cedar’s blog

Cedar September 9th, 2008

This month I have a small art show on display at the Irvine Nature Center.

Irvine Nature Center is the only private, non-profit nature center in the region, and has a reputation for providing impactful, high-quality environmental education programs for Baltimore-area schools and the public.  The Center has a museum, a nature store, and a walking trail.

From Irvine’s website: “It is only because of the generosity of many forward thinking and environmentally minded people that we are able to offer our programs at low to no cost to participating schools in the Baltimore region.”

If you would like to support this organization as well as me and my work, 20% of the proceeds of any artwork you purchase from the show this month will go towards Irvine Nature Center and all the good things they are doing.

I am the first artist to display my work in their brand new facility in Owings Mills, MD.  The official opening of the new facility is this weekend, and all are invited to attend.  If you live in the area, go check it out!

WEEKEND FESTIVAL
Saturday, September 13
10 am - 4 pm
Sunday, September 14
noon - 4 pm
On Saturday and Sunday, bring the whole family for two days of free festivities and fun. Experience our new interactive exhibit hall; catch a puppet show; try your hand at traditional Native American games; meet our resident animals; take a guided nature walk; or head over to the main stage to sing and dance with award-winning musical acts. And don’t forget the food! Local and organic treats will abound, prepared by vendors who respect Irvine’s zero-waste goals. With so much more to explore, why would you ever want to leave?
Free and open to the public!

Irvine Nature Center is located at: 11201 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD  21117

Other news:

My dog Clara is doing much better!  Thank you so much for all of your caring and compassionate letters when she was so sick.  Click here to read an update on her health.

I am happy to report that Clara has also gotten a new baby brother.  He is 8 weeks old, half lab and half springer spaniel.  His name is Blake Fanghoff and his antics are hilarious.

This past week has been spent chasing this little guy around, making sure he doesn’t eat houseplants or tubes of paint, and working on potty-training, which involves taking him outside at all hours of the day and night until he’s big enough to hold it for longer.  It is an exercise in patience and devotion.  The repetitious, often frustrating task of raising a puppy is so rewarding in the long run.  Every day I am a little bit more enamored of him (which is saying a lot, since for me, it was love at first sight the day we adopted him.)

My life is so good lately.

Many of my paintings have sold this summer–both to new and repeat collectors.  I am so grateful for this steady income that has been allowing me to pay the bills and to continue making my art.  My work is selling in galleries.  People are finding my website.  People are asking about commissions.  Sometimes I can’t believe that I am really making this happen–my “art career.”  But I’m doing it!

All this and I’ve hardly been in the studio since mid-July.  There have been many adventures.

I attended Sugar Hill 2008, my first contra dance weekend, with one of my oldest friends and also lots of new friends, all of whom are thoroughly charming.  The whole thing was marvelous beyond all expectations.  It included canoeing and swimming all day, delicious food, and dancing all night–literally all night.  I danced till 4:30 am.

I went to Cincinnati and visited several art galleries.  There’s one that I really like there, and my art would totally fit in, but I can’t even think about taking on another gallery until I make enough new art to keep up with the galleries that already represent me.  But it’s a good possibility to keep in mind for the future.

Then, I went white water rafting in the New River Gorge, which I did last year and just had to do again.  This time we opted for the “High Adventure” option, and I fell out of the raft several times, which was very exciting.  We even capsized completely, twice.  (Only once on purpose.)

I’ve ordered my copy of my 2009 Calendar, and I can’t wait to see it.  A friend of mine wants to sell them in the pet supply store where he works!

And, I have several new paintings done that you’ll see as soon as they’re photographed.  And, I’m working on building several large canvases–the plans for several spectacular large paintings are currently percolating in my mind.

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