Please come to the opening at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Friday, May 6

EXHIBITION  & SALE

OF FINE ART BY

ST.PAUL’S ARTISTS

Reception to Meet the Artists

Friday, May 6, 2011

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

228 South Pitt Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 549-3312

Exhibition Hours

Friday, May 6, 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

                                                    Saturday, May 7, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 8, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Cash or check only, 20% tax deductible

I will be at the opening, and hope to meet you, my imaginary friend.;) 

Your Imaginary Buddy,

Patsie

What Are Babies Really Thinking?

Dear Imaginary Baby Friends,

What are you babies really thinking, as you shove your teeny fists into your tiny mouths and stare up at us big people? Are you thinking, "Now there's an adult making a silly face and goofy sounds!"

People who ordinarily are very serious, let their "Goofy flags" fly when they are around babies, making baby talk, etc. Anything to elicit that sweet baby smile, or better yet, giggle.

Babies are not large, but I think they are the ones in charge!

Your Imaginary Philosopher,

Patsie

What a Glamorous Life

An attempt to paint strawberries and lilacs

Dear Imaginary Friend,

Being an artist is not glamorous. It means smelling of paints, squinting at an art setup, and fighting fatigue.

It's like going to battle with failure: Who will win today, my talent or my incompetence? It remains to be seen. This painting was started today at 3pm, but needs quite a bit more time to pull it together. The battle has been neither won nor lost, thus far.

Stay tuned.

Your Imaginary Artist Friend,

Patsie

The Gentleperson's Sport of Croquet

Deni and Virginia Show How to Fashionably Hold Your Mallet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEra Imaginary Reader,

 

 

I believe that there would be fewer world wars if everyone would take up the slow paced game of croquet.

Not only can everyone play, but one can wear elegant clothing while doing so, and act highly civilized. (See above) As civilized as scones and tea. As civilized as your grandmother's silver flatware service.

Let's put away the violent video games like "Kill My Granny" and "Deathtrap on Cannibal Island". I encourage you to go outside on your front lawn this minute, and wear your Sunday finest while taking a leisurely game in. What was that you said? It is midnight? Well, then, that will winnow out the competition, and noone will witness your bad shots.

Think happy thoughts, and get some fresh air.

Channel your road rage into whacking that wooden ball so hard it flies through the hoop. ALL while looking your very best!
Cheerio,

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

Easter Sunday Annual Easter Egg Hunt

The Fam

Dear Imaginary Easter Friends,

My mother started a very cute tradition a long time ago (1975?)  in her back yard, every Easter. She held an annual Easter Egg hunt, for all the grandchildren of every age. One-year-olds competed only with themselves, so therefore, everyone won a prize. It was so sweet of her to do it. It only lasted five minutes, but she would spend hours, or rather, days shopping for gifts for her 11 grandchildren. All ages, all sizes.

As usual, everyone in this picture is a winner. And they are the most precious people of all in my life.

Your Imaginary Easter Bunny,

Patsie

Just This Wednesday...

Cache Pot with Tulips, Oil, 2011, 16 x 12"

I started something new a couple of days ago: this painting of a cache pot with tulips. The colors are a primary scheme, for optimal contrast. It is unfinished. I am still working on it, trying to bring it to a higher level of beauty. This is a real pansy plant, but all of its pansies were dead. But I think it needed some, so I made them up.

Wish me luck finishing it! Sometimes that is the hardest part, because we all leave the part we don't know how to do until the end. If we knew how to fix things, they would already be fixed.



In love with Spring,
Patsie

Hanging Out On The Stoop

Dear Imaginary Readers,

Poppy and Parker

What do guys like to do when the weather warms up? Well, they like to hang out on the front stoop, and feel the breeze, of course!

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

Future Gemologist? When Babies Attack, Part 3

Dear Imaginary Readers,

Here is my daughter Virginia being attacked by the very busy Parker, who has his sights set on her pearl necklace. He loves nothing more than pulling one's necklace, earrings, bracelet. Maybe a future gemologist? Perhaps a job someday at Tiffany's? Alternatively, he is at his most gleeful when pulling Mommy's hair, grandpa's ears, or uncle's nose. He has quite the grip. This seven month old has a glint in his eye when he yanks you into the pain zone. His kitty cat must get shaved tomorrow morning, because he has pulled out chunks of her fur. Poor unsuspecting Mattie!

Beware, when babies attack!

In pain,

Patsie

The Real Thing

Dear Imaginary Friends,

For your perusal and comparison, I present, the original still life from my painting session. Please compare it to the oil painting I did, in my last blog entry. Now you know if I am lousy or not! My painting looks pretty much like the set up, I hope. I eliminated the green foil around the plant, because I felt that it complicated matters a tad too much.

It's rather intimidating to stare at a blank canvas and then try to capture reality. There are good painting days and bad painting days. You never know, going on, which it will be.

Lately, I have further challenged myself  by working on four different paintings simultaneously, inching each a little further toward completion. While I worked on this piece, I also painted two figures, a fig tree, and a pansy plant in a cache pot.

Tired,

Patsie

How I Spent Two Wednesdays

Oil

Dear Imaginary Viewer/Reader,

Here is my new painting, freshly hatched and finished this week. I have not come up with a name yet. It is always a challenge, actually. Some paintings are easy to name. For instance, if my painting consists solely of strawberries, I get lazy and name it "Strawberries!"

Indeed, sometimes the well runs dry.
But when a painting contains so many different elements such as this one, I am tempted to name it "Breakfast."

If you have a better idea, please post your title in the comments section. I would love to have your input!
Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

Utter Relaxation

At Peace, snoozing the day away

Who needs yoga? Tranquilizers? Massages? You just really need a soft place to land.

Patsie, Parker and Susan: Cute Stuffings Knows He Has It Good

Susan Snuggles Parker

Parker looks like a very happy customer of Susan's snuggling technique. Susan, an experienced snuggler, has two granddaughters who are in Cincinnati, but is keeping her infant-snuggling techniques current in case there is a new baby in her family. You just never know! Parker fits under her chin, and uses my shoulder as a footrest, because he knows that he can do no wrong. He fits in everywhere he goes. Cuz babies are the best. When they smile at you, your troubles float away.

Love,

Grandmother of Cute Stuffings

Patsie and Teresa

Dear Art Friends,

Here I am with the very talented and pretty Teresa Oaxaca, painting up a storm, while posing in front of two of Teresa's paintings. The painting on the floor is done by another person in the class; it is not ours.

Teresa dresses very creatively. She has style going on. I like the fact that she has created her own look. When artists wear berets, it really bugs me. They need to come up with something a little more today!

And how am I coming up with a new look? Errr...... Long hair?? Blue rubber gloves??
Love,

Your Imaginary Artist Friend with the blue gloves,

Patsie

Another angle on the Miller Sisters

 

Dear Imaginary Restaurant Goers,

Here we are still sitting at the Warehouse, having consumed massive quantities of she-crab soup and popcorn shrimp salad, etc. Not to mention a bucket of their delish iced tea. WE might never get up, except that Susan has a plane to catch.

Beth, Susan and I all love the Warehouse and the beautiful ambiance. If you have not visited, please, stop being shy!
Love,

Your Foodie,

Patsie

Red Rocks Pizza Napoletana-new restaurant

Dear Imaginary Dining Companions,

Do you love pizza? Well, for a great selection, try Red Rocks Pizza, in the 900 block of King St., in Old Town Alexandria. Their dishes contain ingredients that I am not totally sure how to pronounce, such as rabe,  and also weird new meats like speck.

It attracts a cool, happening crowd.

What's not to like about creative pizza, gelato, etc? Plus they have some neatso specialty cocktails.

I like their eggplant pizza. It's kinda healthy, right? I also had their side dish of asparagus with balsamic vinegar. Tasty.

See you there!
Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

Teresa Oaxaca

Dear Imaginary Friends,
Here is a photo of a painting compadre at the Art League named Teresa Oaxaca. She is amazingly talented, and painted the two copies of famous artists that you see behind her. Talent: it is an amazing gift. It falls into the laps of the fortunate.
Teresa, you can paint anything. And you are so young.
Your fan,
Patsie

The Miller Sisters

Dear Imaginary Friends,

Are you wondering if I have any siblings?  Well, you should! I have two sisters, and here they are.

Beth and Susan are very special to me! We love to lunch together at The Warehouse and talk old times.

What could be better?
Love,

Patsie, Your Imaginary Sister

Paloma Picasso

Dear Imaginary Friends,

Tonight was very special: I met Paloma Picasso, who creates jewelry for Tiffany's. I was so excited to have my picture taken with her and to get her autograph. :)

We spoke a bit. Here is the scoop: She is about 5'2", with thick black hair. She is very stylish, and is married to a short French man. They spend 6 months of the year in Switzerland and 6 months of the year in Morocco. Marrakesh, to be specific, which plays an influence in her latest designs. I asked her if she painted, as well as designed jewelry. She said, no, she did not want to try to conquer the territory that both her parents worked in. So she draws her jewelry designs, but that is it.

Who else was there? The ambassador to Morocco, and also Linda Erkiletian, who is a former cast member of the "Real Housewives of DC". Linda owns a modeling agency, but herself is all of 5' tall.

Oh, by the way, Pablo Picasso is Paloma's dad. But you knew that.

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

A Uchello, not a Picasso

What Remains to be Seen

Pictured above is the new painting I am showing right now at this very minute at the Art League Gallery. It is called "Lewes, Delaware."

It is for sale for a paltry price, and will be on display through May 7. The title of this particular show is Remains.  Remains, as a theme, refers to the end of something or what is left. In this case, what remains is the remains of the day: when the sun dips down to oblivion and casts magic colors across the landscape. I love dramatic lighting, whether it is cast across a body of water or a building.

My cute little oil is 12 x 12". It is available for adoption to a nice home. Yes, it is housebroken and never bites.

Since my article came out in elan, I have been selling my paintings at a fast clip. I sold a large one, a waterscape, too,  today to my lovely friend from Hillsboro, North Carolina. She used to live a bout six blocks from the site of the painting, and so it has special meaning for her, and good memories of living near the GW Parkway. That painting went to a happy home, and I just love it when that happens.

Your very busy artist friend,

Patsie

More Hair Gel, Episode Two

SO, here is the new hair do from a more traditional angle, and you can see he is quite content being a Gerber Rock Star baby!

Rocker Hairdo

Dear Imaginary Friends,

I recently had some free time on my hands, and decided to give Parker a new 'do. I put some gel in his hair to fashion him into a Gerber Baby, but he came out looking like a rock star.

Rock on, with your baby self, dude!
Your Imaginary Grandma,

Patsie

Who Hid All Those Eggs?

Parker Bunny!

Artist of Another Stripe

"Artist of Another Stripe", Oil, 12 x 12"

Dear Tiny Imaginary Friends,

Don't you just hate puns? Yeah, me, too, except when I make them!

When I was just knee-high to a duck, I painted this abstract piece. OK, I was actually 5'6"! But I was in my twenties, and what a long time ago that seems now... 

I do not paint abstractly much anymore, but I think it has great value. I am just more intrigued these days by making a pile of paint and some canvas fabric create the illusion of another object or place. What a sleight of hand that truly is!

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

Earnest the Seal

This is Earnest. Earnest wants to be your friend. Earnest is very lonely. Please take him home.

Earnest is potty trained, is a good listener, and likes cool jazz. He does not bite, and rarely gets drunk.

Your Imaginary Friend,
Patsie

Cherry Pie: Bake It, Paint It, Eat It!

"It's  piece of cherry pie that I baked, then I painted, and then I ate it -- and that's how I roll!"

And yeah, it tasted pretty good.

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

Everybody is Wearing a Monkey Bib This Year

Parker's Monkey bib: he wears it well.

 

elan magazine is my fave read

                                                                             Dear Imaginary Friends,

"Benito Pussalini, Kitten Dictator," Oil, 36 x 22"

Wow, I made my magazine debut for art yesterday when the April 2011 edition of elan magazine was published. Guess who is celebrating her good luck?!"Benito Pussalini" made the cut as did "Have a Slice", "Earnest the Seal", "Mrs. William Wegman", "Miami Deco","The Cherry Pie", "The High Heel", "The Pink Purse". The article is entitled Joie de Vivre, and is on pages 40 through 43.

I plan to scan it in, and display it on my blog, as soon as possible.

Your Almost Famous Artist Friend,

Patsie

Parker Bear

Parker tried to look fierce

I

Dear Imaginary Friends,

Pun coming: I cannot BEAR how cute this picture is! At least, I warned you!
Love,

Patsie