NC State Fair 2014

As you may know, this is my busiest time of the year. Every year, about two months before Thanksgiving, I go a little crazy. Okay, a little bit crazier...
I'm in that mode right now and one of my favorite things to do to relax from all the chaos is to judge the show at the NC State Fair. I get to award Outstanding Student Awards offered by Jerry's Artarama to artists from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Artists from all over the state with the help of their teachers and parents submit their art for all eyes to see. I love, love, love this show! I have been judging for these awards for several years now and it is always a delight!
This year was especially rewarding because it was such a challenge for me to choose from all the great work! Kudos to everyone involved in the arts, as I know it has been a bit of a struggle getting those in the government to understand the importance of art in the schools.
Elementary is always my favorite because those kids create with such freedom! They are so carefree and don't second guess themselves. They experiment with everything they can get their hands on.

 

 

 

In addition, I was totally amazed at the amount of entries for middle school. Unlike the many years before, the coordinators told me that they actually had to rearrange the show because of the amount of middle school entries! WooHoo! I think I got a little giddy with joy right then and there. This category normally leaves me with a handful, (less than 20 pieces) to choose from each year. So at any rate, it was really great seeing all the participation in that age group for 2014. Thank you to all of the art supporters out there! It really does help our society as a whole.

And once again, grades 9-12 were pretty impressive! (As usual!)

 

Congratulations to all the winners!

 

 

Balancing Life

Balancing out life is a little challenging at times! Creating art, teaching art, coming up with new ideas, and working on my main event: Art of the Carolinas! There are so many facets of this wonderful life with the artist struggling to get to the top. Each day I try to soak up lots of inspiration.  One of my favorite sources is the sky. I'm not a sky painter or photographer, but what inspires me about the sky is that it is so ever changing, yet the same...

It is consistent, yet beautiful in a different way each day, each night. It almost breathes. That's how I think art should be. It should be me. Someone should be able to look at any of my work and know it is me. Ever changing, yet consistent. To me that is my goal. As an artist anyway...