Honeymoon Island

Sometimes it's fun doing things out of character.

Beginning in classes again has forced me to pull out old pictures. This one I took of a sunset at Honeymoon Island, Florida, has always intrigued me. I'll admit to generally being anti sunrise and sunset paintings, as the believability factor is low for me. In fact, I'll see a cloud formation or sky color, love it, and then think it could not be believable when painted. Call it my Pessimistic Artistic License.

So, my goal here is less being believable, although the sky was just this way; I merely wanted to step out of bounds. Alas, there is no green.

Honeymooon Island, WIP
pastel on slate blue Pastelboard, 8x10

Maya's Pastry and Cafe Rotating Exhibit, Lorton

Beginning on Sunday, Kingstowne Area Artists Association will add to their locations hosting exhibits. Besides Kingstowne Active Adult Center, KAAA will stage quarterly exhibits at Maya's Pastry and Cafe at 8998 Lorton Station Blvd near the VRE.

Workhouse Opening

Join us for a Wine and Cheese Reception at the Workhouse Arts Center featuring pieces from the Workhouse Artists Associates (I have three pieces in this show) and the Workhouse Artists Guild.

Visit the Workhouse Gallery in W-16 from 2-4pm on Sunday, April 19. Also take some time to visit the Workhouse Artists Studios from noon until 5pm.

KAAA Show and Sale, noon to 5, Snyder Center in Alexandria, VA

And you are welcomed to attend on Saturday to view the fine art of about 15 local artists in all media!

From 20 and Odd to One, From 1619 to 2009, From Jamestown to Washington

When I saw this Call for Artists, I knew I needed to participate. I am probably as avid a genealogist as I am an artist; they both require collecting lots of stuff and retaining many details.

More Black Art has an upcoming exhibit entitled, "Dawning of a New Day," with the requirements being that submitters are of African descent. Perhaps I do not look African, but I am very proud of my African ancestors. They were pirate's booty captured in or near Angola in 1619 brought in two shiploads to Jamestown. They are credited with saving the struggling colony.

My ancestry is through the Gowen (Gowan, Goin, Goings, etc) family and in 1641 Michael Gowen is considered to be one of the first freed slaves in Virginia. (Updated article: http://the-melungeons.blogspot.com/2012/09/pre-contact-dna.html )Eight generations later, Ann "Nancy" Gowen married John Easley, later a Lieutenant in the Revolution, my patriot through whom I joined National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Here I am, eight generations after that. The Gowen family is near to my heart.

My concept piece for "Dawning of a New Day" shows the transformation of a Jamestown building into the most famous residence in the land, linking the 20 and odd number of Africans in 1619 to the current African immigrant blood in the White House in 2009. It demonstrates the industry and determination of a people working over hundreds of years to succeed and to propel that prosperity into the future.
Soft Pastel with acrylic underpainting and prepared pumice surface on foamboard
16x20