Brit Blast from the Past

My sis went to England this week. This has me reminiscing on a trip I took with my sisters to England this month two years ago. One of the first pictures I took. He looked so English that I couldn't resist.
We stayed here with a handsome Barrister and his family. A lovely three story townhouse. They treated us royally (no pun intended) and fed us in English gourmet style.
First day out we ended up here in front of the Dusty Fox Pub. We're holding each other up after a few too many stouts! Me on the left.
We chatted up a storm through the village with big sis, the photographer, trying for the perfect shot.
A walk through the countryside.
A house I'd dream of living in.
The Barrister sends us off with The Full Monty. The traditional English breakfast.
Next, we stayed here. Fawsley Hall. There in the mist! What a gorgeous place.
Accommodations were astounding! We were jumping for joy when we walked in! Wow!
We positioned our chairs at the window overlooking the garden for our morning tea and decided we were pretty darn lucky!
We were so thrilled we decided to document the moment wearing our new hats. Yeah, that's Cary Grant. He spent the night with us too! Little sis in the good guy white hat, me in the elegant black. I positioned the camera at the foot of the bed and set the timer. The first two shots were of me flying through the air in a blur, the billowing comforter and then the quick SMILE! NOW!
After waaaay too much to eat and drink we took a walk in the morning. We found this fisherman by the pond wrestling an extraordinary fish! He was not interested in the least by our attempts at conversation! Good Morning! Whatcha got there?!
Grumble grrrr...#@!*X&#... a pike. It's a PIKE!
Striking the goofy adventure pose in the cemetery.
Then there was the night at the lovely Carriage House Inn! Less than stellar! That phone is a fake and I swear the mattress was stuffed with cardboard boxes! I guarded myself from the slimy headboard with the extra pillow! But we had fun here talking stupid sister stuff and laughing 'til we conked out for the night.
On to London! Westminster Abbey!
Trafalger Square....
Buckingham Palace. We knocked. No answer! Italian girl wanted the gate all to herself.
On the train heading for home.
There were a pile of pictures, but there are things to do here in McDonough, so I'll say goodbye for now to my thoughts of England. Have a good time in England, sis! Get well other sis!
Have a fab day, folks!
Ronnie-in a small town in Georgia USA

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!

Recognize this style? Hmmmmm?
If you don't, you are seriously out of the loop!
It's by Sandy Mastroni!
She is celebrating over 200 sales on Etsy this week!
She's having a giveaway for a chance to win this charming art pillow as a thank you to all her loyal friends in blog land.
HERE! HERE! GO HERE! Help Sandy celebrate. I hope you get lucky!

Dance Around! It's James Brown!!!?

The Arts Clayton Gallery is holding a big fund raising dinner this month at the National Archives. They needed, "visual art as it relates to music".
This 30 inch round beveled canvas that I found on my trip to Atlanta several weeks back was screaming, "Me! Me! Use me!
So, I did.
I started out by excruciatingly pencil drawing three concentric circles and then got out the black paint. I usually plan my paintings on paper first, but this time, I didn't have a clue where I was going except that James Brown was screaming at me too! "Please, please, please, please!"
I loved James Brown as a kid. I went to what was probably one of his first concerts, held in a grubby old city auditorium in Atlanta in 1966. A friend's brother had to drive us, because we were too young to drive ourselves.
The place was packed and when James came out on the stage followed by The Amazing Flames, everyone jumped onto the wood folding seats, teetering there in their loafers for the entire show.
The Flames wore shiny, lime green suits with pegged pants and short suit coats. Carefully coordinated James wore the tightest, hot-pink, shiny, silk suit that I had ever laid my young eyes on. On his feet where those famous, magical, black, pointed toe, ankle high boots...boots that aided him in sliding in any direction upon the stage floor, never having to lift his feet even an inch. It was as if he had ball bearings on his feet. I was star struck. Owwwww!

Which leads me to this...James Brown memorialized or demoralized on my big round canvas.
The act of painting that blue neon stripe and trying to keep it straight (round) was a religious experience.
I was pleased with how James' likeness turned out and my son and his friend agreed, "THAT'S James Brown!" This was comforting.
Next, I hand drew the letters and "energy lines" on paper...transferred them to the canvas...then painted them and...
Here he is. It looks much BIGGER in person! Click the pic to see the bling in his eye.
When I delivered it to the gallery on Saturday the ladies all screamed with excitement when they saw him! Just like when James was alive and dancing.
To Feel Good click below to see James dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgDrJ5Z2rKw
Have a super week, folks. : )
Ronnie

High Cotton!!!

Another painting in steps! This time, a cotton sign. Grab yourself an 18"x24" gallery wrapped canvas. Paint it with a good coat of raw umber. Then, a coat of white. Let it dry well and then sand and scratch and generally abuse the canvas. Draw on your design and you're ready to paint.
Letters and a red stripe. I did one a while back for a Georgia lady. This one's for TEXAS!
Some shading and highlights...
Paint on that cotton field, a star and a big cotton plant! More distressing, add some white here and there...
Add burnt umber around edges for that good, old, dirty, rusty look...
AND YOU'RE DONE!
This painting is off to Texas to a cotton farming family. YOu gotta LOVE it!!!
This pic is fairly clear. Zoom in for a closer look if you need details.
Later gators,
: ) Ronnie

Not New Orleans!

Blowing off the to do list, Joe and I jumped in the car Thursday afternoon and headed to St Marys for their quirky small town America Mardi Gras celebration. This is not New Orleans!
We had a great time! Enjoy the pics, folks.
The King and Queen of Mardi Gras in St. Marys, dressed in all their royal blue jeaned grandness!

Hot Grannies!
Evil Jester Grand Marshall!
The Beauty Shop Float!
Pedalling Pirate.
The Tractor Brigade that shows up for every parade for any reason.
The General Lee in all its loudness!
Yum! Carnivore Central!
The perfect couple. Argh!
Cap'n Joe in a moment of good behavior.

A few of the dogs attending.

Good Bird!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Let the good times roll!
Ronnie

Rare talent in Rhode Island

I challenge you to find a more talented group of women. Arts in RI!
Take a gander at this gift basket (scroll down) they ponied up and gave away to a very lucky winner for Valentine's Day. Not only talented in their craft, but extremely generous as well.
Julie Beck! I have been following and admiring her for a while. Her very "uniquely Julie" house portraits are a must have. Watch the progress of her work on Julie's blog.
Paula McDonough! I adore her nostalgic jewelry design. Look for that signature key! Beautiful.
Carol! She makes gorgeous hand woven scarves and dolls in her seaside studio.
Kim! Swoon worthy!!! Her lampwork beads are each a piece of art. I love Kim's work.
Wendy T! Wendy's beautiful work speaks for itself. Stunning jewelry designs made with all natural materials.
Linda! Funky and very cool purses and jewelry. NO whining cuff links. A purse made from seatbelts. You gotta see it!
Lisa! Exquisitely made handbags and pillows.
If you like the new bright prints, She's got 'em. Follow her daily rant at Lisa's blog.
Go visit a while with these fun and talented ladies from Rhode Island.
Little state, big hearts, VERY BIG ART!

Have a swell day, y'all!
Ronnie - feeling pretty good today, thank you.

Beauty stuck in the eye of the beholder

This is a painting done by my brilliant, thoughtful, three year old grandson. Beautiful? Yes!
I think so. It now hangs proudly in my art workroom. Thank you Cooper.
Today, I have a sore throat and sore skin. My hair is sticking out like a pile of pic up stics dropped on my head.
Could it be the result of the mind body connection....
"I'm too sick to think about any new ideas. I don't feel like myself. sniff.
Yeah, that's it. Self reflection can be uncomfortably revealing sometimes.
Two "Family Faces" victims are waiting to be brought into the world. One I promised to my dear story-telling, ocean-loving grandson and the other for a sister as a commission. A third BIG painting is for a gallery fund raising dinner...the theme being Visual Art and how it relates to Music, due by the end of the month. Blahhhhhh! The most I feel like creating is rice krispies treats.
What do I do? I take Sandy Mastroni's advice and try another medium.
I got out the new box of Sculpy. Thatta Girl!!! This is what happened...."Cat Fish Love" on the far right. On the left, a bunch of what Joe called Donut Flowers. A heart pendant hiding behind a teeny tiny purse. And in the middle a little monster.
The monster is a clear violation of design rights, meaning how dare I take a perfectly brilliant idea conjured in the mind of JunkerJane and screw it over like this??!!?! I guess because I love her monsters and they haunt me every waking moment along with brilliance that falls out of SAndy Mastroni's brain. Look at this.........
I adore this image. And the thought behind it. Good to be odd. Odd to be Good. Brilliant.
Don't you think? How could you not?!
Have a good week y'all,
Ronnie - cough, cough, oh, whoa, cough, whine, moan

Has your Muse drifted off?

I've been hearing a lot of talk lately: My Muse is GONE. I've lost my Mojo. Can't seem to get it together.
Perhaps it's Winter and the lack of sunlight.
Maybe our minds need a bit of a respite.
Relax. Release some of the pressure.

You may be surprised that it all comes back.

:)
Have a good day,
Ronnie