Last night I attended a public workshop that was an effort to tell the Maitland residents about the ongoing controversy between the City and the Museums. Each year, the City of Maitland gives the Museums a significant amount of money to maintain their presence in the community. Last night the public became aware of the budgetary concerns of the City and the yearning of the Museums to become independent. I created story boards to help  share my experience:

If you click on the photos, they will enlarge so you can read them.

A tribute to Mike Wallace, once declared the most frightening man in journalism.

Hi there,

The fabulously talented Kristen Wheeler (http://www.khphotographics.com) took beautiful photos of the Participation event, and I wanted to share the photos she took of my centerpiece.

Lovely photos.

My bird sticks for auction to benefit the Museum.

She even took a photo of me, which I am bravely sharing.

Happy April Fools Day!

I’ve been up to some antics:

I always wanted to do the old bucket over the door trick, but didn’t want clean up duty.

Do you have Prince Albert in a can? You should let him out!

The official description:

Step right up and get ready to be amazed! The Art & History Museums –

Maitland  is prepared to dazzle you at their upcoming fundraising event, Participation, Circus of the Surreal, held on Saturday, March 24, 5:30 PM

It was supposed to rain, and it did, about 4 pm. Then, by some miracle, the sky cleared and the event went without a drop .

The evening started with a parade of the delightful dancers and performers.

Big tents were put up, in the case of rain, but luckily weren’t needed. The tents were great, though, because lights were installed, and really helped illuminate the tables.

A shot of my table before the show. The masks are designed to be pulled down over the face while seated. If you don’t like the mask above you, the centerpiece spins, so you can steal someone else’s mask.

Yoda was a very popular mask. All masks were painted and cut from recycled cardboard.

The silent auction items, above, were displayed in a courtyard on the grounds.

My piece was displayed on the right, you can just see the blue peeking out.

Folks who were seated at my table got the brochure and label above, with my painting featured.

It started when I read Pride and Prejudice. The book perked my interest, and then I saw the movie, I was smitten. I saw the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice first, then the 1995 version, which took a little longer to warm up to due to the very prim and proper (and really, truer to the book) characters. Since then, I have learned to enjoy both versions, and even added a third, which was actually the first adaptation of the novel, with Lawrence Olivier playing our protagonist, in 1940.

First, Matthew MacFadyen as Darcy:

Colin Firth as Mr.Darcy

and last, but not least, Lawrence Olivier as Darcy:

But wait, there’s more Austen men that are worth doodling.

First, Mr.Tilney from Northanger Abbey, this version is from 2010:

Played charmingly by J.J.Feild

Let’s not forget Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility:

Played by the magical Alan Rickman.

Last but not least, in Becoming Jane (which is not technically a Jane Austen novel, but he is most decidedly an Austen man) Tom Lefroy:

Played by the scottish actor James McAvoy.

There’s many more Austen men worth the effort, but I’m done for now. I haven’t painted any of the women, except Jane herself once, in a silly painting with coffee and super heroes:

The whirlwind of life was illustrated perfectly this weekend. I have spent the last two weeks focusing on preparing for the Orlando Folk Fest at the Mennello Museum of American Art, and now it’s over and done.

It was a beautiful, brisk weekend. I made lots of new friends, enjoyed visiting with some old friends and got to spend some quality time with my family.

My camera decided to stop working right before the show, so I am sharing pictures that were given to me through the generosity of others.

Here’s a little collage I put together:

One more:

It was a very successful show and the setting at the Mennello Museum is sublime. I got to design the image for the poster and buttons. Here’s a link to the site that the museum set up for the event: http://orlandofolkfestival.wordpress.com/

This weekend also brought the passing of a pop icon, Whitney Houston.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPHCThqqt0s She’ll be missed.

I’ve been working on a series of Sherlock Holmes doodles. It is mind boggling how many different ways this popular character has been portrayed. I picked a few of my favorite depictions of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional detective.

Basil Rathbone (left) starred in 14 US films as Sherlock.

Jeremy Brett, left, wished to be the best Sherlock Holmes the world had seen, doing extensive research and scrupulous about character details. His obituary read “Mr. Brett was regarded as the quintessential Holmes: breathtakingly analytical, given to outrageous disguises and the blackest moods and relentless in his enthusiasm for solving the most intricate crimes.”

My own interpretation of Holmes.

Benedict Cumberbatch (left) has created something of a frenzy among the newest generation of Sherlock fans. My daughter thinks his cheekbones are divine.

Finally, the blockbuster Sherlock Holmes. Robert Downey Jr. brings a steamy intensity to the role, and earned Downey a Golden Globe.

Next up, the Mennello Museum of American Art’s 10th Annual Orlando Folk Festival. I was lucky enough to be asked to create the poster art. I have worked on a bird chandelier series for years now, and it pops up in my work frequently. I mixed the birds with the Mennello’s themselves and Earl Cunningham, who’s art has gained critical acclaim both for the artist and the museum.

That’s Earl there in front, with Michael and Marilyn Mennello looking on from their perspective frames. Here’s the painting in a group photo the Mennello staff created:

The Folk Festival is February 10-12 and if you’re in the area, maybe you can stop by my tent and say “hello”.

Happy Wednesday!

I am so happy to have an extra day to enjoy my family, and a quiet day to be “free”. The plight of Martin Luther King Jr., and all african americans, is so opposite of my experience, I can’t help feel unworthy of this day off. In an effort to make sense of what went wrong, what has changed and where we are today, I have watched documentaries and tapes of MLK’s speeches. Worthy or not, he was a beacon of light, and had a universal message we can all benefit from. For that I am thankful.

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today I am featuring another artist, with a few sneaky doodles towards the end.

Rachel Ernst lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and she is a super hero. Well, she makes capes anyway. But wait, she makes LOTS of things. The first thing that I saw that Rachel makes is a family tree.

Here’s a sample, with some folks I know… my in laws! See that “Schreiner” on there? Every leaf is a name, and there are blank leaves to add more Schreiner’s. My in laws received the Family Tree this past Christmas and it was a lovely, touching gift. The tree is quilted and easily framed.

Rachel does more than that. Don’t stop now.

Paper? Yup. Among other things, recycled paper wall hangings (made from cardboard tubes!), and gorgeous flowers:

Some other fabric creations:

These are the cutest hand warmers I have ever seen. Filled with rice, a few seconds in the microwave, and you can have warm hands for an hour!

Of course, Rachel can keep your feet warm too, with fabulous style.

I love Rachel’s work, and have a link to her Superhero super stuff:

www.superheroescapes.com

The Superhero link, is the only one I have to share at the moment. I wrote to Rachel, about my interest in featuring her and her creations, and she said she is taking a little break, to spend time with family. She’ll be back at it in no time, however. If you’re interested in anything you can reach Rachel at the Superhero site, or you can contact me and I’ll be sure to pass on your information.

Now, a few doodles:

J R R Tolkien has a January birthday, and I had to do a little doodle in his honor. I am a big fan of The Hobbit, and now I am excited about the new movie coming out!

A nod to one of my favorite shows as a kid, The Jetson’s.

A poster I created for my daughter’s high school theatre department. Space Macbeth. Sounds like it will be out of this world…

A little spot illustration (above) was created for the Maitland Art Center, for their Participation event in March. I’ll share more details about that as the time draws near. In the meantime, I’m preparing for the Mennello Museum of American Art Folk Art Show. Here’s a sneak peek of one of the pieces I’m working on:

See you soon!

I’m off and running this new year. How long is the year considered new?

I’ve been wanting to improve my watercolor skills, so have been doodling with those. Here’s two examples:

J.R.R. Tolkien inspired me with magical thinking in The Hobbit. January 3rd is his birthday.

My son was lucky enough to get a new bed from his Great Aunt and Uncle recently, his old bed was just too big. The bed had a more raucous adventure than some people I know. Toby’s bed reminds me of the story of the three bears. It’s “just right”.

How’s your new year so far?

Next big event is the Folk Art show at the Mennello Museum of American Art. I’ve been working closely with them on a poster for the event. Hopefully I’ll be able to unveil it soon!

Merry Christmas and Thank YOU for supporting the doodles. I am so thankful for you.

As you celebrate with your family and friends,when you pause to reflect, please consider a prayer for a little girl who has been diagnosed with an inoperable malignant brain tumor. If you aren’t the praying type, there is great power in positive thinking.

Here is a link that has been created on Elizabeth’s behalf:https://www.facebook.com/events/263087887077880/ Pray for a miracle.

May God Bless us every one.