Awewinds Awakening

Finally I am ready to post a few things....

Polly Mason has an old Shell Service Station on McDaniel Fork Road that I am working on.  It is 1/2 finished and there are plans to finish the side of the station that faces McDaniel Fork with the Forestry Logo and then a picture of her son and grandson walking along the road to the bees, that will be painted on the front of the building.


The next project will be the Trenton Fire Station's logo for Glen Spivey.  As soon as the station is finished this will happen.  The fire people do so much for our town, thank you very much.

I believe a class will be conducted soon to help people learn to construct and paint their own barn quilts.  There a few barn quilts around already, but it would be wonderful to have many many more.  The goal  has always been to have enough out there in Jones County to make people want to just drive through our wonderful county and see these interesting and bright urban paintings of quilts or personally designed.  I am excited about this project.  So keep looking for new barn quilts this summer.


I don't have a large project on task for the fall but who knows what will happen by that time.

I would like to recognize Therese Gilmore.  She is a wonderful artist who has her own studio which offers classes.  I will get her permission before I put her name and number in here.  She is amazing and I am learning a lot through her.


Pictures to be posted this week, hopefully you will come back by Friday.

Thanks Therese. 


k

Barn Art

This is a new piece of Barn art for Claudia Henley at Airframe and Art, it will be put up on Friday, stop by Claudia's to see both pieces, one is a Mule looking out of a window and this one.

In the near future a pamphlet will be produced  so you can drive around and see what art is appearing in our wonderfully beautiful Jones County.

In September our Prayer, Paint and Pie group is hosting an art event to be held at Air Frames and Art.  We will put out a call to all Jones County Artists and invite them to exhibit their art and we are inviting people from all over North Carolina to come and see what the artists are doing and allow the visitors to buy their art if they would like to sell it.

Keep looking for more information on this event. 

Trenton Mill Pond Mural Finished

Trenton Mill Pond Mural

Last year Luke, owner of a Primitive Shop in Trenton, NC asked me to recover the Mill Pond Mural created by some Jones County Senior High School students and their art teacher, Deborah Lightfield.  The mural was peeling off the concrete brick wall and we were in fear that it would disappear. 

The process began with scraping the wall, and sealing certain areas like the Mill Pond itself.  The only structure that did not change from the original picture is the Mill Pond.  The structure was so endearing to me.  The students and Deborah had done such a wonderful job and this piece was just too hard to scrap out.  It is still damaged, but from afar the building is sound at least for the time being.

I took some liberties with the drawing, I wanted it to be a light airy piece of art that would invite someone to stop and enjoy the beauty of our town.  Also Luke wanted to honor the building that housed his business in Trenton by the  Mill Pond that burned a few years ago.  It was an authentic log cabin that was so endearing to everyone that shopped there and got to know the man and family that sold items.  It became a landmark that people looked for as they vacationed in this area,

I understand that the Mill Pond has been bought by Jones County and they are planning to actually  have a working mill again in our town.  So it is equally important to thank our town leaders for bringing it back for all to enjoy. 

This cabin does not do justice to the cabin that was there and I had no photo to work from.  Luke spend time with me trying to help me give it some of the attributes it had.  I am not sure I got it, but the cabin in the pictures will help Luke explain to people who ask just why it is in the mural.

When you turn the corner at the one stop light in Trenton, you can't help but see the mural, I wanted it to welcome those who pass through and don't stop, and those who stop can sit with Luke on one of his benches in front of his store and he can explain how important the heritage around here is and tell the story of the students and Ms. Lightfield and the beginning of the murals in Trenton.  Then they enjoy the art and know the story behind it.  

As you know I use recycled paint in these murals, except the Fishing for Supper painting on Ms. Brock's building the paint was supplied by the Beautification Committee, so if you have any exterior blue paint please drop it by Luke's.  I will use it in the next mural planned behind Gypsy Cafe and Red Willows Gift Shop.  It will be a blue cube mural with large rising sunflowers.

Thank you Luke for giving me this opportunity, thank you Ms. Lightfield for the permission to restore, and thank you Trenton for being the delightful town full of loving people.

k

May 2012 Update Projects

The construction in our home is almost finished so today I went upstairs, categorized my files and thought I can work here. 

Recently I have been holding classes with 6 students who are amazing and filling me with hope and inspiration even though we are just exploring all aspects of art within ourselves.  Just Wednesday we all did a scratch board piece and some amazing freedom was found in scratching figures into a canvas that allows light to create beneath the disruption of the surface.  It was fun, fun, fun!

On another note this past week "A. L. Dude Andrews" passed.  This man walked with God, had few words but carried a presence with him that carried peace always.  I went to his funeral, then after school on Monday I went to his grave site and said "thank you" for being willing to let me paint you on a wall in Trenton.......and for sharing with me the light of God that he carried and gave freely.  His family will miss him, and they know he is now free....for he is walking with God....Shalom Dude.

Projects underway:

Finished:

A garden room in a friends home, pictures will be posted on Saturday. 
New Barn quilt on Henderson Road, it is on a tobacco barn and the colors are red, white, and blue and the most amazing part of the quilt is the owner requested I put a saying under it.  She asked that I write "God Bless America" underneath.  A friend, Wilbur G, gave me a piece of an old barn to use as a writing surface......so this quilt is extra special....I believe in God and I pray for a blessing for America also
New Barn quilt on Claude Banks road, Claudia Henley's Airframes is now sporting a mule hanging his head out of a window looking for guest to welcome as they drive up for Claudia's help with framing, photography and her own art also.  She and her sister are amazing creative artists.

Working on:
Mural in the Trenton Methodist Church
Mural at The Rag Bag on Jones Street in Trenton  "

Future Projects:
Putting together a booklet for Gypsy and Willow with a map where all barn quilts and murals are located in Jones County. 
Creating some roses atop of Gypsy's cafe......she is amazing and her place is so welcoming.
Mural at the back of Gypsy's and Red Willows......amazing sunflowers.
Mural in Trenton Methodist Church "John the Baptist and Jesus"
New Blog for current students:  Prayer, Paint and Pie......Jones County Artists

Fall 2012:  Be looking for news about the Jones County Artist Exhibition in Trenton at Airframes Studio (Claudia Henley's studio) on Claude Banks Road in September....all Jones County artists are invited to exhibit.  More information will be blogged at a later date.


So things are progressing and I plan to be more dedicated to continuing this written record of what is going on as far as mural paintings are concerned and personal painting, plus student painting discussed on new blog "Prayer, Paint and Pie."

After my 60th birthday this year, my daughter reminded me that I would want to remember past projects and suggested I continue making a photo written blog for my own memories and I agreed.

Thanks to all that are following this and for the inspiration you have given me, plus the opportunities to paint in our town. 

k

Current Murals

It has been a long time since I posted what I am working on.

I have 4 open murals:

Mill Pond Restructure on Luke's Primative Store
Private Home Mural
Children's Mural at the United Methodist Church
Planning Stages for another mural of Jesus and John The Baptist at the United Methodist Church in Trenton also

Recently we put up a glass angel in the prayer garden at the United Methodist Church and it is slightly lit at night for travelers to see.

Since we have not had a hard winter I have been able to continue working on all of these for small amounts of time.  So I am happy to say there is more paint to come shortly as the temperatures come around to about 60, the paint works better if the temperature is correct.

Thank you all for the wonderful opportunities and I will post pictures some time next week on the status of the projects.

I have 6 students each week and I hope some of these new artists will want to venture into murals also.....I would love to have some help painting the towns in North Carolina.

Check back early next week to see some new pictures.

Also there is a new barn quilt on Henderson Road on a tobacco barn.  It is one I designed representing our flag (red, white and blue), with floating stars and underneath the quilt you will find a sign the owner asked me to paint.  It says "God Bless America".  A friend of ours, Wilbur Gurganus, gave us some barn planks and it looks rustic and appropriate under the quilt.

There are two barn quilts to be done and their location will be on Claude Banks road, so keep looking for more art in our area........and thanks for all the opportunities

k

Duplin Wine Smooth Sailing Picture Entry

Duplin Winery in Duplin, NC

has posted a contest that required the people interested to enter their paintings in October.  On October 14th I sent in a painting, this is it.  If you would like to vote for the painting, go to www.duplinwinery.com and press blog at the top, look for the Carolina Jewel Contest and rate the pictures.

I have not entered any contests and this is my first.  It does not matter who wins, it is truly the journey.  There are some beautiful paintings exhibited, and it feels good to see one of mine there.

Thanks for your continued support.  k

Mill Pond Trenton

The original Mill Pond completed by the students of Jones County Senior High School.

The refurbishing began because of the deterioration of the paint.

The first step was to scrap it off the building, put on a thick coat of primer.

The picture done by the students will be remembered forever as there will be a plaque places beside the refurbished mural recognizing what a beautiful mural was first painted on the building built in Trenton.

I  have spent about 3 days on the clean up and blocking in of the mural.  The trees on the right side were reduced and pictures were taken of the millpond surroundings to create the many trees that make the mill pond so beautiful.

On the left side of the pond you will begin to see the bank where you might find geese or ducks on the grounds, which makes me think of how the wildlife love the serenity of the pond and the music it makes crossing the concrete barrier.  It is truly a piece of living art for Trenton, NC.

There is a lot of painting to be completed and hopefully by Thanksgiving this year it will be finished weather permitting.  So keep looking and watch for small changes as the pictures comes to rest on the side of another building in Trenton.

Thanks for this opportunity Willow Faye Stroud and Luke McKinney.

k