"Colorful Friends" Show Goes Out With a Bang

You are invited to attend a special VIP Reception for

Colorful Friends

featuring the art of
Stephen Gray-Blancett & Jessi Miller

Also on exhibit is "Eco Art" art made from recycled objects and created by local artists

Saturday, August 30th • 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Arts for ACT Gallery
2265 First Street
in the Historic River District in Downtown Fort Myers

It's the closing reception... last day of the show... join me if you can!

Orlando Museum of Art 1st Thursdays Fun

What a fun show it was!

After picking up 15 of my paintings that had been on display in the City of Brooksville, I drove straight to the OMA to drop off "Kiss VI."


I spent the rest of the day in Orlando... lunching with AdFed "League of Presidents" (ha ha! fabulous people that either were, are, or will be club President). Larry, Wagner and Cheryl hosted a great downtown lunch. I then shopped for a blue dress to wear to Ocala's 2008 Creative Blues Addy Awards Gala. Success on all accounts.

I met my friends Shonna and Kim at our hotel, we changed and went to the museum for the show. Arriving right on time, there was no parking to be found for blocks... a good sign!


The show was packed, hundreds and hundreds of people... maybe 300, hard to tell because of all the comings and goings. [Late edit here, I found out there were 894 people there!! so much for my estimate of 300!]

My painting had great placement, seen from most of the main areas. It also had great lighting! I admit I might be spoiled by museum lighting now, it definitely beats how my work looks standing up against the wall at my house. I enjoyed watching people go up to it and gesture, talk and linger. I heard several positive comments about my quote, "There is a perfect second in every kiss." which was in my Artist's Statement.


The evening was great fun, I saw old friends, new friends, rarely seen friends, and met new friends... drank, ate, listened to good music, went through the entire museum and saw lots of modern art, had an overall wonderful time.

Kim, Jessi and Shonna... friends since we were 14.

Cheryl and Jessi

Barbara, Jessi and Cheryl

Kim, Letty and Shonna

Out of Hand ... at the bank!

We're out!

As 2007 began, I was invited to join an artist's salon, focused on marketing art. Since Sharon Crute (Dynamic Equine Artist) held our first meeting, we have continued to meet every two weeks for the past 6 months. Over this time we have gotten to know each other, shared ideas, grown independently and together, and naturally we came up with a name and logo (what else do groups of artists focusing on marketing do?). Out of Hand Artists we are.


Are we out of hand? A little. Sometimes. Our art is definitely out of our own hands. Our energy and dynamics, our ability to work together to accomplish goals, our professionalism and our determination... might be a little bit out of hand. In a good way.

On June 28th, we had our premier show as a group. 39 paintings adorn the Bank of America - downtown Ocala on the square - and will stay up for viewing through August 8th. The Star Banner was at the opening reception to talk with us all (full story) ... and now we are looking forward to staying "out" there.

Look out world, here we come!