We Never Even Had Winter

We are only 5 days from the "official start of Spring". Can you believe it? I can't but that's because we didn't really have a winter this year. I mean, we had three days of it in January but that's it. (Does that even count???) 

As a painter, the official start of Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. When the daylight savings time changes back to me having more daylight toward the end of my day rather than the beginning, I can paint longer hours. Of course, there's probably going to be fewer dinners prepared at the same time. Oh well. As my sister says, "Suck it up, Buttercup". Working longer in my studio with natural light is what I love best and my favorite way to work. (Of course, it could be that I don't like taking the time to do a lighting set up in the studio.) Lazy? I think not. "Using natural resources" at my disposal is a better way for me to see this. Hah! 

I also wanted to share what I experienced this weekend. This past Saturday I attended a lecture at the Burden Conference Center. Marc Chatov, the judge for the Brush with Burden Juried Exhibition, took a couple of hours to talk about his work, which focuses primarily on still life and contemporary portraiture. He also talked extensively about his family lineage in the arts which includes dance, music, and painting among other things. His father and uncle, both renowed artists, came to the United States in 1922 to escape the Russian Revolution. His mother was Irish, a dancer, and a Powers Girl model in NYC. Their stories are so fascinating. I'm kind of a geek when it comes to art history and when I'm able to sit and listen to someone talk about it and he was there for part of the history - that's pretty cool. Yes, I bought the book, too.

Bonus on top of that - well, I got a pretty red ribbon for my painting "Be Nice or Leave". I was baffled and humbled by receiving 2nd place. I had considered not even entering this painting in the show. But I did and am grateful that I made that leap of faith.  The show will be up at the Orangerie through March 20th if you want to go see it. More information on the Orangerie can be found at www.lsu.edu/botanic-gardens/rentals/orangerie.php.

By the way, the pic of me with my painting is my official dorky look - which is apparently what I look like when I'm giddy with happiness in finding out I won something. It's a good kind of dorky though, don't you think? I hope I have more like that in the future. 

And if you want more info on Marc Chatov, his website is www.chatovstudio.com. 

Now, go outside and smell the flowers!