Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!


Hello,
I've been out of touch for a while.  I didn't want to let Thanksgiving slip by without a post.  My recent show at the Bainbridge Athletic Club went very well.  Sales were slow but so was the traffic.  The people who did attend gave great feedback and I enjoyed visiting with all of them very much.  I thought it would be good to share Abraham Lincolns Thanksgiving Day Proclamation just to remind us of this great holiday we have the blessing to celebrate.  Even though it has been a difficult year...there are SO MANY things to be thankful for.

Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day



October 3, 1863


The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.


No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.


It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.


In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.


Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.


A. Lincoln


The Classical Library, This HTML edition copyright © 2001.



Wednesday, November 11, 2009

WRAP-UP



Hello again! 
So here is the 3rd painting in my newest series.  I've titled it "Santa's Visit".  I'm really happy with the colors in this piece.  They turned out so vibrant and playful.  I love the old vintage toy car.  I photographed the car at Seabold Vintage Market this summer and placed it next to a photo I took of my christmas tree.  Once I got it drawn out the painting began.  Hope you enjoy the new piece.  Looking forward to the Holiday Bazaar next Tuesday and Wednesday at the Bainbridge Athletic Club.  I will be selling my new images in sets of 4 cards for $15.00 and mated prints for $20.00.  I have been considering if I want to start up an Etsy shop to sell my cards and prints.  So if you would be interested in purchasing any of my artwork leave a comment so that I can get a feel for the interest out there.  I won't be blogging until after next week but I will be checking in.  Hope you all have a great week.

Thanks for stopping by,

Meagan

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Art Walk

Good morning...


Last Thursday I had the opportunity to go to the Seattle Art Walk.  I believe it's on the first Thursday of every month.  Sad to say that I had never gone before so it was all new to me.  I will definately be going again!  I went with a group of artists from Bainbridge Island that wanted to go over to see the opening for a much loved artist from Bainbridge, Claudia Mckinstry.  It became obvious to me how loved she is when we got to her gallery space.  It was full of her fans...but did I mention the weather that night?  BUCKETING!!! I am not kidding...the skies unleashed and have continued to.  So considering the weather...her fans REALLY love her. And she is a lovely woman and magnificent artist.  Check out her website here for a real treat.  I have been so blessed to be surrounded by truely amazing artists.  I was lucky enough last summer, at the BI Studio Tour, to be set up next to Erica Applewhite.  She is such a great person and a very talented block print artist.  You can see here work here.  Erica and her Mom Jill just had a show opening in Tacoma at the Sandpiper Gallery which is called Vessels.  The show will run from November 6th to the 30th.  I love her chocolate donut with pink icing and sprinkles and I am lucky enough to have one.  The other artist that I have become friends with, along with his great family, is James Bernardin.  He is an incredible childrens book illustrator and you can see his work here.  Jim has a new book out that was written by Candy Chand which you can purchase at Amazon called "The 12 Prayers of Christmas".  His Book Jacket Illustration is stunning and according to Jim and the reviews I read, it sounds like a real keepsake of a book. Like I said...I am blessed beyond belief to be surrounded by so many talented artists.  Erica and Jim went to the Art Walk with me and are part of an artists group that I have just started up.  This event was only our second meeting which Erica arranged.  We are meeting once a month and I can't wait to see what happens with our group.  Exciting times ahead!

I wanted to share another one of my recent paintings with you from my holiday series.  I call this one "Vintage Christmas".  This one took me right back to my childhood when my Dad and my Sister and I would go up to the Mount Baker Forest and get our tree cutting permit with which we would fullfill our quest for the perfect Christmas tree.  My parents had built a New England Salt Box house which had a very tall ceiling in the living room.  It needed a TALL tree.  So we would go to find the perfect 16 foot tree to bring home.  Some of the best memories of my childhood.  By the way, we did not have a red truck but we did have a yellow Cutlass and the tree was usually longer than the car!  What a sight..

Have a great weekend.

Meagan

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

IT'S SHOWTIME!

Hello Blog friends!

I've been gone for awhile...painting again.  I have two events..."shows" coming up very soon and had to get some painting done for them.  Needless to say...no blogging.  My first show will be in less than 2 weeks (Nov. 17 & 18) at the Bainbridge Athletic Club.  I know...yes, an athletic club.  Every year they have this great Holiday Bazaar and this year I am going to be a part of it.  I am going to try to WOW them with my new Holiday images.  My style has taken a bit of a turn in my new paintings.  A little more...primative possibly...whimsical...child like?  Maybe you can tell me.  At any rate, I had a lot of fun with these paintings.  They took me back to my childhood.  Hope you enjoy them.  I will share them with you throughout the week.  This first one is titled "First Snow".  Oh, before I forget...my second show will be the Winter Studio Tour.  I will be located at the Fenwick Photography Studio very close to town.  So if you happen to be in Seattle and want to take a Ferry ride over it is walking distance from the boat.  The dates for that show are Dec. 4th-6th. 

Take care,

Meagan