2014- A Year in review

Wesley Chapel Elementary Fall 2013

Hard to believe that it is December of 2014. My last post seems to have been in the fall of 2013. That is a sign of how busy my life was for an entire year. Work was all consuming. I did sneak away to do quite a few shows. Upon return from each it was back to the grindstone. Today (basically since September, 2014) I am retired and time is much more relaxed. Of course catching up on neglected areas of my life and the in progress holidays have kept me busy. Check out my new page, 2013-2014, for work since my last post.









Fall Is Here!

The time has come to pull out the chalk and hit the streets. Actually, I have already had the privilege of chalking in Marietta, where my granddaughter joined me on the blacktop. It was nice
having her with me. She actually says she might do a picture of her own some time.
We were making pretty
 good progress. I have never experienced such an appreciative
audience!

Then the skies opened up and work ended.
I have never know an audience
to be so apologetic!






So it was on to Disney World for
the first Limited Time Magic
Chalk Show!









Where I had the honor and the fun of toying around!






 

A New Season of Chalking Begins!

Summer draws to a close. I am not sure how that can be. I must have blinked! I am excited to hit the pavement again, though.

I will be revisiting my youth at Hippiefest on August 24, where I will be Chalking album covers on the sidewalks of Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Labor Day brings my trip to Marietta!

New plans- I have added Chalking at Disney, October 3-5. Excellent! I have missed the park as well as streetpainting.

October 25-27 I will enjoy the sun and fun of the Clearwater Beach  Chalkwalk!

Hope you will join me at one or more of these locations.

Summer is upon us!

Summer is essentially here in Florida. I had the joy of a day at camp today. Next month I will return to share my love of art with young women in Girl Scouts. Maybe reading this right now, you are one of them or one of their parents. I hope so, and I hope you like the images you see posted here. Art adds joy to my life, as does the opportunity to share time with the girls who will take the future and remodel it for us all. Maybe spending a week of evenings creating art will spark an energy in one or more of them that surpasses all of our imaginations. I believe it will widen my view of the world and my artistic approaches, but then sharing time and ideas with fellow artists always does! I have shared pavement with young people who blew me away! In my near future, I will have more time to devote to the exploration of new techniques, and some of those I am most eager to try came from young minds.

Girls in Girl Scouting stimulate the Girl Scout organization to be the movement it is. Girl Scouts is never stagnant. It evolves at dizzying speeds, maintaining rich traditions and values. The changes happen so fast, that we adults need to struggle to understand and keep up. Our girls are a catalyst to the changes not only within Girl Scouting, but the entire world around us, and I look forward to seeing the world through their art in the next month.

This is a period of excitement as I look forward. Not only for the opportunity to create art with youth, but I will be going to Georgia over Labor Day weekend to streetpaint at the Marietta Chalkfest. It will be my first out of state show. Also the first time I have left the state of Florida in probably 15 years. A major adventure for me!

I had the joy of a day at camp today with girls and their parents. It has, as it always does, revitalized me. May the joy of summer, the out of doors, and youth impact you as well. If you should have the time, think about grabbing some chalk and filling your driveway, porch, or patio and life with color and vibrancy!

Ups and Downs of Chalking Withdrawal

Last weekend there were artists on streets surrounded by brilliant displays of color in Tallahassee and Winter Garden...I was not one of them.

I do not lack for color. My mind, spirit and life are filled with Girl Scout green. I love the G.S. world and am glad to be blessed with a career with the mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Right now, however, I feel I am drowning in uncompleted tasks and the fear that I may be letting girls, parents, volunteers and my organization down. I need to hear the excitement of people walking through grounded exhibits, feel the texture of pavement, press bright colored chalk dust into my fingers and the sidewalk, and escape into pigmented concrete fantasy land! Get way down on the ground to be lifted up above the swirling fog of commitments.  

Crazy how I ache to ache from pushing my crackling joints up from the pavement just to force them to bend and lower me back down to work some more. Right now there is not even a speck of pastel pigment under my nails or embedded in my skin. How is that possible? I have become a streetpainting junkie and I need a fix!

Fortunately the days are flying by in a blur. My nights are a blink of the eye and another day is upon me. I will share art with Girl Scouts for a week in June and chalking will be a part of the experience. 
They will create vibrant expressions of themselves in a variety of media and styles. I will revel in their uniqueness, just as I am awed by the diversity of work created by the amazing artists who surround me at streetpainting festivals. That will be my intermediary fix until the next time I can break away to another show. Girl Scout green will regain vibrancy and I will fly with the same energy as the days that zoom by.

It will be no time before I sink to the ground and delight in the ambiance of artistic creativity being ground into sidewalks floating around me. I hope to participate in my first out of state show in Marietta, Georgia over Memorial Day weekend, but I may find an opportunity to  embellish a bit of street sooner. Should the chance arise, I will stoop to accept it!

Another Venue or Two...

 where you know who just threw a few new things she drew down to view.

 Ahh, March! Hyde Park and Safety Harbor two favorite shows that make me love March.

At Hyde Park, I added another Girl Scout piece to my collection. Ok, so maybe it was a renewed try at what I started in Clearwater. I made a bit more progress this time on the famous GS alumnae. Posted a couple views to the Girl Scout page.

At Safety Harbor I struggled to find a way to reach my family friendly goal of nipples hitting the Safety Harbor sidewalks. A subject not permitted...I think I pushed it a bit further with the addition of a couple nudes- a Great Dane and a baby. Did not finish early enough to get all the shadows in properly, but the diaper bag spilled and the nipples landed and that was all I really needed to amuse myself. Well, that and the company of fellow artists and fun conversations with the visitors. I especially enjoyed a hardy kiss from a delightful Harlequin Great Dane that seemed to like the piece.

Leafing an Impression on Uptown Streets

I had a great time in Altamonte Springs. What fantastic creations hit the street! Started a out a little chilly, but a perfect morning for chalking. Then the wind picked up and the leaves and pollen set in. Of course my eyes and nose reacted to the oak pollen. My glasses blurred with puddles of tears. Nice that it was cool...long sleeves to put to use. The leaves swirled and more than once I found I had painted a leaf! I took the themes of music, art, and chalk literally and created "Homage to an Uptown Festival".  Enjoyed being with chalky friends. Now the wait begins for March and two of my favorite shows, Hyde Park and Safety Harbor.

frazzled and fraggled

So I went to Lakeland for the Chalk for Charity Event. It was a cold morning and I was frazzled from a long week of work...or two weeks with no break , as I worked full days Saturday and Sunday and long days all week. I really did not want to get up the morning of the show.

And so I arrived late and did not do well. The weather really turned out beautiful. Perhaps I was too ambitious for a one day show. For sure I did not get up and regauge as I worked. Perspective was way off and time ran out...no shadowing, retouching. Truthfully, I went back and finished after the awards were distributed...and was ordered out of the road when cars started driving right at me!

The result...the beginning of a pretty good lab and a girl who looked like a Fraggle (ever watched fraggle rock?) Oh to have had another day!

Oh wait, I will have another day! That is the beauty of streetpainting. The work disappears and the canvas is ready to go again. And so, I shall return to chalk another day.

Wish me more success as I go to the Uptown Art Expo at Crane's Roost in Altamont Springs next.

Oh and by the way-National Girl Scout Cookie Day is this Friday, Feb 8th! Every box of Girl Scout Cookies you buy helps a girl do a world of good, and learn essential skills like money management, business ethics and goal setting. Find Girl Scout Cookies near you and support girls in your community.  http://cookielocator.littlebrownie.com/

A New Year

So I  chalked at Wiregrass this past weekend, can you believe it- I won 1st place! I am still reeling from the shock. Had a great time...the weather was great, and the company was better. Did a family of hippos...I could have done better. Then again the flaws were not so obvious until I looked at the post work photos. Never the less, you can see them on these pages...including the crazy artist herself. Thanks BK for the pics!

Now I am looking forward to Lakeland's Chalk for Charity, the Uptown event at Cranes Roost in Altamont, TBBCA's Hyde Park Chalk Walk, and Safety Harbor Bloom'nChalk.

Doing another Girl Scout picture in Lakeland. Maybe I will see you there!

'Tis about time for another season of chalk!

tI am so glad that new chalk ops are on the horizon! Seems like forever since I got to play, Since March, I have barely even painted...wait, don't know that I painted at all. I did show a troop of Girl Scouts how to chalk. That was fun.

Went to a Girl Scout hundredth anniversary event in Lakeland and did a demo in the grass. Had to carry in a piece of concrete board. Had a good time there, too. Met a Girl Scout Cadette artist who was very interested and thinking about entering into a show as we discussed how to set up a piece and that shows often have student sections. Hopefully she is still checking my space here, as I told her I would share when I knew of upcoming opportunities. We got rained out and I carried the board home to complete...it's still waiting.

But now I have shows coming up! I will be at the Clearwater Beach Chalk Walk October 26-28. I will miss being at the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida's GS Fest, at Coachman Park on the 27th (information on that can be found at gswcf.org), but will be sharing info at the Chalk Walk so that maybe people will get the opportunity to enjoy both events as they are not far apart. I will be doing another Girl Scout picture...an homage to the leaders borne from Girl Scouting. Women like Sally Ride, Sandra Day O'Connor, Katie Couric, Hillar Clinton, Venus Williams, Lucille Ball, and Erma Bombeck.

Then I will be back in Sarasota the first week of November. The show this year is circus themed...come out and see how I tie Girl Scouts into the circus.

We will have to see if I am lucky enough to get back into the Festival of the Masters at Disney World the second weekend of November...

I can feel the sun on my back, the chalk on my hands and the sweat on my brow (maybe none of the three will be restricted to that extent...usually covered in a mix of the three!). I cannot wait. Hope you come to one or all of these shows. I'd love to see you there.

Two more...two less...two new...too much

Completed two more shows, Chalk Walk in Hyde Park and Bloom'nChalk in Safety Harbor. Had a great time at both and am really loving the other artists!!

 Lost two cameras in Hyde Park...bummer! Hope someone really needed them!

Actually had two wins at Safety Harbor!! One retroactive for the critters last year. This year I won the history division. Too exciting for belief!!

Got word of another event next month, the 21st in Gainesville. Would love to go, but have a responsibility to a Girl Scout 100th event...good side of that is it will be chalk related! Chalk for G.S. and G.S. for chalk....it's a true year to celebrate!!

Haines City Arts in the Park and Street Painting Festival

Another Girl Scout 100th anniversary picture completed. I confess that I did not do as well as I should have and that I corrected the photo for perspective. The weather was pretty good, but we did have a brief rain shower and a couple of bouts of sprinkles. Temperature was  good though and the location was beautiful! Sandy M. came in the afternoon and was a great help. Many thanks Sandy!

Hope to do better this coming week at Hyde Park Chalk Walk. Fingers crossed for weather and performance!!

Year of the Girl meets Chalk

Kinda completed the second anniversary piece for the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts, Really rushed the end and it shows...It was one day at Lakeland's first Chalk for Charity event. Had a nice time, but was out of time before I was finished with the image. It was the best weather I have ever experienced for street painting. Should be going to Haines City next, March 10th.

100 Year Tribute

I am going to try to have 2012 chalk pictures be Girl Scout themed to celebrate the anniversry. Started with Wiregrass...

Tis the Season

Festivals back to back! Well guess I skipped adding Port Orange Family Days. That one was fun. Did another Treasure Chest, but with a family of crabs.

Last week was Sarasota. VERY crowded. Did Romeo with the viewer being on the balcony as Juliet, but more people thought it was Jack and the Beanstalk or even Repunzel...disappointing.

Headed for Disney tonite...

Pirates of St. Juans

Went to Sanford for the Pirates event and did a new chalk picture.Thank you Troy University for sponsoring my space!

 Nice location. Some challenges with the surface, but a little foam on the beach and a major crack covered fairly well. Shells in the concrete made for difficulty in creating round pearls...Truly the biggest challenge was not having prepared a picture to work from....arrrrg!

The Crane

Learned how to make an origami crane for a Girl Scout event, AND found out about a new Chalk op... Chalk for Japan. Talk about timing! Result are displayed. Unfortunately even though I was completed on time for a change, a huge rain shower ended the event with no judging.

SAF

Suncoast Arts Fest (at The Shops at Wiregrass)...Sick And Frozen...Slow And Failing.  Choose your favorite they all apply! I was there, but I didn't finish my piece until late on Sunday and I am seriously relapsed on flu recovery. What an embarrassment! Here I thought I could do better with my first chalk effort and I probably did better the first time. Did stay and finish, but needed help (thanks Julie, Kumpa, Courtney and AJ) and still only managed to produce a mediocre result. Only comfort is better artists than I gave in and left pieces incomplete, too. I will have to really work at the upcoming shows to redeem myself (-esteem). 

Chalk Festival in Sarasota, October 30 & 31

Yep, I'm braving another sidewalk show...this one could be gory!! After all it is Halloween!! Check it out at http://www.chalkfestival.com/

Well, finally did some more chalking and thought I should update with the results...and so here they are. Hope to make it to the next Avenida de Colores in Sarasota this October.