Tunnel Hill paint out

Each year the Art Alliance of North Georgia participates in a paint out during the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment. We have a tent for artwork display and another as an artists' base of operations. Several wet paintings...done right on site...were sold (much to the delight of the artists).

"Worldwide Paintout" in Tunnel Hill, GA

As part of the annual "Worldwide Paintout" publicized by International Plein Air Painters, we had a wonderful weekend at the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment in Northwest Georgia.
pictured front row (l-r) are Gretchen Allen, Allison Doke, and BJ Wright
back row - Phyllis Franklin, Cathy Cooksey, Cecil Warfel, Patti Vrobel, Shane McDonald, John B. Guernsey and Sandra Babb. We couldn't find Tim West - he was somewhere painting on the 83 acre property.
Both days were in the 90+ degrees, but we found plenty of shade and lots of interesting subjects for plein air painting. Everyone had such a good time that there's already talk about next year.

yes, I have been painting

I have been painting. As proof I offer this photo of my drying racks. I've been working on the "Tunnel Hill Battle Paintout" as part of the International Plein Air Painters' annual "Worldwide Paintout". Placing ads on websites, in newspapers, handing out fliers - it takes a lot of preparation to sponsor a paintout. But I have some very good friends who are neck deep in there, too. Thanks to you, Cathy Cooksey and Sandra Babb! I'll post some photos of the event soon.

Tree Planted by the Waters

8" x 10" oil on canvas covered hardboard
I was invited by my dear friend, Cathy Cooksey, to be a guest artist at a ladies' conference at Scott Memorial Church of God in East Ridge, TN.

When I arrived, I expected to set up and be painting somewhere in the hallway, greeting the attendees as they arrived. Little did I know that the plan was that I would be sitting up front beside the stage and painting while the speaker gave the presentation. Talk about nervous !! I had brought a very small reference sketch of a tree, thinking that would be an appropriate subject.

As I laid in the large masses, my hands were shaking and I was hoping that the ladies didn't notice. But as the music played and the speaker took the stage, I began to calm and focused on my painting - and listening to her words of encouragement and challenge to the listeners.

Her message was that we should be the women God has chosen us to be. And that we should boldly step out and meet that challenge. All the while she spoke, I was painting - and listening.

As she was finishing, I concluded that I had indeed chosen the right subject for my painting. And the verse came to mind that put it all into perspective - Jeremiah 17 verses 7 and 8.

"Blessed is the man that trustesth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

After the painting dried, I framed it and gave it to Cathy with instructions to present it to the organizer of the conference. She was a blessing to all who were present.