"Spring Rain"    18 x 18" pastel

 

What a great day today is!! It's my birthday to begin! But I also received exciting news.....a sort of "birthday present"!  I spoke on the phone today with Tammy, at American Art Company of Tacoma, WA. This is a beautiful gallery that I have shown work in with several of the Northwest Pastel Society International Juried Exhibitions. Tammy has agreed to represent me as an artist in her gallery! I know the excellent caliber of the artists that are represented by the American Art Company so I feel very honored! What a great birthday this is!! I'm inspired to go to work and create more and better work than ever before!!! Happy Birthday to me!

Upcoming Shows

"Bounty"

22 x 26" framed pastel

 I have works in two upcoming shows that open this week. The first is the Peninsula Art League's 10th Open Regional Show, at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview St, Gig Harbor, WA 98335. The Artist Reception is Thursday, August 9th, 2012 from 6-8 pm. It is open to the public. The show hangs from August 9th through September 12th.

The second show is the Northwest Pastel Society's Signature and Distinguished Pastelist Invitational Exhibition "The Best of the Northwest", at the Kaewyn Gallery, 10101 Main Street, Bothell, WA 98011. This show will be open August 11 - September 12, 2012. There is an Artist Reception open to the public Saturday August 11 from 4 - 7 pm. "Bounty", seen above can be viewed at this show.



Another Successful Artist Open Studio Show!

The Beginning and the End

36 x 36" Acrylic

What a wonderful Open Studio I had last May 19 and 20th. We had a steady stream of guests throughout the two days! One of my highlights was having Bill McEnroe, my 90 year old art mentor visit.  His words as he viewed my show were kind and encouraging and  he truely enjoyed the work. That is a huge validation to me because he is so knowledgable and an amazing artist himself. There were many wonderful comments given to me by all the guests, as well as four paintings sold. It was a great weekend!! And I am again inspired to paint more paintings!! Thank you to all who helped and all who visited!

You are Invited

Save the date, May 19 and 20, 2012 from 1-5pm for my upcoming Artist Open House and Studio.

Come see all my latest works and take advantage of special discounted prices on these days.

8449 Dawn Hill Dr. SE, Olympia, WA 98513

See you there! :-)

Exciting News

Summer Mist

Just recieved exciting news......"Summer Mist" has been juried into the 2012 Northwest Pastel Society's International Show. This is such a great show with exeptional pastel artists! It will open May 5th through June 16th, 2012 at the American Art Company in Tacoma, Washington.

This also means I have achieved one of my goals! When an artist has been accepted into three different International shows they achieve "Signature" status with the Northwest Pastel Society.... and this acceptance makes it number three for me! Very excited to have reached this step in my artistic career!

Now onward to bigger and better achievements ....while just enjoying being an artist. I love my job!!

Back in the Saddle Again!

Street Bustle

18 x 24" pastel

Summer Mist

18 x 24" pastel

I've been away from my studio and painting for three longs months. But there was good reason for this hiatus from my work. The last three months I've spent as much time as I could enjoying my two beautiful grandsons, as well as their mother, my daughter Jamie and husband Berly. You see Jamie and her family are missionaries to youth in the Dominican Republic. They spend four years each term working in the Dominican Republic, and then come home for a year to 18 months raising support in the US for their ministry. This is called itinerating. They visit churches across the western states to tell people about their work.

Late June 2010 Jamie, Berly and thier 15 month old Ethan came home to begin itineration. Nov 2010 little Logan joined his big brother. So for 1 1/2 years my husband and I have been basking in the joy of these two very special grandsons. When November 2011 came around I faced the fact that I only had a few months left to hold them in my arms before they returned to their field of ministry in the Dominican. Such a bittersweet realization. Yes, we want them to be where God wants them to work, but it is so hard to send them off knowing it will be months before we visit them there.

So.....I focused all my time and attention to enjoying the Holidays with my grandsons, as well as my other dear grandchildren who live in Eastern Washington. How the days flew and soon we were watching and waving as they walked through security at SeaTac airport.

Since then there have been "Skype" visits, not quite like holding those boys in my arms and smothering them with Grandma's kisses, but I am so grateful to keep the bonds alive and well.

And now I am back in my studio again! I am feeling a little rusty at first, but the flow is starting to come. My first two paintings......."Street Bustle" and "Summer Mist"!!

Back in the saddle again, but not at all sorry for focusing on two very special little boys for a brief time, a joyful time investing in their little lives. Next time I have them home for an extended time they will be 4 years older!

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

Rocklyn Summer

pastel

Meadowgrass

pastel

Ashley Creek Lane

pastel

Nathan's Day Off
pastel

I have been painting up a storm, and it seems that when you get into a rhythm the work just flows!! There are several upcoming entry deadlines in the near future for juried shows....so it's good things are flowing so well.

I just received notice that two of my paintings have been juried into the Peninsula Art League's Ninth Annual Open Exhibition that will be at the Gig Harbor Civic Center from Oct 6 to Dec 2nd. The juror is Richard McKinley, a master pastelist I so admire. I look forward to any feedback I may receive from him. Shows equal great learning experiences! Seeing other great works, and hearing remarks from the viewers on what they see in the pieces, as well as from other artists and the juror.

I have two upcoming trips to the mountains in both Colorado and Montana that should prove very inspiring also.

So let the flow continue!!!

Check out my work on my website: http://www.ladonnakruger.com/.