Dresses and Houses Series

Here is another of my Dresses and Houses series. This is more embellished, same print of my hometown only a different watercolor wash.  Again I go for the lace and buttons and frilly dress intermingled with the ornate Victorian houses from my hometown, Tarboro, North Carolina.  So this one adds the excitement and preparations of dressing up for a party, or dance.  It is now in a private collection in Belair, Maryland.





Here is a slight poem I wrote about the piece.

Dressin' up on dressin' tables
fool the mirror
wear the labels
of love, and loss and treachery
combing hair and rolling up
with sticky gels and fading luck
lipstick and a pick up truck
seemed so glamourous

Getting through the winter painting plum blossoms

This is a small Japanese brush painting of plum blossoms on thai paper, with lace on the side. I prefer lace in paintings as it typically scratches when worn. It is the chinese flower of flowers for winter so delicate in contrast to starkness of the season. The plum blossom symbolizes purity, strength, courage and perseverance. So I will go to my studio and paint the blossoms and the raggedy jaggedy stems and bark.

From Studio tour set up

Here are some photos of my studio as seen during our open studio show this past weekend. Was really a blast and good to get things spiffied up for company. Also finishing a few in limbo pieces was good as well.

Mrs. Floyd E. Cahoon goes to Knoxville, TN

"Mrs. Floyd E. Cahoon" was selected for the exhibition titled, "Reconfigured," held at The Basement Gallery in Knoxville, Tennessee. The show will run from November 2nd until November 24th with an opening reception on the 2nd from 6pm until 10pm in conjunction with Knoxville's Friday night Arts Walk.

Here is more information about The Basement Gallery from their website:

The Basement Gallery is a small artist run gallery exhibiting contemporary fine art in Knoxville, Tennessee. The gallery was established in June of 2006 and began specializing in emerging, mid career and established artists. The Basement Gallery exhibits national & international artists each month and local/regional artists are on view most months.

We hold new exhibits monthly and have free admission, but are willing to except any and all donations to help keep the arts alive in our neighborhood and help us to bring the best exhibits to Knoxville, TN.

The current Director/Curator is T. Michael Martin who received his MFA in Painting from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 2005 and his BA in Studio Art from the University of Tennessee in 2002.

Some works in Progress

Here are a few things that I have been working on of late. The one on the lower right is finished. Trying to put the studio back together after Art Festival, and finish more work. Overall had a good show, not so easy to do outdoor shows with this kind of work...they tend to get a bit dirty. Will make more journals for next time and small lower price point items for sure.

Wallingford Community Arts Center Fine Arts and Crafts Festival

October 6 & 7 - FINE ARTS and CRAFTS FESTIVAL/10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

First organized over five years ago by artists working at the Community Arts Center, the Fine Arts and Crafts Festival features original artwork by some of the areas finest artists and crafts people. This event is in keeping with the Arts Center’s mission and promotes the work of area artists while providing the opportunity for visitors to view some of the finest contemporary artists in the area.

The event also includes live music, artist demonstrations, children’s activities and fine food. The large park is the perfect setting for this growing festival providing ample free parking and lots of space for people to enjoy this unique arts event.

Visitors to this event come from the tri-county area. Rose Tree Park is conveniently located and easily accessible from the area’s major highways.

There is no other event in the area like this Festival.

Featuring over 50 artists, live music, fine food, artist demonstrations, children’s activities and raffle.

Rose Tree Park, Media

at route 252 and Rose Tree Road

GREAT art, music, food and family fun!

For Volunteer Opportunities Click Here: "Fine Arts and Crafts Festival Volunteer Form"

Stars, Songs, Faces Assemblage

As assemblage piece inspired by Carl Sandburg's poem

From the Plastic Club Reception

Whiter than Rice in exhibition

The Plastic Clubs exhibition includes this piece and many others without color.

"BLACK IS THE COLOR "

Opening Reception
Sunday, Sept. 9th
2 to 5 PM
Open Juried Show

SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 26

"The Plastic Club"

Art Club & Gallery
247 South Camac Street
Philadelphia, Pa 19107
215-545-9324

Since 1897, The Plastic Club has been devoted to the promotion and preservation of the visual (plastic) arts in Philadelphia. The busy gallery schedule offers several annual exhibitions for members and non-members, as well as invited artists in solo and group exhibitions. Members include well-known Philadelphia artists.

"The Art of Sacrifice"

"By Hand" made it into a nationally juried show in Minneapolis, MN. The show, "The Art of Sacrifice" will run at Altered Esthetics gallery from September 6th through the 27th. Opening reception September 7th 7-9pm. I will not be there, but please stop by and visit if you happen to be in town.

Happy Birthday!

Here's to a certain new teenager...........hope you receive trampoline, doorknob,...texting!

Studio Photos...its coming along

Some recent photos from my studio. Coming along but more work to be done. It is also frick'n hot as the dickens with no ac...although gets me there early anyway. Listen to whyy 90.9 whilte working and trying out some experimental pieces.

Magnolia and Mule Vase

An experimental process that I have been working on of late. The mule image is one from a print my mother made of a painting she did. Currently working on more pieces of this nature.

From the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival Exhibit

These two just came back from Wilmington Delawares ARt on the Town in the Redding Gallery of the City/County building. They were part of a jazz inspired theme for the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival back in June. Have had little time to art blog.

Not Sure

Can not come up for a title for this one. Other than lady sits in an armchair.

By Hand

Assemblage of old wood, newspaper photo, decorative paper etc. The caption "back in the 50's tobacco workers did everything by hand, today almost." What I found interesting was these particular workers were all women, with a man standing in the background...probably supervising. So I focused on the "by hand" part and included a hand as well as other things women make "by hand." The hand has brown stains much like the tobacco gum that sticks to one's hands when they pick it. But there is metal adornment on the hand, a ring perhaps, to show it is a woman's hand.

Mrs. Floyd E Cahoon

This assemblage is based on one of my grandmother's friends. Her calling card is at the right hand corner with a description of my grandmother's bridal shower under the butterfly. Did not know Mrs. Cahoon personally, but really liked the sound of her name. Photograph in the right corner is one from my Grandmother's Aunt Martha. She was a school teacher in Columbia, NC. The little girl in the center is my favorite, long lanky, and mean as she can be.

Iris in a Copper Pitcher

Hurray this painting and the orange and blue made it into the 41st Annual Robert Ransley show in Mount Holly NJ! Below is press release.


The 41st Annual Robert Ransley Juried Art Show at the Mount Holly Library 307 High Street Mount Holly, N.J. From April 2nd until May 5th Reception April 14th Gallery open Monday -Friday from 10 A.M.-5 P.M. Saturday from 10 A.M.-2 P.M. Sponsored by the Burlington County Art Guild For information contact 856-933-5140 or the library at 609-267-7111.

Still life in blue and orange

From a PAFA Class I took a couple of years ago. Really need to take a better photo, but this is the only one that came out so far.

Studio 6

My studio so far. At least one side, the other is mostly boxes and a few shelves. Started on a new piece this week and cooked up plans for another. Gets really nice afternoon light and over looks a creek. I need some more shelves and a cabinet of some sort. Have been checking freecycle, but nothing that will work yet. Will post more picks as progress continues.

From MKR and my former backyard

Here is an assemblage based primarily on my fondest affection for magnolia's as expressed through the writings of Marjorie Kenan Rawlings. She was most notably the author of The Yearling. This passage came from Cross Creek a collection of stories she wrote while living in North Florida near Micanopy. Her home, as well as part of her orange orchard is preserved as a state park. Loved going there when we lived in Florida.

Gusta's Magnolia

This is my painting, "Gusta's Magnolia," as it hangs at the Philadelphia Sketchclub exhibit, "Art of the Flower." Attended the reception on Sunday, diverse and interesting show overall. These are photos that I took with the camera in my phone, so pretty poor quality. Will stop back by in the next two weeks or so and take some with a real camera.

Mainline First Fridays at Viking Culinary Arts Center

Viking Culinary Arts Center 1 Town Place #100, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 610.526.9020 www.vikinghomechef.com Sonia Sherrod, 'Fruitstand' assemblage sculpture	March 2nd, 5:00 to 9:00pm "My work is art from discarded objects, decorative papers accompanied with words, and then altered to become one of a kind 2d and 3d pieces."