The Hard Way

The Hard Way_____24x24 oil___ Phippen Museum Western Art Show

 

The Hard Way needs to be seen up close! Zoom in and you can see some texture there! I'll have this painting at the Phippen Museum Western Art Show in Prescott, AZ over Memorial Day Weekend. PLEASE com e see me! Below is a funny story while I painted it.

 

YESTERDAY and below

I posted info about a special workshop coming up in June. CLICK HERE to see that.

 

 

I had just finished the detail on the horse's eye, and went to get a drink, but when I came back to the easel, there were smudgies all over the area I had worked! Sometimes my little finger steadies my hand while I paint, and I "step" into the painted area with it, but these smudges were too high....I was mad! Someone came in and slapped around my wet paint!!

see culprit below

 ...dang moth



Maria del Presidio

Maria del Presidio___5x7 watercolor for Chocolate & Chiaroscuro

Wednesday is my first open "studio" event...if you want to call Joel's a "studio"...I DO!!!
Joel's is where I go several times a week, just to get out of the studio and the classroom. To sit with my artist buddy, or sometimes alone with a sketchbook. Robin Cheers and I solve all the world's problems over coffee, chocolate and sketchbooks...Come see some of our "coffee shop works" and enjoy a casual evening in our "studio". info below.

 



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UPCOMING EVENTS

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NOW thru Nov. 24 -  AWA Show, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX

Wednesday, November 20 - Chocolate & Chiaroscuro....and Holiday CHEER
4 to 8 pm at Joel's

an open studio event featuring V....Vaughan and Robin Cheers...and CHOCOLATE

at Joel's Coffee House, Austin
 

Solemn Shadows - Goliad

Solemn Shadows - Goliad___5x7 graphite wash__available at

 

Chocolate & Chiaroscuro

My first Open "Studio" event with artist friend Robin Cheers is WEDNESDAY.
Robin and I meet each week at Joel's to sketch, and paint and share artist life. That's how this event came to be...We always have coffee (me) and hot chocolate (her) and some of Joel's wonderful artisan truffles (both of us). PLEASE JOIN US for our first studio event!
We will be sketching anyone who wants to sit for us! An original, personal sketch makes a nice gift...we are keeping this event focused on affordable, smaller works and sketches, just right for unique gifts...We hope you can drop by

 



***

UPCOMING EVENTS

***

NOW thru Nov. 24 -  AWA Show, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX

Wednesday, November 20 - Chocolate & Chiaroscuro....and Holiday CHEER
4 to 8 pm at Joel's

an open studio event featuring V....Vaughan and Robin Cheers...and CHOCOLATE

at Joel's Coffee House, Austin
 

Goliad Storm Brewing

Goliad Storm Brewing___8x10 oil on linen panel__$450

 

A few short weeks ago, just before my mom passed away, I went on a little painting jaunt with artist pal, Robin Cheers. The storms chased us away from Port Lavaca, and we stopped at Goliad on the way home...we started painting there, but before I finished, the storms got us again!...I finished it from memory and a picture....

Another painting of this "mission" is my entry in the American Women Artists National Show opening FRIDAY, November 1st (now!) in Fredericksburg at RS Hanna Gallery.  Click here to see the show painting, as it appeared in this month's Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine (at the bottom middle of page). Join me, and the best women artists for some wine and cheese and great art FRIDAY from 6-9 pm!

If you miss the opening, head over to Fredericksburg later on. The show hangs till November 24th.

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EVENTS

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NOW thru Nov. 24 -  AWA Show, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX

Wednesday, November 20 - Chocolate....Charcoal....and CHEER

Goliad Guns

Goliad Guns__8x10 oil "palette droppings"

I used my "palette droppings" from yesterday's work at Joel's to create Goliad Guns, above.

Using B.C's photo and a palette knife...now my palette is clean!

Yesterday morning I met at Joel's Coffee House in Austin with Artist, Robin Cheers.

Click the Joel's link for the BEST PART of what we did, yesterday...a little sidetracking with CUPCAKES...Really "good" artists would have painted them, but Robin and I just ate them. We did not know it was CUPCAKE SATURDAY, so we had to find our way with the distraction...somebody has to...

As usual, the time at Joel's passed too fast.

COME NEXT WEEK!
On Saturday, June 15, and June 22 we'll do it again! You can join us with your sketch supplies, or USE OURS! We will each do a short demo...Mine will be a quick draw like the video below...

And we persuaded Calli to do her cupcakes again!

Cost is $20

 

V....Vaughan's Quick Draw at Cowgirl Up, 2013...Thank you MIKE'S ROAD TRIP

I wonder where Mike is, TODAY?

Sonidos de Paz

 

Sonidos de Paz___10 x 30 oil on linen___available

 

"Sounds of Peace" is the translation of this title...

It is a painting of the Presidio, La Bahia in Goliad, Texas...

March in Texas is a month of remembrance...The Alamo and Goliad are  solemn places where terrible battles were fought in March of 1836...

Our family was out and about this weekend, and Springtime is EVERYWHERE: bluebonnets, nesting and singing birds, the new greens of grasses and trees, the "hold-out" pecan trees still waiting for "warmer" before they will bud.

 

I will be in Arizona by week's end. If you have friends there, PLEASE tell them to come see me at Cowgirl Up! March 22-24, Wickenburg, AZ

Espiritu Santo___10 x8 oil on linen__$550 framed

I am delivering art to Rockport's Wind Way Gallery for a two month "featured artist" show there....Hope you can come by and see! We will have a reception soon....I painted this especially for Wind Way. The location is in Goliad, which is along the way to Rockport from my place...

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Fall Workshops with V....

September 6, 12, 20, 27__Austin___ "Chocolates and Chiaroscuro" contact V...,.


Sept. 15, 2012___Salado TX, Contact Belinda Walker__1 or two spots open!

Oct. 28-30__Texas__at Fredericksburg Artists School

El Presidio La Bahia

El Presidio La Bahia___4x8 oil on linen framed for Whistle Pik Christmas Miniatures Show (click blog image to enlarge)

I have a grouping of 4 small works for this year's Miniature Show at Whistle Pik Galleries in Fredericksburg, TX. The small canvases are all mounted and framed the same way (see below, and see yesterday's post). I have been doing a lot of work at the Presidio in Goliad, Texas. This is the site of one of Texas' most important events, and this place brings a deep sense of awe when you are there. I want my paintings to remind viewers of that...I wish you could see them all together!

Tono Suave__mission bell, dove

Tono Suave__24x24 oil on linen___available



Goliad is a sacred place to Texans, the place where Col. James Fannin and over 300 of his men surrendered in good faith to General Santa Anna, who did not spare their lives as he said he would...it was a terrible massacre...the same month as the fall of the Alamo! You can read more about it here.
This is one of my favorite places to paint..when I am here EVERYTHING seems to "move" my spirit, from the quiet meadows nearby, to the presidio courtyards. The gentle cooing of the white-winged doves is constant, as is the soft sounds from the bell tower....so I titled this one "Tono Suave", which means "Gentle Sound"...



Oct. 21 (Thursday) ALL DAY…till moonrise…..Rockport, TX email quick if you can do this one vvaughan8@yahoo.com

Nov. 17-18 (Wed.- Thus)….Bryan/College Station, TX vvaughan8@yahoo.com for info
Jan. 27-29 or so…..Rockport, TX ***This one is for ART TEACHERS. It would cout as “in service”…continuing education credits and all that. You would sign up for several different workshops and your school ought to be able to pay for it …I am not sure of the dates, but sign up for it is right now, I think! See Rockport Art Center for details! . I am just one of MANY instructors!
June 13-15, 2011…info at Fredericksburg Artists School

October 4-6, 2011 David City, Nebraska in conjunction with the opening of my exhibit on October 7, 2011

"Passing America: The Great Plains"



I also offer PERSONALIZED workshops…if you can round up a group of 10 - 15 , I provide all the literature and info, you just collect the money and organize locations and you get to come FREE!...If I have to travel, the fees would include travel expenses…It works well, and I do this all over the country!

Luz Sobre La Bahia

Luz de la Luna Sobre La Bahía__24x24 oil on linen___ framed for Rockport Art Festival

This painting is being packed up to go to the Rockport Art Festival next weekend. It is another night scene of La Bahia, in Goliad, TX. I hope you will "vote" for the frame you think looks best. See below. One is "warm" with reds, (frame 2) the other has cooler darks with turquoise (frame 1). These are my favorite frame these days...made of special antique tin overlay from those old tin ceilings. The crosses are my addition...Which one looks best? I can't decide...This night sky lighter is than the others I have done at my favorite Historical spot in Texas...yes, I like this place better, even, than the Alamo! It's history overlaps the Alamo, and is even more tragic...Col. Fannin and his men (about 350) were massacred here, after surrendering for their lives. Santa Anna ordered their execution. Some believe their Mexican captors did not want to kill them, but were afraid of their evil dictator....to walk these grounds, especially in the evening hours is a solemn thing, and I stop here to do that each time I am on the way to Rockport . I am usually alone....this place is NOT the tourist attraction that the Alamo is.


Frame 1

Frame 2