Degas Project Opening Reception

The last couple of weeks have been intense as we prepare our artwork for the "Degas Project". York Art Association teamed up with Greater York Dance to provide a unique opportunity for 30 artists as well as dancers from the school. With cameras in hand we made our way around five different stations shooting photographs (such as the one I have shown here) of these young dancers. Some of the dancers giggled as they raced back and forth changing out of outfits and being made up in the halls. This was to give the artists as many opportunities as possible for various outfits, colors, movement, etc. The reception will showcase those three weeks of intensity as the artwork goes up for show and sale. The dancers will also be performing. I think we are all waiting to see all the wonderful artwork on display. We each can see the beauty in so many different ways. There is so much grace and emotion with the dancers. While one artist will show the motion through an abstract piece another might show emotions through color and still yet another aims at showing dance through realism.

On Mother's Day, May 8th from 2-4 p.m. will be the opening reception. This will be held at Greater York Dance at 3524 E. Market St., York. There is plenty of parking at the rear of the building.

Juried into Baltimore Watercolor Society's Mid-Atlantic Show

Baltimore Watercolor Society's Annual Mid-Atlantic Exhibit opens April 9th at the Strathmore Mansion. The reception and awards presentation will take place on April 17th from 2-4 p.m. If you are in the area please stop by. My painting "At Least the Monkey is Happy" was one of 95 pieces selected for the show.

Newest Watercolor "Mommy and the Girls"

My newest watercolor painting of my pregnant mommy and her little daughter is complete.
They were such adorable models. Some paintings are so relaxing and such fun to do it is almost kind of sad to finish them. I am finishing up the drawing for my next painting and will be ready to start this week. I really hate having a day when I have nothing ready to paint. I love putting in about four hours each day on painting.

As a lupus patient, it is so nice to have something I am so passionate about doing. I am so limited at times at where I can go and what I can do. The day to day challenges can be overwhelming. Having the art to concentrate on makes the world a brighter place. One of my goals for 2011 is to get together lupus patients for photo shoots. It is so important with this disease to have some outlet. Once we get this underway I plan to get the group into some social networking sites to display our work. Hopefully in the coming year we will have a great local show so people can see the world through the eyes of us lupies. They might be surprised. Hopefully our networking will encourage lupies and others with illnesses to get creative and enjoy life. I will be updating here in the months ahead.

Watercolor in Progress

This year I am going to try and take more time for my blogging. I am having such a great time painting that sometimes it is hard to pull myself away to sit down and type. This painting has been such a joy to do. Since the little one was actually the daughter of my pregnant model there was just that genuine love there. It really comes across in the photographs. I couldn't help but paint these two.

Watercolor Portrait by Kathy Michels

Another little cutie. This photo does not do justice to the colors in her hair. Her hair glistens

with reds, blues and lavenders. Once I get the good quality photos done I will repost. I am

still working on the portraits of these little ballerinas.

Watercolor Portrait by Kathy Michels

This is another little ballerina in my series. These little ones are so fun to paint.
They are just so into their dancing and waiting for their turns that they seem to
remain focused.