Summer II by Sharen Chatterton

Our city is in the planning stages of a community garden, called Common Ground. I am so excited about the ability to have a larger garden plot than we have in our small side yard. This community garden will provide the opportunity for people to participate in a venue that will not only allow them to grow some fresh vegetables, yum, but to educate folks about organic gardening, beneficial and harmful insects, plant diseases and organic controls, as well as getting kids involved in gardening and becoming better stewards of our earth. We are, as I said, in the planning stage, but I am so excited to be getting in on the ground floor of what promises to be a wonderful adventure. There has also been talk of an art component to the garden, which would allow me the opportunity to do some of my work in a format that could withstand the Texas weather; providing vibrant colors in the Common Ground Garden all year long. Can’t wait to see the end product. The city is planning to break ground in October and be ready for spring plantings. I’ll keep you up to date on the progress.

Beginning at the GAP Show

I started a new painting last weekend at the GAP Show in Grapevine.  I was inspired by the beautiful Spring Clematis blooming in mass on our side yard trellis. These Clematis are perennials that come back ever year, they love the cool spring and fall and will bloom twice a year, spring being their most showy bloom. They grow best when another plant shades their roots and their tops receive full sun. Interestingly enough the Clematis is famous as a flowering plant, but its true flowers are in fact very tiny, the parts that we think of as the colorful flower petals, are actually the sepals. The blooms and sepals eventually fall away, leaving a cluster of seeds and tails. These spring-blooming clematis, flower on the previous year’s stems, summer/fall blooming clematis bloom only on the ends of new stems, and twice-flowering clematis do both. Enjoy my first video, it won’t be hard to tell it’s my first; it gives you a little more insite into my new piece, try not to laugh too hard!

Putting on the paint, beginning to build the flowers

Painting in our booth

Although the weather was a bit dreary, we really had a great time at the GAP Art Show at the Lancaster Theater in Grapevine, this past Saturday. Karen and I had a great spot, thanks so much to all who braved the wet weather and came out to support the arts.  I was able to get in some painting and Karen and I were able to visit with so many great people about our art. People loved Karen’s new “Fiber Art” and it was so interesting to hear her talk about her loom.  It’s a whole new vocabulary; one which she has learned well, and is excelling at. I am working on a new piece featuring Clematis flowers which are going crazy on our trellis in the side yard. I’ll keep you posted on it’s progress.

Karen's Fiber Art hanging at the show

Gallery Postcard

It feels like Christmas! Having my work on exhibit in the Gallery at Texas Discovery Gardens is so amazing. I feel so very blessed to be able to intertwine my art with such a beautiful venue that supports our environment. My work will be on exhibition beginning March 22 and ending July 31, 2010. There will be an Opening Reception for the Exhibit on March 26th from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the Gallery. Texas Discovery Gardens’ 7.5 acres offer a wonderful diversity of garden styles and botanical collections. The Gardens feature native plants and plant species from other regions of the world that are adapted to the challenging climate and soils of North Texas. Plants are also selected for their benefits in providing habitat for native wildlife, including butterflies, bugs, and birds. You can also enjoy more than 15 native species of butterflies in the Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium, as well as many new tropical butterflies. They offer many fun, hands-on environmental education programs for children and adults. What a great place to spend a Saturday enjoying art, flowers, butterflies and fun!

Sunflower Summer in progress

A couple of weeks ago, at a GAP meeting, I had the opportunity to speak with a fellow artist, I had met at a GAP show last summer. She wanted to get together, visit and share ideas. So, I invited a couple of other artists, I had met recently and we set a date. We met at the Corner Bakery, had some lunch and then spent about 2 hours brainstorming. We shared ideas, encouragements, fears and frustrations. It was such a great experience. Those opportunities to share real life experiences of doing art, marketing your art and building an art business with other artist are priceless. I came away with some great ideas, three new friends and a date to meet again next month. You can find information about two of the artists and there work below:

http://www. shellyburden.com

http://paintpalettecolors.blogspot.com

A little more organized for 2010

I am really looking forward to this year. I am in the process now of reorganizing my studio. My studio is small, so I really have to figure out ways to maximize my space. I am also working on a newsletter called “The Art of Smiles”, my goal is to send it out once a month. It will give info on what I am working on, where I will be showing my work and other bits and pieces of info. Be sure and subscribe to “The Art of Smiles” newsletter on my web site www.sharenchatterton.com. I am also excited about spending more time painting. This is going to be a great year! Best wishes to all for an amazing 2010!

More room to paint in 2010

Before what a mess

Twin Mix II

This work is a collaborative effort between Karen and I. Our inspiration, the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly and the beautifully intricate passion flower.  We have so many of these Fritillary Butterflies in our side yard, the reason we have them, is because we have several passion vines planted. These butterfly lay their eggs on the leaves of the passion vine, they are very small yellow spheres, which eventually produce the caterpillar. These guys have a ferocious appetite and could easily strip all the leaves on the vine. The leaves grow back, and the vine continues to produce its beautiful flower, as the chrysalis transform into the Fritillary butterfly. It is spectacular to come out in the morning and have 30 or more butterflies scurrying about our yard. Plant some passion vines, if they will thrive in your area,  you will be providing much needed habitat for many varieties of Fritillary butterflies.

Passion flower & Gulf Fritillary in side yard

The beginning

We have a small area in our side yard that we are going to turn into a garden spot. We had a couple of tomato bushes and some onions last year, but the roses around the area did not allow for much sun. So we have moved the roses and made a space around 8 x 8. We would like to grow tomatoes, oni0ns, and put a trellis for zucchini and squash. I also have some strawberry plants I would like to put in the center in a raised bed, still working on that idea. We have put a 4 foot fence around it with a gate to keep out the dogs, rabbits, etc. This was made out of left over cedar pieces that our contractor friend had. We now have to put in the boards to keep in the soil and then add organic soil. Come spring, we will plant our little garden. I can already visualize the paintings from the produce and the good tasting homegrown veggies on the table.  We’ll see how that works out. I’ll keep you posted.