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!

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 :).

Down to the wire

This is my "down to the wire" entry for the CPSA International competition. It is called "Caught Up in the Moment". I had been working on it for over two months and due to unforeseen circumstances I backed myself into a corner the last four days before deadline. What started out to be a 20 x 30 became cropped to a 15 x 20. The problem involved was not time but the subject matter was too busy and I needed to center on what was important. I am much happier with it now as I downsized it. I will keep my fingers crossed as I know how difficult competition is and the art gets better each year.

Now it is off to a commission drawing of Holland tulips from Holland, Michigan. My personal deadline is October and due to the size (20 x 30 or larger) I should get a head start. I have several photos to reference from so I should be okay. With the beautiful weather outside and all the spring flowers blooming I should have no problem becoming inspired!!

I am very pleased to say that I have also been accepted in the Michigan Fine Arts Competition which is held at the Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center from April 2- May 7, 2010. The piece that has been accepted was in my last post "In the end it is the journey that matters". This exhibit is a must see. The all media exhibit ranges from abstract to realism and I guarantee everyone will find something to satisfy their eye. My good friend Lynda Schumacher is showing there as well. You can spend hours in front of her drawing amazed with her details.

This week my daughter is off to spring softball camp and my husband and son are off to help replace his sister's kitchen floor. I have the entire house to myself! I'll be doing some overdue spring cleaning, paint a bathroom and get a lot of "me time" before I go back to nannying next week. I am going to enjoy this week!!!