What’s New June 2003

School is out and summer lies ahead with its promise of lazy days and swimming holes. When we left the schedule open it was to give us a breather from the rigorous series of shows we endured for the first half of the year. The months stretched out ahead, full in their emptiness. I was content in the confidence that I would fill it with the satisfaction of time at my drawing table, and possibly time to dream. Instead, something closer to a dream-come-true has happened. I now have before me both a great opportunity and a tremendous challenge. Read on.
Show Activity: May came and went in a flurry of 3 shows in 4 weeks. The Spring Cottonwood Arts Festival in Richardson , TX , once again had strong attendance and good sales. Following the show I was pleased to have been invited to share my pen and ink technique with a local high school art class.
The Spicewood Springs Art Society of Spicewood , TX hosted its first annual Show and Sale on the second week of May. This promising new event was held at the site of a local horse farm, where we had the opportunity to make some outstanding new friends. The venue at the stables had an atmosphere of classic Texas Hill Country and showed an offering of sophisticated art.
Wrapping up the Spring show season was the Texas Arts and Crafts Festival in Kerrville , TX . Maintaining its position as one of my strongest annual shows, we were blessed with more good weather and a steady crowd on the campus of Schreiner College . Our thanks go to the dedicated attendees that validated the significance of having a State-sanctioned art event.
New Works: My new Kudu Bull will be completed by the first of July and will be in print shortly afterward. Straightforward in his elegance, I think he will be a stunning piece on your wall. The finished piece will be posted on my “What’s New” page early next month.
Now, for the unexpected events that are unfolding in rapid succession. Filming has been completed on “The Alamo”, an epic movie by Disney Studios. It is being touted as a historically accurate version of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo and has set Central Texas abuzz. Due to have its premier in San Antonio on December 13, 2003 , the excitement is as much about the careful research involved with the re-enactment as it is about the stars involved. To add realism, an exact replica of the Alamo was constructed on a 51 acre site near Dripping Springs , TX .
As part of the upcoming events surrounding the premier, I have been signed to create an on-going series of original artwork commemorating the Siege of the Alamo . The Daughters of the Republic of Texas are the direct descendants of those loyal and hardy souls who inhabited the area that was to become the state of Texas , and serve as the custodians of the Alamo . They will auction the first of my work along with that of M. Windberg, at a “black tie gala” to benefit their efforts to preserve this Texas treasure.
It is a near-impossible challenge to distill all that the Alamo represents into a single work of art. Consequently, I will eventually create a series of pieces commemorating the valiant and selfless sacrifice of the heroes of the Alamo . These prints will be available at the Alamo gift shop. It is truly an honor to be selected for this work.
Upcoming Events: We start the summer with a trip to Dubois , WY where I will be attending the Susan K. Black Art Workshop. Along with 55 other professional artists, I will study with 5 instructors that are Masters of their mediums. After the intensity of studying with instructors of this caliber, we will get to kick up our heels when my husband and I teach the rest of the group the fine art of the Texas Two-step.
After a short trip home to Florida the calendar will be cleared for pure production time. It is my intention to keep my head down and the pens flying as I work on my Alamo piece. I feel my drawing table calling me already!