Stephanie Tickner Watercolors

Once again I am amazed how much time has passed since I last sat down to gather my thoughts around my art and what has been filling my time. I have been meaning to get to this for a few weeks now, but something else always seems to come up and I don't get to it. I decided that today, before I head outside to remove leaves from the perennial beds on what is supposed to be a beautiful and warm spring day (finally!), that I would share some of my art stories from late winter, and this spring that has been very reluctant to arrive.

Back in February, I started to feel the motivation for painting again, after the busyness of the holidays and painting commissions. So, I finally finished two LONG overdue paintings for my aunt. The first was of one of her granddaughters from when she was younger. I love the sun hat and cute dress. My aunt gave me oval frames for this painting and the one of two of her grandsons below.

Also in February I learned about two juried art competitions. One I did last year - Glamour in Mud Season - which is the exhibit to support the Wolfeboro, NH Players Theater. The other I learned about via New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. It was for an exhibit called "Nature" through an online gallery called Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery.

I was very glad to have two paintings juried in to the Glamour in Mud Season exhibit, "Somewhere Along the Kancamagus" and "Summer Rocks". I always enjoy participating in exhibits that support non-profit organizations.

Most recently, in April, I created this painting of the parents of our dear friend who teaches the Farmers and Foragers program that my kids attend at The Orchard School. He delivered it to his parents on Easter weekend. It was a gift from all their children for their mother's 80th birthday. I feel so happy to have met their mother at the Orchard School holiday craft fair in December. I love these connections!

As April draws to a close, I am glad spring seems like it is really here...although in northern New England you never know! Today is supposed to reach the low 60s and tomorrow the low 70s. I look forward to my garden time before the dreaded black flies come out. So, my plans are for yard work by day, and by night, as energy allows, I have the following art projects on deck:

I plan to submit, hopefully, three paintings to the Historical Society of Cheshire County juried exhibit, 64 Miles, The Ashuelot River. The Ashuelot River travels 64 miles in southwest New Hampshire from Pillsbury State Park in Washington, NH to the Connecticut River in Hinsdale, NH. The goal of the exhibition is to pay "homage to the largely over looked Ashuelot River as the great natural resource that it is to this area. Rich in history and natural beauty, the river offers extensive artistic opportunities for the visual artist." The exhibit will be in July.

I also plan to submit two already completed paintings for consideration for the Monadnock Area Artists Association 2013 Juried Fine Art Show that will be at the Jaffrey Civic Center's Cunningham Gallery in June and July.

Wish me luck. Now, out to the gardens!