Dallas, Camping, Home

So here I am with both feet (or should I say with both boots) planted firmly on my own solid Michigan ground after an enjoyable week with old and new friends in Dallas, Texas at the CPSA International convention.

This was followed by a week of camping at the Warren Dunes along Lake Michigan as one of several parent chaperones for my daughter's cross country girls' and boys' teams.

Rekindling the friendships I had made from last year in San Francisco brought memories of young giggling school girls who were so excited about a huge sleepover away from mom and dad (a.k.a. the husband, family and responsibilities).

The exhibition displayed some of the best colored pencil artwork by international artists. I was very impressed this year with the competition.

Because of the 104 degree heat in Dallas we didn't venture out too much but five of us were dead set on purchasing a pair of cowboy boots! We had a ball trying on several styles and sizes and one by one we chose the style that seemed to applaud our personalities. As you will see in the photo my boot (the dark chocolate with the red accent) applauds quietly. *Sigh* I'll have to work on that next year ladies. ;)

What diversity in our choices!

After our boot shopping we were famished for some delicious Mexican food!

Kendra Ferreira with her beautiful "Sea Foam" at the top.

Yours truly with "Beyond All Boundaries"

Deborah Friedman with her prize winning "Counterpoint in Green"

Lynda Schumacher and her "Canadian Cowgirl" above. Lynda also received her five year Merit Award!

The Cippy Award "The Sisters" went to C.J. Worlien

Myself, Elizabeth Patterson and Lynda Schumacher getting a little crazy at the reception. I think the Dallas heat was getting to us!

Now, onto the camping......to be honest, I have never camped out in my life! I lived in the country when growing up, so why would I go camping?

We borrowed a camper from a good friend and my husband took care of the rest. We left for Lake Michigan the day after I returned from Dallas. I was looking forward to some cool nights coming off the lake after the oven-like temperatures in Dallas. Unfortunately we had temperatures in the 90's and the humidity, of course, made it worse.

The cross country team lightened their work-out schedules and spent more time in the water. We chaperones, ladies especially, didn't mind it. Tradition among the team is to run up the biggest Warren Dune (not once, not twice, but three times for the girls and five times for the boys)! Since my daughter asked that I be the girls' photographer I knew that I should be on top of that dune in order to get some good shots. Yes, I did it! I climbed it once on "Dunes Day" and once on the final day before going home. A year ago (75 pounds heavier) I would not have been able to climb it and would have been embarrassed in front of my son and daughter. As I made it to the top I hid my tears of joy and excitement behind my camera.

What a journey my past year had taken! I am and have been blessed by so many people, family and friends! I have seen and done things I never dreamed of doing! I have a wonderful and supportive husband, children who are considerate, kind and loving and most of all a mother who has always been the best role model by putting others before herself but always teaching us her motto that I live by today..."Be true to yourself".

This year I am especially grateful for those close friends and new friends that have been there for me to support and applaud my weight loss. I have overcome several personal obstacles and continue to do so as I battle my food addiction. As I reach out and seek positive relationships I become stronger and more confident physically, mentally, spiritually and most of all artistically.

I draw and paint what I feel and I feel what I paint. I have tested many new boundaries this year and so it was only fitting that "Beyond All Boundaries" be the title of my displayed piece at the CPSA exhibit this year.

As always, thank you for reading!

Julie is one of five girls' captains this year on a team of 140 girls.

At the very top of the Warren Dunes along Lake Michigan!

CPSA Entry Completed

I vowed to myself last year that I would never work under the gun again with my CPSA entry piece. But alas, just as I have done with cleaning the house, doing taxes, etc. I have used every excuse to avoid the barriers I hit during the progress of this piece. The size started off to be 22 x 34. But as the colors were added the composition became too complicated. Cropping is a too familiar word in my vocabulary and it found it's way back into this painting. After focusing more on the movement of the rapids and the direction of the highlighted water, it became apparent where I had to crop it. It is now 14 x 31.

After the crop, relief and satisfaction came. (I feel the same way about a new hairstyle. :) )

Beyond All Boundaries started to come to life and I felt as if the pencils knew just where to go without my assistance. I became excited about the near birth of this painting!

I have been told by a dear friend to learn to trust yourself. Thank you dear friend!! As I become more comfortable with my decisions I am becoming more confident with them as well.

I used to think art was just about creating, but I'm understanding it's about my life, taking on new challenges and winning them. My paintings are becoming the pages of the diary of my life. As I look back at each piece I can remember what time of year it was and what struggles, challenges and accomplishments I have made. Hence, my latest and newest piece Beyond All Boundaries.

I wish all those who entered the competition the best of luck!

Thank you all for reading.

San Francisco Update

On August 20th the CPSA International Exhibit came to an end and I had been waiting impatiently for my original drawing of "Caught Up In the Moment"to be returned at the front door by the UPS man. I started tracking it on Monday and noticed that it was due here on Wednesday, September 1.

When it finally came I noticed the box was to my surprise in very good condition. Although when I picked it up it seemed light. At first I thought my strength training was paying off. Hahahahaha! (**cough**) But as I opened it up I knew I wouldn't find my painting in there.

Since I hadn't received a phone call, e-mail, or snail mail notifying me of a sale I assumed the worst but kept my hopes up that someone fell in love with it and purchased it.

After a quick phone call to the Art Museum of Los Gatos where it was hanging I was informed that my piece was indeed SOLD and the check would be in the mail soon. Yippee!! For the next hour I was doing the happy dance around the house with my husband, teenagers, and three little ones I nanny just shake their heads with embarrassment.

I have many things to be thankful for at the conclusion of the CPSA exhibit. First and foremost, my family who supported me last year when the stress was turned up and my mother who seems to know me better than I know myself and said "this was my time" to take control of my life and "just do it". Then there's the true and many friends I have made at the convention who support each other with love and laughter. LIFE IS GOOD!

A New Woman, A New Painting

It's been a week since returning from California and I'm still astonished with all the new friendships that I've made. After 21 years of raising a family I hate to admit I've never been away from the family except for two family funerals. I know...pretty sad case.

I came to realize that doing something for yourself is not selfish but just the opposite. My family saw a more confident and positive person coming home who smiled and (according to my daughter) laughed a little too much! Can one ever do too much of that? I owe this to the entire CPSA group. Even though this group gathers once a year for the annual convention they seemed to have picked up conversations where they left off from the year before without missing a beat. It's like a family reunion. This being my first year I had absolutely no expectations only to see the best color pencil exhibit from around the world, and I did. But now I understand why (even if one doesn't get accepted) these members attend each year. I believe it's safe to say and parallel the relationships to sisterhood (for the female members). I had the most inspirational and amazing time with old and new friends sight-seeing, conversations, and our common bond - viewing and enjoying each other's art! What more can I ask for?!

The Cippy Award went to a well-deserved artist from Japan, Shinji Harada,CPSA. The detail in his linen entitled Grapes in a Basket was breath-taking. Congratulations. The artists reception at The Art Museum of Los Gatos was well received and many spectators were in awe of the various techniques a color pencil can do.

(At the artist reception)

The Art Museum of Los Gatos

Grapes in a Basket

(Elizabeth Patterson, Lynda Schumacher, and Teresa Mallen at Muir Woods)

(Bonnie Auten and Mari K. Moehl)

(Elizabeth Patterson, Maine, Lynda Schumacher, and Debbi Friedman)

Now that I'm back I have been motivated to work on my next piece. It's a commission and the largest size I've ever done. Tulips from Holland, Michigan was the request on a horizontal format and I was very grateful when I was given pretty much free reign over the colors and types of tulips. I'm working with Prismacolors and on U-Art 800 grit paper. I'm layering the background in now in indigo blue, tuscan red, and dark green and varying in limepeel, moss green, light umber, kelp green, french grey, dahlia purple, and dark purple. After several layers I'll use solvent to blend the colors to give it a more painterly appearance.

Prismacolor on U-Art (27 x 38)

California Here I Come......

Well now that my husband has scraped me off the ceiling from excitement I can share the news that I have been accepted into the CPSA 18th Annual International Exhibit! "Caught Up in the Moment" will be getting ready to be shipped out to Los Gatos, California. The dates of the exhibition are July 22-August 20 at The Art Museum of Los Gatos. Yippee!!

This has been a dream come true since I was a little girl with my Crayola crayons. I have graduated from displaying my artwork on my mom's refrigerator to a museum wall! I have always been surrounded and blessed by supportive family and friends and this is no exception. This enabled me to believe in myself and carry out the dream of a little girl who won the "American flag" drawing contest in 2nd grade (I won a rhinestone American flag pin which I still have today, Ha! Ha!).

I am very honored and privileged to be among those chosen this year. I realize every year is a gamble but for the next three months I will bask in the sunshine of happiness :).