Sorry if you've come to my blog to see my latest art, I'm a little preoccupied right now with thoughts about my late husband Jim... We took this photo with the camera timer when we were making our first trip to North Carolina together in 1989 (before we married in 1991). I've always loved this photo because it reflected the start of our long love for each other.

As I've been going through the mourning process in the last four months, I haven't yet been able to get back into my painting routine. Now, an email from a family friend has encouraged me to get back in the studio - in it she wrote:

" Creativity is an act of love, absorbing and comforting in itself. A surge of energy is likely to emerge at some point. Finding ways to use it can be a challenge. Wondrously, it can become a channel of love from our lost loved ones through us into our continuing lives. Loss becomes transformed into joy! - honoring them, celebrating them, mingling that energy with our own, adding that love as we act in the world."

That and a note that Jim left for me have made me realize its time to get back to work...

Love of my life

My husband died today (May 28) and one of his friends asked me to post this painting I did of him a number of years ago... I am completely heartbroken.

Jacks Betts of the Charlotte Observer made some nice comments about Jim on his blog. Thanks Jack. Another environmental advocacy group working to keep a cement plant from polluting posted this blog. Thanks to you too.
If you knew Jim and want to comment with stories about your experiences with him, that would be wonderful. To do so, click on "Comments" below. Thank you.

Here's a link to Jim's obituary.

June 12 UPDATE: The celebration of Jim's life will be at our house in Morehead City, NC on June 20 from 4-6pm. It will be an open, informal, outdoor celebration. A few friends and family will share a few words about Jim at the beginning. Please join us.

Thanks to all of you who have shared stories in your comments below - they are so very precious to me.

Wayne County's 30th Annual National Juried Show

Just found out that my big quadratych (four canvases put together, each 3 x 3 feet) called "Fantasy" was juried into the Arts Council of Wayne County's 30th Annual National Juried Fine Arts Exhibition. The juror for the show is Scott Howe, Director of Education and Public programs at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, VA.

I'm really excited, since this was a departure into abstraction for me. The small photo here doesn't do it justice, since the original is 6 feet square, but you get the idea. They are having an opening reception this Friday, May 15, 5-8pm, at 2406 Ash Street in Goldsboro. Their web site is: www.artsinwayne.org .

Next!

Still working in this new series - love it when the work flows out like this... this one is 24 x 30 in acrylics. Next I'm going to play with some reds!

Next in the Series

Rolling along with this new series - here's the latest. Have to put down the palette knife to get ready for my next show, but will have to take a couple days to do so. Hard to tear myself away from the easel!
Update: This painting was one of 69 chosen by the juror out of 298 entered into the 2009 Bank of the Arts 8th Regional Juried Art Show. This show is presented by Craven Arts Council & Gallery and the Twin Rivers Artists' Association. The Bank of the Arts—home to Craven Arts Council & Gallery—is at 317 Middle Street in New Bern, and hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This will be on display there through June 27.

Steps to a painting

As I was working on this painting I took photos after several stages. Thought it would be fun to show how this one progressed! I almost stopped with just the first step - loved that nose on the blue!

More complements

On a roll with this new series. Really enjoying these bright complementary colors...