On the Cover!

Short North Visitors Guide

My recent colored pencil drawing, "Short North Arches", was chosen as the cover art for the official Short North Visitors Guide. (The Short North is a beautiful urban renewal area in Columbus, Ohio, full of galleries, restaurants, pubs and some unique and one-of-a-kind shopping.)

Five years ago, I used to day dream about being an artist (in my mind and others), showing my work somewhere and most especially in the Short North. Well, those daydreams and others have come true (not without some scary, jump-into-the-void moments, though).

This guide had an initial printing of 60,000 copies which are distributed to our local Convention Center, local hotels, local shops, and the airport! Some little exposure for me, huh? What's even better, though, are the kudos I am getting from my peers and friends in the Short North. (That's the real cherry here.)

Now, gotta go and daydream some more......

New WIP - Cathedral

8 x 10"

colored pencil on Ampersand pastelboard

of the Columbus Greek Orthodox Cathedral

The above piece I have not as yet named but it is a landmark on the south side of the Short North Arts District, The Greek Orthodox Cathedral. It is a beautiful building both inside and out; the congregation has been so generous in sharing their wonderful church with us, its neighbors, for various community events, fundraisers and their own Greek Festival.

The bricks used to construct this church are a very light and warm tan during the day, but when lit at night, they glow. Whoever designed the lighting was a genious.

I really like the way the orange plays off the blues and purples in this piece. And, once again, I have fallen in love with this pastelboard; I may never go back to paper! (Oh, yes, I will....)

Out on the Street

"On the Rocks"

Original Colored Pencil Drawing

(on prepared watercolor paper)

4 x 7"

SOLD

This Saturday I, and three of my compatriots from Studios on High Gallery, the artists cooperative gallery to which we all belong, will be making art on North High Street in the Short North Arts District in Columbus, Ohio. The art demo, which we do several times a year, is called "Hop Art" to coincide with the district's monthly Gallery Hop.

Joining me will be:

• Jeff Shaw, my dear friend, is a professor at nearby Capital University, and fabulous creator of large abstract paintings. He also makes humorous, pen and ink character studies. (These are my favorite and I own two; I hope to get more!)

• Debbie Jackson is a gifted master of her craft of polymer clay jewelry making. She is also the author of Polymer Clay Jewlery. Debbie is working on her second book about using metallic mediums with polymer clay, a technique she will be demonstrating on Saturday. Her jewelry is amazing!

• Tom Harbrecht, a founding member of the Ohio Plein Air Painters Society, and painter of landscape paintings predominantly set in the mid-west. His paintings are full of light, atmosphere and draw you deep into the work; he's a master of his craft. I want Tom to teach me how to create landscapes like that one of these days.

I can't wait to hang out with these people this Saturday. We're all a little nervous because we're all more than a little introverted and are out of our comfort zones, but feel better when we have each other for support. AND, we're doing that "getting out there thing" to promote our gallery , each other and ourselves. Ain't we something?

We'll be there from 4 to 8 p.m. I'm going to work on a drawing on pastel board of the Short North arches, the area's most striking landmarks. I'll blog my progress on that later.

If you see us, please stop by and say hello!

Weekend Celebration

"Dog Days II"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

I am a member of a wonderful coop group of artists who have our own gallery (actually it has been there for over 20 years and I have only been there for 2!), Studios on High Gallery, in the Short North Arts District just north of downtown Columbus, Ohio. This city has a wealth of talented artists, and our gallery has 18 of them making original paintings, drawings, sculpture, glass and fiber arts.

The first Saturday of every month for 20 years, the galleries and business in the district have stayed open late and hosted a Gallery Hop which combines art viewing, shopping, dining, along with a bit of street fair activities. Oh, and a great load of fun if you are into people watching! So it's no wonder with all of that, the event has grown into an enormous success with thousands of visitors each month.

This coming Saturday, Sept. 1, Gallery Hop will be even more special with the lighting of 17 street-light arches. These arches were landmarks of the neighborhood and Columbus in the early 20th century. (The political and logistical nightmare to get this done has been going on for years, so you can imagine how exciting this is to have these landmarks lit!)

I am very, very proud to be a native Columbus girl, who has seen this city grow and thrive. And I love being an artist who hangs her work in the Short North Arts District. Pinch me!

If you are ever in Columbus, stop by the gallery to see my work and stay late to experience the nightlife and to see the arches! Oh, and don't forget to drop me a note if you're planning a visit.

On The Street

"Respite" - Phase 5

colored pencil drawing

18 x 20"

Last Saturday evening, during the Gallery Hop in the Short North Arts District in Columbus, four artists (one was me!) from Studios on High Gallery, set up our easels and tables and made art out on the street. In front of a lot of people. The Hops in this area attract thousands every month, especially during the warmer weather months, and this past Saturday was really "hopping".

As an artist, most of us are introverts and are never happier than when we are alone in our studios making our art. However, in order to sell it (which only serves to support our habit of making it), we have to come out of hiding once in a while. But it is WAY out of our comfort zones. (There are exceptions, right Sandy?)

I have heard it said that showing your art in public is like standing naked on a street corner and singing an aria. You do feel extremely exposed. But jumping out into that void with other artist friends felt like a bit of a safety net. And once out there, all of us found a very receptive, kind and admiring audience.

So lesson learned: overcome your fear and jump, it might be a whole lot of fun, especially if you take a friend or two with you.

"Every day do something that frightens you." (Eleanor Roosevelt)

"Respite" - New Work In Progress

Last week I started a new rather large (18 x 20") colored pencil drawing I am calling "Respite". My sister, Cynthia, posed for me several months ago and I got some great reference images including this one. This piece is also part of my "Beauty at Any Age" series of fabulous women, (not girls!)

I will be participating in an art demonstration on the street this weekend at the Gallery Hop in the Short North Arts District and will be working on finishing this piece while there. I had to make one large enough for milling crowds to see. If you are ever in Columbus, Ohio, on the first Saturday of the month, you should venture out to the Short North and take it all in. Wonderful!

Of course, I think my sister has is very beautiful and always has been (except when we were really little and fought all the time!). She is only a few years behind me in age and when I look at her, I like to hope that I, too, am aging as wonderfully as she is.

Respite - Phase 1

Respite - Phase 2