Art Lovers

2010-12-30T12:32:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I am finally finished painting my quilt squares. I have changed from my original plan of the quilt in that I was going to have a large square in the middle with an eagle painted on it. Instead, I have painted an eagle on each of the 4 corners. All of the squares are 10 x 10 plus the black frame and the fabric sashing. I can hardly wait to have it all put together. I did, however, run into a snag recently. I was a bit concerned about running out of fabric, and rightfully so. When I was putting the squares together, I found that I was short for the long side of 13 squares. I am not the one who figured out the fabric--no, no, no, I am not so good at math and figuring how much fabric I need. I really don't sew an awful lot either. The quilt shop told me how much fabric I needed, I did waste just a little through mistakes, but not that much, and I don't think my change of the original plan altered the results that much- well, I don't think so. Anyway, of course, the quilt shop did not have any more of the fabric--what to do??? My hubby said that I could get all new fabric and start from scratch- I Don't Thinks SO!! Anyway, the lady at the quilt shop was good enough to tell me that the fabric was from, Floagraphix II In the beginning by Jason Yenter. So, thank God for the internet. I found the fabric on line and was able to order more. I am posting some pictures- now, keep in mind, I need more fabric, so it should look much better when completed. I hope you enjoy the pictures. I will update with the completed quilt top and then again when it is completed, and then again, if I enter into a quilt show.

2010-06-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

My photo's didn't all show up, so here are some more.

2010-06-30T20:44:00.000-07:00

Well, tomorrow is July 1st- hard to believe--how time flies when you'r having fun--and with the artwokr-or play, I feel like I am almost living the dream. Anyway, here are a few pictures from the Watauga Valley Art League show going on for the month of July at Sycamore Shoals Park in Elizabethton. My photos aren't the greatest, but I hope it will make you want to go see for yourself. There is so much eye candy there! The first picture will be my display- reason being, I am not in the photo and mixed in with the others, you wouldn't know which was mine. I hope you enjoy.

2010-04-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

I'm back home from visiting my brother in Michigan. He has cancer-in the last stages. It has spread to every organ in his body- I know he won't be with us much longer. It is very sad--enough about that. I need to update with my art classes. I have 1 more week of my bird painting classes on Tuesdays at 1:00 at the Jonesborough Senior Center. The last class will be a Carolina wren. The cost is $5.00. I will post a picture of the quilt square of this bird- ours will have a little background painting and be on a 5x7 canvas paper. We do have slider frames that one of my student's husband has made that you may purchase for $6.00.

I am teaching "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" at 1:30 on Wednesday afternoons at Jonesborough Senior Center. Tomorrow will be the second class- you can still get into this 8 week class. The cost is $40.00-We could catch you up on what you missed last week. This class helps you to see things the way artist sees-you will then draw better and paint better.

New Classes are as follows: May 6th (Thursday) I will be teaching the pictured seascape. This is an oil painting done in the Robert Warren method. The canvas is underpainted in orange and has black acrylic paint over the dark areas before we paint with oil. The class will be a 1 day class beginning at 9:30 and lasting until approximately 2:30-3:00. We will break for lunch at noon. The supplies are: a 12x16 canvas, orderless turp, brushes, a pallette and paper towles. I will supply the paint. The cost of the class is $25.00. We will finish this painting in one day.

Beginning May 20th (Thursday) We will pick up our decorative painting course. The cost is $5.00 per class, (unless otherwise specified for special events). We have been painting birds and may continue painting a few more. I will update with pictures soon.

I will be starting evening classes at my studio very soon and will update the blog.

2010-03-17T16:14:00.001-07:00

Here are the students from my Waterfall & Mountain Class. They just finished today. I think they did a great job. Each painting is the same, but has differences, which is the way it should be. Each student puts their own personality into their painting as the develope their skills. It was a fun class and I look forward to teaching a new project in the very near future. We will be starting "Drawing on the right side of the brain at the senior center beginning Wednesday, April 7th at 1:30, please join us.

2010-03-12T19:25:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more bird quilt squares. I haven't been able to paint any in more than a week-must do at least two tomorrow. My goal is 4 per week- this week was busy with the new classes starting and getting ready to open 606 State Street Gallery in Bristol! Very exciting! I will take some pictures and share them later of the gallery. It is beautiful & lots of talented artist. I feel honored to have my work displayed with theirs. Anyway, here are a couple more birds. I will have to post a picture of our bedroom before & after the bird transformation!

2010-03-10T17:05:00.000-08:00

I started teaching new classes this week at the Jonesborough Senior Center. Tuesday afternoons we paint birds, this week was a cardinal-the one pictured in my blog. Today we began painting a mountain scene with a waterfall. We will complete that next week and I'll post pictures of the students and their paintings. There were six in the class today. We got about half way finished which was the plan. Pictured is the painting we are doing. Also here are a couple more quilt squares. I didn't do any new ones so am posting some I have already completed. I hope to have 4 more by the end of the week. I also decided to start teaching another class in drawing-on the right side of the brain. This is a great drawing class. I have taught it 3 times before and the students love it. It not only teaches you to draw better than you can imagine, but, it teaches you to see things the way an artist sees. You will be pleasantly supprised at your improvement & the things you notice after this class. Also, if you like painting, your paintings will improve. I also completed my Blue Jays winter painting today in oil. I will publish that soon. I hope to hang it in the gallery soon.

2010-03-06T12:33:00.003-08:00

Here is a Free hummingbird painting packet. I hope you will give it a try! Please let me know how it turns out for you. It was a lot of fun to paint and takes very little time. Enjoy!

2010-03-05T19:32:00.001-08:00

Just got home from Kairos Outside 2nd meeting-they are always uplifting. Here is a link to the website for it my husband created. http://www.northeasttennesseekairosoutside.org/ Check out Weekend # 3 fror the theme & theme song.

I have a new painting I just finished yesterday. I'm excited about it and will be able to offer prints for sale. The prints I had made are the actual size of the painting 10 1/2" x 36" I think They are done on canvas, so I have to stretch them over stretcher bars (wood) and hopefullt they will look very nice. They are giclee prints and I may touch them up if needed. I have to ask a much higher price than just a print on cardstock. I hope to get some of them also. I will publish the photo at least to show what it will look like. The print is a little better than the photo. Also, I am posting some more birds for my quilt squares.

2010-03-03T05:25:00.001-08:00

I have some more quilt squares to post. These are just the painted squares-I need to photograph some of the completed squares so that you can get the picture of what it will look like-I'll do that soon. I am also working on a new birds on the window sill painting, I'll share that later. Also been thinking of posting a hummingbird, with painting instructions. Anyway, here's the new quilt squares- if I also have the same bird painted on canvas for a class, I'll post that as well for comparison.

2010-03-01T16:26:00.001-08:00

Didn't get a chance yet today to work on my quilt squares, but I have some more to post. I went to Senior Center to take the photo's I'll be using for teaching the bird classes-there was a mix up in the newsletter-saying that I am teaching painting bird quilt squares! Humm--well, I have plenty of muslin & textile medium-I guess they can paint on that if they like, I'm flexible. They can have a choice. Why not? Anyway, I will post the pictures of the birds we will be painting in that class-well 4 out of the six anyway, the others will come later. I am using some of the same birds as are on my quilt squares, only the background is different. Maybe I'll post them and you can decide which you like better, the quilt square or the bird on the canvas.

2010-02-28T16:09:00.000-08:00

2010-02-28T15:57:00.000-08:00

I am finally making my "Bird Quilt"! I am very excited about it. I love birds, especially song birds and we have plenty of them here in beautiful east Tennessee. My home is mostly decorated in a totally Tuscan Theme, but, I think I can incorporate the birds into it--do you think? I'm sure they have birds in Italy too! I'll have to post some before and after pictures of our bedroom. It is not so much tuscan as the rest of the house. I had planned on taking it more that direction, but with this quilt, birds will have to be the major "theme". I am combining my love for birds and my painting into a work of art that will be usefull and hopefully be around long after I am gone. I will share my progress here with the quilt. I have 21 squares painted already, I need 48. I only have a couple that are complete with the framing and sashing sewn on. I will be sewing them together on the machine, and then, taking the completed top along with batting and backing that I have not picked out yet to the Jonesborough Senior Center to get help from the quilters there to do the hand quilting. I will not be leaving it completely to them to quilt though. Oh no, I will be there quilting along side them. I feel like this will be like the old fashioned quilting bees. It should be finished much sooner with their help. So, now I will post some pictures of the birds I have painted. I will post a few new ones every few days to catch up, and then, as they are completed and as they are put together. So, hopefully, you will follow this and watch the quilt grow into something beautiful!

2009-06-30T16:38:00.000-07:00

2009-06-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy 24 hours. I am taking a stained glass class on Tues. & Wed, so I'm, busy making something for hubby- I'll post later when finished. I also found a new site to sell my artwork: Bonanzle! I am www.bonznzle.com/booths/Stonecottagestudio on that site.Very exciting! Now, if only I can figure out the way to set up the google feeds, then I'll be doing alright. I am so NOT computer saavy. My grandson will be here in a few hours and maybe he can help me get that set up. So many of the things they ask, I don't even know what they mean. Ok, what is a widget? The site said it would be a good idea to set up a widget-don't know what that means-and whatever they wanted me to enter, I WAS CLUELESS! Talk about feeling out of touch. I'm not much with the technical side of things. I just like to paint. You know. Can anyone feel my pain?

Anyway I will be teaching a pretty tiger lily at the senior center on Thurs. I'll post it so all may see. My husbands son & family will be here in a few hours and hopefully we will do some fun activities with them-other than just going out to eat.

2009-06-29T05:24:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe the year is more than half over, wow, where does the time go? I spent several months of it sitting in a recliner thinking about all of the things I would like to do and waiting for the day when I would be up and about again. They sure don't prepare you mentally or in any other way for the recovery of rotator cuff surgery. I had no clue. It was not only very painful for a very long time, the recovery involves HARD work! I have all but quit my therapy and know I need to resume, and tell myself, I'll start again tomorrow, tomorrow doesn't seem to come--okay today! I'll start again today. Anyway, if you need the surgery, you need to talk to someone about what to expect so that you can make the proper adjustments, there will be many to make- who will help me get dressed, what type of clothing will be impossible, when will I be able to drive, when can I return to my own bed-etc. enough about that. Friends were wonderful! After 3 months of taking off teaching, I am teaching painting again.

I have made a few trips to Gatlinburg area this year with friends and went to Cades Cove. My friend, Margo, got out of the car when I got back in to photograph a mother bear & her 3 cubs. I'll share the photos with you. They were so fuzzy and cute. But, I know you have to be careful. I know you only have to outrun the slowest person to get away, I know of no one that I can outrun, so, I got back into the car. I'm not overweight, it's a heart thing. I love the pictures and plan to paint many of them. I did do a recent bear painting that I will share with you later. It is hanging at the Sycamore Shoals Art Show for this month. I didn't get any photos. I did also sell an original yesterday at the artist reception. Lucky for me, a friend photographed it for me before it was gone forever. I did come home and painted this tiger last night. I do love painting wildlife. Oh--I 'll share with you the eagle I painted for my DH for father's day.

2008-11-04T15:29:00.000-08:00

For some reason I keep loseing this blog post--this is the 3rd and final time I will try to post it. Happy Election Day! I'm glad it's almost over & will be glad to not have to hear the politics on tv so much. LOL! Anyway my contest is over & I will be posting winner tomorrow. Didn't have a lot of participation--but some. Maybe next time will be better. I am posting some new pictures taken today of the view out my front door with the colors --I hope you enjoy! Also, I want to share a friend's shop with you. Her name is Arlene and she has been a friend of mine for many years. She lives in Michigan and also has an etsy shop. It is http://paintindaze.etsy.com/. I hope you will take a moment and check out her shop for some beautiful artwork as well as great prices. I will post some of her work here to give you just a little taste of what she does. Have a great day!

2008-11-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

Election day! Finally we can be finished with all of the politics. (lol) right! Anyway, I will be staying up late to watch the election results. No matter who we have selected, God is in control. I believe it is He who ultimately chooses for His purpose. I have taken another picture from my front view with all of the pretty colors. I hope you enjoy. We do have an amazing view here and it is always changing. I will be anouncing the winner of my give away tomorrow and posting the prints I have given away. Thanks to all who participated. Although the turn out was small, maybe more will participate next time.

I want to take a moment to feature a friend of mine. Her name is Arlene and she lives in Michigan. She is a wonderful artist. I will be posting some of her work here and hope that you will visit her site. She has an etsy shop which is http://paintindaze.etsy.com/. Please take a moment and pay her a visit.

2008-10-19T13:05:00.001-07:00

Here are some more pictures of our home. I have others that I will locate and publish later. I hope you will enjoy & coment on these.

2008-10-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

This time of year is so pretty and the view I have from my front porch is amazing. I know you will envy me when you see this photograph, eventhough, it no where near captures the beauty, it will give you a little taste of it. If the earth is a beautiful as this, what must heaven be like? I'll post other photos periodically of my world view as it changes with the time of day and the season. It is always beautiful.
This week, I will be picking up Sandy Abuchaun at the airport on Thursday. She is coming to teach some painting techniques to our club, the Kingsport branch of Decorative Painters,"Different Strokes for Tole Folks". I feel fortunate as she will be staying with me for a few days. I know it will be a great time and there is always something to learn from other artist. Next spring we will be having Dorothy Dent. I hope she will stay with me as well.
I think I will post some pictures of my home, it is not fancy, but I have painted much of it. I hope you will enjoy looking at a little of my world.

2008-10-18T06:05:00.000-07:00

Contest! I am having a contest for both of my shops. I will be giving away an 8 x 10 Limited Edition print from each of my shops- www.backroomtreasures.etsy.com and www.stonecottagestudio.etsy.com . I want to see which of my pieces of artwork you like the best in each shop. I realize that just because a person doesn't buy the item doesn't mean they don't like it. So, I would like to know which item you like best in each shop. The contest will last from today until through Saturday, November 1st. Here's what you do: Visit my shops and come back to my blog, and leave a note telling me which item you like the best. By all of the comments left, I will put your name in a drawing and give away an 8 x 10 Limited edition print for each shop. So please visit my shop and let me know what you like & may YOU be the winner!

2008-10-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

Have you seen my little aceo or the notecards "His Eye is on the Sparrow"? I have given away hundreds of this little sparrow. I have sold quite a few of him as well. The reason I give them away is because I want to use the sparrow as a reminder of God's love. The Sparrow was originally painted for a friend undergoing a bone marrow transplant. I was listening to the old hymn with the same title "His Eye is on the Sparrow" and I was reminded of God's love and care for us. So, I painted the little original for my friend and sent it off to her. So, now, anytime I hear of a person who has cancer, or is going through a difficult time, I like to send them one. If you are that person, or know of a person who could use a little encouragement, please let me know, you don't have to give any details, and I will be glad to send you or them a sparrow that they can keep as a reminder that God cares for them and for what they are going through. Just send me an email with your address where to send it and I'll be glad to send you a sparrow. I will post a picture here of it so you can see.

2008-10-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my most recent paintings from both shops

2008-10-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

The summer is finally over and it is Fall Yall! This is such a beautiful time of year. The colors, the sights and smells. I love the smell of wood burning. Love to step outside and smell that someone is burning their fireplace. I love the smell of hot cinnamon cider, corn mazes and hayrides! It just takes me back. I grew up in Michigan and this time of year is so beautiful there. Here, in E. Tennessee, The mountains are beginning to look like a brightly colored patchwork quilt. There is inspiration all around for painting, it's just having the time. I have been keeping myself busy the past several months teaching art classes. I have taught 2 drawing classes at the Johnson City Senior Center. I have just finished teaching a drawing class at the Jonesborough Senior Center. I teach a decorative painting class every Thursday at 1:30 at the Jonesborough Senior Center. This class is is open to all. The cost is only $5.00 and I supply the paint and project. The class is growing and may soon need to be divided into 2 separate classes as to give more attention to each student. I also teach an acrylic on canvas painting class on Wednesdays. These classes are for 3 weeks, then we take a break until time for the next project. Currently we are painting a cottage. Our next project will be a brightly colored cardinal in a holly bush. I am so thankful to have these classes & for each student. It is so exciting to see them create a project that they thought they couldn't do. Also, just watching their improvement is a real blessing.

2008-08-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

Hello, I haven't blogged in about 1 year! Wow! The year has flown by! I have opened a new shop, Stonecottagestudio@etsy.com . Please stop by an visit. My other shop, backroomtreasures has gotten so full, just too much for people to go through, and I wanted to do a cutsie-pie style of artwork, so I opened Stone Cottage. Actually, Stone Cottge Studio is all new. We have converted our huge garage into a studio. That really took so doing. The drywall is not up as of yet, but it has been insulated and has air conditioning. So, it is usable. I have been uysing it too. It is so nice to have a place to paint and not worry about leaving things out. Better than that, not having painting items all through the house and having to spend lots of time hunting for the items I need.

I am also teaching 4-5 classes per week now. It is such fun. I have two drawing classes I teach at area senior centers, they are the drawing on the right side of the brain ciriculum. Then I teach a beginner decorative painting class, a kids Wed night class and every now and then a canvas painting class. The next one is coming up soon. It will be a cottage and a bridge done in sort of a Kincaide style. Please visit my original shop backroomtreasures as well as my new shop and send me a convo anytime.

2007-02-16T12:02:00.000-08:00

Hello again! I haven't blogged in a long time! Many things have changed. I think the last blog, I had just started expirimenting with Aceo's ( 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" paintings). I have done so many of those now that when asked to do a 4 x 4 mini painting for the Arts Dinner Silent Auction Charity, it was no problem, seemed like painting LARGE. I did 2 of them. I have sold quite a few of these little treasures, mostly on ebay. Some for opening bid, and some for a pretty penny! I love it when that happens. It doesn't happen often enough though. I do love to use my artwork to help others. I think I will begin actively looking for ways that I can help with my artwork. Recently, an etsy friend, Sharon Foster told me about an animal rescue that had burned and they were trying to raise money. I was able to send some cute dog & cat prints to be put into a basket to be raffled off. I love painting the animals, and why not use the artwork of animals to help them? I would like to encourage some of you who paint to do the same.
Also, there are always plenty of charities and causes around to help raise money for. Currenty on etsy is the MoxieRings fund. A fellow etsy shop keeper's husband was killed in a tragic car accident on Feb. 10th. You can look up the Moxie Fund and buy something or list something & the proceeds will go to that fund.
Enough about that. I have a new grandson! Denis Mariano Lavery, born Jan. 10th 2007 weighing in at 8.9lbs! I have a picture I painted of he & his father, called "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" I'll try to load it on this site right away. Haven't done this for awhile so, it make take some time to become famaliar again. Also, the site has changed. Anyway, you can see it on my etsy site. It is listed under sold items, I haven't relisted it yet. The original went to the proud parents.

Meanwhile, Coby, my firstborn grandson, is still the subject of many paintings. I will be soon doing a painting of him petting a cow. It will be from a photograph taken last fall. I would have done it sooner, but my entire hard drive on my computer was wiped out & that is something that was never recovered. Lucky for me, my niece has the picture on her computer.
I did one little Aceo painting that I wanted to mention called, "His Eye is on the Sparrow". This was inspired by the song with the same title. The original was painted for a friend of my in the hospital at UAB having a bone marrow transplant. I just wanted to remind her with this painting that God watches out for the little sparrow and that He's watching over her as well. So far, things are going well for her and she is back to work teaching! The little sparrow print has been sold many times and has been given away free many, many more times. I enjoy sending him out to people who need a hug. I have gotten so many good emails from people regarding the sparrow. He is with people all over the country now and that makes me feel pretty good. If you need one, please let me know. I'll send you one free.
When I get back to adding my pictures, I will also add a few recepies with pictures of really yummy stuff. Thanks for stopping by. Judy

2006-08-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

2006-08-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

2006-08-03T18:13:00.000-07:00

2006-08-02T19:22:00.000-07:00

2006-08-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

2006-08-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

Art LoversHello, I can't believe it's August already. I don't know where the summer has gone. I haven't even taken the time for the really fun stuff yet. It's too hot right now to do anything anyway, maybe September! I've been spending too much time on the computer. But, I have learned about something fairly new in the artworld, or collectors world- well actually both. ACEO's I had never heard of any such thing until just recently. Art Card Edition/ Originals. This is a very inexpensive way to own original artwork. You may totally love an artist but can't afford to buy their originals, well with the Art Card Editions, you CAN have an original at a very affordable price. How cool is that! You don't have to settle for a print. I have been checking on etsy and on ebay so I decided to do a few myself. I have to say though, I guess I have got to get stronger glasses, finer brushes and practice painting the small stuff. It is kind of hard for me. I will be making some of my large paintings into these 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" mini prints though. the ones I have done already and have not yet listed look great. Oh, how I wish I could paint originals that good that small! You can check them out on ebay. I am listed as backroomtreasures01. Check them out.
I have just finished painting a mural at an area spa & I will try to post some pictures to this site as well as some of the murals I have done in my own home. Happy painting until next time. Judy

2006-07-23T20:21:00.000-07:00

2006-07-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

Hello, My name is Judy O'Hara. I live in East Tennessee. Welcome to my blog. My blog is mainly about Art and painting. I love to paint. I have been painting for about 15 years or so. Currently I have 2 shops on etsy. In case you are not familiar with etsy, it is a site that has only been in existence for just over 1 year. The site is set up for crafters and artist to sell their work. It is very inexpensive and unlike ebay, it is not an auction.

You can view some of my artwork at www.backroomtreasures.etsy.com and www.eltonious.etsy.com. I hope that you will visit and let me know what you think.

I will be talking a lot about artwork, not only my own but friends and other artist as well. I am a member of two art leagues. One is the Watauga Valley Art League of Johnson City Tenn. The other is the decorative artist club, Different Strokes for Tole Folks in Kingsport Tenn. (that's the local chapter-I am also a member of the national association)

There are many talented artist in this area. Something about artist, I find them to be the nicest people. Many are just so talented and humble as well as very helpful and many are also great cooks.

As an artsy kind of person, I am not the best organized person, I have to admit I am sadly lacking in organizational skills. I do try hard but it sure doesn't come easy.

I gotta say that I believe practice is the thing that has helped me to improve the most. I am mainly a self-taught artist, although I have attended a few classes and workshops. Probably the second thing that has helped me is Betty Edwards book, "Drawing on the right side of the brain." If you would like to learn to draw but feel you can't, just look at the first chapter of her book. What an improvement those students made in such a short time! Wow, it showed me that anyone can learn to draw. The talent is not in the hand, it is in the eye. You must learn to really see, not just to glance at something and think you know what it looks like. Check it out and better yet, try it! I know you will be surprised to find that you really can do it.

I love to look at other artists work and occasionally to buy other artist work. The last couple of pieces I bought are, "Greg's quilt" from Sharon Foster on etsy. It's a beautiful watercolor painting of course, of a quilt. The other, I bought at the Sycamore Shoals Art show from a friend in the league, Barbara Jernigan. The print is called "Capitol Nostalgia" another watercolor- doesn't just about every major city have an old Capitol Theatre? Maybe you notice that both prints are watercolors! I am just learning to paint in watercolors. I plan to take a class this fall from a very talented watercolor artist in the area. I can't wait.

Right now, I am just about to finish up a mural I am working on in an area Spa. I will post pictures of it when I am finished. Murals are one of my passions, my entire house has many murals, it just gives the home so much character. Maybe I'll add some pictures later on. The only problem, I'm pretty much out of space and I'v found a few things I's like to add. What will I do??

I will also post some of my favorite recepies later on for others to try. I have millions of them- I'm not kidding. I finally broke down a few months ago and got rid of a couple of boxes of recepie books- thats when I was doing the flylady.com thing. I really need to get back to that. It really works. Probably helped me more than any other thing I've tried to get my house in order.

Another artist friend of my is Arlene, she has a site on etsy also, don't know if she has anything listed at the moment. She lives in Michigan, where I used to live. Her site is www.paintindaze.etsy.com. She is so talented and so humble. She also has encouraged me more than any other friend, although I have many friends who have encouraged me so much!! Thanks to all of them. Arlene encouraged me when I felt like giving up. She is also a wonderful christian friend and sister in Christ.

I think I've said enough for now and its getting late--so until next-May God Bless