Magnet Art!

Happy Monday Art Trailers!!

Hope you all had a great weekend!!

I wanted to share with you today some new pieces from my studio....I'm working on filling a request for Casa Azul Gifts in Grand Coteau, LA. Grand Coteau is the home of The Academy of Sacred Heart and Sacred Heart Church where many people visit to attend retreats and tour the historic property and town. Casa Azul requested small easy to pack items that represented the town well.

So...here is my first attempt. Some good ole folk art magnets!!

This project was a first for me since religious art is not something I usually venture into but I had fun exploring the religious and spiritual side of painting. T-roy helped me out by using a drimmel tool to carve out some detail into some of the pieces then I'd fill in with paint...a nice Sunday afternoon project. Many more to paint this week so I'd better get moving....

Peace and Love!

Follow Your Art,

The Art Trail Lady

Tell me...How Does Your Garden Grow?

The art of gardening and people who do it continue to amaze me. There is such an air of peacefulness and feeling grounded around playing in the dirt. Just thinking of the bright hues of red, green and yellow get my taste buds flowing...kind of like painting!

Last weekend I decided it was that time. It was time to plant regardless of whether or not the last cold front had hit South Louisiana darn it! I was determined and it paid off. Today I had my first sprout pop!! Yes! Success! I didn't kill everything! :-)

Here are the herbs I'm propagating....and the tiny sprouts that sprouted this morning.

Container gardens are always easiest for me because they're mobile and don't involve some of the ground work I'm not equipped to handle. Here I used old wooden cases from local flea markets and some chicken wire to keep the cats out. The large wash tub is T-roy's MawMaw Cajin's and if I'm not mistaken he's taken a bath or two in that thing as a youngen. Recycled pots, decorated milk and cola jugs are also perfect for small plants.

This year, my planting list included tomatoes, squash, zucchini, peppers, asparagus, strawberries and herbs, and I can hardly wait for them to produce. The nourishment of fresh, homegrown fruit and veggies pleases me so!!

Yay to the art of gardening! The beautiful art of the earth!!

Please share photos of your gardens Art Trailers!! I'd love to see them!! What does your planting list include??

Follow Your Art,

Love the Art Trail Lady!

10 Reasons I Love Adele

Congrats to Adele on her overwhelming response to her music during the Grammy's last night! She was definitely my fav and here's why..

Top 10 Reasons I love Adele:

1. She writes or co-writes her own music! Anyone involved in this creation process gets props from me!

2. She sells who she is rather than sex and silly costumes-ahem-Lady Gaga and Katie Perry.

3. How can so much soul come from such a proper British lady? I have no idea but I love it!

4. Adele is not your typical perfect 10 popstar in terms of "what sells", yet she works it all the same, love this!

5. Adele is flat out glamorous. I love her old school glam style!!

6. How is the heck does she hit those notes!?!

7. Her genuine gratitude...

8. Her hand gestures while singing :)

9. Her accent!

10. Adele seems to be a great role model for young women-no rehab, no beatings by men, etc.

What's your Grammy feedback???

What's New at Casa Azul

On Thursday I made a quick stop in Grand Coteau, LA to touch base with my friend Patrice at Casa Azul. For those of you are unfamiliar with this place, Casa Azul is a local gift shop carrying many local handmade or original items. A must stop place for visitors and anymore who loves anything local.

I always like to get updates about new artist or happenings at the venues on the Acadiana Art Trail, especially from shops like Casa Azul.

One new artist showing here is Pam Shensky from New Iberia, LA. Check out her one of a kind cross below...Also new at Casa Azul is Olan Thibodeaux's cypress candle holders and handmade rub boards (artist unknown). Casa Azul also carries local books, music and film not to mention poetry readings, live music, La Table Francaise and folklore. I could spend hours browsing through the goodies here. Find some time during festival season to check what's new at Casa Azul in Grand Coteau!! Happy trailing!

Follow Your Art!!

Love,

The Art Trail Lady

Point-Aux-Chenes

Its almost hump day Art Trailers! Hope you've been doing some recent trailing since the last post! This time of year is festival season in South Louisiana which always makes me smile. I'm also a year older as of last week which doesn't make me smile, but that's besides the point.

For my birthday, T-roy took me camping and fishing in a small Cajun fishing village just south of Houma, LA. You may have heard of it, Point-Aux-Chenes...You can read more about it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointe-aux-Chenes,_Louisiana.

It was a very relaxing getaway and even though I caught more pictures than I did fish, I had a blast and the inspiration that came with the experience was wonderful! I'm posting a painting I completed upon returning as well as a few photos of the trip. This piece is on Sinker Cypress pulled from the Atchafalya Basin. I used a drimmel tool to help create texture with some of the figures and acrylic paint to accent. Point-aux-Chenes definitely brought out the gritty folk art in me...enjoy!

 This photo is from the landing and point of Point-aux-Chenes...

Peer

 I think these are semi-wild horses. They are isolated by water on a piece of land only giving them dried marsh grass to live on :(

 This is me being a little silly!

T-roy at our Camp Site...the old camps behind him are boarded up from the last hurricane.

Our Campsite

Folk Art Found on the Indian Reservation

Submarine

Folk Art on Indian Reservation

The tattered homes give you a taste of the rough life on the reservation. 

Follow YOur ARt!!

Love,

The Art Trail Lady