A Little Secret

I have a little secret of some pretty exciting news.

I will keep you updated as we get closer....

Here is a little hint:

you might want to pick up a copy of a local magazine (initials VP) on April 1st!

Enjoy!

"Stranded" in Key West

"Stranded"

8x10 Acrylic on Canvas

By Michele Lee

Copyright 2010

Here is a small painting, 8x10, I worked on this weekend. My husband and I went to Key West a few years back and he took a photo of this sad little boat. I thought I would give it a shot and brighted this little boat up a bit.

Enjoy!

Green

Green
- means life, nature, growth, renewal, health and environment.
It is a restful color, similar to blue.
Green is a cool color and it's opposite or complementary color is red.
This combo represents Christmas in the West.
It is the national color for the country of Ireland.
Green is the color of Spring
In Fung Shui represents balance, harmony and stability. It belongs to the wood element in Fung Shui and can be combined with other elements to create a continuously nurturing atmosphere in a home.
There are so many colors that compliment green and give you different feelings or looks. A few examples are:
Green and Purple-high contrast and lively
Green and Blue- nature, water
Green and yellow black or white- sporty
Green and orange and yellow- Fruity palette
Green with Hot Pink- Spring feel
Look around you today and notice just how many shades of this color there are.

How do they make you feel?
Enjoy the Green!

Ascribing Artist Show April 1-30th

The Cross

By Michele Lee

11x14, Acrylic on Canvas

Copyright 2010

The Poet,

By Michele Lee

24x48 Acrylic on Canvas

Copyright 2010

The Ascribing Artists Art show April 1st -30th

at Reflectives Frame and Art,

220 Old Hwy 431,

Owens Cross Roads, Al

http://www.reflectivesframe.com/

(this is the old Artisan's Cove)

(Across from Hampton Cove Elementary school)

Beautiful artwork from many different artists will be on sale throughout the show.

There will be a reception and art talk

April 11th from 2-4pm

Breeze

Here is a new pouring painting that I am working on. My husband and I recently went to Fairhope Alabama on a little weekend trip. BEAUTIFUL! When we returned, I went to the studio and studied a pouring I had done before we left. All I could see was that spanish moss from Fairhope. And that cool breeze floating in from the Mobile Bay.

So here ya go...."Breeze" It still has a ways to go, but I thought you all would like to see.

Gotta a little something special coming up on April 1st!....stay tuned ;)

Enjoy Your Journey!

I had a wonderful day today. I went with my friend Angie of Pick My Brains Art http://pickmybrainsart.blogspot.com/ to Birmingham. We went to drop off our paintings at the Energen Plaza. This is where the next round of the art contest will take place. Let me just say...there are some pretty fantastic artists that have been selected for this round. Dropping off the painting and driving away, I didn't really feel nervous. I am just so blessed to have been able to go with my friend on this adventure. More than winning prizes or not....life is about the journey. And this journey was nice. So now the painting is out of my hands and on to be enjoyed by others :)

Enjoy your journey!

Red

Red

Red is a color that conjures up all kinds of emotions. From passion to fire and blood to rage.

In Feng Shui, red is used to bring energy from fire into your home. A well balanced fire energy in your home (balanced with water and earth) will bring joy, excitement and strong sexual desire.

Red also enhances metabolism, increases respiration and raises blood pressure. It is a good color to use in a dining room or area where you eat. But be careful...it will also make you want to get up from the table quickly and could cause the conversation to get a little out of control.

Red is a highly visible color. Some of its meanings are courage and leadership. This is why it is used in many different countries flags.

Red also brings words to attention and is used in stop signs and lights. Being the color of energy it is also used in signs for high voltage, promoting cars and energy drinks and sports activities.

The contrasting color, on the color wheel, for red is Green.

In China Red is the color of luck and happiness.

In India it is the color of marriage.

In the west, red is the color of love, romance, courage and passion.

Red is a warm color.

Use red sparingly in paintings to warm them up and give life to them. Too much red can lead to your viewer being overwhelmed and driven on to the next painting.

Enjoy you red today!

Sisters

Sisters

By Michele Lee

20"x60" mixed media on canvas

Well the last pouring painting is finally done! Life has really taken me on a journey with this one. I think I will call it "Sisters".

We swim and we glide through these waters of life

Enjoying all that it has to offer.

She is there for me through good times and in bad

I love her with my heart and soul

I feel a different kind of connection with my sister

She builds me up when I have fallen

And I catch her when she is down

We share our husbands and our children

We share our joy and our tears

She is my sister

Beautiful and elegant

She is there for me when all others seem to have gone

She is my sister

Strong and loving

I am blessed to be swimming these waters with her.

Enjoy!

Blue

Working on the new series of Koi paintings, I have found that getting lost in the heavy colors is so rewarding. I can spend hours and hours just troweling them on. So I thought, what is a better way to share the colors with you all? How about we have a color a week...or when ever I can remember to do it :) LOL
So here is our first....

Blue
Blue is a color. The word blue is derived from an Old French word, Bleu. It is reflected in the sky and water and considered a very calming color. Almost everyone likes some shade of blue. It can be strong and bold or soft and calming. On the color wheel, blue's complementary color is yellow. This is the color directly across the wheel. Usually painting with blue and yellow, one will get a strong contract and pop. The cool and calming effect of blue can make you feel relaxed and actually make you sleep better if painted on the walls of your bedroom. But too much blue can have a dampening effect on your spirit. In many cultures blue brings peace and helps to keep the bad spirits away. Blue in clothing brings confidence without being somber or sinister. Dark blue reflects intelligence, stability, and unity. It has often been referred to as a cooperate color. (blue power suit, police uniforms, work uniforms) In some cultures like Iran, blue is the color of mourning. In our weddings, something blue represents love.

In my soul, the color blue makes me feel happy, calm, centered and helps my soul feel connected.

What does the color blue do for you?

The Art of Nursing!

My mom is a nurse back home in Owensboro, Kentucky. I tell you this because she is not JUST a nurse...but she, over the years, has also helped countless other nurses learn the "ART" of nursing. And let me tell you..it IS an art. Juggling the schedule and family. The details that must be kept at the front of your mind at all times. And the sheer grace that nurses carry when handling a crisis. THAT is the ART of nursing.
So flash forward til this morning and why I am writing this to you all. My sweet mother sent me a link that she wanted me to see. It is of one of her nurse friends and three of the doctors in her hospital. They have gone on a mission trip to Haiti. It was set up to provide relief....but has truly turned into a mission for them. Just one more aspect of this incredible occupation!

Click on link below to see

http://emwarren.tumblr.com/

So I thought it was worth posting about. It is not an art form that is made from canvas and paint. But it IS an form of art. More than that...it is about giving back and paying it forward. And I just love that kind of thing :)

Thanks Mom.....I love you!

M

Paint Night March 6th

I was asked to do a paint party for a very special lady and 15 of her closest friends. Marguerite, owner of Reflectives Art and Frame in Hampton Cove, did a great job hosting the event. I was blown away at how these ladies were able to get into the painting and come out with some spectacular pieces! We turned on the sounds of the steel drums and went to the Bahamas. Between the laughter and some AMAZING German chocolate cake(thanks Peggy) we finished our beach scenes. The painting was inspired by the birthday girl, Debbie. She works with horses and loves a good sunset on the beach.

Happy Birthday Debbie! I hope you had a fantastic 21st (wink) Birthday!!!!!

Enjoy!

Michele

If you are interested in having a Paint Party, you can contact Marguerite at reflectives@comcast.net

Energen Art Compitition 2010

Recently I entered this painting, "The Symphony", into the 2010 Energen Art Competition in Birmingham Alabama. It had been posted on the Huntsville Art Blog back in Jan. Surprisingly I got a letter in the mail the other day saying that it has passed the first round and is now on to the finals! The Symphony will be displayed in Birmingham at the Energen Plaza from March 29th -April 11th. On the 11th there will be an Artist's Reception where they will announce the winners. The art chosen will also go on sale during this time. A part of the proceeds this year will go to the Crisis Center of Birmingham. I am so excited to have been chosen to move on.

Here is the painting.

Enjoy!

Working on a new Pouring

Seemed to have changed into another Koi. This one will be titled "We Are One"

I am feeling the need to do a series of these fish abstracts. They feed my soul.

Here is a small portion of the pouring so far
A little more added


First Layer of pouring



Had to take a break for a bit today. I have been working on a large 4ftx6ft painting. (you can see part of it in the upper right corner) And also trying to get the painting ready for class. Plus working at the day job. My soul NEEDS an abstract break! So I thought I would take a moment and get another Pouring started. This one will be a 20" x 60". I can't wait to see how it turns out. It has been merinating in my soul for a while now.



Do you have any idea what it will be? I can always use others thoughts and eyes ;)



Enjoy!

Listening

I finally have the painting done for a class I am teaching on Sat. at Reflectives. It sounds like it is going to be a fun class. I think we are up to 16 painting. Now here is the kicker...they would like to paint a horse and beach scene. So I have been struggling this week to come up with something that everyone can paint and still enjoy their time.

I think I will call this one "Listening". It looks like she is taking a break to watch the sun go down and just listen to the sounds of God's magnificent creation. I am always amazed when I go to the beach. But even more when I see a sunset. The colors are so intense and they are never EVER the same. Each sunset is its own masterpiece. No matter how hard I try, I can never get on canvas what I see with my eyes. I guess that is how it is supposed to be. A quiet little slice of life to be enjoyed for that moment.

Enjoy!

Trip to Atlanta

This past weekend my husband and I (without children) took a trip to Atlanta! My hubby was attending a photography workshop, so I decided to tag along. Here are a few of the places we found while we were there! First stop after checking in was Utrecht's Art Supply. www.utrechtart.com

It was a quaint little store in downtown Atl. Traffic was awful on a Friday night....duh! So we got there with 20min to spare before they closed. Can we say POWER SHOPPING anyone?

Now....here is where I found the mother load of art supplies!!! Binders www.bindersart.com

I walked into this store and almost started to cry. It is so packed and so well organized (2 of my favorite things) that I didn't know where to start first!

So I started on the Brush isle! Yes you heard me right...there is a whole isle dedicated to brushes!!!!! After about 3 hours I had to force myself to leave. But boy oh boy did I come home with lots of goodies.....and a new connection for art supplies!
On our last night we decided to go out to eat somewhere different. When I saw the add for this restaurant...I knew my hubby would be in heaven. Smoked meats and Jazz? I mean, what more could he want?!

The ad did not do this place justice. We were lucky enough to be set close to the Jazz singer for the evening. Man oh Man was he good! So, a plate full of different smoked meat for our bellies and smooth sensual jazz for our souls and we were in heaven!

All in all the trip to Atlanta was a VERY nice getaway! It was great finding the art stores....but better than that....it was even better to get to be with my husband for a bit without any worries. I think we need to do this more often!

A Horse of Course

Just a fun horse painting today. I am doing a little research and trials for a class I'm teaching on Saturday. The theme is a horse on the beach. I am still not sure what the final painting will be...but I think this horse might be helping me "sniff" out some good ideas. ha ha (ok, I know, that was REALLY not funny)

Enjoy!