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I've been thinking about apron images for a few years now ... storing several visual possibilities in my head. Something about the apron as subject matter continues to hold my interest. My normal focus and passion lies in abstraction but for some reason aprons continue to dance through my mind. I touched upon the subject first with an apron sculpture, titled "White Rose Petals". 
"White Rose Petals" mixed media, 52" x 51" x 8"
 Apron sketchbook I then filled a sketchbook with pencil sketches of aprons images formed in my mind. Each sketch seemed to arrive with it's own story. The sketchbook was sold at a Women's Art league show to help raise student scholarship funds (I did take photos of the sketches to use as reference for potential paintings). I have now taken a substantial plunge into the subject matter. Many of those pencil sketches have evolved into large paintings and sculptures ... several are finished and others are in various states of completion. I was fortunate enough to receive a COG (Creative Opportunity Grant) last year from the Artists of Rubber City which was a huge help in purchasing materials for this project.  Detail of "Betty Lou" My apron attraction seems to be fueled by many factors ...including but not limited to nostalgic aspects, feminist perspectives, the idea of a protective cover up of something more precious than itself, the symbol of "service" and "servitude", an expression of "style", etc.. Here are a few images showing small sections of some of my completed apron paintings. An Apron Show is in the works. 
Details of "On the Rocks" and "Heavy Metal"
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Spring in Ohio is always magical. Despite the higher than normal winter temps this year, it is no less exciting to watch the gradual "greening up" of the local landscape and to feel the sun's warmth on your skin. Fresh and Springy ...  I am honored to have my painting, Supporters (acrylic 24" x 60") juried into the current "Fresh" show at Summit Artspace Gallery. The show's title this year is "Fresh and Springy". This annual competition showcases innovative work that has been created within the past year. It is always a treat to see what fellow artists come up with. "Fresh and Springy" runs through April 14, 2012. Summit Artspace Gallery hours are Thurs. - Sun. 12 - 5:00. Location 140 E. Market St., Akron, OH
For the past several years I have been painting images that either appear in dreams or are the result of a meditative sketching process. Most always these images are abstract in nature and represent a societal or interpersonal phenomenon. Every so often, however, an image appears on my sketching page that results in a painting like the one I'm currently working on.  "Box of Chocolates" painting in progress Could this be because I'm about to begin the third phase of the 17-Day Diet? ... am I being influenced by the current barage of Valentines Day promotions, or am I contemplating Forest Gump's mother's philosophy? Whatever the subliminal influence ... I'm enjoying this sweet departure and as I work I can almost taste each individual piece. The weather is getting cold here which inevitably directs my inner compass toward the south and I start looking forward to reunions my southern friends and family members.  "Five Amigas" - mural painters During the coldest portion of the Ohio winters, I unashamedly hightail it to Georgia. I regularly rent a temporary working space at the Tannery Row Artist Colony where I used to have a studio. This past winter I was approached by a fellow resident of the colony, Sabrina, about painting a large mural on the outside wall of a warehouse in Chinandega, Nicaragua. Sabrina and her husband head up an organization which does a variety of wonderful things to Nicaraguan people. Armed with a variety of innoculations we headed to Nicaragua for our ten day adventure. My four artist companions, Judy, Sabrina, Judy, Soonie (all Tannery Row Artists) and I planned and pounded out a mural approximately 60' x 13'). Our subject matter reflected the good works being done by our commissioning organization to make life safer, healthier and happier for Nicaraguan people displaced by natural disasters. We drank gallons of water (it was VERY hot and humid) and lunched on peanut butter sandwiches. Breakfasts and dinners always included tasty beans and rice and wonderully sweet fruits. We commiserated about our increasing physical ailments, stiff necks, bug bites, sun burns, joint problems, dizziness, bad knees, etc. and we laughed, sang songs, climbed up and down ladders and scaffolding, danced, and painted on and on when we felt like we couldn’t lift another brush. Our experience was unforgettable and life changing. We pushed ourselves to our limits; we tearfully observed people surviving in unimaginable circumstances; we laughed and communicated with local folks using our limited language skills; we got lost in our work, and we formed a poignant professional and personal bond with one another. 
Judy, Judy, Sabrina, Soonie and myself after finishing the mural
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