Enjoying a little down time

Like most of you, I've taken a few days off from the day job, during this holiday season, to stay at home and do nothin'. However, talking about doing nothin' and simply doing nothin' is more than a notion.

I'm already tired of flipping thru the television channels and snacking on holiday treats. I suppose that I should take this time to straighten the studio, catch up on all of my bookmarked blogs or maybe, start taking down the Christmas decorations. I really need to update my resume, read a few of the art magazines that are stacked in the corner of the den or make a few telephone calls. (yawn) Naw, I need a nap.

Ravens and Melons

I've been pretty busy cutting new blocks the last few weeks. One week I focused entirely on ravens...then melons...then ravens and melons. These are limited edition 5 x 7 blocks. Initially, I had planned to use one of them as a design for my holiday card. But, here it is one week or so before Christmas and I still haven't committed to printing the cards. Okay, maybe next year. Here are three images from the grouping of eight that I worked on. I plan to post these on Etsy.


I've just received notification that I'll be a participant in the April 2007 Magic City Art Festival, Birmingham. This is great news for me. When I decided earlier this year to give the art festival circuit a try, I promised myself that I would only enter juried venues. The most anxious moment is when you submit slides of your art and you have to wait...and wait...weeks before you find out if your work has made the cut—or not. So far, I'm two for two.




The Bluff Park Art Festival on last October 7th was a good initial launch for me. I learned a lot and because it was a one day festival, I survived it with my enthusiasm in tack. Receiving the Popular Choice Award was a wonderful surprise but in addition to that I, also, had an opportunity to meet great people, museum reps and gallery owners. One individual who I met was Keith Wilson, the owner of Four Seasons Antiques and Art. The gallery is located at 809 Shades Crest Road in Bluff Park. Here's the website: www.4seasonsantiquesandart.com or better yet, stop in and chat with Keith. And while you're there, look for my four framed lino prints. How cool is that?!!

The Magic City Art Festival will be a 3-day venue. It'll take place the last weekend of April. I'm not sure how much of a challenge it'll be but because I won't have to look for room and board for the weekend, I'm sure that I'll get thru it stress free. There's no doubt that I'll be grateful to get home to the comfort of my own bed each night. I don't know how many art festivals you have to participate in before you can consider yourself a veteran but I hope to have several under my belt by the end of 2007. The challenge will be to stay focused and to keep the quality of my work consistent.

Clarkson Covered Bridge: Cullman, AL

I've had some serious computer issues since my last post. . .both on the job and at home. I miss the good old days: pre-cell phones and pre-computers. I don't sit well and waiting for on-line assistance and for technicians to show up made me nuts!

So I took a break and headed to Cullman County, north of Birmingham to get away from the weight of technical babble, hardware and technicians. Last summer I watched a broadcast on our local PBS station highlighting all of the covered bridges constructed at the turn-of-the-century and still standing throughout the state. It piqued my curiosity. I had never seen a covered bridge and it immediately became a must see on my ever growing list of things to do.


Clarkson Covered Bridge (sometimes called Legg Bridge) is located in Cullman County. I was in awe of the structure. To think that it had been built by hand, one log at a time, was amazing. I took a lot of pictures and can't possibly post all of them but I hope that the images which I've selected will give you an idea of it's structural beauty and that of the adjoining grist mill. Lovely.