Hartford High School 100 Year Alumni Reunion

     
100 YEAR ALUMNI REUNION

Earlier this year, Rita, a dear friend of mine from grade school asked if I might consider creating a piece of art work to be donated to the Silent Auction for the Hartford High School Annual Alumni Reunion. The money raised goes to the scholarship fund. This year will be celebrating a 100 years of  Hartford graduates. The Class of 1962 is hosting this event. Hartford Arkansas is my home town. I did not graduate from the high school but I did attend grade school  up to the 5th grade. That's when my family moved to Michigan.

    A lot of years have passed but I've kept in touch with a few of those classmates and have returned many times. Since this was such a significant event I agreed to "come up with something" to help celebrate not only the Alumni but the 50 Year Class reunion as well and I would be attending both. That was the beginning of a wonderful walk down memory lane. From an old black and white photograph of "Old Main" I created the color oil painting pictured on the left. The original building was demolished a few years ago although a couple of the other buildings still remain.  Pictured below are most of the Hartford  classmates I would have graduated with had I not moved away. The Alumni Dinner/Dance Reunion was held on May 12, 2012 and was a huge success with approximately a hundred and fifty alumni members returning from many other states. I think the oldest member was from the Class of 1939. An event such as this requires a tremendous amount of work and the planning committed did an outstanding job.

It was such a nostalgic feeling to return to my home town and see some of "the kids" I used to go to school with. I guess that's why we travel long distances for reunions. They are a tangible reminder of youth.

Kensington Reflections

Each year I will donate artwork for various worthwhile fundraisers. This year two of my daughters are participating as walkers in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. I donated "Kensington Reflections" as a raffle prize to help them raise money for the Walk. The winning ticket was drawn at the Descendants of Ireland 10 year Anniversary on March 17, 2012 on St. Patrick's Day. 

The painting itself was inspired by the autumn colors at Kensington Metro Park and was started as plein air and later enhanced in my studio. It is an oil painting on a toned canvas.

Garden #6

This lush oasis is one of the many beautiful areas at Garden #6 in the series of garden paintings I am working on. This is an oil painting on linen and I used a Terra Rosa underpainting to help capture the glowing afternoon light. My morning plein air attempt was less successful and I decided to scrap it. (They are not all masterpieces).

There will be an exhibit of all the garden paintings by all the artists at the 2012 Ann Arbor Garden Walk on June 9.

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Winter Plein Air Painting Meet at Matthaei Conservatory

As the Plein Air Chairman of the Ann Arbor Women Artists I scheduled a winter painting meet, Monday February 13 in the Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

As a special bonus, Sharon Griffes Tarr, A Master Member of the Great Lakes Plein Air Painters Association presented a terrific oil demonstration on how to approach a plein air painting. The event was well attended with at least 20 members of AAWA & GLPAPA present.

Following the demonstration artists scattered to various locations to work on their own paintings.

I am pictured here (on the right) with Sharon and her beautiful finished oil painting.

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Garden #1

The first garden to be selected for the artists to paint in was actually the last one I was able to visit. It is the only one I did not have a plein air version to work from. Only photographs.

I hope I will be able to return in the Spring and capture some other area of the garden. The colors were so lovely on this September day and I love the contrast between the evergreens and the flowers and the way the fence leads to the shed.

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AAWA Gala 60th Anniversary Party

I have been a member of Ann Arbor Women Artists (and a Few Good Men) for quite a few years now. I have served as a workshop Chairman, Women's Center chairman, Vice President, President and currently Plein Air Chairman. I have also belonged to one of the critique groups for many years.

I have always found AAWA to be a great source of encouragement and inspiration. There are so many phenomenally talented artists in this group and I am privileged to count many of them as friends. On February 11 we held a Gala Masked Venetian Ball to celebrate 60 years of creating art and to honor all those who helped make this possible.

AAWA started with four women as a study group and is now has 330 plus members. I am pictured here with my husband, David (Phantom)and two of my daughters. Holly top left and Tammy bottom right. It was quite an event and a good time was had by all.

AAWA 60th Anniversary Exhibit, Pierre Paul Gallery

Ann Arbor Women Artists 60th Anniversary Exhibit at the Pierre Paul Gallery December 15 - January 3, 2012. Artists Reception, December 15 from 6-9 PM. This is an especially memorable event for me. Not only did I win the second place award for my oil painting "Evening in Tecumseh" but all three of my daughters were present. My three greatest accomplishments. Tammy on my left, me, Holly and Lisa. Last Summer I participated in a Plein Air Event hosted by the Black Door Gallery in Tecumseh. The artists arrived in the early morning and worked all day capturing the images in and around the town. Following the painting meet the artworks were displayed in the Gallery in conjunction with the Tecumseh Art Walk. Lots of folks strolling along enjoying a lovely evening of exhibits, artist demonstrations, music and of course, food.

The evening light was so beautiful it became the inspiration for my painting.