A Merry Christmas and a Grand Art Show

My Labrador Scout and me in my den.

 Christmas 2012 has come and it has been a terrific one. Christmas Eve we had dinner at my sisters and it was delicious, complete with Christmas crackers, and paper crowns. Then we drove around to look at Christmas  lights. At 11:00 I went to midnight mass at All Saints. Then back to my sister's house to spend the night. My nephews woke me up around 6:00 in the morning to see the presents.

My Mom and Dad's house on Christmas Day. 

After having breakfast I went home for a while. It was raining and then the rain turned to sleet and very quickly to big flakes of snow.  This was our second white Christmas in three years, and only our third in almost 70 years.

My sister and some  of my nephews in my parent's backyard on Christmas Day.

I went out to help my Mom and Dad get ready for Christmas dinner. That evening my sister, brother inlaw, my four nephews , and my brother inlaw's dad came for dinner. The boys brought their sleds and headed for the hill in the backyard. It was bitter cold but the sledding was good and even I made a few  runs. We had another great dinner and then we all headed home before the roads were too icy.

My house on Christmas Night.

 That night I had a fire in the fireplace lit my tree and slept on the sofa. It was a pleasant way to top off the day.

Me in the large gallery space at the downtown library where my friends and I have a show.

 Today was a very enjoyable day. On the 21st a large group of my friends, about 30 of us, hung a show in the Fort Worth Central Library. The show is called Texas and the West. It is very diverse, oils, acrylics, watercolors, photography and for the reception even a few of my bronzes.

My five paintings in the show.

 I really can't say enough good things about the quality of the work in the show. I would love to have any of the pieces in my home. Today was our reception. We had lots of delicious food that the artists all brought and we had piano music thanks to my friend Emilia Hernandez. Many of my friends from work, church, other art groups and some of my relatives came. I wish all the artists in the show great success.

The banner for our show with some of my paintings on it and one by my friend Sheri Jones.

Texas Speed Bump- my new armadillo sculpture

Texas Speed Bump
edition of 30
$675
bronze on granite

It has been a really busy and productive fall. So my posts have been few and far between. I've had several shows and have several more coming up.
Starting this Friday there will be a group of 30 of us in a show at the Fort Worth Central Library called Texas and the West. More about it later.
This newest sculpture is one of my favorites. I call it Texas Speed Bump. It is an armadillo. I tried to capture the essence of the animal with a bit of  personality too. They don't see well and if you are quiet will walk right up on you. Then if they hear you they will take off running. They are very primitive looking and my mom could tell you, they can really mess up a lawn and flower beds with their digging.