Rock Painting ... uh, Painting on a Rock and Scavenger Hunting 175

I painted yesterday, but not a painting. I was putting lettering on a rock for a dedication of a tree. Not easy to paint nice smooth letters on a rough rock. I didn't think that far when I was asked to do it. At first I thought I would put a design in white, like a doily perhaps with black letters. As I was checking it out, I found that not to be a good idea. The letters on the rough rock would look more crooked and not smooth. I painted them in black on a rather orange rock. I tried high lighting the black with white, too, and that looked tacky. So it is just black letters. The sandstone or limestone is porous and has black (perhaps lichen or mold)

I continued on it today, adding a couple more layers on the letters. It looks a little blah. I will look at it again on Sunday before I call them Monday with the done deal. I will get a snapshot, too.

I was going to paint a pastel today. Guess what? I had no paper or boards for pastel at the studio except a big one and I want to try a couple of little pastel wildflowers while they are so lovely. I know for a while I will be looking for something that will be at home. It will take me some time to get things moved. Sigh......

In place of painting, I did a little sketching for Scavenger Hunt 175. I sketched in the regular sketchbook with a Micron 03 pen, freehand, as usual.

Number 4, stone - these are some beautiful black and gray stones in a ceramic bowl that Regina brought for my studio warming gift. Nice to touch and look at. They reminded me of my Mom. When she was little at the ranch back in about 1915 - 18 she and her sisters would play with smooth rocks they found. The black ones would be horses and the others cows or whatever. They passed many happy hours with their herds of cattle and horses on their imaginary ranches. Thanks, Regina.

Number 5, tool - a battery driven screwdriver that Gene put in my studio. It is red and black, very spiffy looking.

We, Judy Hawes, Gene and I, had the reception tonight that was a beginning of "First Fridays" in Bastrop. The Guild had a reception for the high school photographers. It was nice for the young students and there was a pretty good crowd of students and parents. We had a few visitors in that didn't know about my new studio/gallery so that is good. Judy brought in some new necklaces with little painted canvases incorporated into the design. Wouldn't you like to have a little painting with you with a tiny painting of Monet's water lillies? Come by and see her jewelry. Very nice.

Baseball Note and More - Happy Cinco de Mayo!

She's My Sister
Pastel on Pastelbord 16 x 20 inches

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

The Longhorn Baseball team has now won 21 games in a row! It has been fun. They played a small school, Prairie View A & M. Longhorns won 6 - 0, but not a big blowout like we thought it might be. Their pitcher, Benjamin Blackburn, went the whole game. Lots of pitches, over 120, I think. Wow. You can read about all the Longhorn baseball on Joanna's Longhorn Baseball Page.

After the game we stopped at Carl's Jrs to get a bite to eat. I ordered a burger without a bun for my gluten sensitive stomach. They wrapped the burger ingredients in a couple of big leaves of lettuce and put a paper wrapper around it so I could eat it like a burger! That was great. I usually have to eat it with a fork which looses the feel of hamburger. That was a nice surprise. It would also make a low carb burger, too. Very nice, plus it was a good hamburger.

Today I have a Chamber of Commerce luncheon to go to:

Sponsor: Aqua Water. Program: Family Crisis Center. Catered by: Schlotzsky's Deli and Cinnabon. Menu: A Sandwich Box Lunch (Original, Smoked Turkey or Angus Roast Beef & Cheese), chips, a pickle, hot sauce, a mint AND a Special, Introductory Bonus...A Cinnabon.

Not very gluten free, I guess Gene will get to try the Cinnabon!

After that I will be at the gallery. Gene is framing my new work today for the First Friday Bastrop this Friday from 6 - 8 p.m. My studio will be open with some refreshments. Stop by and visit and see the High School Photography students' photographs. The exhibit is very colorful and well done.

Studio/Gallery News

I am posting these so I will have a record. I'm pretty sure I will make a News spot on my website as well, but for now.....

This is the article in the Chamber Newsletter for May.




This is the article in the Bastrop Advertiser by Jo Watts, who covers area art events. She is a potter and does pottery with a flair. She does very unique sculptures with clay.



And the photo in the paper the same day. I was painting out in front of my studio at Yesterfest on Saturday, April 24.



Here is a shot of the shelves in use in my studio. They are made from rain gutters. Neat idea, eh?

And another shot of my work area.

Gallery Notes - Pastel Paintings

I mentioned that Regina brought some paintings for my gallery. We have always had such good times painting together. I hope we can continue that. It is good for artists to interact and connect. You can see more of her pastel paintings on her website, Fall Shadows. I will put the one she brought yesterday here to tempt you to go look at more.

Nursery Collage
8 x 10 pastel
by Regina Calton Burchett
copyright with Regina

She brought some note cards, small prints and some postcards, too. You need to stop by and see the paintings in person.

I will take some photos at the studio/gallery today so you can see how nicely it is coming along.

The Bastrop Fine Arts Guild, in the same building as my studio, is starting "First Friday" in Bastrop. They will have their featured artist for the month reception. Other businesses will stay open until 8 p.m. and see if we can't get the idea working here. The Guild's featured artist for May will be the Bastrop High School Photography Students. That is great. Stop by and see the photos and all the art in our location and across the street at the Mercantile. I will post more about it tomorrow.

First Friday
May 7, 2010
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
1009 Main Street

Bastrop, Texas 78602

My new painting for this and Cinco de Mayo is a pastel of some little girls that were dancing in Santa Fe, New Mexico, several years ago. They were so cute.

She's My Sister
Pastel on Pastelbord
16 x 20 inches

Scroll down for earlier posts today.

Sketching ... finally.

I did manage to sketch at the gallery yesterday for Scavenger Hunt 175. I sketched because I didn't have time to do other painting. It felt good to get the pen and ink going. Well, actually, a ball point pen and the regular sketchbook were my tools.

Number 1, round .. a wooden bowl/vase from Bolivia. I had it at the gallery to hold the tickets for the door prize and it is still there. Number 3, leaf .. these are the leaves on the plant that Ellie brought me for the gallery. I need to get it replanted!

Number 2, art supply. The pot is out of proportion. I drew the rim first and then the brushes. The brushes are too small. At least I did some sketches. Yay!!

Scroll down for earlier post today.

Music, Music, Music

We are having a musical weekend. We started off the evening at the Roadhouse in Bastrop. We went to see and listen to Byrd and Street. They are soooo good. Larry Byrd and Kathy Street are both visual artists, too. They promised me they would bring a few prints and CD's for me to sell at the gallery. You can hear their music on their page.

Greg Lowry, Kathy Street and Larry Byrd

The music was great and the food wasn't bad either. They have fish and chips on Friday, which Gene and others enjoyed very much. A group of artists were there.

Regina and Larry came out from Austin. Regina brought a new painting for the gallery and some cards and prints. Very nice to have them visit and bring new "stuff" (art).

From there we went to the Lumberyard for some jazz on Main Street in Bastrop. That was fun, too. They sell snacks and soft drinks and you can BYOB. The group last night was the Academy Jazz Players.

Tonight we go to a Revel in Austin. Classical cello and piano with Joel Becktell and Carla McElhaney. We have been to several of their concerts. Fantastic music, casual fun and an evening to remember. We met Joel in my hometown, Magdalena, New Mexico, of all places. He likes art, too!! I don't know when they will be back to the Austin area, this is the last Revel of the season. Hope you will be there.