I will have a selection of paintings at this years show.  Come and enjoy the recent works of many talented local artist.  Reception is Aug 6th from 5pm - 7pm.

Some of my collectors many not know this, but I do what some may call "inspirational paintings".  I call them "worship" or "prophetic paintings". 

James 1:17 says: "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..."

My Pastor has been a great encourager and a huge support of bringing the arts into our church.  Last weekend there was a women's conference and this is a painting that I painted during the worship times.  The title is "The Spirit and the Bride say Come!"

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. Rev 22:17

Anita Johnson will also be showing work at Art in the Garden. Johnson said she was invited by organizers to show her works in Sunday’s show.

“I paint nature and landscapes — that’s what I love,” Johnson said. “I also like to paint birds.”

Johnson said she’s been painting for the last five years, as well as when she was just out of high school, but she took some years off to raise her children.

With some pieces currently on display at the Box Factory Gallery in St. Joseph, Michigan, Johnson said she paints everyday and has the complete support of her family.

Besides painting in her home art studio or outdoors, Johnson also does inspirational painting at the River Church on Highway 39 on Sunday mornings. Her paintings hang in the church, and they are sold to fund mission trips and youth group activities.

Johnson said she goes to at least one show a month, but no more than two.

“You can get caught up in it, and you need time to paint,” she said.

This will be Johnson’s first time at Art in the Garden.

I just experimented with a new technique in mixed media and this is the finished product!  My creative juices were really flowing~ AND it was great FUN!  I have titled the piece ASPEN PUDDLE  and it will be available for sale at my show tomorrow at the European Market in Chesterton Indiana.

Yesterdays show was a big success despite the downpour that ended the event an hour and a half early.  Up to that point it was a beautiful day and two original paintings found new homes! One of the purchased paintings was "Fall Walk"; the other was "Hummin' a Brunch #3"~ a painting of a female hummingbird.

Spring has sprung and summer is at the door!  Just finished with an interview and am now getting ready for the first outdoor show of the season.  I was contacted at the beginning of the week by a reporter from the LaPorte Herald Argus who wanted to interview me about this Sundays Show~ Art in the Garden at Taltree Arboretum in Valparaiso Indiana. In the midst of one of Northwest Indiana’s best natural inspirations, Taltree is a 300-acre complex of gardens, woody plant collections and restored and preserved native areas in Valparaiso, Indiana.  The show is Sunday, June 6th, 10am-4pm and is open to the public with an anticipated attendance of 1,000+ art and garden lovers.  The address is 450 West 100 North, Valparaiso IN. For more info visit www.taltree.org

This time of the year is so beautiful!  I especially like going outside just before sunrise and hearing all the birds singing joyfully!  I saw a little chickadee up in our maple this morning; this little 5X7 oil painting is an impression of him.

This painting was inspired from the Thirty Acre Woods where my Mom lives in Michigan. This painting is framed and ready to hang. Please contact me for additonal images which include the frame.

Morning Joy is an original acrylic painted on gallery wrapped canvas and it is meant to hang unframed. If you have any questions or request additonal images please email me.

I participated in the Porter County Master Gardeners Show yesterday and it was a very nice event.  The crowd was enormous!  There was a seed and bulb exchange, various speakers who had expertise in plants and gardening, and many vendors with unique treasures for the yard.  I displayed mostly floral and bird paintings at this event; many found treasures that they purchased and took home with them.