Trump tariffs. My supplies are imported. Sorry.
Virginia Horse Racing
Steeplechase and flat racing are thing, and even harness racing. Horses in the Virginia landscape, you betcha. Did you know Secretariat was foaled in Virginia? Now you do.
Poster orders will not be filled between late April and late May as I move my studio.
Frederick Church painting for today
(photo is public domain, text is quoting Wikipedia)
By 1860, Church was the most renowned American artist. In his prime, Church was a commercial as well as an artistic success. Church's art was very lucrative; he was reported to be worth half a million dollars at his death in 1900.
In 1861, at the start of the Civil War, Church was inspired to paint Our Banner in the Sky by a sunset featuring red, white, and blue that he believed was a symbol that "the heavens indicated their support for the United States by reflecting the nation's colors in the setting sun".[15] A lithograph was made from it and sold to benefit the families of Union soldiers.
Reposting for some reason.
I made this as part of the Billionaires segment of my World Progress Association project a few years ago.
Virginia and Maryland Eastern Shore
This is a poster I was never quite satisfied with but recently found my thoughts at the seashore and with a little tinkering was able to resolve it.
If you have never visited Assateague, it’s wild and remote feeling, though in fact it is on the populous East Coast. Bring mosquito repellant and admire the wild ponies from a bit of a distance.
Recent home portraits
Home Portraits
In this case a workplace portrait but still …the little doggie silhouette cracks me up :-)
Roanoke
For those unfamiliar with this small city in a gorgeous mountain setting, you will find a historic downtown that has survived updating for many decades. So you get some authentic Deco, etc, and increasingly loft living in old warehouse or office buildings, coffee shops, breweries. All within a few minutes of the Appalachian Trail. And served by Amtrak. Shhh. A gem ready to be ‘discovered.’
Fuerza Bruta, Argentine/American performance
Richmond's mascot: the 'possum
Yes you see them trundling around not infrequently and momma is often bussing around the little ones, as so:
Mid Century Mod like WOW in Alexandria
This neighborhood is a gem, and more posters will be forthcoming…
Art in the Avenue this Saturday
Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, forecast is perfect, see you there!
Good morning and (slightly) early Happy 100th to former president Jimmy Carter
We are back, will post pictures soon. See you at Art on the Avenue in Alexandria this Saturday!
Summer into fall
Store will be closed until October 1st.
essentially a landscape painter
Renovate this old democracy!
Inspired by:
https://www.amacad.org/ourcommonpurpose/report
How I do what I do
I am frequently asked how I make my posters. I start by drawing. (Unless I start by tearing and collaging) Sometimes freehand, and then scan. Sometimes freehand, with the mouse in a program like Adobe Illustrator. Sometimes I draw on tracing paper, over a photo and then use a good deal of artistic license to alter the drawing. Sometimes I trace a photo, such as the second one here, of my husband on a recent hike pointing out the view, directly in a drawing program on the computer.
Drew these entangled branches with a sharpie, and in Illustrator put in the plum blossoms. A memory of winter in Japan.
Special limited edition
Fleeting, like the aurora borealis itself
Skies in Virginia have been spectacular lately
Eclipse, double rainbows, tremendous cloud formations, aurora borealis. These are all artworks except of course the photos.
This one is a work in progress (headline?? Don’t know how to saw this) and yes the colors were that lurid (according to many; we saw something subtler but the way to do it was via your phone camera somehow - so I am going by my interpretation of the many many similar images I’ve seen from right here which is not normally Northern Lights territory