Art in Heaven

Today has been one of remembering. I believe it has been brought on because a song keeps popping in my head and won't go away. "Yesterday"! I came across this story I had written just before my husband was diagnosed with the deadly brain tumor. We would sit and talk for hours and then he suggested I write the story of my art in Heaven.
Here it is, enjoy!

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When artists are gathered at a show, they tend to brag on the amount of art they have sold and where their art is around the world. I had only been attending shows for two years and my bragging rights were mainly the eastern half of the United States, no grand foreign countries. My shows were limited to the enclosed mall in a tourist area of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where about six shows a year were scheduled.

I soon got over being shy and would remember people that had admired and possibly bought a piece of my art. There were a couple artists that took me under their wings and would help me, especially in pricing, and encouraging me every step of the way to be successful.

I had recently raised my prices, as suggested, when this priest that often walked through the mall to check out the work the artists had on display stopped at my booth and said, "I would like to buy one of your lighthouse etchings before you get to famous and I can't afford one."

Naturally I was so happy with a successful weekend.

About a year passed and I noticed the priest once again looking at my art. I wanted him to know that I had appreciated his patronage and that I recognized him. I shyly asked if he was enjoying the light house etching, and he replied, "Oh that wasn't for me, that was for my boss."

My mouth dropped open as I gazed towards Heaven. After several seconds, my husband realized I was in shock and gently poked me in the ribs to bring me back down to earth. He whispered to me, "I don't think he means that high up."

My face turned red as the priest smiled, winked and walked on. My husband lets my imagination run and lets me have my delusion that I have a piece of art in Heaven by saying, "Just be glad you didn't have to pay the freight."

The wonderful world of my mind

Did I say Auction???? How about a fire sale!!!

Well here I sit trying to figure out what happened and why... Approximately 10:00 I decided to take a quick peanut butter sandwich break from all the sorting and cleaning for the items that are to be in the auction. After eating the sandwich I felt the need to speak to my son in Michigan.... I couldn't reach him and found out today that my first great grand son had been hit exremely hard in the head with a base ball bat... I had tried to reach a couple of other people as well and then started out the back door to continue on with my sorting of the tools. I had picked up the phone to see what time the auction people were to arrive and as I looked at the garage I seen what looked like a pillar of fire from the floor to the roof of my wood working shop. As I ran toward the garage dialing 911, I was headed for the water hose at the garage door, when the fire seemed to disburse in all directions at once.... I changed my progress direction and as I was giving my information to 911 operator I broke into a full run to the fire station next door... The phone had a funny sound and I couldn't hear the operator any more... I found out later that the phone line in the garage had been burned and my phone was left in an open state...The firemen were out on another call and headed back in as I heard paint cans exploding.. Two paramedics were headed out to my place and backed up to get out of the way and get the rest of the information and let 911 know I was O.K....
Two and a half hours later all I could see was a complete disaster staring at me from my garage.... Everything lay blackened and in gobs of melted masses of plastic and chared wood.. The tears flowing down my cheeks were hot as the raging infurno had been earlier... My hopes and dreams were lying in rubble...
This was on Wednesday, by Thurseday I was going through the motions in a dazed state trying to contact the right people and figure out what to do next... The phone company took a whole day to get out there and get my phone working... Then the sissy man was afraid to go under the house for fear he might run into a cobweb.. I told him there was more of a chance to get cobwebs in the main house than under it.. Now a snake would have been my fear.. The fire chief came and took pictures and went through the whole mess and it indeed was the fan.. For some reason which we can't figure out, the cord over heated and caused this horrible disaster...
This morning crews arrived and everything started to fall in place.. By this evening I had a much more possitive out look and many of the tools were still intact... Plus two chaplains and a grief counselor had talked with me, the insurance company arrived and the auction will go on.. Minus many tools but with many that were under the clutter of the burnt building..
I shall continue forward, maybe at a large loss but I will survive for I could have been in the building when things started to explode.. I have my life and I will live..I also hope my dream for my art gallery will also live...

Auction

I received word that the county has OK'ed the auction and is to be held here on September 13, 2008. I will be so busy now and will be praying for a great turn out. This will hopefully help will the art gallery, which is my dream, to become a reality.
I have butterflies with lead booties doing a dance in my tummy.
Anyone that happens to be in north east North Carolina that day, please bring money, LOL
If you are wondering Why I have chosen this picture, it is very simple explanation. That is the highest peak for hurricane season here on the Outer Banks of NC. This is my photograph of "Calm Before the Storm" which I took before a hurricane came in later that day.

Only portrait

I came across the only portrait ever done of my husband and also realized it was the only portrait that I also had ever done.. It is a very good likeness and he was pleased with it.. Maybe I better stop while I am ahead, and go back to the wicked stick men..I'm great at those..LOL
I have been busy going through antiques and tools in the garage so that my dream of an art gallery can become a reality.. Tons to go through, I just hope they don't accidentally tag me..
I have let mother nature take care of the watering of my flowers, and she did a good job last night. So good to hear the rain falling, makes for good sleeping..

New friend

I am proud to announce that I have a new friend.
On Eons.com you ask people to be your friend as in art, memories all the different groups. Well we have a few of the people running for president in the group and so I decided to see who would bother to check and accept your friendship. I got my one and only reply today, and based on that, I realized that if his group bothered to answer then they did care about the people.. Well Rudy, you passed and I am so proud that you did, it makes my choice simple now..
He was on my list of people that had the right qualifications..

September WWAO online art exhibit

I thought I had posted the September art exhibit for WWAO but upon rereading my posts I did not post. So here it is:

All works are offered for sale. Contact information for each artist is available on Sharon Shubert's web-site. She is the first to host an online exhibit for WWAO

http://redladyart.com

This exhibit runs from:

September 1st through the 30th 2007.

Please visit, vote and sign guest book.. Thank-you

Breath-taking Beauty

Spring has sprung-- and you can view it at:
http://www.squidoo.com/garden_of_digital_delights/
This lens was created and designed by KKC Bauder, you may recognize the name from an earlier post on Phoophie Tales (which by the way just won another award). She has the ladies from WWAO doing digital flowers and believe me you just have to visit and see all the beauty for yourself..The lens is already ranked number 27th in Art & Literature.. WOW I must correct my last statement---RANKED 17th I just checked...

WWAO by media

The ladies of Worldwide Women Artists Online have been busy as spring bees. Building blogs, making lenses and doing what we do best, CREATE.. One of the Squidoo lenses that is interesting is the:
http://www.squidoo.com/wwaobymedia/
I hope you will all stop by and check out some of the beautiful creations... We are listed by media, our web-sites and a short sentence on our art... I know you will find it very enjoyable...

Delusions

In my bio for Yessy, I stated that I would reveal later, why I thought I had a painting in Heaven. True confession time.


Just shortly after I had started going to art and craft shows, I was told by several people my prices were to low. So I raised them. A priest that often walked through the mall had always taken the time to stop and see what was new. He noticed that my prices had gone up and so he told me,"Before you become famous, and I can't afford your prices, I will take the etching of the 5 most recognized light houses of North Carolina."


A couple years passed and I happened to recognize the priest, once again checking out my art. I asked if he was enjoying the wood ectching. He replied, "Oh I didn't buy it for myself, I bought the painting for my boss." I stood there with my mouth hanging wide open, and gazing upwards toward heaven. About that time I felt a punch in my ribs, and a voice behind me said, "I don't think he means that high up." Needless to say my face turned bright red, and the priest smiled and winked as if to say, "I'm going to make you wonder."


I am still holding on to my first thoughts. Of coarse my husband helps my vision by saying, "Just be glad you didn't have to pay the freight."


Authored by:

Sylvia Outlaw

Buying original art on the internet

I have been told people will not buy original art on the internet, because they would rather see it in person.

I believe it is the perfect way for people to be exposed to original art and view different art that is inspirational and not reproduced by a robot, such as seen in retail stores. Stop and think of the perfect pieces of art in the retail stores, and I will tell you, it is impossible to paint 1,000,000 paintings all exactly the same.

My heart and soul goes into each and every painting. I have been asked by many, "What is your style?" I can only reply, "My own unique style." I do not copy the old style, modern or old masters.
I paint what I see either in my dreams or what nature presents to me. I thank God for the creative powers He has instilled in me, and the original way He has allowed the paintings to flow from me.

I love nature and just recently I was informed the 88 acre farm where I raised, will be turned into a wild life preserve. My heart soared and needless to say, I am homesick, maybe in the spring I can go for a visit.

authored by:

Sylvia Outlaw