Commission arrives at its home!

So here it is, up close and on the wall as well! The

proud owner smiles beneath and I am so very

happy that it all turned out so well. Work that

is done long-distance can be really challenging!

Especially abstract pieces that take on a life of

their own. I look forward to hearing your comments

about how you think it looks in place at last!

Commission

Last year I completed this commission and shipped it rolled up in a very long mailing tube to Texas. It measures 36" x 60". My client took it to a frame shop where they stretched it and this is what it looks like now. I will post a few more shots of it in place over the next few days. But I thought you would like to see it at its destination! Tell me what you think!

These are the TRUE colors!

OK, so the nature tour continues! I could hardly

believe the BLUE ivy when I was looking straight

at it, but nevertheless, there you have it!

Clothesline vine

My dad was a professional photographer. His

excellent eye gave me the education to develop

one too. I only hope it is half as good as his.

At dinnertime, when I was growing up, my dad

would often bring photos he had taken for one

of his fascinating jobs. He would explain why he

composed the shot the way he did. It was a

painless education in composition. And of course

I saw his countless photographs and slides over the

years and barely realized just how much I was

learning in the most wonderful of ways ~ by

observing!

When I started teaching art, I realized that

while I understood composition, having absorbed

it all those many years, I had to actually knuckle

down and pull together a way to teach my students

what it is ~

the heart of any piece of artwork ~ good composition.

Thanks Dad!

Blatant

OK, so today I am wanting to post something for

you just for the heck of it, because it is beautiful.

This was in front of my car on a wall in a parking

lot. Rather electric, wouldn't you say?

I am painting, but you will have to wait to see it

as it is not yet 'dressed' enough to present!

Enjoy this instead and keep looking around you

for the great little beauties in everyday life.

Dinner Party Fun!

We each make an 'art' gift to give

at the dinner. A number is given to

the attendees as they arrive and when

that number is called, they can pick

whatever they want from the table!

And what was in that long tube? A

handmade and embellished walking

stick. There were many wonderful

original pieces and we always wait til

everyone has theirs and then we all

open them together! (you have to be

a grownup for this...). Then we each

get to show the art gift we got. Very

special and a good way to end our year!

Now we're in recess til September.

Take a look at http://www.alog.org/

to see more of what we do.

Who ARE these people???

Twenty-five years ago, I founded The Art League

of Germantown. I'm really proud to say that our

numbers have now reached near critical-mass!

We have over 80 members. About half of them

made it to the end-of-the-year dinner and here

you see most of them having a really good time

being waited on. We work so much the rest of the

year, we like the reverse flow for the wrap-up to

a busy year.

Check out my Slide Show!

Since I have been posting a few pics of the reception

each day, I thought just going for the whole thing

would be better! Besides, seeing all these at once

(and NO, these are not all my photos of the event!)

would give a closer 'feel' to how it was. So there you

have it.

Art viewing at the winery

Some friends and visitors to the winery looking

at my work (always gratifying!). And then a shot

of the whole place with the wine bar on the right

and the art on the walls to the left. Gives you an

idea of the set up. It was so enjoyable for all who

came from their comments and smiles!

At the reception

In this shot you see me between two guests. This

is my table with guestbook and various promotion

pieces so people can find out more about what I do.

Behind the three of us is the winery. The walls with

my artwork are on the left, and the lovely long wine

bar is on the right. It was just the right touch to have

both together.

The smile of an artist!

Hang it all!

The day came this week, after months of creating

new works and all that goes into it. My wonderful

friend Robin (on the right) and my new and angel-like

assistant Kathy helped me hang the winery show!

(If I called Robin angelic, she would get a devilish

look just to prove me wrong!)

I, smiling in the middle, could not have done this on

my own. Robin had the SUV and between that and

my own vehicle, we loaded twentyeight pieces and

set forth up the road to www.frederickcellars.com

where tomorrow night the reception will be.

Expect to see more photos soon.

Announcement!

One-person show in Frederick, Maryland for the month of June

Lynne Oakes is the artist of the month in a one-person show
at the Frederick Cellars Winery.
The theme is "Up Close and Far Away"

and will begin with an opening reception on June 7th
from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the winery.

This is also Frederick's "First Saturday",

a monthly event which showcases the town's shops and galleries.
For directions, go to www.frederickcellars.com

What have I been doing?

No new posts for a good while now. This is because I am in the
throes of preparing for a one-person show for the month of
June. Today I opened the box of 19 small frames I ordered
and began framing small panel paintings for this show. My
photographer has about 5 new pieces that she is shooting
before the show and I still need to varnish two of them. So
the blog is on hold for the moment. Just to let you know what's
up around The Joy of Art Studio!