Jo Beth's blog

You gotta have shapes!

2011-08-18T21:12:00.000-05:00

If you ain't got a shape, you ain't got a thang! Do wop, do wop, do wop, do wop. Ok, we artists can take creative license in more ways than one. Whether it is great creativity of verbage or not... the shape IS the thing. I recently was teaching a charcoal class to all ages and when they saw me draw looking at my paper upside down and facing away from me they were surprised. How did I make it look right? Focusing on the shapes of a thing is what it takes. No matter how you look at it, you don't draw a house...you draw squares, rectangles and triangles, etc. Monet said it, I believe it. Every student left happily with a wonderful and complete drawing.

Nesting and Reflecting

2011-06-16T13:49:00.002-05:00

I realize it has been a while since I have posted anything new. I have been nesting here at home. Taking time to reflect, design items for my JM Couture line, organize my working areas, and other misc. actions. Reflecting has been uppermost in my days. Receiving word of the sudden death of my friend Heidy's husband, who was only slightly older than my husband, really has made me more conscious of my actions in the passing days. All of my current art is a reflection of "life" in its exuberant fullness. Knowing death is a very real part of the life we all face I think will be expressed in a few works to come. Not in a morbid way, but in fallen leaves and logs, leafless trees, etc. But for now, my prayers are for Heidy, and I must complete the commisions on my table.
My hope is that we all appreciate every day we are given. That we love and honor all we come in contact with.

Local Art Shows

2011-06-06T20:50:00.001-05:00

Sapulpa, Ok's. annual Route 66 Blowout Art Show was held this past weekend. It was so inspiring to see the many local artists and their varied styles all in one place. The youngest 6-10 age group exhibited fantastic and creative pieces along with the older groups. As a committee member I enjoyed accepting the work and getting to to talk to each artist. I heard the judges had quite a time of it judging all of the wonderful pieces. It really got me fired up to get back to my easel and create!
This coming Saturday, June 11th, will find me in Drumright,Ok. at the Tidal School Winery from 2-5pm for my Meet the Artist time. I have an exhibit this month of my colorful acrylic paintings. June 25th will find me there once again. There is always wonderful live music and wine tasting too. I hope to see all of you local okies there for a fun time!

Back to it!

2011-05-02T20:15:00.001-05:00

          My goodness, how time goes by. After a major MS exacerbation requiring hospitalization and time to recover I am soooo glad to be back on my feet and back at the easel. The Wine, Music and Art Festival at Tidal School Winery in Drumright this past weekend was officially my first "brush" with the art life again. We were blessed with a glorious day and only slight windiness.
         JM Couture has been busy too. After the ...dare I say it...Royal Wedding...my fascinators are enjoying a surge in popularity. Plus the cabbage rose bracelets are selling faster than my fingers can bead. So work before picture posting.

New photos - JM Couture

2011-03-24T10:59:00.000-05:00

Just added these photos of a few hair fascinators. These are the larger one of a kind pieces selling in French Kiss of Ashland, Oregon. I also create one of a kind smaller pieces as well with pics to come. Must schedule time with my Melissa to get them set up. I create and she handles the technical end! It is another way for me to express my creativity and indulge in my love of embellishment, vintage lace, ribbon, embroidery and floral art which can be worn. There is nothing like an accessory to help us feel "topped off" and express our feelings or mood for the day.

New pastel pictures posted!

2011-03-03T17:30:00.002-06:00

Do you believe it? New photos of some of my pastel paintings have arrived on the blog. All due to the techno savvy Melissa! There is definitely more to be done on all the pages...still to come. I have so fallen in love with pastels. The glorious immediacy and tactile nature of the individual sticks, in a vast array of colors, causes me to loose time as I create a work based on my chosen subject. I can capture the softness of a horse's nose and the vibrancy of life in a landscape. My gift of 214 pastels in a wooden box took my breath away! It has allowed my love of color to flourish!

Water..and more water

2011-02-24T10:51:00.000-06:00

The rain is falling softly outdoors. A short while ago there was lightening and thunder with a heavy downpoor. Kind of representing my life right now. I had anticipated posting a blog this week with new photos- finally- and reporting on my day at Tidal School Winery. That was before the water heater burst in the main hallway drenching the carpet. We have been edging around the pulled up carpet draped on raised chairs with fans and space heaters to aid in the drying. Followed by the dishwasher stopping mid-cycle full of water of course. My Whitney-girl has National FFA Week requiring evening meetings and special happenings as well adding to the fun. But seriously, we are blessed. It makes us appreciate all that we have. With all this water I am thinking water color paintings!

Emerging from our snowy cocoons in Snowklahoma!

2011-02-17T17:46:00.001-06:00

     Two weeks ago we were recovering from a record setting blizzard. One week ago we were digging out yet again from a second snow storm. As "over achievers" here in Snowklahoma we set at least 5 new records for snowfall and temperature. Who could have imagined a 110 degree difference in temperature in a one week period. Yes, I know....could have posted the pics while snowed in. Hey... I was painting while enjoying the hot chocolate, popcorn and fireplace! Really.... I have a snow scene to prove it.
     I am feeling a little like a butterfly emerging from it's cocoon enjoying the warm sunny days. Yesterday I went into Tulsa for a delightful Girls Day Out with a special friend. We went to Philbrook Art Museum to catch the Wyeth exhibit plus more. We enjoyed a tasty lunch served by a very handsome young waiter. No....he wasn't on the menu so we had to leave him there.
Philbrook has"living" art as well. Hahaha!
   Saturday promises to be sunny and warm. My "Meet the Artist/demo" in Drumright at the Tidal School Winery should be enjoyable along with the live jazz and blues band.

To Be, We Three

2011-02-11T15:14:00.000-06:00

   Sitting at my studio art table I watch sunbeams dance casting morning light upon the gathered artist materials. Brushes, pencils, paints, pastels, and mediums are all readily available. It occurs to me these materials are symbols of life and human personalities. Especially we sisters three.
   Is today going to be a gloriously elegant, sophisticated upscale painting?  A sister who delights in "all things french"? Champagne in the salon to be savored slowly, with artfully prepared pastries? Luxury to indulge in the process, time taken to savor the experience?
   Could it be a contemporary and imaginative burst of industrious energy? A sister going Mach I with her hair on fire handling life with a "get in done now" attitude? Business layered over a deeply rich and caring nature?
Or lastly, will it be a landscape?  The sister who is tied in to creation in all its endless possibilities? Delighting in wide open skies and land, barefooted, tending the gardens and wildlife?
   How blessed we are to be, we three, creating life in our own special way. An intertwined composition in layers of texture, colors, and styles.
       Today, which is to be...........?

Slide Show Memories

2011-02-09T20:36:00.000-06:00

It is amazing what you can find to do when snowbound. We are going through still more slides from "way back when". I love seeing places, people, and pets from earlier times. More importantly, we are reviewing artist reference pics/slides from California. The Central Coast area right now - we lived there in our early pre-married and newlywed life. My husband loved off-roading which perfectly matched my need to travel the countryside's "off the beaten track" places to find just the right spot to sketch/paint/photograph. My current pastel paintings of Montana De Oro and the San Simeon schoolhouse currently hanging in my Tidal School Winery show came from photos (and memories) such as these. Hubby is requesting another California poppy,countryside painting. This time in pastels. Back to the easel!

Mother Nature's Blessing

2011-02-08T10:41:00.000-06:00

The snow, however beautiful, caused the Meet the Artist day at Tidal School Winery to be a no-go. I was soooo looking forward to hearing the jazz band. One week to the day- the snow plow came out to our county road. Neighbors with tractors did their best on our private road. Mother Nature blessed me with the time to stay snuggled in a warm house painting to my heart's content since we were snowed in. I worked on a winter scene- while sitting in front of my small space heater of course. With family here to cook and clean it couldn't get any better. Kids are going to their first day of school. Another storm coming in today so we had to dash to town to pick up necessary items. Dark chocolate, pop corn, hot chocolate, hot spiced cider! It is all about priorities. Hubby made a wonderful pot of hearty soup to last a few meals. The easel is calling again...must paint!

Show goes up--Snow/Ice Came Down

2011-02-03T17:20:00.000-06:00

Monday morning... at Tidal School Winery my art was hung. Once again, the talented Carol Mulcare stepped in and shared her expertise by directing and hanging the art. Monday night..ice rain/inches, yes INCHES of ice...then a record setting snow for Northeastern Oklahoma bringing us to a standstill. The Tulsa airport and all major roadways totally closed. Snow was a minimum of 14 inches or so but thanks to the wind we had snowdrifts up to our hips. Front porch snow higher than the railings. Snow taller than our full grown Sheppard. Dogs do not want to go out with the snow blowing at 30-40 mph and snow taller than them. Big surprise there.(Sarcasm in capital letters!) Why do I get the dirty looks from them. After all, I shared snow blasting me in the face as I said OUT! Sixteen yr. old daughter bravely, and without complaining, trudges out to pasture to feed and check horses at -11 degrees. comes in and lobs snowball at Mom! We have to keep up our spirits being snowbound. This is day 3 but who's counting- right? Hopefully the Meet the Artist date Saturday happens. I want to see the great jazz band lined up to play during my scheduled meet and demo time! Fingers and toes crossed. But mainly prayers. It could happen!

Still....Coming Soon!

2011-01-26T17:27:00.000-06:00

O.K. What can I say. The easel won. It IS all about the art work. Plus, I needed my special and talented art buddy Carol to critique everything. I am so blessed to have her help! The pics will be posted soon. After final photos are taken so the "masterpieces" can be matted, framed, labeled, and so on. Four days and counting until Showtime!

Still-the business

2011-01-23T12:36:00.000-06:00

I am still taking care of the business side. I am getting ready for my show at Tidal School Winery in February. Oklahoma for my non local-okie people. This show will be strictly pastels. Spending two days taking care of media. The two pics already posted will be in two articles two weeks apart in my local paper. How spoiled is that! My easel is calling but...plugging my ears...back to business.

Taking care of business

2011-01-21T20:53:00.001-06:00

Oh my goodness. The new business cards, postcards and notecards arrived. They link to this site. That means I have to get to busy taking care of business. I know what I need to do. Instead of just creating and creating some more. So.....COMING SOON.