Bon Ami

Yes, I've been a stranger to my own blog. Seems the stuff of my life the past ten months may have been interesting reading, but extremely difficult for me to digest. Last week I received an email stating I won a years supply cleaning products and I hoped hoped hoped it was real. Today I came home and found 3 heavy cases on my porch. The cleanser I go out of my way to buy...Bon Ami! Case of powder cleanser, two cases liquid cleanser, two case all purpose cleanser, two cases of dish soap, and a block of polish...a tote, an apron and a tee that I will proudly wear... Bon Ami is the GREATEST! Not to mention recyclable packaging, environmentally conscience products I can use in good faith. WOW! It's a beautiful day.

Brickhouse Restaurant

Blugrass Festival~Dickson Murst Farm

The Neighborhood FilesDickson-Murst Farm to Echo With the Sounds of Bluegrass
The Doris Clayton Bluegrass Jam was held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept.18th.
By Erin Sauder
Members of the Northern Illinois Bluegrass Association play during a past Bluegrass Jam event. Merrie Woodward Photos Credit Merrie Woodward

The inspiration behind the Bluegrass Jam at the Farm has passed away, but the memory of Doris Clayton will live on during this year’s third annual event.

The Doris Clayton Bluegrass Jam was held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Dickson-Murst Farm, 2550 Dickson Road in Montgomery.

“She lived and breathed bluegrass,” Merrie Woodward, a Dickson-Murst Farm Partner, said of Clayton, who passed away earlier this year after losing her battle with cancer.

During the jam, the Northern Illinois Bluegrass Association join the Partners at the Farm to generate music with both experts and beginners.

Clayton, of Sandwich, was a member of the Bluegrass Association and was the Illinois Bluegrass Ambassador of the year in 2005. She was also one of the original members of Trumans Ridge bluegrass band.

Three years ago, she brought the first bluegrass jam to the Farm.

“She thought it would be a perfect fit,” Woodward said.

During the jam, musicians move from one group to another to experiment with the blending of different instruments and players.

“It’s fascinating to watch and and fascinating to listen to,” Woodward said. “Nothing beats the sound and energy of live music.”

A special feature of the event is a schedule of workshops about the instruments used in bluegrass.

A "jam etiquette" workshop scheduled for 1 p.m. will explain “how a jam works and what is expected of musicians wishing to join in,” said NIBA member and D-M Partner Peggy McWethy Sutton of Oswego.

“There will be excellent information for musicians or informed listeners,” she said.

Instrumental workshops will be held throughout the afternoon to give attendees a start in learning to play or help them brush up on their skills. Sessions will focus on the guitar at 1 p.m., both the fiddle and standing bass at 2 p.m., and the mandolin and dobro at 3 p.m.

Other activities for the day included displays by Kendall Arts Guild members Peggy McWethy Sutton, Sharyl Iwanski, Joan McEachern, and Doris Lein, as well as the Newark High School Future Farmers of America, who will be on-hand with a large selection of mums and fall plants.

The Bluegrass Jam at the Farm is a free event hosted by the Farm Partners and The Conservation Foundation, owner of the site. The event will be held rain or shine. If the weather does not cooperate, activities will be moved into the century-old barn and other buildings in the farmstead.

The Country Kitchen provided by the Partners of the Dickson-Murst Farm offer charcoal grilled sandwiches. Profits are used for the maintenance of the buildings at the farm.

4th Annual Studio Exhibit

My work is included in my cousin's annual outdoor studio sale. I'm so appreciative of all the work she does to help get my work out there. Hope people get out and visit. Demos by Laura, 1:00-3:00. I'm hoping to attend some of the day Saturday.

Oswego Art Show

Photo by Walter Lesus of Sandwich, IL

I've been delinquent in posting. Pictured is tent of Kendall Art Guild at Oswego's Fine Art Show August 20th and 21st. My work is scattered about the outside of the booth. Heavy rains on Saturday damaged some of my mats. I was invited to judge the show and the experience was phenomenal. Previous judging I had done did not include speaking with the artists, but judging the works only. I was very inspired by the interaction with all the great artists in the exhibit. The KAG booth was judged separately as a member show. I donated my linocut "The Call" to the raffle and was pleased that it generated many tickets. Woefully I sold nothing, but enjoyed my time away from work.

The Hollyhocks

Took these a few weeks back, before rust and Japanese beetle invasion. Didn't get a chance to set and draw in the garden, but I do have these pictures. Maybe next year.

My very first Hollyhock bloom

Hard day, with an open evening considered working but needed breathing space long overdue. Took off on the old Schwin and pumped out a few miles. Rubber legs coming back in, noticed my very first bloom ever... Laura saved me the seeds from her garden and I planted them last year, mighty crop, another photo op when they all open. Forgot to hang the flag this morning, but the garden gloried anyway.

Laura at Naperville Woman's Club

Tuesday Drawing has been hard to make. These were done in May, but decided to wait and photo outdoors instead of uploading poor photos. I've been dealing with some very strong personal issues and lack of drawing time does not help the head at all. I've had other Tuesday commitments and when free, the group is not scheduled. Hopefully soon...

Happy Birthday Rachel!

My kids, Mom and I celebrated Rachel's birthday at Danelli's restaurant again. They really are joyful and the smiles are quite memorable. Of course the great food and phenomenal service help too! We had very few customers, common when tax day looms. Kids reminded me of all the unheard of special pricing at fast food restaurants this week. That gave me time to visit too!

April Fool's Day!

It's finally April and some treasures are showing up among the debris, I watched as these gems stubbornly refused to open the week long, but gloried in the new month and laughed at the April Fool's day snow showers!

Fat Tuesday with Friends

Better late than never! Meant to add a few words as we begin the descent into darkness waiting for Easter, which by the way is rather late this year. But Fat Tuesday seems to be becoming a tradition with the Tuesday night group and was so happy to bring a pot of Jumbo to share. Jennifer brought red beans and rice and what again was the name of the Polish doughnuts that Ronnie supplied? It is so enjoyable to celebrate and draw at the same time. I've since added a lot of layers to this pastel piece and unfortunately did some overworking damage. I hope to get back to resurrecting the beauty I started with here.

Back to Life with Jordan

Two weeks since I'd last drawn, bit rusty with this half hour pose.

A little more time to deepen values in a one and half hour pose. Jordan is just angelic. I haven't been working in a few weeks as I've needed to deal with repressed memories. Yeah, maybe art therapy is the answer, but alone? Safety in numbers, or simply more comfortable with good friends at my side. More sessions prerequisite.

Lupercalia Craft Fair and Bake Sale

My son's Valentine, Meg Hatcher and her sister Lindsey at the Lupercalia Craft and Bake Sale in Aurora. Love those sock monsters, but certainly don't want the dogs chewing on those! She had her Hoopatomic hula hoops for sale and little felted monster magnets. Blessed with creativity! Another local gal had hemp and clay bead necklaces, three for ten bucks! I bought one for me, one for sister Darlene I headed out with and one for Megan, oh... she's got hers on!

Laura at Naperville Woman's Club

It was great to get out and draw again this week. I'm still overtired and rather irritable, but Laura had some fantastic poses that were not to be held for the duration, so my pieces here do need more work. I darkened the lights up, added more contrast, so they could be viewed here... they are on white paper, but very faint and undiscernable. I'm glad I took he night out.

Felicia at Tall Grass

Trucked on out to Tall Grass to take down the exhibit and attend a session of drawing. Glad that the weather cooperated. Felicia is such a wonderful model with relaxed but interesting poses. The group chose to do two half hour poses rather than one hour pose, so my work did not get completed, but a basis down to finish someday. I will definitely attend more of the sessions there, but with 500 pounds weight in the back of my van it cost more than $30.00 in gas for the trip.

Blizzard of 2011

Fortunately the neighbors arrived with an endloader to dig out my drive, it took twelve hours of digging to open up my sidewalk. Every part of my body was exhausted. I've been rather bitter about the lack of understanding from those who don't get 5 foot drifts across their walk and drive. If the good neighbor hadn't been so kind as to dig me out I still would not be able to get out the drive. All those plows working twenty hour shifts and I heard so many complaints rather than compassion as they fatigue themselves to help others. Saturday I went back out to dig out another five foot deep section to keep my garbage cans, a pass to my woodpile and unearthed part of the firewood in the event that I might need heat. Birds are fed, passage to the backyard for the dogs opened up. Where there is six foot fence there is six foot drifts. And then go to work too?

LGAL White Sale

Wow! It was my volunteer day at LaGrange Art League and I got put to work. There is an incredible amount of work half price, fantastic pieces, wish I could shop. if you're looking for new art... now is the time!

Naked Happenings

Attendees doing quick gestures of model, Mike nearly naked.

Tahtia is a costume model, I am looking forward to a session with her very engaging beauty.


Some of the exhibiting artists. David George, Roz Davidson, Joseph Perryman, and Maureen Hubbard Cribbs.

Roger Paris leading off the session of gestures with explanations and invitations. Now who could turn Roger's enthusiasm for life drawing down? The show runs through Feb. 6, drawings done by friends and family of exhibitors added to the display. Some natural talent exposed. It was great that model Bob and his wife Pat joined our celebration, Thanks for coming!

Happening!

From the "Southtown Star"
"Naked" is an informal exhibit being displayed through Feb. 6 at Tall Grass Arts Association Gallery. Participating artists include Carole Joy Brejcha, Maureen Hubbard Cribbs, Roz Davidson, Mary Ann Tryzna, Joseph Perryman, Rex Anne Coad, David George, Doris Lein, Jean Lewis, and Roger Paris.





Instead of a traditional opening, the "Naked" exhibit will feature a Jan. 28 event at which clothed models will be present and attendees will be invited to draw the gesture of the pose in two minutes.




Models at a happening on Jan. 28 at the Tall Grass Arts Association Gallery will select their favorite works from those created by attendees, and those will be added to the exhibit.
Tall Grass Art Association Gallery, 367 Artist Walk, Park Forest, IL 60466
708)748-3377

Randell's 23rd Birthday

My baby turned 23 today and I had Mom and the kids in for dinner at Danelli's tonight. I was pretty busy with a full dining room, which meant I could pay for dinner. But all the while I worked I heard laughing and joking and stories being told. Their smiles warmed my heart. The pizza they grew up on. Another year flying by.

Back at Life... with Jordan

Didn't know for sure if I was going... so glad I did. Last time out was New Years Day. Life flies so quickly past and what happened, what did I miss? Worked with 24 set nupastels, challenging to achieve colors I desire... I do enjoy a challenge. Jordan was lovely as usual. Friends with smiles. Good to be back, good to acquire more experience and perspective. Next Tuesday on the agenda.

Alcove Exhibit at Tall Grass

I was the last to arrive to hang my display, so wall space limited, I chose to use the alcove and continued to fill the area heading out the the gallery into the classroom section of the Arts Center. Probably could have skipped the matted work as it was mostly pencil and showing pale in the photos. There are 10-12 artists with many decidely different styles, the exhibit is definately worth the drive out. Enjoy!

Tall Grass Art Galley

I was invited to exhibit with the group here! So pleased. The exhibit runs January 21st through February 6th at Tall Grass Arts Association Fine Arts Gallery and School, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest, IL 60466. Phone708-748-3377

New Years Day Drawings

It had been two weeks since a drawing session was available and I was really looking forward to starting the New Year off with like-minded friends, new and old. My first time at Illinois Benedictine location, it was nice to be back into an art room setting. Double booked models for a four hour session, Anne was new to me, but a great model, very athletic. And good to see Gerry again. Some great starts on new works...