MY JOURNAL - July 18th Studio Art Reception

Seven paintings sold today during my Wine & Cheese Reception. How nice that they have found good homes!

The major activity I have had in the past week and a half is to prepare for my Bi-Annual Art Reception and Studio Sale. For this show I sent out about 50 on-line invitations to my family and friends primarily. Usually about 20 or so people come by for Wine, Cheese and conversation. At the same time I hoped to sell some of my paintings. This time I have over 30 framed paintings and my studio, hallway living room and dining room walls have been taken over by these paintings. Selling seven doesn't even make a dent but I am happy! Thank yous go to the new owners! I'm so happy you liked one of my paintings! There were many good and faithful friends who were unable to come today for one reason or another... but there were many, many good and faithful friends who did come and we were able to have some wine and conversation together. I was so pleased to see some of my favorite paintings become favorites of someone else! That is true validation for a painter! My darling daughters, Leigh (& her friend, Kenneth) and Marcia, were so kind to help me set up the studio show and also to serve the wine and appetizers. My granddaughter Caienna was also a tremendouis help as were her sisters, Sascha and Maia! I have a lovely family!

MY JOURNAL

Journal page I did at Marti Peet's workshop

Already it is Mid-July and I have only painted once! I spent a half day last Friday painting with an artist friend , Elizabeth M. who lives in San Francisco. Glenda C. was supposed to join us but was ill that day. and she was missed! We painted The Antique Furniture Barn in Jacksonville and Glenda would have loved that! Elizabeth is a watercolor painter turned journalist painter. We met a few years back in a Journaling workshop and struck up a friendship immediately. At that time Elizabeth was living in Jacksonville. We enjoyed that first journaling workshop so much that we repeated the workshop the following summer! I believe it was the instructor, Marti Peet of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the other seven artist in the group that made it so special. Everyone came back for the second workshop that was held at The Willows, a Bed & Breakfast Inn just outside of Jacksonville. I have not pursued my journaling in the same manner as Elizabeth (who is very accomplished) but have managed to keep up my journaling since then too. Mine have taken on the form of illustrated record-keeping. I use drawings, colored sketches and photographs to keep my blogs, that is my main journal and another one about painting in plein air : 
http://paitblair.blogspot.com/ &
two blogs for The Children's Festival:
http://blair67.blogspot.com/and
http://blairsfredspot.blogspot.com.
I also keep my artist sketch journals I use when I go out to paint En Plein Air!