The Honeymoon's Over

I knew it would happen, and it has, what do I do now? I have worked on the exhibit for 18 months and now all the anticipation and planning are over, (sort of like planning a wedding). Even though I knew it would happen I thought I could head it off, wrong, I am feeling a bit lost. I wonder around my now empty studio feeling like an emptynester, my babies are gone, where to begin now. I have a few ideas rattling around in my head but nothing is jelling yet. I would like to do some large landscapes and also some nudes, although finding models could be a problem in my small town. It will come in time I hope. On a sad note, the Talisman Gallery in Bartlesville, OK will be closing its doors after 40 plus years in business. It was my first gallery and it has been a great experience. For those of you who don't know The Talisman, it is owned and operated by Jody Kirberger a larger than life personality whose generosity is unmatched. Many of todays great artists got their start here in Oklahoma with Jodi. Richard Schmid, Scott Burdick, Nancy Guzik, Dan Gerhartz just to name a few. The gallery has been a landmark in Bartlesville and it will be dearly missed by artists as well as patrons. Thanks Jodi for 10 great years!

Reflecting

" Portrait of Sarah"
16"x13"

The opening reception for my solo exhibit was yesterday. I dreamed of what it would be like for a year and a half. It was more than I imagined, the people of my community came out in style. The response was overwhelming, I was so moved by everyones kindness and support. I met so many new people, not that I can remember their names, (nerves), and all of my artist friends were there to cheer me on. The crowd was big and they kept coming, I guess everyone likes a party, and that's what it felt like, good friends, good food, and art that we could all relate to. Well today I am exhausted, I don't think I realized how much stress I was under because I loved every part of it, it didn't seem stressful. I am not in the studio today, my house is calling for attention, it has been ignored for too long. I figured if the boys had clean cloths and hot meals the rest could wait for a while, and they did their part in picking up the slack around here. Besides I think I have empty nest syndrome, my studio is empty, I liked being surrounded by all the paintings and frames for so long it seems a bit hollow up there.

A Long Road

January Pond

11"x14"

For the past 18 months I have been working on my first solo exhibition. It opens this Sunday here in my town of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, it's called "Our Town, Our Land, Our People." I spent years seeking representaion for my work in far away places that I never even visited, entered shows out of state, and that's fine but I think I underestimated my home state of Oklahoma. I was not born in Oklahoma, but I am proud to call Oklahoma home. As I was celebrating 16 years of living in Okmulgee; Oklahoma was celebrating its' first one hundred years of statehood. I was struck by the pride and unifying spirit of our people. What I have come to love about Okmulgee is the kindness and hospitality of our people, the subtle beauty of our land and how the people are directly connected to it. The muted colors of Autumn, the ice covered trees of Winter, the bright green fields of Winter Wheat, and the cool blues of our lake in Summer have all come to inspire in me a need to capture in paint this time and this place. Our town is rich in history, every building has a story to tell. My story is about Okmulgee, Oklahoma, a small town with pride, and a sensibility that anyone who lives in a small town can identify with. The response and support for this show has been wonderful and I am so grateful to everyone who has worked and volunteered to help me with this exhibit, and I want to thank them all. I guess the moral to the story is while you dream of success in far away places, don't forget that the people who are rooting for you success are right here at home.