Enjoyed traveling this weekend.  Did finally get to see the MSW exhibition and enjoyed it tremendously.  It wraps up September 9th so if you get a chance be sure and stop by the Terry Mansion to see it.  Got about an inch of rain - what a wonderful smell.  At least it took the crackle out of the grass.  Well back to the brushes.  

"A sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use." - Washington Irving

Working on these latest two pieces.  I have resolved the issues I had with the first, now I just need to implement the changes.  The second is coming along just fine.  But, I know this subject matter pretty well now.  Ready to move on to a new subject.  A "palette" cleanser, if you will.  Have a great weekend.  

"Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom." - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

About to finish up this latest work,  just have some little issues to resolve.  Have set it up in front of the fireplace to let it "sink in".  Have started another painting that I intend to finish quickly and I am sketching another piece as well for a friend.  I am looking forward to seeing the MSW show in Little Rock soon.  My family called after they took a friend to see it.  They liked the gold medal winner, as do I.  Big fan in fact.  But, looking at it online is not as much fun as seeing in person. Scale is the issue for me.  I like seeing them in person.  Maybe catch sight of a friend while I'm there.  Read four new art books.  Two were worthy of adding to my library, but are out of print.  I'll have to keep an eye out for them.  

"The words of genius have a wider meaning than the thought that prompted them." - George Eliot

Hello Laredo!   I believe the opening reception for the AWS Traveling Exhibition is tonight.  If you are interested in knowing the symbolism of "Werner" you can check my blog entries on June 5, May 30, May 24, and March 22, 2012.  You can also go straight to some of my current works by visiting the Arkansas Artists Registry.  Thank you for supporting the arts.  

I am working on my latest piece entitled "West of Eleven".  Look for it soon.  

"There is nothing so simple that it cannot be made difficult." - Merle P. Martin

Had a great time at the ANA reception this past Saturday.  Always a treat to catch up with friends and meet some fellow local artists.    It was a good crowd and everyone enjoyed the atmosphere and a really good buffet table. Congrats to all those who participated in the show and award winners.  I continue to work on my latest piece and would say I'm about 50% done - put in the darks yesterday.  

"Renunciation of world politics offers no protection from its consequences." - Oswald Spengler

Three openings in four days:  Mid-Southern Watercolorists exhibition at the Terry Mansion in Little Rock; Artists of Northwest Arkansas at the Art Center of the Ozarks; and the AWS Traveling Exhibition in Laredo, Texas.  Hello to all who are enjoying these exhibits and thank you for supporting the arts.  

"False eloquence is exaggeration; true eloquence is emphasis."  - William Alger

Just about to start painting today but thought I would take a second to post.  Thoroughly trashed my last painting and will start over today.  Luckily I didn't have much time invested in it.  The most disconcerting thing...the paper had quite an odor.  Has anyone else run across that before?  It is brand new.  No mold.  It just smelled awful once it got wet.  Between the smell of chemicals and rotten milk.  Took me awhile to figure out where the smell originated.  That was quite a sight I'm sure.  Brush in hand, sniffing everything around me.  Have you ever seen the Andy Griffith episode with the pickles.  Well, when Barney and Andy locate the smell of the jelly at the end of the show...that must have been my facial expression exactly.   Anyway, would love to find out if anyone else has had this problem.  

I am on the Arkansas Artist's Registry now and you can see some of my recently completed pieces there.  I hope you enjoy the "pop art".  I have had a lot of fun painting them.  The exhibition at the Art Center of the Ozarks opens today so be sure and stop by to see it.  I have on exhibition "Breaktime at Brick Street" and "Unquenchable Thirst".  Also have "Four Grays and a Girl" in the Mid-Southern Watercolorists exhibition which opens tomorrow at the Terry Mansion in Little Rock.  They are both excellent shows.  Well, back to work.

"There is no distance on this earth as far away as yesterday." - Robert Nathan