Christmas Commission 2

Here is another commission portrait I painted for Christmas. I was asked by a friend in South Carolina to paint her parents. She sent me a picture of the beautiful couple. As soon as I saw the gleam and love in their eyes, I was inspired. This is a couple who seem to love each other very much and have stayed together to weather the roads of marriage. They have seen good times and bad, better and worse, sickness and health and have chosen to love each other until the very end. What a testimony to marriage they are!

Luckily we got it mailed out just in time for Christmas. And she received it with 2 days to spare! whew!

Here is a picture of the completed piece.

Enjoy!

M

Christmas Commission

I was asked to do a commission for Christmas. She wanted a painting of her debonair husband sitting in his library reading his favorite book. The portrait also needed to have a painting of a bale of hay? hmmmm, I thought this was a strange request, but decided to go ahead and ask...."What is the bale of hay?". Apparently every time they drive past a bale he says in a "Joe Cool" kind of way...."heeeeeeeeey". LOL! I decided right then that this one, I HAD to do! Now mind you, we had 5 days til Christmas! Yikes! We hung up the phone and I went straight to painting...and painting.....and painting...and........DONE!

Here is the final painting with her husband striking a pose :)

I am so glad that I got to be part of this wonderful Christmas for them.

FUN is what painting is ALL about!

Enjoy,

M

Children's Class - Dec. 18th!

Working Madly for Christmas!

One commission down....2 to go before Christmas....1 to go before tomorrow! I can't complain though. But you all might not see any activity on here for a little while. I need to get "lost" in the paint for a while :)

In the middle of all of this crazy schedule, I have started another KOI painting! This one will be a little different from the rest :) I will post pictures as each painting is complete.

Enjoy!

M

Happy Birthday Carol!

Completed Painting

Reference Photo

Here is a commission that I just finished and was picked up today. It was done for a good friend of mine, for her birthday. Her sweet husband came in a few months ago and brought me a picture that they had taken. He wanted to have a painting done and give it to her for her birthday. I LOVE these kind of paintings! Not only for the fact that they are a secret...but that someone puts so much thought into a gift. It is easy to go to the mall and buy a gift...but it is ALWAYS more fun to really think about it and find something personal.
So...Happy Birthday Carol! I hope you enjoy your Jazz guys as much as I did painting them. The other artists were starting to worry about me talking to them so much in my studio! LOL!
Enjoy!

Great Class!

I had a great group of women in the Chinoiserie class yesterday! It was a great small group. And these women rocked! They completed a 6 hour painting in 2 1/2!!!! Way to go ladies! Now, I did prime and crack the canvases before they got there. So that knocked off about 2 hours. But still!!! Wow!

I am always amazed at how artistic people really are if they just let go. I can't tell you how many times I have heard, "I can't even draw a stick figure". I really believe that there is an artful side to everyone that balances out their "thinking" side. When the left side of the brain is turned off, the art begins to emerge. These women were fearless. They sat down and let their right brains run with it. Not a word of complaint or criticism of themselves...they just painted. Before we knew it, the time had flown by! Hopefully they learned enough to try it again on their own.

One of these three women will be taking a 4 week acrylic painting course with me. Can you guess which one it is? I am so excited to share what I have learned with her. I will have to post her final painting when we are done.

Thanks ladies for the wonderful class yesterday. I hope you will enjoy your new paintings for many years to come!

Chinoiserie Painting Class Dec. 4 1-3pm

Saturday, Dec. 4th from 1-3pm, I will be teaching a "Chinoiserie" painting class at 16 Main Gallery in Historic Downtown Madison. Chinoiserie is a french term that refers to a "Chinese-esque" style that began in the 17th century. We will learn some basic acrylic painting, how to do shadowing and highlights along with an aged glazing technique. This will be a great class for beginners and intermediates.
I hope to see you all there!

Sold

"Chinoiserie"
Acrylic on Gallery wrapped Canvas

by Michele Lee

Copyright 2010

Here is what's going on at the Gallery!

Honored

I was honored to be asked to participate on the Huntsville Arts Council's Social Media Workshop yesterday. I really wish that I could have listened to everyone. There was some very helpful information! If you have not been to the new TAC website..here ya go. http://www.artshuntsville.org
I was lucky enough to be accompanied by Lori Miller of WHNT http://www.whnt.com
and Ashley of White Rabbit Studios http://thewhiterabbitstudios.com. Those girls really know their social media. Ashley has been using this for years with her business and Lori in constantly researching different social medias for WHNT. All that to say, these girls were a blessing to have sitting next to little ol' me :)
Now, I can give you all a breakdown of what I learned yesterday on why Social Media works so well and how. But, Joanna White of TAC put a great video together. So I thought I would just share it with you. Click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhPgUcjGQAw

Enjoy!

"Safety" goes to her new home

In June of 2008, I took a trip to Asheville, NC. I had just gotten done with a painting featuring an egg. The egg reminded me of birth, new beginnings, starting over and just generally finding my way. During the trip, I was flooded with artists of all kinds! I felt like my life had finally found its direction. Like I was safe in the "knowing" that just by taking a baby step every day with God, I was finding a new me. A me that was so different from what I had ever expected. I came home with such inspiration that I could hardly get to the easel quick enough. So at 4:30 that morning....I began to paint. Out came this wonderful egg and colors. I didn't think...I just painted. When I stepped back I could see the layout of the painting very clearly. It was me. I was safe. I was nuzzled against my God, protected. The road before me was not scary anymore.

I have carried this painting with me for 2 years now. I took her to a show and was actually glad that it did not sell. I took her home. When I decided to become part of 16 Main Gallery and artist community, I thought long and hard about what pieces I would take with me. Most of my work is very easy to let go of. But this one.....not so much :) I thought...."I paint each painting specifically for someone" The fun part has always been to see that someone finally appear and connect with their piece. "SO , how will the owner ever find her if I keep her all to myself?" So I took her into the Gallery.

A few weeks later a magical thing happened. In walked her owner. I knew when I saw her eyes connecting with the painting that SHE was the one! She left and then came back the next morning, her husband in tow.

She left with the painting that had been such a part of me. And now......it has become part of her ....on her journey to a new road. Safe and protected, I know they will be taken care of.

All my blessings and love,

Michele

Thursday, Sept. 30th 5-9pm RITA LOYD!

New Painting

Today I went by the studio. My father in law and his sister, Aunt Lynn, came by to visit. We toured the studio and began talking of God and spirituality. I love having such a deep discussion with them on this subject. Especially since he is the reason I paint, live and breath:)

Ok...let me back up a little. About a month ago I decided to get back to painting with God. For a while I have been painting for others and really was feeling a sense of loss and just plain blah with painting. So, I got the biggest canvas I could find, 6'x4', and began to paint. First came the colors. Then another day the orchids. And then another day the butterflies. And then.....nothing! I knew I had to listen and so I waited patiently. Each day as I walked into my studio past the large "elephant"(painting) in my room, I would ask, "can we paint today?" And each time I was met with a quiet "no".

So now....back to Aunt Lynn and my father in law. We had a beautiful discussion today about God and then they left the studio. I walked back to my studio and forgot about the painting. Then I heard,"let's paint for a while". YEEEE HAAAA! Out came the brushes and the paint and off I went. Painting with the large canvas laying on the floor. When I felt like it was done, I went and grabbed my ladder out of the hall closet. I climbed to the top to get a good look.

And this is what it looked like. :)

Enjoy!

M

Aug 20, 2010 - Jazz on Main

In the works:

"Blue Note" by Michele Lee

(to be sold at Jazz on Main)

Kauai

Well I am officially back from our family vacation. It is the last vacation we will have with our whole family before our wonderful kids are off to college. We will loose our first one at the end of this year. That being said, we decided to just go for it and have a blow out! So off we went to the island of Kauai. This was to be a family fun trip, but turned into something much much more for me and for my husband. As soon as we landed I felt as if I had come home. Comfortable and content is how our days were spent. We got to spend some absolutely GREAT quality time with our children. And we also got to live a life of complete relaxation for 1 whole week! THIS was a real big deal to us!!! Between the swimming with the giant sea turtles and riding a grungy atv through the forest/jungles....I found a spot in my soul that must have needed to be filled by this island...and this island alone. One day , and I do mean this, when the children are done with high school....we will live there, my husband and I. We will paint and create and live this life of ease. We will spend a huge part of our existence just breathing in the air of this beautiful island. It will forever be my home.

Now, I know this all sound corny....but like I have said many times before...this life need more corn! And Greg and I neeeeeed more of our Kauai. So will will begin saving now for our next visit in the fall.

Here are a few pictures from our travels. I hope you find them as inspiring as I did....

Enjoy!

Vacation this week

Sorry for the post delay. But I will be on vacation with my family from

July 23- July 31st

Hope you all have a good week!

Enjoy!

M

Happy Anniversary

I had the privilege of creating a painting for a special woman. Her husband secretly sent me a picture of her Grandmother's house and asked if I could paint it for her anniversary present. And so it began. The secret painting time and communications (I love doing secret things like this) ended with a beautiful piece.

She was ever joyed when he presented it to her. And now it hangs proudly in its new home.

Happy Anniversary Kathleen and Mark!

I wish you many many more.

Enjoy!

Feed Your Palette @ 16 Main

We had a great night last night with the Council Wives of Madison and one lucky winner! Between the painting, music, laughter and wine we found the time to finish a painting! LOL The women took home their very own masterpiece of ...THEMSELVES! This was our first of many nights to come, and a great kick off to the new "Feed You Palette" paint parties at 16 Main. I don't think we could have asked for a better group of women.

Tickets to a drawing were sold. We raised $285.00 to go toward art classes for Madison children! And also drew one lucky name to join us last night!

Rebekah from Fox 54 showed up with her camera in hand to do a segment for us. So make sure you tune in tonight at 9pm to Fox54 to see a clip from the evening:)

Thanks To:

-Rebekah...you are truely a one woman show! Great job!

-Ann P. for jumping in with both feet and making this evening even more special.

-Ladies for all that you did. You are all a blessing to me and to 16 Main!

Enjoy!

Restoring the Old to New again

I had the pleasure this week, to restore an old painting. The client had brought the painting, done in 1899, to me and asked if I could bring out the beautiful little girl. I have to say, it was a JOB!!!! But in the end, I think she turned out well. She is now being framed in the original frame and dome class.

I should be able to take her home to her owner on Friday. I can't wait til she sees the transformation!

Enjoy!

Sold

I really haven't been keeping up well with my blog. I seem to have gotten myself too busy these days with work and work and well ..yes...more WORK! So here is a little catch up on paintings. These are two that sold this week at 16 Main Gallery.

The first is the Red Bicycle. My friend Deb has a great story started for this one. I can't wait to read it when she is done!!!

The second is Moonlight Swim. I love how the goldfish came out in this one. The have a metallic glow about them. I was a little sad to see these go. But...it makes room for more fish! I am really loving the fish theme that is happening in my art right now. They are slow and colorful and quiet....all that I wish to be :)

Enjoy!

Drawing for a Feed Your Palette Paint Night!

Drawing

Feed Your Palette Paint Night

with

Council Wives

Thursday,July 15th, 2010

6:30p-9p

15 Main St, Madison, AL 35758

256-325-4253

Come and enjoy an evening with the Madison City Council Wives.

16 Main will be raffling off 1 seat to this special event!

Tickets can be purchased for $5 @ 16 Main M-S 10am-7pm

The drawing will be held on July 13th @ 12 noon!

(All proceeds from this event will support art lessons for Madison Children.

The children will be selected through a drawing at the Oct. 2010 Madison Street Festival)

Instructor, Michele Lee, has created an evening full of fun for this event. Participants will enjoy a surprise painting to take home with them, Hor d'oeuvres from Main Street Cafe and lots of fun interaction with the Madison City Council Wives, including Mayor's wife, Julie Finley.

This will be the first in a series of events scheduled by the Council Wives to bring awareness to the Madison Community and it's amazing opportunities.

So let's hear it Madison!

Come on out and lets do a little giving back to our community!

What I See...

Every morning I wake up, get my coffee (in a GREAT/QUICK maker that my hubby got!)(he rocks!) and then I go out back and sit in my comfy chair on the covered porch and have my morning meditation. It helps to start the day off right for me.

Well for the past few weeks there has been a scrap board sitting outside the door of our studio. It is about 5'x5' and was used to catch the dripping concrete when we were making a tree light for 16 Main. (that is Terry Hale, of Hale Fire Glass, to the left posing with the tree) The way the splatters are situated, I keep seeing this little girl riding on a beautiful bird. She is getting ready to land in the back yard and I can hear her singing with joy. OK NOW, I know some of you are saying in your head right now..."this girl has LOST IT!" I have to clarify..I don't REALLY, physically hear the girl...I just see and hear her in my right brain or maybe my soul. Could be both, who knows. All I know is that every morning I have this overwhelming urge to get some washes of color and bring her to life.

So here she is. I don't know her name...but I do know I feel much better getting her out and into the real world.

Hope you enjoy! And remember to listen to that beautiful symphony that is all around you every day. You never know what you might be missing:)

Happy Father's Day! 2010

Long ago, I vowed never to marry again

That is when God decided differently

He opened a door to a life I could not imagine

And in stepped a man who filled my heart

With words and actions this man showed me love

but more than that, he gave his heart

to me AND my children!

Here is what "their Father" has taught them

He has taught them to stay strong, no matter what life brings

He has taught them to walk with pride, through all little things

He has taught them what love really looks like

He has taught them that everything is like riding a bike

He has taught them to craft and to enjoy

He has taught them that fun is found outside a toy

He has taught them that surprises are not always bad

He has taught them that things are not always had

He has taught them to work hard and enjoy the end

He has taught them life's lesson of love around each and every bend

Their father, my husband, has taught them a lot of these things

But the most important of all .......he has given them wings!

Thank you Greg! You have changed our lives in such a way that I can't begin to express!

3

I have gotten started on a new Koi painting. All of these paintings were sketched out about a year ago. It is nice to finally get to do each one of them. I can't remember right now how many there will be in all. But I like the fact that along with the sketches I had some sort of thought or poem. This one will be called "3". As soon as it is done I will post the blurb that goes with it. :)

I have been so busy lately with the new studio space at 16 Main. I am LOVING having a spot where I can just go to paint and then come home. But I must say, I do sort of miss my dining room too. The transition from home to another building is good though. Just today, I got to sit with one of the other artists and hash out creative thoughts. I learned so much that I could never have learned at home. So this year will be a little different. I have a feeling that this is an adventure that is going to change my art for the better!

Classes are starting up in the studio and I can feel the creative juice starting to flow. I can't wait to start my classes. Working with others and sharing with them what I have learned is such a TREAT! If you want to check out what is coming up...go to

http://16main.blogspot.com/

ok, back to the Koi. sorry for the sidetrack, but I had to share. It has been a while:)

I hope you enjoy the pictures and the progress of this next one.

Enjoy!