This painting is the fifth in a series of paintings created for our church in celebration of the advent.

This is a 36″ x 36″ acrylic on canvas.

The Cobbler wins the 2009 Pastel Society of the Southwest People’s Choice Award. I was shocked and excited!

It was just two weeks ago when they announced that The Cobbler did not win Best of Show. I have to admit I was disappointed, having put over 200 hours into this painting. It’s always such a hit or miss with nationally juried competitions. The judges either like your style or they don’t, and this year, there was only one judge, and he favored impressionism.

Well once again the people spoke and this is the second year in a row I have won this honor. Last year, it was Flower Girl that took home the prize. Wow, I am just sooooo delighted. There are so many wonderful artists from around the country who exhibited extraordinary paintings.

What an honor. I am humbled.

Lil’ E or Elvis as my sister calls him is one small dog. I joke that my Emmah poops bigger than her Lil’ E.

It was only due to a series of unusual events that my sister actually became Lil’ E’s mom. Now, she can’t imagine life without him. Funny how these little creatures have a way of sneaking into our hearts unaware, but what joy and love they bring to our lives!!! I’m going to try to talk my Sis into  allowing me to post the video of her response at presentation. The best words a portrait artist can hear are, “You’ve captured him! That’s my boy!!!”

The PSSW will be hosting this year’s event at the ArtCentre of Plano located at 1039 East 15th St. Plano, TX 75074. Tel 972-423-7809

The gallery is open from 10am -5pm Tuesday through Saturday.

Here is an invitation to the event.

Last year, at the 2008 show, Nancy Conant took home the People’s Choice Award for Flower Girl. If she wins, it will be her second in a row.

Winning in the Pastel category, a judge commented, “Bravo on this piece. The fur, the snarl, the wrinkles and the teeth were true to life. Exceptional pastel work.”

The painting will be on exhibit through October 29th, 2009 at the Jaycee Park Center for the Arts located in Irving, Texas.

Please download an invitation and address here.

We hope that you will come by and view Nancy’s work along side other exceptional artists from 27 states who contributed.

Last week was really hard. Each day was spent, taking the kids to sporting activities, back-to-school shopping, birthday parties and orthodontists. And worst of all – I HAD NO TIME OR STRENGTH TO PAINT!!! When I get all spent on the day-to-day grind of laundry and cooking and bla, bla, bla, I can quickly become Grumpy Mommy.

I’ve also been transitioning into a new season of sorts. That’s a season of surrender or as it often seems, daily deaths. This includes (but certainly not limited to!) the death of independence; where I now require help in many of life’s daily functions, such as getting up and down the staircase at home or with mobility in general. I don’t walk so well anymore so when we do the back-to-school-shopping the girls have to push me around in my wheelchair. They’re good sports about it all; too young to be concerned about how it looks to others and thankfully, grounded well enough in their Heavenly Father as well as their earthly father to not care. However, I am quick to become frustrated when we’re out and whoever is in charge pushes me past where I want to go. “Stop.” I say, but they keep on rolling. “Stop!!!”

I just hate that my nine year old is in more control of where I go then I am! I hate that I cannot control where I go, how long I get to look at something or the rate in which I travel! As you can see, I have not surrendered this control without a great many tears and tantrums. “I’m mad at hell and I don’t want to take it anymore!!!” I would cry. But, until my miracle is made manifest, I guess I have no choice.  For now, the days of zipping out to pick something up from the market or running a quick errand is over. With that reality comes a host of not-so-pretty emotions: anger, self-pity, despondency… And those who are closest to me would rather I “change my attitude” and not emote on them. Really, it has been hard for us all.

What is so WONDERFUL, in the truest sense of the word, is that I can choose to take my eyes off of my crummy little circumstances and me, and fix my gaze on Jesus and all that He has done for me; I can set my mind on all that He promised; which has already been acquired, purchased and finished on the cross. Then my heart and my mind are guarded in such a way that no thing or circumstance can penetrate this “helmet of my salvation.”

Here’s some pretty good advice that the Apostle Paul gave to his friend, Timothy:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

Now that’s just what The Great Physician ordered. I think I’ll take that and call on Him, first thing in the morning.

Thanks for checking in.

-nancy

It’s finished. Here’s a close-up.

Hummingbird enjoys its nectar at dawn’s first light.

As an artist, painting dogs and cats with their owners is a love of mine. I also enjoy owners who unravel their framed art to reveal a painted portrait of their beloved companions, like dogs, cats, horses, birds —even rats and guinea pigs. (But not all in the same painting!)

The bond between human and animal is special, and I find that in the loyal eyes of a pet is a personality (or an animality!) waiting to be captured on canvas –this is what this dog artist or cat artist enjoys most about painting.

I like to paint in pastels. Pastels have been known to outlast traditional oil paints in vibrancy and color sustainability. Plus after a couple generations oil paintings begin to crack, where pastels do not. However, a pastel painting must be put behind glass.

This will help preserve a pet painting or a dog portrait so that it can be handed down to many generations.

Here’s a sneak peek at another cool little painting I’m working on. This one’s all kinds of fun because I’m getting to use my sparkly pastels!!! I’ve been itching to use them but sparkles are typically not found on pets or their people! Unless, of course it’s a poodle wearing a tutu…never mind. Anyways…then one day it dawned on me! “I can paint hummingbirds! and butterflies! and flowers! and…”