Nutcracker Guard

Did you ever accumulate a big collection of something that you never really intended to have?  For me, that would be nutcrackers.  
I have a lot... really, a lot... of nutcrackers.  Tall ones, fat ones, old ones, expensive ones, cheap ones, pretty ones, and an ugly one (who sits on top of the refrigerator facing the wall every year).  The kids, now grown, wouldn't have it any other way! He scared them when they were little, so he was banished to face the wall on top of the fridge. No one would consider him having any other place!)
I didn't ever decide, "Hey, I love nutcrackers! I think I should have at least one for every space!"  It just sort of happened.  I remember early in our marriage we bought one on an after-Christmas sale. I think we bought another the next year in the same way.  We may have even bought a third at some point. Then they just seemed to sort of appear over the next three decades.  I'd get one from a student one year... a friend would see that I had several and give me one another year.  Someone would find one at an estate sale and think I might want it.  I had an activity I did at school where I brought my nutcrackers... which gave several students the idea that I needed another one.  That little activity was a good one, so I repeated it quite a few years... which gave even more students each year the idea that I needed another one... 
So.......
I have a lot of nutcrackers.

And sometimes they end up the getting to be in a painting. (But not the ugly one that has to face the wall.)

Click to have a look at some of them.
"Traditions" or "Santa Nutcracker Santa" or "Nutcracker King" 

Original Oil Painting on 6"x 12" Canvas
[GIFT]

Santa Claus

Months ago my friend and art mentor, Cheri asked me if I'd like to be a part of a weekend of Santas.  I had no idea what that meant, but I said, "Yes! I'm in!  What do you want me to do?"  Her instructions were open and intentionally vague.  She said to bring art with a Santa theme. There was no other limit... just Santas.

Cheri had an open house at her Inspire Studio and Gallery in Shawnee, Oklahoma on the night of the city's Christmas event, and she invited us to be a part of it as guest artists.

My painting partner, Julie, and I had fun during the last few weeks creating different Santa themed ideas to bring. On Friday morning we loaded up the car and headed west to set up our little Santa booths. 

Cute! Don't you think!
Lots of people came through, and it was a fun evening.  
But... that was only half of it...

The next morning there was a Santa paint along workshop.  I love being a part of something where someone paints their very first painting ever.  

This was my first time back at the easel doing intricate work since breaking my right arm.  Hmph!!... Being able to use your wrist is pretty much an important thing when painting... I did take my cast thingy off a couple of times but got mom faces (You know... head slanted, eyes cut, lips pursed...) until I put it right back on.

Every one had a jolly ole' time together and left with a nice little Santa painting.

Original Acrylic Painting on 8"x 10 Canvas Panel
Click "Santa Claus" if you'd like to purchase this little painting.

Ho Ho Ho!

It's been a month since I've painted.  A broken right arm kind of brings some things to a halt... like painting.  I'm healing, and am more capable every day.  Although I still have my cast thingy, I can pretty much do anything I want to now.

And, I want to paint!

I started with something simple and using acrylics. 

Ta-Da!  

My first painting in a month!

I painted it for the next art show that I get to be a part of. I'm going to have a small booth in my friend and art mentor's "Whimsical Santa Claus Event" on Friday. 

I'm also taking Nutcracker Santas!

 And Whimsical Santas!

And Oyster Shell Santas! We were on the Outer Banks or North Carolina after this year's hurricane and collected so many shells.  Oyster shells aren't very pretty on their own, but they sure are cute dressed up as Santas!

My Santa suit painting was so fun, I decided to do another one and supersize it!  Ho! Ho!! Ho!!! Ha! Ha!! Ha!! 
You can't tell from this photo what I mean by supersizing it.

Here's the first one, ready to load up for the trip to Oklahoma.

And.... here's the supersized one... 
Hmmm... 
I wonder how that's going to work out...

If you're near Shawnee, Oklahoma on Friday, come see us!

Original Acrylic Painting on 16"x 20" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]
And 
Original Acrylic Painting on 30"x 40' Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

2019 Art Show - About the Artists

Our art show, "... A Thousand Words" 

is on display until November 30 

at Red Kite Coffee Company in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

There’s something special about coming together on a regular basis to paint… to encourage… to be creative… and to grow as artists.

Maybe you'd like to get to know each of the three of us... how we became artists... why we paint... what's our favorite part of the process... what are our painting goals...

Below are each of our artist bios.

2019 Art Show - The Party!

... A Thousand Words" is on display until November 30 

at Red Kite Coffee Company in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

If you were at the party, here's a chance to relive it!

If you didn't get to join us, here's what you missed!

Julie , Helen, & Lynn

Three anxious gals!
What if nobody comes?!
Then we'll have lots of cookies to eat...

Friends, Family, Food, & Fun !

So nice to meet you! Oh, it's your porch that Julie
painted, Patti's Porch

Help yourself! 
Cheese? Cookies? Something savory?

My dad, 93. Having a closer look at "She Twirls!"
The model is one of his 31 great grand kids.

Hey, she looks familiar.
It's the little girl in the painting behind her!
You're kind of famous now, Rachel.

My three generations of Eaton men! 💖
Why didn't we think to do some posed shots...
Shoot!

Just stop scrolling through right now!
Look at that preciousness!!
Be still my heart!

Proud of her mama!

Proud family!

So grateful for a daughter-in-law who knows
when I need a Coke and to just sit down a minute!

Hundreds of Happy Hugs were Had

💗😊💗
Went to elementary school with one and taught in an
elementary school with the other.

💗😊💗
Oh, Mu Deaf...
Wait, is Jack standing on a box? He can't be that tall!

💗😊💗
Best travel to the other side of the world buddy!
Best nursery baby holding buddy!

💗😊💗
Sweet niece! 
Why do you not have paintings hanging in this show! 
Come back to art on Mondays!

💗😊💗
Best new friends who'll talk chickens and farm
stuff with me without getting bored of it!
So good to have a fellow crazy chicken/goat lady!

💗😊💗
💗😊💗
💗😊💗
Sisters...
So grateful for sisters.
I didn't have to break my right arm to know how special you are.
"I'll bring you food."
"I'll take you to the doctor"
"I'll come help set up the art show."
I'll take care of the food for the show. 
💗😊💗💗😊💗💗😊💗
... and with zero complaints.
... well...
...none that I heard anyway... 😁😉

And... the Attraction!  All the Awesome Art!

What are those little blue squares that began to appear?

I think blue squares are good...

Zoom in... What does that say? .. SOLD
Yes, blue squares are good.

It's not a very high tech system, but it's efficient.
Let me explain it.  You buy a painting at Red Kite.
They give you your own blue square to put on the wall!

I counted 17 of those little blue squares last time I
was there!  What are you waiting for!  Go to Red Kite
today!  Pick a painting, pay the guy or girl at the
counter, and get your own blue SOLD square.
(You'll get to pick up both your painting and your blue
square at the end of the show on November 30.