all things birds and beautiful – Stories in My Mind

I’m on Vacation!!

Here I am, Orin Thology, yesterday morning, tucked away and ready to go to Orcas Island with Kara. We left at O’darkhundred–5 a.m. to catch the ferry in Anacortes at 10:35. We pulled into lucky number lane 13 at exactly 10:08, loaded onto the ferry at 10:38 and arrived on Orcas Island just after noon.

Of course I got left in the car while Kara went upstairs to enjoy the view and have a snack. I have been promised a chance to ride on the passenger deck on the way home. If you don’t see a picture of me you will know Kara either forgot to take me upstairs or is too ashamed of me and is leaving me in the car again. (Yes, I’m insecure!)

Me, sitting on the railing of our deck pointing out the sheep. Can you see them?

It is beautiful in our little B&B. We are staying at Turtleback Farm Inn. Our room overlooks a beautiful pasture with grazing sheep, soaring Eagles and swooping swallows. Golden crowned sparrows flutter through the rhododendron bushes below our deck and lichen covered fencing lines the property. We awoke to quiet and singing birds. (I’m used to highway noise where I live.) As I write this I am overwhelmed by the sense of calm flooding through me and recharging me for a lovely hike to a lookout and a walk through the shops later on. Kara and I will finish our day having fire baked pizza enjoying the company of fellow artists and contributors to the bird festival going on this weekend here in the island. Which reminds me, I’d better get off of this phone, it’s time to prepare for the hike–I’ll catch you later along with more photos of our bird and art filled trip.

A Much Needed Update on The Birdwatcher

It’s time to break the long silence–this will be short because a newsletter will be sent out by Kara, the artist, very soon and a copy of it will be posted here. However, I am too excited to make an announcement, I just can’t contain myself, so I’m going to spill the beans before the newsletter comes out. “Look! Flying Jewels!,” the 3rd painting in The Bird Watcher series, of which I am the star–or possibly I’m just a supporting character in the painting–has been chosen to participate in two shows. Last week Kara told me that she had received notification from the National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS), that it was one of 150 paintings chosen to participate in their Spring On-line Show. The show is currently up on their website: http://www.noaps.org.

Information about the show--spread the word. — Information about the show–spread the word.

The other show I, I mean, the hummingbirds, are featured in is in the 1st Annual All Things Birds and Beautiful Show and Sale on Orcas Island. I’m particularly exited about this show because all sales commissions go to helping bird habitat in the San Juans, particularly Orcas Island. Kara and I will be heading up to the show opening VERY early on Thursday so we can catch the ferry by 10:45 a.m.. You can find all the details about the show as well as see all the beautiful art that is included in the show/sale at www.allthingsbirdsandbeautiful.org. This should be a great opportunity to meet fellow wildlife and bird artists as well as wildlife/bird art collectors. We, Kara and I, will also be doing some en plein air painting and photography while there. Watch for pictures to follow. 😉

More to come from the artist, very soon!

Upcoming Shows–I’m Excited for the Future!

What a wonderful studio weekend, but I’m tired! It hit me today. However, I didn’t want to let another day go by without giving you an update.

I had about 40 people come through, several were new to my studio. Besides having some sales I made wonderful contacts and more opportunity for my art to be displayed elsewhere. I’m very excited about an opportunity to have a solo show at a gallery in Vancouver, WA (I’ll name the gallery when we’ve solidified details–thank you George and Nancy for the introduction). The show will be in 2016 and hopefully, coinciding with the Duck’s Unlimited fund-raiser dinner the gallery owner is involved with. A perfect match for my art. Also, I received an invitation to apply for a couple of group shows in Gresham, OR (thanks Jill for passing my name along).

Not related to my studio tour, yesterday I received an email congratulating me on my piece “Look! Flying Jewels!,” (the 3rd painting in The Bird-Watcher series) being one of 58 pieces accepted into the All Things Birds and Beautiful Art Show and Sale on Orcas Island. The show runs April 22-May 16, with the opening reception held April 27, at the Orcas Island Historical Museum in Eastsound, WA.

Look! Flying Jewels! 36" x 24", oil on canvas. Accepted into All Thing Birds and Beautiful Art Sale and Show, on Orcas Island. — Look! Flying Jewels! 36″ x 24″, oil on canvas. Accepted into All Thing Birds and Beautiful Art Sale and Show, on Orcas Island.

This is the first annual show and sale and will benefit the arts and sciences of birds and their conservation. I am particularly excited about this show because it benefits the very creatures I love to paint, birds. My goal with my art is to awaken an interest in birds, their beauty and their habitats. It’s a perfect fit and it’d be lovely if it sold and I was able to help benefit the avian world monetarily as well.

Also, Orcas Island holds a special place in my heart–it’s where my husband and I spent a week for our honeymoon 21 years ago and we haven’t been there since our kids were teenagers–a long time. I’m looking forward to the trip.

Well, that’s all I have for now. I think I may be ready to take a nap after all this writing. Good night!

P.S. I know you haven’t heard much about my store lately–I’ve been busy getting ready for competitions and my studio tour. Hopefully it will be up and running in the next couple of weeks. Keep watching–thanks!