Hi Everyone,
Cork & Canvas at Reflectives Frame at Artisans Cove (located between Publix & the golf course in Hampton Cove, AL this coming Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 from 5:30-7:30 $35. Snacks, soda, and all art supplies provided. We'll be painting Van Gogh's Irises. BYOB of wine! Check out the Paint-A-Longs button at www.parsonsartgallery.com to see the painting you'll do. Lots of Color. Sign up by noon tomorrow to be sure a space is reserved. See ya. Cynthia
Here is an opportunity for you, as an artist, to work, create, be inspired by other artists and have a prime spot in historic downtown Madison for your business. 16 Main now has a studio space available for rent.
16 Main is a new community of professional "working artists" sharing one of Madison Alabama's historic homes. Each artist has been juried in and has his or her own studio in the home, along with a gallery and shop where the public can purchase art created there.
Along with the studio space, all artists have access and usage to a kitchen, meeting room and community classroom that may be used for teaching.
If you are a working artist and are interested in the studio space for rent,
Please call or come by 16 Main ( M-S 10am-7pm )
256-325-4253
16 Main St. Madison, AL 35758
Location: Madison, AL
Date: Each Sat. May thru October
Donna Campbell
Hymns, songs, quotes and words are among my favorite things to paint. There is a connection between the words that stirs a deep emotion in my soul.
I am moved by something that I once read that says,
“I love the old songs,
The ones that people sang together through all of the dramas in their lives,
The songs that were passed like heirlooms from one generation to another,
And are still remembered.”
For me, most of those old songs are hymns that I sang growing up in church every Sunday. “I Need Thee Every Hour”, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”, “It Is Well With My Soul”, and of course, “How Great Thou Art”.
These hymns played a significant role in my life during a very difficult time. While on my early morning walks each day, I would sing any hymn that came to mind, in an effort to ease the hurt in my heart. God always gave me the words that I needed for the day as he promises in
Psalms 32: 7, “You are my hiding place, you will protect me from troubles and
surround me with songs of deliverance”.
During this painful time in my life, painting these words on canvas brought me great comfort.
My first painting, “Take It To The Lord In Prayer” will always be the most dear to me because it brought me such peace. No matter what you face during this life there is One who is always available to listen.
Hymns are an important thread in the fabric of my life. Their words leave precious memories behind when their melodies cease. I hope you too will remember the hymns of your youth and be able to hear the music again.
Donna R. Campbell
dcampbell1321@aol.com
Joe Fikes
It surprises me when I hear others refer to me as an artist. I’ve never thought of myself in those terms. I simply keep my eyes open to see the beauty that surrounds us, particularly the things in nature that the Creator has made. I’ve never ceased to be astonished by His creativity, intellect, craftsmanship, and most of all, His deep, deep mercy and love. I also enjoy photographing the beautiful things that people have made… machinery, architecture, and gizmos – from simple, hand-made things all the way up to high-tech things. And I appreciate folks who plant trees or put flowers in their windows or gardens, for they add beauty to our lives.
If I contribute anything at all to this process, it’s through my little obsession with craftsmanship. It might sound simple, but I just like to get my subjects in focus. I try to expose them properly. I try to frame them well, and perhaps, from a fresh vantage point. And I look for surprises.
I’ve been playing with photography in a serious way for about 40 years, always as a hobby, not as a profession. With one exception, all of the images in this exhibit were taken within the last few years using Canon digital SLR cameras.
I always edit my images in Photoshop. No exceptions, ever! Sometimes it’s only to sharpen them slightly (to compensate for the digital sensor anti-aliasing filters). But I also adjust the brightness, contrast, color balance and saturation to give the images the visual impact I think they need. And occasionally I need to remove a stray power line or “Do Not Loiter” sign. Rarely, I’ll actually move or delete elements of the scene.
I hope you enjoy the exhibit! My best wishes to you.
email: joe@joefikes.com
website: joefikes.com
Location: Florence, AL
Date: March thru December
For more information, please visit our website: We hope to see you on the "Sidewalks!" |
Location: Madison, AL
Date: First Saturday of each month April thru September
Juried Show. ENTRY DEADLINE two weeks prior to art show each month
Art News from Artist, Michael Thoenes:
Ascribing Artist, Doris Sisk shared this with me and I thought I would share it with the art blog:
Take my Son.....
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'
There was silence...
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'
But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'
Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!'
But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel.. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'
A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'
'What about the paintings?'
'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.
The man who took the son gets everything!'
God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'
Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE (John 3:16)
Please join us for a delightful evening with noted Artist, Cynthia Parsons!
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When:
June 15, 2010 at 5:30 PM -to- 7:30 PM
