Great time at CenterFest in Durham

Had a great show at CenterFest.  The weather was beautiful and had many sales.  Yay!   While I was in my booth, a photographer named Riley Maclean (see his work at http://rileymaclean.com ) shot this photo of me.  Kinda fun…

Finishing up for CenterFest

Packing up to head to Durham tomorrow for the CenterFest show.  I enjoy this show - its well organized, the people are friendly and I seem to connect with quite a few folks with my art. 

Here's one of  a series I did inspired by photographs by staff photographer Christine T. Nguyen with the Durham Herald-Sun (used with permission, of course!).

Nice press!

The opening for the Soul of a Woman show is tonight at Carolina Artist Gallery in Morehead City, 5-8pm.  Last night's local paper had a nice photo of my 4' x 5' painting in it (the photo of it in the paper was big - about 5 by 8 inches).  Here's the online version:  Soul of a Woman.

Still busy finishing up work for next week's CenterFest show in Durham.  I'm excited about the series I'm doing.

New series for CenterFest show in Durham

I've been hard at work on a new series for the CenterFest show in a couple weeks.  I was browsing through the Durham paper - the Durham Herald Sun - looking at photographs and liked the work by photographer Christine T. Nguyen.  I contacted her to see if I could use some of her images as jumping off points for some face paintings.   She checked with her editor and we worked it out.  I am so happy to have this inspiration!  Here is one from the series - they are all still "Works in Progress" - but I'm feeling good about the paintings.

What a boost!

Just when you need a boost someone comes along and makes your day.  I got this email yesterday from the gal who bought Ferdinand at the CenterFest show in Durham last year.  So fun and kind!  She said I could share it…Here's what she wrote:


Hi Sal!

I recently finished doing a housing swap with a woman from New Mexico. 

After her week stay at my house checking out Durham, I thought you would find it fun to know that she left a "thank you" note behind and commented on how much she LOVED my bull artwork.

I had a conversation with her on the phone today just seeing how the exchange went and she mentioned the bull again.  She said she absolutely LOVED the artwork and I should include that in my listing describing my home for future exchangers and people who might be fans of art.  She said she loved how much his face was kind and inviting and not an angry bull.  His eyes were intriguing and the colors were so vibrant and beautiful.  Yep, that's what she said!!!! 

Just wanted to share.  Often when you come in and out of a room daily, things start to become commonplace and your eyes become accustomed to seeing the same things.  She reminded me just how much I fell in love with Ferdinand and renewed my appreciation for such an amazing piece of art THAT I OWN!!!!!!

Ferdinand at home.

I'm looking forward to doing the show again  - its September 20 - 21 in downtown Durham.

Sad time...

I'm going through a sad time right now.  Too personal to post... So I tried to get back into a painting regimen today to help take my mind off things, but of course ..the paint knew better...

"Soul of a Woman"

Just finished up a painting to enter in the "Soul of a Woman" show in Morehead City.  I decided to paint a portrait of Maya Angelou.  She was from North Carolina and has written many soulful things… I first wrote out the poem "I know why the caged bird sings" - the lines of the poem can be read here.  I followed the contours of her face with the words… then I painted the portrait over the words...