This November I’ll be at events all over the Atlanta and North Georgia region. The Small Town, Small Works show featuring myself and 59 other local artists is going on now through December 23rd. If you’re looking for an evening art walk, a kid and pet friendly art festival or to squeeze in some holiday shopping I have you covered. Links to the events are listed below and more there are more details if you scroll down. I hope to see you at one of the events. I’ll be updating my instagram with location and event highlights. (@lsjart). I’ll also have special giveaways and freebies. If you see me in person, mention this post or my instagram for your choice of 10% off your purchase or a set of 5 post cards or stickers. October 27th – December 23rd, 2022:…
Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival
I’ll be at the Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival the first weekend of November. I’m excited to be a part of one of the top 100 ranked events by Sunshine Artist. This is a family friendly event at Chastain Park in Atlanta, Georgia. There will be many different styles and types of art to explore as well as music, food vendors, and access to a play area. Scroll down below for a preview of some of the art I will have on display. I plan to showcase several popular painting series including “Wild Sunflowers”, “Dreaming Dogs”, “Discovered Country” (Western Landscapes), “Wild Spirits” (Horses), “In Fine Spirits” (wine), and “North Georgia Landscapes”. The event starts on Saturday, November 5th at 10am and goes through Sunday afternoon. I plan to have paintings for sale, selected reproductions (prints), samples of puzzles, throws and…
I’ll be at Art on the Green Fall 2022
This is my first time participating in the local “Art on the Green” art festival event in downtown, Woodstock, Georgia. I’m excited to be a part of this event and share art I’ve created with my local community.
Flowers symbolize hope, courage and caring
I’ve been asked a lot lately about my favorite things to paint and I felt a bit silly admitting I like to paint flowers. Why? I mean it’s obvious I’m painting them, especially if I’m standing less than five feet away from my own art. I’ve done some reflecting on this and I’m ready to share why I think I enjoy painting them. Spoiler: It’s not just because they are beautiful, whatever that means. Flowers are fascinating Flowers have always fascinated me. They come in so many shapes, sizes and forms. The more elaborate and colorful they are, the more I like them. Some people may see flowers as very feminine, weak, and “girly”. I see them as symbols of courage, hope, and caring (love). Flowers may be temporary, but they are even more powerful symbols of courage and hope…
Live Painting August 19th in Downtown Woodstock, GA
Hot Summer Nights!
I’ll have two paintings on display at the Cumming Arts Center (www.sawneearts.org) August 4th – September 1st. The More details to come! Visit www.sawneeart.org for show hours or to reserve a private tour. YouTube Preview video and art preview below! (more…)
July Art Party!
July Art Party! My birthday is in July so it’s time for a Flash sale and party to celebrate.
Artist Talks January 8th
Talking about art in front of people is hard. Do they want to know about the materials? What inspired the work? Is the answer ” I felt like painting some flowers and I had these paints” an okay thing to say? Whoops that is more of a nightmare
The differences between Modern and Traditional Colors
I enjoy going to talks and watching vlogs by painting manufacturers and distributers like Golden’s and Jerry’s Artarama. Yeah, I’m a color nerd. (more…)
Artist Tools – What I use
I use a lot of different brushes and tools. I love layering different types of media on top of each other. I take a sculptural approach to building up layers and shapes on canvas and paper.
New Series: Love on Top
Roses on a metallic bronze background in acrylic and permanent marker on gallery quality canvas. These mini paintings are 5 x 5 inches in length and width and 7/8 inch deep.
Mixed media drawing with chalk
Using chalk pastels can seem intimidating and scary. Once you lay it down, it feels like there is no backing out. Plus, how do you blend them without ending up with mud? Patience and careful application is key. Paca #1 9″ x 12″ Mixed media chalk pastel, acrylic and watercolor on paper. I use chalk often for broad applications of color and quick drawings. They do smear, but they don’t try out or stain the way paint does. They are a very portable medium and great for studies and drawing practice. There is an immediacy and vibrancy to them. Quality matters. Lower quality chalk has less pigment, so the colors will not be as rich. This may be an asset if you are timid about color. At some point however you will want a strong application of color. I really…
Two Art Shows in July in the Atlanta Area
I’m thrilled to be showing my work in two locations in July. One in Cherokee County, Georgia, northwest of Atlanta and the second in Atlanta at Ponce City Market. Both shows feature free receptions where you can meet the artists and other art lovers. July 1 – 26th: Cherokee Members Art Show Reception: July 7, 6-8pm July 7 – 27th : Binders Ponce City Market Reception: July 23rd, 3-5pm What art will I be showing? The Cherokee Members Art Show will feature several new paintings in including “Mischief”, “High Energy Jack” and “Shelby Dreams”. Here is a preview of the pieces that will be in the show: Binder’s Ponce City Market will be featuring work from the Friday Painters group at the Atlanta Artist Center including three paintings by me. Here is a preview of them: I hope you can…
Stubby, A Real Dog Hero
I recently finished the painting of Sgt. Stubby, part of the Real Dog Heroes Series. This is a new series of paintings and drawings based on real dog heroes from search and rescue organizations, every day dogs being heroic and dogs who protected soldiers. The series was inspired while writing one morning about different canines who have done amazing things against what sometimes seemed to be impossible odds. I researched for the series by reading books from different sources and various news sites online. Stubby was the only dog to be awarded the rank of “sergeant” during World War I. He was smuggled overseas to France by his owner after he was found on the Yale campus. This loyal American Pit Bull Terrier mix saved lives and kept up the morale of soldiers by providing warnings about poison…
Dog Portraits: Colorful Boston Terrier using Derwent Inktense Blocks and Watercolor on 140 lb Paper
I’m continuing my series of colorful dog portraits with this friendly Boston Terrier. He was inspired by a conversation I had with a fellow designer at a conference. He was talking about how Boston Terriers are the ultimate pet for designers. They are a cute, quirky and visually appealing breed. They pack a lot of personality into a tiny body. This piece was made on high quality 140lb watercolor paper using watercolor washes and ink washes with layers of Derwent inktense block art sticks layered on top. And layered again. And again. There were a few chalk pastels used here and there, but yeah who uses ink medium for textured layers? It’s fun to experiment like this and not use art materials the way the were intended. I get a thrilling zing in my belly. Does this make me an…