First Friday Art Walk

Don't miss Ocala's First Friday Art Walk this evening. The weather is going to be great so get out of the house and visit Historic Downtown Ocala. Stroll around town to see, and purchase, unique art items, talk with the artists, have dinner at one of the wonderful restaurants and discover or revisit shops not found in the mall.

Sabal Palm Gallery will be open 5 pm - 9 pm. Margaret Watts, Linda Harlow and I will be in the gallery to greet you and personally show you our new work.

"Horse Feathers" for MCA's Horse Fever Project is almost finished and will be heading to the stables soon, so stop in to get a sneak preview.

Sabal Palm Gallery and Studio
108 E. Ft. King Street
(Next to the Candy Store)

Sabal Palm Gallery and Studio

Join me, Margaret Watts and Linda Harlow for the grand opening celebration of the hottest gallery in Ocala!

Sabal Palm Gallery and Studio
108 E. Ft. King Street
Historic Downtown Ocala
5PM - 9 PM
Friday, September 2

Sip complimentary wine, nibble hors d'ouervres, chat with friends and enjoy the art. Margaret, Linda and I will have the gallery filled with our new paintings and prints.

Jack Thursby, former Chairman of the Art Department for Central Florida College, is the September Featured Artist. You won't want to miss visiting with Jack and seeing his collection of new paintings.

During the evening we will be happy to help you select just that perfect painting for your collection. Don 't forget, the holidays are just around the corner...what better way to say I care about you than with the unique gift of art?

"Horse Feathers"

Marion Cultural Alliance supports all the arts in Ocala/Marion County. MCA doles out financial assistance as well as giving artists a venue in which to exhibit their work. So, it was not a hard decision for me to make whether or not to respond to their Call to Artists for the Horse Fever 10th Anniversary Fund Raising Project.

I am delighted my design titled "Horse Feathers" was one of 31 chosen from a field of over 200 design entries submitted for the herd. During the Matching Party I was thrilled to have Ocala Stud Farm select "Horse Feathers" to sponsor.

As you can see from the photo these are life sized, fiberglass white horses. Talk about a blank slate! This is a challenge for me and I thought you would like to work through the process with me. So check back here often to see my progress ... successes ... struggles ... and failures.

Six Artists Six Prairies

I have been invited to join a group of six professional artists in a fabulous 18 month project. Our aim is to draw attention to 1. Florida's unique prairies and the need to preserve them; and 2. the importance of encouraging and supporting art and artists in the community.

During the next 18 months we will be traveling through six north Florida prairies, painting the varied aspects of the prairies from vistas to vignettes as the seasons change: Fish Prairie, Hopkins Prairie, Kanapaha Prairie, Ledwith Prairie, Paynes Prairie and Putnam Prairie.

Several exhibitions are planned so the public can enjoy the paintings created for the project. All the paintings will be for sale with a portion of the proceeds being donated to charities such as the Conservation Land Trust.

Become a follower of the Six Artists Six Prairies blog and read about the adventures of each artists over the next year and a half. www.sixartistssixprairies.blogspot.com

Reno Trip Was Great

When my husband retired he took up bowling and began participating in the National Bowling Tournament which was in Reno, Nevada this year again. After he bowled last year we went on to Lake Tahoe and spent a week exploring. This year we went to Carson City.

We got really lucky when we visited the Tourist/Visitors Bureau and discovered all the neat things happening while we were there. The Southwest Rendevous was in full swing with cowboys and Indians, Civil War Reenactors, demonstrations about making knives and arrowheads, grinding corn, etc. Lots of western performers singing, telling jokes, and playing banjos. Many locals decked themselves out in period costumes and strolled through the park.

The next day we rode the Steam Engine train from Carson City up to Virginia City. As the train huffed and puffed along the conductor told us about mining on the Comstock. We had about 3 hours in Virginia City which was just long enough to have lunch in the Red Dog Cafe and then back on the train.

When the mines began to fail so did Virginia City. But it has now gotten a second life as a tourist destination for those of us who remember TV shows like Bonanza and Gun Smoke and those who just like to take a step back into America's history. Since we fit into that demographic we needed more time in the City so back we went the next day.

There is lots to see as gunslingers put on a show in the streets, dance hall gals take your order at the Bucket of Blood Saloon and the "ole miner" walks the streets with his burrow loaded with silver. We toured Pipers Opera House, Ponderosa Mine and the Fourth Ward School in addition to strolling through all the shops and "saloons".

If you get a chance to visit Virginia City you will need a full day to see and do everything!

One Door Closes another One Opens

It has been 1 1/2 years but seems like just yesterday Sharon Crute and I opened VoilART! Gallery in Historic Downtown Ocala. We have had a great ride (pun intended)....met lots of wonderful people and have learned a lot. But, life is constantly changing and we are both looking forward to new ventures.

Sharon is leaving the gallery at the end of May to pursue a number of exciting things developing in her professional career. Trips to Lexington and Saratoga to exhibit her Dynamic Equine Paintings are just a couple of the head-spinning adventures she has already booked.

As for me, I plan to continue with the gallery. I will be open June 3 for Ocala's First Friday Art Walk then closed for the rest of the month. The Grande "New" Opening will be announced.

I consider myself fortunate to have shared VoilART! Gallery with Sharon Crute, a consumate artist and wonderful friend. I will miss her greatly!!!

New Beginnings

The last several months have been extremely busy for me. My show at Thornebrook Village Fine Art Gallery opened February 4 and then I was off to the Vero Beach Plein Air Invitational. The Wekiva Springs Plein Air Invitational came up fast and I was in the woods painting March 6 - 12 then to EPCOT 24 - 26 to paint during the Flower And Garden Festival. April got even busier with the Gainesville Spring Arts Festival April 9 - 10, Evinston Plein Air Invitational 11 - 16 and Ft. Pierce "Souvenirs of Downtown" Plein Air Invitational 20 - 22.

In additional to the above I also taught two 4-class series at my gallery in historic downtown Ocala.

I have enjoyed all of these shows, paint outs and classes but am happy to slow down now that summer is here. I have a couple of exciting things in the fire I will be telling you about as they develope, but I won't be working at such a hectic pace.