Jody's Speed Painting class starts Monday. Can't wait to see what my students create!

Already we've located a lovely dog to fill the hole in our hearts left by the great Toto. 

We drove up to Pittsburg, Kansas, to pick him up today. He's very cute and has a sweet disposition, but instead of barking, he just squeaks.

I hope he'll be very happy with us in his new home.

It's a sad day at Studio 62--the end of an era. The great Toto dog passed on to the heavenly realm this morning. We are so very sad! Studio 62 has never existed without Toto to guard and protect it.

 

This picture captures him best. He loved his pink stuffed bear, loved to lay on the afghan that my mom made, and loved his little sweater in the winter because he got cold so easily.

 

Here's to Toto! He was a great dog, a dear friend, a constant companion, and very unique character. We miss him so much already. 

	May is always a busy month in Eureka Springs. The Festival of the Arts keeps us all very busy. But I have managed to get some painting done anyway. Here’s a few samples of recent work—some plein air paintings, a series of Geisha women, some landscapes and animals— a little bit of everything.

	There's still time to see "Art as Prayer 2010" until the end of the month. Great work by local artists including: Jody Stephenson, Ron Lutz, John Willer, Carol Peacock, Holly Ertel, Ron Morrison, Cynthia Re Robbing, Denise Ryan, Gerald and Rosalie Toler, Jeremy and John Dryer, Janet Drew, Max Elbo, Julie Kahn Valentine. Come by Studio 62. Don't miss it!
	Here's a couple of Jody Stephenson's new paintings: 1. Heal our Land 2. Prayer is hanging your laundry over the abyss

            We visited the new site of the Crystal Bridges world-class art museum. I had to see it for myself. It’s going to be beautiful. It is surrounded by concrete biking/hiking paths in a fabulous natural setting. Their intent is to leave the valley as undisturbed as possible—and it looks like they’re going to do just that. They are committed to sustaining and enhancing the natural environment as much as possible through the responsible use of materials and construction methods. This museum is going to be a real boost to our whole area!

In case you missed the March 2010 issue of A Celebration of Women, you can still read it online.

The Lovely County Citizen's annual issue featured a section on women artists of Eureka Springs including Susan DeRosa, Barbara Kennedy, Dixie Westerman, Diana Harvey, Carol Dickie, and myself.

 

          Here’s Ron standing by his photograph, “Signal Tree,” at the Crystal Bridges exhibition currently on display, which celebrates the natural beauty of Northwest Arkansas – and abundant local talent – in Looking at Our Landscape, a juried community photography exhibition. More than 100 community members, from children aged 12 to adults over 80, submitted photographs. The public was invited to an opening celebration of the exhibition from 5 – 7 p.m. Friday, April 2. A number of featured artists and jurors were present at the opening, which was part of Bentonville’s First Friday celebration.

 Download your Spring 2010 Program Schedule at massey.crystalbridges.org

 

            It’s been an eventful week, but not in the studio. There is not much to report from there. We donated some art to the Governor’s Conference on Tourism for their scholarship fund; also to the Clear Spring School fundraiser. It seems like every time I donate a painting, within the next day or two, someone will contact me about buying that very same painting. It’s uncanny. The painting pictured here, entitled “Best Friends,” will be available at the Clear Spring School Auction coming up soon.