Fun Before the Festival

In the last 2 weeks I have been painting nearly every day preparing for the Matthews Alive Festival in Matthews, North Carolina this coming holiday weekend.  I'll be setting up a tent and showcasing my artwork to all the visitors who stop by.  I love the meet and greet and the children who walk by with their painted faces and their cotton candy.  It is always a lot of fun regardless of whether or not I sell anything.  I've been painting some little things.  Small paintings that I can complete so that I have something to sell.  I've sold a number of my paintings in the last few months and I've been commissioned to do a few as well, so I have definitely been busy in my studio.  

Alison has been coming over too, in between all the remodeling she is doing on her charming new home here in North Carolina.  She is getting settled in just fine and loves her new home.  It has been fun having her come over and paint with me too, though, as it is motivating to have her here in the studio with me.  

I love Alison's abstract, colorful paintings.  You can't help but feel good just looking at them.  So, I've included some pictures here to show you what she has been up to in the studio as well.  She has been working on this lady.  Pretty cool don't you think?  She hasn't given her a name yet.

And this very colorful array of flowers she calls "In the Garden."  You can't see the texture of the paint in this picture, but the texture of the acrylic paint is really great.  Alison paints in acrylics and she uses the most brilliant colors.

I'm going to start calling Alison "Miss Peter Max." 

Of course, I'm Miss Conservative and stick with traditional oils ...

I finished this one today, and I call it "Rolling Acres"  8 x 16 Oil on Panel.

I finished this one yesterday.  "Sailing Buddies" 8 x 10 Oil on Panel.

And I'm working on this one.  It's still in the underpainting stage.  I think I'm going to call this one "Old Lonely Barn." 

So that's what I've been doing folks ... painting away to the sounds of Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and of course Glenn Miller.  Alison and I both love Big Band music.  It's great to paint and listen to the sounds and bands of the 1940s and 50s.

Hope everyone is having a great week!