my 20s, and I've sewn them here and there over the years. Some successes, some not. The appliqued floral designs of the early 19th century are my favorite. Needing an historically accurate quilt for my paintings, I took a class at a local quilt shop and learned the art of hand applique.
The quilt shown above is the result...as it appears, above, it's still attached to the quilting frame and not yet quilted. ( I also need to redo the border that got a bit stretched while I stitched it on). After working at my easel, drafting table, or computer for most of the day, sewing in the evening while relaxing in front of the TV is a comfort. I prefer hand sewing and will only use the machine if I'm in a hurry, and on the long seams. On this quilt I also used the machine to piece the sawtooth border. Now it needs quilting...which I'll do by hand using a hoop.

A local site...Heritage Village allowed me to set up inside their one room white frame church. It was the perfect place, large enough for the quilting frame and wonderful light. My friends did a great job posing for me, and it was such a hectic week for me, that once we were there, I really would have liked to sit with them and actually quilt, rather than pretend. I think it would be fun to belong to a sewing or quilting circle.

Here are some period images of women quilting...

"Quilting Party" E. Wood Perry 1876

Can't find the info on this one...

Harper's Weekly, April 13, 1861

Now it's back to my easel...I've got three paintings underway and needing my attention. I'll probably do some posts on their progress. Then I'll begin the work of designing my quilting composition...I've got loads of reference photos to consider and a few other elements needed for the scene to be complete...