Steve took some really nice pics of Nicole & a few of her classmates last Sat., Dec. 18th at the Reception for Graduate Students.

Tracy & Nicole

Nicole & Shanell

Josh & Nicole

Now that she's turned 8, Clarice just got new glasses. She looks awfully scholarly in Mom's cap, gown & hood. :)

Feels great to graduate!

Tracy & Nicole

Nicole & Shanell

Josh & Nicole

Now that she's turned 8, Clarice just got new glasses. She looks awfully scholarly in Mom's cap, gown & hood. :)

Feels great to graduate!




I delivered this painted house to the Associated Artists' Gallery in downtown Winston-Salem today. The house is not large enough for a dog, but is a great size for a cat (although, unfortunately, cats seem not to want houses. :(
Both sides of the roof are identical, but each vertical wall is different.
I wish it had not been raining when I took the pics, or else I could have gotten better shots!
Here is the invitation if you want to come to the auction: http://files.changemywebsite.com/746562/doc/ArtofHOInvite.pdf
It's free & should be a great nite of fun. I can't wait to show Clarice all the different houses that everyone's been painting. I saw a preview today & they are outstanding.
As a fundraiser for the nonprofit Center for Homeownership, the Associated Artists of Winston-Salem are painting wooden houses for an auction called The Art of Homeownership.
This project has been so much fun already & all Clarice & I have done is paint the little house white with gesso primer!
I will post some more photos as I do this project in stages. It will be a great evening on the night of the fundraiser.

Here is Clarice this morning, with her new (larger) bookbag for 2nd grade: 1st day at Hayworth Christian School. You can click on the picture to see a bigger version.

I am thinking of entering this new work in a show next month called "Cultural Crossroads." I have been going through a big Celtic art phase.
This piece has elements of the "fire of inspiration" (flames), St. Brigid's cross (the 4 antique brass/metallic elements around the rim of the circle), & of course, Celtic knotwork (body of firebird). I do not know of firebirds being present in Celtic folklore, so my inspiration here is a mixture of Celtic design with Slavic/Russian legend.

Clarice & I had a fun time playing around tonight. I will post some of her work later.
Here is a sketch I did of one of my favorite flowers (and words!)... periwinkle. I also practiced the unical hand with my calligraphy set (from my 6th grade birthday party, thank you, Jennifer Holloway) tonight -- just to enjoy some Celtic lettering.
The necklace pendant is made of some really cool stone that my Mom-in-law bought for me while she was in Hawaii. I was using it as a (decorative) paperweight to hold open my sketchbook.

Ever since seeing THE SECRET OF KELLS, I've been interested in Celtic designs & illuminated manuscripts. Added some knotwork and animal features to this "S"sketch as my entry this week for Illustration Friday's "Slither."