Next show preparation!

Now the Frederick show is over and the next one is end of the month here in my studio.

I seem to be having trouble with my photo downloads, so stay tuned til I get that working again.
It's always something.

I've been having fun taking bits and pieces of what I'm calling 'unresolved' watercolor paintings
and taking the parts I like to use on a new project. I'll have to get photos to post so you can
see what I've been up to.

Reappearance!

Where have I been you may wonder! I have been involved in a major project at my home to get things that are left from my dear parent's lives sorted and distributed. It has taken many weeks and a great deal of what I envisioned has now been done.



I have done some painting which I will post soon. But that had to take a back seat while I poured the coals on!

Now I am working to get a great deal done for solo show in September. So not on blog very often yet as you see!

Expanding!

When I started this blog I was doing small works on a daily basis.
Then I found that I wasn't doing my larger paintings and so the whole
thing wound down to a trickle of little pieces until I stopped doing them
altogether.
But then the blog started taking off in new directions. Now I just find it
confusing and maybe you do too! So I now have two new blogs so I can
use this one for my own artist's journey and art work, and the other two
will speak for themselves. They are new as of today, so if you scroll down
you'll see them on the right side of this blog. Take a look!

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!

The Poem

Making it

or A poem for artists
Dedicated by Lynne Oakes to her new friends
February 19, 2008

Coming through woods
We arrive.

The wide sparkling stream rushes past
With beauty and indifference – like Life.

Choices are made to start across,
Going from rock to rock.
Each one intent on making his way.
Nearing mid-way, caution sets in.
We seek out the stable ones
Teetering on the little ones, but moving forward,
Always moving forward.

A flat boulder near the halfway point
Is especially large and does not move
As we land.
We congratulate ourselves
On our good fortune
and
dry pant legs.

Newly arrived, we stand there mute,
looking around.
Bright waters whirl swiftly the way
water does, moving past with
debris and delights – like Life.

Safely in this place for only a while
We grin smugly at our wisdom in
Choosing this sturdy place.
Let the waters swirl!
A secure place together.
A rock! A solid sun-warmed rock
Sprinkled with the treasure of each other
And glittering mica.

Blessed with a moment both magical
And temporary, we rest here.
It is but a small oasis in the rush of life.
We gaze outward on the scene,
on each other.
We laugh because we made it this far with no real damage!
And then soon we must assess and decide
Which way to go, which path to follow to make it
Across
Each one choosing their best way.

But just now, we stand here in this safe place
Gathering our wits, sharing our space
and
Wishing all to be successful in
Naigating the rest of the way.

Laughing
We set off.

Artist Breakthrough

Well friends, I have just had my first session
on the phone with 12 other artists...in a program
called Artist Breakthrough with Alyson Stanfield
of www.artbizcoach.com. It was so good and so
fabulous to be hearing from other artists that are
all over the US and a few abroad. This is a great
service that Alyson is doing and I highly recommend
her site and services. I am writing a poem that came
to me in the early hours this morning.
It is all about the experience. Maybe I'll post it when
it's done.