Stephanie Tickner Watercolors

Day 1 - Soap bubble sea serpent collage 

Day 2 - Salt texture fruit bowl

Day 3 - Cray-Pas and watercolor fish

On the last class, my daughter had the idea that the students could paint white party bags so they could bring their masterpieces home. The PTA also had enough funds so that we sent each child home with a small watercolor pad, a set of paints, and a brush. The classes were a lot of fun, but we were so tired after each hour class that we realized what amazing people our teachers are to spend six hours each day with these wonderful and energetic students!

On March 9 I received an exciting email. I learned that this painting of my kids playing in the mud was juried in to the Glamour in Mud Season Art Competition and show. I call it "There It Goes". I also learned that the accepted pieces will also be juried to select the prize winner. This is a new market for me up in Wolfeboro, NH!

On March 19, just before the vernal equinox, we were in the midst of incredible, but somewhat unsettling, summer-like weather in the 80 degree temperature range. That afternoon I headed from work in Keene to Peterborough to hang an exhibit. One of the exhibit sites for the Monadnock Area Artists Association is the Bagel Mill in Peterborough, NH. My husband works in Peterborough and buys our bagels there all the time, but this is the first time I have exhibited in this town. It is great to have my paintings seen by a new audience. That said, I nearly melted in the heat hanging my paintings that day!

On March 22 I took a road trip to Wolfeboro, NH to deliver the painting I did of the kids playing in the mud that got juried in to the Glamour in Mud Season art exhibit. It was a record breaking warm day, perfect for a road trip to a place I hadn't been to as an adult. Besides seeing some beautiful sites, I also made an old painting connection. 

This is the 200+ year old house of the woman who was collecting the paintings for the Glamour in Mud Season exhibit. Her barn was on the left side of the road. She had beautiful distant views of mountains, Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Wentworth.

View from the front of the house.

There were several sheep and alpacas at the farm.

The first crocuses I had seen this spring.

I drove north a bit on Route 28 and stopped along this bay in Tuftonboro. There was still some ice here. I wasn't sure what ski hill that is in the distance, but after researching online, I am pretty sure it is Gunstock.

Docks at the harbor in downtown Wolfeboro.

Back in 2003 I did tiny paintings for a municipal leadership program brochure. The woman who wanted the paintings gave me photos to paint from. One was of the Wolfeboro Town Hall, which I hadn't seen in person until this day. It was weird to see it for real! Here is my photo:

And here's my 2003 painting:

I ended my tourist afternoon in Wolfeboro eating a delicious lunch on the outdoor deck of the Downtown Grille Cafe. The weather was so amazing and summery, that after lunch, before my two hour drive home, I sat barefoot at the end of one of the harbor docks. It was perfectly relaxing and a great way to finish my day in Wolfeboro.

March finished on an exciting art note when on March 29 I received an email from the art committee in Wolfeboro about my mud painting. It said, "We have finished the judging for the Glamour in Mud Season art show. Your piece, “There it Goes”, is the winner! We had many wonderful entries and thank you for sharing your art with us and providing a great piece for our art show. In fact, one of the jurors is opening a new gallery in Wolfeboro and was very interested in your paintings. She wondered if I could give her your contact information. Would that be all right?" I am so excited! This is such an incredible honor, both being selected best in show and getting further attention from the gallery owner.

Now almost in the middle of April, I have still been artistically busy and am looking forward to attending the Glamour in Mud Season exhibit this Friday evening with my mother. It looks to be a fun event. Onward!