Posts

Thursday

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It's been drizzly and cold all day. I'm ashamed to say we spent a good part of the day huddled under covers in our room, reading. I finished reading a Terry Kay book, "Taking Lottie Home." Alice is reading "The Language of Flowers," and I'm not sure what Katie is reading. When the sun seemed to be breaking through in the late afternoon, we ventured back to old town Saint-Malo, where we window-shopped, walked the entire perimeter of the town on the ramparts of the wall, then had dinner. Got back to the B&B in time for a sunset on the beach, where we took off our shoes and briefly waded in the cold English Channel. and OK. we did a little frolicking. We pack our bags tonight and in the morning plan to make our way toward  Kippy's. We'll be stopping back at Auvers-sur-Oise to visit Van Gogh's room, hopefully get a taste of that absinthe, and return the rental car to Charles de Gaulle Saturday morning. from there we'll catch t...
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I wake up every morning thinking I should be worrying about something, but we need to rush to breakfast before it closes down and then there is our itinerary to accomplish... Today it was to get to Le Mont-San-Michel, on the Emerald Coast of Brittany. Mont-San-Michel was a sanctuary built by Aubert, Bishop of Avranches in 708, in honor of the Archangel Michael. It soon became a major focus of pilgrimage. In the 10th century the Benedictine monks settled in the abbey, while a village grew up below its walls. The people of the Middle Ages regarded the abbey as a representation of the heavenly Jerusalem on earth, an image of Paradise. By the 14th century it had grown significantly.  It was an impregnable stronghold (can you tell I'm referring to literature?) during the Hundred Years War. Its ramparts and fortifications resisted all the English assaults. During the French Revolution the abbey was used as a prison.  Turns out all three of us are Irish Catholic girls, ...

Tuesday. Day 2. Twenty two days left IN FRANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!

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We spent most of the day driving west, stopping at McDonalds (pictured above) en route (that's French) for WIFI (weefee in France), for a 5 hour drive to Brittany. We brought provisions, as Alice calls them -- Camembert cheese and some sort of hard sausage thingy. Turns out that nice lady with the British accent in the GPS is a little confused, if not downright malicious. She had other things in mind for us, like driving down winding narrow roads, which only got narrower and narrower, getting us hopelessly lost. We finally decided to not listen to her and follow a map instead. Our 5 hour trip took 8 hours, but, we had a lovely time, despite the overpowering aroma of the Camembert all day. We finally arrived in Dinan this evening, a medieval walled town with many buildings dating to the mid 1200's. I'd include more pictures but I forgot to bring my ipad to dinner, and one of my cohorts who took pictures for me seems to be technologically challenged. All the photos she to...

France, 2012-Day 1.

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I am in France. I should have written a couple of days in advance so I wouldn't just throw this at you, but things just got too hecic at the last minute. We arrived this morning. Flew here from Atlanta with Katie, a nurse who took my class last year in France. She and I arranged to meet Alice, an art teacher at a private New Jersey school, who also took my class in France last summer. We figured we'd spend about 4 days roaming around France before my class begins again next Sunday. After arriving about 2 hours late at Charles de Gaulle this morning, Katie and I immediately stumbled upon Alice, who also arrived 2 hours late. A lost suitcase showed up within 20 minutes, the car rental went without a hitch, and we headed west in a little black Peugeot, navigated by Katie and the very nice lady with a British accent on the GPS. On route to our hotel, we stopped at Auvers-Sur-Oise, where Vincent and Theo Van Gogh are buried. We paid our respect at their graves and visited the ch...

Great art, great food and a great cause-Saturday, April 21

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Please join Stone Soup Kitchen (my brother-in-law is part owner) & Cabbagetown Glass & Clay Works for their Empty Bowls fund raiser. Empty Bowls benefits the Trinity Women & Children's Shelter which is dedicated to rescuing women and their children from homelessness, substance abuse and poverty. Buy a handmade bowl and cup for only $30.00 and Stone Soup Kitchen will fill it up! $5.00 for refills. Silent auction/raffle includes: signed Jason Heyward baseball, paintings by me (pictured above--you'll never get my work cheaper) and Suzie Eifrid and much much more! If you don't want to pay the 30 bucks then just come by for a drink and hang out with stars of stage and screen, my sister and brother-in-law, Catherine Dyer and Jason MacDonald!! And me-for part of the evening. Saturday, April 21st 6:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. 584 Woodward Avenue Atlanta, GA 30312 404.524.1222 Great (& usable) art, great food & a great cause!

Demo at Atlanta Artists Center

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This is a demonstration I began Monday evening at the Atlanta Artists Center, and completed today. It was a good crowd Monday night, and a fun evening. Thank you, AAC. I teach a 3 day workshop in Winter Park, FL, May 4-6. There are a few spaces left, which I'd love to fill. Anybody interested, let me know, or contact Orit Reuben at oritreuben@yahoo.com.

Catching you all up to speed...

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People keep asking me about the house. My loan is still in underwriting. Closing should be April 20, if all goes well. Right now I'm getting occasional phone calls from Wells Fargo, asking me to send a letter to the explaining this or that, then silence. I've exhausted myself with worrying, so I'm beyond that now. Just waiting for a "Congratulations..." or "We regret to inform you..." letter. You'll hear as soon as I do. Meanwhile, my last blog post about my upcoming France workshop did the trick. Last slot filled by Katie, who was with us last year. What fun! Katie and I may go a few days early, to join up with Alice, who also went last year, to roam around France before the class. See what fun this could be? Maybe you can try next year. Have a wonderful Passover and Easter, all of you.

There's room for one more...

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Kippy and I worked out the schedule for my upcoming June workshop at La Bonne Etoile yesterday. I'm excited. There's room for one more person, so if you're toying with taking a trip to France with me this year, here's what we'll be doing: Saturday, June 16-students arrive . They'll be picked up from Charles De Gaulle, driven the lovely hour or so drive, past fields of winter and spring wheat, young sugar beets and miles of the yellow flowers of canola beans, to Fontaine Fourche, where they'll be offered something to eat and promptly put to bed for a few hours. When they recover, they'll be perky and ready to greet France! Sunday, June 17 - Brocant!! Kippy (and I) can't pass a brocant. That's a flea market. They have them all over the countryside on Sundays. But the junk in France is wonderful. You can find hundreds year old nik-naks for nothing. While seeking treasures, we'll be carrying our cameras for any photos that might make subject-mat...

Upcoming pastel workshops!

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"Catherine"

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If I don't get this house, I'm going to be pretty bummed. I'm already allowing myself to 'decorate' it. Can't sleep for all the furniture arranging I'm doing. And then I wasted almost a whole day designing a house warming invitation. I'll get over it if it falls through. But it's actually reassuring to me that I've got such great expectations, rather than living in the slough of despondency. Dang, what the human brain is capable of is a mystery. "Catherine" is a 9x12 pastel, which will be in my show at River Gallery in Chattanooga, March 1-31. "Environments" River Gallery March 1-31 Opening Reception: Friday, March 2 6:30 to 8 pm

La Rotonde Cafe, Paris

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I'm beginning to feel good. That may not seem significant, but it's quite a statement since I've been unable to say that for almost 3 years. I've been in a very dark place, thus, the silence in my blog. But with final divorce papers in my hand, I've relinquished all hope of repairing a broken marriage, and I'm determined to make the most of this new chapter in my life. That said, things are happening quickly here. My second year lease at this sweet, small and safe Villa Rica studio apartment ended almost exactly as my divorce papers arrived. Time to move back to Atlanta, where family and friends are, and search for a new home. I want a house to call my own, with a garden. Nothing big. Just something to call my own. I received a phone message from my sister the other day telling me of something she heard on the TV--Wells Fargo's new program, Neighborhood Lift, offering downpayment assistance to people who fit the criteria and are willing to move into the depr...

Click for directions to Trinity School.

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February 6 - 11, 2012 The Trinity School Spotlight on Art Artists Market is one of the largest and most diverse art markets in the Southeast. Guests discover a selection not found in any other gallery at once, curated to include pieces from both well-known names and new artists. With prices from $5 to $5,000, there is literally something for everyone. Artists Market Hours Monday, February 6, 2012 6 PM - 9 PM Tuesday, February 7, 2012 8 AM - 4 PM Wednesday, February 8, 2012 8 AM - 4 PM Thursday, February 9, 2012 8 AM - 4 PM Friday, February 10, 2012 8 AM - 9 PM Saturday, February 11, 2012 10 AM - 6 PM Evenings at the Artists Market Open late for two special evenings! Come either night (or both) to meet some of our featured artists and enjoy light bites and cocktails. Opening Night Monday, February 6, 2012 6 PM - 9 PM Cocktails & Canvases Friday, February 10, 2012 6 PM - 9 PM The Artists Market is presented on the campus of Trinity School and is open to the public with free admiss...

CORRECTION!

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Last week I posted the incorrect day (Friday, Feb. 6) for the Trinity School Spotlight on Art Artists Market opening reception. Here is the correct information: Spotlight on Art 2012 February 6-11 Opening reception, Monday, February 6, 6:00-9:00 p.m. (All are welcome) Trinity School 4301 Northside Parkway Atlanta, GA 30327 404.231.8100 It should be a pretty amazing show. Over 350 artists. When dropping off my work on Saturday afternoon, I saw a lot of beautiful work. If you're looking to purchase something for your home, you need to drop by Trinity School this coming week. Here's their web site for more info: http://www.trinityatl.org/spotlight_on_art/market.aspx

"Spotlight on Art 2012" Artists Market

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Spotlight on Art 2012 February 6-11 Opening reception, Friday, February 6, 6:00-9:00 p.m. (All are welcome) Trinity School 4301 Northside Parkway Atlanta, GA 30327 404.231.8100 A Trinity School tradition in the Atlanta community for 30 years, Spotlight on Art is recognized for its unique collection of art from some of the most talented established and emerging artists. The Artists Market, which attracts thousands of visitors from across Atlanta and the southeast, features roughly 350 artists. With prices from $5 to $5,000, there is literally something for everyone. Artists and guests are welcome throughout the week and invited to Opening Night, Monday, February 6. Would love to see you all there. The piece above is a 7x5 pastel, "Monet's Garden in the Rain".

oops!

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I have no idea why that post from July 2011 all of the sudden went out to you all. I'm just as bewildered as some of you are. Please forgive me. I hope this doesn't happen again.. Here's a picture for you to see to make up for the intrusion! Flea Market at Clignancourt, Paris.

Randy Higbee 6x6 Exhibition opening

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I hope this link to the video works... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-puUNz0DOU&feature=email I've sold two so far...

France in 2012!

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Join us! June 16-30. Class is limited to 7 students. http://labonneetoile.com/workshops/Dyer2012.pdf

Pastry Chefs

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"Pastry Chefs" is another 6"x6" pastel at the Randy Higbee 6x6 exhibition. $425. Opening reception December 3, 5:00-9:00. Randy Higbee Gallery 102 Kalmus Costa Mesa, CA 92626 randyhigbeegallery.com

Randy Higbee Gallery "6 Inch Squared"

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I have several pieces in the Randy Higbee Gallery "6 Inch Squared" exhibition, December 3-22. Opening reception Saturday, December 3, 5:00-9:00. Wish I could see the show. I suspect it's a fun show to see, with all pieces being 6x6 inches. And at affordable prices, just in time for Christmas! Randy Higbee Gallery 102 Kalmus Costa Mesa, CA 92626 randyhigbeegallery.com

My final workshop in 2011, The Veranda.

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Just got home from teaching my last 3 day workshop of the year at The Veranda Bed and Breakfast, in Senoia, Georgia. What a perfect way to end my year. The beautifully decorated 1800's home was a thrill to wake up in every morning; the late October weather and brilliant colors outside the windows embellished the mood. I even got to share the weekend with my daughter, Meg, who posed for us all weekend (pictured). It was a great group of artists and Laura and Rick Reynolds, owners and ex-inlaws of mine (that's Laura pictured standing in the dining room), could not have indulged us more. Actually, maybe they indulged too much...lavish breakfasts, cookies all day long, wine in the evenings, even a birthday cake and champagne to celebrate 2 students' birthdays on the last day of the class. We're already making plans for another in October 2012. Many of the students plan to do it again! I got home Sunday night and fell into the bed at 8:30; slept till 8 the next morning. It...