lunch with artist friend

It is always fun to have lunch with an artist friend. Yesterday I met an artist friend at Cafe Sicilia just to  share our  current  experiences on our artist journey. The food was yummy and we talked for maybe 2 hours. You may wonder what do you talk about for 2 hours? Well that is easy. We talked about Art, Art, and more Art. I came away from that lunch date feeling ready to get busy in the studio, refreshed, renewed and inspired. I hope she did too. .

Here is a preview of the illustration I have been working on for the cover of Deneen Kirsch Gambrell's children's book. This is Deneen's 3rd book about the musical mice   and their fun experiences on and off our planet earth. In this book the mice become mousetronauts and venture out into space seeking fun on the moon. I have a lot more tweaking to do on this painting but thought I would share my continuing  fun journey with the mice..

Torn paper abstract iris

It has been a busy week with appointments and lunches. I continue to work on the illustrations for the children's book. Hopefully I can finish the illustrations  by the end of this month, maybe earlier.But I thought I would share a piece of art that I did in the past. My childhood friend Marjorie was very ill and as she lived in another state I felt the best way to visit with her, beside telephone conversations  was to produce several note cards each week to send to her, hopefully encouraging her. Marjorie encouraged me in my art work, We spend many times together  visiting art museums and attending concerts and plays when I visited  my home town.  I produced cards in watercolor and collage always adding  a scripture or quote to lift her spirits. Sad to say my friend is no longer with us. I still think of her and miss our conversations. . Of all the cards I produced for Marjorie I loved the image above that I called " Iris and Blackberries."   This image was done by tearing  paper shapes  from magazines. I have often thought it would make a great abstract painting and maybe someday it will.

ILLUSTRATING

I do not have a new painting  to post today  as I have been painting an illustration for the cover of the children's book I am illustrating for author Deneen Kirsch Gambrell. I am trying to get the musical mice to the moon and back to Mouseville. The book will have 22 pages of art work plus the cover. I have 2 pages that I have not sketched yet and when I do I will nearly be finished. It is then that I will go over  the illustrations checking that all the mice have whiskers and tails and maybe some adjustments with new ideas that have come to me over the last few months.

 When Deneen asked me to illustrate her books I did not think I could. But after a lot of thought I realized I   needed to take the challenge and proceed with the work. God opens new doors for us and we have to take that leap of faith and trust He will carry us through.  It has been an exciting journey for me and I am amazed how easy it has been. The ideas flow and the skill I have acquired over the years has been there for me. God is good.

Celebration

   I love to grow and paint flowers and I came across this quote which I thought appropriate for today's blog and would love to share. " The artist is the confidant of nature, flowers carry on dialogue with him, through the graceful bending of their stems and the harmoniously tinted nuances of their blossoms. Every flower has a cordial word which nature directs toward him."  -August Rodin - 

   Celebration is a painting I did years ago and it  was sold. It is available in note cards. On the back of the card I wrote the following which describes the painting:  " Irises that bloom in her garden are a favorite painting subject of the artist. As the Spring breezes animate the colorful blossoms, they appear to be celebrating their short life in joyful dance. To Betty the blossoms are bursting forth in praise to their Creator. Her desire is to capture this feeling in color and rhythm on the canvas." 

I haven't been on the blog for a few days. I have been busy getting my painting ready, photographing it and sending it to the printer to produce Christmas cards.Sorry you will not get to see it until Christmas. But that won't be too long. How many shopping days left?

2001 Solo Art Show in the German-American Cultural Center

     In 2001, I was invited to have a solo show at the German-American Cultural Center in the New Orleans area. It was there that I met Dr. Marc Matrana whose ancestors owned the Seven Oaks plantation. He was writing a book on the history of the plantation and his ancestors. He was interested in my painting of Seven Oaks as I had actually sketched there. The mansion was destroyed by hurricane Betsy and he wanted to put a photo of the painting in his book. I felt very honored to have my painting reproduced in his book Lost Plantation: The Rise and Fall of Seven Oaks. Prints of this painting are available under notes and prints. 

Elliot Ness telephone painting

Recently besides working on my illustrations for the third children's book by author Deneen Gambrell  I have enjoyed working with acrylics and collage on gallery wrapped canvases. These are fun paintings of flowers and objects I have  around my house. Below is one of the most recent paintings of an old telephone I purchased years ago from a telephone company in Michigan. It is called an Elliot Ness telephone. This original  painting can be purchased for $200.00 plus shipping costs. Also available are 14" X 11" prints at a cost of $65.00 each  and note cards at $3.00 each. If you are interested in purchasing any of these items contact me at grummerb@gmail.com.

Rusty the cat, my muse

Let me introduce you to Rusty, my muse.  Rusty  is a proud native Texan. As an orphaned baby kitten he was rescued from a church yard and lives with my daughter. Rusty struts about with an arrogant attitude and has been known to hiss and raise a paw to swipe at strangers. After observing Rusty's moods and antics over the years my imagination began to soar. A series developed portraying Rusty celebrating a variety of occasions and sometimes displaying a kinder, more sensitive kitty.

Follow your bliss

Joseph Campbell said "When you follow your bliss ... doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else." Bliss would be the place where you would be happy. God opens doors for us and we must be willing to take the challenge, that leap of faith, and I have experienced this in my art work. I must always be willing to accept those "open doors" that He has prepared for me and overcome these challenges. Illustrating children's books has been a joy for me, it has been a door that has opened. Currently I am working on the third book that I am illustrating for the author Deneen Kirsch Gambrell. You can contact me at grummerb@gmail.com if you wish to purchase any of these books for $20.00 each + shipping.

No Music for Mouseville



 

 

The Musical Mice and their Great Adventure

HopScotch and Jacks

 acrylic and collage on canvas

30" X 40"

$900.00 + shipping



My "Sacred Place"

Joseph Campbell said we all need a "sacred place", a place where we can experience and bring forth what we are and what we might be. My sacred place is my studio and courtyard, an extension of my studio. Here I can sketch. Paint, plan, write, meditate, thank and praise God for the gift of art and this "sacred place."

My "Sacred Place"

My sacred place contains things from my childhood, my little girl dollhouse, Grandma's pie safe and matching table, shutters from the windows in the house where we lived.

You are my sunshine!

Acrylic and collage on gallery wrap canvas

14" x 11"

$200 + shipping

Zinnia's

Currently on my easel one of my most recent paintings.
Acrylic & Collage on Canvas Board
14" x 11"
$75 + shipping