The Dog And Monkey Show Fayetteville Underground

"The Dog And Monkey Show" opens this week at the Fayetteville Underground. The Galleries will be open this week starting Weds thru Friday from 12noon to 7pm. And Saturday from 10am to 5pm.  The reception is 5- 8pm September 1st which is 1st Thursday y'all.  Big doin's, so I'm hoping folks can make it down.
 It's my first solo show there and it's in the Revolver Gallery (which is huge!)  I've got around 40 new pieces ready to go on the wall.  I'll be in there hanging the show tomorrow, and doing all the finishing touches.  I'm excited.  I'm happy. There is a lot of really amazing art on the walls in the other 3 galleries, so please, check it out.
I'm scheduled to do two scratchboard classes there at the Underground in the classroom, on Saturday Sept. 10th and 24th from noon to 3pm.  The cost is low,  $15.00 per person, per class.  Pre-registration is requested as class size is limited to 20 folks per class.  There will be a sign up sheet in the E Street Gallery, as well as in the Revolver thursday evening.  I'll have Ampersand Art Supply scratchbord samples, tools, inks, patterns to trace, and various paints there, everything you need to walk out with a finished or almost finished artwork.  Scratchboard is fun, instantly gratifying and all ages are invited to attend. Scratchboard is made with an archival sealed hardboard that then has a layer of white kaolin clay with black ink on top. You scratch thru the black, expose the white and if desired, you can add color using inks, paints etc.. There will be a limited amount of the scratchbord kits that I designed for Ampersand Art available for sale 1st Thursday. 

Big Little Dog Scratchboard Art

This scratchboard is huge!  2 ft.x3 ft.  I've been scratching for days on this.  Plus it was harder because it was originally a white Ampersand Art Claybord that I inked myself with Speedball India Ink.  The ink on the surface is important as some of them make kind of a hard 'shell' on top of the clay surface.  Unfortunately this was the case so I had to sharpen my tools again and again.  And my hand is aching from all the tough scratching.  Sufferin' for my art! I really prefer using the pre-inked boards.
 I based this on a photo of Loca the little chihuahua.  My friend Joslyn Baker took the photo (she's a fabulous photographer, check her out) and with her permission I translated it into my style.  The original had Loca looking the other way,  I reversed it and then added the text on the left.  It's from an old 'Story A Day' book that I picked up at an estate sale.  It's old enough (early 20's) that it had some really offensive racial stuff in it.  Don't worry, I did edit it.  Hard to believe they could do that with a dog story. And for children.  Come on people!
 I mixed it up a bit too.  Working title is "Really Big Little Dog"  or "The Adventures Of A Really Big Little Dog".  It's not finished,  but has to be done by Monday so I best get going.

Airstream With Leopard Print

Designing a leopard print airstream piece continues.  Really like this version, hope the customer does as well.  This is, of course on Ampersand Art scratchboard....my favorite!  The only product I endorse, and would endorse even if I did not receive compensation. (which I do in the form of product and payment for classes I teach)  The 5x7 scratchboard kits have been shipped to stores.  I'm waiting to find out if NW Arkanasas stores have gotten them.  Every time I go into Hobby Lobby to buy something I check the shelves for my kits....not yet, dang it.  It still isn't quite real that I've got 6 different kits now out there in the world. 
I'll be teaching two classes in September at the Fayetteville Underground.  Plan so far is Saturdays 12-3pm the 10th and 24th.  I bring the goods and you bring me $15.00.  Such a bargain!