Stormy Days

Here is a painting I made about 30 years ago.  I painted them with both panels pushed together and then framed them separately. It was a fun afternoon, practicing with my palette knife. 
My parents have had them hanging in their living room all these years.
They are also featured this month on Huntsville's Art Blog.
Be sure to read my article and  check out all the other artist's as well

Glass Painting Class

See link below

16Main: Classes This Saturday! Dec. 4th

16Main: Classes This Saturday! Dec. 4th

Christmas Open House

Please join us in Madison Alabama for Historic Downtown Madison's Christmas Open House. The Merchants of Madison is hosting an all day Open House from 10am until 5pm.

Santa is expected, so tell all the boys and girls. We will also get to enjoy carolers several times throughout the day.

Be sure to stop by 16 Main Gallery. Visit with our many artist's and enjoy our festive fare. Be one of the first 100 visitors and receive a festive treat.

An Early Merry Christmas to All!!!!!

Poinsettia Ornament

Tomorrow morning I'll be teaching a class of this ornament. If anyone sees this before 10am Tuesday, come on over to 16 Main Gallery and join us.
The class fee is $35.00 and depending on the time...we will do 1 to 2 ornaments. The class lasts for two hours and all supplies are included.
Hope to see you there!!!!
Phone number is 256-325-0161

Ladies Day Out

We had such fun!!!! This group of lovely ladies got together from their church woman's group. We spent the morning learning to paint, but most importantly --- having FUN!!!!! We were laughing so much, many of us had tears in our eyes.
After we finished, we joined a few other ladies from their group and had a wonderful lunch together across the street, at Main Street Cafe.

So get your friends/family together and come out to 16 Main Gallery & Artists for your own paint party. We call it "FEED YOUR PALETTE".. There are several artist to choose from - watercolor, acrylic, and oil painters. We will design a painting specific for your party. Just call 16 Main Gallery at 256-325-0161..
There are also many other types of classes available! We hope to see you soon!

Snow De-Lightful!!!!

This past Saturday, we had an impromptu "Snowman" ornament class. These lovely ladies each made two ornaments and had had no prior painting experience .. didn't they do an awesome job?

Pictured left to right is Connie, (me), Barbara, and Judy!   Thanks ladies for coming out. I had a wonderful time getting to know each of you and  I so enjoyed watching your eyes  gleam with excitement as each of the snowman's faces came to life.

The 12 Gifts of Christmas

This is my personal blog, but my business is inside of 16 Main Gallery, which is an Art Gallery and Art Studios located in historic downtown Madison, Alabama. We are promoting making your own gifts for Christmas and we are starting this Saturday morning with my class on painting your own Christmas Ornaments. We have a wide variety of options for all of your family. AND PARENTS --- Be sure to have your kids come on December 18th, for our Kids Day, so they can make gifts for you.

Gifts that are handmade are gifts from the Heart!!!! And Gifts from the Heart are always cherished more than we ever realize.

Be sure to register in advance, so the artist's teaching will have plenty of supplies available. ALL SUPPLIES ARE INCLUDED FOR EACH CLASS FOR THE NOMINAL CLASS FEE

Please check out our blog at 16 Main Gallery for all coming EVENTS

Which Witch???

Aren't we cute???? LOL This week at the 16 Main Gallery, we were invaded with little ghosts and goblins, not to mention Buzz Light Year, Jasmine, and Cinderella. A church daycare down the street from our historic downtown area brought their kindergarten class by for trick-or-treating. They were all soooooo cute. Here is a little elephant....see he is holding his nose LOL.

As you can see, I got to be the "Bad Witch" and the kids know that. LOL... They would go to Michele dressed in the "White" witch costume first. Mike, our watercolor artist even sat out on the porch and painted our pictures. I'll have to take a picture of them and show you our portraits if she agrees.
Thanks for reading!
Dianne

The Watering Hole

Hello Again

I want to share a painting that I designed this summer. This is my second design in recent years. I had a lot of fun with this one. I want this to be the first in a series.

I originally drew the elephant to show my brother, Jim. He was a BIG "University of Alabama" fan. I'm sorry to say , that he passed away before he got to see it.... but I continued with this project to help me through the grieving process. Needless to say... I'm very proud of this piece.

Some good news about it is......Ta Dah!!!! It sold this past week at an Art function at Huntsville's Museum of Art. I took it at the last minute...
Several of us from the gallery attended... we had many people looking, but no one really interested in actually purchasing...or so we thought...

A gentleman came by early on and admired my piece commenting on all the detail that had gone into it. He ask me many questions, then continued on to look at other art pieces. Just before closing, he came back and ask me if my price was firm...before I could answer he offered me more than what I priced it for. It was very exciting. He told me he was very honored to own it and that he already knew just where he was placing it in his dining room.

Thank you Bob B. ! ! ! ! I too am honored for you to own it. I hope you enjoy it for many years to come.

BUNCO Night

Every second Sunday of the month, the Knights of Columbus at our church has a Bunco night. My husband is a member and for some reason he was made in charge of organizing it each month... which includes my help. of course. :-)

We have a great time! We've been playing for almost 10 years. It originally was run by the ladies auxiliary. When we had to fold the men took it over through their Assembly, and proceeds go toward their patriotic projects. They have installed many flag polls and flags throughout the community.

On this night, I got my 86 year young mother to attend. She the one in the pick blouse. She loves games as do I, so we had a blast together.
One of the things I also enjoy of getting together with both men and women to play bunco, is the competative spirit the guys bring to the game. They are so funny to watch. They really get into the game. They will throw the dice different ways and swear that it's all in the skill. LOL!

My husband surprises me the most when we play. I've seen him on several occasions, jump up and do that dance you've all seen people do, where they hold their arms out in front of them, with elbows bent and move their arms in a horizontal circle. It's hilarious!!!!!!
Girls!!! grab your guys next time you go to play bunco and get them to play. You'll laugh so much your sides will ache. And you know that laughter is the best medicine!!!! ( next to painting of course :-)

Dallas Painting Seminar

Neadeen and Me holding my paintings from the seminar

Hi All!
For all of you who missed me last weekend ( LOL ) I was in Dallas. One of the owners of the online art school " Art Apprentice Online " and also "The Traditions Online Art School" was in Dallas to conduct her very popular class titled "Creating the Independent Artist". Her name is Neadeen Masters!
It was such a GREAT experience ! ! ! ! She brought photos she had taken from her recent trip to Hawaii.... they were cropped in interesting ways. We each picked two to paint from and set us loose.... but not for long. The photos were a little intimidating at first...but as she explained "line", "value" and "shape"...we were better able to understand what we were looking for in preparing for our own painting. She also taught some concepts from art theory... one being - that the lightest dark, can NEVER be lighter than the darkest light. What a "light bulb moment"!!!!!

Neadeen - teaching - explaining concepts of observation in developing line, shape and value

The most important thing I learned was that I need to re-take her observation online class on the AAO website. There is so much that the brain takes for granted about what the eye sees. We all need to STOP and really pay attention to detail... There are things that occur naturally in nature that we see but do not really notice and when you want to capture that on canvas (wood, metal, etc...).. we can see something is not quite right,, but fail to know why. If you train yourself to really SEE what is in front of you and study your values. you may(maybe) have as much knowledge as Neadeen has in her little fingernail. LOL
Thanks again Neadeen!

Barbara - sweetest and best hostess in Dallas

Also a BIG BIG THANKS to Barbara for putting it all together! And WOW = she makes some wonderful soups and salads. We ate like royalty.And what a sweetheart she is.
I'm going to share some photos and also a little video of our salute to Neadeen.
Enjoy!!!

Martha

Doris

Nancy

Sharon

Susie

Paula

Ellen and Neadeen

New Beginning for 16 Main Gallery

Hello Everyone.
I know it's been awhile again.... but as usual life gets in the way...
I'd like to share with you some pictures of 16 Main Gallery - A community of Artists.
Recently, there have been some changes to the Gallery. I've become the co-director with another artist (Michele Lee)... It all happened rather suddenly, but we rose to the task.

We purchased an open sign. You won't believe how many people came in after being open since June...that had never noticed until the "open" sign was put up.

We also hung a new sign that says "Gallery and Artists". We were told that many just thought 16 Main was the address... well... it is the address as well as the name....but potential customers didn't realize that. One of our potters (Greg)made the sign, Michelle - Put on the letters and I drew and painted the pics.
I'll share more pictures soon!
Come back and see me!!!
Dianne

Artist Quote

Hans Hofmann quotes

+ A work of art is a world in itself reflecting senses and emotions of the artist's world.

ART QUOTE

Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their new works collaborate with the creator. ~~~~~

Antoni Gaudí

Watercolor Batik

Isn't this lovely!  This is the watercolor batik that I made last week on a painting weekend. It is designed by my friend and artist Donna Harcourt.  I just had to share! I can't wait to try one of my own

Problems, Problems, Problems,

Hi everyone,
I've been trying to share a blog about my father-in-law for the last two weeks.  He passed away this last month and everytime I share it, it comes up with strange encrypted letters....so I delete it each time.
Needless to say, the past 6 weeks have been very hard on our family, with first my brother passing away, and then my FIL.
My husband is in the midst of working on the estate, so things are busy at that end. I've been trying to put more hours in at my new studio....
I'll try and download pics from my camera tomorrow and share some with  you

Retreat!

Going away for the weekend on a little scrapbooking/card making retreat. I also may just get some reading in. I'm really looking forward to this get-away.
Ta ta for now!

My Brother Jim

Hello Everyone
      I haven't posted in a few weeks, as my brother has been in critical care for almost a month. He was back and forth between critical care and a regular room. At one point he had been in 8-10 different rooms...one of them twice. But now I'm sad and happy to write that he was born to Eternal Life this past Sunday at just before 12noon.
      He was a wonderful man, a gentle man, an intelligent man, an opinionated man and above all else a firm believer in Jesus Christ.

     He has steadily gone "down hill" since a year ago May when he had a stroke at the visitation of our father's funeral. He had a bad heart, congestive heart failure, diabetes, only one kidney that was failing, and a tumor that was believed to be cancer in his lunges (as well as several spots in some bone x-rays.) Oh, and he was on oxygen while he still struggled to breath. My 86 year old mother has been taking care of him during the day since his last stroke, taking him to and from doctor appointments and seeing that he had something to eat since he had trouble doing it himself.

     We realized he was not going to get better, and knew in time he would not be with us, but it came as a total shock this past Sunday morning. The night before, I had the pleasure of seeing him at the evening visitation... Several of his friends came and I let them go in first. I finally got to go in with about 10 minutes to spare... I got him ice to suck on, and we talked a little thru his oxygen mask. When it was time to leave, I kissed him on the forehead and told him I loved him and he told me he loved me....... my husband  (Tom )thought he would be funny and told my brother that he wouldn't kiss him, but shake his hand...And my brother suddenly turned to my husband and made the biggest kissing sound thru his mask in Tom's direction... Well that caught us both by surprise and all three of us laughed. You could see the twinkle in my brothers eyes! He still had his sense of humor even after 25 days of lying on his back, weak and in pain. He told me to tell his wife (who had left early to get some rest) That he loved her. We left in good humor, looking forward to seeing him the next day.

None of us would have ever believed that by the next day before noon that he would be gone from us.
    Today we buried my brother, but even though I grieve, I am joyous of the many godly friends he had who all came to show their respects. He would so have enjoyed to see how much he was loved and to shake their hands once more or prayer for them. But--- I know he is healed now and is in Jesus' arms. I also know I will see him again.
    Thank you all ( and you know who you are ) who prayed for him, me and our families. I will never be able to express my sincere gratitude for all your well wishes and praying to our Lord on our behalf.
God Bless  you all
Dianne

Garden Harvest - Onion

Hi Again,

I sure hope your eyes don't water looking at my onion :-D

I love the way this piece turned out!

You can actually see the onion's layers.

To tell you the truth, I can't remember where I got this model

who poised for my camera.

I believe a good friend of mine (Rachel) got it either from her garden

or someone else's garden that she knows.

(Does that make sense? :-D he he he)

Mr. Onion here,

became a hearty, robust flavor in my spaghetti sauce

this past month. . . . . .What a beauty! ! ! ! !

And what a spaghetti sauce!

Anyway...

I loved doing all three pieces in the "Garden Harvest Trio"

You can find them located in:

16 Main Art Gallery & Studios

16 Main Street

Madison, Al 35758

http://www.16mainart.com/

http://www.16main.blogspot.com/

or write me at

artbyhart@knology.net

Thanks for looking!

Please leave a comment

and tell me how I'm doing.

Garden Harvest - Tomato

My Tomato :-)

I have to be truthful!!!

This little baby is not from my garden.

I found this luscious "fruit"

at our farmer's market.

What a GREAT place to find mouth watering morsels

and support the local economy at the same time.

I know the lady at the stand thought I was crazy. .

picking up different ones and holding them up and

turning them this way and that.

She was staring at me with a funny expression! LOL

I finally told her why I was examining them so thoroughly

and she rushed right over to help me find

this PERFECT "model"

Don't you just want to pick it up

and take a nice, juicy, BIG BITE!?!?!?!

Well.... I did! Yep!!! I ate it!!!

It was part of the most wonderful BLT sandwich

I've eaten in a long time. . . :-) Yummy!

This canvas is 8" x 8" and

is for sale at:

16 MAIN Art Gallery and Art Studios

16 Main Street

Madison, Alabama 35758

www.16mainart.com

www.16main.blogspot.com

or contact me at:

artbyhart@knology.net

Garden Harvest - Green Pepper

Hi Everyone!

I would like to share the first of my

"Garden Harvest" paintings.

It is my 'Green Pepper'.

This pepper is from my home garden and I decided

it needed to have a life of it's own long after it was enjoyed

in several tasty dishes!

LOL

I hope you enjoy it as well!

Garden Harvest Green Pepper is for sale at

16 Main Art Gallery and Studios

16 Main Street

Madison, Al 35758

http://www.16mainart.com/

http://www.16main.blogspot.com/

Father's Day

My father passed away last year. . . . So it's just not the same on this day anymore. Even Tom won't be here to celebrate. I was sick today, so he and his brother and sister took his father out to eat last night. So that was good.

But I want to share a poem a friend of might had on her facebook page Saturday. I do not know who the author is, but the poem touched my heart.

Yellow roses grow in heaven,

Lord pick a bunch for me.

Place them in my father's arms

and tell him they're from me.

Tell him that I love and miss him.

When he turns to smile

place a kiss upon his cheek

and hold him for awhile,

because remembering him is easy,

I do it...every day.

There's an... ache in my heart

that will never go away.

I hope you and yours have a lovely Father's Day!

Grand Opening

Hi Guys!!!

This is our logo and sign for the new art gallery

that just opening in Madison Alabama. I am so excited

about this endeavor. I am one of the lucky ones

who is in on the ground floor.

This is our opening day Ribbon Cutting Ceremony that took place on June 5th.

That's me on the right end. I'm the more traditional Acrylic Artist.

Going right to left ...next to me is Michele Lee our acrylic-Mixed media artist. Our honorable mayor Paul Finley. Cindy Sensenberger, owner of the building. Terry Hart, Gallery Director and Bead artist, Mike Birdsong, watercolor artist, Jules Weber, Organic Vessel Artist (gourd artist), and Greg Lee, potter.

It was a grand event with food , wine, and music. I wish all of you could have been there!!!

These are two pictures of my art studio in the house. If you are in the area please come on by. If you ever are coming to the Huntsville/Madison Alabama area...come look us up. I would love to meet you.

A New Beginning!

Hello Everyone!!!
It's been a long time since my last post....but things have been happening. My new art studio at home is up and running. The sunroom is wonderful ( I was spending many hours talking to my feathered friends and catching up on some reading)Now, I have NEW news! ! ! ! !

Our fair city of Madison ,Al is opening an art gallery. It is calle "16 Main" - the actual address. It's an art gallery and community of working artists. I have been chosen to be the "resident Acrylic artist". I am so very excited! ! ! Now I have two studios..my one at home and this new one at the gallery

So far we have 8 artist's in all, each of us specializing in a different media. There is room for 10, so we will see :-) Each of us has a room of our own and patrons will be able to come into our rooms and watch us work. The art gallery will host an "artist of the month" and the main area of the gallery will show all the resident artist's work and offer for sale.

"16 Main" also will have a meeting room for civic organizations as well as individuals who wish to rent the room. We are planning "Dollar Movie Nights on the Lawn" through out the summer, wine tastings, art strolls, dinner theater, and various artistic events for the community. We've got big plans! So wish us luck!!!

I'll post more about the gallery with pictures soon and also hope to share a little about each artist in residence.

New Baby! ! !

This is my new baby - - Her name is Chelsea! Isn't she pretty?
Chelsea is 12 years old and was a rescue. I got her from animal services a couple of weeks ago. She says "hello", "meow" and wolf whistles. A couple of days ago, my husband sneezed and Chelsea would sneeze back. We are now wondering what other things she might know how to do or say. Yesterday, after she "meowed" I started barking at her and she tried to bark back...not quite as convinceing as the "meow" but it's a start. Anyway, here she is acting a little shy :-)