Home from Memphis!

 We are home!  Had a little extra excitement with our flight being cancelled and no new flights available.  I'll explain later.  I have had no painting time so I will share our Memphis trip.  We went with friends, Mark & Betsy Linn and I will say the girls were the reason the husbands went, however I did have a VERY good time.  I want to make a big point of saying EVERYONE we met was kind, all our meals were excellent and our experience in Memphis was over the top wonderful. There are links to everything we did.

Tuesday 3/3: left in the afternoon and drove to Media to spend the night with our friends son.  We drove into Philly and had dinner at L'Angolo Ristorante. (no website but you can google it)  Small unassuming with fantastic food.  I'd go back in a heartbeat.  

Wednesday 3/4: Early morning flight from Philly to Memphis, rent a car and go for lunch at Kountry Cookin Soul Food.  Cafeteria style, and I felt like I was at my childhood church social!! Seriously.  Then off to Graceland.

We toured Elvis home and airplanes, and his car museum.


Checked into our Air B&B and changed for dinner at Majestic Grille.  Off to the famous Beale Street and the dueling pianos at Silky O'Sullivans till late night!

Thursday 3/5:  Breakfast at  The Arcade.  Very good breakfast at a Memphis landmark.  If you go, plan on extra time, they have a small staff and it takes a while but...worth it.  We rushed over to the Peabody Duck March at 11:00am  This is a BIG deal and there were so many people I could not get a good photo.  Who knew!
Then to Sun Studio for a really good tour followed by Stax Museum Tour.  Late lunch at Huey's Midtown.   Now we are tired so back to the house for a little rest and change for our evening.
Dinner and GREAT music at BB Kings on Beale Street for another late night!

Friday 3/6: Breakfast was donuts from the famous Gibsons Donuts, there was a line... a LONG line!  Off to Graceland to tour all the other museums.   A late lunch at Coletta's Italian.  We are eating well!! Back to the house to put our feet up and change.  Tonight is the 1st of 5 Elvis Concerts! YES, I said 5!  After all, we are here for Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Weekend with eight Ultimate Elvis tribute artists World Champions.  Tonight is Elvis Unchained; a high-energy tribute concert spotlighting Elvis’ powerful live performances and iconic stage presence.  Followed by drinks and deserts at the famous Peabody Hotel Lobby Bar!  OK, I spent $82 on a small cheese plate, 2 cocktails and 2 desserts! Mine was a chocolate duck filled with mousse, Linda had a beautiful Lemon meringue.  So not your average dessert!

Saturday 3/7:  Breakfast at Sunrise Memphis,  11am Ultimate Variety Show, 2nd concert!  Today was raining so we decided to go back to the house.  Dinner at Marlowe's Ribs and again, excellent.  They had  Elvis impersonators entertaining us while we ate!  Back to Graceland for #3 concert,  Elvis 56.  (his early years)  AND over to Graceland Guest House for #4, Late Night Love Songs.  This may have been our favorite.

Sunday 3/8: We found out early morning that our evening flight was cancelled due to weather.  No other flights to Philly for 2 days!  Our only option was to drive 3 hours to Nashville, spend the night and take a 5am flight.  After there was a plan, we packed up, had breakfast at Sunrise Memphis again and the our final concert #5 was Elvis Sunday Morning Gospel.  My 2nd favorite.  Then we headed to Nashville getting in around 4pm, checked in and went to dinner at Salento near the airport.  Again, excellent.

Monday 3/9:  Caught the hotel shuttle at 3:30AM... arrived home at 11am.  Linda did several loads of laundry and I took my first outside bike ride.  It was just tooooo nice out.  I am guessing its early to bed.

I did not grow up with Elvis, enjoyed a few songs.  But this was a very fun trip and if you don't tell anyone, I will admit I am becoming a fan, I would actually go hear the very talented tribute artists again.  They nailed the voice and the moves.  We had a blast.  

commission

I will not be blogging for the rest of the week, we are heading to Memphis for a week of Elvis!  It is The 9th annual Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Week at Graceland.  Going with friends and will be fun.

Meanwhile; I am multi tasking. I still have my clown commission to finish AND I am starting a small painting to enter into the Demuth Invitational Exhibition (Lancaster, PA) which is due when I get back! No pressure, except from Linda; to paint something spectacular and no, I may not grab something setting here...hummm

Get this on your calendar:
Open Studio
March 21st from 10am to 4pm
Held at 4 N Spruce St. Lititz PA
Stop in and watch me paint, ask questions... enjoy the studio with lots of prints and originals.

Also, I was invited to join this small boutique style show with fantastic craftsman!

Commission Update:
Work on the unicycle and a sock.



Concentrating on the tires and the spokes which have those old colored type straws.


looking like a tire!!

Thinking about a background.  Probably will do a wash, I don't want to take anything away from the focal point.  But I need to plant her feet...just pondering.

2026 Still Life #4

 mini original watercolor  $225.

Nice basket on top of a cabinet...

2026 Still Life #3

 mini original watercolor  $225.

Photo'd a little lighter than it really is.  A dough bowl on a cabinet.
Concentrating on my antique still life's.

Friends date night...We went to see Elvis on Imax last night.  A teaser for a trip to Memphis for The 9th annual Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Weekend at Graceland!  Then dinner at Florentino's at the Lancaster Airport.

2026 Still Life #2

$145 (unframed) 4x6 mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10. $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 2/26 the price goes to $225.

Little parts of things where your eye fills in the rest.  You know what is there; a window, a cabinet and a basket.  All there but not complete.  This was fun to paint.

An artist buddy came to paint with me today.  Great conversation while our brushes were working.

I unpacked the van and tonight we have couples date night!  More later.

2026 Still Life #1 and commission Update...

$225.  Gunston Hall, VA .  This is unusual paper, called Indigo Art Paper, it is thick pulped paper which gives heavy texture.  It also does not allow me to move water around, tends to lay on the top.  Very hard to work with.   
I am focusing on some still life paintings.  Working on these AND some larger ones.

The first show of 2026 is behind me.  Set up went well, we are like a well oiled machine!  Each knows their job.  A full 12x12 booth up in 2 hours!  I do this show as a support to Lititz.  Not my best selling show but my booth looked great and I saw a lot of friends.  Closed early on Sunday so we packed up in some drizzle and went to the Bulls Head with another artist and his wife before the snow started.

Commission Update:  If you scroll back to the 15th you can see where I left off.  I had thin yellow washes.  Again, taking my time to build the fabric and folds.



Even more washes of yellow,  I am pleased with the way that is looking.  I also started one sock AND I drew in the unicycle (free-hand) and planted her feet..

2026 Bird #10

SOLD!  $145 (unframed) 4x6 mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 81x10. $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 2/20 the price goes to $225.

An Oriole...

I am getting to the end of my bird series.  

Van is packed and ready for the weekend.

A reminder: A client is selling her "Andy Smiths" on Facebook Marketplace.

Here is her info: The artwork can be found on Facebook with or without a Facebook account. Simply search for Facebook marketplace, click on "marketplace", change the location to "Ardmore, PA" (remember to click the Apply button), then on the search bar put in "Andy Smith."  All seven pieces will show up on the results page.    Facebook page is "Artforyou Art." 

2026 Bird #9

$225.  A nice little finch on the bird feeder.

Time to pack for our first show of the season!  That means gathering our show supplies, restocking the show box, and packing the paintings.  Knock the snow off my panels!! Tomorrow I pack the van.

Lititz Fire & Ice ~ Makers Market
held at Linden Hall Gym, 212 E Main St. Lititz
Sat.  2/21 from 10am to 5pm
Sun. 2/22 from 11am to 4pm
free admission!   parking!

2026 Bird #8 and Commission

 $225.

Yes, I took artistic license with this bird.  I just needed a change from the pretty little bird as a focal point. I added a scene from my street.  We have been having the most beautiful sunsets lately.  I feel like the cardinal just stopped in for a quick visit.

______________________________

I spent all weekend working on my commission.
Commission Update:

Working deeper into the blue, now the folds and the shading look real.  Notice the shoe and  the yellow that is starting on the left side.



OK, NOW I am having fun!!  Same on the yellow: slow build of washes,  Paying attention to the folds and sway of the material.  She is starting to come alive.

Teaching note: Personally, I do not think there is a correct way to approach a painting. I change it for different subjects. For me it is where/what I want to tackle first.  On this one I did a little face work because I knew it was my hardest area. The start to bringing a personality into the painting.  I was in the mood to finish the blue.  I could have done overall light washes first.  Just have a mental plan before you pick up the brush!

WE took time off for a  Monday afternoon date.  Went to see Solo Mio.  I am putting it on my list of favs with Three Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually!  I am a sucker for a good romantic comedy.  Then a bite at Micks.  Back home to my painting.

New Commission...

 I had a most unusual request to paint a special childhood memory.  A teen girl in clown costume and a unicycle.  NOT my usual!   I knew what it was going to take to accomplish a good painting.  Skill and patience.  I put it off...I procrastinated. I finally bit the bullet and I started.  I have permission to share.

I draw well and this drawing STILL took 8 hours.  I erased, I studied, I drew, I erased... ALL my paintings have a "by hand drawing".  No tracing, no use of anything but my hand and pencil. 
Teaching note: Spend time studying your subject so you understand the light and dark areas.  Take your time, a painting is not a race.  If it was a race, think of it as a marathon.
NEVER start with paint until you know the drawing is correct!  I forgot to photo the drawing until after I started painting!  The paper size is 11x15" fitting into a 14x18 frame.

I start with washes, saving the lighter areas.

Slowly building.  Notice all the values of blue, how I created the folds at the bottom, giving it dimension and movement.
Teaching note: Remember to dry hard with each wash.

There is a pressure that comes with each commission, even after 47 years, I feel it.  I am confident in my skills but there is more to it.   You are fulfilling a clients dream.  Their idea of what they want the painting to look like.  I  have only a photo to work with, not all the memories that go with it.