Sunday May 18 2008, I was in a show near Marengo Iowa at the Fireside Winery. What a beautiful place and when you get a chance I suggest you go there.  

June 28 Saturday I was in a show at Anna’s Cutting Garden. It was a beautiful but windy day, 40 MPH wind but we still had a GREAT time. It is a place you might just like to go see any time. Every year Anna has the show about the same time of the year. It is for Habitat for Humanity so I strongly suggest you go next year and have a fantastic time – Anna Geyer, 1259 Rohret Road S.W., Oxford, Iowa 52322.  On Sunday, July 20th, I will be in Marshalltown, IA at the Fischer Art Center.

On Sunday, July 20th, I will be in Marshalltown, IA at the Fischer Art Center.

I will be at Hooverfest 2008 in West Branch, IA on Saturday, August 2nd.  There will be no class.

On August 23rd from 9am to 4pm I will be at Brucemore (2160 Linden Dr. SE) in Cedar Rapids, IA.

On Saturday August 30th I will be in Sioux City, IA at the Art Splash. There will be no class.   This means there will be only two Saturday classes in the month of August.

I will be in Mount Vernon, IA at 489 Standing Rock Road on Saturday, September 27th

I had a great time in Bedford Iowa and again in the Rock Island show:
And for someone who said they are through with shows here are my next shows for this year.
It is a lot of work but you meet such Fantastic people it makes it all worth while. Maybe next year I will slow down.

Saturday June 30th:-Anna’s Cutting Garden: It is for Habitat for humanity
Sunday July 15-Marshalltown, Iowa
Saturday August 4th Hoover library

Grand daughters wedding end of July another end of August. Maybe I can learn no on any more shows this year.
I have been going out in the motor home and painting early mornings. The last 4 mornings I have been in the Palisades Park.  Some of the places I have been I can not find again. I know it was near Toddville and I think I have taken every road except the one that says road closed.  I drive the roads and think well, this is easy to find, I can drive down a road and think yes, I was down this road, now where did I go from here? No luck. Let’s hope I can find my way back to where I was Sunday night. I know the sign said end of road. As you can see when looking for a place to paint I do not pay attention to how I get there. It is easy to find your way home but not back to where you were.

For all of you artists, the light at that time of day is fantastic and the bugs are not as bad as they are in the evening.  Inside the motor home seems too confining. In some places it is safer, but when in a park or an area where the cars do not kick up a lot of dust, outside is still the best.

I have a very small motor home and I finally found a way to stand up and paint. I love the one I have but in three years I plan to get one with bigger windows and a push button generator, 19 miles to the gallon, and maybe even a push button awning. Things I did not know before I bought this one. This is a learning experience for what I want in a motor home and I am thankful for what I have.

My favorite quote:
I’d rather be a Could-Be if I cannot be an Are; because a Could-Be is a May-Be who is reaching for a star. I’d rather be a Has-Been than a Might-Have-Been by far, for a Might-Have-Been has never been, but a Has was once an Are.
  — Milton Berle  with his punctuation.

My art show list for 2007
I thought I would give up art shows but with people calling and saying please Barb!
I finally said yes and at first chose one day shows, but finally said yes to one 2-day show. I will have fun but plan to make it easy and fun.
1. Saturday May 19 in  Bedford, Iowa: I will take my motor home to this and paint around the area Friday, Sunday and Monday or longer.

2. Saturday and Sunday, June 9thth and 10th:  Left Bank Art League’s 51st Annual Art Fair.  The event will take place in the Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island, Illinois. I have not been in this show before. I will be taking van and trailer. My trailer is too small to pull behind motor home. I am told if I can not see it I can not back up.
Besides gas mileage would not be good. 

3. Sunday July 15 – Marshalltown, Iowa. A wonderful spot and I was so impressed with the show last year I am taking my van and trailer.

Up to now I have avoided one-day shows because set up takes 2-3 hours but I can always take the motor home, do an easy setup and make it a painting trip.  What ever way I will have a great time.

My favorite quote:
I’d rather be a Could-Be if I cannot be an Are; because a Could -Be is a May -Be who is reaching for a star. I’d rather be a Has- Been than a Might- Have -Been by far, for a Might -Have -Been has never been, but a Has was once an Are.
  — Milton Berle  with his punctuation.

The Freedom of Choice

One of the wonderful gifts we have received from the Creator is the freedom to choose. It is fascinating to see each day how the choices we make affect us and those around us. We always have the freedom to make a choice that can lead us to heartache. Or we can choose a way that will lead us to triumph. You have been given the freedom to choose between the bad, the better, and the best. Being blessed is having the knowledge to know what is the best and be grateful that with the Maker’s help, you have been able to choose the best on a regular basis.
I do not know who wrote this quote but it is a good one.

 I have been busy with painting on location, sometimes I can not find my spot again because I travel gravel roads and some are still very soft. I do not pay attention because I am looking for a safe spot to paint. Oh well, at least I find my way home.
I am beginning to find a way to paint inside my motor home. It is 30 years old and in very good shape for that but the windows are really too small.  I will adjust.

The yard is almost finished for the year and time to put the bug repellant on the yard. I will give it to you again because it really works. I do it spring and fall but the directions say once a year.
  1/3 Listerine
  1/3 Epson salts
  1/3 stale beer
Mix together and spray on everything. No flying bugs any where. Epson salts is hard to dissolve, after a day or so I take what is left in the bottom and put it in the microwave to heat and dissolve the last little bit. It still works.

“Our very business in life is not to get ahead of others…
  but to get ahead of ourselves.”
  — Thomas L. Monson
 
That is so true. I have watched artists for over 40 years who compete with others.  The ones that compete with others do not improve as much as the ones that compete with themselves. (more…)

DECEMBER ART SHOW

Please come to my one person art show December 3 through December 27. It is through the Central Iowa Art Association.  The show will be in the Fisher Community Center! It is a beautiful building and the people are extra nice.   I will display 32 paintings, oils, watercolor, mixed media and pastels.

I copied this from an e mail I got and thought it would be good to pass it on:
How to save your self if alone with a heart attack.
Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home. Unfortunately you don’t know if you’ll be able to make it that far. (more…)

My son Jim my grandson Julian and I took a trip to attend the Crow Fair. The dancing and costumes were out of this world.  As teens do, Julian soon got tired of the POW WOW.

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Great Quote:

Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you.  — Wayne Dyer

I have received a great commission.  I signed the contract yesterday to paint a 24 x 30 portrait of Christy Vilsack, the Governor of Iowa’s wife.  Don’t worry; it is not paid for out of taxes!   I will do my best but I can use everyone’s prayers.

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This is an excerpt from the e mail I got June 24, 2006.
Mrs. Vilsack is the Iowa Governor’s wife.
When I finish I will put it in one of my news letters.
We want to offer you the opportunity to paint Mrs. Vilsack’s portrait.

Only show in July is:
July 16th from 10-4 on the Fisher Community Center grounds in Marshalltown, Iowa.
I have 2 portraits to finish by July 15, and on with painting the Governor’s wife. It should be great fun.

Mix together equal parts skim milk and water, spray on roses and no bugs on roses.
Barbara Jones Prall
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