And The Results Are In!

Well first of all my computer is on the blink and is in the shop so I am posting this at work which I am not supposed to do, but I did come in early.

I posted earlier about the two shows/contests I was going to enter this summer. I entered two works in the Central Carolina Fair. They were the same two works that were entered in the spring at the Randolph Arts Guild show. They did not place there, nor did they even take an honorable mention, but this time I received a second place prize for the drawing "Ready to Work" in the category of Pencil and I received a third place prize for the double portrait of my husband and son in the category of Portraits, Other medium. The money prizes were not that much but I do get to keep the ribbons which will be my first but hopefully not my last!

I was extremely pleased! I am so glad I did not let myself get discouraged by not placing at the other show. I had researched the judge of that show and she was an abstract artist. I noticed all of the ones that won, placed or received honorable mentions, with the exception of three works were all abstract. Just goes to show that art is in the eye of the beholder. I have learned not to be discouraged because the judge may just not like my type of art and to try again if I believe in myself. So..... if you are thinking about entering shows and contests please do and don't become discouraged!

The other contest was for a postmark cancellation. We have a town not too far from where I live called Star. This is a designated Christmas Town by the Post Office and they have a contest for local artists to enter a design. There is no money prize, just recognition and this will be the 23rd year they have had the contest. The requirements were: simple line drawing, black and white only, and certain words required in the design which were the address of the Post Office there.

I came up with a design and rendered it in pen and ink and got it ready to send off. I had not read the rules close enough because I remembered it saying must be postmarked Sept. 10. When I re-read the rules prior to mailing it actually said must be received by Sept. 10. I mailed mine on Sept. 10 anyway but I don't know if it will be considered.

I have been reading everyone's blog and I hope to get back into my art soon. I noticed I am not the only one that has slowed down in posting. I guess it is just the summer and having lots of other things to do.

Sorry no pictures! I had some but my computer is on the blink!

Weekend Trip / Update

My son in the Tweetsie "Jail"

My husband and son in the "crooked house" at Mystery Hill

Practice sketch with pastel pencils

Well I know I haven't posted in quite a while and I haven't been doing any art in quite some time but I thought I would just do an update in case someone is wondering where I've been.

My husband decided that we needed to take our son to the mountains of North Carolina to visit Tweetsie Railroad before he got much older. Tweetsie is located in Boone, NC and in case anyone is not familiar with it, it is a Western type theme park. There is a train ride that lasts around 20 minutes and cowboys and indians have a mock fight. All the kids on the train that have cap pistols they have purchased in the gift shops are invited to fire them at the indians as quickly as possible and make as much noise as they can. There are rides, shows, restaurants, gift stores with different themes, gem mining, gold panning and an arcade. In other words an exhausting day of fun!

Now, I have been to Tweetsie when I was a kid (and no, I won't say how many years ago that was). However, then it was only a train ride and some shops so it has really grown. My mother's ancestors came down from the mountains ages ago, I believe from around Banner Elk and my parents were always dragging the family to the mountains for weekend trips, etc. There are not a whole lot of tourist attractions in the mountains of NC or Tennessee that I haven't visited at least once. They also used to love to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway which is a very twisty, narrow road with lots of scenery. I personally just do not like traveling in the mountains. I would get car sick on the Parkway and my ears would constantly pop. I was reminded of this when my ears began to pop as we ascended into Boone. I told my husband, "This is not my country."

I don't mean to run the mountains down, if you like them that is great. They are just not for me. I would much rather travel to the ocean any day even though it is a longer drive.

Anyway I am glad we took my son to see Tweetsie. We should have taken him two years ago when he would have enjoyed it more and if we had waited two more years I don't think he would have enjoyed it at all. And you know what? I was downloading the photos I took at Tweetsie and I didn't even take one of the train! Well, I'm not going back just to get a picture of the train, I'll tell you that!

On the art scene I have done one small thing with my pastel pencils for practice. I saw a photo on the blog Nikon Sniper and I though it was great so I tried it in pastel. It only took around 10 minutes. Steven I hope you don't mind, it was just for practice. Steven has lots of wonderful photos on his blog.

I am also looking at submitting an entry for an art contest. No prize, just recognition if your drawing is selected. So I am trying to get ideas for that. I am looking at entering another art show with the pieces I had entered for the last one. I've read the rules and it doesn't say the work cannot ever have been in a show before just not in this show before.

Anyway, I hope to be back in full soon, and hopefully will be back checking in and reading your blogs soon as well as posting!

Until next time!

New Work Completed

Red Wagon Wheel

By: Lori Talbert

5/25/09

8x10 Colored Pencil and Graphite on Bristol Board

Just completed the most recent piece I have been working on for the past couple of weeks. I found the reference pic on morgue file when I was browsing and saved it for future use. Something about this pic fascinated me and I thought it would make an interesting subject.

I started in in graphite and realized it would not be as interesting as I once thought completed all in pencil. So I decided to take a chance and add some color with the colored pencils. I chose the wagon wheel and then that stood out too much so I also colored the ground.

Its works pretty good for me. Not nearly as difficult as the last piece I completed but good to get me going on my artwork again.

Now I don't know which one to use as my third entry for the art show. This piece or the last one entitled Millboro Post Office / General Store. What do you think?

Just Checking In

Hi. It has been awhile now since I posted so I thought I would just check in. After I completed the Old Millboro Post Office / General Store I was kind of drained. It was one of the most difficult works I have completed to date and I guess I have been recharging my batteries.

I did begin a new work on Sunday. Work is progressing slowly and I believe it will be difficult as well. Not sure if it will be something I will want to post or not. We will have to see how it comes along.

I have had some minor health issues and have not felt myself lately but I am working on those things. Stress from work is pretty bad so that is not helping either. However, this is Memorial Day weekend and I plan to do something fun with my family. Hope all of you can do something for the holiday weekend as well.

The juried art show is coming up and I have the works I want to enter framed but have to wire them for hanging. My husband paints from time to time and I am trying to get him to enter with me. Not sure if he will or not.

I caught up on my blog reading this morning. Everyone has some wonderful work to show so please check out the blogs I follow.

Well, that is the update. Hope to post some art soon! Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Drawing Completed (For better or worse!)

Millboro Post Office / General Store

By: Lori Talbert

10/07/09

I have completed the drawing I have been working on for so long now. I must say it was the most difficult project I have ever tackled. I thought the portrait of my husband and son was hard but this one really took the cake!

I was definitely out of my comfort zone! The foliage was extremely difficult for me and I spent a lot of time practicing it and finally decided just to go ahead and do it. The perspective did not bother me that much as I have taken a class on this in the past that was pretty involved. I don't remember all of the class but I do remember how to find the vanishing point to get the building angles correct. Even so I realized at one point my perspective was off and had to go back and correct it. This drawing is on the verge of being overworked and may possibly be considered overworked but I was determined to finish what I started.

It definitely tested my abilities and was a learning experience and I know the next project of this type will be easier and better for the effort.

The reference pic can be found in an older post from April if you want to look at it. This is 8x10 graphite on bristol board.

There is another juried art show sponsored by the Randolph Arts Guild coming up in June. The deadline for submissions is May 29th. For an entry fee of $25.00 each artist can submit up to three works for consideration. My plans are to enter this show. All three works can be selected, two works, 1 work or no work and you just lose your entry fee. I figure nothing ventured, nothing gained. The works must have been completed in the last two years. I hope to enter the double portrait of my husband and son entitled "A Good Time" and the drawing entitled "Ready To Work." Both can be found in older posts if you care to look or in the slideshow in the upper right corner of my blog. All work will be matted and framed.

Do you think I should also enter this work as my third submission? Would it be worth my while to do so? Please comment and let me know what you think. (Your family always tell you everything looks terrific).

Thanks guys!

Work in Progress

Reference Photo

Old Millboro Post Office / General Store

Well I was not able to complete my entry for the juried art show of a Randolph County subject in time for submision deadline. I do appreciate all of the encouragement I received from everyone to try. The reference picture is above. I have thought about this building for many years and when I heard about the show I drove out to Millboro to take some photos. I should have taken some when I was thinking about doing a drawing years ago as it is much more overgrown now.

I am going to continue to work on this and hopefully complete it. Buildings are not that hard as they are mostly straight lines, getting your perspective correct and shading. I believe the surrounding foliage will make or break this drawing. I want to include the broom sage growing in the foreground as I believe the successful rendition of this will give the drawing depth. I am not that great on foliage and have been studying some books. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

There is another juried art show coming up in a little over a month where three works can be entered by each artist and can be any medium or subject as long as they have been completed within the last two years. Hopefully I will be able to enter some work in that show.

More On Pastel Pencils

I hope everyone had a great Easter holiday! The weather is still a little cool here for this time of year. I hope soon it will be warm enough where the heat doesn't run at night.

In my last post I had a piece where I had tried pastel pencils. My set was only 12 so I was lacking many colors that I usually use. I have purchased a set of 48 pastel pencils from Ebay and received them Friday. Hope to put them to use soon and have something to post.

I heard yesterday about a juried art show for Randolph County artists at an Asheboro Gallery. The work can be any medium but must reflect a Randolph County subject. Unfortunately, works have to be submitted beginning April 16th and I don't have anything ready with a Randolph County subject that I can submit. I am debating on whether to give it a try to have something worthwhile ready. I am trying to come up with a good subject. There is a very well-known covered bridge here in Randolph County but many artists have used that in their work and there will probably be a few in this show. Oh well, wish I had heard about the show earlier!