I wanted to take a minute to tell you about the expanding role of art in my life. In February I left my admissions job to work full-time at The Lehigh Valley Heart Institute, part of LVHN. But I kept my link with Kirkland Village where I had initially worked in activities.
I now teach weekly watercolor classes to interested independent living residents, and April is the debut of a monthly acrylic-based “Paint and Sip” class. I’m not a watercolor artist and I never led a group in an exercise like “Paint and Sip” but I love what I’m doing and look forward to each class. I get a lot of satisfaction from working with this audience.
For Easter, I’m venturing a bit into arts and crafts as I lead a workshop at Kirkland called “Silk-Dyed Easter Eggs.” We will create beautiful, colorful eggs using cheap thrift store neckties. The process is not difficult and the results are beautiful and surprising - if you know the steps for success. And I do!
In May, I will be painting live at a wedding in Perkasie. The lovely young couple are getting married in front of a huge tree. The bride, an artist herself, long dreamed of having an artist depict her wedding as it was happening. Part entertainment and part commemoration, the role I’ll play is again something completely new. Some people have said they would be intimidated, but I think it will be fun.
Last night I got a request for a more traditional commission, this time to paint a house for the children of a man who recently passed away. He lived 70 years in the house. I am asked to paint it twice, once for each sibling. I did a project somewhat like this last year, and my client was happy. I hope I’ll be able to please ths time too.
And then, the big news is that in the fall I have two solo shows! In October I’ll be at the Emmaus Library, and in November at Indian Valley Library, near Telford. These represent my first solo show, something I have long wanted to do. The library both shows and sells the art, keeping a percentage to support their work. As it gets closer, I’ll share specifics and maybe some of you will come out if there is an opening event.
Who know what other surprises 2022 might bring?
Thank you all for your support of what I love to do
