Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Jean Rogers and Doris Smith at Artist Alley This Friday!
Friday, May 13, 2011
artsee Magazine at Artist Alley
The folks at Artsee have been kind enough to provide us with a supply of magazines for our customers. They’re be available free of charge here at The Alley, and the latest issue just arrived. Please stop soon for your very own copy!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Nichols, Roux, Ed "Moose" Duke, and Springfest in Southern Pines
Friday, April 1, 2011
It's Reigning Dogs and Cats...and Fish?!? at Artist Alley Tonight
The first blue dog painting came to life around 2000 as part of an assignment for a painting class. The task was to paint a blue or yellow animal using your non-dominate hand, for me that was my left hand as I am naturally right handed. As for the choice of animal, it was simple-“DOGS”. I have always had a great love for the canine. So, the first two paintings in this series, “original dog” and “watermelon dog” were completed more than ten years ago and were done with my left hand. It was probably about two years after that-around 2002 that I began to showcase the series at Artist Alley-blue dogs’ very first venue. Luckily for me they seem to be a hit right from the start and with the success first demonstrated by the “Alley” sales, I have been able to expand to a few more stores in North Carolina as well as, other markets.
As for the method to my madness (aka inspiration)…my creativity manifests itself in all kinds of ways-from abstract paintings to sculpture to carpentry work and I enjoy it all. I love the process involved in having my ideas materialize into two or three dimensional form. So although my formal degree is in painting and drawing my main objective is creative illustration in whatever forms that may take. As for the blue dog series, well….if you have a dog or know a dog you too know that they can always provide material for new ideas. Some of the images I have painted were things that my dogs (or my dog’s friends) actually were caught in the act performing and some were a little coerced-though rest assured that no harm came to the animals while posing for pictures. I also discovered fairly early on that the blue dog paintings often make people smile and I think that, in itself has great value. These are the main reasons I have painted and hopefully will continue to it keep painting the blue dog series for years to come.
I am currently working on three more paintings to add to the collection and hopefully they will be completed within the next few months. I have to insert here that I had a hard time at the beginning of this year with motivation as one of my main sources of inspiration, my little 17 year old “red dog” jas, grew too old to be by my side any longer. My heart was broken as she was the most faithful, beautiful, loving companion that one could ever wish for. Now as time passes, it is getting easier to think of her most days without overwhelming sadness and just smile and I believe that when I am painting blue dog, she is still here and a little bit of her spirit continues to go into each image in the form of love….
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Final Call for Springfest 2011
Hope to see you there!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Please Join Us For Our First Friday Opening with Nichols Pottery!
If you're not able to attend, please check out the lovely little article in today's issue of The Pilot, and be sure to visit soon for the best selection. :-)