Yuletide Whimsy

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sunday, Sunday, why trust that day????

I had great plans for painting today and alas my husband is home, my daughter came from Delta...the wiser choice to spend time with family. Perhaps this evening or in the morning...

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Divine Intervention...

I have to share a funny story...Yesterday afternoon I was headed to Goodwill to find a unique painting surface. I'm wanting to paint something special for my granddaughters and thought this might be a good place to find just that right piece I have in mind. I was driving down the street and saw a store I'd seen before but hadn't stopped in to browse. It's a second hand store and since I was looking for second hand items I thought why not? I took a quick turn into the parking lot and went inside. I looked around for a while in one part of the store and then another. I went by the front counter and inquired about consigning some items I have I'd like to sell and then went on to the other part of the store to look some more. I walked over toward the wall and saw a handpainted wood plaque sitting in front of some other framed pieces. I took a closer look and exclaimed, out loud, I painted that! It was the "Tole Sampler" I had painted back in 1986 as my first teaching sample for beginning tole classes in oils at a shop in Brush, Colorado. Now, what are the chances of that happening? I mean, really! Well, I'd been thinking about this piece for a few weeks, just kind of off and on...you know that funny little thought that just kinda pops into your head? I had to purchase it. The funny thing is it was only $7--which is also kind of a sad thing, too...not really! I was very happy to have it back again. I took it to class last night to share with The Tole in the Wall Gang. They were all duly impressed, I might add.
This Tole Sampler was a duplicate of the first one I painted when I was taking classes with Marjorie and Cheryl a few years before. It is a Priscilla Hauser design, I believe. It was her method they were teaching. What fun I had in those classes. In fact, I had so much fun I repeated Tole I AFTER I took Tole II! I just had to get it right. That's also where I met one of my very best friends ever, Suzie! We are still friends today. See what amazing things can happen...
BTW~I did go on to Goodwill. Didn't find the piece I was looking for but did find a piece that will work for another project I'm planning to paint!
All in all--a great day!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

A brand new experience...

Well, fellow bloggers...I'm embarking on a brand new experience! I've read my friends and families' blogs and now it's time for me to try my hand at it.

I've been searcing for a way to reach more people to share my love of tole and decorative painting. My daughter and some of my friends suggested I try a blog. So...here I am.

As I've mentioned in my profile, I've been painting for over 30 years. I started taking classes in oils, learning Priscilla Hauser's method of tole painting back in the early '80's. My teacher, Marjorie Richardson, has become a wonderful friend and mentor. I try to emulate her teaching style with my own twist. What a tremendous adventure I began all those years ago. Who knew it would lead me here...

We moved a few years after my first classes to a small town in rural eastern Colorado. There was a tiny shop there with a lady who taught her style of tole painting in acrylics. I was still painting with oils and thought--why don't I give this a try. A teacher was born! I had a loyal following for several years. When Estelle closed her shop and moved to California I wasn't sure what I'd do. So, I found a cute little shop in Evans, Colorado, and a wonderful lady there to teach me how to transfer my skills from oils to acrylics. Fun was had by all!

We then moved on to Denver where I really began to hone my skills teaching tole and decorative painting in acrylics. My husband's career in the oil and gas industry has taken us to many places over the years and I've met some really wonderful people while teaching tole and decorative painting.

We are back in western Colorado now and I'm teaching at The Artist's Haven. Watch for more information to follow...