WOA Signs of Spring

I got a picture, finally, of my entry in the Signs of Spring show at Wings Over Alma. The opening reception was held Friday evening.

"Soft Maples Bloom at Catfish Corner" is a pastel which I completed just before the show and depicts the fleeting red blossoms that appear on the soft maples just before the leaves pop out. It was a dark sky evening just as the sun was setting and making the clouds look even darker. The tree reflections were eerie and seemed to bleed into a dark prussian blue/black haze. It's at that certain time of spring where the colors can almost look like fall. Of all the versions of Catfish Corner that I have done, this has been one of the most dramatic. That's what I love about my backyard muse. It is always changing, always a different color and mood.

Even though it is only a few weeks later, it's time to do another version that will be quite different than this one.

On a different take on the theme of Signs of Spring, I chose to depict two other distinctive signs. Namely, the mosquito and wood tick!

Thanks to Facebook

Thanks to Facebook I can find out what my rellies are up to. I was cruising through when I found a new post on the Anderson's Maple Syrup page.

Seems they are sponsoring a race car at Talledega (I think the pros call it 'dega) this weekend. The car # is 28 and the driver is Kenny Wallace. I don't know anything about racing, but I think the Wallace name is a racing family, isn't it?

Norman Anderson is my dad's cousin and has been in the maple business for generations. Son, Steve, is now running the business and I'm thinking things must be going in the right direction for them!

Signs of Spring

I helped hang the next exhibit at Wings Over Alma on Wednesday. The Signs of Spring exhibit is a "members" show and there are a lot of artist members  in WOA.

Silly me -- I didn't get my camera out to the studio before I took my pieces to the show--so I'll have to get some shots at the reception next Friday.

Guest Blog for Refuge Farm

I had the privilege to share some thoughts on Sandy Gilbert's blog for Refuge Farm in Spring Valley, WI, that you can read through the link. That was a different experience. I usually don't have a theme in mind when I write on my own blog until I sit down and first find a picture. I could write about whatever I wanted -- so subject matter was wide open. But, when you know other people are going to be reading it I had a case of stage fright!

The recession has been difficult for charitable organizations in general but the horse rescue has suffered a double-whammy. The number of horses that have been abandoned, neglected and abused is at an all time high due to the recession--on top of the decline of donated funds to keep the operation afloat. I am hoping to have a little fund raiser in conjunction with the Fresh Art Tour on May 14, 15, 16. Last fall it was a pumpkin sale so maybe I can have some bedding plants ready or something on that order.