What I'm listening to this evening

First Fest Day

First Day at the Fest! It was a good good day despite the rain. Lots of good customers before the rain, and then friends hiding out in my booth during the storm. Even hot fresh beignets in the middle of a downpour! (the benefits of being across from the Cafe du Monde booth, and friends with ponchos!) :)

First Fest Beignets! Bright and early this morning.

A pic of my booth before the gates opened to the masses.

ok, I admit to a second round of beignets during the rain. it was such a lovely moment. the Cafe du Monde booth made them fresh for us because they had no customers... so we got lots of hot fresh fluffy sugary beignets to snack on while we waited out the rain.

Good spirits maintained throughout the day. whew!

Now to bed. Again tomorrow!

Lay Your Burden Down

"Bird Island", 48" x 60", $3200

"Morning", 60" x 40", $2800

"Front Porch Storm", 48" x 72", $3600

"Blue Dress Black Bunny", 18" x 24", SOLD

"Honey Tree", 48" x 72", SOLD

"Knee Deep", 12" x 16", SOLD

"Denim Tree", 36" x 46", $2100

"Rocking Chair on River", 40" x 30", $1100

"Bluebird", 12" x 16", SOLD

"Elizabeth Tree", 48" x 72", SOLD

"Long Sleeves", 16" x 20", SOLD

"Hot Air Balloon and Black Dress", 24" x 36", SOLD

"Pink Moon", 30" x 30", SOLD

"Chocolate Cone", 20" x 28", $600

"Sunset Mary", 16" x 20", SOLD

"Glitter Tree", 24" x 36", SOLD

"Stoop and Red Balloon", 16" x 20", SOLD

"Upside Down Sailboat", 16" x 20", $450

"Yellow House with Rain", 16" x 20", $500

"Lotus Tree", 48" x 72", $3600

"Hot Air Balloon and Step Ladder", 16" x 20", SOLD

"Butterflies in Bed", 18" x 24", SOLD

"White Dress Balloons", 20" x 28", SOLD

"Chokecherry", 18" x 24", SOLD

"Blue Dress with River", 18" x 24", SOLD

"Quilt Swing", 16" x 20", SOLD

"Poppy Bed", 20" x 16", SOLD

"Head Under Water", 18" x 24", $600

"Room Full of Apples", 30" x 30", SOLD

"Butterfly Tree", 24" x 36", $1200


"Birds with Red Ribbons", 40" x 30", SOLD

Home Stretch

It is Monday morning before Jazz Fest. I am at the coffeeshop on the computer, and I just sent off an email to my small and lovely group of followers. I am making a list of to-dos and to-not-forgets, and then I will pack up and head back to the studio to finish a painting that I think will be called "Front Porch Storm". I can see the end of this painting tunnel I have made for myself and it is bittersweet. There has been something quite nice about limiting my life to painting in the riverbend, eating lunch on the front steps of my studio and catching the good shows on the radio. But as nice as it has been to over-indulge in my own creative ideas and craft, I look forward to rejoining the world this weekend where, in a complete change of scenery, I unveil these new works to thousands. My work is always personal (as it goes with being an artist), but these 40 new paintings are walking that vulnerable line of bare emotion, and showing them is both an over-exposure of myself, and a blessed opportunity. I hope others find solace in them, as I have had in making them.

I invite you blog followers to join me back here on Wednesday (4/21) where I intend to post a preview of the new paintings. For anyone incredibly eager, or who is not attending the fest, I am also hosting a very casual open-studio preview showing on Wednesday night (4/21) from 6:00 - 7:00pm at my studio.

If you are not in the area, and you see something on my blog-preview that you are interested in purchasing, please call me on my mobile: 504-669-8667 as I cannot guarantee my internet availability.

Much love to everyone!
Hope to see you this weekend.

Rebecca

Nothing is more important than this day

a new tree commission

a nap in the studio

I am still in painting hibernation as I prepare for Jazz Fest, but I wanted to take a moment to share a new recent tree painting and a quiet moment in the studio. That painting is so much about the magic in life and having a homebase to return to after each journey. My experience in painting it for the family was such a blessing. It is one of the few commissions I have done amid painting the rest of my new body of work and it was like taking a little journey to the other side of the river from myself. I wanted to capture movement and tenderness, magic and stability, wonder and gratefulness, all in the same painting. I am so happy with the result and was excited to deliver it to the inspiring family last weekend. I am so grateful for inspiring families, successful paintings and quiet moments in the studio lately, like the nap pictured above. I bought those Holly Hobbie sheets at a thrift store a few years ago, because my big sister had Holly Hobbie sheets on her bed when we were kids and just seeing them now gives me a safe feeling. I have kept them in my studio thinking I might use them in a stitched piece someday, but on this day they came in handy for their intended purpose of rest. I have pushed myself lately and worn out a few times. But triumphed more than not. But I have to say, there may be no better rest than an afternoon studio nap on Holly Hobbie sheets.

kinda what it's like sometimes

I'm still at it...

"Bird Island", 48" x 60"

"Butterfly Tree", 24" x 36"

My Dad and my Brother-in-law's father helping me with my Jazz Fest Booth over the Easter weekend. Oh how I love a good man in my life.

"Butterflies in Bed", 16" x 20"

Crawl

High-tide

A recent tree painting commission