The Top Ten Reasons...

I, the one who is so pitifully sporadic about my online adventures, am going to try something different tomorrow.

Since we've just added the work of ten new artists to Artist Alley this month...and we'll be featuring them and their work at our First Friday Opening tomorrow night...I thought that I'd provide you with day-long a visual depiction of "The Top Ten Reasons To Attend our First Friday Opening in August".

These posts will take place tomorrow. Each post will feature the work of one of our ten new artists. The first post will be placed at around noon, and the other nine will follow throughout the afternoon. Whether or not you're able to attend our opening in person, I promise that this eye candy will be good for your soul.

So, please stay tuned here and on our Facebook Page; share us with your friends and family; and definitely let me know what you think!

Oh What a Month!!!

Oh what a month!!! August has brought more fabulous artists and artwork at one time than we've ever experienced at Artist Alley. We're filled to the gills with all of this North Carolina artsy goodness, and I'm really looking forward to sharing it with you in person.

If you're out and about this Friday, August 6th from 5 - 9, we'll be hosting our First Friday Opening featuring all of our newest artists. I hope to see you here!

Phil Rukse: June's First Friday Featured Artist at Artist Alley

As June's featured artist, Phil Rukse, from Charlotte, North Carolina will be joining us from 5 - 9 for tomorrow's First Friday Opening at Artist Alley.

In discussing his work and his inspiration, Phil explains, “My life's journey has been to capture the beauty and color of the great season of Autumn.” The photo here doesn't begin to do it justice. Working primarily in acrylic paints and watercolors, Phil has achieved this goal with flying colors. (No pun intended!) Phil also accepts commissions, and his paintings are exhibited in galleries, businesses, and private collections.

Tomorrow's First Friday Opening promises to be a real treat. We'll be welcoming visitors, from 5-9 p.m., and delectable refreshments will be served.

I hope to see you then!

May Flowers ... The Floral Photography of Vickie Rounds

In case you haven't noticed, at Artist Alley, we have a thing for North Carolina Art and North Carolina Artists! Our artists reside from The Mountains to The Coast and from The-Middle-of-No-Where to The-Center-of-The-City. We're also blessed to have a number of local artists who share their talents with us as well.

Vickie Rounds is one of them. In fact...Vickie is extremely local, and she lives within a few blocks of Artist Alley. This photo of Vickie's work doesn't begin to do it justice. In person, each of these pieces is so vibrant and detailed that you feel as if you could step right into the flower. And while they're amazing individually, all together, their look is almost indescribable.

In addition to the quality of Vickie's work, one of the most incredible elements of it to this wannabe gardener is that each and every one of these photographs was taken in her own yard! For local gardeners, she's also willing to capture the beauty of their gardens through a custom photo session.

Whatever your skill level as a gardener or a garden-lover, I do hope that you'll have a chance to view these beauties in person sometime soon!

Hope to See You Tomorrow for The Shindig!

March Mixed Media Madness Opens at Artist Alley!

We have quite a weekend in store for you at Artist Alley! And the fun begins on Friday when The Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild will grace us with their presence. I love every event that we host; but when these artists descend on The Alley, the word "Opening" is defined in a whole new way.

What do you get when you combine twenty-five Mixed Media Artists...a list of twenty-two random, unrelated, and downright unusual items... and a bottomless reserve of creativity?

Your guess is as good as mine!

Last year's First Annual Kit Challenge, was one of the most memorable of the year at Artist Alley, and I feel confident that this year will uphold the same tradition.

I hope to see you in person for March Mixed Media Madness... The Sequel!!!

Are You Curious Yet?!?!?!

The Palustris Festival!

Have you heard the buzz about The Palustris Festival ?

The inaugural Palustris Festival is being held right here in Moore County, North Carolina, from March 25th through March 28th. The festivities will include over 100 affordable events at various venues throughout our community. At Artist Alley, we've planned an opening for Friday night and another for Saturday afternoon.

(I promise that these will be events that you won't want to miss, and I'll post more about them soon!)

For now, be sure to visit The Palustris Website for details on all that's happening.

Saturday, March 13th, at Artist Alley

Please join us on Saturday, March 13th from 12 - 4 for "Second Saturday with Jayce Cade". Jayce creates under the names of Jari Custom Leathers and Fox and Hound Accessories.

She'll be be available to discuss her jeweled creations and the meanings behind many of the gemstones that she includes. She'll also be presenting a mini leather studio workshop where visitors can see work in progress. She'll be demonstrating hand carving and hand construction techniques too.
Hope to see you here!

Duck...duck...chicken?!?!?

'Tis the season for bird-themed artwork at Artist Alley! These photos were taken in front of the gallery today.

• Duck and Chicken by Angela Cummings-Thompson
• Gourd Birdhouses by Jan Graindorge
• Seusical Flowers by John Amero
• Funky Windchimes by Robin Webster
• Cedar and Stone Bench by Gary Bowers.