9.21.2007

ART SHOW AND WORKSHOP WEEKEND!

To begin last weekend, we stayed with our awesome sorority sister at Auburn, Susie Tiller Alexander (left). She is pictured here with gorgeous Mom Corky, otherwise known as "Momma." Corky reminded me so much of Katherine Hepburn and had loads of personality. What a sweety she was, and we all had a blast together. She also works at Art Under a Hot Tin Roof on Fridays.
We were hosted by Chris and Susie at their lovely home in Jackson. They love hosting, and you can tell. They were so gracious to us and are such a charming couple. It was great seeing Susie after 18 years (since I graduated from Auburn...)
This is the night I arrived in Athens before going to Jackson. Claire, my brother Carl, his wife Lacey and Carole. We were at Giovanni's for dinner that night.
Just a quick snap from the car as we went over the Tennessee River. Beautiful!
Right after we got to Jackson we went straight to the gallery and started getting ready for our workshop on Friday. Kat is on the left, Carole, then Leslie (Carole's great assistant came with us to help us out. She's a doll!)
A highlight of my trip was getting to go see Kat (gallery owner) and her husband Lorne's farmhouse. They live in the oldest farmhouse is west Tennessee built in the 1820s. I was so intrigued by how great Kat worked in contemporary pieces and art with the old, historical character of the home. They are art collectors, too, and own various works by Chagall, Matisse, Renior, Rembrandt and Picasso! Check out all those pics!
This pic is of the rear entry wash room in which they incorporated old architectural pieces into the design of the space. Kat is showing an old slave chain that is used to turn on the light in the room (MUCH better use, I must say!) Notice the sink that came out of some old structure. I wish I could have a Chagall in MY powder room... ;)
This is a shot of the home from the 1820s. I have a shot somewhere below of the home today!
The dining room was neat! White walls with cream trim and only drawings - very minimalist feel with no color.
Another shot...
The Rembrandt...
Kat and Lorne own this rectangular piano -beautiful- only a few made ever!
They kept a very farmhouse feeling to the kitchen, too.
One of the sitting rooms on the rear section of the house which was added on later. More modern decor in these areas. Sorry my pictures are out of order. Still learning this posting stuff!
This was an upstairs bedroom. All the beds everywhere were GORGEOUS! Very old and beautiful. I didn't notice this right away, but it looks like Kat is putting something on Carole's head. It's just the bed post behind her....
This is the living room that had the piano (over to the right not shown here). I loved the strong, vibrant color of these sofas and pillows. Quite contrary to the dining room, huh?
Here is a Picasso etching along with the copper plate. Notice the lines thru the plate which noted that the artist made the last etching at that point.
Kat and Lorne's bedroom. Lovely!
another shot...
Lorne had been outside mowing and doing all kinds of work. He got a little dirty...
Kitchen table - very cool and functional!
This side board base was the top of a milling funnel thing from a mill that Kat put a thick piece of glass for the top.
From inside the little house on their property pictured below. Carole sitting in the hand chair. Gosh I got these images backwards. Sorry...
Upstairs bedroom of this little house. Look at the great quilts. Everything is these homes had a history or a neat story!
The front door detail of the little house.
The little house. Gorgeous day in the 70s that day and so clear. Lovely!
Hhhhhhh... Back to a shot in Kat's bedroom.
Shot of Lorne in the gargantuan barn built by only 5 Amish men in 23 days. The amount of lumber they used was astounding and they used no electrical tools and equipment, of course.

The rear entrance to their farmhouse.
Loved these crosses at the little house!


This is after the art show at the country club where we had a wonderful dinner. Carole, Elizabeth Cashman ( last name) (also an identical twin to Lynn who was also a Kappa Delta with Carole and me), Frank Crafts from Athens, and me!
Leslie shot this from the second floor during the art show. Carole, me, Michelle, Jennifer, and Bonnie - a few of our students. They were great! See the students' chair paintings here, too!
... during the show...

On Sunday morning we left Jackson to go back to Athens. We stopped at a flea market and then here at this southern cafe for lunch. This was my lunch - big bowl of pintos, onions and cornbread. Yummy!
Carole and me at the outside table where we ate.
I see a painting in these dolls!
Not these...
I remember these commemorative Coke bottle with Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. These were at the flea market.

9.07.2007

MEET ROSE AND PETUNIA!

This is the last painting I finished for my upcoming show in TN next weekend! I thought I'd branch out a little from the cows or maybe more to give the cows some company, I decided to paint these two pigs! Aren't they beautiful - Rose and Petunia! They are on an 18x24" canvas. They would be GREAT in your kitchen! Any takers?? See other work here!

8.28.2007

JUST 2 MORE WEEKS...!

My twin sister Carole and I are headed to beautiful Jackson TN September 13th for a destination workhsop! We will be teaching at the awesome gallery Art Under a Hot Tin Roof. We are so excited and look forward to being with those who have enrolled already. I know there are a few spots left, so consider meeting us there and get ready for a great time painting!
Call my studio to enroll: 651.983.2743

Enjoy a quick art lesson to whet your appetite!



Coming from out of town and need a place to stay? No problem! The Old English Inn has a block of rooms blocked off for YOU. So get a friend and come join us!

Photos of Art Under a Hot Tin Roof

The Entrance:
Kat, the owner, has this cool wooden man right at the door.

Straight ahead from the door is the jewelry gallery full of awesome handmade jewelry. You gota see it!

This is the large gallery area where we will be holding our workshop. It is big and spacious with amazing natural light. I love the bleached wood floors.



This is the view looking out toward the front. Those windows are actually doors too. If the weather is good, we'll step out on the sidewalk and paint plein air!


This workshop is open to the first 12 who send in their tuition.
$325
Includes all supplies
Here is the schedule:

Thursday Night the 13th: 5:30-7 Meet & Greet
Carole & Claire will live paint
Friday the 14th: 10am - 4pm Workshop
Go After It! Painting Workshop with Carole & Claire
Saturday the 15th: 10am Critique/Q&A Session
5:30 -8pm Art Opening featuring Carole's & Claire's latest work
& Student Show (if you want to exhibit your work)

8.27.2007

Tag! I'm it!!!

OK, some cool photographers on OSP are playing some sort of game of tag. I've been tagged, so I'm supposed to name 8 random facts about me, so I will - no problem! I love reading fun things about people as it helps us to get to know each other more personally. Here goes!

1. I should've been a dancer.
2. I'm easily spooked!
3. I hate arrogance in people.
4. I cry easily (like hearing about LeAnn's camera gettng stolen at a wedding.)
5. I laugh at the most inappropriate moments (like when people trip - Carole and I used to sit and watch people trip over this one brick sticking up on Auburn's campas near the cafeteria. Lots of laughs. We all tripped on it at one time or another!)
6. I get irritated when people can't return a "Hi, how are you?"
7. I've been in 2 movies.
8. I'm trying to be more like Jesus - a feminine Jesus.

*Facts subject to change without notice!

I'm tagging:
Jenny Driscoll
Johnny Magnoski
Jessica Claire
Christina Tiechroew
Fred Eagan
Bumatay
Liana
LeAnn

8.20.2007

The ShangriLa Resort in Orr, MN!

We are now on our last vacation of summer before school starts next week. We are here at the Shangri-La Resort owned by the Richardson family. We started coming here with our friends the Lynchs who were friends with the Richardsons, and now this is our 4th annual trip here. This resort has 8 cabins located along beautiful Pelican Lake in Orr, MN about 3.5 hrs. north of the twin cities. It's a week of simple living - no tvs, no cell phone use, no other phones, and now they have wifi in the main cabin allowing me to make this post! Anyway, it's a chance for simple, slow living that is such a wonderful break from the faster pace lives we normally lead. We cook out together most nights, watch some of the most incredible sunsets over the lake, have bonfires (though this year NOT because of potential fire hazards with the drought going on). Lots of kids here, the same ones each year, so it's fun to see how they have grown and changed from year to year. I love shooting pics all week long, so I will be sharing some with you! Enjoy!

A shot at last night's sunset. I think shooting sunsets are so cliched, but I'm so compelled to shoot them here at Orr! I think because the sky is so big and we face directly west over Pelican Lake. It's just simply gorgeous! Tim and Lisa in the pic!
Tom shot this of me in front of a quintessential barn in Orr. We had to go down someone's dirt road to get this shot!
Tom Richardson bathing Duke!



Olivia on the dock...


Our TV for the week! Gorgeous views and sunsets!



Had to shoot a pic of the ducks...


Grace fishing off the dock...

Tom and Sam fishing off the dock...
Tom in the cool kayak that is propelled by these pedals. It can scoot pretty darn fast!

The boys playing "sacrifice" on the Rave...


Tyler hanging on the side of the kayak as we took him out to the Rave. Long, cold swim...

The big rock Tom and I found!

We also found this great, old cabin with tongue and groove corners. Very cool!

Olivia on the front of the kayak...

B & W snap of Grace on the dock. Where is Sam? Hard to catch with all those boys. Pics of him later, I'm sure!

Duke, one of the Richardson's new Westie pups right after his bath. Cold!


Dylan on the dock - great hair and freckles!
Benny - one of my favorite subjects to shoot. Find his pics all over my website with longer locks than he currently sports...

Dylan and Benny getting ready to set sail on the banana floats.

8.17.2007

SENIOR MANIA!!!

Look at all of these good-lookin' seniors I've had the opportunity to work with! Seniors are probably my favorite kinds of shoots because of the creativity involved. Some are pretty particular in how the want to be photographed. Take a look! Book now for your session!









8.15.2007

SISTER GRACE!


Ok, it's an incredibly exciting time for my twin sister (Carole) and her Christian band Sister Grace! They are releasing their first CD this Friday August 17 with a big kick off live concert on the square in Athens, AL our home town. Wish I could be there! I know my friends here in Minnesota won't be there either, but please check out their site and blog and check out their CD featuring Kevin Holly who is a seasoned guitarist currently playing with Percey Sledge and Little Richard and Kevin McKendree who is the keyboard player for Delbert McClinton - awesome talent on the first CD release. The band consists of Tina Swindell (singer, songwriter, guitarist), Whitney Hubbs (keyboard, vocals), Stephanie Fenton (guitarist), and Carole Foret (drums, vocals). You will be touched by their music! Rock on, gals!!! I'm so proud of you all!!! God Bless!

8.13.2007

JUST OFF THE EASEL!

Just did this one today! I love chairs! I saw this in an old Anthropology catalog, and there was this chair with not much detail and not as intense light. I put my own spin on it. It's a 10x20" - so simple, fun and lovely.

Getting some paintings done for my show next month at Art Under a Hot Tin Roof in Jackson, TN. This image is in the same spirit as my "Live in the Moment" painting (3 women in the backseat of the car) which you can see on my site in the painting gallery. I'm not completely decided on a title. Any ideas?

8.12.2007

My Beloved Cousin Jodi...


This is a picture I just found in the bottom of my button drawer (along with other old photos) of my Aunt Jerry and my late cousin Jodi who died of cancer a year ago July 1st at the age of 43. I didn't recall having this picture, but I must've snapped it one of the last times I ever saw her when I visited Lake Charles, LA a few years ago. I'm so happy I found this picture as it really shows the kind of person she was - forever an inspiration to me as someone who loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ profoundly and also loved her family and friends in much the same way. She was always one of my favorite cousins so fun, vivacious, funny, and loving... I'm not too surprised I found this picture in my dresser drawer after so many years. Just always a reminder never to let a day go by without saying you love the ones you love.

God bless you, Jodi! I love you forever, and I know that you are dancing for Jesus in your heavenly eternal life.

Love,
Claire